best cheap scope?
- Thread starter glamabilly
- Start date
I have Leupold M8 4x scopes on my 270 and 300 Win mag. I've shot bears, deer, elk and moose through those scopes.
You can get them on EE or at gun shows for $200 or less. They are nearly bulletproof and if they fail are repaired for free at the service centre.
Use one for a season on one gun, swap it around for the next.
You can get them on EE or at gun shows for $200 or less. They are nearly bulletproof and if they fail are repaired for free at the service centre.
Use one for a season on one gun, swap it around for the next.
- Location
- East ontario
vortex
I totally agree.
Most people want to know how cheap they can be without buying complete junk.
Most people don't want the Apex of optics because frankly they can't afford it.
If its a choice between Not having anything and having something that isn't the very best a person who wants to just go out hunting needs better advice than just.. Buy the best scope ... blah blah 1500$ starting price.
I think their is definitely a line between useful and junk though and their is a line where glass clarity rules your price not reliability as well.
And like you said just like jewelry their is definitely a Brand Premium you pay .. for instance Swarovski take your average price and add another 500$ to it and thats what you get.. great optics yes but definitely marked up on premium and if you just wanted something that will work in the field and not fail on you for as low as you can go it might not be your first brand choice.
For instance I have Bushnell elites on some of my hunting rifles and never once had a issue with them, Perhaps yes not the premium Glass clarity but good enough for any hunting trip i've ever been on in fact they worked well past legal light.
Ive also had good luck with legends but with the new prices on elites when they are on sale it doesn't make sense to me to go the legend route anymore.
I think thats the kind of advice people are looking for in a thread like this.
Many moons ago, I bought a new cheapo Tasco 4x from retailer in the States. Sighted it in and took it on a week long deer hunt away from home and away from my spare rifles.
Here's how it went ......
Day 1 ...... Down pour rain event all day.
Day 2 ...... Scope totally fogged and useless.
Day 3 ...... Borrowed shotgun with slugs. <barf>
Day 4,5,6 . No shootum deer. Skunked!
Retailer refunded price of scope, but I had to eat shipping both ways and toasted my holiday deer hunt.
Lesson learned ...... Cheap scopes are not cheap. I now buy used scopes of known quality. Leupold, Weaver, B&L.
Many moons ago, I bought a new cheapo Tasco 4x from retailer in the States. Sighted it in and took it on a week long deer hunt away from home and away from my spare rifles.
Here's how it went ......
Day 1 ...... Down pour rain event all day.
Day 2 ...... Scope totally fogged and useless.
Day 3 ...... Borrowed shotgun with slugs. <barf>
Day 4,5,6 . No shootum deer. Skunked!
Retailer refunded price of scope, but I had to eat shipping both ways and toasted my holiday deer hunt.
Lesson learned ...... Cheap scopes are not cheap. I now buy used scopes of known quality. Leupold, Weaver, B&L.
If you don't think the same thing could happen with, as you say a quality scope, you are in for an awful shock. You just hear of less for two reasons,1, nobody wants to admit it and 2, the percentage of these scope's sold is a lot less.
Huh? is right.
I'd gamble my money on a used Leupold knowing full well if the seller was a tard and the scope was pewched,
the only thing I'd be out was some freight and a wee bit of time.
Bushnell's aren't the best out there, but no slouch either.
Only thing with Bushnell is one needs to know the line of Series and which still have a warranty or not.
To me, Leupold is the standing soldier in amongst the crowd.
Right, wrong, or indifferent, when in doubt, mail it in.
I'd gamble my money on a used Leupold knowing full well if the seller was a tard and the scope was pewched,
the only thing I'd be out was some freight and a wee bit of time.
Bushnell's aren't the best out there, but no slouch either.
Only thing with Bushnell is one needs to know the line of Series and which still have a warranty or not.
To me, Leupold is the standing soldier in amongst the crowd.
Right, wrong, or indifferent, when in doubt, mail it in.
I've owned many/many Leupolds over the years and only one required service. It was well used when it came to me and shortly after was pewched. I think it spent some time on a large bore and showed much use. I'm pretty happy with those results.
OTOH .... I've owned exactly one Tasco and it pewched the first day I used it afield.
Leupold has maybe a good warranty system and i was a good Leupold fan but after more than one year selling them that is the brand i ve seen the most going back for repairs .... and by far and we were selling different brands ....
Lots of sensible advice and well considered opinions here. Beware the super cheap scope, and, if you're on a budget also beware the advice of scope snobs. I've had good luck with older Redfields, any Leupolds I've owned, several grades of Bushnells - all the way down to the old Banners and Legends, and yes, even an older Tasco World Class. The problem with many of the older ones, Leupold excepted, is that there is no warranty service for them.
Best deal I ever saw on a used scope was an old broken Leupold for $2.00 that a buddy of mine found at a garage sale ... sent it back to Leupold, and, as expected, they sent him a brand new one.
Best deal I ever saw on a used scope was an old broken Leupold for $2.00 that a buddy of mine found at a garage sale ... sent it back to Leupold, and, as expected, they sent him a brand new one.
IMHO I would rather a bushnell trophy scope that any Vortex product in the crossfire range. I've had dozens of cheap bushnells over the years and can't say any ever failed me. Had 2 Crossfire scopes and both of them failed. But hey, they come with a great warranty.
+1 used leupold!
