Bushnell or Simmons

Jefro

Jefro

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So I'm looking for a decent scope that wont break the bank and have pretty much narrowed it down to the Bushnell Rimfire or Simmons .22 Mag. Now I've used the "Search Feature" on both here and rimfirecentral but it all appears to be the same stuff, people like one or the other and the only real argument is that the Simmons has Adjustable Objective.

Now while both are 3-9x42mm the Simmons seems to have the advantage with a Larger FOV, More Relief, More Adjustment and slightly lighter in Weight.

So the more I think about it, the Simmons .22 Mag seems to blow the Bushnell Rimfire away but has anyone here tried or owned both and can comment in that regard ? Or can anyone provide another option for under $100 that will compare or better the Simmons ?
 
Simmons scopes get put on Savage package rifles for a reason. They're cheap, low end scopes.
"...under $100..." You get what you pay for.
 
i have a couple Simmons on my .22 rimfires and 6.5x55 Gustav. and am very happy with their clarity and FOV. Also have some Bushnell scopes and would readily swap for a Simmons of the same value. Every one has their own opinion and I just said mine. Big bucks does not buy you accuracy.
 
sunray said:
Simmons scopes get put on Savage package rifles for a reason. They're cheap, low end scopes.
"...under $100..." You get what you pay for.
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Sunray if you haven't noticed Savage also uses Bushnell scopes on these same packages..

Bushnell scopes get put on Savage package rifles for a reason. They're cheap, low end scopes. under $100..." You get what you pay for.
 
Brocolt said:
Sunray if you haven't noticed Savage also uses Bushnell scopes on these same packages..

Bushnell scopes get put on Savage package rifles for a reason. They're cheap, low end scopes. under $100..." You get what you pay for.
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Ya that is true but they work well.
 
I don't have a ton of experience with optics as I just got into shooting in 2009. That being said I just picked up a Bushnell 3-9X rimfire scope from the CTC and am quite pleased with my purchase; the FOV is fine by me and picture quality is great. Overall construction seems to be a good standard. According to the supplied literature the scope is fog and waterproof, though I have no tested that. It also comes with a lifetime warranty (assuming I can keep the paper work :p). For the seventy or so dollars I spent I have no complaints and feel the product is a good value.
 
for the most part it will be fine on a .22LR with cheaper scopes you will find clarity & low light shooting more to be a problem, it's turn you get what you pay for when it comes to scopes. Clarity, FOV, power, eye relief / fast focus is important to me So for a rimfire I opt to buy a mid range scope or better like Nikon pro staff or Buckmaster, Bushnell Legend or Elite 3200, leupold Rifleman / VX1 or the New Red Field scopes for my 10/22 or Savage 93 some guys like the Leapers / Mueller scopes but I never tried them before.
 
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I've only ever owned one simmons scope, and it was a piece of crap. It was one of their cheaper models (not that they have any high end models), the optics were just awfull. Scopes in the same price range from Bushnell are much better.
 
i actually just picked up a scope from BassPro (yeah, yeah, i know !!LOL)for my (sons) 10/22 , it's there Redhead scope 4-12X-40 with adjustable objective, it's actually unbeleivably clear at 200 yards (as far as i've tried focusing it so far), but for the money, it's definately worth it !!, i think it was $119 or $129 (i can't remember), but for an "off brand" scope, it's actually quite nice !!
 
Appreciate the input so keep it coming! Initial preference is for something that is at least 3-9 or 4-12 with AO and over 40 clicks of adjustment. I'd also like something without turret covers as I do not want to be removing covers to make adjustments.

Scope will be for a Savage .22 which will be my first Rifle/Scope package etc... So the reason I was looking at the cheaper Rimfire Scopes was for something cheap and decent to learn on. I would like to get something more expensive which I could eventually use on a center fire but cannot afford a $250+ scope at this point. I'm however looking towards a Bushnell Banner 4-12x40AO which should fall around the $150 range ?
 
this is the scope i recently bought at "bassPro", but it does have turret covers

1022wscope003.jpg
 
Rather than looking for a budget variable power scope, you should consider getting a better quality 4 power fixed which is designed for a .22.
You can't get something for nothing and if you add variable power and adjustable objective lens you are going to lose out elsewhere.
You don't need a 9 or 12 power for a .22. I've seen Leupold M8 scopes sometimes sell on ebay for just over $100.
 
i sure would like to see you use a 4x scope and accomplish the shots that the "lowly" .22 is capable of. I use a 1960 Mossberg 144lsb and do shots out to 200 yards. A 4x could not discern a gopher at that distance. 3x 9x scopes do help out to 100 yards and a 6x24x allows vision out to 200. the Tasco 6x 24x can be picked up for about $100 and are quite capable to handle the .22 recoil without harm. I have one that has been on a .223 for 3 years and now on my Mossberg .22. Still holds center and clear as a bell at any distance.
 
Jefro said:
I'm however looking towards a Bushnell Banner 4-12x40AO which should fall around the $150 range ?
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This is the scope my CZ452s have been wearing for 8 plus years and I am happy with them.
They still moderately priced but the optics are good enough to give clear images even at the maximum power. The reticle cross hairs are also fine enough that they don't block your view of the target at 100 yards.

I like AOs for range use, where you know how far the targets are, but for field use, you should have a good eye for estimating range or your parallax settings can be off defeating the purpose of the AO. For field, a fixed objective is both faster and more accurate IMO.
 
I own both. The Simmons feels "cheap", the Bushnell feels "okay"... At least, when you put on flip-up covers on the Bushy, it doesn't feel like you've attached a part worth double the scope's value... ;)
 
Winnipeg Toymaker said:
i sure would like to see you use a 4x scope and accomplish the shots that the "lowly" .22 is capable of. I use a 1960 Mossberg 144lsb and do shots out to 200 yards. A 4x could not discern a gopher at that distance. 3x 9x scopes do help out to 100 yards and a 6x24x allows vision out to 200. the Tasco 6x 24x can be picked up for about $100 and are quite capable to handle the .22 recoil without harm. I have one that has been on a .223 for 3 years and now on my Mossberg .22. Still holds center and clear as a bell at any distance.
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Whatever. My comments are for the typical user of .22 rimfires who, in order to take advantage of the inherent design characteristics of the firearm, sights in around 50-60 yds. so the standard velocity LR round is within an inch from 12 yds. to 65 yds. and down 4-5 inches at 100 yds.
At 150 yds. it would be down over 2 feet and at 200 yds. would be off the scale due to the .22's rainbow trajectory.
 
Never owned or used a Simmons scope but own many Bushnells. Have not had any problems at all, they've worked just fine. Even their less expensive 3x9 x40 Sportsview, has performed over the years without problems. When the Bushnell Trophy first came out I bought one for my 300 H&H and it's still there and holds adjustment year after year. Got a couple of Banners and no problems. Still use and old Bushnell Scope Chief on a M88, 308 saddle gun. I think it's a 2x7x35 and has a quick distance adjustment for holding zero. That things gotta be getting close to 50 years, if it's a day, and moving around in a leather saddle scabbard it still works fine. Even my old steel Weavers still work. One's a tad cloudy but still useable.

As far as Simmons scopes go, they may be okay, just never had one.

.
 
Well my only other question now to try and help me narrow things down since I'm looking to use a .22 out to 100 yards with as much precision as possible would be, what type of magnification is good? 4-12x, 6-18x, 6-24x ?

I read a lot about scopes getting blurry the further you zoom so I'd imagine you would want to get something with a higher power so you can have a decent amount of zoom before it gets blurry? So example, if you wanted it clear up to 18x get the 6-24x... ?
 
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