Low Cost Scopes on Higher Calibre Rifles
- Thread starter D-Rock
- Start date
Yes I know lots of folks that use crappy scopes. I see them all the time. They come in to the range for some help zeroing. Their scopes won't track, are not fog proof, have broken reticles, or my favorite have small pieces floating around inside the tube. They invariably blame their rifles too!prosper said:
I have only ever seen one S&B scope come through for maintenance, and the guy dropped it off a mountain!
More expensive scope offer more than just feeling good. They give you much clearer views of the game. We often hunt in less than great conditions. Low light, fog, brush, etc all conspire to limit what we can see. With a good scope you will see more. This is often a chance to shoot the correct animal as you can see the antler tines in the trees with relative ease when you use a good scope.
- Location
- AB foothills
Rohann said:
Rohann pretty much sums it up with that statement...
juanvaldez
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Sudbury, Ontario
get a mueller, cheap and pretty good so far
The less features something has, the less there is that can go wrong.
As Dogleg said, it is probably best to get a fixed power scope when you are shopping for something inexpensive.
An important weak link that is often overlooked is the quality of the rings. Even good quality steel rings like Leupold or Millet will be the the least expensive part of the setup. Avoid the Weaver rings. They are a pain to mount because they always turn the scope as you tighten the caps, and I have had them come loose too often for me to ever trust them again.
As Dogleg said, it is probably best to get a fixed power scope when you are shopping for something inexpensive.
An important weak link that is often overlooked is the quality of the rings. Even good quality steel rings like Leupold or Millet will be the the least expensive part of the setup. Avoid the Weaver rings. They are a pain to mount because they always turn the scope as you tighten the caps, and I have had them come loose too often for me to ever trust them again.
I am a total newbie when it comes to optics but I was in the local toy store and was checking out a nice new Nikon and was quite impressed until I picked up a used fixxed power Luepy. It was like someone switched on a light. I was really surprised because the Nikon had seemed good until that moment. Next time I buy a scope I will get one with as few bells and whistles as possible and try them out next to each other to compare.
- Location
- Hillbilly shack in the boonies
B S A 
Very true, but will a $1000 scope be twice as good as a $500 scope? Not usually, but it will be a bit better. Don't get me wrong, I like good scopes too. All my scopes are Leupolds or B&L, but I wouldn't pay the extra for a heavy european scope with iffy warranty service here in NA.redleg said:
Many times the extra amount in the price is paid for the name and the shipping from Europe.
.
A wise cabinet maker once said. "When I look around my shop, it is not those tools I spent top dollar on that I regret buying, it is those I cheaped out on".
Buying a scope is a compromise for most people. Does a guy who is going to spend 3 or 4 days a year in the bush need a $1,000 scope? Even a $500 scope? Hardly.
But if you know you are going to spend a lot of time at the range and a lot of time in the field, you are potentially setting yourself up for failure and more dollars later if you don't purchase quality up front.
Buying a scope is a compromise for most people. Does a guy who is going to spend 3 or 4 days a year in the bush need a $1,000 scope? Even a $500 scope? Hardly.
But if you know you are going to spend a lot of time at the range and a lot of time in the field, you are potentially setting yourself up for failure and more dollars later if you don't purchase quality up front.
