NcStar scope good or bad??

[LarryG]

The only scope that ever failed me on an important hunt was a Leupold Vari-x II 2-7x. I bought it new and it was never dropped. Gun was a 7-57. That was a crappy scope, poor light transmission. I used to console myself with its crappy image by thinking at least I could count on it. Not so.
Since that time, I've used a bunch of cheap scopes, tascos, Simmons, olivon, BSA (that one was garbage). I also have a vortex diamondbk 4-12 (really my fav), as well as Leupold VX2 3-9.
Botoom line, some cheap scopes are garbage, others are usable and ok. Some are actually impressive values. In hindsight, if I could do it all over, I would buy a few less guns and only mount vortex diamondbacks on each one, since they are bright, reliable, not too $ used and the kicker: a lifetime transferrable warranty. But they don't come up for sale 2 often.
However, any talk of cheap scopes should always include the mounts and rings. I do not use the cheap chinese stuff anymore. Took them all off and replaced with weaver or better. I am a big fan of Zee rings and weaver steel rings.
So, if you do fall into temptation and buy a cheap chinese, mount it in good rings, you'll be that much closer to perfect if you need to replace it.

 

[Sigman99]

Bought a 3-9x that held up to my sks , but the mount has a short steel pin that damaged the rail it was mounted on. I no longer use it. Not reccomended.

 

[ndb86]

No one of any credibility runs NC star products. No one who's serious about their discipline runs NC star products. No one who offers a wide range of optics offers NC star products.

Here's a question for all the NC star champions here. If I offered you any NC star optic or any Leupold/Zeiss/Nightforce/US optics/Vortex/Schmidt and Bender/Premier model, which would you take? I very highly doubt you would choose an NC star.

TDC

I would take your Nightforce, sell it, then buy 200 NCstar scopes, then sell them on the EE for twice the price!

 

[TDC]

Bought a 3-9x that held up to my sks , but the mount has a short steel pin that damaged the rail it was mounted on. I no longer use it. Not reccomended.

7.62x39 is far from a punishing cartridge.

I would take your Nightforce, sell it, then buy 200 NCstar scopes, then sell them on the EE for twice the price!

Sadly, you likely could sell all 200 for more than retail.

TDC

 

[Dakk]

Here's a question for all the NC star champions here. If I offered you any NC star optic or any Leupold/Zeiss/Nightforce/US optics/Vortex/Schmidt and Bender/Premier model, which would you take? I very highly doubt you would choose an NC star.

TDC

No duh. If you take money out of the equation I'd be driving something a hell of a lot better than I am, and living in a mansion too. Unfortunately money is an issue. The issue of 'value' is always on the table. But if a few people buy an cheapo scope and it works well for them, then they've gotten good (better) value out of it, and there's not much you or any other critic can say to that.

The funny thing is, I wonder how many of the critics throw hundreds of dollars away on lottery tickets and haven't won anything better than a few free tickets in return. Now they're here telling someone else not to take a chance? That's kind of funny.

So far my experience is kind of limited with NcStar scopes. My friend has one that has worked for him, even mounting it to a shotgun shooting slugs. Yes, it seems el cheapo. But it still working so far.

 

[dinsdale]

Bought two NCStar scopes and a spotting scope a few years ago to see the quality before possibly selling them.
One of the scopes and the spotting scope failed before even making it to the range.

Sent them in for warranty replacement and the New in Box replacements are still on my shelf.
They weren't worth wholesale prices and sure as crap aren't worth retail.

For me, Bushnell Banner Dusk to DAwn is about as 'cheap' as I would go on a short range rifle/muzzle loader in non hunt of a lifetime scanarios