- Location
- Port Perry/Toronto
If you had to choose one brand of cheap scope which one would you choose?
The best of the worst -cheap scope brands
- Thread starter nickorette
- Start date
cheap scopes
I have a Tasco 3x9x40 that is totally useless and sits in my toolbox. I have a BSA 6x24x40 that sits on a 30-06 that does a great job but the best I have used are the made in China closes of Bush***l that seem to be really good - I have a 6x24x50 that sits on a 7mm RM that holds true and withstands recoil just as good as the $400 "real" scope that sits on my .270 Maybe I have just been lucky ???
I have a Tasco 3x9x40 that is totally useless and sits in my toolbox. I have a BSA 6x24x40 that sits on a 30-06 that does a great job but the best I have used are the made in China closes of Bush***l that seem to be really good - I have a 6x24x50 that sits on a 7mm RM that holds true and withstands recoil just as good as the $400 "real" scope that sits on my .270 Maybe I have just been lucky ???
Northman999
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Yukon
I've had three Tasco scopes on rifles for over fifteen years (.22, .308, .338) and honestly no problems with them whatsoever. No experience with the other brands as I just keep buying Tasco's.
A friend of mine recently bought one of the new Leapers with the side wheel adjustable objective. It seems remarkably clear and he states the windage and elevation adjusts reliably. Time will tell as far as durability goes.
In the past Phil at P & D has spoken well of the Leapers.
In the past Phil at P & D has spoken well of the Leapers.
I have a Mueller scope that was just under $200 and I think its a good performer for the money. I also have a Burris Fullfield II which was not expensive and seems decent. I think one of the problems with shopping for some of the cheap scopes entirely by brand name is that you don't know what you are getting. Some of the older Bushnells were pretty good quality. I have a Bushnell Banner I've been using on a high powered rifle for over 15 years and its optics are quite sharp and bright.
The older Bushnells, Tasco and Simmons that were made in Japan were excellent scopes for the money. The newer cheapies can be hit or miss. As a general rule, in quality order top to bottom, it's the Japanese scopes, then Phillipenes, then Korea / Tiawan, and last off the Chinese scopes for overall quality, in my humble opinion. Although some of the Chinese stuff is starting to get better, it's still variable in terms of quality. One note about Tasco, their Titan line of 30mm tube scopes, made in Japan, are excellent performers.
Last edited:
Rod B
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I have had good results with the higher end BSA scopes.
I have one Contender & two Platinums which have given years of trouble free service.
No they don't compare to my Weaver scopes. However they did not cost nearly as much.
I would stay away from the least expensive models in all the brands listed in this poll.
I have one Contender & two Platinums which have given years of trouble free service.
No they don't compare to my Weaver scopes. However they did not cost nearly as much.
I would stay away from the least expensive models in all the brands listed in this poll.
Fitco
I just picked up two Fitco scopes to use on .22s and air rifles. They are 2-7 X 32 with adjustable objective. Cost was $25.50 each plus shipping and taxes so under $35 all in. The glass is quite clear, crosshairs are a good size and focus sharply, there is a fair bit of peripheral distortion. Well worth what I paid for them and for the intended purpose. I just put one on a Daisy 953 that I shoot in the garage at 10 m so I could free up a much better scope for other things. The Fitco is doing the job well.
Futong is having a 50% off sale at the moment so some decent deals. In addition to the scopes I bought some of their 3/8 dovetail rings (R001) for $4.50 and they are a very good set of rings.
I just picked up two Fitco scopes to use on .22s and air rifles. They are 2-7 X 32 with adjustable objective. Cost was $25.50 each plus shipping and taxes so under $35 all in. The glass is quite clear, crosshairs are a good size and focus sharply, there is a fair bit of peripheral distortion. Well worth what I paid for them and for the intended purpose. I just put one on a Daisy 953 that I shoot in the garage at 10 m so I could free up a much better scope for other things. The Fitco is doing the job well.
Futong is having a 50% off sale at the moment so some decent deals. In addition to the scopes I bought some of their 3/8 dovetail rings (R001) for $4.50 and they are a very good set of rings.
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
Tasco World Class Target scopes made around the90's. ALL were made in Japan. Decent glass, excellent mechanicals that worked great.
They were not fully multicoated so a bit dim which was a good thing as I used them for silhouette shooting in the summer. Sort of like cheap sunglasses
Bushnells made in Japan can also be blessed with very nice optics. Scopechief, Balvar are all superb scopes from the 70's and 80's.
My only experience with Fitco was one scope and it was very bad.
Curious about Leapers as they seem to want to make some decent products.
The many Chinese scopes you find on ebay and other places all look to have decent externals. It's the glass that usually sucks. However, they always come with many features only offered on mega dollar scopes.
Things like etched glass mil reticles, illuminated this and that, fancy target knobs, etc. Great features on a scope for $89. Odds are the glass sucks but what if someone put decent glass into these dirt cheap chassis??????
The 'new' Nikon scope plant in the Phillipines is as good as any in the world. Their products are superb.
I really shy away from much of the retail dirt cheap scopes as their optics and mechanicals are not great in general.
There are many options over the internet direct from overseas that are keeping prices very low. Might just start buying some to test just for S&G's.
I think Leaper would be a good place to start.
Jerry
They were not fully multicoated so a bit dim which was a good thing as I used them for silhouette shooting in the summer. Sort of like cheap sunglasses
Bushnells made in Japan can also be blessed with very nice optics. Scopechief, Balvar are all superb scopes from the 70's and 80's.
My only experience with Fitco was one scope and it was very bad.
Curious about Leapers as they seem to want to make some decent products.
The many Chinese scopes you find on ebay and other places all look to have decent externals. It's the glass that usually sucks. However, they always come with many features only offered on mega dollar scopes.
Things like etched glass mil reticles, illuminated this and that, fancy target knobs, etc. Great features on a scope for $89. Odds are the glass sucks but what if someone put decent glass into these dirt cheap chassis??????
The 'new' Nikon scope plant in the Phillipines is as good as any in the world. Their products are superb.
I really shy away from much of the retail dirt cheap scopes as their optics and mechanicals are not great in general.
There are many options over the internet direct from overseas that are keeping prices very low. Might just start buying some to test just for S&G's.
I think Leaper would be a good place to start.
Jerry
I have a tasco exp ("extreme performance") 3-9 mounted on top of an m-305 that's seen a fair bit of use over the lst 4 or 5 years. So far not a hitch but I don't adjust it very often, it holds zero very well so I don't mess with it. I like the oval lense as it really opens up the fov at 100 yards compared to regular round objective. It is at the top end of cheap scopes in my books though, it think I paid $250 for it.
Osborne
Osborne
Tasco
I vote Tasco too. I've had a number of the World Class and World Class Plus series without any issues. Also, the Varmint 2.5-10x42mmAO mil-dot. Have it on my Rem 7 .223 and it's very good value for the money.
Tasco - is that cheap enough?
I have their 2.5-10x 42 mil dot ($90) and so far so good. (but I have it on a .22 and don't use that gun much these days...
I vote Tasco too. I've had a number of the World Class and World Class Plus series without any issues. Also, the Varmint 2.5-10x42mmAO mil-dot. Have it on my Rem 7 .223 and it's very good value for the money.
My jury is still out until later. I've got a leapers that seems fine, but its fairly new. Time will tell. My tasco seems fine too... but years ago I had a bushnell on a 10/22 that I banged around for years...ok I guess I'm a cheap scope guy. In my defence I don't shoot beyond 200m and at that range my iron sights work good. (see-through mounts on everything, if you don't trust the scope, don't disable the iron sights...)
