Value Priced Scopes discussion - the good the bad and the ugly....

blasted_saber said:
I concur.

The group of guys my camp is made up of have killed scads of deer and moose over the years with sub $200 scopes.

In fact just this summer I bought a used "package" scope for $25 and put it on a 10/22. Theres zero, I repeat ZERO problems with plinking with it. Would I put it on a deer rifle? No. Do I care if it wont allow me to shoot a squirrel one day or not hit a popcan at 100m iat dusk? Not at all.

Shooting is about having fun, something the gear snobs seem to have forgotten.
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I guess we all have our tolerance to "gambling" and put different value on our time.
- To me, hunting and time and range time are pretty valuable.

While I'm sure there are plenty of individuals who have had decent luck with "value" scope...
- I've known a bunch who had cheaper tasco/vortex/Barska/Leaper failed.

To me, having a range trip/hunt scrapped because of failed optic doesn't make financial sens.
- Given the option of a plain-jane 4x duplex Leupold, of some fancy variable-illuminated reticle promo-scope, I'll pick the boring 4x.
 
sillymike said:
I guess we all have our tolerance to "gambling" and put different value on our time.
- To me, hunting and time and range time are pretty valuable.

While I'm sure there are plenty of individuals who have had decent luck with "value" scope...
- I've known a bunch who had cheaper tasco/vortex/Barska/Leaper failed.

To me, having a range trip/hunt scrapped because of failed optic doesn't make financial sens.
- Given the option of a plain-jane 4x duplex Leupold, of some fancy variable-illuminated reticle promo-scope, I'll pick the boring 4x.
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Of the accumulative 1000s of hours of hunting (tens of thousands?) of my hunting group, none NONE of them have had a scope that retailed in the $100-200 range fail on a hunt. Of my recollection, 2 of them had Bushnells (Or Bausch and Lomb in the 30+ year range) fail over the offseason and both got free replacements and prompt service from Bushnell.

Most of these guys hunt dense bush in central Ontario. They will rarely if ever shoot at an animal further then 100m.

Would I expect a $50 Amazon special to last or be even somewhat clear? No. Would I invest my own money in one? Also no. But taking a flyer on a $25 used Bushnell package gun scope for my 10/22 which exists solely for me to shoot popcans at 30 paces or ring gongs at 300m for the hell of it is a risk im going to take.

Remember, shooting is fun. The old adage spend "as much on his scope as he did on his rifle" just doesnt hold water in 2021 when the price of rifles has skyrocketed while the price of scopes has not, and glass technology has improved considerably. A $200 Bushnell will last the vast majority of hunters there lifetime.
 
Japanese Tascos were good scopes. Older Redfields are good, I've never had an issue with B&L or Burris. Bushnells I've had a few failures, but I've also had one of their cheap 3-9 scopes that lived on an 8mm Rem Mag for 20 plus years with no issues. Leupolds have generally been good, though I have had a couple that needed repair. Weavers are good. Eventually they will need service though, Trace does a good job. The one SWAT scope I own has been repaired twice. Never had an issue with Zeiss, Hensoldt, Swarovski but I haven't owned many of them either. Owned Pentax and Nikons, no problems there either. FWIW - dan
 
brendanlfk said:
I am seeing these bushnell elite 4500 models are these updated versions of the 3500 series? I can’t seem to find any elite 3500 models for sale mostly that 4500.
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The 4500 is an update version of the 4200. Same as the 3500 is an updated 3200. They’re all discontinued now. Get em while you can. The 4x00 series is superior to the 3500.

That said, looks like Dante’s has some in stock and they’re a site sponsor. My local Canadian tire has dozens of the 3-9x40 for $220.
 
ALBERTA BOY said:
The 4500 is an update version of the 4200. Same as the 3500 is an updated 3200. They’re all discontinued now. Get em while you can. The 4x00 series is superior to the 3500.

That said, looks like Dante’s has some in stock and they’re a site sponsor. My local Canadian tire has dozens of the 3-9x40 for $220.
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Thank you! Cheers!
 
I bought a used Leupold M8 4x scope for $100 15 years ago that my brother uses on his 30-06 deer hunting rifle for about a decade now. The glass is very clear and I would say comparable if not better than mid tier scopes made today and has a lifetime warranty if it ever happens to break. The problem is that people have found out that many of these older scopes are great and prices have skyrocketed. Even many Japanese made scopes made in the 70's and 80's that could be bought for pennies a couple of years ago now have a well deserved reputation of being great and durable and is no longer a option for the budget friendly buyer because prices are on par with new scopes.
I really like these kinds of posts because I know that many people starting out are probably on a budget, like I was, and they can focus on getting the best bang for their buck from others experiences.
While I use a Leupold Vx3 on my Tikka T3 for hunting, I recently bought a used Tasco 4x scope that I put on a sporterized Enfield to see if it will hold up. Who knows, maybe in 30 years it will be a hidden gem that someone on a budget can pickup cheap that will serve them as well as the M8 has served me so far.
 
blasted_saber said:
Of the accumulative 1000s of hours of hunting (tens of thousands?) of my hunting group, none NONE of them have had a scope that retailed in the $100-200 range fail on a hunt. Of my recollection, 2 of them had Bushnells (Or Bausch and Lomb in the 30+ year range) fail over the offseason and both got free replacements and prompt service from Bushnell.

Most of these guys hunt dense bush in central Ontario. They will rarely if ever shoot at an animal further then 100m.

Would I expect a $50 Amazon special to last or be even somewhat clear? No. Would I invest my own money in one? Also no. But taking a flyer on a $25 used Bushnell package gun scope for my 10/22 which exists solely for me to shoot popcans at 30 paces or ring gongs at 300m for the hell of it is a risk im going to take.

Remember, shooting is fun. The old adage spend "as much on his scope as he did on his rifle" just doesnt hold water in 2021 when the price of rifles has skyrocketed while the price of scopes has not, and glass technology has improved considerably. A $200 Bushnell will last the vast majority of hunters there lifetime.
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I really dont understand why someone would be willing to spend whatever on a new rifle and buy a cheap scope?? As far as I know most quality rifles start around $900 and go steeply up but you think a $100-$200 scopes the way to go. So deer hunting is once a year and your using a weeks vacation and youve splurged and bought ur new dream deer rifle, probably the 453Gloundnboomer and topped it with that awesome brand new $195 BARSKA,LEAPER,WHATEVER. Last day on watch and BIG JIM shows up,YEP THE ONE ON UR TRAIL CAMERA PICS. No worries as youve got super quality on ur side blasted_sabre. As Luke Skywalker said MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU. I cant believe in this day and age people still buy into this. Im sure you think a Skoda is equal to an Audi or Mercedes. Best of luck as YOULL BE NEEDING IT.
 
Longstud said:
I really dont understand why someone would be willing to spend whatever on a new rifle and buy a cheap scope?? As far as I know most quality rifles start around $900 and go steeply up but you think a $100-$200 scopes the way to go. So deer hunting is once a year and your using a weeks vacation and youve splurged and bought ur new dream deer rifle, probably the 453Gloundnboomer and topped it with that awesome brand new $195 BARSKA,LEAPER,WHATEVER. Last day on watch and BIG JIM shows up,YEP THE ONE ON UR TRAIL CAMERA PICS. No worries as youve got super quality on ur side blasted_sabre. As Luke Skywalker said MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU. I cant believe in this day and age people still buy into this. Im sure you think a Skoda is equal to an Audi or Mercedes. Best of luck as YOULL BE NEEDING IT.
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You, and others like you are the reason many young people are not getting into the sport. I agree that there is a lot of junk out there, but there are some hidden gems. $200-300 gets you a good used rifle, and you can find a good used scope for $50-200. I don't believe you should start out with a scope. I still shoot better with the factory sights on my CIL Anschutz 180 I bought as a box of parts for $100 and repaired myself, than I can with my well scoped Brno and CZ... and my eyes are over 60 years old.

So many spend a thousand dollars or maybe twice that, never learn to shoot, get discouraged and give up on the sport; come out all gung-ho to the club for less than a year, never win a competition after spending the money on a super rifle, never to be seen again. You sound like one of those in your post. Guys like you keep used rifles and equipment reasonably priced, because it is never good enough for your type.

Thanks. LOL
 
I have a few scopes that were cheap- hawk optic 3-9 thick ol’duplex sitting in my side mounted screw on 30-30 - 1894 Winchester that is still holding zero to this day. It gets a click or so every year or two. When the ammo lots change I guess. Stay damn consistent and we don’t venture over 200y with it. I don’t think I have used a better bush scope. I have treated it like crap when I bought it back in 2008 or so.

Every Tasco I have owned, worked. My 6-24 tracks quite well but I do not enjoy its overall clarity. It sucks in lower light. Sat on a .204, .22’s and 243, and even a 338lm to be funny. Worked just fine. Still does.

I run lots of high end stuff too. S&B, USO, NF, Leupold etc. Been around the block and my only hate is with millet and vortex. Junk.
 
Speaking of folks getting "out" of the sport.

From what I've seen, it's more often than not about $$.
Not so much the initial investment... but the realization they can't actually afford to feed it... Sure, they could save money by getting into reloading, but that's a whole new hobby onto itself, with still more $$ tied into it.

Sometime they'll decide to get a 22lr... and they'll buy the cheapest one around (because a 22lr is a kid's gun, right?), get aggravated with the reliability... and be upset when they have to put-out more $$ to replace their Squire Bingham m20...

-

As for scope, there ought to be a warning when shopping on Amazon.
- That super-dooper-feature-pact-sniper-scope... is probably best mounted on a airsoft...
 
From someone who has bought expensive scopes north of $500
I currently own four Simmons 4x32 fixed scopes - very clear glass and excellent eye relief had them on 223, 204, 17hmr and 22 lr
since I sold my 204 and 17 hmr am debating on putting them on my 308 and 6.5 creedmoor since my max range distance is 200 yards anything beyond that hold over is your friend
 
Longstud said:
I really dont understand why someone would be willing to spend whatever on a new rifle and buy a cheap scope?? As far as I know most quality rifles start around $900 and go steeply up but you think a $100-$200 scopes the way to go. So deer hunting is once a year and your using a weeks vacation and youve splurged and bought ur new dream deer rifle, probably the 453Gloundnboomer and topped it with that awesome brand new $195 BARSKA,LEAPER,WHATEVER. Last day on watch and BIG JIM shows up,YEP THE ONE ON UR TRAIL CAMERA PICS. No worries as youve got super quality on ur side blasted_sabre. As Luke Skywalker said MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU. I cant believe in this day and age people still buy into this. Im sure you think a Skoda is equal to an Audi or Mercedes. Best of luck as YOULL BE NEEDING IT.
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I literally just explained to you my real life experiences with "cheap" scopes. If you can't comprehend what I wrote, that's not my fault.
 
sillymike said:
Speaking of folks getting "out" of the sport.

From what I've seen, it's more often than not about $$.
Not so much the initial investment... but the realization they can't actually afford to feed it... Sure, they could save money by getting into reloading, but that's a whole new hobby onto itself, with still more $$ tied into it.

Sometime they'll decide to get a 22lr... and they'll buy the cheapest one around (because a 22lr is a kid's gun, right?), get aggravated with the reliability... and be upset when they have to put-out more $$ to replace their Squire Bingham m20...

-

As for scope, there ought to be a warning when shopping on Amazon.
- That super-dooper-feature-pact-sniper-scope... is probably best mounted on a airsoft...
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Or Pot Metal POSs because they "look cool".
 
No one even mentioned Vortex on this thread yet, I find that very telling.

Plinking is 1 thing, hunting is another. I think that the farther you travel from home and the more you spend on a hunt should justify absolute confidence in your gear.
 
I stopped buying scopes made in the "suspect" countries. China, Phillipines, etc. Life is too short to mess with crappy scopes. Made in USA, Japan, or Europe don't cost THAT much more. Brand doesn't matter as much since the majority of cheaper scope brands outsource the manufacturing, anyways.
 
blasted_saber said:
Of the accumulative 1000s of hours of hunting (tens of thousands?) of my hunting group, none NONE of them have had a scope that retailed in the $100-200 range fail on a hunt.
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The first rifle I ever had a scope on had a Tasco 2-7x with the pronghorn on the side. Iirc, I got one season out of it, and in the middle of the second season it fogged internally. My hunt was pretty much done, since that was the only rifle I had at the time and it didn't have back-up irons. It was covered under warranty, but that was little help at the moment. After that incident I started buying Leupolds.

One of my brothers also had an inexpensive 3-9x fog, though I'm not sure of the brand. At least he had irons to fall back on.

I would say your group has been exceptionally lucky.
 
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