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

9.3mauser said:
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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That’s the point I was trying to highlight. Didn’t say the experience of others were not true. I’m just older with no patience for s..t that doesn’t work or makes my vision worse. Never said anything about a dollar amount that had to be spent to get decent quality. Many times I have suggested for someone to look on the EE because they’re are deals to be had. I have bought several different types of optics this way. I was trying to point out that a lot of the stuff that looks so awesome with every feature but it’s $149 or whatever will leave you with a sour taste in your mouth. As far as encouraging new shooters goes. I bring an extra rifle and free ammo to every shoot I attend with a standing offer for free use. I stay after to allow anyone interested to try the sport. I have given guns,ammo,equipment away to many young shooters and there are members on here that know this.
 
nowarningshot said:
Really were in a golden age of optics. Everything has really gone up. If I was to suggest value scopes....new old stock clear out Nikon, bushnell 3200,3500, vortex above crossfire.
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This is definitely true. I mean, we hear a lot about people needing to warranty Vortex Crossfires but the reality is they sell so many of them the failure rates are actually really low. I have one on a .22 that I suspect will go the long haul, it's a decent scope.

Everyone's low end is good, if you move up from Crossfire to Diamondback you get more features and options, but as soon as you move in to the Viper line, that's good stuff. Razors are even better.

As much as I hate the name VX-Freedom, as Leupolds entry level scope they took the best of the VX-II and some pieces from the VX-I and ended up with a straightforward solid scope. It's not a VX-3HD (which is an excellent scope outright) but you could take one on a once-in-a-lifetime hunt and it wouldn't be out of place unless the snob factor was high.

Bushnell seems to have Elites back in the lineup? Not sure there, I have an old 5-15 Elite Tactical, made in Japan, it's great for looking through all day, but I also have a new Prime and Nitro - in their respective price ranges they are extremely robust and clear. "Prime" is supposed to represent the new entry level, mine is an illuminated 30mm tube and it's great. Not sure how the lesser models in the range are but I am happy with the price:quality ratio I got with mine. South Korea manufacture.

Burris is another one, the Fullfield IV is a lot of scope for the money. I'd skip the Droptine altogether, that's more of a CT Special to me, but the IV offers usable magnification ranges, decent turrets, decent glass, and I like the E3 reticle. I've used the lifetime warranty on an old FF-II and Stoeger took care of me.

Now most of those are sub-$500, not sub-$200, but it really goes to show that you can get some decent options in that price range worth checking out. If you're going to drop $1,000 on a T3x or Vanguard or X-Bolt, dropping another $500 on an optic should be a no-brainer.
 
Vx freedom is very good, probably better than some of the vintage euro optics guys pay a lot for on e.e

Redfield Filipino scopes were almost on the same level, very good and cost less iirc

Vortex diamondback is a step down from the these two but cheaper still.

There is a trend towards 4-12x + scopes on hunting rifles now, the value options ar higher magnification ranges are pretty meh I find. Might be better to just buy a vx freedom or similar price range used scope at a lower magnification

Golden age of optics is right though, I imagine even the worst vortex crossfire would have been a real sensation 40 years ago.

I wish we could get some of the feature filled scopes coming out these days with long tubes to be mounted on older long action rifles
 
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