[redneck2]

I just got a new Bushie AR Varminter. Came with a 6x24x50 A.O. Blazer scope with target turrets.

Now, everybody knows that a Leupold is about the best there is for the common man. Local dealer has a VX III 6.5x20 take-off that I can get for 1/2 price. I put it on lay-away and just got it out. Getting ready to replace the "crap" Blazer....

so I'm home tonite, checking out the optics. With the Leo I can kinda read the "yield" sign across the lake (maybe 500 yards). With my Burris 8x32x44 I can read it well, but with the Blazer I can see the screws that hold the sign in place.

Now I'm bummed. I have every confidence that the Leo would hold zero. I've had Simmons scopes before that didn't. Still, it's hard to give up the target turrets and better magnification

What gives??? I can't find the Blazer of this power anywhere on the internet after doing several searches. The Leo has to be way more expensive.

Looking for emotional support after spending $450 on a semi-used Leupold .

[Vern Humphrey]

so I'm home tonite, checking out the optics. With the Leo I can kinda read the "yield" sign across the lake (maybe 500 yards). With my Burris 8x32x44 I can read it well, but with the Blazer I can see the screws that hold the sign in place.


A lot of people, including some scope manufacturers, don't understand what scopes are for. They're for acquiring the target and aiming.

It really isn't important that you be able to read a sign through your scope -- as long as you can tell a prairie dog from a clump of grass. What IS important is that your scope hold its zero -- even riding behind the seat of a pickup, or in a saddle boot or in the basket of an ATV. You also want a scope that won't fog up, should you take it from a 70-degree bunkhouse out into below zero weather.

It's good if you have click adjustments and they give you accurate shifts -- a quarter inch at 100 yards for quarter minute clicks. But if you simply zero the rifle and leave it zeroed, even that isn't as important as maintaining its zero.


It's good if your adjustments are repeatable -- with a good scope, you ought to be able to shoot a group, click in 20 clicks left, shoot another, 20 clicks up and shoot another, then 20 clicks right for a third group, then come down 20 clicks and shoot right into your first group. But unless you make sight adjustments in shooting matches or when shooting in the field, even that isn't important.

[redneck2]

Well, with this rifle I had hoped to push the prarie dog population to the verge of extinction....(OK, that's a little optimistic).

Want to be SURE it will hold up, hold zero. Just a little suprised that the optics were as good as they were. For 10x the price for the Leo, I guess I expected it to blow the cheapie away.

I had a Simmons that crapped out on me in a deer hunt situation. Cost me a 14 point 30" outside spread buck. Since prarie dogs are a little easier to come by than 30" deer, maybe it's not so critical.

Guess the target turrets aren't so important if it's not repeatable. The old Simmons wouldn't hold zero at all. Whew...makes me feel better