[Bill B.]

Personally I have only found 1 brand that had a couple that I have found to be excellent. The Simmons 44 Mag. Series and the Whitetail Classic series. Granted both of these scopes were to sell higher than $100.00 but are still available at closeout prices and under $100.00.

Anyone else found anything that they have been pleased with in this price range?

[fog]

how can i recommend a scope for under $100 when i need more info
such as what cailber is it going on
is it just target shooting
is it local hunting
or is it a once in a lifetime hunting trip when you only get one shot?
answer these questions and ill answer whether i think a 44 mag is ok
i own several burris scopes on my bigger calibers i feel they take the bang better(leupold are good too) on my 17hmr i have a pine ridge that i bought for $50 new optics are very very clear and i like it
these are my 2 cents worth today
fog

[Bill B.]

I was pointing out a particular line or lines in a brand of scope that was a good buy for the dollars spent. The two lines I pointed out were and are available in wide variety of models for different applications. Going to the local Wal Mart and buying a Leupold Rifleman scope don't put it on par with the Vari X III Leupold regardless of the application. Brand name doesn't make the product. For those that have the Leupold Rifleman scope I am not putting them down I am just saying they are some great Leupold's and some good Leupold's. Either the 44 Mag. or White Tail Classic Simmons compares very well with scopes costing many more dollars. I also would buy the best I could afford if money was no object but unfortunately that generally comes into play ..........

[solarpimp]

I just bought a pretty good scope for $105.00. Now, I usually chase down pretty snobby optics. I have owned numerous scopes by Zeiss, IOR, Leupold MK IV, and S&B! But I just found a Stevens (by Savage) '06 Boltgun, which is essentially the same rifle as the 110/111 series BEFORE they started installing the Accu-trigger on everything they make! Picked it up with a cheap old-style (more on that later) Simmons 8-POINT 3x9x40 for $249.00, and luckily the gun on the shelf was the last, so whhaaalaaa I got the 10% demo discount (Dick's Sporting Goods for all interested!). So here I am, I have what I know is gonna be a pretty damn accurate '06 for $224.00! But to keep it interesting, I wanted to come in @ MOA scoped, and nicely scoped for under $350.00! Well after much research I came up with the following scopes as finalists!

Simmons Master Pro-Hunter 3x9x40 (the new Simmons True 1-peice scopes seem promising! The Master AETEC is the way to go, but were outside the $350.00 boundary I set, they can be had for $149.00 while the Pro-Hunter can be had @ $89.00...both offer side-focus models-at a premium, a new thing for Simmons, and something I really, really like due to owning a Zeiss Conquest Side-focus model previously purchased for a Savage 112VSS).

Nikon BuckMaster 3x9x40 @ the sample list @ SWFA. These are great optics for Great money folks!

Burris Fullfield 3x9x40. This is the KING of the bargain scopes! US made and relaible for $150.00???

Leupold Rifleman 3x9x40. The Rifleman is NOT a true 1-peice tube, but does offer the same Leupold warranty! Can't beat that, and it is US made! The one downfall is that, unlike all other models, the Rifleman is not eligible for upgrades made to its model line! I'd like to see other scope manufacturers offer service like that!

...and finally my choice...for $105.00!!!!

After reading several reviews online regarding accalades of all sorts I decided to pick one up and see what it was about! I must say, it seems durable, optically sound (although not superior to the Burris or Nikon-but easily as good or better than the others!) and tracks well! It is a...

Millet Buck Silver 4x12x40 w/ side-focus!!! This scope is better than any of the scopes mentioned above dollar for dollar!!!! I had read several reviews stating such, and was pretty much a non-believer, but alas it is true...These scopes rock!!! And if you like 30mm tubes and tactical scopes, check out the Millet website! They offer a 6x40 Silver series for $69.99 for all of you fixed scope lovers, and a 6x24x40 AO for right at $80.00! Their top of the line 30mm, Mildot, Side focus, Illuminated Tactical scope brings a shade over $300.00! All offer a no BS Lifetime Warranty! They don't fix it, they replace it!

And for you guys trying to scope a Magnum, let me recommend...

Nikon Omega 3x9x40! It comes w/ either a BDC retical or a duplex. Initially designed to be installed on a muzzleloader using 150 grains of powder and a 250 grain projectile, the scope can be used with standard and magnum calibers as well! I check out Outdoor Life reviews on optics and rifles every year, and they rarely miss! The Nikon is the first scope I can remember that got 4 stars in every category (value, low light, tracking, and optical quality if memory serves?)! I picked one up for $196.00 on the 'Bay for my Knight Disc Elite .50 (which I paid $165.00 for!). The eye-relief is an honest 5 inches! So, like I said, for you Magnum lovers needing great glass for little dough, this is the way!


Hope this helps!


SOLAR

[solarpimp]

Fog, please tell me more about these! I saw these and they seemed damn cool and reasonably priced! I need a scope for my Savage M93 .17 HMR HBV! I thibk I'm gonna get one! Did you get the side focus model? Did you get the 4x14 or the 6x20 magnification model? I am interested to see how they performed? Tracked? And to see how the BDC knob performed???


Thanks, SOLAR

[saddlebum]

burris full fields are not USA made.

[carnaby]

I have a Nikon Prostaff that I got for $125, typically sells for under $150, and it is a superb scope. Very clear and bright optics. My old scope was a bargain basement Simmons that I put on my AR. The Nikon blows it away. The differnce is quite surprising for the money.

[LAK]

Any older model Burris or Leupold 4X fixed power you can find in servicable condition.

[Tarvis]

Millet Buck Silver 4x12x40 w/ side-focus!!! This scope is better than any of the scopes mentioned above dollar for dollar!!!!

I am the dissapointed owner of a Millet Buck Lightning in 1.5-6x44. The price tag was around $200. Now, I don't know what anyone else considers good optics, but the picture wasn't all that clear and very distorted. The first scope they sent me lost a gasket on the objective lense after about 2-3 months. I sent it back and recieved a new scope with the same problems as the first one. In fact, it seems like I can see the inside of the tube. I'm no expert, but the quality I've seen so far is dismal. The thing that bothers me the most is I looked through the scope before I bought it and apparently didn't notice the distortion. I suppose I should have looked more carefully. Perhaps I had a bad experience or I've no idea what I'm talking about, but I wouldn't count on the Millet I bought for hammering nails. It still works, but I should have bought a leupold.

Also, it seems to me that I am affraid of buying anything but what I know to be a good scope. I look at many different optics under the glass case, but none seem to appeal to me unless they have the gold ring around the front bell. Am I wrong for thinking leupold is the only scope that can satisfy my needs, or am I just sceptical? I see names like barska, burris, BSA and Tasco and cringe. They may well be good scopes, but for $200 I can buy a leupold rifleman and not worry. One thing I really hate is buyers remorse.

Any thoughts?

[Funderb]

M1 surplus!
NcStar is a fairly good brand for the price.
I've never had a problem with the few that I own.
I've got a link in my sig. check it out.

[carnaby]

I'm not a scope expert either, Tarvis, but I feel the same way about barska, burris, BSA and Tasco.

On the other hand, I have had excellent luck with my Nikon. My cheapo Simmons is worth every penny of the $30 or so dollars it cost. Then there's Pentax, Konus, and a few other lower end scopes that I have no idea about. After that, it gets into Leupold, Swarovski, Kahles, and all the other scopes that I can't afford. Someday I'll know more about optics, but this is not that day :)

[Tarvis]

It seems like you get what you pay for. I guess the Millet I bought is on my mini14 so its no big deal, I don't use it for one-chance shots, mostly rabbits yotes and plinking. I bought a Rem 700P with a leupold vari x III (around $1000 for the scope) and I don't see how I could possibly put a cheapo scope on it. When it comes down to the last 15 minutes of the last day of the season and the last buck happens to walk out of the trees, I'd rather be worried about my shaking hands rather than if I'm going to be able to see him or not through the scope. Just a thought I suppose.

[GrandmasterB]

The Mueller APV scope for rimfires has gotten rave reviews over at RimfireCentral. They list for $129, but you can probably find some deals on them.

[mossberg]

How come no mention of Bushnell?

[RandyB]

I am a fan of the Mueller line and have Konus that is awesome! I have two of the Muellers and consider them very good bargins. The Konus is on my T/C Omega and has been used for about 5 years with great sucess.

Another optics co. that I am a fan of is Pentax. I have one on my 30-30 and took a deer this year after a long stalk at a stepped off 160 yards in a soybean field.

[rmb721]

AS far as I am concerned, you would be better off to buy the best USED Leupold you can afford. A used Leupold is guananteed the same as a new one and you can not beat their service.

I know someone that fell and damaged their Leupold 3-9x50 and Leupold repaired it free when it was clearly not the fault of the scope.

As for some companies replacing scopes instead of repairing them, they might not be worth repairing.