Help me rate scope brands

[Blakenzy]

I have recently grown an interest in magnified optics for rifles but I know next to nothing regarding the overall reputations and qualities of the different brands, which are many.

Needless to say, I have read somewhat on general features of scopes (Multicoated lenses, Adj.Objectives, parallax, Fixed mag. vs. Variable mag., different styles of crosshairs, exit pupil diameter, friction vs. click adjustment, zero hold and tracking ability, etc.) and understand them, but all brands seem to claim that they sport features which make a good scope. I have not been able to find a general overview that discriminates which are the high end, low end, good, acceptable or just plain garbage brands(other than somewhat by the price).

So, I have made a list of the scope brands that I see most often and I would like you to comment on them, roughly ordering them considering both Optic quality and Accuracy (I know that Zeiss makes excellent microscopes, Nikon makes great cameras so they must be pretty good in the optic quality department, but what about their accuracy?) Perhaps they can be grouped into A)excellent, B)acceptable and C)cheap quality. Help me get an idea of what is what.
Here's the list in alphabetical order:
BSA
Burris
Bushnell
Kahles
Leupold
Millet
Nikon
Schmidt-Bender
Sightron
Simmons
Swarovski
Thompson Center
Tasco
Weaver
Zeiss

[hksw]

For me: (best to worst)

Schmidt u Bender
Zeiss
Swarovski

Leupold
Kahles
Sightron

Nikon
Burris
Tasco (Super Sniper)

Millet (New Models)
Tasco (All Other)
Simmons

Bushnell
Weaver


Thompson Center




BSA

There are deifnite breaks between groups.

[Lucky]

IOR Valada? The worst I've heard of them is that their 1.1x isn't quite 1x, though they advertise it as 1.1x.

[paperpuncher49]

I would tend to agree with hksw, except that I would put Bushnell and Simmons on the same line.

I can't comment on Thompson Center having had no experience with them.

And I don't believe the gap between the rest of the field and BSA is as wide as it should be. BSA should be on the next page. Remember, BS is another way of saying crap.

[GunTech]

You didn't include Nightforce or US Optics.

[ranger335v]

In all respect to Mr. hksw, it ain't that simple. Most brands have two to as many as four or even five price levels, that defeats the comparison by brand idea. Take Bushnell for instance; their top scopes are indeed excellant but the lower end models they sell in blister packs at Walmart are worth the little they cost. Leupold has at least three price lines, more I think and I'd much rather have a top line Bushnell than the bottom line Leupold!

MSRP prices can be deceiving too. Some makers - Tasco, Simmons, BSA come to mind - boast the MSRP pretty high so their actual selling prices can look really attractive when sold by econobox stores, so the idea that "you get what you pay for" can be deceiving. And the German scopes are excellant but cost far more than what you get, IMHO.

[hksw]

Uh, my list is not based on price. It is based on overall average build and optical quality of the make.

Please, don't hesitate to make your own list.

[ranger335v]

hksw, "my list is not based on price. It is based on overall average build and optical quality of the make".

Understand your position and won't argue your point much but cost does make a difference in what we can expect from any product. Mostly, I agree with your accessments, only disagree with blanket statements without consideration of the wide variations within a brand.

I mean that listing the bands by "average build and ..quality" pulls down the value of each makers top product and raises the value of the lower end of their line. Since most makers do produce a broad range of build and quality, it seems more valid to compare price line to price line rather than maker to maker, as such. Certainly the quality of Bushnells top line scopes are superior to anything by Tasco, Simmons, etc.

[HGUNHNTR]

Swarovski
Schmidt Bender
Zeiss
Kahles
Nikon
Leupold
Burris

the rest
and finally................

BSA

[Ske1etor]

Schmidt-Bender
Swarovski
Zeiss

Those are the top three scope manufacturers.

The rest cannot be put into order due to the lines of scopes they produce. A Bushnell Elite 6500 will outclass just about everything Leupold makes. Period. The glass quality is superb, the construction is very high quality and the price is the buying point. They even put a gold band around the bell just for those people that bought leupolds for the gold band... lol
The only one I don't agree with on HKSW's list is Tasco being above Bushnell... I wouldn't even put Nikon above Bushnell. I would actually rate Bushnell and Nikon about the same now.

Optics are all about glass quality. The technology that these companies are using is all the same. They all use the same machines to grind their lenses. The only difference is coatings and overall scope construction quality.

[asknight]

Most all of the China/Taiwan/Japan scope manufacturers have a junk line. BSA Deerhunter (and most all of their other models), Tasco Pronghorn, Bushnell Trophy and Banner, Simmons (except for Aetec), Millett, are good examples of you getting not one penny more than you paid.

That said, it's impossible to rank a company's quality just by the name. All of them have a budget line and a premium line.

Ske1etor, if you haven't experienced US Optics or Lightforce's Nightforce line, you're missing out on some great products.

[Ske1etor]

Ske1etor, if you haven't experienced US Optics or Lightforce's Nightforce line, you're missing out on some great products.

I will be sure to look into them for my next optic purchase but since I have only one scoped rifle and it already has a Bushnell Elite sitting on top of it I have no need for any scopes right now.