Explain scope basics to me...

[Daedalus]

What is the difference between a 30$ Tasco 3x9x40 and a $270 Leupold 3x9x40? I am extremely cheap and apparently have very little knowledge or understanding for finer things.

[50 Shooter]

Follow the link, it has some good info.

http://www.usoptics.com/usOptics101.htm

[TechBrute]

Optical clarity and light transmission are dependant on the quality of the lenses. The fact your scope may or may not hold zero is a function of the construction quality. Both cost money. That's the short version.

One more thing... it's 3-9x40, not 3x9x40. The 3-9 is the variable magnification, the 40 is the width in millimeters of the objective.

[Slimjim]

You get what you pay for, quality of materials is the most important one. And the fact that one is only a 1/2 moa adjustment and one is 1/4th.

[DougCxx]

Well the $30 scope can work well enough for you (or me!) on a rimfire gun, at ranges under 100 yards, during the daytime. Poor engineering and construction quality means that the scope won't hold adjustment on a larger-caliber gun, and poor lens design and coatings mean that it may not work real well under all lighting conditions.
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Cheapo scopes have improved just as expensive ones have however.
Only the very-cheapest ones have major malfunctions, such as uncoated internal optics--and the objective and ocular will be coated so that the scope appears normal, but others don't.
For a 3-9x40 I would assume spending at least around $75-$100.
~

[CB900F]

Daedalus;

In practical terms, think of units of headache. I'm serious as a barf-bag migraine. Yes, you can see through both, but if you use the low-dollar one for a full day's shooting, it's highly likely you're gonna pay for it with pain.

There are test indicator's that will give you an idea of how much pain, if you care to investigate. They are optical clarity tests for comma, flare, barrel distortion, pincushion distortion, and resolution.

I recently looked through a low-budget .22 rimfire package scope that was the worst glass I've ever put an eye to. You could readily see radial distortion for the outer 1/3 rd of the field of view. But boy, was it cheap!

What pain levels can you take? What are your eyes worth to you?

Personally, I'm not looking at anything under $100.00 2004 dollars anymore.

900F

[HunterGatherer]

http://www.allaboutoptics.com/


Lots of good info there.

[JohnBT]

More here: The Shooting Sports Cheap Scope Page

www.charm.net/~kmarsh/scope.html

[Navy joe]

I take "basics" to mean "how does this apply to me, Joe Average Rifleman?"

Here's how. I bought a mystery rifle to learn what it was. It turned out to be a sporterized ty 38 Arisaka. It had a Bushnell Banner scope from the early 70's on it. I ran off to the range with a bunch of $1.50 per shot ammo. I had previously hit paper ok at 25 yds. It took me ten shots to get on paper. Once there, one could not discern any correlation between scope adjustment and impact change. A two click right adj. and the next thing you know the impact would be a foot left and a foot high. After about 30 more bucks of ammo I determined it was the scope. I took it apart and the central tube that held the reticle was free to go wherever it pleased. Thankfully for me I soon spied a VXII Leupold for sale cheap on TFL.

Beyond quality of construction, clear optics, gas filled and all that there is one more. My dad has a box full of 20-30 yr old Leupolds he has killed; mostly broken reticle wires. If he or I ever gets around to sending them in they will get fixed, lifetime warranty.