is redfield a good brand of scope?

[cajun47]

3x-9x is written on it. i found it at the gun range. looks great. dont know why someone would leave it there. do they get off set easy or something?

 

[Ala Dan]

Many moons ago, I had a Redfield 3x-9x on a Remington model 700 BDL in
.25-06 Remington. It proved to be a very reliable scope, but I believe the
company has been swallowed up by another manufactuer?

 

[RevolvingCylinder]

I believe Meade Instruments currently owns them and they also own the Weaver name.

 

[JAMES77257]

Used to be good.

 

[mattw]

Leupold is better.

 

[USSR]

The old Denver, Colorado made Redfields were very good scopes, and compared favorably with the Leupolds of their day. Cannot speak as to the quality of the new ones, as Redfield was bought by a large corporation and they are basically just using the Redfield name to sell low-end scopes made overseas. The same goes for Weaver, which is owned by the same corporation.

Don

 

[mercman]

Used to be good.

I have Redfields on my varmint rifles and they have served me well for more than 20 years. My spotting scope is also a Redfield that I picked up in the mid 70's. My Redfields were all made in the USA, but I think in the early 80's they started outsourcing to the fareast and their quality declined. Not sure who owns them today...........................

 

[270Win]

Agreed, the older Redfields compare favorably with Leupold.

 

[atblis]

Ha

The same goes for Weaver, which is owned by the same corporation.

No it doesn't

Yes Meade does own Weaver and Redfield (and Simmons). However, Weavers are made in Japan and are quite decent scopes. I don't know how much the Redfields share in common with the Weaver scopes.

 

[USSR]

Ha

???. Not sure about the "Ha", but Meade elected to use the Redfield name for their lower-end scopes and the Weaver name for the slightly better scopes. At the time, I wrote them asking them to reconsider this marketing tactic, and to make the Redfield name their better line of scopes, but to no avail.

Don

 

[atblis]

Yeah

Redfield used to be considered a better brand, I agree with you on that. I was responding to the comments about using the Weaver name to sell crappy overseas (usually this means China) scopes. Yes they are made overseas, but the Weavers are not crappy by any means (particularly the T series), and are made by a quite reputable Japanese firm.

 

[Ol` Joe]

Not sure about the "Ha", but Meade elected to use the Redfield name for their lower-end scopes and the Weaver name for the slightly better scopes

I think if you check again you will find Redfield is the Meade "top of the line" brand. They are made in the USA and are priced quite a bit more then Weaver, or Simmons in Meades line up. I read somewhere the new Redfieds are like the old and compare very well with the compatition. Acually the Weaver "Grand Slam" line has been getting very favorable reveiws also, Meade is doing good things with these optics.

BTW Leupold is building some of their scopes in Asia now, designed here, but built overseas...

http://www.redfieldoptics.com/products.htm

 

[rangerruck]

I agree with ol joe. meade is a company that is no slouch, they have been in the 'scope' business for many moons, and their new tube design, and erector windage/elev adjustments, do not wear out , like the old spring and ball detent setup, that all other scopes use. this means a more sure return to zero, from differing grain weight to knob adjusments.

 

[redneck2]

In the 60's, Redfield was THE scope. I know they were bought out and the quality declined dramatically as they tried to live off the name (ala Black & Decker). I think they've gotten back to making decent stuff, but not sure.

It is my understanding that Weaver's parent company bought out B&L. The new Weavers have the same series numbers and physically look like my B&L's. If they are the same, they're excellent.

When I was shopping for a scope for my .357 Herrett Contender, I was looking a Leo's, Burris, etc. Guy in a local shop that shoots Contenders in competition said the Weaver was flat out the best. I got one in 2.5x8 and so far it looks really good. Contenders have significant recoil, so it speaks highly if it indeed holds up.

Another brand that I think gets overlooked is Burris. Supposedly the internals are brass where Leupold uses plastic. I have a Burris Black Diamond on my 25-06 and it's optics are excellent, better than my VX-III's IMO.

 

[USSR]

...Redfield now makes its home in Georgia; where four Redfield scopes lines are now produced and manufactured once again. These include the Golden Five Star, the Tracker, the Widefield and the Illuminator.

I stand corrected Ol' Joe. It appears that, to their credit, Meade is not resting on their laurels and is breathing new life in their line of scopes. I have a Denver, CO made Illuminator on my Sako L61R, and it is a great scope.

Don