Another low budget scope thread (things change)

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danez71

danez71

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I used the search and it seems the answer changes as mfgrs change their offerings.

Asking for a friend (lol, it's true this time)

What are the options currently offered?

* .223 at 200ish yards max.
* Must be variable such as 3-9x40 (40 is about max. 36 may be better as he wants to keep things trim)
* Must be new
* AO is very much preferred
* He prefers anything but china but realizes sources of supply so it's minor issue
* He prefers uncluttered reticles

Budget as close to $100 as possible. (I may be able to get him to $150 delivered. He wont even consider or discuss anything near $200.)


I told him to maybe look at lower end Bushnell and maybe Simmons but I really dont know.

I also told him to try a BugBuster but thats mostly because I want to try one for the illuminated reticles. I don't even know if they're ok for .223 or just ok for rimfire.

Are the Simmons, Bushnell, BugBuster ok in this price point?

What's the best of the worst right now?
 
For under $150? Well I just bought two Nikon Buckmasters 3x9’s for $119 each yesterday. BNIB. Or he could get a Burris E1 3x9, Vortex Crossfire, Konus Pro-550, or about 20 others. There’s nothing wrong with Simmons or Bushnell. They will fork fine. For my money, at $150, I’m going Nikon or Burris.
 
-Mueller APV 2-7x32 (if he's ok with that magnification).

-Bushnell AR Optics 3-9x40 (might be able to find around $150, usually a smidge above that)

-Athlon Talos 3-12x40 (the Mildot and duplex reticle versions are under $150 on Amazon)

Those were the best options I came up with that have adjustable parallax since that's a significant preference. I think the Athlon is probably the best deal for what you get.
 
You're wasting money on a new scope priced at $100. There is simply nothing with a MSRP much under $200 that is worth fooling with. You may well find something discounted closer to $150, or something used closer to $100.

The Burris FF-II scopes can be found near $150 at times. They are actually a pretty decent scope with a MSRP of $199-$220 depending on the reticle. I have no personal experience with the Burris E-1. I think it is a decent scope, but I don't like the reticle.
 
I dont want to discourage any more suggestions but I do want to say Thank You to eveyone. I simply wasnt aware of some of the suggestions.
 
I put a inexpensive Bushnell Banner 3x9 on my Rem 7400 30-06. Working great after a few hundred hunting rounds. Really impressed will the sight picture during those low light hunting conditions. Could not be happier. A very good value in my opinion.
 
BigBore44 said:
Opticsplanet is $89 and free shipping for the Athlon. And the Burris E1 is 4oz lighter. But it’s also $140 vs $99.
Click to expand...
I’d spend the extra money and buy from Camera Land. There are plenty of bad opinions on Optics Planet on the web, including this website.
jmr40 said:
The Burris FF-II scopes can be found near $150 at times. They are actually a pretty decent scope with a MSRP of $199-$220 depending on the reticle. I have no personal experience with the Burris E-1. I think it is a decent scope, but I don't like the reticle.
Click to expand...
I don’t like the reticle either. Have owned both in the past and can’t tell any difference in the glass.
 
cdb1 said:
I’d spend the extra money and buy from Camera Land. There are plenty of bad opinions on Optics Planet on the web, including this website.

I don’t like the reticle either. Have owned both in the past and can’t tell any difference in the glass.
Click to expand...
I didn’t know opticsplanet had a bad reputation. I buy from them and DVOR all the time and have never had a bad experience. As far as the reticle goes, what’s wrong with it? The E1 can be had with a traditional standard plex or the ballistic plex reticle.
 
The main gripe I've heard with Optics Planet is shipping time and not making buyers aware when products are backordered. I experienced that myself, ordered some B27 targets as a gift and when I ordered them they were supposedly in stock. About a week later, I got a notification they were backordered. I ended up ordering some from somewhere else for a little more money and just waited for the ones from OP to ship and kept them for myself. It was a good deal and I needed some anyway.

The other reason I don't order from them much is they charge Illinois residents sales tax, and not just that but its something like 10-11%. Most areas in IL sales tax is like 7% or so when you add in the local portion of the sales tax. So, any savings usually ends up being offset by that for me even if I get free shipping.
 
danez71 said:
* .223 at 200ish yards max.
* Must be variable such as 3-9x40 (40 is about max. 36 may be better as he wants to keep things trim)
* Must be new
* AO is very much preferred
* He prefers anything but china but realizes sources of supply so it's minor issue
* He prefers uncluttered reticles
Click to expand...
These are what Id recommend.

Burris FF2 e1 4.5-14x42 190 on amazon....Id spend the extra for this
https://www.amazon.com/Burris-Optic...lfield&qid=1619602116&s=sporting-goods&sr=1-5

Burris ff2 3-9 150
https://www.amazon.com/Burris-Fullf...lfield&qid=1619602060&s=sporting-goods&sr=1-4

the other one id suggest as a top choice Sig Whiskey 3 3-9x40 140
https://www.amazon.com/Sig-Sauer-Whisky-Riflescope-SOW33202/dp/B07R3FDVM6


The Athlons, both the Neos, and the Talos, are actually very good scopes also. They are made in china, but I've had the 3-12 (or what ever they are) in both models as well as a bunch of other Athlons, and not been disappointed.
If he absolutely WANTS a scope at or under 150 with side focus/AO, then these are where id start and stop.

Other options I've used that are cheaper still, and feel and act like it....I have still had good service from all of these as well, tho the banners i bought 4 of and had one fail right out the gate.
bushnell 3.5-10x36 rimfire scope....
bushnell banner 6-18x40AO
UTG bug buster
 
To be fair, ive owned ALOT of cheap scopes. Ive only had a few problems with any of them.....MOST likely, he can just go on Amazon and buy anything that's in the right power range, and has the features he wants....as long as he doesn't try dialing a whole bunch hell probably be happy enough.
 
Athlon first, then Vortex, then.............................................................................................. Still don't own a Vortex, but I would. Camera Land in NY as the vendor.

Bill
 
BigBore44 said:
I didn’t know opticsplanet had a bad reputation. I buy from them and DVOR all the time and have never had a bad experience. As far as the reticle goes, what’s wrong with it? The E1 can be had with a traditional standard plex or the ballistic plex reticle.
Click to expand...
Optics Planet has a bad habit of dinging your credit card when you purchase an item they show as being in stock. The next day you get an Email stating the item is not in stock and are given an ETA of when it will be, and they don’t refund your money, and it can be a hassle getting a refund. It happened to me a number of times with Optics Planet, I would only use them as an extreme last resort. Camera Land on the other hand is awesome IMO.

I just went to the Burris website and there are some options on E1 reticles. At one time the reticle below was the only option and I don’t like it.
18298B90-0F5F-4D5D-83B8-336C04F6681C.jpeg
 
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cdb1 said:
Optics Planet has a bad habit of dinging your credit card when you purchase an item they show as being in stock. The next you get an Email stating the item is not in stock and are given an ETA of when it will be, and they don’t refund your money, and it can be a hassle getting a refund. It happened to me a number of times with Optics Planet, I would only use them as an extreme last resort. Camera Land on the other hand is awesome IMO.

I just to the Burris website and there are some options on E1 reticles. At one time the reticle below was the only option and I don’t like it.
View attachment 995555
Click to expand...
I did have that happen with 500, 300gr Speer Deep Curls I ordered from them. But they came in a month later. It was at the start of the panic and I ordered late at night while I was at work on a Sunday. Just figured their system hadn’t updated. I wasn’t in a rush. Only time that’s happened to me.

That’s actually my favorite reticle of any scope I own. It’s almost a minimalist reticle. It gets rid of all that excess heavy plex on the outside that no one uses and only obscures your view of your target. But, to each his own. That’s why we have options.
 
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