Aim Sports scope any good?
- Thread starter SKS_Fiend
- Start date
- Status
Elkins45
Member
Generally speaking if you have to ask the answer is no.
A $64 scope might be fine as a range toy but I wouldn’t trust an expensive hunt or my life to it.
A $64 scope might be fine as a range toy but I wouldn’t trust an expensive hunt or my life to it.
Skylerbone
Member
After owning a few cheap ones my money says no, I won’t burn $xx dollars on something when far better is edging down in price. I’d sooner buy a Bushnell TRS-25 Tactical for that money, my low mount version has worked well for years.
I have no experience with their products. The price is low enough to make me hesitant to buy. You could do a google search for reviews.
DMR?
DMR?
Skylerbone
Member
Designated Marksman Rifle.
Megawatt maker
Member
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2017
- Messages
- 699
I learned the hard way...good glass costs money, cheap glass costs more money
I have a box full of junk crap glass, that looks great, but doesn't do the job on anything bigger than 22LR.
If I added up all those 90-150 dollar scopes, its more than I would have paid for a decent Luepy.
Comes to glass...cry once.
I have a box full of junk crap glass, that looks great, but doesn't do the job on anything bigger than 22LR.
If I added up all those 90-150 dollar scopes, its more than I would have paid for a decent Luepy.
Comes to glass...cry once.
Atavar
Member
My general rule is to spend an amount on the scope at least equal to the value of the rifle. That has stood me in great stead.
There is a case to be made that the quality of your scope is more important to your success than the quality of your rifle.
There is a case to be made that the quality of your scope is more important to your success than the quality of your rifle.
https://www.amazon.com/Feyachi-Tact...1639451693&sprefix=feyachi+1-4,aps,271&sr=8-3
Im actually pretty comfortable recommending one of those if looking for the cheapest option. Ive had one on (and off, and on, and off, and on) my .458WM for a couple months now. It tracked surprisingly consistently out of the box, and its survived a fair pile of rounds on the gun.
Im actually pretty comfortable recommending one of those if looking for the cheapest option. Ive had one on (and off, and on, and off, and on) my .458WM for a couple months now. It tracked surprisingly consistently out of the box, and its survived a fair pile of rounds on the gun.
BigBL87
Member
It's a little above $100, but the Primary Arms 1-4x is probably about the cheapest LPVO I'd feel good recommending.
https://www.primaryarms.com/primary-arms-1-4x24mm-illuminated-riflescope-pa14x
The Feyachi that @LoonWulf shared is definitely intriguing, I just like the reputation/backing from Primary Arms for a little bit more money.
https://www.primaryarms.com/primary-arms-1-4x24mm-illuminated-riflescope-pa14x
The Feyachi that @LoonWulf shared is definitely intriguing, I just like the reputation/backing from Primary Arms for a little bit more money.
I recently picked up a Swampfox Tomahawk, 1-4 x 24 on optics planet for just over $200 on sale. It has great glass and is bright enough to use as a red dot on 1x. Only regret is not getting a 6x or maybe even 8x but didn't want to invest more without seeing how well I liked a magnified optic on my AR.
LiveLife
Member
Although bulkier, could 3-9x40mm work as DMR as it would be most cost effective if there is a budget?
Before I upgraded my scopes, I have used Center Point 4-16x40mm for several years with good results despite my rough handling.
Here's Center Point 1-4x20mm with mount for $80 - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AL1Y2IY/?tag=tgz1-20
Last edited:
Skylerbone
Member
My pneumatic air rifle combo came with a CenterPoint. Lasted about 2 months before the silicon seal blew out and caught itself up in the crosshairs.
I recall from the way back a member here bought a 700 in .308, one of the Police Tactical Serious SomethingOrOthers. He grabbed a CP from Walmart, zeroed the rifle, and shot a few 1/2” groups before it died. Headed back to Walmart, repeated, and was on number 3 when I lost track of the story. At $35 or whatever the price was, he was halfway to a rugged FF II or similar.
I recall from the way back a member here bought a 700 in .308, one of the Police Tactical Serious SomethingOrOthers. He grabbed a CP from Walmart, zeroed the rifle, and shot a few 1/2” groups before it died. Headed back to Walmart, repeated, and was on number 3 when I lost track of the story. At $35 or whatever the price was, he was halfway to a rugged FF II or similar.
Atavar
Member
Optics are just not the place to pinch pennys. The whole shooting experience balances on the optics. Personally I would rather buy a used rifle and save money for quality optics.
On the same note, don’t buy optics from a pawn shop. There’s a reason they’re there.
A good shooter with great optics and an ok rifle will outshoot a good shooter with ok optics and a great rifle.
On the same note, don’t buy optics from a pawn shop. There’s a reason they’re there.
A good shooter with great optics and an ok rifle will outshoot a good shooter with ok optics and a great rifle.
Last edited:
Mauser lover
Member
I actually recommend a 1x rather than 1.5x for anything that might need to be used quickly. That seemingly small difference does actually does matter surprisingly often in my experience.
Also, you might consider a 6x on the high end of of the magnification range.
For a rifle that might be used on, say, deer size vitals (or prairie dogs or 8” steel targets) beyond about 100 yards, I’d really like more than 4x. Not necessary, but makes it much more enjoyable. I’ve got a 1x-6x on my 3-gun AR.
I think the older 4-16 centerpoints were much better than the newer ones, at least in terms of reliability. I had a couple of them from like 2008 or so that did great, and they were fairly well regarded by the springunners then. Ive heard nothing but complaints in recent years tho.
Pretty much everyone knows I like and use cheap scopes, MOST of them I buy used off ebay. IMO your always taking a risk when purchasing an optic, same as you are a car, computer, or any other machine. The question is how much risk are you willing to take.
The NEW "cheap" optics are alot better, especially in terms of optical quality, than they were when I started shooting in the late 90s. The 300-600 dollar optics tho, have become excellent, and theres a number of 150-300 dollar optics that are really, really good deals.
Kinda makes taking the risk on a sub-100 dollar optic questionable, unless of course you WANT to, or have a specific usage....which is why I bought that Feyachi.
Atavar
Member
The difference (other than quality) is that if you buy a quality optic the company will stand behind it if you have a problem. With the cheap optics you get to pay the return shipping if they are willing to do anything at all.
Every optics company ive dealt with has handled repairs exactly the same way. You tell em its broke, send it in, get a new one. 75 bucks to over 1k, same process.
With the "smaller"....like amazon special smaller...companies your likely to have to deal with the vendor, or just eat the cost. Ive not yet had to send back an Amazon bought scope, but ive sent back plenty of other stuff that broke or was received broken.
Im not at all saying that it isnt something one should consider, but replacement seems to be the industry standard for optics (That level of customer service as a standard? I believe we can thank Leupold for that)
The exception might be Burris, I know of at least one scope they actually fixed and returned. Leupold will do cosmetic stuff on scopes still in production/parts available, but otherwise your getting a new optic.
Something else I forgot to mention is that I think there's a lot of value in that.
At least for me, feeling confident in my optic/package is worth what extra I might spend. If im not comfortable with my setup, and dont enjoy using it, then it doesn't matter what money I've saved.
sparkyv
Member
I had an Aim Sport LER scope on my scout. Was OK for a couple of years, but then it quit holding zero. For me as well, it was a lesson learned regarding cheap optics. Anymore, I purchase optics that have a lifetime warranty...it's worth it to me.
I've got a couple of these on ARs. Darn fine for the money and great CS. I broke one of the flip up covers and ask if I could buy one or a set. They sent me a new set no charge...
https://www.primaryarms.com/primary-arms-1-4x24mm-illuminated-riflescope-pa14x
https://www.primaryarms.com/primary-arms-1-4x24mm-illuminated-riflescope-pa14x
gotboostvr
Member
I do alot of horse trading, when a rifle comes with a scope I usually try and either have them sell it without or price it as if the scope was free, because "I'm just going to replace it anyways". It's almost always a cheap center point or real low end Vortex.
But if it comes with a Leopold, I don't. Even if it's older, at worst I'll have a decent but plain usable optic. If it's busted, I can send it in and get a new updated one.
I know Vortex will also stand behind their scopes just as well, but frankly I don't like much of their products until you get to the higher end stuff. At least the entry level Leopold stuff I know I like the glass even if I don't love duplex reticles.
LiveLife
Member
Maybe OP can clarify but I believe OP already has a rifle and looking for lower power compact scope for DMR use. I was thinking AR so I linked a scope with AR mount as well. (Who knows, perhaps OP may even be looking for a scope for air soft rifle)
And while I agree $200-$300+ scope with better warranty may be better, OP did specify under $100 budget.
So if a member can't find a "popular brand" compact scope under $100, what's the member to do?
My suggestion for Center Point 1-4x20mm scope with mount for $80 was based on my experience with two Center Point 4-12x40mm scopes that performed quite well. I believe Crosman started the Center Point optics division in 2007 - https://support.crosman.com/hc/en-us/sections/200658100-CenterPoint-Optics?page=1#articles
And Center Point owner's manual offers limited lifetime warranty for the original owner.
"LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY ON CENTERPOINT SCOPES
Your CenterPoint scope is warranted to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for the lifetime of the original owner."
Your CenterPoint scope is warranted to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for the lifetime of the original owner."
Megawatt maker
Member
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2017
- Messages
- 699
Midway USA has a nice Vortex Viper..6.5-20 power 30mm scope on sale right now for less than 300.
Its a hell of a scope for the money. I bought one...and the strata lines on ON THE MONEY for 556 out to 500 yards. The parallax works perfect too..on the money at every setting.
I'm doing 1 inch groups or better with it at 409 yards (about 3/8 groups at 100)..using 68 grain Hornady hpbt and 25.1 grains of varget and Remington 7 1/2 primers.
I have an identical scope on a AR-10, and while it doesn't group as well (still working on the load) it too, lays them into a 12 inch round steel plate at every yardage from 100 to 500.
I recommend spending the little extra jinggle and get one of those
Its a hell of a scope for the money. I bought one...and the strata lines on ON THE MONEY for 556 out to 500 yards. The parallax works perfect too..on the money at every setting.
I'm doing 1 inch groups or better with it at 409 yards (about 3/8 groups at 100)..using 68 grain Hornady hpbt and 25.1 grains of varget and Remington 7 1/2 primers.
I have an identical scope on a AR-10, and while it doesn't group as well (still working on the load) it too, lays them into a 12 inch round steel plate at every yardage from 100 to 500.
I recommend spending the little extra jinggle and get one of those
LiveLife
Member
- Status
