Barska Scopes

[gamestalker]

I've used their scopes, spotting scopes, and binoculars and honestly don't think much of them. My Son's bought those optics some time ago and after having used noting but Leupold for the last 30 years or so, I wold never buy Barska. Eye relief is terrible, as is clarity and just about every other important feature needed in an optic. Leupold doesn't fog, is gas pressureized, permanent coatings, have threaded objective for filters, available reticle options, 6" of eye relief, 100% water proof to 1000' under water, precise MOA adjustments, what can I say, I'm a Leupold only glass guy. A Leupold 3x9x40 can be had for about $200 and it will knock your socks off. Leupold customer service is unmatched. They have never charged me a cent, even when it was my fault I ran over my binoculars they replaced them at no charge, not even shipping. Just about every year my Son's or I will loose eye cups on the binoculars and they always get new to me at no charge, and in a new York minute, along with a Leupold ball cap.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Eye relief is terrible, as is clarity and just about every other important feature needed in an optic.

I haven't noticed any of this with my Barska and I have several Leupolds and Nikons to compare with.

 

[trapper500]

Hey fellas thanks for all of the imput it really has helped me out alot

 

[1stmarine]

Do not track the feedback on optics planet or any other site on the low end scopes. Many folks they put the feedback after they shoot one time, occasional shooters, not much idea about ballistics, accuracy, etc...

These are some good options on affordable side with decent glass:
- Redfield- Japanese glass made in the USA owned by Leupold.
- Vortex - Japanese glass, don't go for the cheapest
- Burris timberline/Fulfield - japan glass - very decent quality for the price.
- Nikon Monarch or even Buckmaster or Prostaff above any barska at any price range.

 

[random_gun]

I have a Barska AC10032 - 3-9x40 Huntmaster Scope mounted on Saiga AK47.
The eyepiece fell off right after I zeroed the scope... wasted $ to bore sight it, then shot like 300 rounds to get it zeroed....
now guess what ........the eyepiece fell off inside the scope and blocked the view...
Shockproof huh?

The warranty is $10 to get a new scope sent to you in about 2 weeks... Not sure I want another Barska product tho....

EDIT: I called again today and customer service told me a different story....$20 for inspection, I have to pay for shipping, will not ship new scope until they receive the broken one... And if the scope is not purchased on their website, there is a surcharge to upgrade the scope...
And proof of purchase required, even if the scope has lifetime warranty...
What the heck? Are they just screwing with me .....? I don't want anything more from this company... Don't waste your time and money.

 

[MIL-DOT]

No, I can't say from personal experience that they are junk, but I can say that they've long had a reputation among firearm enthusiasts to be of poor quality, and I'm confident this is accurate. When there are so many decent quality, budget-oriented scopes out there these days, why would you screw around and ask for problems and sub-par performance?
You don't have to spend a thousand+ dollars to get a worthwhile scope,but neither are you getting a decent one for $39.95. With optcs, you HAVE to spend enough to get a minimum quality level, or you're better off not getting anything at all.
1stmarine just posted a list of decent options,also take a look at Bushnell's Elite series.

 

[groundhog34]

All scopes are good at noon on a sunny day. The test comes at dusk in December.

 

[4sixteen]

I had a Nikon Monarch 1.5x4.5 scope on my Ruger No.1 .45-70, and decided to mount that scope on another rifle. I took the Barska Contour 4x - 32mm objective scope off my SKS and put it on my No.1.

Optically it really ain't bad. The Barska is quite a compact scope and I like the way it looks on this rifle. It held up well on my SKS, I wonder if it will hold up to the recoil of 500gr bullets at a muzzle velocity of around 1600 fps?

 

[kingcheese]

I own two exiles, and a friend owns two nikons, in the same sizes, and i can tell you right now that. am,fine with my barskas, most of the storey of them being junk comes from people that have never touched one or are lousy shots to begin,with

 

[Doc Savage]

While I haven't used their rifle scopes (and probably never will) I do own a pair of their binoculars. I researched them for awhile, and when a set I was interested went on sale to where I figured what the heck, I picked them up. I'm not a big beliver in the concept of anything that doesn't cost an arm and a leg are junk. I've had good luck with many "lesser" branded items. Barska just wasn't one of those products.

The Binoculars are a pair of 10-60X zoom 50mm objectives. The 10x setting isn't bad. Clarity gets real bad at about 20x and at 60 you really only get an image that isn't distorted at the very center of the lens (about 20% of the FOV is clear). I have a real issue with the focus between the two tubes. Even using the diopter adjustment, you can't get identical clarity in both eyes. Given my experience with this item, I'd hesitate to ever purchase another of their products.

 

[velocette]

I have a Barska 4 ~ 16x 50mm tactical scope with first focal plane.
The top of their line.
It will not hold a zero, like the rounds go off the the side and up. Barska demands that the original purchase receipt accompany the scope for warranty repair, which I no longer have. So I have a $205.00 piece of junk with no recourse.
Buy good scopes, don't waste your hard earned $ on cheap ones.

Roger

 

[snakeman]

We use barska ridgelines for our guns that get knocked around in the mule and on the 4 wheeler a lot. the optics aren't the best but they hold zero like a freakin champ! Make sure you get one with the accu lock feature. Like the ridgeline. They work well. I don't know about the ones without it but I wouldn't want to take that chance myself.

 

[jrdolall]

I have one Barska that a friend took off a combo and had laying around. Free is always good even if it is bad, right?
I put it on an older Rem 742 30-06 and sighted it in with 8-9 shots. We shot it this past weekend and the zero was still good after 2 years in the safe. Nothing has broken, shattered or otherwise been defective through maybe 20 rounds. Eye relief is okay as is clarity. Do I prefer this over my Leupolds? No, but "it is what it is" applies. If you have $400 then buy a better scope. If not then buy what you can afford.

 

[sansone]

some of those barskas get out of the factory in working order...
it's a crap-shoot

 

[gamestalker]

Those who have commented and that have used Barska or any other bargan priced optic may not recognize the difference in a quality pieceof glass. I know I didn't until I actually usd a good optic.

I mean if you are willing to spend $79 on something that is poorly costructed for use on a high recoil firearm, you'll very likely have regrets in the form of a black eye, stitches, and a mild concussion. My Wife and I both learned the hard way and stopped using inexpensive junk glass in the early 1980's or so. Now we both wear scars that were 100% the result of junk glass. If you have to get that close to a scope to get full imaging, then it is junk, period. Although this is what initially pushed me over to Leupold years ago, I have come to understand the many advantages to be had from quality glass.

Consider spending an additional $150 for a real scope. Did you know that many bargan price optics don't even use glass lenses? Even the $200 3x9x40 Leupold is good glass and will stand up to anything you put it on. And Leupold has a no qustions asked poicy when it come to repair or service. I send my stuff in for inspection and allignment from time to time, and they never charge a penny, not even for shipping. They just rebuilt 2 pairs of glasses this year for me at no charge. One pair was over 30 yrs. old and the other 20 yrs. old. What does that say for quality and service standards, a lot!

Buy what you will, but remember this, you only get what you pay for.
GS

 

[Slamfire]

Old thread but I will add my 2 cents.

I bought a 20-60X Barska spotting scope. It came in a nice box with a little tripod and carrying strap all $100.00

At lower magnification it is fine, you can see 30 caliber holes at 100 yards. At 500 yards I compared against my Pentax 20-60X.

The image is slightly green in the Barska at lower magnifications. Zooming up you see a green circle centered in your field of view. Things inside the green circle you can make out, images outside the green circle are blurry.

At 500 yards I could see color differences between pasters and the target with the Barska. With the Pentax I could see white edges of the pasters and I could tell the pasters were squares, and I could see the color differences.

A better spotting scope for the money is my $100 Ultima 65 18X-55X Celestron. This scope did not come with a neat box, tripod or carrying strap, or even eyelense protectors. It is however optically clear at all magnifications and clear and bright to the edges.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I've got one, the 6-24x 60mm IRAO model (AC10700). It's on my AR-50, because I couldn't afford a Nightforce after paying for the rifle. Plan was to run it for awhile until I could afford a better scope, but 7 years later, it still works just fine. Now, I'm not shooting competetively or anything, but I really have no complaints about the Barska.

Of course, this is one of thier most expensive flagship scopes, so judging brand quality based on it may be like saying all Bushnell scopes are great if you've only ever used an Elite 4200.........

 

[hemiram]

A friend of mine bought a small Barska scope, I'm not sure of the model or anything and put it on his Kel-Tec Sub2000 and I liked it so much I bought one with a red laser for my Sub2000. So far, it's been great. My friend has had no problems with his either after a couple of years use. It's got a couple of scratches on the body, but it's working perfectly. I plan on trying one when I finally get my AR.

 

[Davek1977]

Considering the clarity and overall quality of Redfield scopes, I see absolutely no reason to take a chance on a scope that "might or might not" work when you can have an optic from a company with a great reputation, excellent support, and a lifetime warranty for just slightly more. You can *GAMBLE* on a Barska if you want to.....or you can *Invest* in a Redfield..... the choice, for me, is easy enough to make

 

[I6turbo]

Considering the clarity and overall quality of Redfield scopes, I see absolutely no reason to take a chance on a scope that "might or might not" work when you can have an optic from a company with a great reputation, excellent support, and a lifetime warranty for just slightly more. You can *GAMBLE* on a Barska if you want to.....or you can *Invest* in a Redfield..... the choice, for me, is easy enough to make

I too recommend the OP take a look at the Redfield Revolution line. I don't have a lot of scopes compared to many here -- a 1980s Leupold, a 1970s Bushnell, a 2011 Redfield Revolution 3-9x40, a 1970s Colt AR-15 scope, and about 3 other misc. no-name scopes that I didn't actually purchase (and rarely use). To my eye, the Redfield Revolution is clear and crisp (both the image and the reticle) and pretty bright. I REALLY like it in use in the field. I've checked out a lot of scopes recently (gun shops, Gander, friend/family members' scopes, etc.) and to my eye, the Revolution series compares very favorably to scopes costing significantly more that the Revolution's street retail price. If you are able to combine a sale and a rebate, you can get an even better deal.

 

[plateshooter]

I have a couple Barskas on my springer air rifles. Those things will usually destroy a scope due to the reverse recoil. The Barskas are holding up very well. That's all I can tell you from personal experience.

 

[silvermane_1]

i bought a barska plinker 22 scope not too long ago, i was wondering if anyone has one and what the verdict would be?

 

[egg250]

The Barska that came as a package deal on my new Mossberg ATR, chambered in .308 winchester seems to be fine. I zeroed it with 3 shots. Confirmed zero with 17 more. I took a black bear 4 days ago at dusk. It currently has only 21 rounds through it, so I can't talk to longevity, but I have absolutely no complaints with this scope.