Best Cheapo Scope?

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jpwilly

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Inspired by some of the previous scope questions I want to know what is the best inexpensive scope you have ever owned?

I'm not asking you about your Nikon, Leupold, or insert other know quality scopes above $200...I'm asking about NcStar, Leapers, Famous Maker, Tasco, BSA, Simmons, CenterPoint, Pine Ridge, Red Head, etc etc costing from $1 to $199 and why you like it.
 
Nikko Stirling - 6-24x56, mildot, side focus, adjustable eye piece, and fully multi coated - $170 from cheaper than dirt.

A - for a scope to be remotely good - must have fully multi coated lenses. There is a HUGE difference between coated, fully coated, multi coated, and fully multi coated.
 
say what you want about cheap,but I've got a 4x Leapers AR-15 type scope on my AR,about 9 years old,been beat up and banged around,still works,never had a problem with it. pay less than $30 for it. jwr
 
Simmons Whitetail Classic in 6.5-20x 50mmAO for $80. It sits on my Savage model 12 chambered in .22-250. It isn't a hot rod, but I'm very pleased with it for the price. Stays on zero. Glass is not bad. The only gripe is that it does sit a bit high due to the large AO. But, I knew this going into it...
 
I have had real good luck with the higher end Tascos, say between $75 and a $100 dollors.
 
Tasco

I have a Tasco 4-16 X 40 I pucheased at Cabelas 14 years ago that I like.
The eye releaf could be better. I paid around 100 dollars for it.

I had a 49 dollar Bushnell on a Mini14 that made it 1/2 way through one
mag before the cross hairs fell out of it.:what:
 
I picked up a Nikon ProStaff at Wal-mart last week for $149.99. I haven't mounted it yet but will soon.
 
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On a $199 or less budget, I'd go for the Burris Fullfield II, Bushnell Elite 3200, Nikon Buckmaster (NOT Prostaff), Weaver Classic V, or Sightron SII scopes. Some of these are right at the $199 limit, but they are all vastly better than anything offered by NcStar, Leapers, BSA or Tasco.
 
I have a 3-12x44mm A.O. BEC with lighted mil-dot reticle from Sportsman's Guide that has been doing a fine job on my .25WSSM, and is about to start on my wife's .300 Savage M-99 (she needs the magnification to see the targets clearly at 100+ yards). It was on sale, and I got it for $80.00 delivered.
 
I think it's possible to get a good scope from any of the lower end brands, but just not always & not every model.
One model may be better than others in the company line, so the selection needs to be checked for clarity and overall satisfaction on a model to model (or scope to scope) basis.
In the past, I've found that Korean made scopes were pretty good relatively speaking and a cut above. The same has been said about Japanese scopes in the past. But now that scopes are mostly made in China, you never really know unless you a least look through one of them.
I've generally been happy with various Bushnell, Simmons & Tasco models although I've seen poor specimens from each too.
You never know what you're going to get unless you're familiar with the exact model, and whether they have changed its production or design that affects its quality somehow.
This has happened over time with one long time Bushnell model as they made improvements to it, and it could also happen in reverse if they change spec.'s which could cause them to perform worse and be less satisfactory all of a sudden.
Cost isn't the only indication of whether or not one's going to be happy with a particular scope model.
 
Nikon Prostaff scopes are fantastic. Excellent glass, coatings and great warranty for $150 for a 3-9x40. A much better scope imo than the other brands you listed.
Just my .02
 
+1 to Simmons Aetec. I have three of them and never a problem with any of them. They don't have the light gathering capability of some of the higher end scopes, but they don't cost $500+ either.
 
I got two Tasco "World Class" 4-9x40 scopes which are really outstanding. One I use on my AR15 rifle and the other on a .22 Buckmark rifle.

They have a bright clear picture, and haven't broken yet.
 
The best scope, for the money ,that I have ever bought was only $179.
A Bushnell 3200 Elite 10x fixed Mildot. Bright and crystal clear. Much better than any Nikon or Leupold I have tried for $100-200 less!
 
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