Best scope for $100?

[Macchina]

I'm poor. I just got a Savage 110 in 7mm-08 with the scope combo. I reload, and do 80% of my shooting at the range (20% of carring my gun around in the woods looking for things to shoot). It has the 3-9x40 Simmons scope on it. This scope appears to be clear, but I do not know how it will handle recoil. I'm on a very tight budget, and want to replace the scope with one under $100. I'm looking for a tough scope with +/- 10x magnification and at least a 40mm objective (prefer 50). It doesn't have to be able to see in the dark, or be coated with deuterium, it just has to work good. Thank you. Michaelmco.

 

[ArmedBear]

Shoot this one first. I'm guessing you'll like it.

I have one Simmons, on a rimfire semiauto, and it's been a good scope, especially for the money. (.22 semis can beat scopes to bits, which happened to my BSA in no time flat).

You probably won't find anything nicer for $100.

7mm-08 isn't a hard-recoiling round, anyway. Any decent centerfire scope should handle it fine.

For $200 or a tad more, I like the Burris Fullfield II. You can get a Leupold for that, also, or a Bushnell Elite. I don't think you can go wrong with any of them.

But Simmons makes a really good scope for the money, IMO. I'd keep it.

 

[steelhead]

I've been playing around with a Pentax 6x42 Gameseeker on my Savage 12 in 358 Winchester. It has handled the recoil with no problems and is an excellent value for only $99. The fixed 6X is perfect for your 7mm-08 and will hold up better than an similar priced variable. Plus, it will be a lot brighter as well.

I agree with ArmedBear, however, and you should wait and see if you have a problem with the Simmons before changing it. You won't do much better in a variable mag scope for $100. Go fixed power and you can do a lot better for $100.

 

[ArmedBear]

I have a hard time even FINDING fixed-power scopes. They offer another advantage, too, in addition to price, durability and performance: weight. For a 7mm-08 woods rifle, it's really nice to have a lighter scope.

I'll have to look through a Pentax, if I can find one.

 

[Jackal]

Your best bet is a Nikon Prostaff. I have gotten several on Ebay for $90-$110 shipped. One was a 2-7 and the other a 3-9. The fixed 4x can be had very cheap.

 

[R.W.Dale]

For just a fuzz over $100 the Sightron S1 3x9x40 is an excellent choice. I have one on my 300 WBY it's handled the recoil no problem and it's way clearer than the 3x12x40 Leupold rifleman that was on the rifle.

 

[dracphelan]

As others have said, give the scope that came with your Savage a chance. The 30.06 Savage I had used the same cope and had no problems.

 

[Jackal]

Simmons scopes are cheap and obviously, not the clearest optics. That said, I have had a $25 Simmons 8-Point 3-9 mounted on my Marlin 25MN .22mag for over 2 years now. It has never shifted zero or done anything untrustworthy. Simmons does pretty well for thier budget price point.

 

[hqmhqm]

I have gotten a couple of Tasco 3-9x40 scopes which I have used on rimfire and AR15's and I really like them. Well under $100. Clear and bright, and no distortion or noticable color dispersion.

 

[carnaby]

I have that exact package. The Simmons will do, but I put mine on my .22 and got a Nikon Prostaff 3-9x40 for $125. The optics are much more clear, and it should hold zero better at the different magnifications.

 

[boerseun]

The Nikon fixed power scopes are a great value. Had one way back in the day on a .303 Enfield and I could take with fuzz off a ticks' backside at 100 yards, while the tick was sitting on my dog - without the dog even knowing it....well, you get the idea. And I don't even like shooting with scopes!

 

[swingset]

If you're crafty and check ebay and the auction sites, you can nab a high quality used scope under $100 that's vastly better than the Chinese stuff.

I got a 3-9x40 Leupold for $85 that's a few years old, but retailed for over $300 when new, and it's in great shape. The only problem was scope ring scratches....big whoop.

 

[longhorngunman]

2nd, the Sightron SI 3-9-40 scope. Excellent scope for a tad over $100 and a mil-dot reticle to boot! I have it on a K31 and like it even better than a Burris Fullfield II I had on another K31 that was a $200 scope. Might also check into the Tasco World Class scopes. Tasco doesn''t have the best rep but these seem to have very favorable reviews and are around $70. I got one in a closet that I bought because it was dirt, dirt cheap, haven't mounted it to anything though. The glass looks pretty good for a sub $100 scope.

 

[Oldnamvet]

Check out Swift scopes. For the money (around $100), they are the best I've used. Having a scope go sour on you while hunting can cost a lot more than it would to replace it with a good scope prior to going hunting. Get as good a one as you can.
http://www.dowdlesports.com/catalog/guns/swift_optics_standard_riflescopes.htm

 

[duke40]

Nikon fixed power. Check MidwayUSA.com

 

[JAMES77257]

Bushnell Banner

 

[rangerruck]

check out meades' line of new stuff, they took over simmons , redfield, I think , plus a few others. they use a true one piece tube design, with true flex zeroing knobs. very nice. Also I have had very good work with the Tasco varmint.
Also nikon is quite good, so is Mueller.

 

[Dienekes]

Hell, prospect around and pick up a nice used old Weaver K4 for under $100. Fixed power, steel tube, good field of view, 1/4 minute adjustments, and well made. Those have probably killed more game than any other scope made.

Just tell everyone that it's a $1200 Nikon or Leupold to satisfy their curiosity and spend the difference on practice ammunition.

 

[Essex County]

For fixed power scopes I like the Nikon Monarch 4X or the weaver Grand Slam 4.75X. That said I cant afford to put them on everything so I've bought a number of Weaver K4 Clasics for around 120 bucks that are a great scope for the money. I feel they are far superior the the older El Paso Weavers.....Essex

 

[langenc]

Check out SWIFT-I dont know about fixed power.

We shooters are our own worst enemy fixed vs variables.