BSA Sweet scopes good or bad

[Oohrah]

Very few scopes today except for the high end, that are not China/Japan.
Even Weaver and Redfield before they went out were Japan. I own several BSAs including a pistol varible. No complaints, and they pretty much do what I need to have done. Do they ever break? Sure they do, but thus far I haven't had to return one. Optics are as clear as the scopes of yesterday, and I own quite a few of those Weaver, Redfield, Bushnell, and a few others.
I still love those old steel Weavers!!!! The last four years of Turkey Shoots with different caliber rifles 17 Hornet, 6mm Rem. and a couple of years with .223 Rem, sub minute 10 shot groups, using BSA either 8x32 or 6x24 scopes
took first place. Are there better? Sure there are, but these produce as good as I can hold. Adjustments are true to each 1/8 min. click. Your Sniper friend advise I feel was right on. It was my job for awhile in the early 60s. Scopes that were durable were few, no matter how careful they were treated. Lyman, and some of the other high end of the day scopes were good, but sealing sucked and most would fog internally. Redfields seemed to be the best, or maybe just got lucky with a good one. I had one failure with a Lyman with a post cross hair reticle. The crosshair broke. Was the Lyman a good scope? You bet, I thought perhaps the clearer optic then most.
I think you will like that BSA, and you will have some bucks for more ammo!

 

[04JRB]

I have a 12fv in .223 too. I currently have a Bushnell Banner Dusk til Dawn 6-24x on it. I have been happy with it for range duty (only had a chance to use it at about 200 yds maximum so far). It was around $125 from midway.

Im going to south dakota for prarie dog shootin in June, I may spend a bit and get into the next step up ($300-$600, no specific brand) for this trip. If Im going to be stretching out to the max distance of the rifle, I dont want to be let down by my optics.

 

[SHvar]

A good friend has a BSA he bought because he decided if it was junk he didnt waste much money, and can easily replace it, but if its good he gained on the deal.
The scope is VERY accurate, its clear, in fact clearer than many more expensive scopes Ive seen when set on the higher powers.
The only draw back to it is that under certain lighting it casts a bit of a red shadow from its own light up mildot reticle. Its dead accurate, tough built, holds zero perfect, and has an upper end of 24 power thats crystal clear.
My opinions are from someone who has experienced a few of their scopes, none have been blurry, all have been accurate, all have been tougher than many upper price scopes.
My personal preference has been Bushnell, I always go back to them at some time on everything I put scopes on, but thats just me.
Scopes are like anything else, there are cheaper models, and much more expensive models, decently priced models. When you find a good scope from any manufacturer the price and name are sometimes the only differences.
Ask yourself this, "do I have a need for a $600-$2000 scope for what im doing?" Also when the guy next to you at the range is shooting the same rifle and hes got a $25 walmart scope and hes grouping tighter, shooting more accurately, consistantly, and hes using the cheapest plinking ammo, you cant blame any of those things for why hes doing better.
I dont prefer BSAs, but I know that they can do a great job if you want one, thats up to you.

 

[mountainpharm]

My advice as one who got suckered into buying a BSA scope: Avoid BSA at any cost. I bought one in January to put on my .223. While it was a clear scope, it broke after less than 200 rounds through it. I sent it back to BSA for warranty service. The latest estimate has it back in my hands sometime in December, though the timeline lengthens with each email to BSA Customer Service. For the record, it was sent to them in August. I explained that requiring 4-5 months to service a warranty is considered by most to be excessive (industry standard is about 12 days) and that I found their terms to be unacceptable. I asked them to allow my dealer to replace the scope with an identical model and BSA could replenish his inventory. They said no. I asked them to issue a credit to my dealer. They said no. I asked them to send me a check. They said no. I have since filed a complaint with the BBB and they were unable to get BSA to agree to do anything other than repair the scope as previously described. I have since bought a quality replacement and have no idea what to do with that POS when they finally send it back to me.

BSA scopes may function for a period of time, but a little searching on this forum or others will show their dismally high failure rate. When the day comes where you need to send a BSA scope back for service (and that day WILL come), you will not have a more frustrating experience.

Bottom line: I tried to save money by getting a cheaper BSA scope and ended up spending much more than I otherwise would have if I had just gotten the quality optics to begin with. You will find this theme repeated on here as well. I've now joined the chorus of others who say buy quality glass the first time -- do not cut corners. You sure as hell won't save any money, especially if you buy a BSA. Learn from my experience.

 

[HGUNHNTR]

Simply put a better scope WILL give you better repeatable accuracy under a broader range of shooting conditions.

If you only shoot 50 yards on sunny days, with rifles of low recoil, then yes, the BSA will perform close to as good as a scope of better quality.

Prepare yourself for disappointment under other conditions, and for the additional financial burden of having to replace a subpar scope.

 

[P.B.Walsh]

BSA scopes are terrible in the cold weather, they fog up SO bad, the glass quality is twerrible at higher magnifications, and now I need to buy a different scope, the BSa that I have might be good enought for about $100, but I belive a Nikon Prostaff would be a much better bang for your buck. :banghead:

 

[HGUNHNTR]

External fog is not the fault of the scope, internal fogging however is. To eliminate fog on the outside of the lens you can use the anti-fog stuff or simply leave your cased rifle outside so the glass is the same temp as the air. Also avoid breathing on the lens.

I definitely agree on the Prostaff

 

[presidents_topgun]

Looking at the BSA 223 Sweet for my range gun. Anybody have one? What have people been saying about these newer guys on the market?

Thanks

I bought a brand spanking new BSA scope and the coating was coming off the housing. I contacted a factory rep and I was instructed to send it in for a replacement along with $20.00 to ship it back. Can't be too much of a scope if the company wants you to pay twice for shipping for a defective product and they're not willing to stand behind their product at their expense. I didn't send it back. It sits on a 50 cal TC muzzle loader and only sees use during muzzle loading season.

 

[RonE]

I bought a rifle with a BSA Sweet 17 scope and it was "poor" at it's best. I bought a BSA scope for a project rifle and it was worse than the Sweet 17 scope. I would stay away from BSA unless your BSA is a rifle or motorcycle.

 

[BritUSMC0321]

Everything is relative

Re; BSA performance...

Certainly money can buy a better scope. I own 2 BSA scopes & yes they are they cheapest scopes in my inventory (except for an El Paso Weaver I got for 30 bucks that is still a workhorse hunting scope-sitting on a 25-06).

This is my experience...
I acquired a BSA 6x24 Contender at dealer cost when they first came on the market. A friend who owned a gun store offered me his dealer sample at cost in return for field testing it for him before he decided if he should place an order for more.
I put it on a .223. The glass is "typical" for the price range & eye relief is quite critical. 18x is the practical zoom limit (but never used). That said it is very accurate & adjusts precisely (never has to settle after adjustments). I have since used it on a .17 hmr & a .308. It has been accurate & consistent on all 3 rifles. It is now back on the .223 & achieves 1/4" groups repeatedly-sometimes better than .25". "I would only consider replacing it if it breaks".
The other scope is a Sweet 17 (2x7). It has "decent" optics (on par with the Weaver). adjusts as good as most Prostaff/Buckmaster Nikons & holds its zero. I DO NOT use it on my .17 because the reticle is too thick for precision accuracy in most practical .17 hmr applications. It is also somewhat top heavy/bulky on a .17. Instead I use a Sightron 3x9 rimfire (The rifle is a CZ452 Varmint).
As a comparison my other 2 centrefire .224 rifles are scoped as follows...
.22 Hornet = 4x Unertl Hawk
22-250 = 3x9 Leupold VXII

In summary, I consider both BSA scopes are servicable, better than many competitors, excellent value for the price range & I enjoy shooting with them (I use the sweet 17 on a Benjamin Sheriden). All of my friends who have used the contender (1 ex-101st sniper, 1 ex-Air force DM & a current DS small arms instructor) have been impressed with it's accuracy & repeatable adjustment.
However, I do think that I was possibly very lucky with both scopes & would probably not risk spending money on another BSA due to other peoples experiences.

I hope that this info has been helpful.

 

[Maverick223]

Everything is relative

...except for post dates...March '09.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

once again, you get what you pay for. and I aint paying for them.

 

[TasteLikeChicken]

I have owned BSA scopes. Their current retail price is in the 200-250 range. All were mounted on a 22LR silhouette rifle...no recoil.

First one was junked within the first firing session. I exchanged it with the retailer for another identical scope. Naturally...this cost me shipping and handling.
Well......that one would not hold zero and the reticle fell out in 100 shots. Not impressed.

Sent that one back to the factory just recently.....cost me about 20 dollars for shipping/return shipping. So..add that to the price of the scope.
I'll see how "customer service" does. If it is replaced...rather than repaired...I'll be looking for some rube who likes BSA.

In comparison...the B&L 3500 I mounted on the exact same rifle has performed flawlessly for about 30,000 rounds of ammo.

If you were a friend....I'd tell you if it says BSA...run away. But if you're dead set on one....I might just have a new in the box at a great deal.

 

[jon_in_wv]

I have a good friend who was a Marine Corps Sniper (and ACTUAL one, not one of those guys that CLAIMS to be one) and I asked him what scope he would recommend for my rifle. He recommended a BSA Sweet Scope. I didn't buy one but he said he really liked the BSA Sweet scopes. If I was to scope a 22lr, I would get one but not for my bigger rifles. I went with a Millett TRS-1 and I'm very happy with it.

 

[sprocket3]

"BSA = Better Stay Away. All their stuff sucks and has horrible quality control. Sometimes you may get a good one, but most of the time you just wind up with an expensive paperweight. Get yourself a GOOD scope."

I thought it stood for Buy **** Again.