cheap scope question..

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I have had great luck with the pentax Game seeker scope. The 3x9 is around 100 bucks and is awesome luck with it. I have 2 and have sold countless more, at my job.
 
I have the Leupold Vari-X I on my semi-auto .223 and it is a perfect scope for that gun. I am in the position to compare quality -- as I also own a Vari-X III on my .22 high-power varmint rifle.

On the .223, I didn't want all the adjustments - just a simple, but GOOD quality scope. I can say that my Vari-X I is pretty darn close in clarity to my Vari-X III.

Yes, I'll admit the distance adjustment ring makes a difference.
One has to weigh out if that adjustment ring is worth about $200 to $300 (or more).

The Rifleman scope (model 56160) is different than the Vari-X I (model 56600).

Personally, I wouldn't call ANY Leupold junk (or CHEAP).:cool:

Let's put it this way. Generally speaking, you get what you pay for and the more $$$ you spend, the more difference you will see in clarity, brightness and accuracy when moving crosshairs. I was working recently on a $1,200 Leupold scope on an AR-50 and that scope was purely a "work of art."
 
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Do not say that bushnells are junk, the banner is the budget line, it's probably the best scope you are going to get in your price budget. I snagged a banner off a 300 win mag that was used for years, it is still clear, bright and holds perfect zero, on my rimfire.

would I buy a banner for my -06, not a chance.

Try looking at the bushnell legend, leupold vxI/vxII, bushnell 3200/4200, burris fulfield, nikko stirling.

I used to not care about what scope I bought, until I went and found out how many I was not happy with, right now I have a 3-9 redfield on my 30-06, a 3-9 Japanese Bushnell on my 243, and 2 bushnell banners that are on rimfires. My next purchase will be in the 6-700 dollar range because I want to make sure I have the best quality I can afford.

you also have to take into account resale. If you take a $300 rifle, toss a $100 scope on it, guess what, it's worth $300 dollars. Now take that same rifle, put a $400 scope on it and it is worth $700.
In a pinch you can sell your good scope, but not a cheap scope.

A quality piece of glass is an investment, a hand me down, and something to be proud of every year when you realize you don't have to buy an extra box of ammo to sight it in.
 
You get what you pay for....

Well, all the opinions go to show that there are as many, or more opinions on what constitutes a good scope than there are scope names out there!

I think we can all pretty much summarize in the statement "you get what you pay for."
 
Wow Travis, bad hair day? Yah, most likely a dunce in your eyes. Have
shot over 50 years and not much in the way of imports then, and I wanted to point out a couple of things of scopes of that day were good but the
optics and mechanics were really not up to par with some of todays lesser
priced ones. Weaver KV that was very popular and considered toward
the higher end of the day, did not have the coating or clearness of today's
stuff. Pooly sealed, if adjustments were not in the mount, the cross hairs
moved. Still own several fixed that have always been reliable hunting
scopes. Still have that old KV and it is one of the few they can work on
at their old El Paso place. Today I guess Weaver you would consider a
cheap import, but they are superior to the old ones.
The question was pop cans at 500 yards. Yeah some sevice background
with the weapon of the day M-1 Garands. In the Marines, yearly qualificat-
ions up to 500 yds. open sights. Nope, no pop cans, most likely ya couldn't
see one unless aircraft red. Man sized yes.
Early in Nam, a few 1903 A4s with cheap, same cheap .22 type scopes
(B-6) with military number of Weaver 330. Saw one with a Weaver J-4.
Both sight adjustments would move. Mine a heavy barreled Win. M70,
30-06. First scope a Lyman...broke! Second a 10X Redfield...fogged.
Third that stayed with me, another Redfield 10X. State of the art then,
considered junk to some now. Probable hits with their use, greatly increased
Sorry if you were offended, but equipment doesn't always make the shooter
I was able to try some of the service new equipment at Camp Pendleton.
Really no comparison to the stuff in the mid and late 60's. Only negative
I could see was the weight. Don't recall the brand of scope but excellent
optics. I'm sure they could drop some weight of the Remmy through the
composite stock.
 
If you can find a gun store that sells Shooter's Edge scopes, the 4x16x40 for 69.00 is a great value and good glass. Never lost zero on my .308. Sightron is good, Leupold is clear glass. Nikon's are good. Eye relief needs to be 3" +.
 
Last year I bought 2 scopes after i read in one of my GUN Mag,how Simmons was sold and they have new redesigned scopes coming out,Now mind you i have bought other simmons scopes,and they had to be sent back to the company because they would not hold zero or they just broke,So Im thinking wow this great,new scope lines from simmons at good prices.Wow send me 2,Well the one i put on a tiny T/C in 223,it blew up in side after 8 shots,Oh they sent back,but i had to pay for shipping.and also,a check for 10 buck,I guess to pay the repair workers,Im not sure,the other scope went on my Winchester 280,well that one wont hold zero,to save your life,So thats now sitting on my junk shelf,I did how ever go out and buy the best Nikon I could afford,Now that holds zero,for sure, great glass,supper thin cross hair,
You can always but one or 2 scopes,good scopes,and move them from gun to gun,beats buying junk,for all your Guns,I rather have 2 very good scopes,then a whole safe full of cheap scopes on my Rifles,
I found buy cheap.and it will make you nuts trying too figure out, why your gun wont hit what it is your trying to hit.
you'll spend a lot on ammo,
And buy good mounts and rings,
Check out dednutz.com for mounts and rings.
 
Wow Travis, bad hair day?
Yeah, this forum can really get me fired up. I'm a fan of anecdotes by the way.
Have
shot over 50 years
I went to an Appleseed in June. There was an old guy there that seemed the think he had some good advice. When I looked at his targets, he had hit the paper 25 times out of something like 50 rounds. This was at a 25 yard AQT target in good conditions. He said he needed to shoot his rifle on a bench rest to see how inaccurate it was out of his fancy bolt action scoped 22lr. Anyone with a pulse should know that any given rifle in good working condition should know that not being able to hit a target at 25 yards isn't a question of ammo or the rifle; but this guy had lots of experience...

A marine buddy of mine has the worst shooting technique and discipline I have ever seen. Grabs the trigger, flinches really bad, blinks, does not shoot from NPOA and whatever else I didn't notice. He couldn't get within 20 yards of a dirt mound at 500 yards. All that and he still qualified expert rifleman when he was in the service.
 
I just don't get it. People claim that cheap scopes are good, then tell us how little experience they actually have using a good scope and how they can't afford one anyhow. Cheap scopes sure do look good when that's all you can afford. Others claim the only difference is in the adjustments. What?? You've gotta be kidding me. There are CLEARLY two types of scope advocates: those that have experience with a good scope and those that do not. Those that know/understand the difference can make arguments for both, those that don't know the difference can only suggest cheap crap.
 
Search (dare I say) Ebay for Leupold, Burris, Nikon etc... You will likely find a fairly decent scope for near 100 bones. By accepting mount ring marks and some finish degradation you can really get a good upgrade from a cheapo new scope and Leupold and Burris have a no questions asked warranty. New is nice but I too like a deal and for a hunting rifle some marks are just fine...

Be safe and hold into the wind
Patty
 
first you said...

I was wondering what would be the best scope for shooting out to 500 yards

but then you said...

I don't really want to spend over $100.

Honestly, you won't even come close to the best for that price... not even second best, or third best for that matter.

Now, I have several different optics by Bushnell... from a rifle scope, to a spotter, to binoculars, to a night vision monc. They all work "good enough" considering they are made in China. But as for being the best... not even close.
 
People were shooting at stuff 500 yards away long before today's fancy optics. Only they accepted they might miss!

Sure now we expect to be able to sight in a scope for 500 yards and land rounds on target with reasonable accuracy. Heck some people even hunt out at 500 yards (I don't think it's very sporting unless you're hunting say mountain goat and then my aversion to schlepping gear over rocks kicks in)

But if you want to just shoot at paper or mid size animals try a scope, if you don't like it SELL IT, that's what eBay, Craigslist and Kajiji are for :p And if you just want to have fun, try a long range tang sight, you might find it works better than you though (granted your not going to be able to hit what you couldn't normally see) but sometimes the old ways are pretty fun.
 
Bought a straight 12 power Tasco once for 89 bucks.

After fiddling around and trying to make it work, I was happy when I got 30 bucks for the piece of junk.

Never went back.

Leupold.
 
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