Sunray
Member
"...high-end $100-$150 scopes..." There's no such thing. You can have a scope for that money, but not a high end one.
Cheap scopes and mounts, who has them?
- Thread starter SIGfiend
- Start date
- Status
You CAN get an excellent scope at the high end of your price range, either:
1) Used
2) Opting for a 1.5-5, 1x-4x, or a 2-7 by 20 or 30-something (28, 32, 36, etc)
3) Opting for a fixed power (4x or 6x) scope
I would go #2 or #3. Reasons:
1) Magnification over 5x or 6x is a pure and total waste IMO, especially on sub $400 scopes
2) The smaller objective still gives great light in these smaller magnifications, often equal to that in larger objective sizes
3) Smaller objective means scope sits lower to bore, and easier cheek weld
4) You can get much better glass for less money
5) Fixed or smaller scopes are usually lighter
6) You get the warrantee
7) You are going to buy one of the better brands sooner or later anyway, when the Leapers breaks or stops holding zero.
Weaver, Burris, Nikon, and Bushnell 3200 series have all been mentioned, and are all outstanding choices. The ubiquitous 3x9x40 may be most popular, but it isn't the entire game (or even the best choice for 90% of those out there) either.
1) Used
2) Opting for a 1.5-5, 1x-4x, or a 2-7 by 20 or 30-something (28, 32, 36, etc)
3) Opting for a fixed power (4x or 6x) scope
I would go #2 or #3. Reasons:
1) Magnification over 5x or 6x is a pure and total waste IMO, especially on sub $400 scopes
2) The smaller objective still gives great light in these smaller magnifications, often equal to that in larger objective sizes
3) Smaller objective means scope sits lower to bore, and easier cheek weld
4) You can get much better glass for less money
5) Fixed or smaller scopes are usually lighter
6) You get the warrantee
7) You are going to buy one of the better brands sooner or later anyway, when the Leapers breaks or stops holding zero.
Weaver, Burris, Nikon, and Bushnell 3200 series have all been mentioned, and are all outstanding choices. The ubiquitous 3x9x40 may be most popular, but it isn't the entire game (or even the best choice for 90% of those out there) either.
TimboKhan
Member
Well, personally, I believe alot of the time you pay for what you don't need when it comes to scopes. Look, is it wise to spend 25 bucks on a no name scope and then expect it to work? No, but you needn't spend a ridiculous amount either. You can go to Wal-Mart and get perfectly servicable Simmons scopes for under the 150.00 mark, and for alot of applications, they will be ideal, especially if you are just looking for a target/light hunting scope. If I were going to go on a once in a lifetime trip for Kodiak bears, or Big Horn Sheep, or Bongo, or Lion or something like that, you can bet the farm that I am gonna spend the money (or, ideally, find a super good deal used) on a really, really good scope, because I am paying for reliability and ruggedness as much, if not more, than I am paying for the optics. For popping tin cans, paper and squirrels, I personally think its dumb to spend more than 150.00, and to take that logic further, I think its dumb to even spend that much when you can find good used scopes for even cheaper. Matter of fact, I will even go so far as to say that if your patient and not under any sort of time crunch, its possible to find some really outstanding optics on the pawnshop/ebay/garage sale circuit for unbelievable prices. My dad bought a shepard scope at a pawnshop for under a hundred bucks (I can't remember now exactly what he paid for it, but it might have even been for under 50 bucks) simply because they didn't know what they had.
- Status