Frugal, Yet Accurate -- Scope Advice

[JWarren]

I won't get into the debate on the Centerpoints.

However, anytime I've gotten taken the bargin route on optics, I have been disappointed.

Seriously, I could have bought another Mark 4 with all of the money that I've spent on scopes that I threw in the trash.

Look for entry-level optics from well-received manufacturers.

Take a look at www.samplelist.com

These are dealer samples, trade-ins, and/or refurbished optics.

Before I spent $69 for a Centerpoint [or insert a number of other optics here], I'd buy a refurbished Nikon Prostaff for $99.

At least I DO know the starting point of the optic.



-- John

 

[lipadj46]

my buddy had the same problem as this video after we searched the problem on google

Did he return it? The SWFA guys stand behind their product 100% There is a guy who ran his over with his truck and it did not lose zero. Another guy had a turret break off of a used SS he bought when it fell over while leaning against a wall. SWFA said send it in and he got a new one. FYI SS's are warrantied by Bushnell which is also another thing in their favor. The SS also is made in Japan at the same factory as many other nice high end Japanese scopes.

Please correct if I am wrong me but at the $300 price point the SS is the only reliable tactical available besides the Elite 3200 10x but that is not really comparable.

However, anytime I've gotten taken the bargin route on optics, I have been disappointed.

Seriously, I could have bought another Mark 4 with all of the money that I've spent on scopes that I threw in the trash.

+1 on this statement.

 

[JimmAr]

Did he return it? The SWFA guys stand behind their product 100% There is a guy who ran his over with his truck and it did not lose zero. Another guy had a turret break off of a used SS he bought when it fell over while leaning against a wall. SWFA said send it in and he got a new one. FYI SS's are warrantied by Bushnell which is also another thing in their favor. The SS also is made in Japan at the same factory as many other nice high end Japanese scopes.

Please correct if I am wrong me but at the $300 price point the SS is the only reliable tactical available besides the Elite 3200 10x but that is not really comparable.

Yes he did return it.

As far as im concerned with the amount of sour feelings people on snipercentral.com have for the SS series at their prices..and their long yawning quality control issues.. at $179 dollars the 10x Bushnell is best bang for buck.. Mel has reviewed the scope and most of everyone who has one is pleased.. not that alot arent pleased with their SS's but the amount is almost equal when compared to the bad experiences/lemons people have with that particular brand.

The company has been around long enough to straighten things out those kits are nice that their offering but the quality control seems like.. Billy gets one thats made out of steel, however Jimmy got one thats made out of tin foil .. come on.. at least the warrenty stands so if you get a lemon the only thing wasted is your time..maybe some shippings costs that I dont know..I would expect something thats 300 dollars a pop not be so... unpredictable I don't have to worry however..

I myself dont purchase anything until I can at least minimally get a Leupold I learned my lesson as John posted..it comes down to you, its your money do as you wish.. im just here to pass on what ive witnessed and heard quite frequently which would be my own humble opinion and recommendation or as some say 2 cents.

 

[lipadj46]

Yeah it seems snipercentral is pretty anti SS, they seem as a whole to be (save for a small handful) a bunch of armchair "snipers". I had a SS on my Serbu .50 BMG back a few years ago and never had a problem with hundreds of rounds down range so for me that is all I need to know. I honestly do not think there are QC problems with SS's. Maybe they had a rough patch at one point tooling up to meet the surge in demand but from what I hear at the present they are going strong. The only real problem is getting one in stock between government contract purchases.

 

[mongo4567]

I've always been disappointed when cutting corners on scopes, but most of my scope usage is hunting and I need low light performance. If I go on the cheap, I find an old Weaver K4. Besides that it is Leupold (not rifleman), Nikon Monarch, Zeiss, etc. I like the SS scopes.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

I see people using cheap Simmons 3-9X 40 ($30 piece) in their centerfire .30 cal and magnums all the time...

But not for any kind of serious long range shooting...I'm not saying you have to have a $1000+ scope to make hits at long range...but if you are going to use those adjustments (turrets) hard...you better have a scope designed to be used that way.

I've been there and done that...a few times. The last scope I bought was a Leupold Mark II 6-18x40mm Tactical...the best I could do for the $$$ I had to spend ($619).

I have owned a CenterPoint...the 4-16x40 AO model

The CenterPoint scopes are OK...but the adjustments are weak and spongy, it wouldn't return to zero after a range adjustment, and the mil-dots were not quite right either.

I sold it to a friend who was in a bind for a scope to get through hunting season...sold it to him for $20, about all its worth in my opinion.

 

[saturno_v]

My range buddy use the Centerpoint 4-16X 40 Adventure Class for 600 yards hits with his Remington 700.

Mine all return to zero and they hold zero.

With the hex key you can tune the turret adjustment crispness...actually it is designed that way.

I think you got a bad scope 9probably one of the earlier ones) and you should have returned to the company to get a new one.

Again..they are not Leupold...but they are not Tasco or BSA either.

For a beginner, e person on the budget and a long range shooting except serious competition they are good.

Just google "centerpoint, scope, review" and you can read the review of several people that use them, including for long range work (lot of .380 rifl users)....it get very high praise (unbeatable for the money) with the occasional very disappointed user that got a bad scope and should have returned

Your choice.

 

[homers]

There are plenty of good scopes for $150-$200. Nikon buckmaster, Bushnell 3200, Primos, Sightron, etc.

 

[saturno_v]

There are plenty of good scopes for $150-$200. Nikon buckmaster, Bushnell 3200, Primos, Sightron, etc.

He wants Mil-Dot and other goodies...

 

[jcwit]

I've had good luck with BSA Contender and Platinum, scopes 8-32 x 44. I don't use them for hunting, just paper punching at 100 yds.

Now I suppose I'll hear how bad BSA scopes are, but they do work for me for what I use them for. Will they hold up for as long as the expensive scopes, I doubt it, but in all honesty at my age a scope lasting 30 years doesn't mean much.

The bottom line is I'm happy, I shoot 1 hole 5 shot groups at 100 yds. with a Rem 700 .223. Also 1 hole groups with a .22 at 50 yds. with the right ammo. So I'm happy.

 

[SwearNoAllegiance]

I think, tentatively speaking, I am going to buy the Super Sniper. I can do $300. I am also going to buy the Center Point for my .22 in the near future because I agree with Saturno, that it's an awesome deal.

Now I just need to decided on which Remington 700 I am going to buy.

 

[280shooter]

Ok, time out.....
Nikon does not make riflescopes.
Bushnell does not make riflescopes.
Sigthron does not make riflescopes.
Centerpoint does not make riflescopes.
Simmons does not make riflescopes.
Tasco does not make riflescopes.
Leapers does not make riflescopes.
ATK does not make riflescopes.
Clearidge does not make riflescopes.
Mueller does not make riflscopes.
Millet does not make riflescopes.
BSA does not make riflescopes.
NCStar does not make riflescopes.
Leapers does not make riflescopes.

1. Zeiss makes riflescopes.
2. Leupold makes riflescopes
3. Burris makes some of their riflescopes.
4. Light Optical Works Japan makes riflescopes for Bushnell (Elites), Weaver, Clearidge, ATK Nitrex
5. US Optics makes riflescopes
6. Nightforce makes riflescopes (although Light Optical Works provides tube and optics for larger Nightforce scopes)
7. Asia Optical Japan makes scopes for Sightron and rumored to make one of the Muellers.
8. Kenko Philippines makes all Nikon, some Simmons, ATK Intensity, Bushnell Legends.

There are various CHINESE, Korean, and Taiwan makers that I'm not really familiar with.

One Chinese scope maker (they may actually be a trader, it is sometimes hard to tell) is called YOH. They make some BSA scopes such as the Sweet 22 series of scopes (see picture). They probably supply scopes to other of the low cost vendors. YOH claims to supply Bushnell and Millet, although they don't specifically say riflescopes. There are some lost cost Bushnells, like the Bushnell Sportsman, and Rimfire series that are made in CHINA.

Another CHINESE manufacture appears to be Song Kewei Optical Technology ( Shenzhen ) Co. A lot of these places claim to be a manufactures, but are actually traders. I think these guys might be traders.

These guys I think are true CHINESE manufactures COMMERCI DEI COMUNI which owns XINDE OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS. Notice under services the names of Bushnell, Tasco, and Leapers.

Centerpoint is marked as MADE IN CHINA, not MADE in Philippines. Centerpoint is NOT made at the Kenko-Philippine plant that makes all the Nikons.

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Last edited by MGT : 12-29-2008 at 12:54 PM.

 

[jcwit]

You are correct. Along with most of the other merchandise we consume here in the U.S.A. being made in china.

Sad isn't it?

 

[lipadj46]

Ok, time out.....

Yes you have posted that before and it has been discussed to death elsewhere. I would hope these days that in general most would know who makes what for who. My favorite Asian manufacturers are Light Optical Works and Asia Optical (for Sightron) and Kenko does a good job on the Monarchs. These manufacturers to me offer the most bang for buck IMO. And like I have said before just stay away from Chinese junk until they can prove otherwise.

 

[USSR]

Back to the OP:

The roommate and I are going to buy a couple Remington 700s in March. Eventually I'm going to reproduce the M24, but for the time being, since funds are mediocre, I will just get a basic package.

My roommate and I want to become as proficient in marksmanship as a military sniper. The first thing we need is a rifle and then a scope.

To begin with, I need a mil dot scope between the prices of $200-400 but I have no idea what I should be looking for just yet. I am also hoping to stay as close to the $200 mark as possible. So can you point me in the direction to getting the best scope for the money?

I would suggest you go to a site devoted to the tactical rifle type of shooting you desire, such as http://www.snipershide.com. You do NOT want to buy a $56 scope or anything else made in China. IMHO, the Bushnell Elite 3200 10x40 Mildot is the scope you want. I was in your position once (just bought a FN SPR, and no $$$ left for a scope), and I bought that scope and was very impressed with it. I have since upgraded to a Leupold 3.5-10x40LR M3 Mildot scope, but I keep the Bushnell for a backup scope.

Don

 

[SwearNoAllegiance]

I would suggest you go to a site devoted to the tactical rifle type of shooting you desire, such as http://www.snipershide.com.

I had just discovered that site about 30 minutes ago. I've printed off a number of articles I'm about to read as I sit and enjoy my Newcastle Brown Ale. Hat tip to you, sir. Thank you.

 

[saturno_v]

all my yard and garden tools all Honda,I have noting worth a thing made in China,But thats me and my 2 pennys

Are you absolutely sure???

What about all of your electronics and appliances...what about your $200 iPod???

Even Leupold, "America's Optics Authority" is not immune from the Chinese "bug".

This is the cover of my Leupold boresighter, one of the the most expensive on the market

Who knows where the components of their Scopes come from.

Poeple that says "I'm not going to buy Chinese" are so naive..they have no idea of how the industrialized world is interconnected (I work in Supply Chain).

There is Made in China and Made in China...some are junk some are not....you can go from the semi-illegal 3 persons operation in Shenzhen from the industrial conglomerate with tight quality standards..

Wake up folks!!!

 

[CB900F]

Swear;

Do check out the Bushnell Elite 3200 10X, mil-dot. Bear basin is showing it at $179.00 They also show the Bushnell Legend 5-15X A/O mil-dot at a nickle less. I've got the Legend, and it's decent though not great glass. It simply does not have the resolution of better glass. A case of getting what you paid for. No sour grapes from me, I knew what I was getting & it's good for that application.

However, for your stated application, I'd think the fixed 10X Elite mil-dot would be the better scope.

900F

 

[Flash!]

after reading this thread, I went to Wally World and bought two of the Centerpoint 4-16X 40 Adventure Class scopes..... mounted one on a Marlin 917V 17HMR and one on a FN PBR XP .308.....took both to the range today and they performed great! The 17HMR rifle only cost $200 so a $69 scope is good enuff..... I put the one on the 308 until I save up some money for a really nice scope, but if the Centerpoint holds up to the recoil, I would see no reason to replace it. These scopes are clear. I found the adjustments were accurate. With the 308, I was shooting 4 inch groups at 200 yards. (which is good for me as at my age the eyesight isn't what it used to be) I'll torture test this scope a couple times a month and see what happens. But based on a one day test, I'll buy more of these....

 

[Coal Dragger]

Good luck.

 

[Sitting Duck]

Clearidge

O'k....

 

[atlanticfire]

Four Bushnell elittes of different series and 3 pistols scopes. Always good quality at a good price.

 

[Flash!]

today was the second time I took the 308 with the Centerpoint scope to the range.... just like last time, I shot 50 rounds.... the scope held up just fine..... I'll keep shooting it to see how long it will take the recoil of a 308..... so far so good....

 

[ugaarguy]

Bushnell does not make riflescopes.

4. Light Optical Works Japan makes riflescopes for Bushnell (Elites), Weaver, Clearidge, ATK Nitrex

Well, Light Optical Works makes a heck of a good scope then. I saw a 3200 Elite 10x40 Mil Dot bolted to a Barrett 50 cal rifle (in Barret rings) at a trade show. I asked the Barrett rep if was just on there for display purposes. He replied that many of their training rifles are set up just that way, and that the 3200 Elite 10x40 is built like a tank. Their instructors jokingly say it has clunk adjustments rather than click adjustments, but they're repeatable 1/4 MOA clunks.

I former co-worker, now working with a Federal agency, put a 3200 Elite 10x on his personal Remington 700 LTR (until he feels like dropping money on something higher end). He's getting great results thus far. I'd get the 3200 10x40, and buy a higher end scope after your shooting skills are actually better than the limits of that fixed 10 power unit.

 

[ken22250]

the bushnell 3200 tatical 10x40 mildot sounds like a good one, it sells for $167.99 from natchez shooters supply.
ken