i still say prostaff, had a 3-9 on a 10/22, and tossed it on a 7mm rem mag trying to break the damn thing to prove that nikon was crap, well the damn thing holds zero and the gun is shoting sub moa, I consider nikon to be one of the best scopes in its price bracket.
good cheap scope?
- Thread starter chevyforlife21
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What is the standard for air rifle rating, let alone 'adult' air rifle ratings? What are the spring piston break bbl rating standards? Has anyone here used it very long on an adult spring air rifle? I have no experience with this scope but I have used "air rifle rated" scopes in the past that didn't last. The marketing department can rate a scope whatever they please with no standard to compare to. It may be the best scope under $50 but in the end thats not much of an accomplishment.
zombienerd
Member
I've had the same Tasco 3-9x on my Marlin 336 for 10 years now. Never left Zero, but they do fog up (exterior, not interior) in temperature changes.. I just carry some lens cloths to clean em off.
Maybe I'm just lucky, but never had a single issue with mine.
Maybe I'm just lucky, but never had a single issue with mine.
plateshooter
Member
I have the same scope, Tasco Golden Antler, that Rangerruk mentioned in his post. I have it on a 22 cal springer air rifle. It has held up through thousands of rounds, and is a great scope for my needs. Leaper's 5th generation scopes have held up well on my spring guns as well. My money was well spent on these scopes.
moooose102
Member
well, i am not sure what a 77 22 is, but, i put a bushnell "sharp shooter" (3-9x32) (around $45.00) on my henry 22 lr, which works fine for me. i probably have 3000 rounds through that scope. and after having some trouble getting any scope (and ruining a GOOD scope) mounted properly, i put a $20.00 simmons blazer 3-9x40 from natchez) on my 45-70. it will not stay there to long, but i am not going to ruin another $250.00 scope! http://www.natchezss.com/Category.c...il&brand=SN&prodID=SN800722&prodTitle=Simmons 8-Point 3-9X40 Rifle Scope Matte Finish
lets face it, if it will stand up to the recoil of a 45/70, how bad can it be? so far, it has been only about 20 rounds, but so far, it is good.
lets face it, if it will stand up to the recoil of a 45/70, how bad can it be? so far, it has been only about 20 rounds, but so far, it is good.
Sav .250
Member
Try your local gunshow and take your chances.
I have a couple of the fixed power Bushnell 4x32 rimfire scopes and they work fine. One of the biggest problems I have found with the cheaper rimfire scopes is the useless rings they come with. I usually toss the rings and use something of better quality. Since you are mounting the scope on a 77/22 you are probably using Ruger rings so this isn't an issue.
The Bushnell 4x32 scopes are on sale right now at Midway:
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=388644
If you want adjustable magnification, the Bushnell 3-9x32 are also on sale:
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=887219
The Bushnell 4x32 scopes are on sale right now at Midway:
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=388644
If you want adjustable magnification, the Bushnell 3-9x32 are also on sale:
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=887219
I remember my first time going to a Wally World in the US before they came to Canada and found a Simmions 3x9 scope for under $30 and they were sold out but the fellow told me to come first thing tomorrow morning and he would keep one back for me. They work but there is better out there. The difference is easy to see when you have vision like mine as the better scopes let me see better.
MMCSRET
Member
Keep in mind that a semi-auto 22 will put more, lots more, stress on a scope than a bolt gun. I put a new Bushnell on a 10-22 and it lasted 200 rounds. sent it back to Bushnell, they called and asked what it had been mounted on, I told them, they said that was bad, they would fix it but don't put it back on a semi-auto. I didn't. the 10-22 went to market and the Bushnell is now on a 7.7x58 Jap and doing well for 5 years.
A 77-22 will work well with a $40.00 bushnell 4X for a long time.
A 77-22 will work well with a $40.00 bushnell 4X for a long time.
greyling22
Member
http://www.samplelist.com/default.aspx?display_num=10&mfg_selection=17&prod_type=1&hide_sold=false
http://www.samplelist.com/default.aspx?display_num=10&mfg_selection=13&prod_type=1&hide_sold=false
there's a $30 simmons and a $40 tasco taht look pretty good. I've no complaints about my world class. (but I shoot .223 at cans during daylight, not 8mm super ultra mag at moose at dusk)
http://www.samplelist.com/default.aspx?display_num=10&mfg_selection=13&prod_type=1&hide_sold=false
there's a $30 simmons and a $40 tasco taht look pretty good. I've no complaints about my world class. (but I shoot .223 at cans during daylight, not 8mm super ultra mag at moose at dusk)
OrangePwrx9
Member
Over the years, I've had about as much trouble with expensive scopes as the cheap ones. The exception is Leupold. Never had a bad one.
Have had a couple of Burris's go bad as well as a fixed-power Redfield. Never tried a Nikon.
On the cheapie side, I've had a couple of bad Simmons and destroyed a Tasco pistol scope on my Super Blackhawk. Had another Tasco that wouldn't focus out of the box.
I've got a few of the new Weaver 3x9s with the one-piece tube. They work OK but the image always has me twiddling with the focus. It's not sharp. The old steel Weavers just go and go without a problem. Image isn't as bright, but it is in focus.
Cabela's low priced Pine Ridge scopes seem to be pretty tough. Had one on an inline ML for awhile and couldn't kill it. It was heavy and big for 2.5x fixed power, though. Got a Pine Ridge variable on a Mini-14. It's been fine too. Bushnell is another cheapie line that's treated me well....kinda clunky but reliable.
I've been using a Simmons 22 Mag. 3x9 variable with adjustable objective on a Remington 597. It's not been shot a whole lot, but has held up well so far. It has some edge distortion, but I'm not shooting at what's on the edge. Picked up another for my 77/22.
When I see refurbished scopes up for sale, I often wonder whether that isn't indicative of scope models that don't stand up well in service. If they've been refurbished, doesn't that mean that they first had to fail in service?
Bob
Have had a couple of Burris's go bad as well as a fixed-power Redfield. Never tried a Nikon.
On the cheapie side, I've had a couple of bad Simmons and destroyed a Tasco pistol scope on my Super Blackhawk. Had another Tasco that wouldn't focus out of the box.
I've got a few of the new Weaver 3x9s with the one-piece tube. They work OK but the image always has me twiddling with the focus. It's not sharp. The old steel Weavers just go and go without a problem. Image isn't as bright, but it is in focus.
Cabela's low priced Pine Ridge scopes seem to be pretty tough. Had one on an inline ML for awhile and couldn't kill it. It was heavy and big for 2.5x fixed power, though. Got a Pine Ridge variable on a Mini-14. It's been fine too. Bushnell is another cheapie line that's treated me well....kinda clunky but reliable.
I've been using a Simmons 22 Mag. 3x9 variable with adjustable objective on a Remington 597. It's not been shot a whole lot, but has held up well so far. It has some edge distortion, but I'm not shooting at what's on the edge. Picked up another for my 77/22.
When I see refurbished scopes up for sale, I often wonder whether that isn't indicative of scope models that don't stand up well in service. If they've been refurbished, doesn't that mean that they first had to fail in service?
Bob
Runningman
Member
That is a good point and has been my experience also.
1shot3kills
member
- Joined
- May 21, 2009
- Messages
- 67
utg 3x9 50mm
look at the cheaper than dirt website it is the UTG 3x9 50 mm with zero ressetable turrents for around 60 or 70 bucks,that a little higher than u want but well worth it,i have bought many of scopes and red dots recently,alot are junk(especially nc star)i have thrown away every nc star i ever bought at a gun show,except one,i gave to a friend for his airsoft gun,he threw it away a week later.the utg i am referring to will shot a square,has red and green illuminated mildot reticle,and a focus on front that will focus as close as 2 or3 feet away on low power,all the way to infinity,and the optics are crystal clear,even comes with flip up covers and a 3 inch sun shade that can easily taken off and on,and will handle the recoil from my 7mm rem mag
look at the cheaper than dirt website it is the UTG 3x9 50 mm with zero ressetable turrents for around 60 or 70 bucks,that a little higher than u want but well worth it,i have bought many of scopes and red dots recently,alot are junk(especially nc star)i have thrown away every nc star i ever bought at a gun show,except one,i gave to a friend for his airsoft gun,he threw it away a week later.the utg i am referring to will shot a square,has red and green illuminated mildot reticle,and a focus on front that will focus as close as 2 or3 feet away on low power,all the way to infinity,and the optics are crystal clear,even comes with flip up covers and a 3 inch sun shade that can easily taken off and on,and will handle the recoil from my 7mm rem mag
While it's true some bargain priced scopes work fine I prefer something I can be more sure of down the road.I got this $245 Weaver scope for only $80 on my Savage MKII BV .22 RF-
http://www.natchezss.com/product.cf...e 4X32 Rifle Scope Black Matte Dual X Reticle
Cant go wrong!
http://www.natchezss.com/product.cf...e 4X32 Rifle Scope Black Matte Dual X Reticle
Cant go wrong!
rangerruck
Member
As for what others have said, I tried, TRIED , to give nc star a chance, on 3 seperate occasions, in 3 diff fields of work to include spotting scope.
All complete and total junk, I will never get another NCstart product, not even if given to me. I put them right below BSA in quality.
The genious of that scope I have listed with the picture of is this; it has actually been around for a long time, I think about 20 years now. They do not make it a lot, they make it in short runs, sometimes they make it in the hard blister pacs, with muffs and glasses, for the big boy stores.
It has a great track record, and is reliable, and requested by the big box stores.
Things like, air rifle rated, adult rated, spring piston rated, mean diff things.
air rifle rated means,it absolutely at it's best, and is mostly designed, to work inside of 25m, since the majority of air rifle matches are under this distance; it is designed to take the slow push, of the recoil of most air rifles, adult rated means, designed to take the higher amounts of recoil, most of the really kids rifles are 600fps and slower. Spring piston rated means, it is designed to take the smashing 2 way recoil of a spring piston drive rifle.
Put all together and it also means a totally diff thing; It is designed to take the recoil of an air rifle, that is break bbl , spring piston driven, and it is
designed to do this, with the full adult size and power break bbl/spring piston rifles.
theoretically , this is what all that means. Is there some industry standard
on this, that we can actually know and read what these amounts are? I have no idea, but what i do know is this, I have used this model scope for a long time, and they are tough, heavy solid steel objects , that can be thrown by themselves as a weapon, they are that solid. You'll see and feel the difference to a regular or centerfire scope, if you ever pick one up! I have never had one loose zero, they are pretty good in the repeatable dept., and the glass is decently clear. All on a scope that is smallish, and with an adjustable AO, down to across the room close.
All complete and total junk, I will never get another NCstart product, not even if given to me. I put them right below BSA in quality.
The genious of that scope I have listed with the picture of is this; it has actually been around for a long time, I think about 20 years now. They do not make it a lot, they make it in short runs, sometimes they make it in the hard blister pacs, with muffs and glasses, for the big boy stores.
It has a great track record, and is reliable, and requested by the big box stores.
Things like, air rifle rated, adult rated, spring piston rated, mean diff things.
air rifle rated means,it absolutely at it's best, and is mostly designed, to work inside of 25m, since the majority of air rifle matches are under this distance; it is designed to take the slow push, of the recoil of most air rifles, adult rated means, designed to take the higher amounts of recoil, most of the really kids rifles are 600fps and slower. Spring piston rated means, it is designed to take the smashing 2 way recoil of a spring piston drive rifle.
Put all together and it also means a totally diff thing; It is designed to take the recoil of an air rifle, that is break bbl , spring piston driven, and it is
designed to do this, with the full adult size and power break bbl/spring piston rifles.
theoretically , this is what all that means. Is there some industry standard
on this, that we can actually know and read what these amounts are? I have no idea, but what i do know is this, I have used this model scope for a long time, and they are tough, heavy solid steel objects , that can be thrown by themselves as a weapon, they are that solid. You'll see and feel the difference to a regular or centerfire scope, if you ever pick one up! I have never had one loose zero, they are pretty good in the repeatable dept., and the glass is decently clear. All on a scope that is smallish, and with an adjustable AO, down to across the room close.
lobo9er
Member
CENTER POINT
Anyone try a centerpoint? their made by crosman i have heard a rep on a local radio show recently they sound like decent stuff for the price. I think I am gonna try one on my muzzle loader.
Anyone try a centerpoint? their made by crosman i have heard a rep on a local radio show recently they sound like decent stuff for the price. I think I am gonna try one on my muzzle loader.
jcwit
member
Almost 2 pages of replies and no one has mentioned BSA?
rangerruck
Member
I did, read the post above, with the scope in it, not exactly glowing.
My quote is this, " If it says BSA, then run away!" I'll stick by it.
Centerpoint is not bad, though it is a chinese product, it is made by western specs, with western parts, western machine, in western style managed plants.
I think it is a sub of UTG, which also makes Leapers, which is also a better scope than most know about. But maybe not, maybe purely a crossman product, which is to say nothing bad about crossman, they have made fine products for years, and some highly rated air pistols. I have read many reviews on the Centerpoint scopes, and so far, cannot remember a bad one.
My quote is this, " If it says BSA, then run away!" I'll stick by it.
Centerpoint is not bad, though it is a chinese product, it is made by western specs, with western parts, western machine, in western style managed plants.
I think it is a sub of UTG, which also makes Leapers, which is also a better scope than most know about. But maybe not, maybe purely a crossman product, which is to say nothing bad about crossman, they have made fine products for years, and some highly rated air pistols. I have read many reviews on the Centerpoint scopes, and so far, cannot remember a bad one.
Maverick223
Member
I agree RR, the BSA and NC-Star are horrible scopes, but I wouldn't turn one down...they make great target scopes...well targets anyway. 
I have nothing good to say about either, but while there is worse than a Leapers, I can find much better (even at the same price point). A Leapers would probably be fine for a .22lr, but the cheap Bushnell still gets my vote.
I have nothing good to say about either, but while there is worse than a Leapers, I can find much better (even at the same price point). A Leapers would probably be fine for a .22lr, but the cheap Bushnell still gets my vote. I've had a handful of bad scopes over the years, mostly cheap, but I've had an expensive one, (Leupold), fail on me as well. As far as really cheap, bottom of the barrel scopes go, I'd probably go to Walmart and get one of their $30 3-9x40 Tascos. They work good enough. The optics are nothing to write home about, but they're clear enough to see your target so long as the lights reasonable. They generally hold a zero and have a reticle that allows for decent accuracy.
Two scopes that I would avoid are the NC Star brand and the really cheap Leapers. I shot an AR with an NC Star on top and the optics were wretched. I also have a pair of $20 Leapers scopes and while they both are functional, the crosshairs on them are too thick to allow for any kind of real precision. On the other hand, I've got a couple of Leapers accushots and I've been VERY impressed with them given the price. Those are well over your $40 mark though.
Two scopes that I would avoid are the NC Star brand and the really cheap Leapers. I shot an AR with an NC Star on top and the optics were wretched. I also have a pair of $20 Leapers scopes and while they both are functional, the crosshairs on them are too thick to allow for any kind of real precision. On the other hand, I've got a couple of Leapers accushots and I've been VERY impressed with them given the price. Those are well over your $40 mark though.
I knew what the terms meant, I was pointing out more that since there is no industry standard that reading specs off a sheet is a poor reference to what a scope is truly like. I believe BSA puts shock proof on most of their scopes yet I have had the pleasure of shocking many into submission with ease on even light recoiling rifles. Just because the manufacturer claims something doesn't make it true, especially on the low low end budget scopes.
The important part was actual use. If you have tried them, especially multiple of them, and they held up well that to me means something. That holds value. I hate when people read specs off and expect even the least expensive scopes to automatically stand up to these claims fully. I wasn't sure if you had used that model or if you were just going off of specs and a few reviews.
Legionnaire
Contributing Member
Look for a fixed 4X Simmons .22 Mag. Once you have it mounted and sighted in, don't touch it again. Don't bother with variable magnification on a "cheap scope." You just want the crosshairs to stay put.
That said, I'd really encourage you to save your pennies and then pick up a Meuller APV 4.5-14X40. Very good scope for the money, and very popular over at rimfirecentral.com, but it'll run you close to a c-note.
That said, I'd really encourage you to save your pennies and then pick up a Meuller APV 4.5-14X40. Very good scope for the money, and very popular over at rimfirecentral.com, but it'll run you close to a c-note.
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mountainpharm
Member
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2009
- Messages
- 182
Do not, under any circumstance, buy a BSA scope. I bought one in Jan 2009 for a .223 and it broke in July 2009. I sent it back for warranty service and they're telling me it will be December before I get it back. Their customer service is beyond terrible. I would post the email exchanges I've had with them if they weren't so long. I would not take another BSA scope if it was given to me, and I say that with all seriousness. Use the search function on here and save yourself the frustration I'm going through now.
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