How important is paralax? And another cheap scope question

[redneck]

Well I'm kind of in the market for a scope. I don't like using them all the time but its fun to put one on a rifle once in awhile. Might leave it on for a month or two and then switch back to irons. Only using it on a bolt .22 and a spring piston air rifle right now. There is the possibilty of getting a .17HMR or .22WSM down the road so that would extend the range.

So how important is paralax? Should I get a scope designed for rimfire, or would it not hurt anything to get a bigger scope (provided I can get the right rings) ? How close should the paralax be adjusted to your average range?

Also, is the biggest downfall to cheap scopes light transmission? I'm not going to use this for hunting aside from if I need to shoot a varmint of some sort around the farm and the scope happens to be on at the time,and in that case if its dark I won't be shooting farther out than I can identify it with a mag lite anyway.

Right now the only scope that looks promising is I saw a bushnell rimfire scope locally for about $40, or a banner series for about $70 (this one didn't have rings) Thats the price range I'm looking at.

I already have a BSA .22 special that is serviceable on my air rifle but not much more. There is a fair amount of distortion around the edges which is annoying but I can live with just fine, its very accurate on the air rifle. It does not fit my .22 though, elevation won't adjust far enough. And the fit of the rings is nothing short of pathetic.
I had a cheap Tasco rimfire scope for awhile too, variable power which was fun and had a VERY clear sight picture considering it only cost $20, much better than the BSA. It refused to hold a zero after 2 months on the air rifle though.
Would I be looking at similar problems from a bushnell?

Thanks for any help/suggestions. I wish I could afford a high end scope, but I can't. To be honest, I like shooting with irons so much better I wouldn't be able justify it even if I did have the money unless it was for a centerfire of some sort where the effective range was much farther than I could see something the size of a ground hog clearly. Just want a decent scope to mess around with from time to time.

 

[mtnbkr]

Should I get a scope designed for rimfire

Yes. The reverse recoil of a springer airgun will destroy regular scopes. SWFA has the Bushnell Sportsman airgun scope (with rings) for $69.99 (the matte version is less expensive). It's a 3-9x32 AO scope with target turrets. I have one and like it. I no longer have an airgun, so I put it on my 10/22.

Less expensive matte version: http://www.riflescopes.com/store/prodinfo.asp?number=720038

You can go as low as $39.99 for a Bushnell Sportsman, but you lose the AO: http://www.riflescopes.com/store/prodinfo.asp?number=721393

Chris

 

[redneck]

Thanks
I hadn't thought of that. I was thinking I'd limit the airgun use to the BSA that I already have but I suppose if I were to get something nicer I'd end up putting the BSA on the other end of the range during target practice

I'll look at the ones you listed. I was under the impression that you should avoid variable power with cheap scopes, but if your happy with the one you've got its probably worth a try.

 

[redneck]

Looked at the SWFA site, great site. Great prices. I might buy from them instead of locally.

Question on the airgun scope from bushnell. Do they have the same features as the rimfire scope, only reinforced for reverse recoil? I like the target knobs on the rimfire, and it says they are fully coated lenses as well as fog proof. The airgun scope page only lists them as having fully coated lenses, does it have the same adjustment and is it sealed the same?

 

[mtnbkr]

My Bushnell does have the target knobs. I don't know if it's fogproof or not. It never got foggy when I took it camping.

Chris

 

[Delmar]

On the more inexpensive scopes, it all depends...

Parallax on scopes made for centerfire rifles is set at 100-150 yards, where as the typical 22 scope is set for 50.

Parallax is really not much of an issue IF you have a consistent stock weld to your cheek.

Optics are not as likely to be as clear on the less expensive scopes, the gears for windage and elevation are likely to be plastic-no big thing if you zero the rifle and leave them alone.

Had a bushnell years ago 4x12 with an adjustable objective. After about 2 years, you could put a collimator on it and turn the AO, and watch the crosshairs move in a 3/8th inch circle.

Another cheap scope (Swift)I put on my 22, the reticule fell apart before my eyes (gotta watch those tremendous recoil forces!).

Now, I have a Simmons 6.5x20 50MM on my Remington VS in 308. Been there for 6 years, and does just fine. It's supposed to be 1/4 minute adjustments, but I'd call that an "average". One click might go 1/4 minute, the next may not move it at all, but the thing will hold its zero year after year. The optics are not a Leupold, but they work darned well for a $100 scope.

 

[CB900F]

Fella's;

I'll also state that if you are going to use your scope on a spring powered airgun, you need a scope rated for airguns. Airguns have a fore & aft recoil that can eat up a non-rated scope in fairly short order. Scopes that can withstand years of .338 magnum type recoil can fail in a reletively few shots with an airgun.

I do a lot of .22lr hunting around here. Shots range from mere feet to well over 100 yards. I find that A/O is very helpful. I say that as an old NRA indoor competitive shooter with all the gongs & a good knowledge of cheekweld.

Given the price range you've stated & the type of glass you've mentioned, you may wish to take a look at the Tasco 2.5 X 10 A/O mil-dot. I don't know if it's rated for airgun or not, but I wouldn't be eager to put it on a spring gun myself. I did own one of these scopes. The glass was good & clear, the mil-dots were round & sharp, & the A/O worked well. The workmanship was shoddy, made in the Peoples Republic of China. The target turrets were not accurate & repeatable. However, I may have gotten a Monday morning hang-over scope too. In the price range you've mentioned, ya pays yer nickle & ya takes yer chances. They are selling for about $50 - 60.00 now. Check Midway, Natchez & SWFA.

900F

 

[mtnbkr]

I'll also state that if you are going to use your scope on a spring powered airgun, you need a scope rated for airguns

The Bushnell Sportsman I recommended above is rated for springer airguns. It lived on my BSA Supersport for 4 years.

Chris

 

[zahc]

I trashed the reticle on a bushnell sportview 3-9 with an ever-powereful 10/22. It make a nice rattling sound.

I only buy leupolds now.

 

[mtnbkr]

I don't know why I keep calling it a "Sportsman", it's Sportsview.

Anyway...

The only Bushnell I would buy is the airgun version of their Sportview. I've had it recommended to me enough times by serious airgunners to realize it must work. It's held up for me for 4 years on a springer airgun, which has much more recoil than a 10/22. We'll see how long it lives on my 10/22.

I use Leupold on my centerfire rifle.

Chris

 

[redneck]

Thanks everybody
I might hold off on a scope. I keep thinking that some of these horror stories about cheap scopes are partly stuff that gets recycled and passed around. But I do have a couple worthless scopes already so....
Maybe I'll look into a peep sight or something. Found one for my muzzle loader that looks promising anyway.