NcStar scopes

[Don357]

Ok, I know where this is probably going to go, but I'm going to ask anyway. I will however, ask that only non biased opinions be given. I understand that many in the gun culture equate dollars with quality, and it often does, but not always. So..... NcStar scopes....... good, bad, or so-so.
I just ordered a NcStar 2-6x28 compact tactical to go on my CETME. Do you think it will hold up?

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Oh man, let me tell you. If it's not a Swarovski or a Schmidt and Bender, you may as well use open sights because you're certain to encounter nothing but utter failure.................


Seriously, I know a guy who has one on a .22-250 and he is plenty happy with it. Clear glass and it holds zero just fine.
They have a lifetime replacement warranty if I'm not mistaken.

 

[fallout mike]

It is very likely that you will have problems with it mounted on a .308. I might would put one on a .22 though.

 

[USAF_Vet]

I've used some cheap glass by NcStar, Leepers, Simmons, UTG, etc. and have had ok results. But I've also used Bushnell and have a nice vintage B&L on my Marlin 336 (Father in law's old rifle).

The cheaper Chinese stuff (my Bushnell is Chinese, but doesn't have the same problems as the cheaper ones) don't hold up to recoil. Even the simple red dots will wander, sometimes after only a few shots. My AR pistol is light recoiling, and sports an NcStar 30mm RDS, until I can replace it with something better. Most of the other cheap chinese optics are in a box and haven't been mounted to anything in quite some time.

They do work, and I've found some are much better than others. I tend to use them on lighter recoiling rifles like .22 and 5.56. I had one on an SKS for awhile, too, but it wasn't really tight and spot on. But then, I wasn't trying for cloverleaves at distance. A low mag optic at 100 yards or under for "combat accuracy" was my intended purpose, and for the most part, they were able to maintain that.

But I found quality irons to be more accurate and much more reliable in the long run.

 

[jimbeaux82]

FWIW, UTG seems to be a little better quality scopes than NCStar. I have read some very good reviews and youtube videos on the UTG scopes.

 

[illinoisburt]

Not that I am the guru of all things optics. My admittedly very limited experience with NC Star goes like this:

Bought a closeout 3-9x40 NC Star model for $29 to replace a truly awful no-name scope that came on a new Remington 770 30-06 (yep, I know). Internals let go on round #4.

When I called their warranty department they were nice on the phone. They said the exact model had been discontinued and said they would substitute a replacement. I told them that was fine I just wanted something that would work on a 30-06 hunting rifle. They sent me back a 3-12x50 with a hand written note apologizing for my poor experience with their products. Interesting.

It was heavy with 30mm tube and an oversized housing for illuminated crosshairs. Image quality was fairly clear, though a bit dark at highest magnification especially compared to my Nikons. Still, it seemed entirely usable and I hadn't spent any more money so I mounted on the 770. It is still on that rifle.

The point of impact does not change with magnification changes. Zero hasn't changed at all in a couple years of range trips firing maybe 250 rounds of 30-06. The rifle got seriously banged around in a cross country move this summer and was still dead on no worse for the wear. So this one at least is holding up.

However, I'm not sure this is representative of their general product line. This model was one of their most expensive at the time (real world pricing close to $100). I would not have spent that much for one of their scopes. For just a few dollars more you can get substantially better glass from Nikon, Weaver, or Burris.

For around $50 probably sticking with a standard hunting model from Tasco, Simmons, or Bushnell is safe enough (3-9x40 riflescopes and 2-7x32 shotgun/black powder scopes). Not great by any stretch but they work well enough. I'd hazard a guess those represent the vast majority of scopes used by hunters in America today.

With the proliferation of tactical style scopes, I think the low cost stuff is really questionable. I suspect for short range blasting it should be ok for a while, but who knows. Let us know how it works out.

 

[bikemutt]

The main problem I've found with entry level, mostly made in China scopes, is the hit-or-miss factor. I have a couple I've hung on to because they work great, I've had more than a few that were junk. You just don't know. And lets say it appears good, but the gun-scope-ammo combination isn't working real well, what to blame?

If you get a good one, great, if not, that's the nature of the beast.

 

[Glockpride]

I, ashamedly, must admit I owned ONE. I could not get it to zero on a.223.

I sold it off with disclosure. Not sure what happened after that. Nikon, Bushnell, TruGlo and a couple others are the least expensive that I'll go. I have Vortex on the two ranch defense rifles.

 

[jerkface11]

Ncstar scopes aren't very good. However they are quite a bit cheaper than most other crappy scopes. So if you want to spend less than $100 on glass why not?

 

[jmr40]

I understand that many in the gun culture equate dollars with quality, and it often does, but not always. So..... NcStar scopes....... good, bad, or so-so.

Optics are one of those areas where dollars does equate to quality, at least to a point. The sweet spot is in the $200-$400 range. Anything with a MSRP much under $200 is going to be questionable, under $100 is asking for trouble. Many work, at least for a while, others don't. Many folks buy these and get years of light duty service out of them, but you just never know. A semi-auto beats up scopes quicker than other types because you really get recoil from 2 directions as the bolt closes as the action cycles.

Once you get to the $200 price point all of them are pretty decent, it just depends on which features you prefer. Paying more, up to about $400, just adds different features and slight improvements in glass. Once you get to the $400+ range you pay huge premiums for very small increases in quality. Or you are paying for special features or very high magnification.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I wouldn't throw my money at another NcStar scope.

I WISH they were good, because I really want a quality carry handle mount 4x. But every product I have seen and handled was poorly made and in some cased canted so bad as to be obvious.

 

[JamieC]

Bought one of their red dots, I'd never used a red dot, didn't know if I'd like them. Didn't want to spend a fortune as an 'experiment'. I've had it on my first AR, built from a kit. It's held zero, the quick release mount works well. Battery life isn't so good, the dot a bit tough to see on a bright day. Now that I've decided I like red dots, an Eotech is in the future. Since the red dot worked for me but not too well for working up loads, (it's a 4 moa dot), I bought one of their 3-9 scopes just for being able to actually see targets out to 200 yards. It's worked for me for what I wanted it for, I like the quick release mount. I'm pretty sure if I spent more money I'd have a brighter, clearer target picture. If the finances allow, I'll test that theory one day.

 

[offthepaper]

I wouldn't throw my money at another NcStar scope.

I agree.
Not ragging it because of the low cost, but I've had 2. The first one was one of their $100+ models I stupidly tried to put on a 8mm Mauser Sporter. Did not finish the sight in before it fell apart. They sent a replacement and mounted that on a Marlin 336 in 30-30. That lasted almost the summer before it would not hold zero from shot to shot. I wouldn't put one on anything more than a 223 (if even that).
My best advise would be to spend a bit more for a name brand scope. Right now, I think the best value (not meaning highest quality) for the $$ is the Redfield Revenge line. I bought a 4x12x40 and mounted it on an AR and am very happy with it. Also put another one on my 243 Ruger American, again, very happy with the product and the warranty.
Xmas is coming. Ask for a gift card.

 

[ljnowell]

I bought an NCstar red dot for my sons AR-22. The first one was junk out of the box, wouldn't adjust and had double dots. The replacement lasted about two months and quit.

 

[docsleepy]

I only have experience with a pistol NcStar that I mounted on the rear sight of a couple Mosin-Nag-ants and used it as a scout scope. I think they were 2 to 7 power. Now you need to know that I underload my Mosin-Nagant handloads because I want the brass to last a long time. I'll typically use 42 grains of Varget driving a 150 grain Sierra .311 bullet.

Using that, I can typically hit my 22 inch dia. AR 500 gong Easily at 400 yards, often at 600, and occasionally at 800. The bullet is dropping through transonic by then.

Now, this pistol Scope doesn't have any nice turret indicators , so it takes a fair bit of effort to keep track of the turns to get to about 50+ MOA for 800 yards!


Your money may obviously vary. I don't have any experience with any other of their scopes.

I remember once a fellow showed up with a really fancy rifle and a very fancy scope, and he couldn't hit squat at four or 500 yards. That was because he had no clue of ballistics. With a little bit of a ballistics table, and a few measurements using his scope looking at a 100 yard target with inches smart, and we were able to calculate where he should aim to hit a target at his desired distance. Hit the target on the very first shot after that! He was as happy as a clam. That just goes to show that a lot more depends on what's between your ears than what's in front of your eyes

 

[strambo]

I would avoid them just because of the high failure rate. A basic no-frills scope from a major maker like Redfield etc. doesn't cost much more and will have better glass and hold zero.

With the NcStar etc. it is a roll of the dice if it will let you zero it before failure, then a roll of the dice how long it will last.

 

[henschman]

They make good .22 plinker/trainer scopes. There is no way in hell I would put one on a heavy recoiling .30 cal rifle like a CETME though. I've had an M-14 break much more expensive Chinese scopes than the one you're looking at.

The cheap stuff is appealing when you're on a low budget, but most of us end up learning that regardless of how much a manufacturer stands behind its products, the low price is not worth all the headache of getting a box, taking it to FedEx, mailing it back, waiting, getting it back, and having to re-mount and re-zero. Much better to pay more and be able to count on it to work whenever you need it. "Buy once, cry once" is cliche, but is spot on advice.

 

[joem1945]

The one I have is OK and I put it on a really cheap riffle. Would I but another? Maybe if I had another cheap riffle as a lender at the range.

 

[X-Rap]

Honestly wouldn't mount one on a gun of mine if it was given to me.
The cheaper glass has horribly heavy cross hairs that make fine accuracy all but impossible even if you can keep the scope together.
Even the cheap stuff can be made to have a high magnification and it can also be made to have the "look" of quality glass but in any objective side by side comparison I'd say well over 50% of the optics out there is just crap.

 

[strambo]

Out of curiosity I counted up as best I could the number of working NcStar scopes reported in this thread vs. the number of bad ones (some posts were kinda vague). Best I can tell, 7 NcStar scopes in this thread still work and 6 have failed. That is a failure rate of about 46%.

Of course a total of only 13 scopes is not statistically significant...but it is enough evidence I wouldn't risk any $ on one or similar. Just the hassle of returns is a PITA. OP, I hope yours works out though since you already bought it, the THR odds are 54/46 you'll be good to go.

 

[Jackal]

Skip the crappy, unreliable China scopes and find a decent used optic like a Weaver K4. I had a chinko BSA 3-9 shoot loose on my 10/22...

 

[Japle]

Maybe I just had bad luck, but I’ve owned two.
The first was a compact variable. Adjustment clicks were erratic. Sometimes the ¼ minute clicks would move the POI 3” per click and sometimes not at all. Sighting in was impossible.
The 2nd was a reflex “4 reticle” sight. It worked for about 20 rounds and the next time I pulled the trigger, the laser quit. Next shot, it turned back on. Every few shots it died and I had to fire a round to get the reticle back.
NcStar wants a $10 “handling fee” to honor their warranty. Since the scopes are only worth $35-40 and might just fail again, that’s not worth the trouble.

There are better buys out there.

 

[eastbank]

i have a older 2.5 leupold scope mounted on a 3.5" rem 870 express for special turkeys that refuse to come closer than 40 yds. i can tell you that shotgun seperates the good from the bad in scopes and after three tries with cheaper scopes i put the older leupold on and it has lasted. i bought that scope used for 65.00 several years ago. eastbank.

 

[Onward Allusion]

It's hit or miss quality or so I've heard. I've only had 'em on 22LR's and never had issues.

 

[Don357]

Well, my scope came in and I got it mounted. Still haven't gotten to bore-sighting or anything else yet, but so far I can say that at less the glass is clear, and it holds focus through all magnification levels with no shadows. I may be making a mistake putting it on my CETME, but I have decided that if it blows out, I'll send it back and get a replacement and put it on my M1 Carbine and get a better scope for the CETME. I will post range report as soon as I can.