NCStar vs Nightforce

[SpeedAKL]

No this thread is not about an objective comparison between NCStar and Nightforce.

I was at a gun show yesterday and was surprised to see the vast amount of NCStar and other sub-$100 tactical-style optics for sale. Some tables literally had them stacked high in boxes on top of each other going 50 feet down the row. These same tables also had quasi-convincing knock-off ACOGs, EOTechs, and Aimpoints, mostly made in China. What's more, several gun dealers that had large amounts of ARs as well as FN SCAR, Bushmaster ACR, Steyr AUG A3, and other higher-end fighting guns were also pushing these optics...and lots of people were buying them alongside their new AR. In contrast I saw very few upper-end tactical optics...a few ACOGs and EOTechs here and there as well as a couple Leupolds. They weren't selling much.

I took a look at an NCStar 1-4x scope. It was very similar in appearance and basic function to the Nightforce 1-4x NXS used by the Navy SEALs on the Mk.12 SPR. Besides the fact that one costs $50 and the other $1100, I could see where someone unfamiliar with rifle optics might be misled into thinking this is "just as good as". Given the horror stories I've read here and elsewhere about these products I was tempted to advise some people to not mount a cheap scope on their $1000 AR, PTR91, etc. but I minded my own business.

The question becomes: do Nightforce, Trijicon, Leupold, Aimpoint, et.al. need to worry about cheap Chinese clones stealing the civvy market. or are they insulated enough within the commuinity that uses them (serious tactical shooters) that they shouldn't worry?

 

[Sky]

They better worry.

I was around when the Japanese came over and took pictures and started producing Cloned American products. I remember people in certain industries just laughing at their poor attempts at quality.

Well that was in 1977...Some of those who laughed went out of business because later they could not compete on a price or quality basis.

 

[mbogo]

The Chinese pirates and their enablers here probably sell 200 cloned EOTechs and AimPoints for every genuine one sold. Some are sold as clones/knockoff, some as replicas, and some are sold as genuine to suckers who think they can get a real EOTech or AimPoint for $150.

I won't buy any items that have been counterfeited except from authorized retailers. It might cost more, but the peace of mind is worth it.

mbogo

 

[taliv]

i agree with what i think mbogo was trying to say. It's wrong to buy counterfeit crap intentionally and I don't want to do so on accident so i buy from authorized retailers. (I assume he didn't mean he only buys counterfeit stuff from authorized retailers )

I think 80% of the tacticool market just wants a scope that LOOKS mean like an ACOG. They don't know or care that most ACOG knock-offs are 1x red dots with batteries, so really nothing like the real thing. These people would never pay >$300 for an optic anyway, so they were never really in the market for a NF or Trijicon or what have you.

however, i do think the ones who have their scopes made in china, need to worry about that same factory making more than they ordered and selling the extras at a huge discount. for obvious reasons

 

[X-Rap]

I am afraid I have to agree with sky. I am very out spoken about the Red Chinese junk that lands on our shores and soon fills our landfills but I am noticing in some products they are beginning to show very good quality and still a low price. I think before long they might have some very good quality optics at prices still under our good domestic makers. A sad thing it is.

 

[MinnMooney]

I think that many newbees will buy a cheap optic to go on their $1000 rifle but several months into ownership they'll wise up and start asking questions like "Why doesn't this hold it's zero?" and more people will tell them "Ya get what ya pay for."

 

[jcwit]

I think before long they might have some very good quality optics at prices still under our good domestic makers. A sad thing it is.

Heh, all you have to do is look where your digital camera is made. Even the good ones come from china.