Picked up a new cheapie scope today.

[hipoint]

I got one of those Center Point 4-16x40 scopes from wal-mart with the illuminated reticle. Read alot of decent reviews, and a few scathing reviews, so I figured it's worth a shot and if it doesn't hold zero then I can return it...

So far after about 40 rounds of 30-06 through my kicks like a mule rem. 700 it is still performing well. The adjustments did what they were supposed to do, got it zeroed in pretty well and the scope is better than I am. We'll see if it holds up though... Luckily, I have never had a "good" piece of glass on a gun so I like this one just fine

I'm sure that it's not a 'nice' scope, but at the lower powers it is really crisp and clear. The illuminated part is kinda so-so as you can see the light on the inside of the scope tube, but it works. It has mil-dot on the crosshairs so as soon as I get someplace other than my pasture I'll play with the ranging of those. So far I'm very pleased with it. It does wash out quite a bit on the 16x zoom, but that's ok, I can still see through it just fine.

Most folks don't need the illuminated reticle, but I think it'll be great for me, several of my buddies own farms as well, so we all get depredation permits to spotlight the critters off of our crops, I've got serious deer issues on my blueberry farm, so I get the permits for deer. My friend gets them for hogs, so I figure the illumination might come in really handy, not to mention the regular hunting times of right at sunset and sunrise.

I'm sure it won't hold up to windage and elevation adjustment very often, but I'm not that kind of shooter anyhow. A 300 yard shot is unheard of around here, most being under 100 yards.

I replaced a japanese tasco 8-32x40 scope, that one was just overkill for our area. I had to hunt through the scope too long in regular hunting scenarios and night hunting the ultra fine crosshairs were disappearing on me.

Hopefully when this rain leaves, I'll get to try it out at night and put some swine in the freezer with it!

 

[scythefwd]

Look at the bushnell sportsman line of scopes next time you're in the market. I find them under 50 some times and it holds up fine on my .308.

 

[hipoint]

I think I have one of those laying around here some place. I went to wally world explicitly looking for one with an illuminated reticle though, if you can't tell by my screen name, I like cheap stuff ;-)

as long as it works, I'm happy. yeah, my bronco might not be a humvee but I can take it up a trail and go to the grocery store, so I'm happy with my cheap goods.

I'm very interested to see how it does after a year's worth of shooting and bouncing around on the 4 wheeler though!

 

[scythefwd]

the scope i recommended is cheap.... but that illuminated ret... not gonna happen. hope it works great for ya.

 

[hipoint]

I just read that... sorry if it sounded like I was thinking you were recommending an expensive scope, I have one around here I think that was fairly cheap. I was just agreeing that I like my cheap stuff just fine as long as it functions in the basic sense of the item then I'm happy.

 

[BrocLuno]

Got a couple of these WalMart CenterPoints and they haven't broken yet If they do, they go back. Seem to be made well enough for what you are contemplating. But, even at low internal light setting, the "spilled light" is annoying. Light on the cross hair or center point without excess in the tube seems to cost a bunch more?

 

[hipoint]

yeah, I think it'll do fine. I've never bought a good scope in my life (as stated before) so I'm spoiled by that. Since I don't know that my scopes aren't good, I can hit the targets with them fine. The spilled light is a little annoying, but for what it is and the price I paid I think it'll put some piggy in the freezer ;-)

BTW, the new scope thing made me find a better 100 yard range at my place today, I actually found a pretty good one with a mountain backdrop that's all on my land, so no worries about shooting someone's house or whatnot. Only problem is I have to shoot from the side of the road good thing it's a rural area and the road is a dead end residential road (that's named after my family). still even with shooting from the side of the road, I have a very nice 100 yard setup, and with a little chainsawing I should be able to move 30 feet or so in from the road.

It was kinda neat shooting out there though, neighbors kept stopping and hanging out while I was there, and a couple even brought their rifles out to check zero before deer season opens. Made it kind-of a social day...

 

[MachIVshooter]

Luckily, I have never had a "good" piece of glass on a gun so I like this one just fine

Well, you're kinda screwed once you do.

Cheap scopes have their place, but not on a big game rifle, IMO. The difference between a Tasco and a Leupold isn't just clarity and brightness; The Leupold is a much tougher scope. Just because that center point can take a little bit of recoil and hold zero doesn't mean it can handle falling down a rock face with you and then dropping a bull elk at 250 yards. Yeah, yeah....I'm sure ya'll are more careful than that when hunting. But guess what? So were most of the guys who took those spills.

I'm no snob; I don't EVER believe in paying for a name. Heck, I have a Barska 6-24x 60mm on my Armalite .50, because that rifle is a bench gun only; It's not gonna get knocked around. But that Barska is a stop-gap until I have an extra $1,200 for a Nightforce or Leupold of that power. If I ever get serious about 1,000+ yard shooting, that thing ain't gonna cut it.

I have other cheap scopes, but not on my hunting rigs. Nikon Monarchs, Weaver Classics, Leupold VX-II's and VX-III's. I pretty much won't spend less than $300 on a scope for a hunting rifle, because I've found that there's a definite cut-off in quality and durability around there.

 

[Damon555]

Yeah, what MachIVShooter said. I made the mistake of getting a Swarovski and it has pretty much ruined me from cheap glass for any kind of serious shooting. Don't get me wrong, I own some much cheaper scopes but I don't put much faith in them under less than ideal conditions.

I always get a chuckle out of some people when they post how their $100 scope looks just as nice as ones costing 5x as much. It just isn't so....scopes are really an item where you get what you pay for.

I hope that scope serves you long and well!

 

[hipoint]

I agree whole heartedly on mach's post...

my japanese tasco that I replaced with this one took a spill last deer season, I fell down a loading ramp on our farm and landed on the scope, wouldn't ya figure that was the first morning I saw one... I shot, deer didn't move, shot again, and then it took off. Figured it didn't make it far since it took 2 in the chest went down in the swamp, found lots of gore and a twig with 2 hits on it the size of my pinky. So i knew my grouping was excellent. This happened at dawn, we gave up the search when it started getting dark. took it to the back yard and shot, it was about 18 inches low and right at 50-75 yards... guess I gut shot the deer.

so now, with ANY scope if it takes a spill i will not be hunting with it until I test it out... also, that's why I really dislike rifles with smooth barrels, I try to only buy guns with iron sights as well as a scope. Of course the hit that scope took would have to mess up any scope, later that evening upon examination there was actually a dent in the tube. after re-zeroing it still works great, but I learned a valuable lesson that day... If I go someplace other than my own land for hunting I always put the mauser in the truck too, just incase I take a spill. While a nice piece of glass should take more of a hit, I don't think I'll be relying on it to be dead on after a good spill. I really hate wounding an animal and not finding it.

If I end up going some place where I could hunt elk, I'd probably have enough money to invest in a better scope then as well... around here, iron sights are really all you need for chest shots you rarely get shots over 100 yards unless you're in a power line cut or something similar.

so in short, yes I can see the point of a good scope and if I could afford one, you bet I'd get it, although I would be surprised if even the best scope could take a serious hit and not be affected... am I wrong on that? If there is a decent variable power scope out there that can take that kind of hit, i would definitely save up for it!

 

[El Mariachi]

Speaking of scopes, anyone know anything about these things? Swift Model # SRP674M? I've got a chance to pick up a brand new one in the box for $70.00....supposedly they still get over $160.00 for them on line......














The Swift Premier Rifle Scope is designed for rapid target acquisition and consistent results, even after years of use and abuse. Features of this rifle scope include fully multi-coated lenses for maximum light transmission and an improved optical setup that has low-profile target turrets, quick-focus eye relief and reinforced reticle mounts. Every Swift Premier Rifle Scope is fogproof, waterproof and shockproof and is covered by the Swift Lifetime Warranty.

Technical Information

Tube Diameter: 1"
Objective Bell Diameter: 48mm
Ocular Bell Diameter: 43mm

Adjustment Click Value: 1/4"
Eye Relief: 5.3-3.6"
Exit Pupil Diameter: Not listed by manufacturer

Field of View at 100 Yards:
40? @ 3x
14.2? @ 9x



(And two decent reviews from buyers)



Overall Rating: 5.00 stars
Used this Product? Rate It
Vic Lundin of Phoenix, AZ
5.00 stars
Date Posted: 2/25/2010
Surprised, is what I was when I received this scope. I will compare this to Leupold VX-2 for reference. Fit and finish are just as good. Turret knobs look better and respond just as good as my VX-2's. Optical quality, just as good. I could not tell any difference. Last, but not least, it has held its zero on my .308 Win. This scope is a much better buy than Leupold and has a lifetime warranty. It should be noted, Swift has been around a long time. It also comes with a sun shade if you use them. Just a small note on Swift quality. I am still using a pair of Swift binoculars my Dad bought in about 1960. They still work great. Definitely a good buy!

Was this review helpful? Yes No 68 found it helpful | 1 did not
corey schenck of wisconsin rapids, wi
5.00 stars
Date Posted: 2/25/2010
Leupold quality optics at a 3rd of the cost, great scope for the money.

 

[heeler]

El Mariachi I own a Swift 3x9x40 that I took of a Remington 700 .308 I bought for a song.
It's the Reliant model that is a model below the one your considering.
Mine is older and made in South Korea and is decent but has short eye relief so I dont want it on a 30-06.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Speaking of scopes, anyone know anything about these things? Swift Model # SRP674M?

Old company, based here in CO. The one you're looking at is a premier series; Most likely Korea made and comparable to a Nikon Prostaff or Buckmaster in both price and quality. their cheaper reliant series are similar to Bushnell Banner or Tasco World Class.

I've never personally had experience with them, but if will probably serve you well so long as your expectations don't exceed what they should be of a $150-$200 scope. For $70, well worth it, I'd say.

 

[El Mariachi]

Ah crap Heeler, I was hoping this scope revolutionized the industry......

Oh well, I'll buy it anyways and find something to put it on----maybe the Husqy 8x57 would be a good test subject, 'cuz lawd know the Barska 3x9-40 Huntmaster couldn't keep up with it. And if it sucks, well I'm sure I can at least break even on it.....

 

[BrocLuno]

My shootin buddy has some Swift scopes and he likes them. Look OK to me. But they are not on 06's. I'd be wanting 3 1/2 inches of eye relief at least for an 06 which looks like their minimum for this model. Should be OK?

 

[heeler]

El Mariachi,that scope is most certainly worth $70.00.
In fact that's a steal.