Scope advice: Nikon or Simmons?

[Frog48]

I'd like to put a new scope on my Savage .30-06, but have a pretty tight budget. I dont want to spend more than $200.

I think I've narrowed it down to the Nikon "Pro Staff" 3-9x40 and Simmons "Prosport" 3-9x50.

I've read good reviews about the Nikon, but havent heard anything about this particular Simmons model. I like the fact that its 50mm, but I'm leary about spending money on something I know nothing about.

Any advice/comments/recommendations are appreciated.

 

[joebogey]

I like a 50, but it does sit up a little high making it sometimes hard to get the right sight picture.

I'd go with the Nikon even with the smaller bell. You get a lifetime warranty and I think a little better product.
I'm looking at one right now for a Stevens I bought.
If you watch Ebay you can find the Buckmaster for around 165 to 175 in a 3x9x40.

 

[Gunther]

Go to SWFA or Samplelist.com buy a leupold rifleman for 200 bucks. Its USA made and lifetime warranty and I think a much better scope than the other two.

 

[Frog48]

This is the exact Nikon I'm looking at:

http://www.academy.com/index.php?pa...g/scopes&start=30&selectedSKU=0369-02076-6312

I like the camo finish, because my Savage is in a camo stock and I think a camo scope would look good with it. Here it is:

 

[ClarkEMyers]

Of the two I'd buy Nikon
- but for a hunting scope I'd buy a smaller optic - 2-7 rather than 3-9 and for a less expensive scope I'd go 4x or 6x fixed power rather than buy all the features and worry about where the product is cheapened.

 

[Hot brass]

I say Nikon over the Simmons, BUT not that Nikon.

Click the link. http://theopticzone.com/detail.aspx?ID=3970

 

[John4me05]

http://theopticzone.com/detail.aspx?ID=4255

I like this one ALOT

 

[.41Dave]

Of the two you mentioned, I'd go with the Nikon. For the <$200 budget, however, I'd buy a 3-9x40 Burris Fullfield II. The one I bought for my daughter's deer rifle compared very favorably side by side with the Leupold VXII I had on my rifle at the time, and at a price around half of what the Leupold cost!

 

[HOLY DIVER]

$200 range i'd look at a swift before i bought anything

 

[Bear2000]

Best Prices - Don't Pay Too Much.

If you're not buying your scopes from arcadian-sales.com, Ebay, or any other number of online sellers, you're probably paying way too much. I just got a Bushnell 4200 Elite 6-24x40 for just under $400 shipped. Same scope is $519 at Optics Planet or any big box store.

Nikon 3x9 Prostaff at arcadian: $131.99 (179 at Academy)

Simmons Prosport 4-12x50: $101.00 (120 at Dicks)

$10.00 shipping, 2% cash discount.

Jack at Arcadian is a really nice guy who offers excellent service and (almost) unbeatable prices. You might be able to get a lot more scope for the same money.

 

[Sunray]

Simmons are low end scopes. Nikons are not.

 

[Zeke/PA]

The Leupolds are no doubt the best of the lot.
I have recently purchased two of the Nikons and they are excellent scopes.
Optical clarity, brightness, positive adjustments AND they hold zero.
I have a Simmons 3x9 that came with a Savage .17HMR purchase and I was not impressed with it by any means.
Zeke

 

[Tarvis]

I am a firm believer in buying a $69.99 rifle and putting $1000 with of scope on it, as opposed to buying a $1000 rifle and putting $69.99 worth of glass on it. It's not hunting season, whats the rush? Save up and put something on that rifle that will make your buddies go "oooh" and your eyes go "aaaaah." I haven't heard too many bad things about the brands you mentioned, but those scopes are less than $200 for a reason. This is my humble opinion and I don't know what you're using the rifle for or how much you hunt or how serious you are about your guns and yada yada yada, but for me the rifle has unspent potential without a good scope.

 

[MarshallDodge]

I have a couple of the Simmons target scopes. I think I paid $140 for the one and $200 for the other about ten years ago. They have been good scopes and the picture is pretty good. Better than most but not as good as Burris, Leupold, etc.

I would do a little more shopping before making your purchase. Sometimes you can find good deals on used high-end scopes.

 

[Upriver]

Take a look at Pentax:

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=445726&t=11082005

They're still a real sleeper in value for scopes. Mechanicals by Burris, optics by Pentax. The gameseeker is their lower end, but they're still quite a bit better optically than the Simmons.

I've had two Simmons scopes (one bought, one gifted) and neither would hold zero.

 

[jpwilly]

For a Cheap scope the Simmons Master Series 4-12x40 is a good scope and works great on my Father In Law's 303 Enfield. Optics are clear and bright!

 

[Ske1etor]

First of all, some of you high priced brand guys need to take a step away from the cabela's catalog. Leupold is no longer the best in the lot. If you are spending less than 500 bucks, go with Bushnell or Nikon. Ok, I know what you are thinking... "Bushnell? Yeah right... I wouldn't mount a bushnell on a .22lr..." well, the days of your daddies marlin 39a are over and bushnell and nikon are on the leading edge of the lower cost bracket. I can pick up a Bushnell Elite 3200 that will outshine the Leupold VXII in the most important catagory and equal it in the rest. Clarity is honestly about the same if you don't believe me do the research and look through them yourself. Glass quality is about the same. The coatings are similar and the warranties are the same but the price... well that is the winning point. I can pick up a 3200 3-9x50 for just over 250... the leupold VXII 3-9x50... well that one is going to cost you about 400 dollars.

Id say stick with the bushnell... I didn't comment on the Nikon because I don't currently own one but my two hunting partners both installed Nikon Prostaffs on their brand new remington 30-06 rifles before this past hunting season and both of them are putting ragged holes at 100 yards...

The Bushnell 3-9x40 can be had for around 230. I purchased the 3200 w/ Firefly reticle in 3-9x50 off of ebay NIB for 255. The only reason I wen't for the 50mm is because they guy was out of 40mm and the price was right.