Simmons 8 Point Blazer Vs Nikon Prostaff

[slowr1der]

So, I've been using a Simmons 8 Point Blazer on a Savage rifle I have. It's all I've been able to afford and it came on the rifle. I really want the Super Sniper variable power, but I want more than a 3-9 so I've kept telling myself to just stick with the Simmons until the 5-20 SS comes out. Seems like it will be at least 1 more year from what I've read. That gives me time to be saving for it too.

I plan to use this rifle mainly for hunting, and I don't hope to drop it, but I wont be the easiest on it as it will ride in a truck on the seat and bounce around and stuff like that.

Anyway, the scope has decent glass for what it is. Actually surprised me, and so far with the 300 rounds or so I've put through it, it's held zero just fine. So I've stuck with it.

The biggest thing I don't like is I read online how bad they are and how often they fail and this just scares me that I'm going to end up having it fail on a hunt and not realize it and then wound or even miss a deer. That's the biggest issue I have with this scope.

So anyway, I bought a Nikon Prostaff for a great price used, and I'm wondering if I should just leave the Simmons on this rifle since it's already sighted in and mounted, or if I should go ahead and switch over the Prostaff and use that until the SS 5-20 comes out.

 

[Uncle Mike]

The biggest thing I don't like is I read online how bad they are and how often they fail and this just scares me that I'm going to end up having it fail on a hunt and not realize it and then wound or even miss a deer. That's the biggest issue I have with this scope.

Well, you know what they say.....don't believe 'everything' your read on the net, especially forums, where the, 'less than pleased', or 'overly excited' may try to inject their idealistic views into your brainstream! lol

If a Simmons 8 point or Nikon Prostaff was all the better quality rifle scope anybody could afford, well, I imagine you'd hear nothing but praise concerning these models!

While predicting the future is only accurate in the movies, I'll go out on a limb and say, "I think your present scope will live another season"! If your not having any issues currently, and cannot afford to swap scopes on a whim....run the thing until failure or until you can afford to swap it with a scope of your choice.

Have you seen these, you could probably pick one up for $310-$430 Retail.....www.bushnell.com/products/scopes/riflescopes/elite3200/325154T/

 

[Red State]

If you are going to hunt with it, I would put the Nikon on it.

If you are just going to plink at the range, ride the Simmons as long as it lasts.

 

[viking499]

I would use the Simmons since it is already on and ready to go. But eventually install the Nikon, unless you want to install the Nikon now......

 

[Arkansas Paul]

If all a man could afford was a Simmons, I'd have no beef with it at all. Heck, I've got a BSA on a rifle. But if you already have the Nikon, by all means put it on.
And yeah, Uncle Mike's right. Don't believe everything you hear. I think you should buy the best scope you can afford. If that's a Simmons, it certainly beats nothing. For the record, my BSA holds a pretty consistent zero. And it's the $34.99 Deerhunter model.

 

[52grain]

If you like it and it is working, that's what is important. You can't believe everything that you read on the internet. You don't know the person writing the review.

I have a prostaff on one of my rifles and it works very well, especially considering the price. It's not near the scope that my Leupold VX-3 is, but it was also way less money. No experience with the other scope you mentioned.

 

[JDGray]

My Brother thought his Rem700 .270 was a POS because it had an old Redfield big dollar scope on it, and it wouldn't group well. We put my el cheapo 8 point on it, and it started shooting same hole groups. Good scopes don't have to cost a fortune, and the Simmons I have, has a decent immage, and holds zero.

 

[stsimons]

I think its probably pretty infrequent that someone who drops $800 on a scope would not think it was the best thing since sliced bread.

However, its easy to beat up a $200 scope as a POS.

Just keep in mind that there are probably 100 of those 200 dollar scopes out there working day in and day out for every 1 of those $800 dollar models.

 

[HGUNHNTR]

Throw the Simmons on an old .22lr or in the trash. Put the Nikon on the Savage. 5-22 power for deer hunting? I hunt bean and alfalfa fields, and 4-12X has that covered pretty well.

 

[slowr1der]

Kind of what I'm thinking, plus I have a friend interested in buying the Simmons. I just hate to sell it kind of. I've read how the quality control is pretty bad on most cheap optics, and some are good, but some are bad. That makes me wonder if since I seem to have gotten a good one if I should hang onto it as a spare scope. Or if I should just sell it, use the Nikon, then if I ever need another one, just buy another one.

 

[greyling22]

my uncle's got the simmons on a 45-70 (he downloads some) that has held up fine. my tasco world classes have never failed me either. now that I can move up some I am, but I can't really fault the cheap scopes for not working, because they have. Now I know they're failed for people before, but not for me.

I think the glass is better on the simmons than the tasco. at least from what I have seen. prostaff is pretty nice too. it's help up fine on a 270 for a few years.

 

[HGUNHNTR]

Also it isn't just about whether it will hold up, you also have to consider the cost of using inferior optics. Will poor glass cost you a deer? Maybe. I personally dont' get enough days a year in the field to be able to afford cheap optics. They better work, because I may not get another shot for a year.

 

[CraigC]

Cheap is too expensive and I've got a box of busted cheap scopes to remind me that money is never wasted on good glass. Scopes fail, that's a fact. Cheap scopes fail much more often than good ones. Their lenses loosen, they fog up internally, they shift POI, their reticles break, etc. IMHO, it's cheap insurance to buy a good optic the first time, than to have to replace a cheap one later. Which could be after a hunt was ruined by a cheap scope. No, you don't have to spend $1500 of a Zeiss but even if your budget is limited you can save your pennies for a few months and get a decent Weaver, Leupold, Burris, Nikon, Bushnell (Elite only) or a new Redfield.

PS, why a 5-20x for a deer rifle???

 

[slowr1der]

Well, this rifle is a 98% range rifle, and I want the 5-20 for that. However, I also want to try hunting with it some as I enjoy shooting it so much, I just want to use it when hunting some. That being said it's still mainly a range rifle, and I feel like with the 5-20 I would have a low enough magnification that it would still be decent for hunting, yet high enough magnification for long range shooting.

Also it isn't just about whether it will hold up, you also have to consider the cost of using inferior optics. Will poor glass cost you a deer? Maybe. I personally dont' get enough days a year in the field to be able to afford cheap optics. They better work, because I may not get another shot for a year.

I wouldn't miss a deer because of the glass in this scope. I mean, it's not amazing or anything, but it's not horrible either like you'd expect for the price. I've seen quite a few more expensive scopes that don't have near as good of glass as this thing. It's not great in low light, but that's the only time it really suffers. I also have to comment that it's illegal to hunt at night here, and I assume most other places, so why would I need a scope that I can see well in low light with when it's illegal to hunt anyway?

That being said, I do like good glass, and I like good low light performance, however, it's not something that is going to mess up my hunt if I don't have as I can't shoot at night anyway.

That being said, the scope failing is what worries me and really the only issue I could see having with this scope.

 

[Uncle Mike]

Well, if worrying about that Simmons crapping out on you is keeping you up at night, definitely change scopes! hehehe

 

[Lloyd Smale]

the simmon is very comparable in all catagorys to the prostaff.

 

[Uncle Mike]

the simmon is very comparable in all catagorys to the prostaff.

Right you are, the Simmons 8-Point and the Nikon Prostaff could be sisters in another life. and probably are!

That's why I was saying to run the Simmons until the death of the unit, or better times, which ever comes first!

One brand at this level is NOT any better than the other brand. Both have good warranties in this case.

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

I used simmons scopes for several years and never had one fail on me. That being said, I switched to Nikon optics and have not looked back since. While in SOME ways the two are comparable, they are not quite "sisters". The Nikon Prostaffs are a good bit better on their glass quality and Nikon overall has 3 times better customer service if needed. I have a prostaff on my .300wm with well over 1000 rounds through that mule kicking rifle and it has yet to come off zero. Also have one of their Shotgun Scopes on my 12 gauge slug gun (Kicks harder than my .300) and it has never failed as of yet either.

As far as light transmission, Most states you will be happy you have good glass at the last 10 minutes of LEGAL shooting time when you spot his majesty the 5 year old 12 point at 200 yards. You will find that Nikon is quite a bit brighter than that Simmons. Since you have already purchased that Nikon, I would install it and get it zero'd in. If for nothing else, it's an excuse to go shoot!!

 

[M1key]

Newest Simmons (Meade) ain't quite the old Simmons. Meade no longer makes them, thank goodness, and Bushnell handles all their warranty work.

Own 3 of the 8-points, one went "toes up" almost immediately. I am not going to bother to have it serviced, so into the trash it goes.

I do love my new Nikon Prostaffs.

YMMV.

Good Luck.

 

[Abel]

Simmons is junk. If you have a Nikon layin' around, throw the Simmons into your glove box in case of an emergency.

 

[Boomie]

I have a Simmons "Wideview" that has been on one field-use .22 or another for 20 years. I have a spare Vortex lying around and I'm still hesitant to switch. Simmons may or may not be crap but I think if you have one that keep zero and is proven it should be okay.

 

[41]

I have been pleased with my Nikon Prostaff, no experience with the simmons though

 

[wow6599]

Dollar for dollar I think it's hard to beat a Prostaff......if you can get past seeing the screws inside every now and then.

 

[Maverick223]

I have had a couple of Simmons fail me, but at least one that did okay (I ended up donating this one to a friend, and it is still doing fine to the best of my knowledge). If you haven't had any problems so far, I would keep it on there until you have issues, or until season end. At which point I would swap it for the Prostaff or something better (Sightron S-II, Vortex Viper, Nikon Monarch, Bushnell Elite-4200, Kahles Helia CL [CDNN Special], et al). Make no mistake they are much better than BSA, NCStar, Barska, and the like, but to be perfectly honest I don't really trust them excepting low recoil applications like a rimfire. YMMV.