So want a cheap scope which of these two?

[hometheaterman]

I want to pick up a cheap scope in at least 4-16 power if not higher. I was strongly considering the CenterPoint at Wal-Mart that seems to get fairly good reviews for $70. Then I saw the Tru-Glo 6-24x44 on Natchezss.com

I for some reason am wanting a .243 and a decent fairly cheap high power scope to go on it.

Here are the two links
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10248654

http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=XRTG1410008&src=BA849


Anyone have experience with these two? Can I expect them to last? Are they half way decent or just pure crap? I don't have $300 to spend on a scope right now especially when I don't plan to spend that on the rifle if I even get one.

 

[wcoats]

I just got the CenterPoint from walmart today, and put it on my rifle but haven't taken it to the range yet, i'll let you know how well it works when i take it to the range.

 

[hometheaterman]

Also does anyone know if the Tru Glow scopes have a lifetime warranty or not? That scope is really looking appealing.

 

[nwilliams]

I picked up the CenterPoint 4-16x40 as a temporary cheap scope for my Anshutz 164 but I still have to find rings tall enough to actually install it on the gun.

Personally I'm very impressed with the quality of the scope, it's solid, clear and for $70 I don't think you'll find a better deal anywhere.

My buddy bought the same scope for his 10/22 and he really likes it.

 

[saturno_v]

I replied in a similar thread few minutes ago...

I own 4 Centerpoints....no problems at all and I use them in full power centerfire rifles (up to 338)


You cannot beat it for the money


I don't know nothing about the other brand....

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

I was thoroughly unimpressed with a TrueGlo ESD I purchased & returned. FWIW.

 

[kmcintosh78]

I think that the NcStar scopes are around the same price, and are of better quality, with a lifetime warranty.

 

[rcmodel]

at least 4-16 power if not higher.

On a .243?
What in the world for?

Thats too much scope on any hunting rifle, period.

You would be better off spending the same amount of money on a higher quality 3x-9x-40. Plenty enough power for 400-500 yard shooting and plenty of field of view at lower power for fast moving game in the brush.

rc

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

I will ditto NCStar - don't laugh; so far my excursion into NcStar world has been very very positive (2 products). We shall see in the long run.

 

[wally]

I think that the NcStar scopes are around the same price, and are of better quality, with a lifetime warranty

I've had real mixed results with NcStar stuff. I think the WalMart Centerpoint scope would be a safer bet and easier to return if it didn't work out.

I don't think 6x24 is very good unless you are a dedicated long range shooter and the low end just won't cut it if you are.

My favorite overall is the Millet 1X4 DMS scope (~$200), but then I generally only shoot off bipods or sandbags when zeroing the scope. I'm comfortable with the 4X out the about 300 yards and at 1X its a true 1X so can have both eyes open and with the illuminated reticle on its like using a red dot optic -- very fast at close range.

--wally.

Edit: I'll add, my most recent NcStar seems quite good, its a 40mm 3x9 "mil dot" rubber coated "Delta Elite" clone (~$40). I ordered it expecting something other than NcStar -- "Famous Maker" planing to put it on a .22LR, but it seemed nice enough I tried it on my 20" AR flattop before ordering another Millet DMS, so far its shot very well, so I haven't ordered the Millet yet.

 

[All4eyes]

Look at the Simmons ProHunter line, or at the Intensity Line, both have lifetime warranty. I like Simmons optics, but am really impressed with the Burris line.

 

[AKElroy]

I will ditto NCStar - don't laugh; so far my excursion into NcStar world has been very very positive (2 products). We shall see in the long run.

Let's make it three. I've had an NcStar illuminated retical 4X on a .22/45 for several years & it shoots like a rifle. I have been hard on it & it has held zero fine. Even left it out in the rain once overnight & the light still works, no fog. It's Fun shooting armadillos in the dark with a pistol.

 

[hometheaterman]

On a .243?
What in the world for?

Thats too much scope on any hunting rifle, period.

You would be better off spending the same amount of money on a higher quality 3x-9x-40. Plenty enough power for 400-500 yard shooting and plenty of field of view at lower power for fast moving game in the brush.

rc

Really, I don't need that powerful of a scope I just want it. I agree with I doubt I'd use 16x for hunting. However, I usually leave my 3x9's on 5x anyway so if I started out at 4x and did away with the 3x it wouldn't really bother me.

Why I really want it is for when I target shooting with it. I just don't like 9 power at 100 yards. I know some guys do and some guys don't even want that but for me 9x is about perfect at 50 yards. At 100 it's not zoomed in near as much as I'd really like and that's why I want a higher power. Now for hunting I don't really see the need for much more than the 9x power but if I had a 4x16 power scope I could have the power range for hunting as well as what I'd like for target shooting.

I have a friend that shoots at 100 yards with 5x and he doesn't like anymore than that. He shoots better than I do too. However, I just can't do that. I can hit the target at 100 yards or even 150 on 4 or 5 power but I can't hit the bullseye and shoot near as accurately as I'd like unless I'm on 9x.

 

[Big Bill]

Have your friend teach you how to shoot; then just buy a 3X9 Bushnel and let it go at that.

http://www.opticsplanet.net/bushnell-sharpshooter-3-9x40mm-riflescope-matte-finish-763943.html

 

[benzy2]

I'll say one thing and let it go. First pick the budget, then pick a quality scope with as many features as fit in that budget range. At $70 there is nothing I would buy that I would expect to last more than a year or two at most on a .243. The .243 isn't a heavy hitter but off a bench or bipod it is enough to ruin a cheap scope, as I have found out first hand. Having gone through the cheap scopes with low features, cheap scopes with many features, decent scopes with few features, and decent scopes with many features I would much rather put $70 towards a quality Japan made optic with low magnification and smaller objective than a China made scope with huge glass and huge magnification. I have not had a single China made scope with huge magnification last or be that fun to use while it worked(or as close to worked as a few got).

Some people have great luck with cheap China made scopes. The Centerpoint line may be a great bang for the buck. I have never had a great experience with a China made scope. I have used inexpensive China made scopes and expensive ones. They all left a lot to be desired. I really would rather a reliable fixed magnification 4x Japan made scope such as the Weaver shotgun scope from Natchez than either mentioned. I like the best bargain I can get. That said after enough scopes I have come to first look for quality and then move up to the features I can afford rather than start with features at sacrifice to quality on the same budget.

Its your money and I won't push any more for you to go a different route as I do understand the draw to a high magnification scope on a budget, I've bought my fair share, but that said I won't buy another.

 

[rangerruck]

benzy2 is most correct here; most chinese stuff is absolute crap, and Nc Star is worst of all, no questions or doubts about it. I had 4- Four diff products from them, to include a spotting scope. How can you !@$@ss up a spotting scope?
but they managed. Leapers stuff, which I think Centerpoint is, is not bad. They are Chinese assembled, but parts are made in america and elsewhere, and they are put together in a western style/run/managed shops. So it is not Chinese/Christian slave labor, or women only , who have been told, " another 50 scopes, or no bowl of gruel for you!"
However the Truglo is interesting, it does have a lifetime limited wrrty, and appears to be u.s. made. Some of their reddots and other small illumination products appear to be outstanding. Their scopes , I have no idea, but again
I like the idea if they are U.S. made.
http://www.truglo.com/content/products/firearm/category.asp

 

[saturno_v]

Benzy2

I think you should try Centerpoint...you may change yor opinion on a $70 scope...

By the way, Centerpoint nowdays has a fairly large range of riflescope offering...and some are not that inexpensive.

http://www.crosman.com/optics/

Their new Power Class 8-32X 56 (30 mm tube) is in the $300 ballpark

http://www.crosman.com/optics/riflescopes/power/CP832AORG

What I like also is the excellent customer service...Crossman is a large corporation.

These scopes are not commercialized by your mom and pop shop that who knows if is around one year down the road....

 

[benzy2]

Like I said some people seem to like the centerpoint line but I'm done wasting spending money on China made scopes outside potentially Muellers new target scope. Even that is iffy. I have tried China made scopes from $30, $70, $100, $150, $250 and a few others and quite honestly the only one that has been even close to enjoyable is a Mueller APV, which is very sensitive to eye placement and is worth about what it costs. The others, sooner than later, have all disappointed in one way or another. The only way I would buy a Centerpoint is to return it every 29 days to get a full refund. I just have no faith that any China made scope will last on even the light recoiling centerfires.

I have seen the quality of a couple of the Centerpoints and thought it was at best a $70 scope. I do admit that I haven't properly abused one to know what it's limits are but going by past experiences I'll put that $70 towards a Weaver, Sightron, Leupold, Nikon, or Bushnell Elite and have a bit more peace of mind. If it works for you great. I have had too many turn out poor to spend money on them again. I will say a lot of the China made scopes I bought were from Cabela's as their return policy, at least at the local store, was that they would give a full refund with basically no questions asked. I turned in a handful of the China made scopes for store credit after they gave up the ghost or were just disappointing to start with.

I don't want to come across as a scope snob. I certainly am not. I am very frugal and I hunt for bargains relentlessly. That said I think the real bargain is in the low to mid range Japan made scopes. Their build quality is a huge step over even the better China made examples I have seen. I figure I spend so much time reloading, tweaking rifles, and so much money to get good equipment elsewhere, that skimping $150 on a scope is only going to frustrate me. I want to enjoy shooting and I find I do so more with scopes not made in China. Enjoyment is what this is all about for me. Do what makes you happy but don't fool yourself into thinking much budget can be spent on quality manufacturing with such huge features on a scope that retails for $70. Walmart is selling a $70 scope for $70, nothing more and nothing less.

 

[jpwilly]

2 Centerpoints 4-16x40mm IR Mil Dot's from wally world in my collection and one of the $49 Red Dots from Centerpoint all have worked great. So far zero issues all of them are riding centerfire rifles 308 Win or 30-06. If glass is more important for your needs Nikon Prostaff will blow it away optically.

 

[blackops]

On a .243?
What in the world for?

Thats too much scope on any hunting rifle, period.

You would be better off spending the same amount of money on a higher quality 3x-9x-40. Plenty enough power for 400-500 yard shooting and plenty of field of view at lower power for fast moving game in the brush.

I agree. A 3 x 9 great choice for most hunting applications IMO.

 

[ants]

On a .243?
What in the world for?

Thats too much scope on any hunting rifle, period.

Maybe it's too much scope in your neck of the woods. Try mule deer hunting in the far western states. You are just as likely to get a 350 yard shot as you are likely to get a 150 yard shot. Maybe not where you live, but it makes sense where I live.

Or maybe he wants to use the 243 for little varmints. 6mm is excellent for that.

Or maybe he's not hunting, but wants to shoot tin cans at 500 yards. He can do that if he wants.

It isn't right to judge the man's wants based on your own.

 

[ants]

My opinion on Centerpoint and NCStar

I like cheap scopes.

But when it was new I didn't find the Centerpoint easy to acquire a target picture. Nevertheless, I kept it on a rifle and used it at the range until I got used to it. I like it better now.

The Centerpoint is very similar to a BSA I own. Both are better when you get accustomed to them.

I have an NCStar on a .22 rimfire, and I have one of their handgun scopes on a Ruger Blackhawk. The glass quality on both are somewhat poor, but I got the cheapest scope in each class I could find. Maybe a better NCStar would have served me better.

The best cheap scope I own is a Cabela's that's made in the Phillipines. Wait until they put one of their scopes in the Bargain Cave.

But I also waited until I found a Nikon Monarch on an ebay auction for $276 shipped. Now I'm spoiled. It's really, really hard to go back to the Centerpoint and BSA and Bushnell and Simmons. Dang. I shoulda stayed with cheap scopes and been happy.

 

[mes228]

Scope

I've recently tried a couple of "SIMO" scopes. Named after the famous Finnish Sniper in WWII. The little Finn fought the invading Russians for exactly 100 days before being wounded. In 100 days he had 704 confirmed kills. Estimates go up as high as 1200 or so of those he actually killed. The Simo rifle scopes are better optically than my Leupold VX III. They are one piece tubes, lighted reticle, nitrogen filled, shock proof, lifetime warranty. The scope turrets look like the older Japanese scopes. However, they are very precise and repeatable. I have one on a 30-06 and it has held up well thus far. I like it better than the VXIII on the Savage I own currently. I hate to say it but there is some quite good optics coming out of China these days. I've been told that Pentax spent multiple hundreds of millions of dollars and built the most advanced optical factory in the world there. There are some shockingly good scopes coming out of that facility for a song and dance. SIMO is one (or so I've been told it's made there). Look for one at gun shows. Should cost around $150-$160 or so. To be up front, I am a dealer for Leupold, Nikon, Pentax also. I tried one of the SIMO scopes and was so impressed I now carry them also. Sadly, as I'm tired of everything being made else where. But for the price, nothing I've tried works as well. I was shocked to find that at 100 yds. I could easily see bullet holes in the target with the SIMO. And found it difficult with the Leupold VXIII. Just my two cents.

 

[ants]

Hey, mes228. Which Simo model did you shoot? Was it a 42, 50 or 56mm?

 

[mes228]

SIMO

The Simo is 3 x 12 42E. Be warned they have a really big "Duplex" reticle. I'm old, wear glasses, and find many things hard to see. I love it! But some may not.