Scope Snob? Not me!

[Kent Detective]

Thought I'd enlighten you all on my way of thinking -

I own a number of scopes - all budgets from £20 to over £250. All of these scopes are primarily designed to be used for airguns. I have in the past used specialised rimfire scopes but they always seemed to be delicate compared to robust airgun models.

It's my honest opinion that some CHINESE made scopes are as good or even better than some scopes costing ten times the price.

If you want outstanding value then just ignore the BIG names in the industry and look at less well known manufacturers. The big boys in the industry pay for their adverts from general customer revenue. It follows that they must recover these overheads from customers like you and I.

Just have a look at the 2 big shotgun retailers in the UK - Browning and Berreta. Yes they make great guns but if you want a REAL bargain look elsewhere at companies like LINCOLN or FABARM (both lesser known Italian shotgun makers). These Italian guns represent outstanding value for money. For those looking for bargain basement prices look at a secondhand AYA (Spanish) or Baikal (Russian). Don't be a snob when it comes to shotguns, they ALL do almost the same thing.

By far the best budget scope seller in the UK is - J.S Ramsbottom here - http://www.jsramsbottom.com/

I currently use this little gem on my .22LR Rimfire CZ Model 2EH -
http://www.jsramsbottom.com/products...iflescope.html

For the record I also rate LEAPERS scopes highly. They sell in the UK from £99 (from JSR above). They are very robust and well made Chinese made scopes.

Yes guys you read it right - £30 or so for a superb little fixed 4 x 40mm. I have compared this little scope to others costing ten times it's price (an MTC Viper) and it wins hands down every time.

So the lesson to learn is -

Don't be led by the big names look at alternative retailers. Don't ignore Chinese manufactured scopes because if the truth is known most well known retailers sell re-badged Chinese made scopes under a different name (That's what MTC have done in the UK).

Airgun scopes are in the main perfectly adequate for rimfire use. These scopes are made to take a few knocks. They are in the main also designed to handle an airgun spring recoil.

Yes you may need an expensive scope for centrefire rifles but NOT for rimfire.

There are some Great bargains to be had if you look wisely and carefully...

As for all you scope snobs out there... Laugh at me to your hearts content, I don't care.

[JLA]

I have a scope on my rem5 that cost as much as the rifle itself

[Kent Detective]

A simple rimfire long rifle does NOT need an expensive centrefire type scope to be fitted. The rimfire doesn't produce much recoil and therefore an airgun scope is quite sufficent.

A centrefire scope is different because these things kick hard.

[raydcarter]

Originally Posted by Kent Detective

A simple rimfire long rifle does NOT need an expensive centrefire type scope to be fitted. The rimfire doesn't produce much recoil and therefore an airgun scope is quite sufficent.

A centrefire scope is different because these things kick hard.

You may not be aware, but there are some scopes made that are rated for magnum spring powered airguns. These scopes will hold up on anything. That is because in addition to taking a pretty hefty recoil (you're actually 'firing' the piston which is quite heavy compared to a bullet when you pull the trigger) - but they have to be designed to handle a two way recoil - as the piston reaches the end of it's stroke, it stops abruptly. I've seen scopes designed for magnum force centerfire rifles destroyed on an magnum springer airgun.

[Kent Detective]

Yes I agree with your comment above. Clearly the BIG companies selling these EXPENSIVE "gucci" rimfire scopes are inflating their profits by spreading dis-information to customers worldwide.

An "springer" airgun must produce the method of propelling the pellet from the barrel whereas firearms use the cartridge (gunpower) to propel the bullet. It follows that a scope designed for a magnum spring air rifle is probably as robust if not more robust than a scope designed for centrefire ammunition.

The big LIE created and encouraged by all these big expensive scope manufacturers is that in order to shoot well you need a scope costing as much or more than the rifle itself.

I know someone who regularly wins UK HFT (airgun) matches with a cheap £40 Nicko Sterling Monutmaster scope. He beats others using scopes worth many hundreds of UK pounds. It makes a nonsense of the whole principal of having to spend huge sums on scopes.

A well made & expensive scope doesn't necessarily equate to great shooting skill.

My message here is simple - If you want a true bargain look towards buying a well made but cheap Chinese made scope. There are lots around if you look carefully. My links above prove this...

[firelegs22]

all i know is a top dallar scope can be had for low dollar prices.(craigslist anybody?)

[Tinmancr1]

yes I agree whole heartedly even in the US with a much larger sporting goods market and freer laws.
airgun and rimfire are popular enough the prices on cheap stuff is even too high, like tasco not a great brand.
Leapers/UTG are top shelf for bargain basement price I have two I use and others I sell in my business.
I have a 6x fixed and a 3x9 love em both but the 3x9 is both flexible and illuminated so much better for me.
I actually have used Powerline scopes on rimfires and been pretty happy but for the price just go Leapers.

[Boris]

I bought a Savage 17HM2 at Gander Mtn for $150.00 on sale, went across the street to walmart and got a scope for $23.87. 4x32, That gun and combo shot just under 1" at 100 yards folks.

I shot that barrel out on that little gun. Literaly..... One of the lands was completly gone for the first 2.5" of the barrel after a couple years when accuracy started to fall off. Was still good enough for a neighbor to not mind getting a good deal on it.

I stacked woodchucks and raccoons, crows, chipmunks, blackbirds, squirrels, rabbits, yotes, feral animals, you name it, it stacked it..... Miss that gun. I will replace it someday with another HM2...

[Oneida Steve]

I'm not a scope snob when .22 rifles are concerned. My .22 rifles wear Bushnell Banner scopes. They have decent-quality optics and work fine for the kids and me. I favor lower-magnification scopes for .22's (2.5x is great) and I find the B-Banners are all I need.

[G-Mann]

I had a cheaper tasco scope 4x32 fixed on my Marlin 881 a few years back. It was accurate and held it's zero just fine. However, after shooting at the range, I got a lot of eye strain that ended up having giving me a moderate headache. That told me that the glass was not very good.

I then got the Nikon Prostaff 6305. That ended that problem. I think one must keep in mind that cheap scopes have cheap glass that can cause eye strain!

[Kent Detective]

In most circumstances a cheap airgun scope will suffice. Anyone in the UK looking for a bargain but well made one should look at JSR's offerings here - http://www.jsramsbottom.com/products...mp-mounts.html

I can heartily recommend them to you.

[da357mag]

I have a shoestring budget when it comes to shooting, that said I have found two scopes that work great for target shooting, one is Tru-Glo, I have a 6-24x 44 AO that has glass that comes from a lab in Japan and it is photographic quality glass! It is very clear and has good eye relief. I also have a Barska 8-32x50AO and although it is a little dark at max magnification it is acceptable, that and I got it at Optics planet for about a third of what retail was! I can live with that! Doug

[Kent Detective]

What is it with all those rich "scope snobs" out there who think it makes them look good using expensive scopes on RIMFIRE rifles? They just keep pushing scopes on others which cost thousand dollars or more? I don't get it.

FACT - For rimfire you do NOT need an expensive scope. For 95% of the time a cheap airgun scope will suffice.

I own a Baikal 12 bore side-by-side shotgun. Last week I took it to my brother in law's skeet shoot. When I arrived and people saw the gun I was intending to use I could tell they found it very funny. I ended up wiping the grins off their faces by winning that days competition outright. I beat guns costing 10 times the price of mine.

I also own a Beretta O/U Silver Pigeon (£1,800) and my fathers old AYA S/S Yoeman. I love using the Baikal and AYA.

For centrefire you do sometimes need top quality (expensive) optics but for rimfire forget it!

Finally I'd like to add that I'm probably richer than most people I meet shooting and that if I wanted I could easily (waste) money like them. That is THE way to get rich in the first place.

[raydcarter]

It basically comes down to what you do with it. Yes, most people don't need very expensive scopes. As for "cheap airgun scopes" - try using one for airgun Field Target and you most likely won't win much.

[copey]

down to personal choice really cheep vs expensive.why by a leather chair when a deck chair can be used lol.i use hawke scopes wouldnt buuy a top range scope . leopold lease there name out so you dont know what your buying..

[Kent Detective]

Originally Posted by raydcarter

It basically comes down to what you do with it. Yes, most people don't need very expensive scopes. As for "cheap airgun scopes" - try using one for airgun Field Target and you most likely won't win much.

I know someone who uses an Air Arms 400 airgun teamed with a cheap Niko Sterling Mountmaster scope costing only £40. He regularly beats everyone at his Hunter Field Target club who use scopes costing ten times the price of his Mountmaster. So that argument doesn't hold any credence for me at least... But you are entitled to your view and I respect that.

[raydcarter]

No offense, but HFT is not very demanding of the equipment. I won our last HFT shoot with a $138 Hammerli 850 and a $70 Centerpoint scope (which, BTW, is a centerfire scope rather than an airgun scope). Regular FT is quite more demanding of the equipment. If you can't discern 50 yards from 52, you're probably not going to win.

[Kent Detective]

Just been offered a nice little REDFIELD scope in 4x20mm flavour. Seems pretty small for hunting to me. That said we Englanders are coming round to your Yank way of thinking - that small is great and that small scopes look better on small .22LR rimfire guns. I'm certainly starting to think that way too.

For close range work a small scope makes sense. I regularly miss short-range rabbits when using a 50mm optic. It's always better to have the scope as close to the barrel as possible.

What are these like? From what I already know it's a US made model which has quite a large following over your side of the BIG pond.

I just love this thread, it upsets as many people as it pleases.

I will admit though that it's enjoyable to tell others how rich you are. The shame is that 99% of us are NOT! me included. Most of us have to make do with a bargain.

[ALLONS11]

[QUOTE=Kent Detective;683157] teamed with a cheap Niko Sterling

Now ya got my attention kent! I discovered Nikko Stirling scopes around 15 years ago. Put my first one, (4-12 42mm Gold Crown) on a new Armalite AR-10, outstanding scope. The light gathering properties are unreal and the image is crystal clear.

After 5k of 7.62x51 FMJ, it is still dead-nuts on zero and clear as a bell. Liked it so much I now use a dozen more.



For higher magnification in the lower price scopes, I use a lot of Barskas too.



They hold up well and do what I need them to do.

Due to this heredity thing I have, called old age, most every rifle I own has some form of optics on it. Can't hit what you can't see and I really hate to waste ammo. 99% of my shooting is plink'in off a rest so I do favor high power scopes.

I've got scopes on around 100 rifles, thats a lot of money if I bought all high dollar glass. If the scope gets it done and I like it, thats all that matters to me.

I must be bucking the trend kent, I still prefer a little bigger optics on a .22lr, never liked the small tube .22 scopes. Set this Rem #5 up for the granddaughter a few years back. Anything gets within 100 yds, she owns it!



Great post kent, had a lot of fun with it! Sorry about the Redfield, never owned one, never heard anything bad about them either. Ken

[Kent Detective]

Ken,
Great to hear your (valued) views my friend. Glad you liked the post.

All the very best.
Neil

[Big Shrek]

One of the least expensive scopes on this side of the Big Pond are Center Point scopes...
for the money, they have more features and dang good clarity...so I've got their 3-9x30 & 4-16x40's on my rifles

I can't do TASCO's anymore, I've had too many die on me.

On one rifle I do have a nice (Sears) Ted Williams scope from the 50's/60's era...
while nice, it's view is TINY compared to a modern scope.

If I really had money to burn, I'd put Nikons on all my rifles, but for the cost & benefits,
Center Point scopes work just fine

[Archie]

I have to admit, I have a Chinese made "BSA" brand (how's that for a surprise?) telescopic sight on my .22-250 Remington. It's a fixed 36x power scope and does quite well, all in all.

I do have Leupold scopes on most of my 'serious' rifles. Quality wears well as much as quality functions well.

My one and only scoped .22 lr rifle is sighted with a Glenfield 4x32. It is marked as a Japanese made device. It was not an expensive scope, but is a full size rifle scope. I find the larger scopes pick up more light, give a better image and generally give better results than the smaller diameter ".22 scopes".

Over time, I find buying quality equipment gives me less problems over time. But you're all big kids and can spend your own money your own way.

[Kent Detective]

Originally Posted by Archie

But you're all big kids and can spend your own money your own way.

Amen. That's true.

[Kent Detective]

Thought I'd give this thread a nudge.

It's content does sometimes offend those out there who take great pride telling everyone they use the most expensive kit. Remember with Rimfire there really is no need to spend huge sums on scopes, an airgun scope designed for spring air rifles is probably all you need for hunting small ground game.

[dugasgunner]

My next hunting scope will go on a Z-5 and it will be a Sightron S1 3x9x32 rimfire at 129$ and that is the absolute maximum that i will spend on a rimfie hunting scope. Ever. Cheers.