19 replies to this topic

[rabiddog]

i just need input on a scope that is affordable and reliable. i am in a bit of a pinch the scope on my 243 is not holding zero and has not since i dropped the rifle on the scope, it is a high end weaver, i cannot replace it right now i only have 100.00 dollars to work with and a friend of mine has a Barska. does anyone know if these are worthy of even 100.00 dollars?i see them on many different sites for really low prices.anyway my friend says he'll sell me the Barska for a really low price. has anyone here ever used Barska and if so do they hold zero?any input would be appreciated.ThanxFrank

[Brant]

You can get a Barska for a lot less than $100 new so i would be very careful buying one used. My brother owns three Barska variable power scopes and they all change point of aim when you change the magnification. The clairty and brightness is poor compared with even moderately priced scopes. I have several BSA's which are also Chinese but I think they are a step up over Barska from what I have seen.

[rabiddog]

only problem is i have a BSA and it does'nt hold its zero on my savage .223. being laid-off sucks.i hate budgets.

[Brant]

You can go Bushnell Banner (still Chinese but maybe better quality control). I have the 6-18x50 on a 223 and it's a good scope for the buck but not as clear or bright as a Swift or Leupold. It is about $100.

[Brant]

Bushnelll Banner 6-18x50http://www.opticspla...bnr-716185.html

[Pogo]

I've been there... still trying to get all my cheap scopes replaced. IMO, BSA and Bariska are mostly just throwing your money away. I'm sure there are people with good ones, but that is my experience. I'm as cheap as they come, so I look for deals on Nikons, Leopold, etc. Watch for sales at Natchez, Midway, and SWFA. Natchez has some good deals on some refurbished Nikons that still have a warranty. Probably find a low end Nikon for $100 'refurbished'. They are not fancy scopes but have been reliable.Another option is a Simmons. I believe they now offer a lifetime warranty on everything. I'm pleased with a 'whitetail classic' scope, it came in a just over $100.Also, I wouldn't waste your money trying to get a 50mm objective. A 40mm is plenty big and gives you more money to spend more on a 'better' scope, rather than just a 'bigger' scope.

[Frank]

HEY... What's wrong with BSA ? Mine make EXCELLENT Paint stirrers. They are pure junk in other words. Simons ain't much better btw. With the exception of Simmons, I totally agree with Pogo... Look for Value = low price & good quality! Nikon is always a good one. I'm sure Bushnell may also be good but been too long since I had one. Burris is another decent one. Weaver ain't bad, but usually has very poor eye relief. I personally prefer Nikon of these 4 mentioned. I can't think of some others this second, but look for these & other named brands on sale or from private party. If I can remember, I will look in my garage and wade through some of the (junk?) scopes I am not using. Good LuckThe Other Frank

[Frank]

p.s. did you call Weaver? Believe they are owned by someone else now? Probably Simmons. LOLAnyway, a few yrs back, I called Weaver... after a bit of a run around I finally convinced them to get me what I needed. Pissed me off a bit, but they did come through. Just a thought

[Yateswell]

check out mueller, great glass for the $. http://www.muelleroptics.com/

[Bozsik]

I have three of this manufacturer's scopes. The one I bought for Point Blank for his Savage Weather warrior is a 4.5x14. It is a very nice scope for the price, and the company is excellent with any returns and replacements should something happen to the scope. It was about $125.00.db

[woodog]

I've been there... still trying to get all my cheap scopes replaced. IMO, BSA and Bariska are mostly just throwing your money away.

Don't forget Tasco. Woo

[D-Man]

You mean "Trashco"?Darren

[ShooterJohn]

I'm not a Tasco fan by any means but I do own one. It was my very first 3-9 variable I bought in 1969 and it still works. I have it on a 10/22 now but it's held up. I had it on a .22-250 for about 12 years before moving it. Maybe they were built better back then or it's like a rare BSA Sweet 17 that actually works.

[Brant]

My son has two newer Tasco 6-24s and they are licensed for manuf by Bushnell. Not real clear or bright but them seem to hold zero.

[Chris M]

I don't have any experience with these, but Nikon seems to make pretty good optics:http://www.walmart.c...duct_id=5750523$120 for a Nikon Prostaff 6310 3-9x 40mm obj lens.Specs from Nikon's website:http://www.nikonspor...mp;product=6310Looks like reviews are good, too:http://www.opticspla...aff-3-9x40.html

[Brant]

Sams sells them too and claims they are at least assembled in China as well. From what I heard there are very few scope factories (4) in China and they are making all of these different scopes. I guess you hope that the name brand is doing better QA on the stuff comig from the far east.http://www.samsclub....amp;item=407824

[ratassassin]

How about a Leapers 6-24x50 AO with mil dots? Anyone know if these are any good? About $100.http://www.opticspla...lluminated.htmlMy buddy recently bought a Centerpoint Adventure Class 4-16x40 AO from Walmart for $70. He likes it just fine, although he hasn't had it long. RA

[Brant]

I like Swift as a best bang for the buck. Glass is from the US and made in South Korea. The clarity and brightness (mainly coatings) rival the best US scopes. I have the 8-32x50 on a 22-250 and It is very comparable in performance to my Leupold Var-IIIs.http://www.opticspla...riflescope.htmlhttp://www.swift-spo...iflescopes.html

[lilwes278]

With the exception of Simmons, I totally agree with Pogo... Look for Value = low price & good quality!

Exactly.I installed a Nikon ProStaff 3-9x40 on my .243 last year and have been extremely pleased with it. In fact, because of that scope (and their lifetime warranty - i.e. in case you drop your rifle again) I'm getting ready to put a Nikon Buckmasters on my .308win. With the exception of an older model Aetec, I haven't been impressed with Simmons. They are in the same price range as Bushnell and I think Bushnell puts out a better product between the two of them. Tascos are referred to as "Trashcos" for a reason (except for the higher end models). Barskas, BSA's, and NCStar's make nice paperweights (there's a reason your buddy wants to sell you his Barska ). I was at the Savage shop last week and compared the Nikons with the Swifts side-by-side. The Swifts were nice but the Nikons did appear to be just a little bit brighter, which may explain why they were priced just a little bit more too... That said, my .308 Norma Mag came with a Swift and I've had no problems with it even though that particular rifle has a pretty fair amount of recoil. FYI, Swift also has a lifetime warranty (JHO did a write-up on them here: http://www.jesseshunting.com/articles/guns/category16/87.html). I know it's frustrating to be on a budget but instead of throwing your $100 away gambling on a junk scope, try to save up about 10-30 extra dollars and go with a Nikon or a Swift. If you absolutely have to stay under $100, then I'd go with a Bushnell.Good price on a Nikon: http://www.walmart.c...;ci_sku=5750523Good price on a Swift with free shipping (I've bought from this site before, great people & great prices):http://www.opticspla...riflescope.html

[Brant]

A bit off topic but I emailed Swift when I was selecting a best bang-for-buck scope about 8 months ago for quantative clarity and brightness comparisons with recent European independent tests and Swift did a major update on their lens coatings a couple of years back (so you want a newer one). In the tests though the best Nikon scopes beat all of the US and most foreign brands from what I remember (including Burris, Leupold, and Nightforce) but the numbers Swift sent me with the current lens coatings hung in there with the US brands. I would like to get the same numbers from Mueller since there seems to be a lot of satisfaction with their scopes as well as a moderate cost. Construction is a strange thing because some of the high-end scopes had a problem with the extreme climate testing (pressure/temp changes) which otherwise appear robust from the exterior.