Serious Lower Priced Scopes

[bsekf]

OK, so you get what you pay for in Glass.

But, I'll bet nobody puts a Steiner or even a Leupold on their kids 22. Which 4 to 12 or 4 to 16 scopes under $250.00 offers usable, dependable optics? Kaspa, Buckmaster, Trophy, 40/44, Muller, Crossfire, etc?

I don't care if there is slight distortion around the edges.....the crosshairs are in the middle. Seems like at least one cheap scope offers the best bang for the buck.

I have looked at Used, but used "good" used scopes sell for nearly as much as new and they are a crap shoot.

 

[hogpatrol]

I've used Sightron S1, Burris Timberlines and lower Weavers & Bushnells. I prefer the Timberlines.

 

[BOB LEE SWAGGER]

I started with a Buckmaster and liked it very much.

 

[ireload2]

About 95% of bad scopes go bad because of the mechanical stuff crapping out.
Almost any fixed power GLASS works ok and most variables too. But the adjustments and the power change mechanism are often junk

 

[R.Morehouse]

SWFA fixed power Super Sniper scopes are the best low priced scope you can get. Go to the SWFA sight and check them out as well as the reviews.

 

[Outrider27]

Of the one's OP listed, in the power range listed, I have had the best bang for the buck with the Mueller.

 

[slm9s]

+1 for Mueller.

One that came on a rifle I bought was a bushnell banner 6-24 with a mildot and AO. Its actually pretty clear with a nice reticle. I've used it on a couple centerfires for load workup and have had no issues - and they're CHEAP!

 

[tenring]

You could buy a used Leupold 3-9x for that and have a lifetime warranty.

 

[Outrider27]

You could buy a used Leupold 3-9x for that and have a lifetime warranty.

I love my one Leupold for the job for which it was selected, but this scope is going on a kid's .22, which means that a lifetime warranty is not worth much if it is not a .22 specific scope or a scope with an adjustable AO that goes down to 15 yards or so. That has to be kept in mind when making the scope selection. I have a CZ 455 that got a Nikon that I would have recommended, because it goes on sale regularly and when it does, it falls well into OPs price range and it is close to his power specs. It came off the CZ 10 minutes into the first session because it won't focus on anything inside 70 yards, which means most targets are decidedly blurred. The Mueller lives there now, and if he will settle for a 3x9 with an adjustable AO, I would recommend the Simmons I have on a Marlin .22 bull barreled bolt gun; not as much bang for the buck as the Mueller, but still a bargain, and a good deal cheaper than any Leupold that I've seen, new or used in that power range, that will focus down to 10-15 yards with the parallax adjustment.

 

[bsekf]

Thanks to all. Sounds as if most think the Mueller is a good lower priced scope. But are happy with most anything that holds up. Makes sense that the more gimmicks, like lighted reticle, and etc. the more problems in cheaper scopes. I looked a a discounted Pentax with a power zoom and figured it was an accident looking for a place to happen. But $99 for a $300 scope is interesting.

I was interested in the higher powers with AO. 3 to 12x up to 4 to 16x.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Hard to put the word "serious" in conjunction with low priced scopes, but I will second Mueller. You really do get some nice quality glass and a surprisingly durable optic for the price you pay.

 

[nakneker]

Just a FYI. I just put an extremely clean bushnell 4200 elite 4-14 with AO up for sale. Very clear and reliable scope.

I buy lots of used glass. You can get great deals on leupold, burris and others. I have sent two leupolds I bought used in for service, they were both fixed with no questions and returned within a month.

I've played with some of the lower end scopes mentioned above, they do an ok job. Just seems that it doesn't take very long and I wished I would have bought better used glass in the same price range.

 

[JarheadAZ]

I bought a Mueller 8-32x44 Side Focus Target Reticle scope for a Savage Factory .223 to use in 250yd comp.

I liked it so much, I bought another a year later for my Custom Savage .260 1000yd F Open comp rifle.

Good product at a good price, IMHO.

Greg

 

[Barlow]

The local gunshop sold a bunch of Pentax scopes and never had one of them returned. They must not make them anymore, but I would not be afraid of that $99.00 deal. Barlow

 

[bsekf]

I am still looking at the Pentax. No longer being made but , at least right now, it has a lifetime warranty and they would refund your purchase price if it broke. I would almost buy one to drive my "gadget hating" buddies crazier. Also looking at a Mueller with a lighted DOT, wonder if you can still see the retical and/or dot if the battery goes dead or it quits working?

 

[painter]

look at leupold v-x 1

 

[Ledd Slinger]

If you want a serious long range scope that wont break the bank and still have high quality features...I think you should go "old school".

Here is a link to an old Tasco 6-24x40 World Class scope. Has the excellent Japanese glass. I have one in 6-24x as well as one in 6-18x. Both are the old models with Japanese glass. Glass is crystal clear on all power settings when focused and the turret clicks are as solid and crisp as any of todays high priced serious optics. A lot of people have forgotten just how nice these old Japanese scopes really are so you can pick them up at great prices. No other modern scope on the market could even dream of touching the quality of these old Tasco's for the same price...

http://m.ebay.com/itm/Tasco-TR624x40-6-24x40-Riflescope-BDC-turret-made-in-Japan-/252110368738?nav=SEARCH

 

[Berger.Fan222]

But, I'll bet nobody puts a Steiner or even a Leupold on their kids 22.

My daughter's 22 LR has a Leupold. Come to think of it, so does my son's air rifle.

Over the years, we bought a few scopes that were not Leupolds (or NightForce) - regretted every one and stopped.

 

[fourpower]

what good is lifetime fix if it never gets fixed? I got leupold scope($1000) and never got it sighted in. left 2in move knobs and group never moved until 12 clicks and then moved 2in right! sent to factory 4 times and it came back the same way. thank god cabels took it back! never again leupold!!

 

[flatlander]

I bought one of the older (adjustable objective model) 6-18x42 Nikon Buckmasters years ago to use for load development on my AR15 service rifles. I'd use it just long enough to come up with a good 600yd load, then remove it & put it back in the box. It worked so well that I bought a newer one with the side parallax adjustment for a M70 Stealth that I'd re-barreled with a nice heavy 4-groove, 1-7.5-twist PacNor chambered with my 223 Match reamer. Both these scopes have been excellent when zeroed at 100yds, then run out to 600 & back to 100. They're 1" scopes, so good rings won't break the bank. I put the newer 6-18 in TPS TSR rings on an EGW 20 MOA sloped rail, and have not had a complaint with how this scope runs. No, it doesn't come off real well in a direct comparison to the Kahles K624i AMR scopes I have on my comp rifles, but it didn't cost $2500+, either.