Tasco: still sucks?

[dcali]

I had one in the 80s. I thought it was great. But then again, I was 12.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

All I'm saying is that the old Japanese Tasco scopes are excellent value for the money. Last one I bought was a 6-24 and I paid $120. Is there better optics for a lot more money? Sure. But there isn't a scope in existence anywhere close to that price range that can touch it.

 

[JRS]

AOJ made very good scopes for quite a few companies, as does LOW.

 

[JSteale]

Depends on how many years ago you are talking... Yes, Tasco scopes have been junk for a very long time and today they are still complete junk.

Now talking 30+ years ago when they were built in Japan with the finest glass and components that country had to offer at the time, they were, and still are, amazing scopes. I still have 5 or 6 of the old Tasco Japanese scopes and I use them on varmint rifles to this day. The 30+ year old old Japanese glass is still on par or even better than the best $500-$1000 scopes out there on the market today. Most of my old Tasco are high mag scopes ranging from 5-20x, 6-18x, and 6-24x. They have target turrets with solid clicks, some with range finding ballistic reticles, and panoramic TV wide view lenses. Excellent construction truly built to last a lifetime. I often wonder how good the Tasco company could have become if they had not strayed from the path of quality...Back then, Tasco was THE innovator of new technology in long range optics. Today, they are just another bottom of the barrel Walmart Chinese junk optic

I have a 10-40x from Tasco Custom Shop on Japan that I bought in the 90s from a service member in the air force who brought it back with him from when he was stationed in Japan. It's a wonderful scope still today. I was reluctant to buy it at the time because I thought all Tasco scopes sucked. I am very glad I learned different.

 

[JSteale]

From what I understand, the Tasco company of today is not even the same one that sold the made in Japan scopes. They went under quite some time ago. That's how SWFA got the rights to build the Tasco sniper scope they sell. They just bought the rights to build it when Tasco went under. Someone else bought the Tasco name and is selling scopes under that name now.

Bushnell now owns Tasco name. I just called them because ended up with a 8-32x World Class scope which had the classic turret issue, adjusting turrets had no relationship to change in POI. I moved 8 clicks left to move sub 1/2 moa group into the x-ring and group moved 6 1/2 inches to the right and 4 inches up.
Bushnell told me to send it in. If it was made after 2002 when took over and it was mfg'rs defect they would fix for free. However, won't know anything until they look at it. They admitted that if our want covered under warranty or was unlikely worth fixing. Score holds groups but can't adjust groups POI.

 

[FNSafari]

The older Japanese Tasco's were not all that bad. Current ones ?? but I wouldn't spend hard earned $ on one. JMO.

 

[338 dude]

It’s been years since I subjected my eyes to the torture device known as the Tasco scope. Just wondering if their scopes have improved or are they still paper weights.

JUNK!

 

[AWS]

I had a Tasco 6-18 target scope with external adjustable rings like a big Lyman or Unertl that was an awesome scope it needed target blocks on the barrel and receiver I used it on my 03 Springfield target rifle, great scope.

 

[Outrider27]

I had a Tasco 6-18 target scope with external adjustable rings like a big Lyman or Unertl that was an awesome scope it needed target blocks on the barrel and receiver I used it on my 03 Springfield target rifle, great scope.

Just hope you never have an issue with it that requires warranty service - see my post on the first page of this series. Unless it was made after some date in the spring or early summer of 1999, I believe it was, when the current owners acquired Tasco (and, if they follow the same policies, any outfit that bought them from the 1999 purchaser), your "lifetime" warranty is worthless. My complaint arose from a NIB scope I purchased about 2 months before the takeover; two years later I mounted on a rifle (I had purchased it in advance of putting together the rifle I wanted it on) and it malfunctioned at the range the first time I tried to adjust the elevation - the entire turret came off the scope barrel, and no warranty. For me, in their price range, Tasco quality has been ok, but I have a long memory and hold a grudge, so I haven't bought one since and won't in the future. I don't dig meaningless warranties.

 

[AWS]

Well warranties are worthless on Lymans and Unertls too, same with B&L, old Redfield, old Weavers. Having a GOOD old scope is a crap shoot, shoot them till they die.

Still killing stuff and shooting in Egg Shoots with the old timer I have another for a back up. Leupold windage adjustable base and shim for elevation, I get some strange looks at the range, I call it "The Turret Twisters Nightmare".

 

[Mills]

Holy zombie thread Batman.

 

[SSL]

Though this is an ancient thread, I too have several earlier Tascos still in use or in drawers that are nearly as good as most of today's offerings from other manufacturers. I have an 8-32, two 6-24 rifle scopes, a 6X and a 1-4X pistol. All are Pro-Class scopes from the mid-80s and have been on a wide varieties of guns over the years and still work perfectly. Decent glass and solid adjustments.
HOWEVER, I have not seen any of their offerings since then that I would trust at all. I have seen many where the cross-hairs are crooked and others that refuse to even adjust. I have seen three now that move the cross-hairs a quarter to an eighth of an inch (depending on 'click' value) with each shot...all on .223s! Several haven't focused clearly and others have flat refused to adjust parallax out of the picture. I've seen no sign that Bushnell has any intention, or seemingly interest, of curing the quality faults. Too bad. Of course, I've seen about the same ratio with most Simmons too.