Best scope for a person in poverty or $250-$300?

B

Billy Jacobs

Moderator
I realize that some of you have $1000 to spend on a scope, but most of us do not, I would like to know what the best scope is in the $250 to $300 range (brand, power, recticle, etc). Also, what kind of rings and bases (brand and/or style) are best for a high powered rifle?

Thanks for any responses.
BJ

check out www.infowars.com
 
Billy,
You know you can alway buy the $$$$ stuff. Go look at Simmon and a few others. figure out what you want and then go spend the big bucks. I have yet to have spent more than $250 on a spope, mounts and rings and I am happy. then again I bought it used with ARMS Mount, ARMS high rings and and ATN scope.

Do some checking of the boards is my opinion.

Karsten
 
Of all the scopes I have, Leupold is the most common brand. Try shopping around for a used Leupold. Since the lifetime warranty policy applies to any owner, whether original or subsequent, you're covered. I have no hesitation about buying a used Leupold and have bought them at substantial savings from "new" prices.
 
I have to agree with Gary. As an example only, at Sniper Country Emporium now there is someone selling a Leupold Mark 4 M1 and M3 for $850 each. Those are $1200 scopes. As you see you can find a good used Leupold for a savings. They are great scopes and the warrenty is the best around, not that you'ld need it. If you search places like www.auctionarms.com and www.gunbroker.com or even Ebay, although they have some anti gun blood running in them, you should be able to find a deal at around the money you are looking to spend. Most any set of rings and mount will work for you seeing as you're on a budget. If you get into tapered bases or tactical mounts and rings you'll end up paying about $250 for just the rings and mount. Good luck.
 
Go to a site like www.bearbasin.com where you can buy a brand new Leupold 3X9 for a little over $200. I would also go with a set of Leupold bases and rings which should bring you in under budget. Of course like the others have said if you can find a used Leupold in good condition go for it. Whatever you do don't buy a cheap scope because for the amount you are willing to spend you can buy something that will last you a lifetime. Buy something cheap and you will wind up throwing it away and starting over.
 
Billy, could give a more meaningful recommendation if you offered more specifics. Different scopes are optimal for different applications. What make and model of rifle? What caliber, what and where do you plan to hunt - heavy timber or flat grassland? Shooting off-hand or from a rest? Is it for stalking deer on foot, tree stand sitting, calling coyotes, bear over bait, popping Prairie Dogs, playing Tactical Ninja Warrior... ? -- Kernel
 
Leupold Vari X II. 3-9 X 40. Usually around 250. Redfield hardware to attach it and you're out the door with a lifetime warranty on a great scope, mounted for roughly 300. Good luck.
 
Reasonable scope for poverty

Try the Bushnell Trophy 4-12X40AO. Available for around $180 new and certified for spring powered airguns. If it holds up to a spring airrifle, nothing you shoot with powder will hurt it. :D

Otherwise, try a used Leupold, Redfield or new Weaver.

Forget Simmons or Tasco :barf:
 
I don't think you understand..

Yeah, I suppose some of the guys here spend big bucks on scopes, but some of us like the concept of "high quality, low price". As one of my friends says, "Any fool can pay list price".

Anyway....I bought a B&L 4000 4x16 AO Elite at a gun show for $253. Bought another 2x7 Elite 4000 for $125 (from a local dealer). You can't walk into the local shop like a barefoot pilgrim and expect screaming deals. Getting low prices on high quality stuff is an art form.

My wife and family think I'm the cheapest guy on the planet. I prefer the term "frugal". I'd rather have the money in my pocket than the other guy's.

So...how do we get the deals. Three areas come to mind immediately. First are the gun shows. The vendors go there to sell and NOT to carry everything home. Prices are NEGOTIABLE. I'm not there to make friends, I'm there to buy something RIGHT. If they don't want to deal, walk away.

Second, is to build a relationship with a local dealer. My dealer will pull a scope from a trade-in to sell it. He can get more by "parting them out" and I get a great price. The above post is correct about the Leo's and lifetime warranty. Let somebody else take the up-front hit.

A distant third is the discount deals from some of the big on line wholesale houses. This said, my dealer will always beat the wholesale houses (for me). Why? Because I buy a substantial amount of products from him. I don't beat him up, but I've bought enought stuff to let him know that I EXPECT excellent prices, and I get them. Don't be a jerk..be courteous and thoughtful. Just let them know in a very low key way that price is important. Also buy small stuff at a little higher price than you could get it for elsewhere. If you're loyal to them, they'll be loyal to you. When I buy a box of ammo, they always give a discount and I don't even ask. Just kind a reputation or feeling they get. I don't care, I just know that I save money. Do yourself a BIG favor and don't try to get the lowest price. Get a really good product for an exceptional value. Generally I keep my scopes for a long, long time. Get something you'll be happy with.
 
Thanks for the advice, so here's some more specific info...

Thanks for the help, Redneck2, et. al.
What scope would be best for a Savage
heavy barrel, .308, no rifle sights, I'll shoot from a bipod mostly...
also, I would like to be able to shoot at short to moderately long ranges maybe even 500+ yards, the setting will be mixed elevation and vegitation... so I really need a scope that would return to zero after adjusting it for long ranges, I've heard some don't hold zero well, also, what kind of power and recticle would be best for me? So far I think a Savage 3x9 40mm matte sounds good, but would that 9x be good enough to get me out past 500 yards? Also, how much of an advantage is a 50mm versus a 40mm tube? Mounting? Low medium or high bases? or does that depend on the scope? If you've read all of this and respond I appreciate it.
Billy
 
Thanks for the advice, so here's some more specific info...

Thanks for the help, Redneck2, et. al.
What scope would be best for a Savage
heavy barrel, .308, no rifle sights, I'll shoot from a bipod mostly...
also, I would like to be able to shoot at short to moderately long ranges maybe even 500+ yards, the setting will be mixed elevation and vegitation... so I really need a scope that would return to zero after adjusting it for long ranges, I've heard some don't hold zero well, also, what kind of power and recticle would be best for me? So far I think a Savage 3x9 40mm matte sounds good, but would that 9x be good enough to get me out past 500 yards? Also, how much of an advantage is a 50mm versus a 40mm tube? Mounting? Low medium or high bases? or does that depend on the scope? If you've read all of this and respond I appreciate it.
Billy
 
Hey Billy,

Here's one vote for going to K-Mart or Wal-Mart and looking at their Tasco, Bushnell, or Simmons scopes. You can get 3x9 or 4x12 scopes for $100 or even less, and they are just as accurate as an $800 scope. Do they have as good a warranty as the big dollar scope? No, they do not. But I have had cheap scopes last for many years without requiring any warranty work. My father-in-law had a reticle go bad in a 3x9 Tasco scope after he fell and knocked the scope a hard jolt. I asked him if he wanted to send it to Tasco to see if they would repair it for him. He saw no need to send it back. He had used the scope for nearly ten years, shot quite a few deer with it, and thought he did not mind spending another $65 or so for a new one. I could not argue with that. I have a number of scopes including Tasco, Simmons, bushnell, and a Weaver and an old Kassner that I have had since the 60s.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile
 
Still don't know what you intend to shoot at but since you don't mention a specific animal I'll assume you're not hunting and you're more into a tactical type rifle - man sized target at 500 yds - but probably mostly punching paper from a bench.

Based on that I agree with 700PSS Shooter - Bushnell Trophy 4-12x40AO. It's a heck of a scope for the money. Some Trophy scopes are made in Japan, most aren't (I'm pretty sure the 4-12x40 is, at least they were a few years ago when I looked at them). The Japanese Trophy scopes are much higher quality than the Korean ones and only a little more expensive.

A 3-9x variable is a good all around hunting scope, I would have recommend a Vari-xII if you were putting together a hunting rifle for deer or walking-varmint, but on a tactical type rifle I think you'd be happier with a 4-12x40AO. The Trophy has already been mentioned, it'll set you back around $160. The Redfield/Weaver 5 Star 4-12x40AO runs around $260. And the Bushnell Elite 3200/4000 4-12x40AO around $280. Shop around, bide your time, it's not that hard to find them for less.

AO is fun to play with when shooting off a bench at known ranges. In the field it's more of a hindrance than a help. 40mm objective is plenty, 50mm is really only needed on varmint rifles when using high magnification to shoot teeny tiny animals at dawn/dusk. Man sized targets (or deer) are huge in comparison, you don't need (or want) high magnification even when shooting out to 500yds, hence there is no need for the large objective.

For rings and base I'd recommend Burris, Redfield, or Leupold. Since you don't have open sights on your rifle there's no need to ever remove the scope I'd opt for "turn-in" style rings instead of Weaver Style. You definitely want a steel base and rings, avoid aluminum. I like a one piece base.

There are some really nice scopes to be had in the $150 to $300 range - these scopes are literally ten times better than a Chinese $89 Mart-Store POS - and the $1,000 scopes are maybe only 50% better IMO. So for your money in the $150 to $300 price range you get the most bang for your buck. -- Kernel
 
I'd say get the Tasco 3x12*52mm EuroClass over on www.swfa.com for $200. I have that on my Remington 700 Classic in .375 H&H and I have yet to have a problem with it. I procured that scope when it was on SWFA's specials page, it was only $140 bux at that time, but that was last summer.

Bases will probably need to be the extra highs if that Savage has the big ole bull barrel because the highs won't cut it. I just mounted a scope on my Savage 112FPSS (25-06) and needed to use the extra high mounts because the highs didn't give enough clearance for the objective.

The scope is powerful, rugged and has a good amount of light gathering capabilities.

Even Tasco's World Class/World Class Plus are quality scopes.

Top dollar, I'd say go with a Loopy, but non top dollar the Tasco line (WC/WCP) would get my nod.

Derek
 
One thing I forgot..

If you're going to hunt, make sure you get a scope that says waterfproof/fogproof. If it doesn't say it, they're not waterproof. Had a REAL sad experience deer hunting in cold, rainy weather with a Simmons 44 Mag scope. I assumed all modern scopes were waterproof. Found out different. My Simmons also had problems holding zero, but other guys on this forum have had good success. Everything now is Burris, Leo, or B & L.

Just read on one of the other sites about the Prarie Dog Conference. Seems like a lot of the guys like B & L (mine on the 22-250 is a 4x16x50 AO). My dealer got some excellent prices on close-outs and passed them on. I'd really suggest asking the local dealers about pulling one off a trade-in. Personally I'd rather have a trade-in Burris or Leo than a new Tasco, but the only Tasco's I've had were lower end. I look at scopes as a long term investment. Quality really pays off.

About power...seems like everyone is getting caught up in the "bigger is better". I shot hundreds of groundhogs with a straight 10x back in my youth, up to 450 yards. Unless you're shooting off a bench I'd think anything over 12 to 16 top end is excessive. I believe the military snipers use straight 10x.
 
Wally world has some Nikon Buckmasters for around $200 too.Make freinds with an employee also...as it will get you an additional 10% off anything!!!!!
 
With the new details....

Viesczy is on the right track, but I would say get the Tasco SS10X42 at SWFA for $299 and have a 30mm tube with a nice mildot reticle. These ain't your typical Tasco POS. Tasco uses many manufacturers and these are very nice (as are the 3-12X52 EuroClass and the Custom Shop pieces. Check out the review of the SS10X42 on http://www.snipercountry.com.

I had one of the SS10X42 on my PSS before I bought the Leupold M3 Tactical and I loved it. I only sold it to a friend as he kept weedling and I found the M3 at a decent price.

I have since bought a new SS for a .22RF smallbore 'tactical' project. Great Scopes!!!:D
 
I get flamed every time I respond to "scope issues" so here it goes again.(please dot send me nasty grams,I was in the business
for over 15 years and know what the "real" records are)
YOU DON'T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

tasco ,simmons,bsa and bushel all have a very high return rate for failures in the field.mostly from fogging and non responding
reticles.in the $200-300 price range you can get a lot of bang for your buck.

nikon buckmaster are $150-200
b@l elite3000 closeouts $199-300(i AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN BUSHNELL MARKETING B@L SCOPES(THEY
ARE DES TIN TO CHEAPEN THEM.)
leupold varix2(good but not as good as the nikon in my opninon)$200-300
redfield 5 star(stay away from all the other redfields)$200-300

so you see there is a lot of GOOD SCOPES for the price you want to pay.I know that there are a lot of well meaning people
out there that have had good success with the other brands but take my word for it.THE ODDS ARE NOT IN YOUR
FAVOR!!!!!
 
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