Good scope for around $200

Avoid NCStar

For some odd reason a buddy of mine gave me an NCStar 4x.... he had one and swore by it on his SKS.
First off, you cant see squat through it in low light.
Secondly the FOV is pretty much 10'@100y (not what they promote but pretty darn close
Third... its totally out of focus unless you like looking at your c-hairs other than the obdject you're about to plug.

At first, I couldnt understand why this nice-looking, shorty "perfect for my AR" scope was so bad... maybe it was a defect.... untill I researched it online and found that it can be had new for under $100. Heck, I may as well put it on my paintball gun!

I know it had'nt been mentioned yet (probably for good reason. I just wanted to throw in that in case you saw one and the sales guy tried to push it on you that you'd resist the temptation to save a few bucks.

I've always liked Nikon but I also agree that their policies are crap and wont endorse them any longer. I have yet to try a Burris however but I'm curious to see how this thread works out.
 
Just sighted in my Nikon Prostaff...0 complaints...great eye relief, and best of all, when I clicked it 2x, it went .5" when I clicked it 1x it went .25"...Just like it's supposed too...can you say 3/8" group? got it...w/ reloads of course...:D

BTW, Good mounts go a long, long way...
 
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hunterjoe & castnblast - I am fairly certain that the name "Buckmaster" which Nikon gave to one of their scope lines, has ZERO to do with the "Buckmasters" company which sells a lot of overpriced junk.
 
no, buckmasters is getting their cut...they were pushing the product on one of their crap shows the other day...:barf: look close, it's got the TM by it.
 
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OK, I stand corrected. Sorry to hear that. Glad I never bought one then. I will avoid them in the future, too. All's I have is a Prostaff. Heck, now that I know that part of the sales price is to pay for a name, that makes me think that the scope *IS* just a Prostaff with a higher price.
 
+1 on the Buckmaster 3X9-40. Not that I support Buckmaster, Inc, but it is a terrific scope. I have one on my Model 70 in .270 Win. I have never had to re-zero after 5 years and many hunting trips.
 
You have many good choices in the $200 range. Nikon Buckmasters, Bushnell 3200s, and Burris FFIIs, and Weavers all have models in your price range. There are also some other brands, such as Sightron but I have no experience with them. Personally, I would stay away from Mueller and cheaper scopes for a hunting rifle. They might be fine on small caliber varmint rifles but Muellers are know for failing on high power rifles, and not being able to take abuse. Get the best you can afford, good glass is an investment.
 
Leupold Rifleman or the VX-I. Either way, you can't go wrong. And Leupold's lifetime guarentee, means lifetime.

And my $.02 on Buckmaster. Any show or organization that promotes setting up blinds on an alfalfa field or next to a feeder and calls it hunting, can go back to where ever they came from. They need to look at Eastman's company. Fair chase all the way. God Bless the West.
 
I've got a Leupold VX-I 3-9 x 40. Cost me about $200. I love it. I also have a Bushnell Trophy 4-12 x 40 I got for around $180 that is pretty nice too.
 
I use a Burris FFII on my muzzleloader and love it.By far the best scope for what I paid.I also use Leupolds,and the Bushnell 3200 and all are great scopes,but not quite as impressed with the Nikon prostaff.I also have a Pentax pioneer which is the same as the Burris but is a little cheaper.The Ballistic reticle on the Burris works very well also.
 
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