Has a cheap scope ever cost you an animal?

[timelinex]

So, while you're saving you... Do what? Don't hunt? Some guns don't have sights afterall.

And the point of the house analogy is that there are always people who have more money than you who don't understand how you can be foolish enough to spend less money on something than they do. It doesn't matter if it's a rifle scope, a car or a house. There's always "something" you can get for "just" double or triple the price that's an absolute "must have". Except, when you don't HAVE the money, you realize that they're NOT "must have".

It's pretty silly, I think, to suggest that a guy who can't afford a $450 scope should not hunt for 2 or 3 years while he saves money... and even $450 isn't expensive enough to be "good" for a lot of people.

You bring up a really good point. Since I have enough reserve funds to spend on a more expensive scope, I look at things in a different light then someone else. I look at it in the way of what can I get to lose the least value but still reasonably priced. So spending 500 when I can always sell it for 475 is smarter in my situation than 150 when I can only get back 100.

Every post of mine might seem like I have a different opinion in each, but if you look at it closely they are really the same opinion, just expanding on the topic. If you can afford more expensive scopes, then it is usually worth it(even if just for resale value). If you cannot, don't be bullied by the optic snob's that think anything less than 750 is garbage and you need top of line as a beginner.

I have a $150 bsa, and just bought a vortex viper 6.5-24X50 which is said to have top level glass for anything under 800. So I will have to borrow my friends SLR camera and do a comparison for everyone.

 

[4runnerman]

So spending 500 when I can always sell it for 475 is smarter in my situation than 150 when I can only get back 100.

Just wondering,Why would you buy a scope your going to sell?. Makes no since to me. Buy what you want and keep it. If you upgrade i can see it,but to jump from one brand to another just because,, is money wasted. I got a 10-40 x 50 scope and will not sell it ever.When it breaks (if it does) i will buy another scope. Other than that i have no need for a different or new scope. I mean it's not like they get old,They either work or they don't.

 

[taylorce1]

I look at it in the way of what can I get to lose the least value but still reasonably priced. So spending 500 when I can always sell it for 475 is smarter in my situation than 150 when I can only get back 100.

I have a $150 bsa, and just bought a vortex viper 6.5-24X50 which is said to have top level glass for anything under 800. So I will have to borrow my friends SLR camera and do a comparison for everyone.

The Vortex will blow away the BSA in every area. Another thing is you'll probably never see $100 for a used BSA scope even if you spent $150 on it. I'll bet most times you would be luck to see 50% of the original purchase price back on it.

Just wondering,Why would you buy a scope your going to sell?.

I try different scopes all the time, if I don't like it I'll sell it. So I make sure I buy a brand that will give me the most return on my money if it isn't a scope I'm 100% sure I'll like. That is why the majority of my scopes a Leupold with a few Nikon Monarch, Burris FFII, and Vortex Viper optics mixed in.

 

[SRH78]

In the past, I went through many cheap scopes before I learned my lesson. Since then, I have bought Nikon and Leupold and haven't had a single problem.

I will say, while I have been less than impressed with how bright they are, the Tasco scopes I have used actually held up pretty well. Simmons and BSA on the other hand, were generally brighter but didn't hold up well at all.

Imo, scopes are like anything else and the law of diminishing returns applies. Generally speaking, if you buy a "cheap" scope that is exactly what you will get. Either the durability, the quality of the lenses, or both will suffer. Spending a little more can get you a much better scope. After that, you start spending a lot to get a little.

 

[timelinex]

The Vortex will blow away the BSA in every area. Another thing is you'll probably never see $100 for a used BSA scope even if you spent $150 on it. I'll bet most times you would be luck to see 50% of the original purchase price back on it.

I hope so, everyone really rave's about it, I'm excited! I'll be sure to write a full review and comparison to a 'cheap' scope. Its actually a nice comparison. But yea I agree that it probably wont get 150 or anything for that matter, I was actually just using those figures as examples. Nice scopes like vortex/leupold get sold within days if not hours when they get posted on a forum I frequent, on the other hand I have never even seen a BSa on there.

Just wondering,Why would you buy a scope your going to sell?.

I wouldn't be planning on selling it, it's just a financially smart way of looking at things(if you have the money to buy something and the only thing holding you back is if its a 'smart way' to spend that much money). Just like when you buy a car, I hope you take into consideration its resale value. If not, your leaving alot of money on the table everywhere and would be able to afford bigger and better things.
So I don't ever plan on selling my scope, BUT I'll never wish I didn't spend that much on a scope(especially if I dont like it or want to upgrade), because I can always sell it if needed and do as I please.

 

[phil mcwilliam]

I voted no, because I dont buy cheap scopes. These days,most of my hunting is 200 to 400 miles drive from where I live. I spend more money on gas & food per hunting trip than a lot of cheap scopes cost. For me, it doesnt make sense to skimp on a scope.

 

[Eghad]

If you are going to pay good money for a nice rifle get a good scope. I have purchaed a couple of Leopulds for around $200 that have a lifetime warranty that have never given me a worry. You dont have to spend $500 plus to get a good scope for your Hunting Rifle.