I was really into guns at age 3. I failed to wear my cap guns in my holsters one day when I was 5, but I was still into it.
I hunted every day with a BB gun when I was 10 and every day with a pellet gun when I was 12.
I was as fast with a 12 ga when I was 14 as kids are today with video games.
I started chasing girls.
When I got old and ugly at age 40, all I owned was a 12 ga, a 22, and 30-06.
I was reading about guns on usenet rec.guns in 1991.
I started buying guns.
On that forum they talked about Leupold scopes.
It thought they were way too expensive.
I could get a used Weaver K-4 for $20.
I had an email buddy in the 1990s that a web page called "the cheap scope page"
In there was the question, "What to do with a cheap scope?"
answer #1: use it as a tent stake.
answer #2: give it to someone you don't like.
Eventually I learned to avoid; cheap scopes, cheap bullets, cheap brass, cheap powder, cheap barrels, cheap stocks, cheap bipods, cheap range finders, cheap GPSs, cheap binoculars, cheap tires, cheap shoes, cheap knives, cheap lathes, cheap drills, cheap flashlights, cheap vehicles, cheap screw drivers, .....
The #1 reason to avoid cheap stuff is not that it may be a waste of money or time. It may be a waste of opportunity or enthusiasm.
Every rifle I build, I put a Leupold on it.
Every deer I shoot, I shoot it with a Leupold.
