Scope packages?

W

Wrothgar

Moderator
I see a lot of manufacturers selling rifle/scope packages. Are any of them any good? I know the rifles are fine, but I'm talking about the scope. I've been looking at Marlin, Mossberg, and Weatherby. Weatherby sells the vanguard with a scope, sling, and case package, for a pretty good price. However, it's not worth it if the scope is garbage. Thoughts on these packages? From ANY manufacturer (keep it below $600)?

(purpose is elk/goat/sheep hunting in CO)
 
The scope that came on my Weatherby package was a "lower line" Bushnell. It worked well enough to kill a deer the first year I hunted with it and it works well enough on the range to check my reloads for grouping.

It certainly isn't the best scope I own but it isn't total junk either.

If your goal is to have a really expensive scope on your rifle, my suggestion is to buy the bare rifle instead of the package and use the savings plus quite a bit more of your hard earned $ to purchase the upper line scope you really want. In most cases, they really aren't charging a large amount for the scope and rings.
 
Generally the scopes are about the bottom rung on the ladder. If it was all I had I'd make it do until I could do better. But the way most of them are priced it is not really much or any cheaper to buy the same gun without the scope.

If there were any way possble I'd use the cheap scope on a 22 and buy a better scope for my centerfire.
 
I asked this question when I was shopping at Cabela's.

They put their own scopes on a Weatherby Vangard.

In a nutshell - a new package with a scope will generally have an inexpensive scope (the Remington 770 was the absolute worst). They'll work for a year or two - but you'll want to upgrade.

I generally don't expect a scope package to add more than $75 from a base model.

If the package is more than $100 over base - I'd skip it.

(update - just visited Sportsman's warehouse, and found a decent stainless 700ADL package - for $399).
 
Yeah, I went to a Dicks today and they were selling Mossberg rifle/scope packages for 350 bones! Also, they had a Remington 700 with what appeared to be a pretty decent scope for about $450 (it was on sale, down from about $550). It was a laminate stock with a multi-power scope, so that's appealing. BUT, I have some reservations about Remington due to their safety controversy (I know, if you never point it at anyone there won't be a problem. Still, it's a concern).
 
The vast majority of these package scopes are either low-level Bushnells or low-level Simmons. I wouldn't want either one anywhere near one of my rifles.
 
You can find some A Bolts with Nikons on at some stores. I bought a .270 A Bolt with Nikon scope for 999.99 at Dicks last year and for a hunting rifle its great
 
Generally speaking, package scopes aren't very good. I'd suggest buying a rifle you like and outfitting it with a quality scope and rings. Package rings are pretty bad too.
 
I read (previously presently etc.) how terrible they were/are. When I first started out with my purchasing of firearms I was positive it was the route for me, and people tried to talk me out of it. I insisted it was what Iwanted. I got a Remington 597 that came with a 'Remington' branded (Surely not Remington because they're not in the scope biz are they?) 3-9x32mm scope, shortly after a Savage Mark II with a Bushnell rimfire 3-9x40mm scope (I hear that they 'messed up' with that and quickly started using 4x scopes instead)..

Now the Remington scope was pretty junky BUT... it worked for the indoor range . AND the rings and base for mounting worked just fine. When I got a Nikon ProStaff 4-12x40mm as an upgrade (and it was a significant upgrade of course, but very happy for $165) even the gunsmith who was working on my 597 said, they both h thave the same 1" tube size, why not use the included factory rings/base/etc? I mean shoot are you doing anything so far so serious< NO, the .22LR won't even shoot far enough for it to be a consideration! So figure that value in into it.

Now with the Savage, the Bushnell rimfire scope was AWESOME- I mean awesome! I would have left it even though I WANTED a better scope, I just didnt need it! It was knocked over and dropped right on the scope at the range by my rich, noobie friend who didn't buy me another one, and it ad a big gouge on the tube. It would then stilll zero but needed to be zeroed each range session, from scratch, and basically was at maximum setting... so i knew it needed replaced. also i added a nikon prostaff 4-12x40mm this time a BDC reticle... and you know i'm real happy- Plus the rings and base were AWESOME. could use a variety of mounting solutions on the factory "rail' .. just real awesome.

nwo are these hunting grade high performance probably certsainly not. But if I'm able to hit the target at good ranges from the weapons, whats the problem/

so where i'm going with this is , IMHO always always ALWAYS take the packagesa- they're often the same price or just a little cheaper and it saves you a lot in the end.

just my humble everyman opinion.
 
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