The cheap scope...

I do think you're less likely to have trouble with low-price scopes on low recoil, especially short range, weapon.

Short range diminishes parallax problems, light gathering issues, magnification changes and low recoil helps cheap parts stay together.

I think Art is probably right about the internal adjustments being the most likely weak link. I've personally never had trouble with magnification or parallax adjustments but the one scope that did fail was suddenly 6 feet left at 50 yards and no amount of turning the knob moved it one iota.
I've never been a "knob cranker" though, using hold-over instead, so I can't say how most of my scopes would have held up to repeated adjustments.

Still though, many a cheap scope has served well on 12ga slug guns and long range varmint guns.

The short story is that a guy who can't afford to drop $750 or even $250 on a scope (and I've been that guy ALOT) should not feel cheated or like he can't get decent, trustworthy optics.
 
The worst experience we've had with cheap scopes were three $90 Caliber-specific-trajectory reticle Cabela's brand scopes. They all were faulty, either as purchased or very soon after.

I replaced one with a Bushnell Banner 4-12X AO that seems fine, though the crosshairs are a bit large for my uses.
 
Kroil don't hate the Leupold, send it to me,,,,,, no I'm kidding.;)
Actually my next scope purchase will be a Vortex Diamondback in either 4x12 or the next higher power with an adjustable objective for sure!!!:)
 
First of all , you can't buy 1 good quality lens for what a 'cheap scope' costs. And most scopes have 4-6. I used to work for a company that built very expensive optical systems for various Gov't agencies and the military (ours and forgien). Some of which might be looking at you and me right now. The way they make , grade and price top quality lenses is much like they do with diamonds. And they are priced like them too. For every one 'perfect' lens , there may be hundreds of lower quality 'rejects' , which are sold bulk. Lenses are made from ultra-pure silica quartz glass and graded , ground, and graded , coated , then graded again. And they are not graded by the naked eye either. They are examined by very sophisticated equipment. What looks OK at 100yds , might be horrible at 500 , or 1000 , or miles above the earth. Individual BEST quality lenses can cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars. Some scope companies do make their own lenses for their top line scopes. Most do not. Some scope makers like Carl Zeiss and Swarovski are actually very large and diversified optical companies for which sporting optics are a small sub-division. Most 'cheap' scope brands are made in China by ???

Add to this the small precision , complex and delicate internals needed for a reliable scope and , , , ya get what ya pay for.
 
Like most people I bought cheap scopes back when they were all I could afford. Now that I'm older I'm gradually replacing them on the rifles I like with better scopes from makers like Burris, Leupold and Sightron.

My experience with cheap scopes has been a mixed bag. I've had ones that refused to adjust, one (a special 22 rimfire model) that the recticle came loose and floated around in the tube and a handful that seem to still be doing OK.

I'm generally in agreement with pizza that what you're paying for is mechanical precision. I have an uncle who complained that the $200 Leupold he put on his hunting rifle wasn't any brighter than his buddies $40 off-brand. For all I know it may not be...but I'll be willing to bet his Leupold will still be clear in weather or other conditions that will make his buddies scope a tube full of fog or of broken parts.
 
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