What makes a good scope good?

[TCW]

You can spend $50 on a scope or $850. Both have the same magnification, same waranty, and are waterproof, shockproof and fogproof. What is it that seperates a cheap scope from an expensive scope (and everything in between)?

BTW I'm considering a Leupold Vari-XII for a couple hundered bucks for a Tikka .308.

Thanks!
TCW

 

[Art Eatman]

Wellll...The quality of the coatings on the lenses, for one thing. Some coatings will actually "evaporate", fading with time. The earliest Tascos were known for this--granting that was some 40 years back.

Where the crosshairs are located; I'm not fully knowledgeable on this, but a location where they don't change size with a change in magnification is a bit more expensive. Also, how the crosshairs are made: Etched into the glass, or painted.

For variables, concentricity: You should hit the same point of aim at low magnification as at high magnification.

Repeatability of adjustments: Sight in. Then, adjust the scope some number of clicks. Re-adjust to the original setting. Quality scopes will go back exactly to that setting, and shoot to the original point of aim.

Some methods of sealing the inert gas inside the scope are more costly than others and may cost more.

Quality of the "bells and whistles": The focus control on the objective lens--are the yard markers actually in alginment at those distances? Is the range finder calibrated correctly?

There's a beginning...

, Art

 

[Poodleshooter]

To add to Art's excellent synopsis-brightness and clarity are another difference. Look through a $30 Tasco, then through a $400 Leupold. Cheap glass is like looking through a small window at dusk-hard on the eyes. Once you look through expensive glass, you are never satisfied with less. I have purposfully avoided looking through anything more expensive than my Simmons Aetec, as that is all I can afford.

 

[Redneck2]

What makes a scope cheap???

I was after a 14 point buck for 3-4 years. Finally saw him in the open at 330 yards. I had a Knight muzzle loader good for about 150-175 yards. Had a Simmons 44 Mag scope. Day was wet, cold drizzle. Started a stalk...looked through my scope & it was fogged solid. One lesson...if it doesn't say waterproof IT AIN'T.

If you're shooting targets with a .22 that's one thing. I missed the chance at the deer of a lifetime because I had a crap scope. Now all my hunting rifles have B & L's, Leo's, or Burris. I'd rather put a $500 scope on a $250 rifle than the other way around.

I see guys say they can't afford a better scope. That's bull. Bet they can afford a $30,000 4x4 truck, a $6,000 four-wheeler or $50 a week for cigarettes. I don't trade in my guns and have some for many, many years. I will never have to worry about the scopes. Optics is one area that you get what you pay for. Now, if you want to save money, see if your local dealer will pull high quality scope off a trade-in. Leo's have lifetime warranty. Used scopes go way cheap and probably have less chance of something going wrong with them than the gun they're on.