Join Date: Jan 2005
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Posts: 226
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RE: Big mistake
Opinions vary widely, on any given subject or issue. Your friend may have thought that the BSA is a good scope...but simply be mistaken, or lacking in knowledge about the details of scope technology. This is a subject which is discussed widely, argued about constantly....and there is much misinformation floating about. Further, the BSA may have served your friend reasonably well, given his lack of knowledge and therefore, modest expectations. Very often, brands and models of particular products are endorsed by people on the basis of pride - but with scanty facts and even less experience. For some reason, people tend to tie their egos in with the products they choose - such that they cannot be objective regarding a "bad" choice. Unless you are sure that he made the recommendation out of malice, I would not condemn him, if I were you.
For future reference, it should be understood by all that $50.00 will not buy a truly quality scope - especially if it is a variable magnification type. Far from it. One can get adequate (emphasize ADEQUATE - not high quality) FIXED-magnification scopes, within limited criteria, for $100.00 or less. This very much depends on the usage parameters. The harder the usage will be (adverse weather conditions, the possibility of the scope being knocked about, etc.) the less likely that the inexpensive scope will be fully reliable. As well, $100.00 or less, in this day and age, will NOT buy quality glass, with multicoating.
As we have all heard a million times, with optics, "you get what you pay for". However, there are limitations with this theory. It is NOT a linear concept, in reality. That is, it is NOT automatically true that, the more an optical device costs, the better it will be. As such, the $1000.00 Swarovski is NOT twice as good as the $500.00 Leupold.....and so forth. In fact, in this example, there may be very little difference (or none at all), in the quality of the two brands/ prices mentioned above. This is where marketing and good old-fashioned business practices (re: greed) come into it. Any manufacturer will tend to charge whatever the market will bear for their products. If their reputation will support a price point of $1000.00....then that is what BSA would charge, no matter the actual quality of the scope. However, given that not everyone in the business world is completely dishonest, an expensive Swarovski scope, as it happens, is vastly better, in actual practice, than an inexpensive BSA.
I think that the important starting point for choosing a scope begins with two concepts. First, how hard will the scope be used ? What do I expect of it ? What do I need in a scope? (These are the usage parameters.) Second, what can I afford to spend - and how much do I want to spend ? If both of these concepts are addressed honestly and realistically, before proceeding with selection and purchase, then a suitable scope can be obtained, for WELL less than $1000.00. Factoring in technological constraints, such as the fact that variable-magnification scopes are mechanically and optically MUCH more complicated than fixed-magnification ones...(therefore, the price of a good variable scope will always likely be higher than an equal-quality fixed scope)....allows one to come to a good resolution...and make a good choice... based on his/ her specific needs. I think that it is very important to take ego OUT of the equation. With scopes, there is always a lot of "peer" pressure. One friend says that you should buy ONLY Leupold, period.... yet another will look down his nose at you if you do not spring for the $999.00 Swarovski....that sort of thing. It is best not to be swayed by such noise. Making an informed judgement involves research and personal judgement, not being led about "by the nose". Likewise, being led simply by the advertising copy generated by the various brands is a recipe for disaster.
It is a difficult decision, but in the end, a few conclusions can be drawn, based on the reality of the scope market. First, there are NO terribly good scopes available, for less than $100.00. There are a few adequate ones (just barely adequate for general use) for this price, but ONLY fixed-magnification types. Beyond $500- $600, there is very little to be gained by each extra dollar spent, unless the scope involved has some additional special features. Fixed-magnification scopes will, almost always, be sturdier in hard use, than variable ones. Warranties are important, but they are not everything (for they really only represent a "bet" on the part of the manufacturer...as well as a customer service committment). For the vast majority of people (and their specific usage parameters)...scopes in the $150 to $300 range tend to be entirely suitable, depending on the exact specifications (variables with really wide magnification ranges should probably cost more than $300...in order to be good ones). Finally, if all one can afford for optics is $100 or less, then one is much better off by putting that money toward a good set of iron sights....and shooting within the limitations of such.
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