Cheap Scope Heartbreak.
 

I was warned. I bought a Savage 111 package gun last year and was told by many of you not to rely on the 3-9x32 simmons scope that came with it. I had taken it to range and was able to get decent groups so I thought I would live with it for a while. I bought another scope recently but wasn't going to put it on till the season ended.
The season ends tomorrow. I got my climbing stand up into a tree (in the rain) before dark I was sitting there waiting and once it was beginning to get light I took a look thru my scope. It had some rain on it. So I went to wipe the rain away with a lens cloth I took with me. My lens moved. It slid forward about 1/8 inch. I thougtht I must have imagined it so I took a look and sure enough the lense was loose ans slid back and forth. I climbed back down and hiked back to my truck. I drove home in disgust. I'm thinking of puttin the other scope on there, bore sighting it and going to the range this before it gets dark tonight. I could at least have one last shot at tomorrow. The other scope I bought is also a cheaper scope. I think I'm going to just go ahead and put a Leupold rifleman on there some time this summer so I'll be ready for next season.
If there is a silver lining to all of this, I was averaging 1 1/2 inch groups with this setup at 100 yards. Maybe my rifle prints better than that when I put some decent glass on there.

David

RE: Cheap Scope Heartbreak.
 

We have all learned the hard way one time or another. In todays day and age there is no truer statment than you get what you pay for. Live and learn and good luck next time.

RE: Cheap Scope Heartbreak.
 

Good luck with the new scope, id definetly put a leupold on it as soon as funds allowed it. I had a problem with a cheap scope once, poi kept changing. Havent had that problem with my leupold vx ii. This forumn and experience taught me not all scopes are created equal.

RE: Cheap Scope Heartbreak.
 

I would also put a better scope on it but I certainly wouldn't get a leupold rifleman. That is their bottom of the line scope and the reviews that I have read on it have not been great. It was said that the rifleman was not very clear nor was the sighting picture crisp to the edges. For the $199 they cost you would be much much much better off getting a Bushnell elite 3200. The 3200 is a far superior scope than the rifleman is. IMO leupold isn't doing any one any good with the new rifleman series of scopes.

RE: Cheap Scope Heartbreak.
 

Put a Leupold VX-II or Vari-X III on it and you'll never regret it. There are some pretty decent deals floating around out there right now on select Leupold scopes. They are being clearanced to make way for the new models this year. Natchez Shooters Supply and Midway are two places I've seen with ongoing sales on certain Leupold models.

RE: Cheap Scope Heartbreak.
 

The only thing worse than a real cheap scope is a real cheap stepladder. [:@]

RE: Cheap Scope Heartbreak.
 

Yeah well chalk me up for a real cheap climbing stand too. I made that mistake as well. Thought that since it was a warren and sweat it would be quality. I was wrong. Lucky I didn't die from it. Gonna have to start squirreling away some cash to upgrade my equipment next year.
I'm gonna have to find another scope to put on my rifle because the main tube on the newer cheap scope I bought is too short for the ring base that came with the rifle and I couldn't find anything that would work at Dick's so I guess the season is over for me. Oh well. I plan to learn from this. I've got 10 months to get my rig together and tune it up properly.

David

RE: Cheap Scope Heartbreak.
 

I bought a Savage package gun with the Simmons 3x9 on it as well. I used it for three seasons then put it on my 22 It still works fine. I have never heard anything bad about the Rifleman scopes. I have had quite a few Leupold scopes and being real clear just isn't thier strong point. Of the several that I have none are as clear as my Bushnells. They should stand up well though. For a real clear scope I have found the Nikons and Bushnells to be the clearest. Good luck.

RE: Cheap Scope Heartbreak.
 

I've learned a hard lesson about Trashcos a few years back! You really do get what you pay for!

RE: Cheap Scope Heartbreak.
 

A good scope for the $$ is the Nikon Buckmaster. I have 3 all are very clear and work well. I also have VX3 and Nikon Monarchs and can't tell a difference ..Bill

RE: Cheap Scope Heartbreak.
 

Ya I have some cheap scopes on my target bbls but would never depend on them. On my hunting bbls I have one with a Leupold one with a Nikon. The cheap scopes have not failed yet and I use them alot, ON Paper, and chances are they would be fine for hunting but that is not a chance I'm willing to take.

RE: Cheap Scope Heartbreak.
 

Hi dpv,

I'm sorry but I just had a good laugh at your expense....I apologize! But I would like to have seen your expression when that happened[:o]! We've all been there, done that, and have learned, "penny wise...dollar foolish".

And sawbill you made me choke on my coffee.......Thanks!

Remember....the rifle is absolutely no better than its sights. Even if you have to take a part time job.....or cut a few lawns...get a good scope! Same goes for your binos....you'll use them tens, or hundreds, of times more often than your rifle on a typical hunt. Buy quality!

Good luck with your next scope....and thanks again for the laugh!

RE: Cheap Scope Heartbreak.
 

i bought that same package a couple years back and so did my buddy. not a problem with the scopes and a couple deer and bear in the boat. i have recently though switched almost all of my scopes over to leupold because i always felt cheap scopes were nothing more than a ticking time bomb.i guess you cant expect much from a 30$ scope but mine have served thier purpose and i moved on. i still have a bushnell banner 4x that i like on my lever 44 /96 ruger but the rest of my guns are now sporting leupolds vari xIIs or better.

RE: Cheap Scope Heartbreak.
 

dpv----lesson learned ;) The more I hunt---- the more, I'm starting to like the straight power scope.

RE: Cheap Scope Heartbreak.
 

I think we all had a bad experence with a scope one time or another. Mine was with a Bushnell 3200 that I mounted on top of a .300 Weatherby. After shooting 30-40 round,the crosshairs broke. That's when I went back to Leupold...[:-]

RE: Cheap Scope Heartbreak.
 

Properly mounted even a cheap scope should not break the crosshair. This usually happens when all or almost all of the adjustment has been used up. I have mounted, used and sold hundreds of cheap scopes with a grand total of one broken crosshair. That one was my fault as I forgot to cinch down the ring screws. I hear of more broken crosshairs on this board than I have ever seen in the field. The only one that ever broke was a Simmons pistol scope that I put on a 35 Remington contender barrel. I have hunted hundreds of hours with inexpensive Tasco and Bushnell scopes. No Failure to date with any of them. I am getting ready to send back a Bushnell Sporview scope that will no longer adjust up and down. This scope however has served me well for almost 30 years at about two dollars per year. QUESS I GOT WHAT I PAID FOR.:D

RE: Cheap Scope Heartbreak.
 

I have mounted hundreds of scopes over the years,I do side work for a local gunshop mounting scopes! The 3200 was not mounted WRONG, the scope was defective...:eek:

RE: Cheap Scope Heartbreak.
 

I've replaced 3 tascos, 2 redfields, 2 bushnells and even 1 leupold that started shooting to a different poi. I presently use nothing but leupold vari-x-IIIs, swarovski av, and a nikon 1-4 that is no longer made. You really get what you pay for. Many retailers are discounting leupold vari-x-IIIs which are being replaced by the VXIII. I would jump all over a discounted vari-x-III. If your budget prohibits it, I would consider as nice of a fixed power scope as you can afford. I've had very few problems with middle to high end fixed power scopes.

RE: Cheap Scope Heartbreak.
 

You can get a defective scope from anyone. I won't argue that. I had to return several Leupolds when I was a dealer as well. I still have to say that either I am mounting them differenty than most or am extremely lucky. Since I have not won the lottery I quess it ain't all luck.