Cordite, If you can actually see the difference in brightness of 95% tranmission and 90%, then you have super human eyes.

If a scope is adjusted properly for focus, I don't think you could tell the difference without extended use. I have did this test several times. Took someone to Bass Pro, adjusted the focus (something most owners don't do), and held them up to their eyes to see if they can tell the difference. Usually not.

I am in the business, or kinda now and used to be of buying lenses for goverment purposes. I have toured all kinds of index matching coating facilities and manufacturing facilities from japan to Austria. Those names you are throwing out and places are not easy to get. In fact, most are not public knowledge but not hidden either. In fact you almost have to be in the industry to know these things.

Yes, several of these companies buy thier lenses from several sources, but the parts are spec'd. Its very common to outsource things like this. It sure doesn't mean they are worse or better. I can buy optics that have a 30db back reflection from a famous german or austrian company. They will be twice as cheap as ones with 60db Back reflection. They will make them as cheap or expensive as I want them. It all depends how much money I want to spend for them on the quality process. Japan definately has some top notch plants for index matching and lenses.

Lets see you live in Colorado. Hmmm.

BSA has really good customer services as well. Everyone talks about them being junk, but mostly people that say that have never owned and only buy 300 dollar scopes. Optically they are not as good as a more expensive scope, but they don't cost nearly that much either. I have owned more than a few of them and never had any problems with them.

I had buddy buy one for this upcoming gun season and he had a problem with his. Rather than take it back he called BSA directly. They said the one he has is back ordered, so he could pick any scope from thier catalog he wanted and they would rush it to him. Then when the other scope came in they would send it along. He was told he could keep both scopes free of charge for his inconvenience. That's not a bad deal, especially since he already has a leupold to use on it any way. He just liked the BSA Catseye better? Ya, I don't get it either. I'm not a huge leupold fan, but I do think they are better than any BSA made. I just can't afford them is all.

And the guys at cabela's told me what companies make thier scopes for them, there were several. Nikon being one of them. They even showed me comparable models from name brand companies. They are japanese companies though, mine even says it on the scope I think. They just don't know which models are which is all, because there are so many. Now if all the japanese scopes like bushnell and nikon and the such come from the same manufacturer than they could all be the same for all I know. You never know these days. My Sebring is a chrysler suposedly, but it is actually a Mitsibushi with a different badge on it. Funny thing is it is made in Illinois not japan? Now my neon was a dodge but was made in canada? Go figure right.

All I know is I have one and looked at several and they are decent scopes for the money. Could you get better, heck yeah, just not for the same money in my opinion.

Paul

Hi Paul . . . one interesting thing about BSA has been their openness . . . which I appreciate. I understand they have a good service department. I called them one time about a particular scope and they were quite open in suggesting that I MIGHT want to get a Leupold instead . . . interesting! He said that the BSA was a good scope for what you pay for it. I think that was an honest answer. As an addendum I chatted with him about China, having had a relative that worked in business over there for awhile. He said they would do better when they "got it all figured out! And they were getting close!" We laughed about that. He said he used a Leupold on his trip to Alaska!

Yep BIG COUNTRY . . . I live in Colorado . . . is there anywhere else? And NO I don't work for Burris! As a side point though . . . if you can't see it, why worry about the details? Rifles are like that too . . . some guys keep buying and "upgrading" to get the ultimate velocity or whatever. Great if they got the money. Nobody ever killed a deer with a chrono - the .30-30 probably takes more deer than anything - and according to the statistics it has always been inadequate - go figure. With all the hyper-velocity stuff out there I still would like to have a 7x57 . . . the new Rem Classic in 8mm is appealing too. If I had that, and a Weaver Grand Slam, I would hang it on the wall and just stare at it!

They are all well and fine until one day Cabelas decides they don't want to import these scopes anymore since they are not making enough on them. Then who services them? Most if not all of them have very poor eye relief

Hmmm . . . I have dealt with Cabelas since the 1960s . . . can't imagine them EVER failing to serve a customer. They just don't do such things. I wish more people had their business ethics. I can remember when they used to send me refund checks for just a few cents if I sent too much to cover shipping!

As far as eye relief . . . I can't say . . . but I do know that everyone talks about Leupold's eye relief . . . without knowing that other brands do equally well . . . but not all . . . I know that.

My problem with Cabelas is their silliness surrounding concealment of the sources. Myself, if Cabelas would tell me that their Alaskan Guide was made by Light Optical Works in Japan . . . as several brands are . . . I would be much more impressed. Then I can make quality judgments. With Leupold, and others, there is a sense of security concerning the purchase. Its a comfort thing. A silly thing, but a lot of hunters want their buddies to approve their purchases, or maybe even be a little jealous. You have a hard time doing that with a Cabelas scope. Much easier to do with a Grand Slam or a LPS.

In my own case, I've been reluctant to spend a couple of hundred dollars on a scope when I don't know who made it.

Heck, even when Sears and Penney's sold store-brand guns, it was no secret who was making them.

Cabelas doesn't give them away either..plenty of name brand scopes that are better and probably cheaper if One would research it. Most scopes in that price range will surpass them in Eye Relief BTW.

My Aetec has more eye relief than any other scope I have had. They are a terrific scope .

I have a Burris Signature in 2-8x40 and I like everything but the posi Lock. As far as I am concerned it can go in the trash. It takes to long to sight in when the cross hairs move when you tighten the screw. I like my Bushnell Elites much better.

Just wanted to weigh in here a liitle
As far as my experience with Cabela's has been.....they are superb when it comes to customer service...they have always sent me a new ANYTHING when I had a problem and told me to keep the defective or offending item..they didn't even want the old one back.
As far as the eye relief on the Alaskans..they advertise 3.7" on the model I've been considering...which is quite respectable.
I tend to like A LOT OF EYE RELIEF...and Leupold and a few others seem to be the few that offer in the near 4"+ range....
I will take a trip to the Cabela's near me in Dundee, Michigan and take a look through them ...I guess that is the only real way to judge how they appear...how they will hold up is another story.
I thank you all for the input.