Simmons 8 Point 4x32
 

I just picked one of these up for a very good price. I've read some mixed reviews of these scopes and was hoping someone on here has had some experience with them and could share.

Its a low end scope so I would expect a mediocre image, inferior light gathering, and low durability. I used a few low end Simmon's scopes over the years and killed a lot of game with them. The main problem I had with them was the lack of durability. They were fine for a couple of seasons and then wouldn't hold true. I expect they just aren't up to the repeated recoil of a deer or elk rifle. Put it on a firearm and put it to work, but if you've a gun you really value, scrimp and save and eventually put a better scope.

Well .... echoing .... I too have had no good experiences with Simmons optics. My sweet wife dropped about $80 on their "best" 25 mm compact binos for a Christmas present for me a few years back. They are truly pitiful. I bought a NIB "44 Mag." at a silent auction. I put it on a 30.06 Spr. It did not make it through the first visit to the range. Simmons was great about replacing it. But it too died 2 years later. Both times there was something busted inside. It would not hold "zero". Last weekend I took a Simmons scope off of a buddy's son's rifle because it too would not hold "zero". I forgot the model. I still have a "White Tail" variable on a lender rifle. It has done fine for 4 seasons, but it gets very little use. One thing I have noticed is that none of my Simmons scopes I have had, and same for the binos .... they do fine in "normal" light, but extremely poor in low light performance. I hope you have better luck. Plenty of folks have had good relusts with Simmons stuff ... but not me.



nes wit

I bought one of the Whitetail Classic Simmons scopes several years ago. OK in full light, but I could see better with my naked eye at dusk dark than I could with the scope. I sold it to a guy for $25 and kinda felt sorry for him.

I bought one at a yardsale for $8 and have it on a 22 rimfire, it works ok, thats about all its good for. IMO. I probably paid to much for it.

Why is it that opinions of purchases are solicited post-purchase? Just wondering.

I've not used the 4x32, but I've had decent experiences with an 8 Point Blazer in 3-9x40, and an older 8 Point Deerfield. The Deerfield was before Bushnell owned Simmons and it tracks pretty accurately, has been dropped banged around, and just beat to heck and back and has always held up and not lost zero, and the glass is pretty impressive for a scope of that price range. I wish I had about 10 more of these scopes and had I know how that one was I'd have bought more.

The other 8 Point Blazer I had was good too, but not as good. I also only used it for 8 months or so, not 7 or so years like the above scope. It also had surprisingly good glass for a cheap scope. It had better glass than my Leupold VX-I, but not as good as my Burris FFII's. I found it to be identical glass wise to the Nikon Prostaff I replaced it with. If there was a difference, I couldn't tell it. So that part was good and for any and all hunting situations I'd be in, it would have been more than fine.

When it came to shooting it, I went to make some adjustments and to my surprise they didn't track anywhere near 1/4th" at 100 yards like marked. It was mounted on the rifle by the previous owner, and when I shot it I was shooting 2" right, and started out by making 4 clicks left and I was shooting 2" left. So I went back to the right 2 clicks, and I was dead on. It seemed like each click was more like 1" than 1/4". That being said, once I sighted it in I shot it for 8 months or so, and I never touched the adjustments again and it never lost zero. I couldn't complain about it. To me, I certainly wouldn't be making adjustments in the field with it, but if you are going to sight it in and not mess with the adjustments again, I bet it will be fine.

I know the previous owner had been very rough on this scope and he said it always held up well for him. I on the other hand while not easy on it, never dropped it or anything. I only sold it to try something else.

I also have a Simmons 8 Point 3-9x40 I got in a package deal with another scope recently, but I don't have anything to mount it on to test out. Once again though the glass is better than I'd expect for the price.

All in all, while I know some people have had bad experiences with them, I've had pretty good experiences, and I have lots of friends that use cheaper Simmons scopes and most of them have had good experiences with them too. Some of them are very rough on them. One thing I will say, is many of them own scopes that were made before Bushnell took over Simmons, and the Blazer is the only one I've used that was made since then.

I've owned several Simmons over the years. Never had a problem with them holding true, but they get dark quick when the sun goes down.

I've owned a few, I have an eight point in the safe that I took off one of my rifles..The cheaper scopes might hold up OK for the average( one box of shells or less a year) shooters..I know some that Bragg about having a 20 year old rifle with the first box of shells he bought.. He shoots it just at game, no practice..to each their own..I like to shoot, and I can use the practice for sure.. :fighting0007: