simmons scopes
 

I don't know how you guys feel about them. I don't really care for them myself. I have a Weaver 2-10x 38 on my .223. I like it more than the Simmons that came on my Savage .204 Ruger. I thought they were made by the same company though. Did Simmons ever make a good scope? I just bought another Savage in .223 . This one came with an older Simmons. It is a 3-9x 33,I think.The short story is that I didn't like my .204 so I sold it and got another .223.Now that I am getting this new [used] gun I find myself wondering what to do with it.In the past I have had 4 Simmons scopes. 2 had problems and 2 didn't. 50% is only a good average forbaseball. I plan to use it on groundhogs andcoyote[if I ever get a shot at one]. I guess I was looking for some advice on what to do with this new gun. Would you guysswap out scopes immediatly,or would you give the existing scope a chance?

RE: simmons scopes
 

I don't care much for the Simmons scopes myself either. If you're after coyotes you shouldn't have too much trouble finding a few around Columbus. I had one run across Rt. 33 in front of me on my way in to town this morning!

RE: simmons scopes
 

My personal opinion is that i would never buy a simmons scope,but if i aquired one on a gun i would give it a try .A 223 isnt going to produce enough recoil to ever have to worry about moving the point of impact. I would sight it in and bump it around a little and reshoot it ,if it was still on then i wouldnt worry, there usualy pretty clear. Its just like high def tv i could care less about its clarity if it works dont fix it use the extra money for something you realy need. and if you want a new scope for the money you cant beat bushnell ive never had any problems with them even on a 300 weatherby mag.

RE: simmons scopes
 

I see them all the time at night in Columbus as well. I just don't see them when I have a gun in my hands. Thanks for the advice guys. I will give the Simmons a chance for a while. If it doesn't work well enough for me, I will get another Weaver or something. Unless you guys can come up with a better scope for the money.

RE: simmons scopes
 

I just bought a Vortex 6-24x50 that I am putting on a .257 Wby Mag. I haven't mounted it yet, but it seems to be extremely clear. I picked it up at a pretty good price (less than $200). I intend to whack a few coyotes with this setup.

RE: simmons scopes
 

Let me know how you do with it. So , you live down there in Lancaster. I sometime work at Rivervalley Plaza. It has the Goody's and the TJ Max in it. If you see a bucket van there it is most likely me.

RE: simmons scopes
 

Yeah live in Lancaster and work in the south end of Columbus. The coyote I saw this morning came out of the golf driving range and ran across the corn field just north of the Vo-Tech. It was at about 0630 as I was driving in to work. I see them all the time along 33, even in broad daylight. My wife and I were coming back from a trip to Sam's Club in Reynoldsburg last fall and one ran out of a housing development and tried to cross the road. He was confused by the construction barriers and just stood there in somebody's front yard as we drove past.

RE: simmons scopes
 

I have several different brand of scopes Leopold,Nikon,Bushnell, and Simmons. My Leopold is the nicest but I have to say my Simmons Aetec gathers more light that any of them. I own two and love them. But thats the only series of the Simmons I've had to do with.

RE: simmons scopes
 

I would never trust a hunt to a Simmons scope.

RE: simmons scopes
 

I have had 4 as I said before. I think they were all 8 point. [ whatever Savage uses] 3 3-9x40 and 1 4-12x40. Two of the 3-9 were great. The other two were junk. The 4-12 wouldn't zero and the other wouldn't hold it's zero. Savage uses these on their package guns. I had one on a .17hmr And 2 diferent ones on my .204. I started with a 4-12x40 on my .223.[ Against the advice I was given on this site[ live and learn I guess].] I ended up with a Weaver 2-10x38 classic on my .223 . No complaints so far. Like I said before 50% is only good in baseball. Weaver has changed hands in the last coule of years or so. Are they still the company they were before, or should I look at other scopes?

RE: simmons scopes
 

Short version ... I will not buy a Simmons brand optics.I have owned only 3 of Simmons brand scopes. I own none now.These cost me from aobut $125 to about $275.Junk !!! Did not hold up in the field, and the low light performance was terrible.

Several years ago, my wife bought me aSimmons compact bino (8x25mm) for me to use during archery. This bino cost about $80. It was truly pitiful.It has been so long since I used these that I can't even tell you where it is right now. Don't tell her. I haven't !!!

RE: simmons scopes
 

Not all Simmons scopes are the same.

I would not classify the Simmons Aetec Master Series as 'junk' like many seem to feel all of the Simmons are. The Aetec Master Series may not be the best scope money can buy, but it's a really good value forthe cost.

RE: simmons scopes
 

The Aetec is the only Simmons that is worth a damn. That being said I still wouldn't buy one.

RE: simmons scopes
 

To each his own. I've had some that came in 'package deals' on 22's, etc. and they're nothing to get excited about.



<----- My 25-06 wears an Aetec Master Series, though, and I'd trust that rig implicitly. I also prefer it over Leupolds & Burris models costing twice as much or more. But that's just how I see it. Opinions vary.

RE: simmons scopes
 

I'm not going to argue with someone who says they want something better. To each his own. I don't feel like spending a house payment on a scope. Maybe some do.

I dispute the claim, though, that there are 'far more reliable and better performing optics for the same price'. Nothing I've seen in the same price range of the Aetec M.S. clearly stands out above & beyond it, either in reliability or optics. Anything I've seen that clearly outperforms them also costs significantly more.

Dollars
 

The Aetec is a good scope the Whitetail is much cheaper. It all boils down to the old addage that you get what you pay for.

If you're a fan of Weaver Scopes take a look at Burris




FYI
http://www.chuckhawks.com/overview_burris_optics.htm

I had one, a Whitetail Classic, several years ago. It was ok for a young hunter that couldn't afford a better quality scope. My problem with it was later in the afternoon I could see a deer clearly with my naked eye, yet couldn't see the deer plainly thru the scope. I won't buy another Simmons product.

I know this post is old but I will throw my 2 cents in anyway. The only Simmons I've owned is one I have on a .22. It wasn't a expensive one. I think it was the Deerfield line in 3x9x32mm. It's about 5 years old. Now since it's on a .22 it doesn't have to deal with recoil much however, it's been dropped, banged around, and just had a fairly rough life for a scope. It was the first scope I had and I got it long before I knew to not be rough on scopes. It's scratched up some but has always held zero and shoots great. I will admit it's not as clear as some other scopes I've used since like the Burris Fullfield II however, it's clear enough that it works fine especially for the price. As the above poster said it isn't that great in low light. Then again I'm not shooting at night so that doesn't bother me. Seems like a great scope to me so far however, I'm not sure if I just got lucky and got a good one or not. I've got a few friends that use Simmons and all seem to like them too but I don't know if anyone of them have ever had one fail.

I wouldn't spend another dime on a Simmons product. I have owned 4 Simmons scopes with 3 failures. The only one that didn't fail I didn't even try to use. I had 2 of there 8-point scopes 1 had a piece of the glass fall sidways in it the other left before I even tried it. I have 2 of there Aetec Master Series scopes laying in a box of old hunting junk. I spent around $200 on each and both are JUNK! One won't adjust and the other won't hold zero on a .22. I will use iron sights before I trust a Simmons scope. For $200 you can buy a Burris FFII and not have to worry about it when you pull the trigger.

I picked up a rifle with a "44mag" model, I believe it was called, mounted on it, that would fog up in an instant if it was wet out.
I have a 3x9 Simmons on my .22 ruger. So far it has done all I have asked of it.
It also came in on a used gun.

The only Simmons scope I have ever bought new, was an Aetec, about 10 years ago.
At that time, it was considered a good scope. Plus, I was given a nice discount incentive, since I had bought a rifle.
It has held up so far, to several dozen....maybe a hundred heavy 444marlin handloads.
Clear optics too. Real good in low light.
I guess I got a good one.

All said and done though, I wouldn't buy another Simmons scope either.

I've had excellent performance from Simmons scopes, both on my rifles and my father has one on his. 22-250.

The problem is that any time Simmons is mentioned, there are always those who say they are crap and they they suggest a scope that costs 10x the price as an alternative! What kind of a comparison is that? My Ford is too slow. Well, try a Ferrari then, they're better . . .

To have a valid comparison, you have to take a Simmons model and compare it to models of a similar price from other makers. It's redicilious to compare low-line Simmons models to anything made by Burris or Leupold.

I have Whitail Classic on my deer rifle and it's been great. It holds zero very well even from season to season, never had any problems with fogging or anything else. When I bought it I couldn't afford anything more and since it works well, I haven't bothered to change it.

There is certainly a difference in performance between low and high end optics, but as another poster said, many hunters can't afford a scope that's more than their monthly house payment. I have 3 Simmons scopes now and they both work great for the price. One of them is on my Contender pistol and it takes a tremendous pounding shooting sillouttes, I had intended to replace it but it just keeps working and working and working.

I have higher end scopes on other rifles and on my Contender handgun, and there certainly is a quality difference in terms of optical performacnce between a Simmons and say a Burris. The question is does something like edge of field clearity really matter to you and are you willing to pay hundreds more for a scope with higher performance?

Grouse

I use Burris on all my bolt action rifles.


Check out the Fullfield line for the money.



http://www.burrisoptics.com/fullfield.html





I use their Signature Select line.


http://www.opticsplanet.net/burris-4...le-scopes.html