Good inexpensive scope?
 

Just curious to see people's thoughts on what a good and relatively inexpensive scope is these days? (Meaning $100-$150)

I know... good and inexpensive don't go together. Don't buy an inexpensive scope, save your money, etc. A buddy of mine wants to put something on his ML that he uses one or two weekends a year, and doesn't want a dirt cheap POS, but doesn't want to drop $300+ either. 99% of his shots will be under 100yds, most under 75.

He's looking at something probably in the 2-7 or 3-9 range. I've got some nice scopes and also some inexpensive scopes that work pretty well too. Just figured I'd check out what other folks would recommend.

I honestly don't know much about alot of the newer brands on the market these days. Thanks for any suggestions to pass along.

Bushnell, Vortex and Burris all make nice scopes for that price range.

simmons 4x32 pro diamond

There have been some discussions in the Blackpowder section. I use a 2x7 on my scoped ML but rarely have it off of the 4X mark.

http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/blac...ns-please.html

Bushnell Trophy XLT 3-9X40. ........

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Bushn...name%3Dnessusn sale but on backorder. .. $90.00 order it

+1

Burris guy myself

Also Redfield & Nikon

I avoid those expensive scopes
 

by not getting a scope you can set up for 700 yards shots like newbies do.

If you can stretch just a tad over your $150 top end, the Vortex Diamond Back seems like a nice scope. Two guys I hunt with have one and are well pleased. I think thay go for about $175 or so.

I'd get a fixed 4X... used would be fine. An example would be the Sightron SII 4x. I've seen them in the $100 range.

What he^ said. If he's not going to have a shot over 100 yards and maybe not even 75, then he should just buy a fixed 4x scope of his choice for what he can afford for that limited amount of time in the field. I put an old 4x Weaver I had in the closet on my 50 caliber percussion ML and it is great for the limited amount of times it's out in the field.

Weaver K4 I hear good things :)

Cabelas is closing out the discontinued Nikon Buckmasters 3-9x40mm for $129, normally $230, and the 4-12x40mm for $149, usually $299. For the money, very hard to beat that deal. They were a good scope at their list price, the closeout price only makes it better.

I just saw that in an email from Cabelas yesterday. That would be a good deal even though he probably doesn't need to go up to the higher power, but could if he wanted to.

I am also firmly in the thinking that a fixed scope gives you the best value for $$ in the less exspensive lines. Fewer moving parts, less to go wrong is likely why the 4x32 ProDiamond is a standout when looking at Simmons scopes. Unfortunately the choices are few in new ones. Looks like Sightron no longer makes the SII 4x. Swift makes a 4x32 that looks pretty good for about $74. 4" of eye relief. Don't know much about the company, but at that price it looks like a deal.

I have made shots from 20 to 120 yards and never missed not having a zoom feature.

Thanks guys, I'll pass it along!

100% argreed here. Have several. Never had a lick of problems out of any of them. Both pistol and rifle they are on.

Swift Optics makes a darn good scope also.

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Maybe just a little higher but the Nikon Prostaff line is hard to beat for the price.

That is hard to beat..! I am a Nikon guy and shoot there pro glass lens, I feel they tend to know perhaps a little bit more about optics, and coatings than their competition, just my reasoning though.
I was gonna say some of the Redfield's have gotten good reviews, just reading it the other day, but do not recall which model. Even some of the cabalas brand scopes are very good for the money, particularly if you can apply points, or gift cards, I try to hit Cabelas when the have their employee pricing days for card holder members, as the Cabela brand name items are more deeply discounted.

Sightron si

look at a bsa sweet 22, got oe on a t/c encore, works like a champ

Never had a problem with a Bushnell, Have Banner BDC scopes on several of my rifles at least two from the very early 1970's.
Have a Bushnell Trophy on My Remington 700 54cal ML and the 50 cal, Have a dusk to dawn 1.5 to 7 on my slug gun.
I bought a Weaver K4 for $5.00 at a yard sale several years ago with the thinking if it didn't work they had a lift time warranty so I could send it in to be fixed. It worked fine on a T/C 50 Cal muzzle loader.

I bought a Leopold VAR X II used that was a piece of crap. I sent it back to them to be fixed. Still haven't put on any thing since I got it back.
Still would not have a problem buying a used scope if it was one with a life time warranty like many of the older scopes had.

:D Al

Nikon Monarch and Prostaff scopes are good buys.

I recently bought a Bushnell AR optics 4.5-18x for my M4 AR. I paid $180 and it is a really nice scope. I would recommend it for anyone looking for a AR scope or even a scope for any 223.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bushnell-AR9...item2ede7476a4

I tend to think pretty highly of Bushnell scopes for budget friendly applications. I also just bought a pair of the Bushnell AR scopes, but in 3-9x40mm. They were $170 with free shipping and a $30 rebate.

The light gathering isn't quite as good as what I expect out of the Bushnell Banners, but it's as good as the Nikon Buckmaster BDC 4-12x40mm I mentioned before, for half of the price. Both appear very clear, but the Buckmaster has a bit better resolution (again, recognizing that this is comparing a $300 scope to a $170 scope). I haven't done a box test in the Bushnell AR's yet, but the adjustment clicks are positive, and just stiff enough that it's comforting for an exposed turret set up that I don't expect them to spin every time they brush against something. The Bushnell AR does a better job at not distorting as you crank up the magnification than almost any of the Nikons I own, from prostaff to monarchs.

Overall, a very serviceable, very budget friendly scope.

I have a Burris Fullfield II Ballistic Reticle 6.5-20x50. It's a great scope for the price. I'm willing to let it go now. I don't need all that power anymore. It's a year old. Just pm me if your interested.

Check out the gun shops and the pawn shops. You might be able to find a Leupold fixed power in there for under $200.00.

I have this one on my ML barrel for my TC Pro Hunter. It's for rifles but it works perfectly. Has a little more than 3 and a half inches eye relief and a 2-7 var power is plenty. I keep mine on 2 since I mostly hunt wooded areas but if I need to reach out to 150, which my ML is more than capable of, it's plenty of power at hand. And one thing I really didn't expect from a 32mm OBJ was the freaking clarity. Thing is bright and clear. Absolutely excellent light collection.

http://www.nikonsportoptics.com/Niko...-Nikoplex.html

I would try my best to spend $50 bucks more and get a Leupold or a Redfield Revolution (excellent and made by Leupold with the same great CS. As a matter of fact, sent to the exact same address as Leupy for warranty). If not, Burris or Vortex as a distant second. Bushnell is not on the same level of quality at that price point, IMO but they do have good CS IME and are a decent value.