anyone using a barska 6.5 - 20x 50mm target dot?

T

TOP PREDATOR

Gunny Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Jul 19, 2008
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SCRANTON AREA PENNSYLVANIA
#1
ok i may get flamed for considering this el cheapo scope, or not posting in the optics section, but i think it's more fitting in the rimfire section.

here's my dilema and a long winded reasoning so as not to sound newbie-ish:

i have a mkii bv whose lower priced optic has crapped out (right there i should learn my lesson on buying another el cheapo scope). it's a simmons with a mildot reticle that is suppossed to be replaced by bushnell (whom owns simmons) but they are taking their sweet time in doing so (going on 3 mths).

since, in the end, i'm really going to be shooting at known distances at paper and silhouettes, i don't really need a mildot or other rangefinding type reticle. a target dot is optimal for this IMO, and for me is less busy when shooting silhouettes. i'm hooked on side focus and tall target turrets, but for my purposes an AO and regular finger adj. knobs will be fine.

i'm also looking to get another rifle and have an optic in mind to put on the future addition. the optic i have in mind starts at 8x which is more power than i feel comfy with using for for the first silhouette distance, so buying that optic now for the mkii and moving it to the new rifle is somewhat counter productive in the short term. so i want to stay at a low budget optic for the MKII as i may be selling it anyhow, and for the deals offered by cabela's, etc on new mkiis, i may not get much for a used one including the optic. so for $64.95 i found a barska 6.5 - 20x 50mm target dot that i'm considering putting on it.

i looked at others including a millet buck gold 4-16x fine cross hair, but it has a 56mm objective and i believe it will have to be mounted too high for comfort or out of height regulation for standard rifle in silhouette competition. i also looked at the 4-12 vortex crossfire fine crosshair (99.95, but i like 14x on the furthest silhouette animal) and tasco target dot (100.00 +). i've been through too many BSAs to even consider them again.

so i know the options that are available in that price range, and i know i'll probably get "try this one and that one", but please only input on the barska target dot, if anyone is using or has used one, is it worth getting or just another POS?
 
#2
Re: anyone using a barska 6.5 - 20x 50mm target dot?

I own one of these for my Marlin 22 LR. I got the 6.5-20x50 with the target reticle for my .22 and a 6-24x50 with the mil-dot for my 17 HMR.

With these scopes you get what you pay for. Personally I like them, especially for a nice rimfire scope. I thought the 6.5-20 was a bit large for a .22 LR but I won't complain, I just personally prefer the mil-dot on the 6-24x50. The scopes are pretty decent up to about 14-16 but beyond that it starts to get blurry unless you are in full light of day.

But I would recommend it for a decent lower end scope for the price. I got mine on sale for $65 and it has served me very well.

+1 for this scope.
 
#3
Re: anyone using a barska 6.5 - 20x 50mm target dot?

thanks. i will probably be dialing the crap out of the turrets for different ranges, as perhaps you have.

is it an ok return to zero, and how long have you had / used it?

when they finally send back my replacement for the scope i had on the mkii, i could probably sell it for the same amount NIB as the barska so i don't believe i'll be losing out. just hoping the barska is a good enough hold-me-over scope until i get my $hit straight.



 
#4
Re: anyone using a barska 6.5 - 20x 50mm target dot?

I had the much more expensive tactical version of the Barska you are planning. I paid twice as much as you are proposing and mine was slightly better than an empty paper towel roll with a cheap magnifying glass lens glued to each opening and a "Sharpie etched" reticle drawn on one end.....seriously. The scope was almost impossible to use, having extreme internal glare in middle of the day match conditions, and poor light transmission in late afternoon partial shaded silhouettes. I will always believe this scope cost me the 2009 Region 2 IHMSA UAS champion trophy.
Long story short I would spend $200 on a decent scope before I would waste $65 on ANY Barfka.
Edit: Repeatable? If you call chasing your zero repeatable then yeah You have 5 sighters at the begining of a match and I had to pray it would hold zero for 40 more shots. You didn't dare dial in settings.
 
#5
Re: anyone using a barska 6.5 - 20x 50mm target dot?

I can't remember what power range the ones I have toyed with were, but I do remember they wouldn't track properly. That alone put a sour taste in my mouth. For a game such as Silhouette, where you NEED to have a scope that tracks 100%, I don't think any Barska offerings would tide you over.
 
#6
Re: anyone using a barska 6.5 - 20x 50mm target dot?

I have 2 Barskas. One on my mkii adn one on my 93r17. I hate to be negative, but I won't be buying another barska. Like said above, you start trying to reach out with them and they get blurry and they glare pretty badly. I'll probably go for a bushnell in the same price range next time.
 
#7
Re: anyone using a barska 6.5 - 20x 50mm target dot?

I know you said you hate BSAs, but that 4-14x44 ffp mil mil they have at Midway for $250 now is nicer than anything else I've seen from Barska, or BSA, or anywhere else in China. They really stepped it up on that one. I liked it on my 22 enough I bought another for my other 22. And it's fun playing with mils on a .22.
 
#8
Re: anyone using a barska 6.5 - 20x 50mm target dot?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TOP PREDATOR</div><div class="ubbcode-body">thanks. i will probably be dialing the crap out of the turrets for different ranges, as perhaps you have.

is it an ok return to zero, and how long have you had / used it?

</div></div>

I was able to find one of the SWAT tactical models on Craigslist two different times for $80. This had the sunshade and the side focus as well as the target knobs. I preferred this because of the sunshade because I will admit to one of the comments above, they can glare pretty bad if you are shooting in the direction of the sun.

It seems like Barska can be a bit of a crap shoot for some folks. I have owned probably 4 or 5 in my day and only one of them ever had problems tracking (a 4-16x). The rest did a pretty good job returning to zero. In fact I had one on a Remington 700 SPS .308 before I upgraded and I was shooting 500 yards with that Barska. Held a zero for the 30 rounds I put through on that quick shoot.
 
#12
Re: anyone using a barska 6.5 - 20x 50mm target dot?

I have Barskas on all of my .22's and a two smaller caliber rifles, but do not have any on the larger calibers. The ones I have work good on those rifles.
 
#14
Re: anyone using a barska 6.5 - 20x 50mm target dot?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TenZero</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I know you said you hate BSAs, but that 4-14x44 ffp mil mil they have at Midway for $250 now is nicer than anything else I've seen from Barska, or BSA, or anywhere else in China. They really stepped it up on that one. I liked it on my 22 enough I bought another for my other 22. And it's fun playing with mils on a .22.</div></div>

I have one of these on my AR15 and its a nice scope for the money. Im surprised that you dont hear them mentioned more.
 
#15
Re: anyone using a barska 6.5 - 20x 50mm target dot?

Glad you are happy with it TP. If it works for you than that is all that matters
smile.gif
Thanks for the review.
 
#16
Re: anyone using a barska 6.5 - 20x 50mm target dot?

good luck with the Barska. I've always seen the adds on youtube and think "wow that looks like a good deal" I've never ordered one but I did order my Nikon Buckmaster 6-18x40 off Nachez. I'd look on there to see if you can spend either a bit more or the same amount on a better quality scope. I'm not being a scope snob but because I'm definently not but there are a lot of options to look at and I'm always wanting to get the best deal and for someone else to get the best deal as well. I had a BSA Sweet 22 3-9x40 on my old Mark II and I absolutely loved it. I would go with this if you are trying to stay on a budget BSA Sweet 22 6-18x40 and at $49 its a steal
 
#17
Re: anyone using a barska 6.5 - 20x 50mm target dot?

haven't had any luck with any bsa, i usually have to replace them about every 2.5 years.

i love the buckmaster, and perhaps should have gotten it, but during my time of indecision, i'm not really going to cry over the 65.00 i spent on the barska.

after shooting it more over the holiday weekend, it's a bit brighter and clearer than i first thought up to around 17 then the edges start to grey up.

i believe my next "thing" is either going to run a nikon, or perhaps a mueller 8-32 target. the mueller really has my attention.
 
#20
Re: anyone using a barska 6.5 - 20x 50mm target dot?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bulzeye</div><div class="ubbcode-body">picked up a primary arms 4-16x44 for my savage. for the price i think it's a great scope for my rimfire </div></div>
How is this scope working out? Could we get some details and specs? Interested how clear it is and how much internal travel it has.
 
#21
Re: anyone using a barska 6.5 - 20x 50mm target dot?

I would stay away form Barska. If you need something cheap for now I would look at getting a mueller APV or APT. The magnification is not as high as the Barska but the quality should be better.
 
#22
Re: anyone using a barska 6.5 - 20x 50mm target dot?

I've have two varmint barskas, (6 - 24 x 42 & 50 mil/.125moa) and I've cranked the living shit out of the turrets. Never had a problem maxing out elevation and returning to my 35 yard squirrel zero. The reticles are a touch thick and the glare problems are there, along with the poor light transmission. But for the money, the turrets on mine are still 100% repeatable. And really, for what I'm doing with them, that's what matters most. No point in having target turrets on a cheap scope if they don't work properly.

I was confirming my zero for squirrel season this year and nailed 2 flies consecutively at 50 yards on 10x. I have some pics once I get around to posting.

+1 for barska btw
 
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