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Re: is my cheap scope screwing me?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: GasLight</div><div class="ubbcode-body">to tell if it is your fault or the scopes, do a box test on it... then you will know if it is tracking properly and if it is holding a zero...

Dave </div></div>

+1 Dave. I must be married to your wife's sister. I had to go with a Vortex Crossfire. It's held up so far, but if it fails at least it has a lifetime warranty.
 
Re: is my cheap scope screwing me?

If the internals of a scope are not rugged, it won't hold a zero, and consistent, accurate shooting will not be possible.

There at least a dozen other factors that contribute or detract from a rifles accuracy potential, from the scope mounts to the stock, etc. but whether a scope is expensive or a cheap piece of crap doesn't matter if the internals are broken and it won't hold a point of aim.

<span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">Any</span></span> Barska is not worth wasting another single round of ammo on to find out. Try to return it and buy an inexpensive <span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">fixed</span></span> power scope like the Bushnell 3200 10x or 10x Super Sniper and don't waste any more time or ammo on what you have.

The ammo you are wasting will quickly pay for a new scope.

TC
 
Re: is my cheap scope screwing me?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Top Cat</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Buy an inexpensive <span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">fixed</span></span> power scope like the Bushnell 3200 10x or 10x Super Sniper and don't waste any more time or ammo on what you have.

The ammo you are wasting will quickly pay for a new scope.

TC </div></div>

This is sound advice, and very affordable.
 
Re: is my cheap scope screwing me?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ejb</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> shitcan the barska and maybe the wife save some money and get a good scope. </div></div>

if i throw the barska out the door i still get to keep my house but if i throw the wife out id probably have to sell anything i need a scope for. i live in pa and they just dont seen to like men in the court room.
 
Re: is my cheap scope screwing me?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jimbob_walker</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i baught a M700 SS 308 and spent all of my allowance on it...</div></div>

Allowance? That thing must be fur lined!
 
Re: is my cheap scope screwing me?

Most of my income goes to support my family....whatever else I can scrape together on the side goes to support my, and my kid's, shooting/hunting habit.

I don't have expensive stupid hobbies like bass fishing or golf. I don't drink (much) or smoke, and buy Redman fine cut instead of Cope. I drive an old beat up GMC that's cheap/easy to fix. I use gasoline to get me back and forth to work and that's about it. We heat with only wood which is free to us beyond a little saw gas and sweat, and we kill/grow a lot of shit to eat.

A man needs to have priorities....and a wife who "gives" me an "allowance" for sure ain't one of 'em. Fuck that, and in spades.

As for scopes, haven't yet found a need to go beyond Leupold........
 
Re: is my cheap scope screwing me?

JBW,

Tell the wife the rule of thumb is to spend at least as much on the scope as you do the rifle. It's true, and failure to do so only goes to prove the buy once, cry once saying.

HTH,
DocB
 
Re: is my cheap scope screwing me?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tripwire</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Most of my income goes to support my family....whatever else I can scrape together on the side goes to support my, and my kid's, shooting/hunting habit.

I don't have expensive stupid hobbies like bass fishing or golf. I don't drink (much) or smoke, and buy Redman fine cut instead of Cope. I drive an old beat up GMC that's cheap/easy to fix. I use gasoline to get me back and forth to work and that's about it. We heat with only wood which is free to us beyond a little saw gas and sweat, and we kill/grow a lot of shit to eat.

A man needs to have priorities....and a wife who "gives" me an "allowance" for sure ain't one of 'em. Fuck that, and in spades.

As for scopes, haven't yet found a need to go beyond Leupold........ </div></div>



+1!!!!.....YET on the Luepold though...hehe
 
Re: is my cheap scope screwing me?

Go to walmart, buy one of the scopes there. If it doesnt hold up, return it and get another. Do this over and over until you get one that holds zero, shouldnt take more than 2-3 tries. Most the time bad cheap scopes aren't considered bad scopes because they are inherently bad. They just have horrible quality control.

On 'quality' scopes, usually one out of lets say 10-20 scopes might not hold zero or be a bad apple. On cheap scopes Its probably like 1 out of 3 are actually good. So if you get three, chances are you will get one that's more than good enough for regular shooting purposes. Thats why you hear stories of people hating cheap scopes and them not holding zero, but then you also sometimes hear how someone has a 20 dollar scope for 20 years and its still good.

Don't feel bad for using walmarts return policy. Thats what its there for. The optic is being sold under the pretense that it is functional. If it doesn't hold zero, it is not functional and you are returning it. So get one for 30 and exchange it until you get one thats solid. Then you can save up money until you can afford a quality one.
 
Re: is my cheap scope screwing me?

+1 for Top Cat
Get a solid fixed power x10. Look on the hide's optics sale have seen some good optics for very reasonable prices. A good quality (used) scope is better than a (new) cheap scope. Hope this helps and good luck with the wife. I believe what they don't know won't hurt them as far as buying guns and stuff mine does not know the difference and that is how I will keep it.
 
Re: is my cheap scope screwing me?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Redmanss</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Get a job to pay for your scope, as obviously an allowance only comes from income that is not your own. </div></div>

al·low·ance (-louns)
n.
1. The act of allowing.
2. An amount that is allowed or granted: consumed my weekly allowance of two eggs.
3. Something, such as money, given at regular intervals or for a specific purpose: a travel allowance that covers hotel bills.

i do have a job. a very good job actually. i am a union boilermaker and bring in well over 100k a year. my wife handles the bank account and if its not a necessity she doesnt pay for it.

i didnt think i had asked in the original post any questions about what allowance means. i thought i asked about a scope. i hope your job doesnt require reading.
 
Re: is my cheap scope screwing me?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jimbob_walker</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Redmanss</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Get a job to pay for your scope, as obviously an allowance only comes from income that is not your own. </div></div>

al·low·ance (-louns)
n.
1. The act of allowing.
2. An amount that is allowed or granted: consumed my weekly allowance of two eggs.
3. Something, such as money, given at regular intervals or for a specific purpose: a travel allowance that covers hotel bills.

i do have a job. a very good job actually. i am a union boilermaker and bring in well over 100k a year. my wife handles the bank account and if its not a necessity she doesnt pay for it.

i didnt think i had asked in the original post any questions about what allowance means. i thought i asked about a scope. i hope your job doesnt require reading.</div></div> Yep, you came onto a precision shooting website and asked about one of the most POS scopes on the market, and got your answer in 22 minutes that your allowance purchase of your scope was a big mistake. If you wanted to go low cost you should have gone with a used SWFA SS instead, a scope that has been recommended time and time again for its quality and value. It seems that the one with reading and research problems is you, not me.

It's also a good thing my job requires more balls than anything so my wife knows who the bread-winning man of the house is, and I don't have to justify my decisions on purchases with my own money I earned. I dropped $4k on two scopes last week, didn't hide the purchases or anything stupid like that, and my wife is excited for me to get home to enjoy them. She's also the one who manages the finances as I'm a bit indisposed eleven months out of the year, but I still have my say on what goes where and what is considered a "necessity" in my hobbies and life.

By the way, the keys on the left and right of your keyboard with the word "Shift" on them are useful. Welcome to the internet and thicken that skin up a bit.
 
Re: is my cheap scope screwing me?

Search around the optics for sale and you'll land a Bushnell 3200 10x for around $170. Retail they're around $190-$200+.

Things not to buy into too much IMO:

#1 - you need 1000x magnification. Dude in WW2 both sides were using 4x magnification. People start with 10x at 100 yards get spoiled and then think they need 22x for 300 yards. Haha. How about starting with iron sights? Then you'll appreciate even 3x.

#2 - you don't need Nightforce or [insert $1000+] scope to shoot well. A <$200 Bushnell will be just fine.
 
Re: is my cheap scope screwing me?

I have a Bushnell 3200 10x40 mil-dot on my R700 and i bought it for 180 and i hit 1000yds all day. Yes it may not be the most clear glass at 1000 but i know what i am shooting at and i can hit it!
 
Re: is my cheap scope screwing me?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jimbob_walker</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i know a good scope is as needed as a good gun but my wife doesnt see things the way </div></div>

A good scope, or decent scope is a MUST.
A good gun, or decent gun is a MUST.
Getting your wife out shooting so she will understand what it is all about... IS A MUST!!

DK
 
Re: is my cheap scope screwing me?

What she don't know wont hurt her. Save up and buy a good one just don't tell her. She will never know the difference. They all look the same right. I buy new rifles and scopes all the time and dont tell mine. They all look the same to her...

Problem is when the brown truck pulls up an I am not there to intercept. Then I have to buy her something...
 
Re: is my cheap scope screwing me?

I've lost whatever sympathy I may have had for this situation.

100K a year with solid job security, this guy just needs to grow a set of fucking balls and buy himself a damn scope..........
 
Re: is my cheap scope screwing me?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jimbob_walker</div><div class="ubbcode-body">what is a good scope on the cheaper side to get me by for now? </div></div>

as stated above a SWFA SS 10x42 is a reliable scope for cheap but you said the 3-9 wasnt enough power for you so maybe this scopes not the best choice for you either.
 
Re: is my cheap scope screwing me?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tripwire</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've lost whatever sympathy I may have had for this situation.

100K a year with solid job security, this guy just needs to grow a set of fucking balls and buy himself a damn scope.......... </div></div>

i have a set. i guess maybe i should have just asked the simple question of if the scope was a piece of shit and left it at that. seems that not everybody can understand a simple question when other things are added to it. next question will be small simple sentances.
in this day, i think that it is alittle smarter to have a fat savings when everyone is loosing their jobs and everything else. so, when you are trying to sell everything that you have for a quarter of what its worth to try to make just one more house payment i will still be feeding my kids and be happy to buy your stuff off of you. and by the way, she uped my ALLOWANCE and is giving me $1000 to buy a scope.
 
Re: is my cheap scope screwing me?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: i_rep</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Then get on the phone and participate in the group buy on the new SS 5-20. Problem solved. </div></div>

what is the price and how do i do it?
 
Re: is my cheap scope screwing me?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jimbob_walker</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tripwire</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've lost whatever sympathy I may have had for this situation.

100K a year with solid job security, this guy just needs to grow a set of fucking balls and buy himself a damn scope.......... </div></div>

i have a set. i guess maybe i should have just asked the simple question of if the scope was a piece of shit and left it at that. seems that not everybody can understand a simple question when other things are added to it. next question will be small simple sentances.
in this day, i think that it is alittle smarter to have a fat savings when everyone is loosing their jobs and everything else. so, when you are trying to sell everything that you have for a quarter of what its worth to try to make just one more house payment i will still be feeding my kids and be happy to buy your stuff off of you. and by the way, she uped my ALLOWANCE and is giving me $1000 to buy a scope. </div></div>

Not trying to agravate you dude, just readin' the sign and calling it as I see it....which is clear as day, from my point of view.

You get what you pay for, and on SO many levels.....

Glad you got your "allowance raised", laffin'.

BTW, hope all that fat money is still worth something when you come to need need it....I wouldn't trade what I "have" for all the money in the world.

Enjoy your new toy........
 
Re: is my cheap scope screwing me?

If you are looking for an affordable scope I cant say enough about the Redfield scopes. Made in Oregon, very good glass, built tough, the best value for the dollar I have seen to date for the price of optics made in china.

Take a look at them.
 
Re: is my cheap scope screwing me?

yeah deffinatly grab that SS 5-20 if youve got the money. as far as allowances go... if my wife told me i couldnt buy something within reason and we had the money and i was only spending my half of the fun money id just do it anyways and wouldnt feel guilty at all.
 
Re: is my cheap scope screwing me?

check out the SS 5-20 on Lowlight's youtube page. He also gives that brand a great nod somewhere in the groupbuy thread in the riflescope section.
I just bought one for my Dad, who is also in the market for a better scope. He is very excited and hopes it will ship soon.

Good luck with the new purchase!
 
Re: is my cheap scope screwing me?

I think that family finances will vary with the family, and may not be the best topic for an Internet free-for-all.

I think the question is less about whether your <span style="font-style: italic">cheap</span> scope is holding you back, and rather more about whether your <span style="font-style: italic">current</span> scope, cheap or otherwise, is holding you back.

My finances require I make my scope choices from a selection ranging from cheap scopes to cheaper scopes.

As was stated above, cheaper means less consistent quality control.

I find that when the QC works, so does the scope; and that many 'cheaper' scopes tend to be A) good bargains, and B) capable of providing better performance than their picky owners.

I am <span style="font-style: italic">not</span> saying that expensive scopes are not worth the money. I <span style="font-style: italic">am</span> saying that for many folks; the cheaper scopes are plenty good enough.

Beyond that, you're gonna eventually need to make your own decisions.

Greg
 
Re: is my cheap scope screwing me?

Back in my younger days I went the cheap route on scopes too. Learned my lessons the hard way and have a drawer full of Simmons and Tasco scopes to show for it. Cheap sucks!

Today, quality glass is the only thing that will go on my rifles. Yep, they cost more but are well worth it in the long run. Not to say that the expensive scopes don’t have problems every now and again but those problems are few.

There is a saying that goes something about how the Europeans will mount a $1,000 scope on a $100 rifle whereas Americans will mount a $100 scope on a $1,000 rifle. This seems to be very true. Why someone would mount junk on a nice rifle and expect it to perform is a mystery. It almost never works out.

My personal rule-of-thumb is that the scope should cost as much or more than the rifle itself. This will get you close to what you need. Doesn’t always run true but it’s a place to start.

BTW, what’s up with union boilermakers? My BIL is one too and his wife is the same way as the OP’s. Does the union make you relinquish your man card to your wife before you can work?
 
Re: is my cheap scope screwing me?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dbsinh20</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jimbob_walker</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i baught a M700 SS 308 and spent all of my allowance on it...</div></div>

Allowance? That thing must be fur lined!


</div></div>

+1, LMAO, just save up your allowance, LMAO, and get something descent
 
Re: is my cheap scope screwing me?

You come on here asking to buy another cheap scope, you make 100k, and your wife "gives" you an allowance. When someone gives you crap, you get defensive, and say it is better to have savings. I agree on the savings, but with that income, you shoudn't have to have an "allowance" from your wife. You should have a budget with which you both agree, and it should include a sufficient amount to purchase something of decent quality. Both the rifle and the scope should have been purchased at the same time. The glass does not have to be a $1000 "tactical" in order to work well, but you will have to spend at least a couple hundred. With your limited experience, I would stay around the $2-300 mark, just for the reason you don't know what you don't know yet. No sense in dropping 1k for something you won't like. My own personal bias is for the Nikon Buckmaster 4.5-14, with the mil-dot reticle. It is very good optically, and has worked well for me for about three years now. Last sat., I shot in a long range match and spent the day cranking it up and down without a problem with returning to zero. I have two of them, and paid about $200 used for each. It is what I could afford, and now I am more familiar with my shooting needs. Hopefully, I will be able to afford a "better" scope in the near future, but if a cannot, I will be very satisfied with these. One of the above posts mentioned the fixed 10x Bushnell or the Super Sniper. Both of these will serve you well also.
Get something decent and shoot the crap out of it. When you are not shooting, read everything on here that is even remotely pertaining to your situation. You won't need to post much, most of your questions have already been asked, and answered. That way, you won't get more crap from these guys about the search function
smile.gif

Let us know how you are doing.
 
Re: is my cheap scope screwing me?

Holy hell, he's asking about scopes not a damn life lesson lay off the guy, there's a LOT to be said for someone who doesn't spend everything they have. The ignorance on this site sometimes...
 
Re: is my cheap scope screwing me?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tyler Kemp</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Holy hell, he's asking about scopes not a damn life lesson lay off the guy</div></div>

I agree. This guy wants some simple answers, not to be told he is living life wrong. All he wants is scope info.
 
Re: is my cheap scope screwing me?

jimbob-
you made a typical rookie mistake in a forum heavily populated with real and self imagined alpha males.

You should have done as I did. I came in announcing I am a grown ass man and if some skank EVER tried to tell me how I can spend my money she couldnt sit for a week, and I dont mean because I spanked her!

I get my dinner within 15 minutes of getting home and she is under the table polishing my MIGHTY SWORD!

If I decide to buy yet another big boy toy rather than drop serious coin into the kids' college funds or double pay the mortgage so we dont pay double in interest over the principle that woman had better just shut up and keep polishing my sword!

After I said all that I asked if BSA makes a FFP genII 4x16 with illuminated reticle.

The answers were polite and informative.

You have to puff up and prance around like the new gorilla in on the mountain. We have no way of knowing how your homelife actually works, hell I imagine most do infact have 'allowances' so the bills get paid, unexpected expenses like car repairs get taken care of...

But on the interwebz I can bitchslap that ho and do as I please when I please.

Welcome to the Hide.
 
Re: is my cheap scope screwing me?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: notquiteright</div><div class="ubbcode-body">jimbob-
you made a typical rookie mistake in a forum heavily populated with real and self imagined alpha males.

You should have done as I did. I came in announcing I am a grown ass man and if some skank EVER tried to tell me how I can spend my money she couldnt sit for a week, and I dont mean because I spanked her!

I get my dinner within 15 minutes of getting home and she is under the table polishing my MIGHTY SWORD!

If I decide to buy yet another big boy toy rather than drop serious coin into the kids' college funds or double pay the mortgage so we dont pay double in interest over the principle that woman had better just shut up and keep polishing my sword!

After I said all that I asked if BSA makes a FFP genII 4x16 with illuminated reticle.

The answers were polite and informative.

You have to puff up and prance around like the new gorilla in on the mountain. We have no way of knowing how your homelife actually works, hell I imagine most do infact have 'allowances' so the bills get paid, unexpected expenses like car repairs get taken care of...

But on the interwebz I can bitchslap that ho and do as I please when I please.

Welcome to the Hide. </div></div>

HAHA!! Funny stuff.