Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics lower dollar scopes

I have a friend that has a small gunshop and sells all gun related equipment. He has customers that can't afford higher dollar scopes. He has been selling Tasco 3x9 ,but the failure rate is high and he is looking for something better but still under 100.00$. What is out there that would fill this need?

The only scopes in that range that I could recommend are the Bushnell Banners and Trophys and the Pentax Gameseeker. I am talking about 3-9x40s on all counts. I like the Nikon Prostaffs in the $150 neighborhood.

Back when my kids were small and consumed all my money, I got by pretty well with Tasco World Class and Bushnell Banners for a few years. They held up OK, but they were not too bright (not fully coated).

Leon

IMHO, cheap scopes are exactly that, you get what you pay for but you can go extreme in either direction...That is why I only use Leupold and have for over 50 years. Nikon and Burris are also excellent scope buys IMO...

I had a Bushnell Banner on a predator rifle rig that I was quite satisfied with. It wasn't up to the quality of my Zeiss, but I wasn't ashamed to use it either. For the money, I was very satisfied with it.

I understand completely about quality and cost, but the fact is; some folks just don't have much money to spend. Hence the reason for the post.

In lower priced scopes both Pentax and Vortex offer a reasonable product

I have a 100/200 yd range with benchrest in my back yard and host all the locals each hunting season to sight in rifles, check zero's, etc. I see everything from nice old M-70's with 4X steel Weavers, to the cheapest rifle and $29 scope, to Wby mags with $1500 glass.

I've noticed that the cheap scopes tend to be hard to zero, tend to not hold zero through the season and the owners of those cheapies spend a LOT of money on factory ammo rezeroing their rifles.

Personally I use nothing but Leupold as they zero and stay zeroed. It seems you can find used Leupolds, older steel Weavers,etc at gun shows and gun stores. Why relegate yourself to JUNK??

FN in MT

The Bushnell Banner is a good alternative for him - they are reasonably priced, I have owned a few and never had a problem with them. As someone previously mentioned they are not as bright as some other scopes but then they generally don't cost as much either.

luke,

What do these scopes sell for?

I agree with the suggestion for the various Bushnell Banners.

There are economy scopes and there are cheap scopes. They aren't the same thing.

My favorite low priced scopes are the current Weavers. They are light, bright, and have decent eye relief.

The best scope I ever ought for under 100 dollars was a simmons I wanted a cheap scope for my muzzle loader so i bought a 3x9-50 simmons for about 50 bucks its been great for the money i just dont invest in muzzle loader much I have not moved the crosshairs in 5 years and its bright and clear

Millett buck gold have a really good reputation and lifetime warranty.

3-9 can be had right around $100.

I have heard this request, worked with Pentax and I have worked out a SUPER SPECIAL with a few very good quality scopes.
(Pentax promo information)
Pentax Pioneer rifle scopes give hunters superior quality at an affordable price. Offered in the most popular magnification ranges, the Pioneer scopes offer durable one piece tube construction, fully multi-coated optics, and are fully sealed to make them water proof even in the most extreme weather conditions. All this is offered at the price that make the Pioneer scopes available to anyone.

Pentax Pioneer 1" Riflescopes:
#89613 3-9x40mm Matte (P) $129.99
#89614 3-9x40mm Matte (BP) $129.99
#89620 4.5-14x42mm Matte (P) $159.99
#89621 4.5-14x42mm Matte (BP) $159.99

Kudos to Cameraland for having reasonably priced stuff. Its easy for people for whom price is no object to always suggest the very best but in reality most of us can't afford the very best.

The Weaver V9 is a good scope but now sells for a little over $100. I've tried a new Simmons "Master series" Prohunter and have found it to be a very serviceable scope for under$100 from Natchez Shooters supply. I do not know the wholesale price on these. They have received good reviews for toughness. IIRC one pundit tried one on a single shot slug gun that he said had destroyed more than one scope and it survived more than 20 rounds.

I've had a Simmons master series prohunter on a .243 as well as a .308, and it's still kicking after probably around 200 rounds so far. It's the 3-10x44 version. The tracking is excellent. The clarity and brightness at dusk, not so much. Either way, for the price, it's a pretty decent scope. For a few bucks more, though, the Burris FFII is a FAR better scope. I also like the Vortex diamondback a LOT more than the Simmons. All of these scopes are in the same price range.

Pentax Pioneer = Burris Fullfield II.


My buddy had a Bushnell Trophy 6-18 on his 22-250, and I think it is a very nice scope for the money. It was even clear on high power.

The wholesale price for Nikon ProStaffs is under $125, but the current "best buy" for a scope under $100 retail are the 3.5-10x40 Simmons Whitetail Classics that Nachez has in their clearance catalog.

Jeff

YEP!

Anything below the Leupold price range and I buy Weavers. I have a fair number of them and while the glass quality is not as nice as Leupold, they are totally repeatable. In fact I have used Weavers on LR guns and found their turrets to be outstanding in their adjustments.

For a guy on a budget, I would strongly recommend Weaver. Their T series are still seen in the benchrest community.