Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Redfield 5 Star ?

Has anyone used one?How does it compare to others of that era.The Five Star seem to fetch more money than the standard Redfields,must be the "High end Redfield line".What say you.
I'm looking for a period correct(yea another one of those guys)for a Forester.I presently have a Zeiss Conquest 4X on it.Boy it will be hard to beat that,I don't expect the Redfield to do it.But I just seem to think the Sako should have a gloss scope.

the five star was a good scope. i'd be a little concerned with the lack of support though.

My son has one on his 7x57. It is a decent scope and has stood up to typical use. It is, to my eye, as clear if not more so than the VariX-IIs I have but the eye relief is not as good.

Thanks guys.
I asked the seller about the eye relief,he said"almost as good"as a VXIII.Leaves a lot to imagine.I may give it a whirl,if the price is right.I wouldn't think a 243 Win. would drive it into my nose.

I believe the 5 stat was the lower end line of the Redfield scopes. The 5 stars were produced offshore instead of in Denver as the originals were.

no. the 5 star one of the high end Redfields.

they also made a cheaper 4 star IIRC.

The 5 Stars were Redfield's mid price range scopes. The Ultimate Illuminator were their top line of scopes. I've had a 3X9 5 Star since the mid 80's. They're decent , haven't had any issues. They are long though, probably a couple inches longer than most 3X9 scopes on the market today.

I think when they moved production offshore, The bottom was the Tracker, then came the 5 Star and the top was the Ultimate Illuminator.

The bottom was the partner. I have a 5 star 4-12 and an illuminator 3x9. I like them. I don't think they are as good as some of the newer scopes such as the Leupold VX-2. But still they are very decent scopes. If anyone wants a partner 3x9, I'd send it to them for $50 plus shipping.

I've got one on my 30/06. Plan on using it next weekend on a Colorado bull elk. Good scope. I took off a VarX-III 2.5x8 on put this straight 4x on the Remington. I can't tell much of a difference with either. Plenty of eye relief & brite.

'87 win 70 in 300wby with Redfield five star 4x12x40 short eye relief but never scoped myself.

Unless you are wedded to the 5 Star I'd also consider a Bushnell ScopeChief. I have one of each of these scopes from the 80s, both in excellent order, and I rate the optics on the ScopeChief VI I have as a bit better than the Redfield. The Bushnell seems a bit easier to get behind too. Of course that is only one example of each and YMMV

There are some nice European scopes of the same era in gloss finish too.

Yeah, I agree with Dan. I've owned the 5-Star and there is as good or better out there for the price.

Got one of those 2.5-8 Scopechief VIs sitting around here, too. Need to use it or sell it. It seems very good. I used to love Denver Redfields. No telling how many critters I killed between a 1 3/4-5x and a 2-7x Widefields. I didn't have the 3-9x 5-star as long, but it seemed as good or better than my Widefields.

Good scope back in the day but that day has long past.

Ive had quite a few 5 star, one partner and one illuminator. My cousin bought most of them from me, except the partner and one 5 star 2x7. The partner was sold at a gun show. Back in the day they were one of my favorites.

I'm fond of Leupolds now partly because of excellent warranty.

The 5 star and the illuminator wasn't as good as newer scopes for light gathering.

I still think they're decent scopes.

I have a couple of 2-7's, one on a 35 Whelen and another on a 7 MM Wby. They have been very reliable. The one on the 7 MM Wby touched, but didn't cut, my eyebrow once when I was in an awkward position.

I have many Illuminator and 5 star 4x12's. Last year I kept a 220 Swift in the stand for grandkids to use. It had a 4x12 Redfield. My 300 Win mag has a Leupold 4.5 x 14 50mm. I was playing around with them as it got close to dark. In my opinion you could see just as well with old Redfield as the Leupold. Young eyed grandaughter thought so too.