Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics New 3-9x50 Review Thread for Pentax Gameseeker

I thought I would start a fresh thread to see who would like to get involved in doing some test & review posts with a Pentax Gameseeker 3-9x50 scope. The other thread seems to have taken on a life of it's own <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

We have sent one of these scopes out to Cheaha and have a couple of people lined up to send it to after he tests it out. If you would like to get involved in this test & review process all we ask is that you test out the scope, give it a good evaluation and then post your review/thoughts here on this thread. After you are done checking out the scope PM me and I will PM you back with the name and address of the next person in line to review it for you to ship it to. So, if you would like to participate please PM your name, address and phone # to me so I can get you in the rotation.

I am working with different mfg. to get other scopes, binoculars and the like so we can make this an on going feature, assuming you all want to be involved in this type of thing. Please let me know your thoughts.... on this subject <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

As the first tester of this scope, Cheaha, has decided to purchase and keep it we are sending one out to himmelrr to do a test and review with.

Ron, I look forward to your thoughts.

OK, Who else wants to participate? Please PM me and I will get you in the rotation.

This is the second Pentax Gameseeker (first was a 6x42) scope I've tested and I liked this one so much I bought it. 'Course, it went straight on a 700 that I'm giving my son-in-law. This is where these Gameseekers shine, Loaner guns, gifts, starter rifles,etc...

It doesn't hurt that the resolution and clarity is on a par w/ much more expensive scopes... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Doug is a class act. I heartily recommend him and the Pentax Gameseekers...

Doug pm incoming your way and a Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Mark D

Can't wait for my turn. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I wouldn't send you a rock to test.......

This will be a real test if it survives me, LOL.

Chalk up another Leupold product that bit the dust under my command. They just sent me a new Wind River spotter since the last one couldn't hang. Going to sell it and get a Leica or Zeiss.

HA!........When I was a boy my dad always said I could tear up a steelball <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Terry

My DAD told me that I could tear up an anvil in a sandbox with a rubber hammer.

First of all let me apologize for the lengthy delay in getting this thing out to the range to have it tested. Work kept getting in the way.

First Pentax for me and I was initially impressed. I got it out one evening and sat on the back porch with a few other scopes and perused the shadows of a fencerow about 200yds distant. I could've made a shot well after "legal" shooting light with the Pentax. The other comparable scopes I had out were a Leupy VX-II 2-7x33, and a Bushnell 3200 4-12x40 (Fast Focus model with Ballistic Plex). The Pentax had better clarity than the 3200, was brighter and had a larger eyebox. It is far better than the 3200 hands down. To my eye the Pentax was also brighter then the Leupy but the objects seemed to have better definition in the Leupy. For example, tree bark had defined edges as opposed to slightly fuzzy edges. Not bad considering the cost difference.

Next step was mounting it on a rifle. I have a brand new REM 700 in 223 that was waiting for me to break it in. I used Leupold STD 2-piece mounts and medium rings. The scope had two very minor issues: (1) The supplied scope covers would not fit on the 50mm objective as the scope was too close to the barrel and (2) The "knob" that sticks out to aid in moving the magnification dial has a less than 1/16" clearance between it and the bolt handle when the bolt handle is raised and the magnification is on 3x. Had this been my scope I would have left it right there and not changed a thing. I like scopes mounted as low as mechanically possible.

Off to the range. The scope pulled away from the Bushnell even more. I began with the Pentax and fired off 75 rounds while working up handloads and trying some factory 223 offerings. It was easy to see the .224 holes in the target on 9x and "shooting the square" was consistent each time. I replaced it with the 3200 and even at 12X had to go to my spotting scope to see where the bullets hit if they were not in the white area of the target. This from a scope that lists at $379.99. The 3200 had repeatable click adjustments too.

I then switched it over to a REM 600 in 338 FED. The 50mm objective looked out of place but I wanted to see if there were any problems with a higher recoiling rifle. To cut to the chase, there were none. It worked like a champ.

In the end, the Pentax was much better than I expected from a scope in this price range. It's optical quality was outstanding. I'll let one of the northern bretheren tests it's durability. Had this been a 3-9x40 or a 4-12x40, it would be permantly attached to the 223.

Doug, THANKS for the chance and excuse to get out to shoot for a day. Who do I send it to next...

RH

Ron,
Thank you so much for taking the time to get involved and do the test/review. It is great when members get to read opinions of other members instead of canned reviews in magazines.
I have sent you the ship to information for Lucznik and look forward to his thoughts.
Thanks again for getting involved.

If anyone else wants to participate in these test/reviews please PM me to get in the rotation.

I'm not at all surprised by the review.. I recently traded-in a couple Leupolds to SWFA and got some more Pentax Gameseeker Scopes. Seeing is believing...

Are the Pentax Gameseekers the same scope as the Burris Fullfield II?

No.

The Pioneers are

Who owns Pentax? I was reading at another site and some thought Burris had bought out Pentax, others weren't sure. Some said Burris had been bought out by some other company (I can't remember what it was just off hand.) So who owns who exactly?

Pentax is Pentax and Burris is Burris and the two have no joint ownership what so ever. Burris does make some of the Pentax Riflescopes (Pioneer, Lightseeker & Whitetails Unlimited) with Pentax optics. Hoya is actually the parent company of Pentax.

Thanks Doug. Oh and btw, thank you for the absolutely lightening speed service with my last scope purchase. I can't believe how fast you guys get things out the door and delivered. I will be putting this new scope through the ringer in a couple months when the gophers, prairie dogs, and rock chucks start poking their heads out again.