Not sure what the story with the different scope brands. Being pressed for time I didn't even think to look at the brand on my friends rifle. I've got an orange no hunting/no trespassing sign attached to my 100yd target. I get shooters to focus their scope until they can get that sign as focused as they can to suit them. At 9X she had no problem reading it. As far as the rings go I had to search hard to find an allen wrench to fit. Metric I figure. As far as ring quality the ones on the rifle were equal to the Leupold Rifleman series.
On the rifle I've got coming I'm not concerned with the scope as I've got an FXII 4x for it. Also hoping the rings are the same as the ones on the above rifle.
No hands-on experience, but I've seen enough in various printed and video reviews to know I don't want one. There's plastic in places I don't want it, and as one reviewer noticed (this is really nitpicking) the right side of the action is very lightly constucted; easy to damage while disassembled. Neither is a huge deal, but just enough to turn off an old man with old notions and a bunch of rifles already.
Howas remain my choice in bargain rifles, with Henry single shots also in consideration.
This is worth watching for those looking at budget rifles:
