Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Cheap scopes that have lasted

I have a Bushnell Sportview 4x32,and a Japanese made Simmons model # 1010,3x-9x32.These are my cheapest scopes,and they were on rifles I bought.The Bushnell was on a Ruger 77/22 I bought used in 1984,I have no idea when it was made.I've swapped it back and forth from .22s,to bigger guns like .30-06s and the like.The Bushnell is still very bright and clear,and has always held zero.Pretty much the same with the Simmons.It also came on a used gun I bought,is still very clear and bright and has been on some stout kicking guns without a change in zero.They both have been very good scopes and have held up well and have never fogged up in any kind of weather.I've had other lower priced Simmons and Bushnells that I just gave away to get rid of them,because if they were bumped a little you never knew where the bullet was going,or the recoil would shift impact on every shot.

One I haven't seen listed (maybe because I just got lucky with this particular scope) is the old Denver Redfield 4x. I bought it used years ago and had it on a 30-06 where it absorbed 200 grain loads for years until I had it re-barreled to 35 Whelen and it is still working great with the 250 grain loads. I'm a one rifle guy, so it gets shot quite a bit.

Paul

I got a Redfield 2x7 on a .270 in a Pachmeyr swing side mount thats been on it for 40 years that I know of.Still just as solid,and clear as ever.I also have a Redfield Partner in 3x9,it's in need of an 'o'ring but it's still a great little scope.

The newer ones are junk.

Tom

my vote goes to the "older" Simmons Pro 50 and Pro 50 Plus scopes.

Ive had 3, buying another, and Ive never had a single problem on shotguns, muzzleloaders and various rifles.

Retail was 189 or so, I forget but then they went to 118 on wholesalers when mfg stopped. You can buy one now for 50 bucks or less and Id put it on anything that goes BANG with confidence.

Ive made LONG shots that I hestitate to mention here with them.

Still like the original weavers and redfields but for "cheap" oh yeah......a Simmons Pro 50.

They made the 2.5-10x50
the 4-12x50 and the 6-18x50. I never had the big boy but had two of the 2.5-10s on deer guns and dang do they suck in the light for the money. The 4-12x50 was on a varminter and about to buy another one.

The Plus models (maybe some of the others?) had a type of BDC that was very easy to use once you figured it out.

God Bless to all!