Author Topic: inexpensive scope for 22-250 (Read 925 times)

bigbuck270 · « **on:** January 05, 2004, 06:39:45 AM »

I just bought a 22-250 15". I plan to do some varmint hunting with it. Right know I have very little extra money but I need a scope. Is there any inexpensive scopes out there? I have been looking at a New Century but I am hasitant because I know very little about it. Any advice?

KYODE · « **Reply #1 on:** January 05, 2004, 06:56:54 AM »

i have a simmons 2x6 on my 14" 44mag($119). i like it ok, and thats about as cheap as i'd go on a handgun scope that has any recoil at all. looking thru it, i'd compare it to a bushnell trophy(around $150).
i have a 2.5x ncstar(new century) on my 22/45 ruger auto, and it works well for such a cheap price.
that 22-250 is a nice gun, and if there's any way you could pull it off, it would be well served witha 3x12 burris. there are a couple of those used in the classifieds right now. good friend of mine, as a matter of fact. :wink: :cb1: :oh:

Lone Star · « **Reply #2 on:** January 05, 2004, 08:10:17 AM »

You can probably do better on eBay. There are lots of good scopes sold there every day, and you may be able to get a better-quality scope for about what you'd pay for a new cheap one. I've bought three handgun scopes there in the past year, two Leupolds and a Burris for between $140 and $175. I did have to wait for auctions which didn't go too high, but all three scopes are as-new and perfect. Even if they were not, both companies have lifetime warrantys. :-D

bigbuck270 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 05, 2004, 08:16:54 AM »

Have you heard of New Century? I can buy a 2-6X32 for 50 bucks. Is this a piece of junk or is it ok?

444encore · « **Reply #4 on:** January 05, 2004, 04:44:37 PM »

Bigbuck, I most definately have to say it's junk. I wouldn't pay $50 for a rifle scope for a .22 lr and expect it to last.

helobill · « **Reply #5 on:** January 05, 2004, 05:36:08 PM »

I've heard bad and okay on the NC Stars based on folks on these boards. Haven't looked through one, but I'd have to say it'd be a crap shoot. Optics are almost guaranteed to not be as bright as a better quality scope, and they probably won't take abuse very well. But for under $50 you might want to try it and see, as long as you realize you might be throwing that money away in a week or two. Personally I'd save my pennies and buy a quality scope like the Bushnell 3200 elite
If you really want to stay on the low side of a hundred dollar bill, ask Jon from the Optic Zone over on the Optic discussion board. He's always been real helpful in answering my questions even when he knew he didn't have the best price on a product.
SWFA has Simmons 2 and 4 power scopes for under $90. I'd go there before I'd go for the NC.
my 2 Cents,
Bill

buckenbass · « **Reply #6 on:** January 05, 2004, 07:17:06 PM »

I have 4 ncstar scopes there on a 17hmr 22lr 22-250 and a 454 ..
I put it on the 454 just to see if it would hold up and it did but the rings that it came with did not had to buy steel rings for 454 only others held up fine...

BUT there is no way they compare with the big money scopes on the lines of eye releif, clarity if you try to compare ncstar will be on the junk end of the scale...

I like ncstar for the barrels i dont use often ..but I would not count on it on a paid hunt...

bigbuck270 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 06, 2004, 03:02:06 AM »

Would a simmons fixed 4x be better and is 4x enough to shoot varmint?

KYODE · « **Reply #8 on:** January 06, 2004, 03:15:03 AM »

truthfully, a 4x scope would not do a 22-250 justice. more magnification would help that 22-250 reach it's potential.
with that said, a good quality 4x scope is a good compromise. you can get by with it just fine, and may only be hindered at extreme ranges.
no matter what anyone tells you(me included), get what you feel you can afford, and satisfy your own uses. buy the best optics you can afford at the time, and sometimes for us poor people, it's not leupold or burris. :wink: although they are both worth saving up for. :agree:

helobill · « **Reply #9 on:** January 06, 2004, 03:30:29 AM »

Bigbuck,
shop the sales too. most of the online stores close out stuff all the time and offer great prices. For example, Midsouth's got a Tasco 6-24 on sale for under $75, now the Tasco is a risk too, but not as large a risk as the NC I don't think. (I've got a Tasco on my shotgun slug barrel and it's held up pretty well so far)

Also check the classified section here, guys are selling scopes all the time. I've bought a couple off here with great results.

Bill

444encore · « **Reply #10 on:** January 06, 2004, 07:30:35 AM »

Bigbuck,
Simmons has some halfway decent scopes for the price. Whatever scope you end up buying, try your best to stay away from scopes with a 2 piece tube. Also what kind of mount/ring combo are you thinking of?

jamie · « **Reply #11 on:** January 06, 2004, 08:25:21 AM »

New Century scopes do have clear optics (relative to price) but I purchased 2 at the same time and both did not last, one a 223 and one on a -06. Check out my post in the Handgun Hunting forum. Wait until you can get a better one, nothing like having your scope blow apart on you.

Duffy · « **Reply #12 on:** January 06, 2004, 06:49:17 PM »

Go to EAB and check out the line of Swift scopes. I have a couple and they are very nice. I would almost rank them right up there with a Leupold as far as clarity and repeatability.

Ryan

bigbuck270 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 07, 2004, 03:08:15 AM »

Thanks for the help. I called NC and everyone there barely speaks english. I managed to find out that the scope they are advertising as a handgun scope with 2-6 var. only has a 4" relief. At least that is what I gathered from the guy.

Where can I find EAB?

helobill · « **Reply #14 on:** January 07, 2004, 05:05:12 AM »

www.eabco.com E. Arthur Brown comapny.