OFF BRAND SCOPE COURAGE

[MOGLEY]

I have read a lot of posts with all the brand names and opinions on them, tasco bushnell,simmons,leupold etc.  I have gone the way of cheap and have ordered thru e-bay some Brands that I have not heard of. They are inexpensive with features like 3-9x40 with lighted reticle. Mildot reticle, rubbercoated etc. I shoot these on light recoil guns. Specifically  a 222, 17hmr, 17hm2, and a 22. The brand names are NC STAR and ..... Mastercraft!! When I say inexpensive I am talking 29.99 to 59.99.  So far they have been great. The only scope to have lost it's zero is the bushnell! Thats when I went with these others. Kinda my' walk on the wild side'.  Has anyone else tried off brand scopes and have luck? Also Has anyone else have these scope I described? whats been your experience??

[Redhawk1]

I just can't see myself on a hunt of a life time and have a cheap scope. It just don't make since to me. In my opinion you get what you pay for.

$7000 Guide and hunt fee, $1000 Air fair $2000 gun $29.99 scope. What am I missing. 

[30-30man]

Well most of us can't afford the $7000 guide service or the $1000 in airfare. I don't own a credit card and have to pay for it when I have it.  So most of the hunting luxuries have to wait.  I started hunting because the deer were always destroying my garden.  I guess you could say it was pest control.  I've hunted with cheap scopes and shot more deer than anyone else in my area most years. I was often teased and laughed at about my equipment.  This included several faded out blue jeans, a pair of old boots and a camo t-shirt.   My homemade sent killer included arm&hammer and Ivory soap.  I hunted cheap because I had to.     I hunted with an old bushnell sportview and a Simmons 8-point mounted on two cheap rifles for about 15 years.  There is nothing wrong with cheap scopes if that is all you can afford.  I like the lower end Bushnell stuff the best.  NC Star and BSA are not worth the tin they're made of. 

[R.W.Dale]

While I haven't had a malfunction with a cheap scope, I have swore off on them due to the craptastic optics quality. My last illuminated 3x9x50 NcStar was so bad a 1" orange target dot at 100yds on a white background would literally blurr into nothing.

 The Bushnell banner is as low as I'll go nowdays

[MOGLEY]

If I were on an expensive hunt I would definetly not take the chance. These scopes are are on light recoil guns that I use for crow and squirrel hunting type applications. The clarity so far on the ones I have have been really good. I shot the 222 and hmr on targets out to 200 yds when zeroing in and could see great. Hopefully they won't fall apart but if they do I thuink I got my 29.99 out of it!!
I never see discussions on 'other' scopes so I thought I would ask. Thanks for the input

[Redhawk1]

By all means, get what you can afford. I will never knock a guy at the range with a $29.99 scope.
But if one of my buddies had a $29.99 scope on his gun I would. I know my buddies can afford something better.

[TBS]

After years of owning and using boatloads of scopes from busnell sportviews up through leupold vari-x111 and Kahles I have found a happy middle ground. Weaver V - K series and Grand Slams offer the best solution for my needs. I'll never buy another Leupold nor will I buy $29.99 special.