New: good, inexpensive scope.

[pfettig]

A few weeks ago I was asking you guys which higher power scope would be good for my .223 ultra.  I was looking at the WTC in 6.5-20x50 and the banner in 6-24x40.  At Cabelas in Richfield, WI this weekend I found a simmons 6.5-20x40 with no name and the worker didn't know anything about it.  It was on sale for  $89.  It seemed really clear and I compared it to a WTC at the same power (both at 10x, that's all they had in the WTC) the one I bought actually seemed much clearer.  I mounted it and have been looking through it a lot and it really seems sharp.  I would shoot it, but we're getting winter part II up here in WI.  I couln't find any info on it - even on the Simmons website and it seems like the only place that sells it is Cabelas.  Myabe it's made for them eclusively.  Anyway, I really like it so far - it's called "Simmons Varmint 6.5-20X40 Riflescope"

[quickdtoo]

I ordered a Simmons Varmint 6.5-20x40 from Cabelas a few years ago, it was fine on the lower powers, but anything above about 10-12x it progressively got more cloudy, I returned it and bought a Mueller Eraticator from Eabco which at the time was $180 or so, more money, but a lot better scope. I've got several Philippine made Simmons scopes which is where the WTC18 is made,  but I've not been impressed with any of their Chinese made optics so far, except maybe the 2.5x20 shotgun scope which is only $20.

Tim

[pfettig]

I checked it yesterday and it's made in Korea.  That doesn't really mean much to me.  I did mount it on my gun and look through it at high power and it seemed really crisp to me.  It seemed even better than the 6-18 banner I looked at earlier that day.  I wonder if it's a different scope than the one you got a few years ago.

[Fred M]

I fail to see why people want to put a cheap crappy scope on a rifle.

I consider a Sightron a good inexpensive scope. There is a correlation between
the price and the quality.

[pfettig]

I suppose the same question could be asked about guns.  A person could spend 1,000 dollars on a rifle and it may be a little better than an NEF, but to some, it's not worth it.  I have an $80 banner on my '06 and the four deer I shot last November are just as dead as if I had a Leopold mounted on it.  But mostly the reason is that I'm poor.  Just spending $90 on a scope made my pits sweat.

[MSP Ret]

I use many of the less expensive scopes IF they work, and the ones I have do work well, but also have a few of the much higher priced (not to be confused with higher quality or better valued) scopes. I also have found the Simmons Scopes to be better for me than the Bushnells I have looked through. Buy and use whatever you like, can afford, and feel like spending your money on, , as long as it works up to your needs and expectations it is the correct scope for you. I do agree with the often used statement, "buy the best scope you can afford", and if it's the Simmons WTC or Varmint and it works well for you you have done well. From my experience with Simmons scopes that 6-24x40 sounds like a great deal on a good scope. Please let use know how it works for you on the range and in the field....<><....

[quickdtoo]

I wonder if it's a different scope than the one you got a few years ago.

Could very well be, if Cabelas got enough complaints on it, Simmons might have contracted a difference source for it, Korea makes some great scope, Swift Premium scopes are made there, could be the same OEM that makes the Varmint now, which could make it a potential good buy.

Tim

[pfettig]

Thanks, Quick.  Hopefully winter will go away and I'll be able to put it to the test this weekend.  If so, I'll let everyone know how it went.

[PartsMan]

I fail to see why people want to put a cheap crappy scope on a rifle.

I consider a Sightron a good inexpensive scope. There is a correlation between
the price and the quality.

My $29 Simmons has killed three deer.
All the way dead to.
Much easier than the weaver mount alone to shoot with.

Really you should buy the best scope you can especially a high power one.

[cgturner7]

Take a look at Swift scopes.  A real sleeper and not widely known among hunters.  Swift is held in very high regard in the birding community.  Birders can be extremely picky with their optics.  Do an internet search on the Audubon 8.5x44 binos.  They rival the Swarovskis and Zeiss' at a third the price.  Swift hunting scopes offer excellent optics at an equally excellent price.  

[ken2222]

just my $.02  ...I have Simmons 44 Mag 6.5x 20 AO on all my low recoil rifles....Sightron, Nikons, Leupys and Weavers from there up....on a .223 I would think you to be fine even at higher magnifications BUT without AO the long range stuff just won't work. and yes, everything shot has died even if sighted thru the Simmons....

Ken

[wtroger]

I believe that Simmons and the other scope compaines that made up the Blount outdoor group was purchased by a company that makes telescopes and some other optical equipment and there new products are of lot better quality then the old Simmons line. What I saw was that there was no production for awhile as the new products where advertised but not available. While the other old inventory was being sold off at bargain basement prices. My point is beware of some of the really cheap Simmons products as they are what was left before the buyout and may or may not be very reliable.

[pfettig]

interesting, wtroger.  I bought it after looking through it carefully.  I was able to switch quickly between 2 scopes that were mounted on the same stock at the store.  My dad and I both agreed that the Simmons varmint scope I bought was better than the whitetail classic that was mounted just above it.  I'm guessing it's part of some newer stock of scopes.  Perhaps that's why even the guy working there wasn't familiar with it.

[Datil]

 I have 2 of the 6-20 simmons scope one on 219 Zipper other on 223,
 they working good at p. dog hunt last year, going again this time.
 Also have 8-32 it is not my liking above about 24 power. the
 Simmons have all cost 99 dollars at Midway, Just my 2 cents Marv

[quickdtoo]

Simmons is owned by Meade now, ATK owned them before that and Blount before them. Simmons moved their plant to China 2 yrs ago and had a lot of QC problems with the first years production, I would be very leary of buying any of their new line until all of their production issues are cleared up, although they do have excellent CS, that doesn't help much when you're on a hunt in the middle of no where! Below are some links to help those that feel in the dark about scopes and their uses, or those that don't feel that way, but really are!!

Tim

http://www.charm.net/~kmarsh/brand.html#simmons

http://www.chuckhawks.com/scopes_price_class.htm

http://www.chuckhawks.com/scopes_index_reviews.htm

http://www.chuckhawks.com/scope_magnification_rifle_caliber.htm

[borg1]

Well, I guess if you put the scope through its paces by thoroughly testing its adjustments for consistency and the scope optics were clear to begin with it's probably a good piece of glass.

I have an old Bushnell Banner 3 x 9 that is as clear as any of the VX-1s i've seen.  Still tracks well too.  Any gun i have would be honored to wear it...  I've heard good things about the Simmons master series...

[pfettig]

I field tested it yesterday and I got some good results.  Of course one time out shooting doesn't speak to its durability, but it went well nonetheless.  After I got it sighted-in pretty ok, I shot 3 times without adjusting and shot 3 shots into one big hole.  Then I zeroed it and shot 8 out of 9 shots within an inch.  I had it on 20 power the whole time and it was very crisp.  Also, the sun was going down but there was plenty of light in the scope.  Seems to me, barring something breaking, it was a pretty good deal.