Anyone know who make Guide Gear scopes?

[lik2hunt]

From the Sportsmans Guide? I called and asked the girl who was answering the CS line today and she couldn't even tell me who their manufacturer was. Got some good prices on some scopes if they're any good. Then again they could be another Simmons Blazer.

[30-30man]

They are made by BSA or NC star I believe.  They're not good even for a door stop.  I bought a Sportsman Guide Radiant 3x9x40.  I sold it at a yard sale about two weeks ago for 13$.  For the money, buy a Bushnell Banner, Trophy, or a Mueller.  You won't be disatisfied.  All three are about the same price with the Mueller costing a little more but you want have to buy another one.  The Sportsman Guide sells some good stuff but I would stay away from their scopes.  They do have an excellent customer service department but dung is dung no matter how many times you send it back; it still is dung.

[akpls]

.....They do have an excellent customer service department.....

It was their customer service department that told me a couple of years ago that they couldn't ship a Leupold scope to Alaska because it wasn't in the US.   :eek:   I find that their catalog is good for starting the woodstove though.   :roll:

[30-30man]

I've always had good luck with the Sportsman Guide. I order from them at least once a month.   Sorry about your troubles, every company has at least one person who rode the short bus to school.

[quickdtoo]

.....They do have an excellent customer service department.....

It was their customer service department that told me a couple of years ago that they couldn't ship a Leupold scope to Alaska because it wasn't in the US.   :eek:   I find that their catalog is good for starting the woodstove though.   :roll:

They meant that Alaska (Hawaii and PR too) aren't in the continental US for shipping purposes. Why they can't ship out of CONUS, I have no idea, but ya see that a lot. :?

[Mueller Optics]

.....They do have an excellent customer service department.....

It was their customer service department that told me a couple of years ago that they couldn't ship a Leupold scope to Alaska because it wasn't in the US.   :eek:   I find that their catalog is good for starting the woodstove though.   :roll:

They meant that Alaska (Hawaii and PR too) aren't in the continental US for shipping purposes. Why they can't ship out of CONUS, I have no idea, but ya see that a lot. :?

Maybe I can help clear this up.
All rifle scopes that are shipped outside the USA "must" have exporting documents acompanying the shipment. These permits can be obtained by the US Department of Commerce. It is a law that firearm accesories, including scopes be monitered by the USDC and failure to do so can result in fines of up to $12,000 per occurance. Jon and Tammy at The Optic Zone are one of the few dealers I know of who follow these guidlines, others such as ebay sellers are taking a great risk when they ship outside the USA. Obtaining these permits is somewhat time consuming so we only do it for larger volume clients.

Here's a few examples:
http://www.bxa.doc.gov/news/2002/sturm_ruger.htm
http://www.bxa.doc.gov/news/2002/centerarmspenalized25k.htm

Hope this helps
MO

[Grubbs]

I've found the stuff in Sportsmans Guide to be mostly junk.....second rate stuff.  That' why they are my official campfire starters for the past 5 years.

[Land_Owner]

Sportsman's Guide is very good about taking returns if you are dissatisfied upon receipt of their product.   Anyone continuing to be dissatisfied with Sportsman's Guide is doing so because they're accepting their own perception of inferiority and want to "feel better" by libeling a respected mail order catalog supplier.

The Newspaper Food Critic once wrote "the food was lousy and the portions were small."  You get the point.

SG has A LOT of very GOOD stuff.

[Grubbs]

Very good cheap stuff.......which is still cheap (as in 2nd rate)

[akpls]

They meant that Alaska (Hawaii and PR too) aren't in the continental US for shipping purposes. Why they can't ship out of CONUS, I have no idea, but ya see that a lot. :?

The Optic Zone, SWFA & Bear Basin never had problems shipping to me in AK.  The US Postal Service works just fine and if you want to pay a little extra so does UPS & FedEx.

[Land_Owner]

You can purchase top shelf, knock offs, or second hand.  If the utilization of the product suits you, the price is inconsequential.  There is a lot to be said for purchasing the very best for its potential to last.  There is also a lot to be said for purchasing thriftly and SG provides a measure of each.

[WNY_Whitetailer]

They are made by BSA or NC star I believe.

To get back to the original questions at hand...

I think that theath29803 hit the nail on the head...

[lik2hunt]

Hummmmm.....Ok then that pretty much answers my question.

[myarmor]

I also have wondered the same question lik2hunt.
Have you noticed that the Sportsmans Guide is about the only ones that sell Barska products? Or BEC?
I believe they get a couple different factories to make different scopes.
Compare the SightX, Barska, and BEC stuff to the Guide Gear scopes and you will notice a lot of simularities.
However they do have a good deal on their Burris Signature scopes this month. Who said second rate cheap stuff?
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=216310

[lik2hunt]

Got some good prices on Simmons 44 Mag scopes right now too.

[Rogmatt]

My teenage son was tempted by the price of a "Guide Gear 6-24 scope.
He thought it was made by BSA which he has had good results with on rimfire in the past. When it came in, he saw that it was made by Barska and had Barska paperwork. Compared to the BSA that I have on my 17 hmr rifle, his new Barska was very cloudy and dull. They are sending us a pre-paid shipping label to send it back.  No more Guide Gear brand  for us.  :oops: