An 18 dollar 3-9x40AO scope....gotta be crap right?

[LoonWulf]

So I ran across this scope while looking for new boots (go figure).

SonickingTactical 3-9x40 AO Riflescope Duplex Reticle Hunting Gun Scope with 20mm Mounts https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073CS42W5/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_MckKBbH9FP266

I simply couldn't miss the chance to see how, what has to be the cheapest full size scope Ive ever seen, actually worked.
So ordered it Saturday, and amazingly, picked it up yesterday.

The box it comes in is generic, and has lots of miss information (it says lited reticle, and 6x zoom for instance). There's no padding, and it's lightly constructed.
The scope came with the regular add on for a cheap scope; Rings, cloth, generic manual, Allen wrenches for rings.

The scope itself feels pretty solid, tho not heavy. Same as you'd expect for an average 3-9x40.
All the functions ran smoothly, occular focused fine. Objective focus is surprisingly accurate when adjusted to my eyes and refrenced against my rf.
Power ring, and adjustments ran fine.

I shook it hard to see if I could hear any loose pieces, no rattles.

Optically I'm really surprised with how well this thing actually does.
It's got a yellowish tint, and isn't as bright as my other scopes at 9x, but is reasonably clear edge to edge.... surprisingly so infact.
The eye relief is very average, and the eye box is kinda small, but completely useable. It's actually better than the much more expensive (but still not EXPENSIVE) scope I had on my 6x47.

I'm now contemplating what rifle to attach it to for testing. Right now I've got my 6x47 scope less, and I'll be scoping my SKS.
So those two will be my first options.

I'm tempted to put it straight on the SKS, as I'm pretty sure that gun will be rougher on scopes than most of my others, but I'm not exactly sure how well that gun shoots since it's never been scoped.

My 6x47 is plenty accurate enough to display any consistency issues in the scope, but won't stress it much at all.

Which gun do you guys think I should try it on?
How long do you think it will last?

The pictures thru the scope arnt as good as it actually looks clarity wise, but you can see the yellow tint, and that it isn't horribly bright (but still very useable) .

 

[troy fairweather]

looks good for the money. ya sks are hard n cheap scopes the best test is a quick kicking gun. id like to see one put in a pickup truck bed for month or so in the rain and heat like what u have there right now. and i think any scope looks better when looking at Hawaii lol. try a box test with 22 s a base line the after the testing.

 

[LoonWulf]

I didn't think about it, but Ill stick it on my .22 first, I do have a spare set of dovetail rings.

One early morning trip to Maunakea is usually enough to show if a scopes seals are gonna fail.
0-10k feet in 45mins and back thru pretty sever temp and humidity changes is rough on gear. I had a pair of good binoculars lose focus on one side, then completely fog on the way down.

As a side note I shoot the fruit off that tree with my pellet gun, and the 100 dollar 4-12 Simmons dosent show individual little branches as well.
Actually....if this scope survives the SKS it may find a life on my airgun...that Simmons is pretty beat up.

 

[RedlegRick]

You have a nice back yard. An SKS might be a little much for that, but it sounds perfect for a rimfire to me.

 

[adcoch1]

I'd throw it on the 6.5 for 40 shots to test it out, then retire it mercifully to the 22...

 

[LoonWulf]

Hrrmmmm.....if it survives, I might have to buy it a Rimfire, only have the one right now.

18 dollar scope, deserves a 200dollar 17 or .22 yes?


Any excuse for a new gun......

 

[303 hunter]

If you put it on the SKS, make sure to get a shell deflector. The upward ejection of an SKS will beat the crap out of a scope.

 

[LoonWulf]

If you put it on the SKS, make sure to get a shell deflector. The upward ejection of an SKS will beat the crap out of a scope.

Good point!

I've modified the rifle enough that it dosent bounce them up as much as stock gun does. It may still be an issue tho, and if so I'll have to figure something out.

 

[adcoch1]

Two sided tape and a tire patch will make a pretty good scope shell separator. Or a slip on neoprene cover will do it too. Tried it all on SKS's over the years...

 

[FindANewSlant]

I'm super interested to see how it survives the elements and centerfire guns. I'm thinking about buying my brother a "first centerfire" setup for his 18th birthday.

 

[LoonWulf]

Two sided tape and a tire patch will make a pretty good scope shell separator. Or a slip on neoprene cover will do it too. Tried it all on SKS's over the years...

I hadn't even considered those options! I've got some padding and double stick tape!

I'm super interested to see how it survives the elements and centerfire guns. I'm thinking about buying my brother a "first centerfire" setup for his 18th birthday.

Hopefully in the next week or two I'll get everything set up.
In the mean time maybe I'll toss it on my airgun, then leave it outside a few days and see how it holds up.

 

[303 hunter]

I hadn't even considered those options! I've got some padding and double stick tape!


Hopefully in the next week or two I'll get everything set up.
In the mean time maybe I'll toss it on my airgun, then leave it outside a few days and see how it holds up.

I've got a Simmons 22 Mag on my Crossman Phantom and it's held up well.

 

[Dibbs]

The real test is if it holds zero for any length of time. If it does, you're good. If it doesn't, oh well.
If I were putting it on one of my rifles, it would be a 22WMR or 22LR. YMMV

 

[LoonWulf]

I've got a Simmons 22 Mag on my Crossman Phantom and it's held up well.

I had one for years, moved from gun to gun, and eventually ended up with @RedlegRick a little while ago. For a cheap scope those things are actually really nice.
The Simmons airgun specific is another older, but good optic for .22s.

To be honest i really dont have any need for this scope, i really just wanted to see if 20 bucks gets you glass use able enough to live with....for a while.

IF it dosent die in my testing, and someone wants it let me know ill send it over. Probably makes more sense than me buying another gun for it LOL.

 

[303 hunter]

I had one for years, moved from gun to gun, and eventually ended up with @RedlegRick a little while ago. For a cheap scope those things are actually really nice.
The Simmons airgun specific is another older, but good optic for .22s.

To be honest i really dont have any need for this scope, i really just wanted to see if 20 bucks gets you glass use able enough to live with....for a while.

IF it dosent die in my testing, and someone wants it let me know ill send it over. Probably makes more sense than me buying another gun for it LOL.

Clicked on your link, and they were out of stock. Was gonna buy one for an older bolt action 22 Marlin I picked up.

 

[troy fairweather]

I had one for years, moved from gun to gun, and eventually ended up with @RedlegRick a little while ago. For a cheap scope those things are actually really nice.
The Simmons airgun specific is another older, but good optic for .22s.

To be honest i really dont have any need for this scope, i really just wanted to see if 20 bucks gets you glass use able enough to live with....for a while.

IF it dosent die in my testing, and someone wants it let me know ill send it over. Probably makes more sense than me buying another gun for it LOL.

yes u need more guns lol. my boss just told me i could get henry at cost and the seller will let me pay it off over 3 months im thinking a 45/70.

 

[boom boom]

looks good for the money. ya sks are hard n cheap scopes the best test is a quick kicking gun. id like to see one put in a pickup truck bed for month or so in the rain and heat like what u have there right now. and i think any scope looks better when looking at Hawaii lol. try a box test with 22 s a base line the after the testing.

When I bought my ruski sks, I took off the scope on it and replaced it with tech sights for that reason. They work quite nicely.

 

[boom boom]

I had one for years, moved from gun to gun, and eventually ended up with @RedlegRick a little while ago. For a cheap scope those things are actually really nice.
The Simmons airgun specific is another older, but good optic for .22s.

To be honest i really dont have any need for this scope, i really just wanted to see if 20 bucks gets you glass use able enough to live with....for a while.

IF it dosent die in my testing, and someone wants it let me know ill send it over. Probably makes more sense than me buying another gun for it LOL.

You ought to sign up as a reviewer for Gun Tests. You could be their scope and gun tester for the tropics.

 

[LoonWulf]

I realize now my scribbles make it less coherent...but anyway.
Target was at 25yds. 1shot is a freshly pierced pair of co2 so I fired a 3 there to confirm starting point (I rough zero'd on another box).
Went twenty clicks right, 4
Down twenty, 5
Left fourty, 6
Up 20 for 7. It didn't move so fired again got 8
Right 20, 9
Right 20 more for 10.

In the end it returned very close to starting, and tracing while not terrific, wasn't as bad as I've seen on some other scopes I've used.
It held zero for another 30 shots or so and I ran out of co2.

I forgot my gun holds about 1/2" at that range. so some of that error is the rifle itself

 

[LoonWulf]

yes u need more guns lol. my boss just told me i could get henry at cost and the seller will let me pay it off over 3 months im thinking a 45/70.

Id be getting another one if i could work that deal on a .45-70 Henry. I really liked the one i shot.

Clicked on your link, and they were out of stock. Was gonna buy one for an older bolt action 22 Marlin I picked up.

Interesting, when i bought this one there were a pile in stock...i wonder if the seller pulled them for some reason.

When I bought my ruski sks, I took off the scope on it and replaced it with tech sights for that reason. They work quite nicely.

I really wanted to stick with the peeps, but i just cant shoot them well enough to be comfortable. Ill see how this scopes does and either put a better one, or a red dot (which im not much happier with than a peep), on it.

You ought to sign up as a reviewer for Gun Tests. You could be their scope and gun tester for the tropics.

Now that would be cool! lol

 

[troy fairweather]

Id be getting another one if i could work that deal on a .45-70 Henry. I really liked the one i shot.


Interesting, when i bought this one there were a pile in stock...i wonder if the seller pulled them for some reason.


I really wanted to stick with the peeps, but i just cant shoot them well enough to be comfortable. Ill see how this scopes does and either put a better one, or a red dot (which im not much happier with than a peep), on it.


Now that would be cool! lol

idk now im thinking a 458 socom upper looking for prices i know i can buy one build for 400 when there in stock maybe the best i can build one cheaper but not by much.

 

[PWC]

watch

 

[LoonWulf]

Scopes new home till my SKS parts come in.

 

[Choctaw]

Hrrmmmm.....if it survives, I might have to buy it a Rimfire, only have the one right now.

18 dollar scope, deserves a 200dollar 17 or .22 yes?


Any excuse for a new gun......

Well, of course. We gun lovers don't have to be logical all the time.

 

[LoonWulf]

I forgot to check on the scope this morning, guess I'll have to start documenting this evening.....