does cheap scope really mean crappy?

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loonie

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I saw the special offer-tasco .22 riflescope shooting kit(including earprotection and glasses) only for 39.94 in le baron :what:

a friend of mine just got one and felt it's pretty good mounted on their .22 rifle.

tasco .22 3-9x32mm Riflescope
1" advanced monotube construction
fully coated optics
100% waterproof and fogproof
Length:12.75"
Weight:11.3 oz
Field of view: 17.75' at 3x,6' at 6x

what do u think?:D
 
Depends on the requirements you have. An inexpensive scope will normally have more problems than most higher priced ones -- distortion (especially at edges), repeatability of adjustments, etc. If it suits your needs, it's fine and more money would be a waste. If it doesn't suit your needs, even that inexpensive of a scope was a waste of hard-earned money.
 
I found the problem is : F.O.V for this scope is too narrow...
 
MIKEH said:
$39.94 seems kinda expensive for a rimfire scope. I paid $25 for a 9x Bushnell.
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39.94 including airprotection and glasses
 
can still be serviceable if you shoot within the limitations. With a narrow field, assuming you're just plinking at stationary targets, keep a mental "map" of the area around your target, so that locating it isn't too annoying. If it's REALLY narrow, I suppose it could be annoying even for casual use.
 
I got a Simmons 8 point 3X9 on sale for $30. It ain't no Burris or Leopold, but it sure looks clear to me.

I have shot some nice groups through $80 scopes.

who needs a scope when you've been a marine for 6 years?
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8 years here, and I have to confess, using a scope at 300 yards or less seems like pointless cheating at times. But some rifles don't even come with open sights. And anyway, the OP was asking about scopes...
 
Its a scope for a .22.....therfore recoil wont be an issue. This is commonly a problem with "cheap" scopes that arent built well, they literally come apart when use on rifles with stout recoil.

Its fairly low magnification.....therefore the cheap optics should be an issue, or near the issue they can be at higher magnifications, ie yellow colored, foggy optics.

I use "cheap" optics on my .22 and .223 rifles without any issues....go fer it.
 
In nearly every case.
I don't expect you to believe me, or listen to me. But you will eventually become a believer if you buy one and try to seriously use it. When someone said many years ago; "there is no such thing as a free lunch" he was probably talking about buying cheap scopes. You will get a bunch of people on this thread telling you about the fantastic scope that they got cheap.
My mama taught me that if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. So, I won't comment about those people.
 
What to do with a Cheap Scope
Put it on a .22LR
Not a bad idea, but you'll probably need small-base tip-off rings in one-inch diameter, which run $20 to $24 dollars, more than half the price of the scope! Often, it's cheaper to buy a full-size type base and use the existing rings.
Before mounting, the scope should be adjusted for 50 yard (or less) parallax. J. Clark used to have an excellent page that described how to do it yourself. Since this link has long been dead, I've tried to duplicate it as best I can from memory here. Most scope manufacturers (that have a US office) will do it for you, for about $10.00. I strongly believe in sending the scope back to the manufacturer, because I think that they should see the cheap stuff that they make coming back to haunt them over, and over, and over.
Put it on an air gun
Not a bad idea for pneumatics, except for the cost of the rings, as noted above. For spring-cockers, though, their unusual recoil dynamic destroys even expensive scopes.
Make a lamp out of it
Just be careful when drilling though the glass not to cut yourself.
Give it to the kids
Just remind them of local ordinances concerning peeping.
Put it on a gun for sale.
Just be sure and blame someone else for actually buying it, and putting it on a really great gun.
Give it to someone you don't like
You're doing them a favour, they need to learn all this stuff too!
 
Well, I've been using Tascos for 35 years, and I've never had any issues with any of them. No, the optics aren't as good as high-priced scopes(especially in low light), but for most people, under most conditions, they work just fine.

This is commonly a problem with "cheap" scopes that arent built well, they literally come apart when use on rifles with stout recoil.

Its fairly low magnification.....therefore the cheap optics should be an issue, or near the issue they can be at higher magnifications, ie yellow colored, foggy optics.
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I've used them on every type of rifle I own, including some fairly "high recoiling" guns. No problems. None. Nadda. And I have a 6-24x Tasco mounted on a sporterized 8mm Mauser right now (got the scope on sale for $89). and its been doing just fine.

As far as edge distortion, I've never noticed it--since I use the center to aim, don't see it as an issue. FOV doesn't seem to be any different either.
The only thing I've noticed with the cheaper scopes, is that they are more critical to eye relief, e.g. there's less of a "sweet spot", and you may have to adjust for it (by careful mounting).

I'm comparing my 6-24x to my buddies Zeiss, I really don't see a HUGE difference in utility. There is a difference, for sure, but then again his scope cost 10 times what mine did. His is the only really high-end scope I've shot extensively, although I've shot many for a few rounds.
 
Hey, I've seen guys buy inexpensive gear & use the heck out of it...to me, they got good deals. I've also seen guys not want to compromise their standards and bought some high dollar stuff just to sit in a safe at home.
Bottom line, if you use it & your happy, you done good
 
Cheap fixed-power scopes are probably a better buy than cheap variable-power scopes. There is less to go wrong with a fixed scope.

I haven't had very good experience with cheap variables. I bought a Simmons 3-9x30 from Wal-Mart for $39.95 or whatever for my mini-14 Ranch Rifle, and it wouldn't hold zero. Mini's are hard on scopes, though, but a fixed power would have probably worked better on that rifle.
 
Usually it does, but the less gadgets and feature you have, the less this is the case (KISS).
If you dont change zero often, than these will suffice. Even so, I think 75 bucks or so will get you a better buy. I shoot my .22 alot, so good optics seem justified.
 
I can honestly tell you what you already know, "you get what you pay for".

You have to ask your self, do you need a $1050 Leupold LPS 3.5-14x50mm, (that's what my old man just got for his .338mag). But the scope on his "kitchen 22lr" is a cheapy from walmart.

Are you going to use it to shoot rabits off the back porch? or Are you going to be spending a lot of money on western hunting trips? For plinking and small game hunting (stuff that won't attack you), a good deal on a name brand scope is the way to go.
 
When i went from horribly inconsistant BSA scopes and moved up to names like Pentax and Nikon, the difference was astounding. For me, there is zero reason to own a scope u can't trust.
 
For rimfire rifle field usage, you're probably not going to feel ripped off if you're just sighting it in and using it instead of iron sights. But you're not ever going to get high or mid range quality for no name manufacturer MSRP.
 
they sell that same package deal at Academy for 27. bucks, and it is most excellent for rimfires. the glasses are super bright with good crispyness, the muffs are fantastic, really cut the high end noise completely out, and the scope glass is quite clear, with good positive adjustments. this is one of the better gun accessories pckgs i have ever found. money well spent. I wouldn't use the scope on a centerfire though, well maybe we should seeing as if it gets ruined, it only cost you about 20 bucks worth of the package.
The new line of scopes made by meade which are simmons, redfield, and another top end brand, are very revolutionary when it comes to the scope making process. they sell the simmons 3.9 in the hard plastic pak at wallyworld for about 30 bucks i believe. According to how meade says the are made, they should be much tougher, and way better to withstand shock and hold zero.
 
Actually folks, it is a 3x9x32, and if you read on the glass making process by Meade, you will see that it is clear all the way to the edges. I have one , and can attest to this. Also this scope comes with the mounts in the packages, that I have seen here.
Like I said, this is one of the best accesories values going on right now, money well spent.
 
Extremely cheap scopes on a cheap rimfire rifle will mostly satisfy people with low expectations as long as they keep the 'scope dry and don't bump it.

FWIW, I used to spend a couple of days a year as a range officer at our gun club in MN when we opened to the public before deer season; during this time, I got to see a LOT of different gear come through the range, and got a chance to see what worked and what didn't work.

Based on my observations, things I will not buy include Remington centerfire autoloading rifles, the Taurus version of the Beretta 92 pistol, or a Tasco 'scope.
 
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