Low price optics
- Thread starter igotta40
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Varminterror
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When it comes to high magnification scopes for under $100, despair awaits you on this journey.
I have had the Barska in 6-24x, it's garbage. In a 10-40x50, anything over 25x is going to be unacceptably DARK. Resolution sucks. Turrets suck. When buying most low cost scopes, I've known and accepted that which I was getting myself into, but I didn't get my money's worth from the Barska.
I have had the Barska in 6-24x, it's garbage. In a 10-40x50, anything over 25x is going to be unacceptably DARK. Resolution sucks. Turrets suck. When buying most low cost scopes, I've known and accepted that which I was getting myself into, but I didn't get my money's worth from the Barska.
Unless your expectations are very low you will probably not be happy for the above mentioned reasons.
Also higher magnification magnifies not only your target, but, optical imperfections in the system. Any problems with the glass just gets worse the higher you go. I have seen scopes that will give you a headache because of being blurry, glare , etc, in short order when at higher power.
Another issue is the zero changing when the power is changed. Very common in cheaper scopes. The higher the power, and the wider the range, the more this can change. It doesn’t happen on every one. However it can start happening on a previously working scope.
If going low priced you are better sticking to lower power range in my experience.
Also higher magnification magnifies not only your target, but, optical imperfections in the system. Any problems with the glass just gets worse the higher you go. I have seen scopes that will give you a headache because of being blurry, glare , etc, in short order when at higher power.
Another issue is the zero changing when the power is changed. Very common in cheaper scopes. The higher the power, and the wider the range, the more this can change. It doesn’t happen on every one. However it can start happening on a previously working scope.
If going low priced you are better sticking to lower power range in my experience.
This is the most magnification, at the lowest price I can recommend. At 100 yards with a 22, 14X is plenty of magnification.
bassjam
Member
It's double your budget and you'll have to wait a few months, but I have 3 of these and they are an excellent value when Midway puts them on sale for $200 which happens a few times a year. I have 2 of them on .22's I take out to 200 yards and another on an AR15. It basically has the glass of the higher Viper line and is made in the Philippines, not China.
www.midwayusa.com
Vortex Optics Diamondback HP Rifle Scope 4-16x 42mm Side Focus
Vortex Optics re-engineered their extremely popular Diamondback scope series to produce the Diamondback HP (High Performance) scope line to give hunters...
www.midwayusa.com
I have owned Barska in 6-24x50 I took it off my gun because it got too cloudy, I couldn't see even 100yds.
I have recently bought one of these scopes & to my surprise it's fairly clear. I use it on my competition shotgun to see the single shot pellets hit the target. It probably won't last very long but if I get a year out of it, it will have paid me back for it.
firefield.com
I have recently bought one of these scopes & to my surprise it's fairly clear. I use it on my competition shotgun to see the single shot pellets hit the target. It probably won't last very long but if I get a year out of it, it will have paid me back for it.
10-40x50 Tactical Rifle Scope
Mountable on either a weaver or picatinny rail, the Firefield® 10-40x50 Tactical AO Riflescope is equipped with a second-focal plane red or green Mil-Dot reticle for a variety of tactical applications. Featuring advanced precision multi-coated optics and a 50mm objective lens, the 10-40x50...
firefield.com
Justin
Moderator Emeritus
Low price optics have really come a long way in the last ten years or so. If you're going to go with something that's more of a budget-friendly option, you're better off looking at the lower end Vortex, Burris, Leupold, or Primary Arms optics.
Barska makes trash, and you'll be unhappy with their scopes.
LiveLife
Member
As others already posted, "You get what you pay for" applies here as "Too good to be true" scopes promising the sky with long list of features will come short on some things whether it's cloudy/lack of clarity of lens, crosshair that won't move precisely or won't hold zero or other issues.
If you want "affordable", hard to beat Bushnell Trophy line for durability with clarity of lens and comes with lifetime warranty. If you are mostly benching the scope and won't be bumping around, even Bushnell Banner line could be considerable over other no-name brand scopes as Banner line also comes with lifetime warranty.
I have been happily using Bushnell Dusk & Dawn 6-18x50mm for my 22LR 50/100 yard testing and it's priced at $84 - https://www.amazon.com/Bushnell-Multi-X-Adjustable-Objective-Riflescope/dp/B00IYHG1MM
Beyond $100 range with well established optics clarity and durability of scope with lifetime warranty, you are looking at Burris Fullfield II/Vortex Crossfire II lines like these:
- Burris Fullfield II 4.5-14x42mm $159 - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MM2QU8
- Vortex Crossfire II 4-12x44mm $169 - https://www.amazon.com/Vortex-Optics-Crossfire-Second-Riflescopes/dp/B00794LIXS
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.38 Special
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I have a high-power variable Barska. I don't know the exact model, but it almost certainly is not the one in the OP.
I bought it for ammunition testing in .22 handguns at 50 yards. It worked perfectly in that role. The optics were certainly not great - color rendition was poor, and there was a great deal of aberration at the edges - but I did not buy the thing for bird watching. In broad daylight, at 50 yards, it allowed me to see the target perfectly and did what I wanted. In the same situation, I would buy the same scope.
I bought it for ammunition testing in .22 handguns at 50 yards. It worked perfectly in that role. The optics were certainly not great - color rendition was poor, and there was a great deal of aberration at the edges - but I did not buy the thing for bird watching. In broad daylight, at 50 yards, it allowed me to see the target perfectly and did what I wanted. In the same situation, I would buy the same scope.
Problem with being on a tight budget is that we want something good with what little money we have. Eventually we end up spending a hundred bucks on a product that we won't use because it sucks. You would have been better off putting a lighter to the 100 dollars and would have gotten the same results....wasted money. Instead, have patience save a few more weeks or months to supplement the $100 you have on hand' you will be amazed at the difference an extra $50 or $100 makes in the purchase when it comes to optics. Be smart, wait and save.
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thump_rrr
Member
Think of the cost of the ammo you are shooting.
Compare that to the cost of the scope you want to look through.
My lowest price scope is a Bushnell Banner Dusk to Dawn.
For the price it's clarity is quite good.
My only complaint is the thickness of the cross hairs.
Compare that to the cost of the scope you want to look through.
My lowest price scope is a Bushnell Banner Dusk to Dawn.
For the price it's clarity is quite good.
My only complaint is the thickness of the cross hairs.
Hillbilly Hydrographics
Member
Another cheap/budget option that I have had reasonably good experience with is monstrum. I've got a couple of there scopes in that 60 to 100 dollar range and have been pleasantly surprised at how good they do work. I have one on a 22 and I've got one with illuminated recticle red/green on a 5.56 ar and they have worked great for couple years now punching paper out to 200 yards.
Peakbagger46
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Unfortunately (as Vortex and others have proved time and again, and not in a good way) good optics come with a price. I’ve had inexpensive rifles that shoot lights out but for magnified optics, you can’t go cheap and get something good.
Also the higher in magnification one goes the more issues you will encounter with cheaper scopes. For your application I’d be saving up for a bit and looking for a decent 3-9 or 2-7ish scope.
Also the higher in magnification one goes the more issues you will encounter with cheaper scopes. For your application I’d be saving up for a bit and looking for a decent 3-9 or 2-7ish scope.
rdnktrkr
Member
I purchased a refurbished Vortex from A&A Optics, I contacted Vortex, and they are legit, runs about 1/2 retail and Vortex stands behind their product. Some of their lower end products are within your budget.
AzShooter1
Member
I just bought a Simmons 6 X 18 50 scope for my 10/22. It's really clear and AO goes to 300 yards. I'm happy with the magnification and price was right at $ 79.99 from Natchez. Regular price was just over $100.
Nature Boy
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I’d rather take my wife out to eat at a nice restaurant then spend less than $200 on a scope
Okay, how did you manage to do that? That post of mine is from a completely different thread..........
doubleh
Member
I have no idea. Complete surprise. I will attempt to fix it.
I have a few of the Mueller, I like them.
No need. Just thought it was kinda weird. Could be another glitch in the matrix.......
Did you mean to respond to me or is this another glitch?
do know. I responded to the post that mentioned Mueller optics
Something weird is going on, doubleh quoted a post of mine that wasn't even in this thread and you quoted the post of mine he quoted....... I think someone broke the software on the server end probably with the last update/upgrade.
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