New scope this season? or leave it alone?

[dust_101]

Ok folks, last season went well, took a mid-weight spike for deer season with my older Remington 700 in .30-06 with a standard 3-9x40 generic scope (65yd shot on 4 power). I just recently bought an older Tasco (made in Japan) 2.5-10x44 scope and I was debating on mounting this new scope on my rifle. The mounts are a pair of Kwik-Site see through mounts which allow me to still have the irons lined up and they are dialed in right along with the current scope.

This is standard NE hunting, no shots beyond 100-150yds in the woods I frequent. I was using 180g soft point round nose bullets, and I most likely will use the same ones, but I need to hit the store to stock up a bit.

So what do y'all think? Leave the other scope on? Swap it out for the new one? It would give me a reason to go to the range and spend a bit more time making sure the rifle is dialed in for this year.

 

[11c2v]

Dump the Tasco IMHO. $200 will buy a fairly DECENT scope for you ranges. Remember, no matter how accurate the weapon is, if its pointing the wrong way, it WILL miss. Cheap scopes tend to wander in my experience.
Blue skies

 

[Smokey Joe]

Swapping 'scopes...

Dust 101--Now let me get this straight: You have an el cheapo 3x9 'scope on yr '06, and this combination worked just fine for you last year. You don't have shots available much over 150 yd. You are considering switching to an el cheapo 2.5x10 'scope for this years' deer hunting, which is right around the corner.

Do I have it right? Then the answer is, for Pete's sake if it ain't broke don't fix it!!!

Practicing w/yr rifle is never a bad idea--you don't need an excuse to go do that.

But if you start diddling around with a new 'scope at this point in the year, you might: (1) find out that it isn't any better than yr old 'scope, for no loss, no gain, (2) find out that it is slightly better than yr old 'scope, for a slight gain and no loss, (3) find out that it is slightly worse than yr old 'scope, for no gain and some loss, or, (4) spend the rest of your time between now and deer season trying to get the new 'scope to work, then in disgust trying to get the old 'scope to work like it used to, and having no rifle ready come deer season, for a MAJOR loss.

Four possibilities, only one of which gets you some slight gain. Not good odds.

If you simply must have a new 'scope this year, spring for the $$$ and get a good one, and pay a gunsmith mount it for you. We're talking at least a couple or three hundred smackers, here, or more, for a Leupold VX III, a B&L 3200 or 4200 Elite, or the like. Such a 'scope, professionally mounted, WILL work, and you will be amazed at the clarity, especially in poor light.

But don't bother mounting a new cheap 'scope--You already have one mounted and it works just fine! The slight differences in magnification you mention simply aren't worth the bother. Clearer sight picture and more light transmission--which you get with a pricier 'scope--ARE worth the bother.

Brutally honest bottom line: If you feel you must upgrade, then UPgrade. It's kind of late in the season for shade-tree-mechanic-type messing around. Sorry if that wasn't what you wanted for a reply.

 

[dust_101]

Smokey Joe - you're pretty dead-on there. The scope that came on the rifle once dialed in worked with no issues. It is for certain an 'el cheapo' where I don't even know if it has a brand name. One test this weekend will be checking the original scope to see if it is still sighted in after dragging the buck through the woods and letting the rifle sit in the safe with the occasional cleaning.

If that scope is having any issues, I was thinking about using this Tasco. The only reason to switch was the fact that this one was made in Japan, and from reading about them, is a better quality than currently made ones. It was very inexpensive, I've not settled on a piece of 'real' glass for this rifle yet. Probably take another year just to get that settled!

I'm definitely in the shade-tree skill level, I've been able to sight in every rifle myself with just the bore sighting and paper at the range (our max is 200yd at the club) so I HOPE in one Saturday I can get the new scope setup and sighted in.

That is of course IF I decide to do this. I'm strongly leaning towards just sighting in my 700 again (and my turkey gun, AND my deer slug gun if I'm in that area hunting) and let it be.

No apologies needed on your reply, I come to the high road for honest answers from folks with more hard earned experience than myself.

 

[shootinstudent]

I'd hunt around for a used leupold-the problem with cheap scopes (I used to be a cheap scope guy) is that they have a nasty habit of failing in an unpredictable fashion.

Sometimes they are fine for 20 years at 10 rounds per year and then all of a sudden they bust loose on round 4 of a string of shots.

Other times they just go south with handling, and you suddenly find that your rifle isn't zeroed.

Not worth the risk, really.

 

[280shooter]

I always said cheap is cheap.you buy cheap.YOU GET CHEAP.
and you'll pay for a lot more then just a cheap scope.more ammo.more bench time,Just to find out,,its your cheap scope thats making your shots all over the target,
I been thier,DONE that,

 

[koja48]

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it." I agree that upgrade should be just that . . . UP! That being said, I've used Tasco scopes that have worked very well & done the job, but on light-recoil rifles. I've reached the point where I use higher-end optics, now (growing old ain't always a bad thing . . . ).

 

[Jst1mr]

Wait for a serious upgrade (Leupold, Nikon, etc.), and when you do, start from scratch! With the reliability of good optics, there is really no need for the see-through bases - they cause your scope to sit unnaturally high and make you adapt the way you mount your rifle to compensate and get a proper sight picture. If you're worried about "finding" your target in the scope at close range, make sure you leave the scope at or near its lowest power while hunting...if you need higher magnification for a longer shot, you will have plenty of time to crank it up.

 

[surjimmy]

Gotta go with Smokey, wait until season is over and buy a better scope. The rule around here is spend as much for your scope as your rifle's worth.

 

[ojibweindian]

The old Tasco's made in Japan are okay, and possibly better than the scope currently on your rifle. I can't see a reason why I wouldn't at least try out your Tasco, just to see whether you got a good one or not.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

I cannot evaluate because I've never heard of a "Generic" brand scope. But the old Japanese Tascos are not half bad. If I knew the brand of the existing scope, then I could advise. If it's a BSA, then I'd swap them out. Without knowing more, I also tend toward "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

 

[dust_101]

Well this is just great. Some of you are just the harbingers of doom here!

I went out this weekend to see if the rifle was still sighted in with the scope that came on the rifle. Remember, I bought the rifle used on Gunbroker (only $300 for a nicer old 700) and it has a Simmons (made in china) 3-9x40 on it. I tried a few shots at 50 yards and was able to group about 1.5" high and to the left, figured that might be ok, moved over to the 100yd range and tried a few rounds, this time about 5" high and to the RIGHT (ugh) so instead of doing any adjustments I figured lets see what happens at 200yards. Shooting at a 1' steel plate I was missing, but holding the scope low and to the left I was able to hit the plate a few times. This was all using 180gr Round Nose SP rounds out of the same box, same ammo I hunt with, 50/100yd on the bench and 200yd standing.

I'm thinking this scope is not functioning well, or as well as it can, considering.

For this weekend I'll be out at the range again with a sled to bolt the rifle in and try getting it zeroed, again. I may need to replace this scope now before pressing my luck taking it out in the field. I'm kinda nerved up about it. My choices of other scopes that I have in my home are as follows:

Tasco 2.5-10x44 (Japan)
Bushnell 6x-18x44 (older, have to get the exact model tonight)
Bushnell Scopechief II (currently on my deer slug gun)

Not much to pick from, and waiting for an order or searching for a used leupold will put me into serious crunch time for this season. Any thoughts on what to do? I have a set of Redfield two-piece mounts and rings, and a set of plug screws for the rear sight, so it can be stripped of those 'see-through' rings.

Man what a headache. If this can't get resolved to my satisfaction I may just need to borrow a rifle from my hunting partner for this season.

 

[TehK1w1]

Well, an older (japan-made) Tasco is a decent scope, not nearly as bad as many people think. You might want to try it, since your current scope seems to already be off.

 

[dust_101]

Well folks, this year should be a good one. Went out this weekend with my 700 mounted up with a one-piece steel Leupold mount and Leupold high rings and the Tasco bolted in. Spent an hour bore sighting it, and the first shot at 50yd was touching the black. Second shot was touching the first, third was just below that one!! These were all from a benchrest and sandbags but for sighting it that is all I use.

Moved over to the 100yd range and just as I expected it was right on, just a tad high as the bullet software said it would be, and the overall group was about 1" maybe a bit less. Still a dead deer shot. Even tried two shots at the 200yd range and it was still on, about 5 inches low as expected, but the hold over worked on the second shot and rang the plate.

Think this scope may work for this year! Of course, have to tell the wife it's not 'quite' working as well so I can shop for some better glass next year!!

Thanks folks.

 

[moooose102]

i would say, for this season, leave the scope you have mounted on there. go buy at least 5 boxes of shells, practice with 4 of them. more if you can afford it. i am a cheap scope guy. because i have to be, not because i want to be. but this close to the season i would leave what you have where it is. after the season is over, switch it out and see if you like it, and if it is any good. you do not want to be scrambling around at the last minute getting stuff ready to hunt with. confidence in your equipment is important. you can work your confidence up with that second scope over the next year. and for heavens sake, IF you can afford a GOOD scope, go out and buy one. mount the tasco on a 22! your hunting rig is no place to be cheap!