No, they are not being made it china! Next time ask the question if you don't know the truth. Don’t make inaccurate statements and then request if your own information holds truth.
Who makes the best Inexpensive Rifle Scope??
- Thread starter Harve Curry
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No, they are not being made it china! Next time ask the question if you don't know the truth. Don’t make inaccurate statements and then request if your own information holds truth.
There were (Still?) counterfeit Leupold Tactile scope reportly made in China ( hong kong?) which where being sold on Ebay for super super cheap. These are not REAL Leupolds, a shooting buddy got one and it look very much like the real thing. A gunshow Walter Mitty would not have been able to tell the differance.
I'm amazed how well the Center Point 4-16X40 scopes that I have on my .22 rimfire rifles work. You can buy them at WalMart for under $70.00. Read about them here. http://www.centerpointoptics.com/
For what it is worth
I am a die-hard Leupold fan but, I have run across other less expensive scopes that have impressed me quite a lot. I have one Nikon Monarch that I absolutely love. While it is not cheap, it is certainly a whole lot of scope for the money. You might consider one of their less expensive models. The other one that comes to mind is a 2x10 Weaver Classic I picked up in a trade. The finish was very good and the glass crystal clear. I traded it off for something else only because I would have had to find new Ruger rings for the 77/22 that I was going to put it on.
I am a die-hard Leupold fan but, I have run across other less expensive scopes that have impressed me quite a lot. I have one Nikon Monarch that I absolutely love. While it is not cheap, it is certainly a whole lot of scope for the money. You might consider one of their less expensive models. The other one that comes to mind is a 2x10 Weaver Classic I picked up in a trade. The finish was very good and the glass crystal clear. I traded it off for something else only because I would have had to find new Ruger rings for the 77/22 that I was going to put it on.
Are we talkin cheap or CHEAP
In another life I was a ski bum. The challenge was how good you could ski with the worstest pair of skis. The best could ski very well indeed.
I guess without knowing it I'm doing the same with scopes. My $50.00 gun show Bushnell aint cutting it. But the $69 Centerpoint 4-16 is. I bought one because of what I've read here. I don't know how they will hold up over the long haul. But I'm impressed with it so far.
I own four other cheap scopes. They don't come close.
In another life I was a ski bum. The challenge was how good you could ski with the worstest pair of skis. The best could ski very well indeed.I guess without knowing it I'm doing the same with scopes. My $50.00 gun show Bushnell aint cutting it. But the $69 Centerpoint 4-16 is. I bought one because of what I've read here. I don't know how they will hold up over the long haul. But I'm impressed with it so far.
I own four other cheap scopes. They don't come close.
Centerpoint scopes are built like tanks. They are heavy but do hold up well. Working well after a couple hundred rounds from my Mossberg ATR 30-06 budget build. This scope has too many useful features that work well to ignore for only $69. Again the only major drawback...weight. Crossman does claim the scopes are tested up to .416 Rigby and reverse recoil from airguns.
Mil-Dot, IR both red and green, Target Knobs resettable to zero with turret locking rings, Fast Focus Eyepiece, AO from below 10yrds to infinity, and fully coated optics.
Here's mine on my (newly painted) ATR
Mil-Dot, IR both red and green, Target Knobs resettable to zero with turret locking rings, Fast Focus Eyepiece, AO from below 10yrds to infinity, and fully coated optics.
Here's mine on my (newly painted) ATR
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I have no doubt, that if you are putting the little air piston, break barrel rated tasco on an ar, or any other semi auto, you will have no probs; semi auto recoil is nothing for a piston air rifle rated scope to eat up. Plus it is not huge, so it will not overpower your ar. The only prob I have with centerpoint is, well.... it is Chinese. Now then, if it were made in china, but in a factory to american or japanese or euro standards, with the same as above mgmt, with parts not made in china, with trained chinese employees,that are regularly classed and schooled by mgmt, that may be a bit different. And there are a few scope companies over there, just like I described as above. and when you go to there websites, they will be proud to tell you this, very openly. that all they use Chinese-wise, is their labor; everything else, every part, every machine, every tool, all the training, all the mgmt, is non Chinese.
jp; I think a few dabs of some darkbrown/rust coloring will look really good
on the mossy as well.
on the mossy as well.
That depends completely upon your definition of inexpensive. But without knowing more about the specifics of what you mean, the answer is probably Nikon. All Nikon lines, but especially the Omega & Slugmaster lines.
alsaqr
Member
For decades I bought cheap scopes. There are over a dozen broken cheap scopes in a box in the attic. One of those scopes went belly up at a most inopportune time: It cost me a 7x7 elk.
Years ago I started buying Leupolds: Mostly fixed power Leupolds. Several of my Leupold scopes are on guns that have a lot of recoil. Have never had a problem with a Leupold scope.
Last winter I had the pleasure of hog hunting in the US with three German guys. Imagine my surpirse when these dedicated hog hunters showed up with Leupold FXIII 6X42 scopes on their rifles.
Warning from E-Bay:
How to identify a counterfeit MK 4 scope:
http://www.4scopes.com/counterfeit_scopes.htm
Years ago I started buying Leupolds: Mostly fixed power Leupolds. Several of my Leupold scopes are on guns that have a lot of recoil. Have never had a problem with a Leupold scope.
Last winter I had the pleasure of hog hunting in the US with three German guys. Imagine my surpirse when these dedicated hog hunters showed up with Leupold FXIII 6X42 scopes on their rifles.
Warning from E-Bay:
How to identify a counterfeit MK 4 scope:
http://www.4scopes.com/counterfeit_scopes.htm
Leupolds-China-Yup some stuff...
I recently was shopping for a laser rangefinder and while comparing various models at Cabela's, noticed this "warning label" on the Leupold box
So...yeah. China is now making stuff for Leupold. I have no idea WHAT models are included here but REST ASSURED, Leupold has also sold out.
So I ended up buying a Bushnell Scout 1000. last year's model, clearance priced @ $119. sumthing. figure if I'm gonna get Chinese glass, I will pay as little as necessary.
I recently was shopping for a laser rangefinder and while comparing various models at Cabela's, noticed this "warning label" on the Leupold box
So...yeah. China is now making stuff for Leupold. I have no idea WHAT models are included here but REST ASSURED, Leupold has also sold out.
So I ended up buying a Bushnell Scout 1000. last year's model, clearance priced @ $119. sumthing. figure if I'm gonna get Chinese glass, I will pay as little as necessary.
It's certainly not Tasco. Sure they have a lifetime warranty and sure they're cheap, but I've cashed in on that warranty enough.
Leupold scopes are not made in china..... on certain select models the components are made in china, shipped to the U.S. and assembled here.
Does that make us feel better? Not I, if your going to chock the thing full of chinese made parts you might as well build the @#&* thing in china!
Anyway you cut it... it stinks!
I was going to say Pride-Fowler, Inc (www.rapidreticle.com), but they really increased their prices.
Because of "Blackops" reaction, I thought I would try to do some of my own research and this is what I tentatively found.
According to Gale McMillan's experience in the business, there are several major optics companies that buy their glass and tubes from Japan (who make the finest optics around) and assemble here in the U.S. and even the German companies have been doing so since the '90s.
Apparently the Leupold Rifleman series are off the shelf Chinese scopes that have been re-branded. The Japanese are the best followed by the Koreans and then the Chinese.
Apparently, the major makers can order their glass, coatings, and even tubes according to how much they want to spend and the QC can be as strict as they want it to be. Big debate about QC and other factors in control of manufacturing processes which if followed strictly - do not require QC!
According to Gale McMillan's experience in the business, there are several major optics companies that buy their glass and tubes from Japan (who make the finest optics around) and assemble here in the U.S. and even the German companies have been doing so since the '90s.
Apparently the Leupold Rifleman series are off the shelf Chinese scopes that have been re-branded. The Japanese are the best followed by the Koreans and then the Chinese.
Apparently, the major makers can order their glass, coatings, and even tubes according to how much they want to spend and the QC can be as strict as they want it to be. Big debate about QC and other factors in control of manufacturing processes which if followed strictly - do not require QC!
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Maverick223
Member
Hey Maverick223,
Read carefully! I said According to Gale McMillan....
That is what I got off the internet. I am not here for a pissing match as to who does the best glass grinding and polishing and whether or not there are industry established standards and formulae for glass coatings.
I am only repeating what I got from that gentleman who was actually in the industry. I have also spoken to others who have direct experience with the Japanese optics houses.
Is it not interesting that we expect all sorts of information on lenses and coatings and many other properties from the Camera companies but no one wants a no-bulls..t assessment of the optics in rifle telescopes - we go by what the manufacturers claim - no independent assessments by laboratories that can check on the claims made by the companies that market their products and make all sorts of outlandish claims.
Very few of these "purveyors" of optical products will tell where their stuff was made and where assembled. And we continue to bad mouth these countries that end up producing many of the products we use. Quite ironic.
Read carefully! I said According to Gale McMillan....
That is what I got off the internet. I am not here for a pissing match as to who does the best glass grinding and polishing and whether or not there are industry established standards and formulae for glass coatings.
I am only repeating what I got from that gentleman who was actually in the industry. I have also spoken to others who have direct experience with the Japanese optics houses.
Is it not interesting that we expect all sorts of information on lenses and coatings and many other properties from the Camera companies but no one wants a no-bulls..t assessment of the optics in rifle telescopes - we go by what the manufacturers claim - no independent assessments by laboratories that can check on the claims made by the companies that market their products and make all sorts of outlandish claims.
Very few of these "purveyors" of optical products will tell where their stuff was made and where assembled. And we continue to bad mouth these countries that end up producing many of the products we use. Quite ironic.
Maverick223
Member
That may have been the case back in the 90s or he could have meant best used in the rifle scope business. Who knows? I wish someone could do a "tell all". Because anything else is a lot of non-scientific speculation which ends up upsetting people whose favorite brand was not what they thought to be the truth.
For example, what is the complete truth behind coating on glass? Is it to smooth out the pits in the glass caused by imperfections in the glass or the grinding and polishing processes?
Anyway, who do NASA go to when they want optics for projects like spy cameras or even the Hubble? Lowest bidder? Life is full of compromises.
I am in this for the sake of curiosity because I like to learn new facts or get to the truth. I am not interested in it for winning pissing contests and it doubtful whether or not I will be able to afford to buy rifle scopes in the $1000 range, more like $650-800 at the very most.
For example, what is the complete truth behind coating on glass? Is it to smooth out the pits in the glass caused by imperfections in the glass or the grinding and polishing processes?
Anyway, who do NASA go to when they want optics for projects like spy cameras or even the Hubble? Lowest bidder? Life is full of compromises.
I am in this for the sake of curiosity because I like to learn new facts or get to the truth. I am not interested in it for winning pissing contests and it doubtful whether or not I will be able to afford to buy rifle scopes in the $1000 range, more like $650-800 at the very most.
I agree... jap glass is ok... but it is far, a long way, many miles, distant, the next planet... whoops.. form being the best!
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