Thread: Cheap gear that surprises you

Has anybody got any stories of products and gear that one would normally walk straight past but has turned out to be a diamond in the rough? Like the jw15 for example. Its cheap but rugged and does the job particularly well for what it is. There must be some scopes, bipod and other gear that performs better than its price point might suggest?

Russian Toz17 .22LR. Light, handy, rugged, tack drivers. Bought mine used last couple of years $120-$180. Worth every cent. Will take a Mossberg Plinkster 10rd mag if it is carefully sanded on edges for a friction fit. Load and seat up against closed bolt then enjoy.

Nikko Stirling Mountmaster 4x32 AO with 3/8 in match mounts.

Bought a hi powered Hatsan Air Rifle, springer, with one on to knock air rats out of palm tree. About a $280 package I recollect. Liked it so much it migrated to a Toz 17 22LR bunny buster. Not the sharpest optics but at the 80 mtres max range I shoot rabbits to, its plenty good, to well down into low light.

Then I couldn't hit squat with open sights on Air Rifle so couple of weeks ago bought another for $99 new. Dropping pigeons as fast as they show themselves. Gets good reviews among UK shooters also.

SNDWay rangefinder.

Bahco knife $16.79

hardly hunting related but I got a $30 drill from bunnings branded Ozito and it has had the worst treatment and its going like a champ

Ozito pole saw reaches 4m with 200mm bar only $ 180 complete ,I was so impressed I bought a skull saw and xtra bats

Originally Posted by nzfubz

Bahco knife $16.79

You got ripped off - I paid 11.80
But I did buy a box full (12 I think) :-)

$2 inflatable pillow from Kmart. Cheap, light, tough. Sit on it while glassing, sitting around camp, pillow at night, emergency fire lighting fuel, etc. Thanks for the heads up @mopheadrob

Originally Posted by uk_exile

$2 inflatable pillow from Kmart. Cheap, light, tough. Sit on it while glassing, sitting around camp, pillow at night, emergency fire lighting fuel, etc. Thanks for the heads up @mopheadrob

I’m too Scots to fritter away $2 so I use the bladder from a box of cheap wine!

Clearidge scopes from Jon at The Optic Zone performed way better than their price, the rimfire model I even ran on a 25-06 and a 308, couldn't break it.

Convoy torches. $20 or so from Aliexpress.

3HGR slings from Target Species on Trade Me have had all the special
Magpul, Blaser, Allen slings and at $60 the quality and features are way above price point

Another good buy are the Geisser boning knives from Kentmaster
Under $20 and as good as Dick and Victorinox.

Originally Posted by MB

SNDWay rangefinder.

+1 mine still going strong!