Thread: whats the cheapest scope you run

I found one of the newer pro-staffs in a box. Has the pull up to re-zero turrets. I'm going to dial it till it breaks. Be very cool if it does not break. $100 long range scope?

Clearidge rim fire 3-9×32 from the optic zone have run it on hard kicking centre fires cannot break it.

The difference between std and "rimfire" versions of the same scope is often only that the parallax is set to say 75yds on the rimfire one. The mechanicals are otherwise the same.

Originally Posted by 6x47

The difference between std and "rimfire" versions of the same scope is often only that the parallax is set to say 75yds on the rimfire one. The mechanicals are otherwise the same.

I bought a Leapold FX-2 for my Anshutz because it was pretty. Some forum members who were in the truck night shooting at a forum hunt in Kurow years ago will remember it breaking my best ever run of consecutive rabbits. Broke a cross hair. Never broken cross hairs on a .22 with anything else, even $5 Chinese shit.

Pretty sure in this case compared to regular Leapolds, the internals are junk. Otherwise I agree with you. Some terrible internals hold zero well, though you can spend days trying to get that zero.

Originally Posted by 6x47

The difference between std and "rimfire" versions of the same scope is often only that the parallax is set to say 75yds on the rimfire one. The mechanicals are otherwise the same.

The fixed parallax settings are a bit illogical in some cases. Bush hunters shoot at short range with their centerfires, and some rimfire users shoot way beyond 100 metres. I don't think parallax error is significant for most of us, but I do like to have a non-blurry view of my target. Maybe that's just me? AO?

Originally Posted by MightyBoosh

The fixed parallax settings are a bit illogical in some cases. Bush hunters shoot at short range with their centerfires, and some rimfire users shoot way beyond 100 metres. I don't think parallax error is significant for most of us, but I do like to have a non-blurry view of my target. Maybe that's just me? AO?

In part I agree. In general though, most centrefires are set to 100m because in almost all situations if you are shooting at targets closer than that, in centrefire applications, the margin of error for the intended target is usally much smaller than the target....(Who cares if you are 4 MOA out at 50 metres when the part of the pig/goat/deer you are shooting at is about the size f a dinner plate ( 12 inches wide at 50m is about 24 MOA....) so close shots wont matter. Rimfire at a rabbit or a rat on the other hand.....

Most people use the 22s at around 25 to 50 metres much of the time, so for the best results it would make sense to have a rim fire scope set to that distance. AO is also good, but once set to 50 or 7o metres, how many people actually bother to adjust it? A few, I expect, but not many

I have a few fixed power leopolds, but even they now look dark to look through now im used to better stuff. had a nico stirling silver crown on a 10/22 for almost 20 years that is still holding up on a mates .243- a cheep scope can be serviceable

I have a el cheapo no brand 6-24x50. I do not trust its turrets. But for 25-50m 22lr target shooting it is very adequate, lowering magnification to x20 it is very clear and bright, image quality is slightly worse than VX3 6-20 (a 1,200 dollar scope) but not by much, and the difference certainly has no effect for 25m shooting.

Cheapest I'm running is a Bushnell Trophy 3-9x40 on a 22. Impressive scope for the money, I have a Nikon rimfire on the other 22 but find the reticle a bit busy and get a bit of tunnel view effect. Next step up is a couple of Burris FF1 3-9x40's on a 308 and a 762x39, I really like these and reckon they're excellent bang for the dollars.
Got GC 3-9 and a Nikko Stirling 4-16 in storage for emergency but probably going to throw or gift them as it's like looking through an old milk bottle compared with the others.

I bought a Weaver Kaspa 1-4x24mm on a whim for $89. USD and have been using it on a Win Model 70 in 222 Rem and it is working well for me, quite clear, holds zero and adjustments have been spot on.



I use a number of Leupold Varix-II, VX-II and VX-2 1-4x20mm scopes on my combo guns and have been very happy with them over the years, I just purchased one of the new Leupold Freedom scopes in 1-4x20mm ($199. USD) and it looks every bit as good as the VX-2 line, time will tell

Cameraland had a special on Athlon Argos scopes and I picked up a 2-10x40mm with duplex reticle($129. USD) and it too has worked well again clear and adjustments spot on, turrets are a little high, I could do with out them as most of my shooting is under 300 yards on predators. I like the 4x power range with a large FOV on the bottom end and 10x on the top. I was at my nieces and took it on one hunt and picked up one coyote. My niece shot it at the range and just loved it, I'm rather short in stature and the a Weatherby/Howa Vanguard in 223 Youth model so it fit her well also. I left it for her to shoot over the next year until I can build her a rifle, girly stuff, pink and grey laminated stock etc.

Cheapest would have been a Vortex Crossfire 3-9x42. Not baaaad, but it didn't do anything particularly well.

I've had all sorts of scopes ranging from the mid-priced to the very expensive, and dollar for dollar, I still think you can't go past a Leupold vx2 or vx3. Everything you need and nothing you don't (for a general purpose rig).

A $50 scope I bought secondhand from Serious Shooters Rotovegas. Sits on one of my .22s. It’s good to go.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

NC Star long eye Relief 4 power...............and its lasted 4 years of .22LR shooting and tracks just fine!!

Fitted to an Anshultz exemplar pistol where I whack the elevation knob up and down 30 clicks from the 25yd target out to the 100 yds target. It is absolutely tracking perfectly as the combo of Eley Match and an anshultz barrel is a tack driver and every click is repeatable.

I even used one on my XP 7mmBR and it lasted two years and gave faithful service until the elevation knob stopped working.

Would I put one on anything going into the field......absolutely not but in .22LR range shooting absolutely.

Never tried their offering in rifle scopes however.

I have a tasco 4x and next up a leupold 4x . They work fine in the bush up to 200 m ish

There is a Hubertus 4x32 on my old stirling 14P 22 I bought back in about 87. Comparing it to my other scopes its maybe a 3x not a 4x. Fell off the motorbike and broke the bolt handle once and it survived that ok. Treated it like crap really. Would always shoot where I wanted it to. Never fogged up and never seemed to move and could never blame missing anything on the scope. I doubt it was more than a very budget model and I didn't actually buy it but geez its done well