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$250.00 and Under Target scope?

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Shooter31 View Drop Down
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    Posted: September/03/2018 at 20:21
I'm going to get a tack driving 10/22 built, and am looking for a scope for it. I know quality costs, but this is a .22 and most likely it will not be shot more than 100 yds. Paper and heads of little pests.
I've been getting  a lot of suggestions all over the place from other sources, but no consistent suggestions.
Target guys are saying minimum of 25x (is that really necessary for 100 yds and under) I do want more than the std rimfire of 2-7 or 3-9. Does a good(decent) scope exist for this price range?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/04/2018 at 01:16
$250 is a little tight for a good quality scope.  Your best bet is to look through various classified for scopes like Sightron S2 and S2B in the 4.5-14x and 4-16x range.  Vortex Viper 6.5-20x50 and a few others.

You do not need as much scope as benchrest guys use, but 16x is not a bad idea.

You should also take a look at SWFA fixed power 10x, 12x and 16x scopes that usually run for $300 new.  They are very good options for the money.

ILya
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shooter31 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/04/2018 at 08:37
Mueller has come up a couple times. I've heard of them, but never gave much thought. Opinion on those?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SVT_Tactical Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/04/2018 at 09:54

 Not sure if you are going to be entering into competitions but I personally think that 6x is plenty for 100 yds on a 22.....  I had one of these on my 10-22 for a while and was very happy - https://swfa.com/swfa-ss-6x42-tactical-30mm-riflescope-3.html.   Only took it off to put on a 223 but plan to replace it soon.  I could easily hit golfballs at 200yds with it.   I am sure at 100yds hitting dime size targets wouldnt' be hard. this one has a parallax you can set down to 10m so easy to use on closer shots too.

 

If you're only going to be shooting at 100yds and no closer then yes there are better options but high power on a rimfire limits usability in some cases.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/04/2018 at 11:03
Originally posted by Shooter31 Shooter31 wrote:

Mueller has come up a couple times. I've heard of them, but never gave much thought. Opinion on those?

Nothing noteworthy in my opinion.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SEMO Shooter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/04/2018 at 15:16
Originally posted by koshkin koshkin wrote:

$250 is a little tight for a good quality scope.  Your best bet is to look through various classified for scopes like Sightron S2 and S2B in the 4.5-14x and 4-16x range.  Vortex Viper 6.5-20x50 and a few others.

You do not need as much scope as benchrest guys use, but 16x is not a bad idea.

You should also take a look at SWFA fixed power 10x, 12x and 16x scopes that usually run for $300 new.  They are very good options for the money.

ILya

The Sightron S2 4-16x42 are pretty decent.  I have 2 of them, one was on a 10-22 and the other is on a CZ 17HMR.  Pretty good scope for the money.  It will be a bit above your $250 budget.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote urbaneruralite Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/05/2018 at 11:21
You can get a cheaper scope that will do the job. You will enjoy using the more expensive scopes much more. 

Swift has a 4.5-14x and Simmons has a 4-14x that might be worth a look. If you can up your budget a bit, there's the Weaver V16 and some others.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shooter31 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/06/2018 at 08:13
Well, I'm thinking about the meuller eradicator and a athlon talos. Been seeing those get some recommendations lately.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kickboxer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/07/2018 at 05:12
 I've not picked up a Mueller in a long while, but spent some time with a few about 10 years or so ago.  I found Mueller to be very inconsistent in quality (kind of like ATN), sometimes hanging on a lot of features at the expense of true capability.  IF you get a "good one" they are usually good.  I recommend caution with that brand.  Plus, koshkin still doesn't have much to say about them... he looks at LOTS of scopes.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote n4ue Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/03/2019 at 15:36
 While I admit I am not as experienced as Koshkin, I've been shooting for over 5 decades. I currently have 65 scopes. Two of my favorites, are a REAL Leupold LR/t on our Barrett M107A1 and a Sightron SIII on a Ruger varmint rifle. I'm 72 but still don't need glasses. Lucky, eh?
Lately, I've been in the process of 'upgrading' some of the older scopes on my target/varmint rifles.

Here's some of my recent purchases: All mostly 4-16X50 or 6-24X50.....

Vortex Strike Eagle
Vortex D.Back Tactical
Nikon X1000
Bushnell Engage
4 Discovery HD (both 30 and 34mm tubes)
2 Athlon Midas models
2 SWFA 10X42, SF

I know what you're thinking. Buy a S&B, USO, etc and get it over with. Fortunately. I have way too many rifles for that. All rifles have picatinny rails and all scopes have quality rings.
I built a fixture with 4 Picatinny mounts, so I can check scope #1 through #4, instantly.
This works a LOT better than looking through one at a time. ha ha.

I 'almost' feel bad for buying so much stuff from China.

Just a quick observation...
As I mentioned before, the turrets on the SWFA are pathetic! Old Simmonds are 10X better. The SS glass and reticles are fine, but the turrets suck!
By far, the best "BANG FOR THE BUCK" are the Discovery brand!
The construction and optical quality are excellent!!!
They are VERY heavy, which does not matter to me, because I only shoot paper.
Discovery scopes are not widely available. I get mine from a super nice guy in Canada.
'airgunarcheryfun' is his web site. His name is Wes and one of the most personable guys I've dealt with in 2500+ eBay buys. 
One downside is the 'free' rings he provides, they are the $8 'universal' rings which broke on my Ruger Precision Rimfire. Pure junk.

And NO, I get no discounts for this recommendation. Darn!

Just yesterday, I ordered another Discovery scope, this time an "ED" model.
(hate that designation!) ha ha

BTY, by means of side by side (so far), I have 3 Vortex Viper 6.5-20X50 scopes that have always been my 'baseline'. Made in the Philippines......

ron
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/03/2019 at 17:00
https://www.samplelist.com/swfa-ss-16x42-riflescope-demo-b-2.html


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Son of Ed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/22/2019 at 19:12
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/22/2019 at 19:28
Originally posted by n4ue n4ue wrote:

While I admit I am not as experienced as Koshkin, I've been shooting for over 5 decades. I currently have 65 scopes. Two of my favorites, are a REAL Leupold LR/t on our Barrett M107A1 and a Sightron SIII on a Ruger varmint rifle. I'm 72 but still don't need glasses. Lucky, eh?
Lately, I've been in the process of 'upgrading' some of the older scopes on my target/varmint rifles.

Here's some of my recent purchases: All mostly 4-16X50 or 6-24X50.....

Vortex Strike Eagle
Vortex D.Back Tactical
Nikon X1000
Bushnell Engage
4 Discovery HD (both 30 and 34mm tubes)
2 Athlon Midas models
2 SWFA 10X42, SF

I know what you're thinking. Buy a S&B, USO, etc and get it over with. Fortunately. I have way too many rifles for that. All rifles have picatinny rails and all scopes have quality rings.
I built a fixture with 4 Picatinny mounts, so I can check scope #1 through #4, instantly.
This works a LOT better than looking through one at a time. ha ha.

I 'almost' feel bad for buying so much stuff from China.

Just a quick observation...
As I mentioned before, the turrets on the SWFA are pathetic! Old Simmonds are 10X better. The SS glass and reticles are fine, but the turrets suck!
By far, the best "BANG FOR THE BUCK" are the Discovery brand!
The construction and optical quality are excellent!!!
They are VERY heavy, which does not matter to me, because I only shoot paper.
Discovery scopes are not widely available. I get mine from a super nice guy in Canada.
'airgunarcheryfun' is his web site. His name is Wes and one of the most personable guys I've dealt with in 2500+ eBay buys. 
One downside is the 'free' rings he provides, they are the $8 'universal' rings which broke on my Ruger Precision Rimfire. Pure junk.

And NO, I get no discounts for this recommendation. Darn!

Just yesterday, I ordered another Discovery scope, this time an "ED" model.
(hate that designation!) ha ha

BTY, by means of side by side (so far), I have 3 Vortex Viper 6.5-20X50 scopes that have always been my 'baseline'. Made in the Philippines......

ron

Never laid eyes on Discovery scopes, so I have no opinion there.  Looking at the pictures, they are likely the same OEM scopes as everyone else in that price range has, but that is just a guess.

If SWFA turrets do not feel right, spin them back and forth a couple of times to spread the grease under the turrets.

Diamondback Tactical is a good scope.  I just got done testing the 4-16x model.

Strike Eagle is not a design I like.  Not my cup of tea and probably a bad idea for Vortex.  They really should spin Crossfire and Strike Eagle into a separate brand, so that it is not under the same name as their better products.  This is classic brand dilution error.

Athlon Midas is very good.

Nikon is a bit rudderless right now, so I do not know what to make of them.  X1000 is OK in temrs of optomechanics, if you get a good one.

Havn't tested Bushnell Engage yet.

ILya
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AffordableOptics Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/17/2019 at 23:40
yeah i bought a Discovery for my YouTube reviews funny thing i got it form the same place, 

https://youtu.be/DerSb0Y-d34

I Had bought the 34mm scope, with on all accounts is a pretty sweet scope but in hindsight the 30MM has more elevation and windage adjustment, and thus would be better for longer range 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/17/2019 at 23:52
Interesting.  It looks like these scopes are trying to rip off the cosmetics of Tangent Theta.  I guess imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

I think I know the OEM of these scopes and I would stay away.  They might be OK for PCP airguns if you are looking for something cheap, but I probably would not use one on anything else.

This is based on a guess of who the OEM is, so take it it for what it is: no personal experience with this brand, but a fair amount of experience with this OEM.

ILya
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AffordableOptics Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/19/2019 at 00:20
wow you are right the similarities are astounding,  Tangent Theta's prices are like nuts though! 4k and up!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/19/2019 at 00:22
Originally posted by AffordableOptics AffordableOptics wrote:

wow you are right the similarities are astounding,  Tangent Theta's prices are like nuts though! 4k and up!

The similarities are cosmetic only.

There is a reason Tangent Theta costs what it does.

ILya
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Matt_J Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/12/2020 at 09:26
Originally posted by Kickboxer Kickboxer wrote:

I've not picked up a Mueller in a long while, but spent some time with a few about 10 years or so ago.  I found Mueller to be very inconsistent in quality (kind of like ATN), sometimes hanging on a lot of features at the expense of true capability.  IF you get a "good one" they are usually good.  I recommend caution with that brand.  Plus, koshkin still doesn't have much to say about them... he looks at LOTS of scopes.

I almost bought a Mueller because of the high praise it has received, but didn't want to take a chance on inconsistent quality. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bolero Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/17/2020 at 10:53
I shoot 50BR, 100BR, 200BR....Tasco Japan 36X from the 1980's...easily the most under rated scope out there, Wally Seibert said As good as a Leupold of same period....
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/22/2020 at 14:51
Originally posted by Bolero Bolero wrote:

I shoot 50BR, 100BR, 200BR....Tasco Japan 36X from the 1980's...easily the most under rated scope out there, Wally Seibert said As good as a Leupold of same period....

Important to note that was the older ones.  I had some Tasco scopes years ago that were not bad but I bought a rimfire tasco recently and was amazed how bad it actually was. New Tasco seriously not recommended older one might be worth a look.   As far as lower price range optics the Redfield scopes have been superb for the cost. 

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