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Cheap illuminated mil-dot |
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dantheman
Optics GrassHopper Joined: January/26/2011 Status: Offline Points: 6 |
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Posted: January/26/2011 at 04:50 |
I'm pretty much a scope noob and need some help. I saw a 3-9 Centerpoint illuminated mil-dot a couple of days ago on a rifle, the kind you can find at Wal-Mart for half a bill. I've been curious about mil-dots and I really liked the way it lit up. The green setting was very bright, and honestly, I just think the reticle looks cool. Now I want something like it to play with. It'd be mainly on a .22, but might spend some time on an AR, so I can learn the use of mil-dot at range.
Is it a good choice in this segment or is there another cheapy (BSA, NCStar, etc.) that would be better? This is for toying around. I'm not in the position or have the desire to drop several hundred on a good scope with these features right now. I might go up to $100 if it offers a substantial benefit. It can be fixed or variable anywhere from 1 to 10 power, preferably with some part in the 2 to 4 power range.
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tman1965
Optics Master Joined: July/20/2010 Location: South Georgia Status: Offline Points: 1456 |
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Welcome to OT! I have played with a few of the centerpoint scopes. I bought 2 of them a couple of years ago and just recently bought 25 of them in a bulk purchase deal. I have found them to be very decent scopes for the money. I have tested them on a .22, .308, 30-06, 7.7x58, 8x57 and 300wsm. and have not broken one yet. They will focus very clearly down to 3 yds. the glass is decent and the adjustments work fine. Of course, these are just my personal opinions, and experiences and ymmv, but I'm not sorry I bought them.
Edited by tman1965 - January/26/2011 at 06:16 |
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dantheman
Optics GrassHopper Joined: January/26/2011 Status: Offline Points: 6 |
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Thanks for the info. Anyone know whether the BSA's or NCStars are better or worse? Or another brand that might be better?
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SVT_Tactical
MODERATOR Chief Sackscratch Joined: December/17/2009 Location: NorthCackalacky Status: Offline Points: 31233 |
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the cheapest red dot I would purchase would be the Vortex Strikefire. Backed by a LIFETIME warranty and its tough to begin with.
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dantheman
Optics GrassHopper Joined: January/26/2011 Status: Offline Points: 6 |
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I'm seriously thinking about one of those for my AR, but I said illum mil-dot, not red dot. |
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dodge111
Optics GrassHopper Joined: January/26/2011 Location: westland,usa Status: Offline Points: 3 |
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http://swfa.com/Vortex-6-24x50-Crossfire-Rifle-Scope-P43585.aspx
vortex crossfire is on sale for only 99.95$ has mixed reviews, but is returnable if you aren't pleased with lifetime warranty. Maybe also look @ centerpoint, they're made in china, for crossman & are pretty decent glass for little money. but why not just get this one listed above? |
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race/ride support 2011 & beyond |
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dodge111
Optics GrassHopper Joined: January/26/2011 Location: westland,usa Status: Offline Points: 3 |
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http://centerpoint.crosman.com/riflescopes/adventure/CP624AORG
center points version |
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race/ride support 2011 & beyond |
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dantheman
Optics GrassHopper Joined: January/26/2011 Status: Offline Points: 6 |
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I wasn't looking for something that big or with that much magnification, but the link to the Centerpoint website is helpful. Thanks!
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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Cheap price + illuminated reticles = likely problems imminent
When you decide to buy an inexpensive optic, keep things as basic as possible. There's no way a manufacturer can add "premium" type features to an inexpensive optic and still make a profit without serious concessions being made elsewhere. If those concessions affect mechanical integrity / ability to hold POA/POI, the optic is essentially useless for its intended purpose and you've wasted money that could have been used toward something better.
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Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
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Stevesdl
Optics GrassHopper Joined: February/02/2010 Location: Colorado Status: Offline Points: 22 |
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Okay started writing a novel. Delete the story telling and decided to just tell the short and kinda sweet. This still ended up being long. sigh
Bought the centerpoint 4-16x44mm at Wally World for $69.00. Could not use the included dovetail mount and rings but my existing mount and 1" rings worked perfectly and actually had the scope at perfect height to my barrel and cheek meld. Scope is mounted on a Weatherby Vanguard 338 Win Mag temporarily replacing my 3-9x40 BDC Nikon Primos.
Loosening the alan wrench turrets anything more than "barely" raise the probability of having it fall off. One really needs to only loosen the ring that locks the turrents. Clicks are solid.
Illumination worked as should outside (red). Green could not be seen as well on this sunny day. Was decent. Retical is all right. Dots are visable enough to use and yet not too bold to confuse where the target is. Never bought a mil-dot before but I could learn and use this if needed.
At 200 yards on the 220 yard range, there is definitely parallax issues using anything above 12 power but the parallax adjustment corrects the issue. The real problem is that the 16 power is not very clear at all. Not worth ever turning to that power and 12-14 was not that great either but in all fairness the 10 power and below was really "decent glass". Not phenominal but good for $69.00.
100 yard sightin with 3 different over the counter manufacturer ammo and 1 hand reload ammo. Took 3 shots to get to bullseye but this is where things went south. 1 shot out of each of the three shot groups would hit 1" bullseye but the other two shots would always be out. More like a pretzel than a close clover. At first I thought it was me, but all 4 types of ammo was reflecting the same thing. Aside from 2 or three decent groups, all others were severly open and inconsistent. Continuous adjustments never permanently corrected the groupings.
After 2+ hours shooting 3 shots groups and letting barrel cool after every 6 rounds, I gave up, removed the Centerpoint scope and remounted my Nikon 3-9x40mm BDC Primos. Within 3 shots I was shooting 3 shot clovers. and shot 6-7 clovers to end the day.
Maybe the 338 Win Mag is too much recoil, but this scope will just not keep a zero. Even if another Centerpoint scope worked, these type of results are too inconsistent for me to recommend the scope for any serious dependability, at least not with a 338 win mag. Additionally, why get a 4-16 power scope if the optics are really only good at 10x at best.
Bottom line:Some have had decent experience with this scope but after today, and it was an enjoyable experience for me to test and see for myself, I will now state that for scopes, the very inexpensive scopes, you get what you pay for and I wouldn't chance a Bull Elk shot with this scope. My Nikon 3-9x40mm Nikon Primos is not an expensive scope by far at $200.00 but is an exceptionally clear and accurate scope and I get my money's worth every shooting and hunting trip. I don't believe one has to spend $400-$500 for a good dependable decent scope but after this experience, I certainly gravitate away from these inexpensive scopes or recommend the experience to others unless you just want to see for yourself, and there is nothing wrong with that if your expectations are not too high. Cool thing about Walmart is I can get my money back. (P.S. I do have a Vortex Viper 4-16x44mm on backorder with SWFA. I am confident I will be happy with my money's worth with that scope)
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dantheman
Optics GrassHopper Joined: January/26/2011 Status: Offline Points: 6 |
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Thanks for the info an sharing your experience. Not really surprised it didn't hold up to a .338.
Ok, so what would be the least expensive decent scope with an illuminated mil-dot?
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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Something along the lines of this... http://swfa.com/Vortex-25-10x44-Viper-PST-30mm-Rifle-Scope-P44567.aspx You're wanting something that really doesn't exist, IMO. "Illuminated mil dot," "decent," and "cheap" don't go together. If you have the first two, you don't usually have the last. I don't know of any bargain priced lit mil dot scopes that I've personally seen that were any good. |
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Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
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Stevesdl
Optics GrassHopper Joined: February/02/2010 Location: Colorado Status: Offline Points: 22 |
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I concur with RifleDude --> Illuminated mil dot," "decent," and "cheap" don't go together.
..but, for a light recoil rifle like a .22 or even a 5.56, it could work out nicely. Get it at your local Walley World (call ahead since some stroes dont carry it). If it doesn't work, return it along with your receipt.
Stevesdl
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