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Simmons Whitetail Classic 6.5-20x50

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slowr1der View Drop Down
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    Posted: September/15/2011 at 22:44
Anyone have one of these? What's your opinion on it? I'm looking at the ones a competitor has on sale.

I'm considering one and if I get it do a little scope swapping. One of my rifles that I target shoot with 99% of the time and just use hunting rarely is wearing a Burris Fullfield II 4.5-14x40 and I love it. However, my main deer rifle is wearing a Nikon Monarch 3-9x40 and while I like the Monarch, I'm not happy with the magnification range. I shoot this at the range a lot also and at 4-500 yards fairly often. I never use it below 5x when hunting and I'm not sure that I have ever shot with it at any less, and when I'm at the range with it I want a lot more than 9x.

I was thinking of replacing the Burris with this WTC scope, and putting the Burris on my deer rifle, and then I'm sure I could sell the Monarch for more than the WTC costs.

My biggest concern is I don't want to buy the WTC only to have it fail in 5 years and have to buy another one.

The only experience I've had with one is a buddy has one and I've gotten to look through it. The glass is impressive for the price, and he likes his. However, he is very rough on it often dropping it, but that being said I've noticed that each year when he checks it to sight it in to hunt with it's often way off. However, it seems to stay zeroed for him until he drops it, and then it seems to get knocked off, which could bet the scope or may just be his rings shifting or something it's hard to tell. Overall he is happy with it though, and I don't think anything in the $500 and under price range would hold up to the abuse he puts it through and not shift zero.


So what are your experiences with it? I'm not sure if I should get one, or just buy another FFII or something one of the Vipers in 6.5-20x44 for the extra money.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 3_tens Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/15/2011 at 23:23
You have some very serviceable scopes in the FF ll and Monarch. Why do you want to downgrade so much? If you buy the Simmons Don't sell the Monarch until you are sure of what you have bought. I would be afraid you will be very sorry. And most of all why would you go to a competitor when SWFA has the 110% price match. Loco Good glass trumps magnification always.

Edited by 3_tens - September/15/2011 at 23:24
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slowr1der View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote slowr1der Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/15/2011 at 23:40
I would much prefer to order from SWFA, but it doesn't look like they carry this scope since it's an exclusive to the competitor

That's what worries me is the downgrade. It's not that I want to take a huge step down, the 3-9x40 Monarch is just not working for me. I've tried to grow to like it, and I do love the scope, and would like to have one with more magnification, but for this rifle I really just want more than 9x on the top end. I know that I could be happy with the FFII with the tactical turrets on it, and since the rifle that the FFII is currently on doesn't really need something with great glass, anything since I don't hunt with it, so low light performance doesn't matter, I just wondered if I'd be better to throw something like this Simmons on it, and the FFII on my hunting/target rig and sell the Monarch. I want a 5-20 SWFA SS for this rifle pretty bad, but I just can't swing a scope in that price range right now. I could afford something like another FFII or a higher magnification Monarch, if the Simmons is a huge downgrade, but from looking at my buddies, while the glass isn't as good, it doesn't seem like it's much of a step down. I just wondered if the durability was there. If it was, it would likely do everything I'd need it to on this rifle, and I could get by much cheaper.

If these scopes are horrible, I'd much rather just stick with what I have until I find a deal on another nicer scope with more magification.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote eurolynn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/16/2011 at 07:08
I just 'lost' my White Tail Classic that I had for years.  Every time I swap scopes, I do the dunk test, just to be sure it is still water proof before I zero it.  The WTC sprung a bad leak, bubbles galore from the objective lens.  Sent it to Simmons (Bushnell) and they swapped it with a new Chinese 44-MAGLoco   I never even opened the box.

My point:  Don't do it.  If it fails or breaks you are out the cost of the scope, and ammo you zeroed it with.

For a price conscious scope I say you need  a Mueller from SWFA
APV Plex Mueller 4.5-14x40 APV Riflescope
Stock # - MAPV451440


This will serve you IMHO, better than the WTC. 






"Guns aren't toys! They're for family protection, hunting dangerous or delicious animals, and keeping the King of England out of your face!"
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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/16/2011 at 07:38
I have an older original WTC, not the new crappy ones, still a good scope for a lightly used rifle.  IF you can find an old one for a deal its worth it, new ones, the box is better than the contents from my experience lately with Simmons.
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slowr1der View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote slowr1der Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/16/2011 at 08:13
Thanks guys, looks like I will stay away from it and just look for a deal on another Burris, or higher powered Monarch or similar. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote lucytuma Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/16/2011 at 09:38
Originally posted by slowr1der slowr1der wrote:

Thanks guys, looks like I will stay away from it and just look for a deal on another Burris, or higher powered Monarch or similar. 
 
I believe you made the correct decision.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Poodleshooter1 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/16/2011 at 11:02
Save your pennies and get a Vortex Viper 6.5-20x. A vendor I won't name has a very good deal on them now at $260. SWFA will hopefully price match their offer under their 110% guarantee.
The new WTCs appear to be ok scopes for the money, and would be fine on a .22, but they're not a scope that will last. Erectors will fail, seals will fail, and you'll have little recourse for warranty besides replacement with another mediocre scope, assuming they haven't changed ownership again.
 
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