400$ scope on a 300$ rifle

Rattle'em up · 03-10-2008, 09:20 AM

Does it make sense to spend more on a scope than the rifle? Especially if it's a cheap 300$ rifle? Say something like a Zeiss conquest on a Stevens rifle.

soonerborn · 03-10-2008, 12:52 PM

I does make sense if the rifle shoots good and you want to shoot it enough to justify spending the money on the scope. It will wind up being cheaper than going through several 100 scopes.

EHCRain10 · 03-10-2008, 01:14 PM

if you find a $300 gun that shoots really well, then why not get a scope that will help to produce even better results

ArkansasHunter · 03-10-2008, 01:15 PM

Only if you can afford to do so...A.H

samuel · 03-10-2008, 01:28 PM

I have a $700. Nikon on a $100 savage M219,.22Hornet.I like it. sam.

killer · 03-10-2008, 02:18 PM

Seems like the more I spend on a scope...in the long run I am glad I did. I've got some on the low end cost wise and have some issues, mainly clarity.

I kind of have a rule of thumb to put glass on that at least cost 1/3 of the price of the rifle.

I think a man is always happy they put on the best glass they can afford. When a gun doesn't perform it's always nagging in the back of their mind..."Is it the cheap glass?" With good glass they can usually eliminate that as why a gun is a poor shooter.

dogman2 · 03-10-2008, 06:25 PM

I would rather see a good scope on a poor rifle than a poor scope on a good rifle.

EagleScout777 · 03-10-2008, 06:49 PM

Depends on weather or not you bought them at Wal Mart (

)

billy · 03-10-2008, 07:21 PM

i love expensive glass.
my wallet doesnt agree.
400 bucks isnt THAT crazy.

lefty o · 03-10-2008, 07:29 PM

i have a savage 12fvss with a nightforce on it. the glass is more important than the rifle.

HAWKEYE50 · 03-10-2008, 07:39 PM

I think killer said it best, "did I miss due to the glass". My encore ml/vxiii combination is my first to be exactly the match i was looking for. I spent 600.00 for each of them. Too many previous combinations of mine have been lacking in the glass department, and that sucks.

wirehunt · 03-11-2008, 01:14 AM

Spend it. It is worth every cent and maybe a bit more. You won't regret it in the long run.

rdale501 · 03-11-2008, 12:47 PM

One of my favorite rifles is a mod 700 25/06. I bought it used for $150 and put a Leupold 3x9 vari Xlll tacticle on it. The scope was about $600 at the time.

Farmer · 03-12-2008, 03:35 AM

Im with dogman, good scope on cheap rifle is fine. I spent $1200 on my loupy and put it on a cmc mountineer 15 years ago, the cmc's gone but the scope is still with me on a better gun.

doc44 · 03-15-2008, 09:38 PM

Only in america do we spend $1000 on a rifle an try to use a $100 dollar glass! Buy all means always get a better glass then gun! $1000 gun $1500 scope yuo will be surprised. Doc

SwedeSteve · 03-16-2008, 10:02 AM

The very best advice is go look through them! Compare them. An buy the very best you can afford.

Rattle'em up · 03-16-2008, 10:40 AM

After reading all your post I have to tell you about a friend with a Marlin 30-30 and is chepo 40$ scope. A good hunting partner of mine has had the same old Bushnell scope on is Marlin rifle for 20yrs. He has taken more game like whitetail deer hogs and some exotics here in Texas than most people. The scope looks trashed but doesn't leak or change zero and seems very clear on sunny days. It does have glare when pointed towards the sun, but that stands to reason and he keeps it on a low recoiling rifle which might explain why it held zero for so long. So the moral of the story is cheap is not always bad.

texnmidwest · 03-16-2008, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rattle'em up

After reading all your post I have to tell you about a friend with a Marlin 30-30 and is chepo 40$ scope. A good hunting partner of mine has had the same old Bushnell scope on is Marlin rifle for 20yrs. He has taken more game like whitetail deer hogs and some exotics here in Texas than most people. The scope looks trashed but doesn't leak or change zero and seems very clear on sunny days. It does have glare when pointed towards the sun, but that stands to reason and he keeps it on a low recoiling rifle which might explain why it held zero for so long. So the moral of the story is cheap is not always bad.

That can be true depending on what you want to do with it. If you want good hunting accuracy and shoot close to medium ranges, sure cheap scopes may suffice. But, if you are wanting to pop pasture poodles (prairie dogs) at 500 yards then the better scope will definitely come into play. Bushnell makes some great scopes for the money.

Plus, there is no way to know if the scope is leaking or not. The way one finds out is when you are in the South Texas brush on a humid day and a nice buck steps out. You raise your rifle and all you see through the scope is fog. Been there, done that. Very sad feeling watching Muey Grande walk away because your scope fogged up. I learned to leave old scopes in the car overnight. That way there is no temperature changes at hunting time.

sell33 · 03-16-2008, 10:51 AM

I have always heard glass should be worth more than the gun. Unfortunately i don't usually have the money to do that lol...but go for the zeiss they are very very nice

Cyrille · 03-16-2008, 11:03 AM

I'm having the same dilemma, I have a $100.00 BSA 3X9 that I put on a $200.00 rifle. It shoots P.O.A. @25 yds which is as far as I have had the chance to test fire it thus far.
I am thinking of upgrading to a $200.00 scope are thereabouts. Would it be in my best interest to do so? And if so what are some of the advantages of a more expensive scope?

03-10-2008, 09:20 AM	#1
Rattle'em up Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Austin,Texas Posts: 103	400$ scope on a 300$ rifle Does it make sense to spend more on a scope than the rifle? Especially if it's a cheap 300$ rifle? Say something like a Zeiss conquest on a Stevens rifle.

03-10-2008, 02:18 PM	#6
killer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In the rat race Posts: 905 Images: 6	Seems like the more I spend on a scope...in the long run I am glad I did. I've got some on the low end cost wise and have some issues, mainly clarity. I kind of have a rule of thumb to put glass on that at least cost 1/3 of the price of the rifle. I think a man is always happy they put on the best glass they can afford. When a gun doesn't perform it's always nagging in the back of their mind..."Is it the cheap glass?" With good glass they can usually eliminate that as why a gun is a poor shooter. __________________ "Yeee Hawww...I'm a cowboy on an iron horse." Killer's cabin: http://buckmountainchateau.com/

03-10-2008, 06:49 PM	#8
EagleScout777 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 39	Depends on weather or not you bought them at Wal Mart ()

03-10-2008, 07:21 PM	#9
billy spiritual counselor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 12,105 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 146	i love expensive glass. my wallet doesnt agree. 400 bucks isnt THAT crazy. __________________

03-11-2008, 01:14 AM	#12
wirehunt Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Otago New Zealand Posts: 655	Spend it. It is worth every cent and maybe a bit more. You won't regret it in the long run. __________________ Happy Hunting

03-10-2008, 12:52 PM	#2
soonerborn Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 320	I does make sense if the rifle shoots good and you want to shoot it enough to justify spending the money on the scope. It will wind up being cheaper than going through several 100 scopes.

03-10-2008, 01:14 PM	#3
EHCRain10 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Dinwiddie, VA Posts: 117	if you find a $300 gun that shoots really well, then why not get a scope that will help to produce even better results

03-10-2008, 01:15 PM	#4
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 10,686	Only if you can afford to do so...A.H

03-10-2008, 01:28 PM	#5
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,087	I have a $700. Nikon on a $100 savage M219,.22Hornet.I like it. sam.

03-10-2008, 06:25 PM	#7
dogman2 Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Iowa Posts: 133	I would rather see a good scope on a poor rifle than a poor scope on a good rifle.

03-10-2008, 07:29 PM	#10
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,789	i have a savage 12fvss with a nightforce on it. the glass is more important than the rifle.

03-10-2008, 07:39 PM	#11
HAWKEYE50 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: HOLLY MI Posts: 166 Blog Entries: 20	I think killer said it best, "did I miss due to the glass". My encore ml/vxiii combination is my first to be exactly the match i was looking for. I spent 600.00 for each of them. Too many previous combinations of mine have been lacking in the glass department, and that sucks.

03-11-2008, 12:47 PM	#13
rdale501 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: oregon Posts: 398	One of my favorite rifles is a mod 700 25/06. I bought it used for $150 and put a Leupold 3x9 vari Xlll tacticle on it. The scope was about $600 at the time.

03-12-2008, 03:35 AM	#14
Farmer Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Limbri NSW Au Posts: 296	Im with dogman, good scope on cheap rifle is fine. I spent $1200 on my loupy and put it on a cmc mountineer 15 years ago, the cmc's gone but the scope is still with me on a better gun. __________________ Cheers, Rob

03-15-2008, 09:38 PM	#15
doc44 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 6	Only in america do we spend $1000 on a rifle an try to use a $100 dollar glass! Buy all means always get a better glass then gun! $1000 gun $1500 scope yuo will be surprised. Doc

03-16-2008, 10:02 AM	#16
SwedeSteve Thor's Hammer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 10,346 Images: 1	The very best advice is go look through them! Compare them. An buy the very best you can afford. __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

03-16-2008, 10:40 AM	#17
Rattle'em up Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Austin,Texas Posts: 103	After reading all your post I have to tell you about a friend with a Marlin 30-30 and is chepo 40$ scope. A good hunting partner of mine has had the same old Bushnell scope on is Marlin rifle for 20yrs. He has taken more game like whitetail deer hogs and some exotics here in Texas than most people. The scope looks trashed but doesn't leak or change zero and seems very clear on sunny days. It does have glare when pointed towards the sun, but that stands to reason and he keeps it on a low recoiling rifle which might explain why it held zero for so long. So the moral of the story is cheap is not always bad.

03-16-2008, 10:51 AM	#19
sell33 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,194	I have always heard glass should be worth more than the gun. Unfortunately i don't usually have the money to do that lol...but go for the zeiss they are very very nice

03-16-2008, 11:03 AM	#20
Cyrille Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: South Louisiana Posts: 1,850	I'm having the same dilemma, I have a $100.00 BSA 3X9 that I put on a $200.00 rifle. It shoots P.O.A. @25 yds which is as far as I have had the chance to test fire it thus far. I am thinking of upgrading to a $200.00 scope are thereabouts. Would it be in my best interest to do so? And if so what are some of the advantages of a more expensive scope?