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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Cheers,
Rob
I'm into gun control -
I always use both hands!!!!!!!
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 $1500 scope yuo will be surprised. Doc
After reading all your post I have to tell you about a friend with a Marlin 30-30 and is chepo 40$ 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.
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.
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Dedicated to SwedeSteve, Arkansashunter and Ezearln. Rest in peace my friends.
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
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?
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