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Need Hunting Scope Help

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Optics GrassHopper
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    Posted: November/12/2006 at 11:08

Hello, I've been reading some of the previous postings, and I'm finding some useful information. However, I do have a current problem with my hunting scope, and I either need to know how to fix it or an inexpensive replacement.

I'll start out by saying I have a large family, so i'm on a strict budget. I recently went deer hunting w ith my Remington 700 BDL in 7mmRemMag. It currently has a Bushnell Custom-M 3-9x38 scope. I got moisture in the scope. It was raining. I have hunted in wet conditions before and I did not have this issue with this scope. I don't know how old the scope is because it came on th rifle, and it was inherited from the original owner. So, I took the scope ends off and tried to dry it out, but I ended up leaving water spots inside the scope, not a clear picture now.

I have a friend selling a Simmons Deerfield for $30. It is a 3-9x32. He doesn't know if it is shockproof, waterproof,fogproof. I went to the local Wal-mart to look at the scopes. (Deer Firearms season opens here in three more weeks.) I found a couple of options, first staying with Bushnell there is a 3x9-40 for 59.99, and a 4x12-40 for 69.99. Both are S/F/W proof. What is the difference between the variable powers? Is there a noticable difference worth the price? And then there was a BSA 3x9-40 for abput $30 it too is S/W?f proof.

 

I stated I'm on a strict budget, until i get out of school and get a better job, hence the low priced options. Which would be a better choice? I can scrape about $100 for scope in the next 2 weeks. Any suggestions will be helpful.

 

Thank you

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/12/2006 at 12:25
I would stay away from all of the above scopes you mention.

For under $100 you can get a Bushnell Trophy 3-9x40, which is a surprisingly nice little scope.

If you can scrape up another $40 or so, you can get Sightron S1 3-9x40 or Weaver K6 6x38.

ILya
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Roy Finn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/12/2006 at 12:35
Well, I can tell you that your old scope is through after removing the scope ends. Scopes are nitrogen purged at the factory to prevent fogging, but that's water under the bridge. I can tell you from first hand experience that the Bushnell Trophy series of scopes are pretty decent scopes and are in your price range. I have installed two of these scopes on buddies rifles and they are holding up just fine. One is on a 50 cal. muzzle loader and the other on a 12 ga. slug gun, so if their was going to be a durability issue I would have known about this a long time ago. If you are hunting big game, I would go with the 3-9x40 Bushnell Trophy. I'm sure some other's will have  suggestions maybe with Weaver or Simmons scopes. Don't get sucked into some other scopes in this price range because they advertise their scopes as having "fully multi-coated lens" that may not be as durable as the Trophy riflescopes. In this price range, I don't think that there will be significant differences in optical quality. Personally, I would stay away from BSA scopes. Welcome to the OpticsTalk forum and good luck on your hunt.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dolphin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/12/2006 at 17:00
I would agree with all of the above.  Below 100 dollars, most all scopes at equal prices are going to be similar, but the Bushnell Trophys and Simmons products of equal prices would be my choices.  Also, look for a 3x9 40mm Hakko made scope, marked down substantially at competitors site, made in Japan, that is going for $89.99.  The scope is far superior to any of those mentioned, its ridiculous.  I have not actually looked through this scope, but they have manufactured many scopes for other companies.  Despite the fact I have heard Hakko is going out of buisness (not sure if this is true, may be), the company that sells the scope should warrant the product.  I have done buisness with them, many a time.  Just do a search for Hakko rifle scopes, if you are interested.  Good luck and good hunting.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/12/2006 at 17:06
Originally posted by Dolphin Dolphin wrote:

I would agree with all of the above.  Below 100 dollars, most all scopes at equal prices are going to be similar, but the Bushnell Trophys and Simmons products of equal prices would be my choices.  Also, look for a 3x9 40mm Hakko made scope, marked down substantially at competitors site, made in Japan, that is going for $89.99.  The scope is far superior to any of those mentioned, its ridiculous.  I have not actually looked through this scope, but they have manufactured many scopes for other companies.  Despite the fact I have heard Hakko is going out of buisness (not sure if this is true, may be), the company that sells the scope should warrant the product.  I have done buisness with them, many a time.  Just do a search for Hakko rifle scopes, if you are interested.  Good luck and good hunting.


I would be a bit wary of recommending a scope you have not actually seen.  Hakko has made a lot of scopes for a number of makers over the years.  Some were excellent and some were absolute crap.  I would not buy a Hakko labeled scope without knowing more about it.  Either way, some Hakko labeled scopes I've seen over the years are certainly note superior to Bushnell Trophy, so I would advise caution there.

What exacerbates that is the fact that Hakko has been out of business for a few months now.  If the bloody thing breaks, you are out of luck.

ILya
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Roy Finn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/12/2006 at 17:34

ILya, do you know if Japan Optics Ltd is gong to pick-up where Hakko left off?

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dolphin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/12/2006 at 18:33
Originally posted by koshkin koshkin wrote:

Originally posted by Dolphin Dolphin wrote:

I would agree with all of the above.  Below 100 dollars, most all scopes at equal prices are going to be similar, but the Bushnell Trophys and Simmons products of equal prices would be my choices.  Also, look for a 3x9 40mm Hakko made scope, marked down substantially at competitors site, made in Japan, that is going for $89.99.  The scope is far superior to any of those mentioned, its ridiculous.  I have not actually looked through this scope, but they have manufactured many scopes for other companies.  Despite the fact I have heard Hakko is going out of buisness (not sure if this is true, may be), the company that sells the scope should warrant the product.  I have done buisness with them, many a time.  Just do a search for Hakko rifle scopes, if you are interested.  Good luck and good hunting.


I would be a bit wary of recommending a scope you have not actually seen.  Hakko has made a lot of scopes for a number of makers over the years.  Some were excellent and some were absolute crap.  I would not buy a Hakko labeled scope without knowing more about it.  Either way, some Hakko labeled scopes I've seen over the years are certainly note superior to Bushnell Trophy, so I would advise caution there.

What exacerbates that is the fact that Hakko has been out of business for a few months now.  If the bloody thing breaks, you are out of luck.

ILya
I generally agree with not recommending a scope I have not actually used, but in general, I have never seen a semi-premimum Japenese made scope that has not been of excellent quality and certainly superior to anything made in China, at an equal price, when the Japanese scope has been marked down.  I purchased, just to see what I was getting, from the same company that I recommended above, several Nikko Stirling scopes, some made in Japan, the others made in China.  The Japanese models are clearly superior, from an optics standpoint.  I have not had a chance to test them from the standpoint of the mechanics, on a rifle. These scopes have been used in Australia and New Zealand for years and have been well regarded.  But, in the US, you do not hear much about them.  The other thing, is that, the company that sells these scopes, should warrant them, for a certain period of time.  For such an inexpensive scope, 1 year is quite reasonable.  But, I guess, you have a point if, he is on such a stringent budget, a long term warranty would be great.  Me personally, I would buy the Hakko.  Roy Finn, I do not know if Japan Optics Ltd., is going to takeover or not.  Hakko, has had a good reputation, I hope someone does takeover the company and keep them in buisness, even if it is a American Company, who wants to manufacture their scope in Japan, instead of out sourcing their product to a Chinese company.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Roy Finn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/12/2006 at 18:43
As of fairly recent, nobody seems to know if Japan Optics Ltd is going to continue to manufacture everything that Hakko was producing. Hakko is now Japan Optics Ltd. I will try to make it part of my tour at the SHOT show in January.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/12/2006 at 19:49
I was under an impression that Japan Optics Limited fired the few engineers/designers Hakko had, so I am not entirely sure.

Roy, how did you manage to get a pass to go to SHOT?

ILya
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Roy Finn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/12/2006 at 20:09
I'll PM you.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ceylonc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/12/2006 at 22:19

I'll second the word of caution regarding Hakko.  This past Sunday, my friend had a brand new fixed 6x Hakko crap out on him.  It was mounted on a 30/06 bolt action.  We were having a heck of a time getting it to zero when, after the 6-7th shot, the sight picture went blurry.

 

Fortunately he only lost about $50 (he bought it wholesale from his brother who works at a gun store).

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SAVAGEMAN Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/16/2006 at 12:55
89.99 ON THE SPORTSMANSGUIDE IS A BSA PANTHER THAT I OWN TWO OF AND HAVE HAD NO ISSUES AND LOVE THEM PANTHER 6.5-24-44 JUST A THOUGHT BUT I LOVE EM
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Littlebuddie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/16/2006 at 14:50

I agree with koshkin Bushnell Trophy 3-9x40 is a good deal on a budget for a variable.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Possom Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/19/2006 at 17:29

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO MADE SUGGESTIONS.

I bought an inexpensive scope, with the plans to buy a better one later. With all the feed back, I will be getting a bushnell starting with the trophy and looking upward later. I got a bushnell sportsman this time, which I'll give to my son when i get him his deer rifle, which will be a HR/ NEF single shot for starters. It's inexpensive so i won't cringe when he gets it banged up.

 

Again Thank You

 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dolphin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/19/2006 at 17:35
You will do fine with the Bushnell.  You would have done fine with the Hakko.  Sometimes, you just have to set a budget and follow it and there is nothing wrong with that.  The Trophy will do fine.  Enjoy it and good hunting.
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