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Possom
Optics GrassHopper Joined: November/12/2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 6 |
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Posted: November/12/2006 at 11:08 |
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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.
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The Heartbeat of America is Freedom.
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13181 |
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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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Roy Finn
MODERATOR Steiner Junkie Joined: April/05/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 4856 |
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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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Dolphin
Optics Master Joined: October/05/2006 Location: North Carolina Status: Offline Points: 1795 |
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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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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13181 |
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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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Roy Finn
MODERATOR Steiner Junkie Joined: April/05/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 4856 |
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ILya, do you know if Japan Optics Ltd is gong to pick-up where Hakko left off? |
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Dolphin
Optics Master Joined: October/05/2006 Location: North Carolina Status: Offline Points: 1795 |
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Roy Finn
MODERATOR Steiner Junkie Joined: April/05/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 4856 |
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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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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13181 |
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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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Roy Finn
MODERATOR Steiner Junkie Joined: April/05/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 4856 |
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I'll PM you.
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ceylonc
Optics Journeyman Joined: September/13/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 514 |
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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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SAVAGEMAN
Optics GrassHopper Joined: November/16/2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 10 |
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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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Littlebuddie
Optics GrassHopper Joined: November/08/2006 Status: Offline Points: 11 |
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I agree with koshkin Bushnell Trophy 3-9x40 is a good deal on a budget for a variable. |
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Possom
Optics GrassHopper Joined: November/12/2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 6 |
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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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The Heartbeat of America is Freedom.
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Dolphin
Optics Master Joined: October/05/2006 Location: North Carolina Status: Offline Points: 1795 |
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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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