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What is wrong with Redfields

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Davis View Drop Down
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Joined: August/08/2005
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Davis Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: What is wrong with Redfields
    Posted: August/08/2005 at 13:30

Okay, I have read about Redfields (the pre current incarnation, post Bankruptcy), specifically the widefield Redfields, are crap.  How are the crap?  How do they compare with, say, low end Bushnells and Simmons (you know, those scopes which come mounted on package rifles)?  This is an honest, let me know request.  I have searched and have only gotten the "they are crap" or, with more wit "crapola" satements.  That is fine, that is all well and good.  But what makes them crap?  I am looking at getting a scope and like most have heard about Redfields being good scopes for years.  That apparently has changed and I am curious as to what makes them bad.

 

Now, I am looking at a Burris Fullfield II and will probably get it.  I know, already, that it is the better choice, but again, what makes Redfields so bad?

 

Thanks,

Davis

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ranburr View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ranburr Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/08/2005 at 14:47

They are crapola!  The old Redfields were great scopes in their day.  Redfield  was forced out of business by the EPA.  The name was brought back by the same people who owned Simmons and Weaver.  At that time, Redfield was supposed to be their mid-range scope with Weaver being the flagship and Simmons being the entry level.  The Redfields and Simmons scopes were made at various lower-end asian factories.  All three companies changed hands on several occassions and quality suffered in the Redfield and Simmons lines.  Suprisingly, Weaver seems to have maintained in the quality department (I believe they are all made by Hakko of Japan).  The Redfield scopes suffered from serious quality control issues.  I never saw one that was really waterproof.  There were issues with fogging, failure to hold zero, and the glass was just not very good.  Things are apparently looking up for Redfield.  All three companies are now owned by Meade and Redfield is going to be the Flagship brand.  The new Redfield's will have a lot of hi-end features and a hi-end price.  I have seen one pre-production model and I was not impressed.  The reps say the production models will be as good as anything out of europe.  That remains to be seen.  

 

ranburr  

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Davis View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Davis Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/08/2005 at 14:50

I have read that the Wideview suffers from corners that are difficult to truly seal, hence the moisture problem.  Is this the case?


Davis

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ranburr View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ranburr Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/08/2005 at 18:07

I have old widefields that have the same corners, just on the opposite end.  The old ones seal fine.  I think the newer ones are just a victim of low-bidder manufacturing.

 

ranburr

 

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valleypine View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote valleypine Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/12/2005 at 11:06

Maybe I'm just lucky, but I have had no problems whatsoever with my old Redfield Widefield 1.5-5X (until I put the rifle too close to a wood stove to dry it out and differential expansion and contraction caused the scope to fog) or with two new Widefield 4X's I currently have. One scope is mounted on a Remington 7600 30-06 carbine and the other on a Remington 870 12 gauge, so both scopes have seen heavy recoil and no loss of zero. Both scopes have also seen snow, sleet and rain with no fogging problem.

 

I swear by the Widefield as a brush gun scope. I have the monte carlo stock on the 7600 and have low mounted the scope with the lowest rings available. I am able to get a fast and natural cheek weld with this combination, something needed in the brush. Here is what I have and consider to be the ideal brush gun for me:

 

Remington 7600 30-06 carbine with synthetic black monte carlo stock and fore end and black matte metal. I have removed both the front and rear iron sights on the rifle (no need to have them to hang up in the brush). I've mounted a black matte Redfield Widefield 4X on Redfield black matte scope base and low rings. I have killed 7 deer with Redfield Widefield's under varying conditions and have no reason to change scopes.

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hangfire View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote hangfire Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/30/2005 at 21:24
Some people criticize the old Colorado Redfields and lump them in with the "TV View" Tasco's. All you have to do is compare the field of view between the two at the same power to know the difference.

I got by hunting with a couple of old Redfield's, a 2x-7x and a fixed 4x for several years before I could afford better. Both were about 20 years old when I got them and served me well before I could afford better. The only regret I have is not sending them in to Redfield to get them refurbed before the bankruptcy. I would still use them for hunting if the multicoating was not entirely rubbed off of objective (by previous owners); as a result, both suffer badly from flare.

HF

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Tip69 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tip69 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/01/2005 at 00:02

I have a Golden 5 Star. this is kind of funny (or not) but I can't seem to remember when or where I got it.  Anyway, I have it mounted on a Rem 700 .223 that I use to coyote hunt...... we hunt with trucks and hounds..... not calling.  It works fine for that... couldn't really tell ya how it compares in low light cause we only hunt in the snow and not late into the day.  It doesn't have as much eye relief as I'd like it to have either, but that's not an issue with the .223.

 

If I had it to do over, don't think I'd buy it again.... would go with a Sightron II.

take em!
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Tip69 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tip69 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/02/2005 at 10:42

Update:   Went to the range yesterday to sight-in the above mentioned .223 with the Golden 5 Star 3-9X40.  This is the gun I used 2 years ago to take several coyotes.  I sighted it in last fall about this time and seemed to be just fine.  However, last year I missed the several dogs I shot at, but didn't think too much about it.

 

Yesterday was weird... The first shot didn't hit paper @100 yds, so Jim,the fellow that was helping me, suggested he bore sight it..... it was off quite a bit  he made the adjustment and we went back to the bench.  Not exactly sure how the sequence went but I got one to hit about 3 inches high.  Then the next couple of shots we couldn't even find. 

 

The targets were set up 3 along the top and 3 along the bottom.... they were standard targets with the x and y axis an inch apart, I was aiming at the top left target.  Finally found the impacts. they were on the top CENTER target in the upper right quad.  Jim couldn't believe it so he had me shoot again and he watched that target and sure enough, right in the same spot.  Now I had about 6 shots in the group and they were pretty close... within a inch and a half.

 

We made some more adjustments, but we could not get the darn thing back to my target let alone zero.  Anybody got any ideas.  As my previous posts have said, I'm allready looking at a scope for a .284, so don't want to be needing another one.  Is this something a gunsmith can check out?

take em!
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CWPINST View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote CWPINST Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/02/2005 at 22:17
I have one of the relatively new Jap. Redfields.  I was told by Weaver Cust. service that the Illuminators and the Grand Slams were made in the same factory and with the same glass.  I can tell you this.  That Illuminator is clearer and brighter at dust than any of my Vari-X-III's.  I haven't had any trouble with it.  I consider it my number 1 scope.  Heck I even have two of the closeout 6x18, 5stars.  They are not as sharp around the edges as my Illuminator or my Leupys, but it is on par with the Leupy's at dark.
If it ain't accurate at long distance, the fact that it is flat shooting is irrelevant.
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