Barska scope: good,bad, junk, decent------UPDATE--------

tresmon

tresmon

New member
Greetings all,

1st post:
I have an old .243 that has throat erosion. I dont have the money to change the barrel, so I'm going to ream it on out to a smoking hot 6mm-06 to clean up the throat area of the bore. I'm married now and have low funds. The rifle doesnt have any glass on it. All I can afford in the easternblock variety of scopes. I'm looking at a Barska 6-24 w/ 30mm tube. Any good at all? Does anyone have ANY feedback on ANY brand of Barska?

UPDATE:
Per good advice from others on this post I tracked down some Barska scopes and checked them out in person. The Barska "Swat" 6-24 30 mm tube AO seemed "bright enough"- but let me clarify that: The only one the shop had was on a sold rifle, a green AR-10. The shop is in a wealthy liberal part of town, so they didnt want me out in the parking lot running to and fro with a scoped AR-10 taking aim at random So I was standing in the store, which has tinted windows peering outside the door held slightly open by a store attendant. Also it was a nasty grey raining day. But on max power I was looking at a rusty old electrical box about 90 yards away that was on an abondoned little building down the street. I could see clearly enough to easily hold the crosshair on an individual electrical breaker, pretty clearly. Pretty good for being in a dark room looking out into a dull grey day on 24x.

They also had the one inch tube Varmint version. 6-24 one inch tube target turrets (with caps) AO. This one came in a few days later. I walked outside with it and it was an average slightly overcast day. on max magnification is was plenty clear and bright enough. This 6-24 is availible in a target version with a dot reticle, or the "varmint" version with Mil-dot.

THE BEST PART: The best scope prices I have ever found are with Foxoptics ebay store on E-bay. Travis Fox has great prices. (passing on the tip, I am in no way connected with travis fox) His e-bay store prices are great, but if you call him on the phone he normally will quote you an even better deal. He priced either of the one inch version of the Barska 6-24x to me FOR $57!!!! The big "Swat" 30mm tube 6-24x he priced @ $167!

As soon as I can come up with the clams. I will have a 6-24x.

In closing Travis is on the cutting edge of scope news.he goes to about every shooting industry show he can get to, and knows what every scop manufactuer is up to. He told me to wait untill the end of the week before I decide on a scope purchase because He was off (today) to yet another show. Among other things, he was going to check out the revamped simmons line. He tells me Simmons in unvailing a new 6-24 with far better lenses than they have ever used in the past. It also has a side focus. He told me he would compare the Barska's to the new simmons to the bsa platinum and get back to me with a report of which was more scope for the money- and pricing. Now that firends is service.

Again I'm just passing on good info to you guys. I "discovered" Fox optics back just beofore Christmas. I have made one scope purchase from him, and about three phone calls. It is with this breif contact I have been so impressed. Take advantage of my new found knowledge.

 
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Remember that a scope that has a 30mm objective lens is not going to give you as much clarity, light transmission, or FOV with the settings up high.

My reocmmendation is to get a lower powered scope, maybe up to 14 and get a 40mm objective instead. Remember that each power setting is equivilant to about 25 yards. 14x will get you about 350 yards closer to the target, so in most applications, it's def enough. If you really want something more than that, I highly recommend that you save up money to get a nicer scope.

What's your price range?

Honestly, Barska is cheap for a reason. I would recommend the Nikon Prostaff or Buckmaster, Burris Fullfield II, Bushnell 3200.

This is probably the best buy I could find for a scope for under $150.

http://theopticzone.com/detail.aspx?ID=2322
 
Quote:
Remember that a scope that has a 30mm objective lens is not going to give you as much clarity, light transmission, or FOV with the settings up high.



I believe he meant a 30mm tube, not objective lense.
 
Ohhhh, sorry, missed that.

I still believe that even with a 30mm tube, clarity is going to suffer due to the poor quality of glass used.
 
Take this for what it's worth,i bought two pair of barska binoculars, one had really great optics, the other was junk and i sent it back. (www.sportmansguide.com)
Barska has come a long way from where they were, it simply comes down to how much you want to spend. You can find their web at www.barska.com
I just sent back a new bushnell spotting scope that was junk, and ordered the barska blackhawk 20-60x60 from sportsmans, i figure i have a 50/50 of it working right, about the same i've been getting from bushnell lately and the barska is dig.camera/computer friendly, i'll know in about a week. ...blue
 
you're going to hear alot of people on here telling you that the barska is a worthless POS but I'll go out on a limb here and be a little different and say go for it.

I have the 6-24x on a 22-250 h&r and haven't had a problem with it at all. I willing to bet that many of these naysayers don't have any experience with the barska, and are merely looking at the price tag and assumming that they're junk. Now don't get me worng I'm not saying that these are in the same class as a leupold or (insert favorite scope brand here) but IMO are better then the tascos and other cheap brands...I would put them in the same class as say...the bushnell banner series.

In my expereinces with the brand i have found that the scope holds zero, has clear glass, and a sharp (defined/not blurry) milldot reticle. And for 90$ what are yoou out? i'm assuming that this rifle will be for some long rnge target/varminting? so really you'll have it at a bench where the only abuse will be recoil.

just my .02cents
 
Only one way to find out. Go look at one in a store and compare it to a few others. If you are allowed, take them outside, then bring them inside, this way you get different lighting experiences.
 
The 100$ dollars would be better put in a drawer and added to until you can get something better. I would much rather own 1 good piece of glass and move it from rifle to rifle, than own a bunch of rifles with crappy optics mounted on top.

A good piece of glass will also hold its value far better than cheap glass. How many barska and other cheap scopes have you seen for sale that guys can't even give away. There is a reason for that.

I have never owned a barska/bsa or any of the other cheap scopes. I have looked through them at stores, and on other peoples rifles at the range. Not once have I ever thought "Wow, I should have bought one of these instead of a leupold and saved some money"
 
Tresmon,
Hey I think you will be happy, I bought the Barskas 10x42 binos two and a half years ago for 60 dollars and I have not regreted it for one second.The only bad info I have for you is that after the first year it seems to fog up a lot but they are on my chest and walking into alot of stands the heat from my body fogs them up I really believe that if it were a scope it wouldn't fog up as much IF EVER AT ALL. Let me tell you what kind of optics you are getting, my buddy who bought a 300 dollar pair of Nikon Binos looked through mine and he feels he overpaid for his and could have saved a lot of money, that is how clear they are.
Also I am getting an AR-15 from Dtech in the near future and Barska has a red reticle and a mildot scope in their selection that I have thought of buying one or the other for it. If you have any other questions let me know.
Keep in mind my Binos weren't as clear as the Nikons but they were really close. Good Luck.
 
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tresmon,
Welcome to the forums!
I don't own a Barska scope so I can't really say one way or the other about them. FWIW I have heard some good things about the NC Star scopes and they are cheap! I do have some experience with the 6MM/06 though and I can tell you a couple things about that, first the 6MM/06 reamer will not clean up a .243 chamber! (been there done that) You will end up with a secondary shoulder on the case where the original .243 shoulder was. You can go to a 6MM/06 improved, 6MM Ackley Improved or a 6MM/.284 to clean out the existing chamber and throat. Also if your rifle is a short action the 30/06 based rounds are too long. Good luck with your project!
Bob
 
tresmon,
Welcome, If you want a Braska I have two and I'll give you a good deal. First is a 3x12x50mm illminated reticle, one inch tube. Never been mounted. I was in Cabela's one day and bought it on a whim. Was going to put it on my crossbow but it was to big and heavey. Its been sitting in a dresser draw for two years.
The second is a 1.5x6x42mm illuminated. I had this mounted on my crossbow for one season. It has two very faint ring marks. It to was too big, weight wise, for a crossbow but worked great. I replaced it this year with a TenPoint 3 dot illuminated crosbow scope. Its sitting in a draw.
Both have good optics, brite and clear, and look as good as any other scope in its price range.
Make me an offer and one or both will most likely be yours.
 
I have good luck with my baraska scopes. For the money i dont think you can go wrong. I also bought some of there binoculars. They broke about 10 minutes after i got home. I sent them back and they sent my two pairs back. One of the binos where alot more expensive than the ones i bought in the first plase. They have great customer service.
 
I was thinking of the Barska 3-9X42 with illuminated mil dot recticle and range comp. dial for my AR-15. This ia a new scope in their lineup-within the last year. What do you guys think of it?

Karl
 
I havn't more than looked thru the Barska, but did put one of the inexpensive 6 by 24 mil dot BSA's on one of my 243's. It's been going now for a couple of years now with no problems. I figured for a hundred bucks it was worth a try.

I'd like to have more expensive optics, but now that I'm retired and on a fixed income those scopes in the several hundred buck range sometimes seem just beyond me. When you buy inexpensive sometimes you roll the dice, my roll came up good.

Try it and see how it works. Only thing I can say about power is the six by 24 works better on a squirrel gun and I like a 3 by 9 or in my case a 2.8 by 10 Simmons AETEC. The 44 foot field of view on low power really works better when something sneaks in close.

6 by 24 illumanated mil dot BSA on Rem 700 VLS 243
700vls.jpg
 
Quote:

I'd like to have more expensive optics, but now that I'm retired and on a fixed income those scopes in the several hundred buck range sometimes seem just beyond me.



Welcome to the club,ain't life great. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
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Quote:

I'd like to have more expensive optics, but now that I'm retired and on a fixed income those scopes in the several hundred buck range sometimes seem just beyond me.



Welcome to the club,ain't life great. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif



I have been retired for 6 years. No pension, no health care, nothing. But I have made more total money since I retired than I did in 49 years of working.

Jack
 
Tresmon My Nephew and I both have the Barskas the 3x12x50's and we have not any problems whatsoever with them as of yet. I have never owned the high end scopes mainly because of $$$$. I have a Tasco 4x12x42 trajectory compensating scope on my 7mm Mag with no problems either, been on there for 4 years now. I just bought a Tasco 6x24x42 at Fin Feather and Fur while I was at the store for the Byron South seminar yesterday and going to put it on my Encore 22-250. So far I have not had any reason to spend many more $$$$ for the high ends. Maybe just good luck.
 

Thanks for the great replies fellas. Some of you have money. Some of you who are retired dont have money. I'm smack dab in the middle of my working years and have no money: Retirement- I'm hoping Jesus comes and gets me before then, or I might just have a diet that consist's of Crow and oatmeal stew!

If I had the money I would get a Horus!!!

I'm gonnas try a Barska 6-25 or 8-32. This scope will be my one scope for developing loads on all my rifles and will live on my long range 6mm.

Thanks again!
 
I just ordered the Barska 3-9X40 with illum recticle and range compensation dial for an AR-15. I will post how I like it on this post as soon as I get it.
Unless it is really crap, or fragile, how can you go wrong for 60.00? on sale from the Guide.
Karl
 


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