Simmons or Tasco?????

To me Id save up and buy a better scope and wouldnt put a tasco or a simmons on any rifle I own.The quality and price show up down the road. Also if you try these scopes by turning the windage and elevation knobs say up 12 R-12 D-12 L-12 you should be back at your zero can you do that with your simmons or tasco Shooting at each 12 clicks.
 
well i'd go with the simmions.. They are great scopes.. i have a aetec 2.8-10-44 on my 7mm-08 and and it has slid off the top of a truck roof and been droped once or twice by some soo called "friends" and it still shoots as good as it did the day i bought it... It is nice and clear, and hardly ever fogs up... that is just my 0.02$!!

PPH
 
I have 2 Simmons Aetec scope. They have been on 223 handi rifle, AR, 25-06. These are one of the best that simmons makes. I had a 44 mag scope also. It went bad and I called Simmons. They said send it in. I had no reciept or box, but sent it in and they sent me a new one no questions asked. I would stay away from the 44 mag scope, but highly recomend the Aetec.
 
Repeatability is nice. Essential in a long range tactical rig. Don't think it matters much at all in a hunting rifle for 99% of us.

Mostly, we set the zero where we want it, and so long as it stays there, forget about it.

My 44 mags are certainly not as precise in adjustment or repeatability as a high end scope is, but then, they only cost about $100. They're good enough for most hunting applications. When I move one 4 clicks, it moves close enough to an inch at 100 yards to not matter.

I've taken 44 mags off of rifles and replaced them with Leupold Vari X II's of comparable power range. Groups are the same size off the bench, can't say that I can hunt any earlier or later.

I'm not fond of the cheaper Simmons lines. Seen too many fail other people. Never owned an AETEC, can't say from first hand observations. But the 44 mag series, for the money, is a decent scope. Using them has contributed to the demise of many, many critters.

The Swifts may be better, dunno. Never seen one. May have to buy one sometime just to check it out.

For a lot of people, the use will limit what the budget will truly stand. A scope on a calling rifle is hardly a life-or-death, bust the bank worthy purchase. For a rifle that's headed to an expensive hunt, far from home, where failure means a ruined hunt, that's a different deal. So is serious competitve shooting.

But really, for most of us, hunting our home turf, we can actually hunt just fine with a lesser scope and never tell the difference.

I for one would rather be able to hunt with an affordable and useful scope, than sit at home staring longingly at a new rifle that I can't even shoot, just because I can't yet afford the best glass to put on it. I'll scope a rifle with the best I can afford and use it. That still leaves me the enjoyment of the upgrade at a later date, usually when hunting seasons are closed and I'm not impacted, and I can afford to treat myself to a better scope.
 
I stand by what I said,There are more factors in scopes than glass and I want every advantage,You should probably buy a lesser quality rifle and use better glass,You can always make a rifle shoot down the road. But to sell your used simmons or tasco or whatever if they still work,Most people wont touch em.I also realize that some cannot offord 300-1000$ or more for a scope,So next best is make sure you use a quality mount and put your simmons on or your tasco or what you can afford, Sightron,makes a very affordable quality scope and there are others including Leupold,Weaver the list goes on Buy the best you can afford was my point,You wont regret it.
 
I have a many guns, 3 still have Leupold scopes mounted. I can buy any scope I want but Simmons scopes have won me over. Not because of price but because of performance. Like Rich C said, my Simmons scopes are clearer and brighter than my Leupolds. I have Simmons White tail, Aetec and 44 Mag scopes, all are good, never a problem.
 
I have had extremely good luck with the Simmons Atec Rifle Scopes. Currently I have 2 of them (a 2.8x10x44mm & a 3.8x12x44mm AO). I also have a Leupold Vari-X II 4x12x40mm AO. For my money the Simmons Atec's are brighter and clearer than the Vari-X II. I have also tested these scopes in low light conditions, and the Simmons is much brighter. When I had a Leupold Vari-X II 3x9x40mm the save was true, I felt the Simmons Atec as brighter and clearer.

I have also had a couple 6.5x20x44mm AO Simmons 44 MAG Rifle Scopes. I had extremely good luck with those also. However the current 4x12x44mm AO 44 Mag Simmons I have is not the same as the 6.5x20x's I have had. I also have an older Simmons Japanese made Target Scope on a .22 LR Bench Rest Rifle (#800116 8x32x44mm AO). This is also an excellent scope, and I use the target turrets often in Bench Rest Shooting and have experienced no problems.

On the other hand I have had a Simmons 6x18x42mm AO Whitetail Expedition and a Simmons 4.5x14x40mm AO Whitetail Classic that were junk. In both instances Simmons replaced the scopes, and my dealer took the new scopes back.

As per the Swift, the only experience I have with them is with their Handgun Scopes, and I have had a few. I won't buy another.

SD Handgunner
 
Thanks all for your postings. I can see a mix of results with the Simmons and most seem to warn away from the Tasco. I'll stay away from Tasco and either get a 44 Mag or an Aetec because I can afford them now and shoot and upgrade later. That is the best I can do for now.

I had my heart set on a Leupold Rifleman for my deer rifle and I'll hold out for that, but for the varmint gun I'll go with the Simmons just to get shooting, then watch for a good deal on a Swift or Leupold that I can afford.

Again, thanks for all your feedback and input. There is no better recommendation than personal experience.
 
Thanks,
I have a bid on one 44 Mag and an online offer of an Aetec if the 44 doesn't come through. Both are better prices, but used scopes.
 
I've only had one Simmons and one Tasco scope. The Simmons is on a 22 handgun. It works fine for that. As far as Tasco goes, they are a throw away scope in my opinion, but they are fine on 22's. I personally choose Burris or Leupold for my centerfire rifles. If you are on a more limited budget Weaver is an excellent scope for the money.
 
I have the Aetec 2.8-10x44 on my .17 and I can shoot at 100 yds very well with it. It is much brighter and clearer than my 44 mag simmons scope.
 
I have the Aetec 2.8-10x44 on my .17 and I can shoot at 100 yds very well with it. It is much brighter and clearer than my 44 mag simmons scope
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The Aetec is my preference, but I have a bid on the 44 and don't want to end up with both.
 
i have 2 aetecs and they're very bright in low light conditions. i've never used a leupold, so i dont really know how they compare, but i'm perfectly happy w/ my aetecs.
 
Thanks to all. I got my Simmons 44 Mag in the mail today and will sight it in tomorrow. It is VERY clear and sharp. I do notice some degrading about 8X and up but not a problem for now. 456 including shipping and it looks brand new.

The clarity is much better than the Simmons 8 Points I've used before. Will have to keep the Aetec on my list.
 
bigc
It is neither plain nor simple when you don't have $300-600 to plop down on a scope. As of this fall I'll be paying out about $34K plus each year for my sons (2) college. This is state college, not private and it is expected to go up. So no it is not a simple matter of buying the best, it'sd buying the best for the dollars I have to spend.

My sons and I made an agreement a long time ago that if they do their part in school I'd pay for their first 4 years of college. They have and now I am. To me it's a sacrifice worth making, that I cannot buy my ultra whizbang rifle or scope so I can put them through college.

I do not live poorly by any stretch of the imagination, but if it costs over $100, it might have to wait a while. The same goes towards upgrades for my Jeep too. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif The good news is they are juniors this fall and it's almost over. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
For $56, if it keeps you hunting for the next 2 years & then crapped out, I don't think I'd complain.

The longest I had one in service was about 6 or 7 years. It didn't fail, I just had the chance to buy a Vari X II on closeout so I replaced just because. Sold the Simmons for $80, too, and so far as I know it's still in service somewhere.
 
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