Which scope and why, NcStar or Nikko Stirling ?

Talk about stirring the pot.......no matter what kind of scope NONYA has, if it works ok and he likes it that's all that matters. Pretty stupid to argue with him about it.
 
Hi gang. Not stepping on toes or arguing. I'm just relating my experience with NcStar scopes. I bought 3 new ones in a package deal from a local dealer for a little over $100 dollars. I got a compact 4x for my mini-14, a 6x18x50mm for my 22-250, and an 8x24x55mm for my 300WinMag. They are good looking scopes physically, but functionally they are junk. Just my experience with the 3 I had so I don't mean to offend the NcStar company or any of their satisfied customers.

I bore sighted each of them and then went to sight them in at my 30m target. The 4x compact lasted about 5 rounds before the horizontal adjustment completely broke. The first thing I noticed with the 2 high power scopes was that the optics were fuzzy/blurry on high power settings at ranges over 200m. At 30m everytime you changed power settings, you had to adjust the scopes to a new zero. When I tried the 110m target, the same results but worse.

I took them off, re-boxed them, and tossed them in my recylcle box with the other cheap chinese scopes that failed the same test (A-1 optics, tasco, BSA, bushnell, guide gear, etc.). Anybody want to buy some almost new chinese scopes? Let me know because I got 10+ available in box and only used once.

I stick with Burris Fullfield II, Pentax Pioneer (same as the Burris II scope but 40-50$ cheaper), Nikon, Leupold VXIII, Swift, and Millett Gold. They all past the test with flying colors and in my humble opinion, it is hard to beat the US made glass on the Burris/Pentax (yeah I know they are assembled in the Phillipines but the optics are made here). Other quality mentions are older scopes: Weaver 2x7, Bushnell 6x, and 4 almost new Redfield Partner scopes 4x12x40mm. I love these Redfield scopes with their super clear glass, but the eye relief is like 2-2.5".

I have a buddy that had 2 Swarovski and a Zeiss on his favorite hunting rifles. When he came out to my place and done some 300m back deck shooting with two of my rifles with Burris FFII 4x14 scopes, he ended up selling all 3 of his scopes and purchased 3 Burris and a Custom 264Mag with the money.

I'm not a scope snob but just relating my experience with the above brands. I'm not trying to down grade anybodies favorite scopes. I have 2 cousins and a brother who swear by their tasco, Bushnell, and BSA scopes. They put deer in the freezer every year with great success. I would never try to change their minds/opinions or anyone on this forum. I'm just relating my personal experience. Thanks and good hunting.
 
Cimmarron--thanks for an honest, insightful post. Must clarify one thing: Parts of the Burris FFII are made here, and other parts are made in Phillipines. This info from Burris themselves.........
 
Thanks 2muchgun. I intended no offense to anyone. I love my Leupold fixed powers but for the money, I favor the Burris/Pentaxt variables. And you are correct sir. Only the lenses and occular are made in the US. The rest of the parts are made in the Phillipines.

I think I will mount one of those redfields 4x12 on my new Oly Arms AR-15 A-1 when it comes in this weekend. That may be a way to work out the short eye relief problem because they are fantastic scopes but not made for bolt action rifles.
 
Please don't be walking on egg shells on my account. You said nothing wrong. I can get worked up sometimes, but I don't hold a grudge after. It's only the innanet.....

I liked some of the Redfields they were making toward the end. Ran a couple of Illuminators for a year or two.....
 
I have a bunch of Loopys, a couple of Burris', a Sightron, a Weaver or three, a Redfield, even a Tasco. I actually want to get my hands on one of the Nikko Sterlings with the 50mm objective, but I can't find an on-line retailer and no one around here carries them.

Any suggestions?

Fast Ed
 
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