simmons scopes

[palmtree]

These scopes are really cheap. 3x9 and 4x12 are same price, why? There 18 and twenty some power are $150+. I need to put something on a bull barrel AR. I'm trying to shoot squirrels with it as far as possible 95% of time. I want to keep the scope as low as possible. I don't think I'd like those high rise or cantalievred mounts for rock rivers. Its a RRA 0550, also, can anyone suggest a current good buy on rings for 40 - 60 dollars or so? Any reccomendations about rings or scope would be appreciated. I'd rather buy better rings than a scope. Reason being, I can always take the cheap scope off and stick it on a .22 or something if it don't work out on the 223 556. What power of scope should I get for it ? I'm not sure if it's better to buy a cheap low power for the money versus a cheap high power? I'm not doing anything quick that needs wide view or tactical. Just long range shots with lots of time. ??? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[OpticsPlanet]

Go with the Nikon P-223: http://www.opticsplanet.com/nikon-p-...fle-scope.html

P Mount: http://www.opticsplanet.com/nikon-p-series-mount.html

Buy once, cry once. Go with a high quality optic and mount that you will not have to upgrade from. The glass in this Nikon scope is very impressive.

Tim G.

[palmtree]

so is a power going to be enough? I'm not sure I like those mounts. Whats the purpose of them being offset like that. Are they meant to be able to flip in either direction to bring the scope closer to your eye or farther from yourself?

[palmtree]

cmon now. 80 people looked at this and only one comment. Whats the deal w/ simmons scopes? Anyone can say go buy the Cadillac or Mercedes. Tell me how the 9 power Nikon is better than the simmons w/ double the power, please? I can buy two or three chevys instead of one Mercedes. I hope you can see my point. I don't want to pay for a name. I wan't the best view for the money. ??? Anyone have a simmons scope on there 22 or whatever? Did it fall apart or what?

[OpticsPlanet]

The magnification will be enough. It doesn't hurt to have a wider range of magnification, but this comes with a higher price.

Any 1" picatinny rings in extra high height will work: http://www.opticsplanet.com/burris-x...two-rings.html

Tim G.

[sholling]

These scopes are really cheap. 3x9 and 4x12 are same price, why? There 18 and twenty some power are $150+. I need to put something on a bull barrel AR. I'm trying to shoot squirrels with it as far as possible 95% of time. I want to keep the scope as low as possible. I don't think I'd like those high rise or cantalievred mounts for rock rivers. Its a RRA 0550, also, can anyone suggest a current good buy on rings for 40 - 60 dollars or so? Any reccomendations about rings or scope would be appreciated. I'd rather buy better rings than a scope. Reason being, I can always take the cheap scope off and stick it on a .22 or something if it don't work out on the 223 556. What power of scope should I get for it ? I'm not sure if it's better to buy a cheap low power for the money versus a cheap high power? I'm not doing anything quick that needs wide view or tactical. Just long range shots with lots of time. ??? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

It sounds like you bought the wrong rifle for what you want to do with it. That's because the design of an AR makes it a poor choice for use with low rings because the design forces your eye up too high.

I know it's tempting to hang a cheap POS scope on your AR but you get what you pay for. Personally I prefer to buy something that is going to give me a sharp sight picture in marginal light and last me a lifetime. But I had to learn the hard way and I suspect you will have to learn that way too.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/riflescopes_start.htm

http://www.chuckhawks.com/riflescopes_same.htm

http://www.chuckhawks.com/recommended_riflescopes.htm

[ElvenSoul]

Tasco 2.0
Buyer beware!

[ElvenSoul]

Tasco 2.0
Buyer beware!

[palmtree]

That was nice of Sholling to attach those articles. I read each one in entirety. I think that explains it. thanks.

[fishnbeer]

For scopes you get what you pay for. If you dont want to spend much you wont get much. Just lower your expectations and you will be fine. For the simmons the price reflects the quality. They are ok when compared to other $100 scopes, but compared to a 300 or 400 dollar scope they are garbage

[Ninask]

Simmons are not serious scopes, period, sorry
N

[Yoteman]

Not that many years ago Simmons was fine...then the great "sell off" starting with Meade Optics ownership and beyond. Now it's little more than a toy glass provider. Too bad!

[palmtree]

Iknow there cheap. That's the first thing I said in my first post. Sholling put some links in there to answer my questions. However, I HAVEN'T SHOT MY ar yet. I find it awkward to hold. Seems most people like the elevated rings, where I think I'm liking the scope low. Maybe I'm goofed up and will change my mind on that after firing it. It has no open sights on it. It's got a 20 in barrel almost 1 in thick. I don't know what its capable of. It seems a 3 x 9 is a 22 scope. So my initial thoughts of getting something on the cheap end to see what gun will do, and see what is compfortable to me. If the scope is too cheap, I can stick it on a 22 or throw it in the glove box of one of the pickups and use it for a binoculars, whickh I need badly for my work. But after reading Shollings articles, the cross hair movement and and maintaining crosshair relocations after adjustments could be an issue after adjusting. The last thing I want is to get frustrated or start blaming the ammo or gun and not knowing what to blame. I'd spend a couple hunred no problem on the Nikon opticplanet recommended, but like I say, 9 power sounds like 22 scope to me. The articles hinted that target model scopes are usually better at readjusting than hunting scopes. I intend on adjusting it. Our field is 400 yards plus, with squirrels living on the berm that entire length of 400 yds. I want to shoot out of the backyard as far as I can at them. I don't know what power of scope to go up to, or how far this thing will hit squirrels at. So I still haven't made up my mind. I want to order it this weekend on whatever I do, I'm anxious to start shooting.

[palmtree]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-P223-P...item461902901b I put a link here of a Nikon 4x12 on ebay. Its pretty much the same price as the 3x9 that optics planet posted, but it looks like optics planet one comes w/ scope rings. Its kind of confusing because it appears the links he posted come with or without rings for the same price which doesn't seem right? Anyway, if I had to buy the rings for extra 60 on top of the 210.00 for the 4x12, that's 270 instead of 200. What would you guys do if you had the gun I do?

[sholling]

A 3-9x (spoken as 3 to 9x (X=power or magnification)) is popular for deer hunting from 50-200yds or so, as are 2-7x and 3-10x, and fixed 4x and 6x scopes. An activity where you want a wide field of view and where counting fleas at 200yds is unnecessary. Durability and optical quality are key in a hunting scope. It sounds like you're looking for a varmint scope designed for picking off small critters at a few hundred yards. Also keep in mind that the quality of the optics (lenses, coatings, etc) will usually trump magnification.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/under-scoped.htm

The AR platform was designed to provide for maximum control in full auto and to do that the design places the top of the stock just above the top of the barrel. That design choice places the eye and therefore the sights roughly 2" above the centerline of the barrel. I like to mount a scope as low as humanly possible on other rifles but it's just not comfortable with an AR. If you are going with a high magnification scope then I'd use quick release rings/mounts so that you can still use it for home defense. I use LaRue mounts but they're very expensive. A cheaper alternative is Burris' QR P.E.P.R.. The P.E.P.R. isn't in anywhere near the same league as a LaRue but it's affordable.