Barska Scope...

[reload4fun]

Ok so I've read the blogs, but the price kinda got me sucked in.
Bought a Barska scope for my Savage 93. I had it out 5-6 times and it was great!....... Till yesterday! Out at the range with my son. About 2 clips into a great time and my scope shot 4" low. Tried to bring it up and it was off to the left. Then it just would not move at all. I know I should have listened, today I'm out getting rings for my new Vortex.
I won't make that mistake again!
Hope someone on the fence will listen better then me.

[snafu510]

I have had 3 Barska scopes. 1st one is great. 2nd one okay and the 3rd wasn't very good. The first one was so nice I ordered #2, the same model from the same place. #2 had the same specs but was not the same scope and not as good. I'm sure it was built in a different factory. 3rd wasn't very clear or bright. I figure with Barska you just don't know what you are going to get.

Worth what I paid though.

[CEDaytonaRydr]

Yeah, they're garbage... Same with Nikko Sterling...

[Timberwolf]

Friends don't let friends buy Barska

[Lamski]

Many of us learned this lesson. I actually had to learn it twice... (I'm cheap). We spend too much on a rifle and think... "I'll just cut corners on the scope to make up the difference I spent on the gun"... BIG MISTAKE!!! Unless you aren't that serious about shooting and just want to plink tin cans at 30 yards, then you can go cheaper.

I bought my nice bolt action .22 to do some good target shooting and tried to go cheap on a well reviewed but inexpensive scope. It seemed good enough till I tried to check the tracking and see if it held a good zero. Cheaper scopes usually have mushy, non-distinct turrets as well. Luckily I was able to return it and go with an upgraded model from the same brand. While it was much better but also 2x the price of the first one, it still wasn't up to par for what I needed it to do. I returned that one also and finally buckled down and bought a base model Vortex Viper 6.5-20x50 and I finally was happy... Actually I couldn't be happier about this scope. It is absolutely amazing and I was able to get a great deal so I was still under the price of the rifle. They say you are supposed to spend as much or more on the glass as the rifle itself.

You made the right call going with a Vortex and with the VIP warranty you know they will take care of you if anything goes wrong.

[echoThreeOneSix]

good to know, thanks gents.

[reload4fun]

My thinking on the cheaper scope at the time was, if it's made for a higher powered rifle, putting it on a 22. wmr would be no stress or very little stress and it would be fine. Wrong! I'm thinking one shot out of a 30-30 and in the dumpster! Kinda the learning curve for not heeding others advice.

[wjc]

Leupold or Redfield is my choice.

...nary a problem with them.

[krwada]

Cheap optics

Cheap optics are hit or miss.

I have never owned a Barska for any of my firearms. I do own a Barska spotting scope. The spotting scope works very well for what I use it for.

As to cheap optics ... I use BSA. So far, (cross fingers), the BSA optics seem to be working fairly well for me.

For the next step up ... I use either Simmons, Millet or Weaver.

Maybe some day ... I will spend the $$$ and get me a Leupold or Zeiss .... Till then, it is the lower cost stuff for me.

The area I usually spend the $$$ are in the mounts, rings and other attachment systems. I believe that the more you spend here ... the better the benefit.

[Coyotegunner]

Barska was terrible for me also.
Like KR I have had good luck with BSA.They are not repeatable with the knobs.Yes,even the dedicated 17HMR scope with the easy to adjust bullet drop knob.I own a few of these for 22 and 17s.For rimfires they are fine.
I have a couple of high end Leupolds as well.I do not adjust them anymore after sight in,ever since I had a Mark 4 fall apart.That is whole other story.
My favorite rimfire scope is the Nikon Prostaff 3-9 with BDC reticle.

[CEDaytonaRydr]

If you really want a good, cheap scope, get the Simmons Master Series Pro Hunter 3-9x40mm. Under $100 and solid...

[MrExel17]

Barska = Airsoft

[MauserMike]

Only cheap optics i have seen worth the money is the stuff primaryarms.com has made for them.

chinese made, but they have excellent customer service and the product is the best you can get for the price most likely.