Howdy. Most of my scopes are nikon or leupold. I will be setting up a new varmint gun soon and don't know if i will be able to afford one of these scopes for it right away. Has anybody had luck with a less expensive brand in the 6-20 power range, like the bushnell banner ect. thanx for the help

Hey guy,
Most of my calling rifles have 3X9's, either Redfield or Nikon. My 243 Savage is the exception, it wears a Banner 6x18x50mm. I've only had the scope for about six months. So far, after about 100 rounds, it's done everything it's supposed to. Clear, stays on zero through the power ranges and adjustments are easy to work. I feel, for the money, it's a decent product. One other thing to think about… It will most likely require high scope rings to clear the front bell.

Chet

And my calling rifles wear 2x, 2.5x, or 4x fixed with the 2 and 2.5 being the top choices. Calling close and quick, those wide fields of view with heavy crosshairs makes for better shooting. I'd not be the least adverse to a holo-site or 2 or 3 MOA red dot.

I have had good luck with the Simmons 44 Mag scopes in 6.5-20x44. $150 range and you can get a lens hood for it for another $15. I have one on the Savage 12 FV that I answered your post about and it worked great on the prarie dogs.

Hello Joe,

I have a couple of Bushnell Banners, in 6x18 and the new model Banner in 6x24. I've been quite satisfied with them. It's one of the few cheaper scopes I have any faith in. The more expensive Elite is pure joy. I got one in 6x24, and its really served me well, very bright optics. With me it's been an ongoing battle to avoid paying the high cost of a Leupold. I'm sure the Leupolds are very good, but it's just beyond my reach. Bushnell seems to be a good alternative, just avoid the ones made in China. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

Howdy cal. Is there a way to know wich banners are made in china i will probably order it from cabelas. I was looking at the banner 6-24 with the mil dot retical $149.00 does not seem bad. I hear ya about prices i have a nikon pro staff 3-9 matt finish there $149.00 and they have a lifetime guarantee and its a very nice scope. But when you get into the scopes with higher magnification the price magnifies as well. I love leupolds just can't always afford them. thanx

EBAY and patience. I have TWO Leupolds (2x IER and 4x fixed) for $ 240 shipping included for both scopes.

hey joe have a brand new bushnell banner in 3x9x40 cant fault it so far tried it it just about all lights and conditions and its performed spot on in my eye its top quality at cheap price cant see you havin any regrets in giving one a try

Joe,
Out here in the southwest we have a lot of open land with some really long shots on dogs. It really helps to have a high powered variable scope so you can actually see what you are shoooting at. I would look into maybe a simmons, they can be pretty inexpensive, and you can get pretty good quality with them. I dont know what kind of terrain you are going to be calling in though so let us know what range of a shot are you going to average? That could make a big difference.

Knifeboy (I'd rather be lucky than good).

Howdy knifeboy. I will be useing it for various ranges, kind of a mix bag, i want to use it for ground hog, fox, and hopefully coyote. I also want a nice range scope ( for those little groups ) so i think im gonna get a 6 to 20 or a 6 to 24. Just stuck between the bushnell banner or a simmons might have to flip a coin.

Joe.
Go look at some other scope selling sites, But I think you will find the Bushnell cheeper than the Simmons. Let me know what you decide to do. The Bushnell will hold together just fine on a varmit rifle.

Knifeboy

I bought a 6.5x20 Leupold brand new in a shrink wrapped box a few years ago at a pawn shop for $320. My new bride at the time about had a canniption over it but seeing the prices in them in the latest cabelas... LOL it was a deal I couldnt pass up.

I swore I'd never own anything but Leupolds but my Rem700ML .50cal Muzzleloader wears a simmons after breaking a couple other cheap scopes. We are limited to 1x glass on MLs in Utah and I just couldnt bring myself to pay nearly $200 for a 1x Burris. I tried a couple different scope brands but they failed after a year or two. I finally tried Simmons and have been pleasently surprised, its held up longer than the rest combined.

I'd like to get a .17 cal soon and would like to outfit it with some scope, and while I'd love a leupold on it, just dont know if its worth that vs getting say a simmons or something. Now a full blown deer or elk rifle... no question it will be wearing Leupold.


-DallanC

Ebay, auction arms, and gunbroker combined with patience makes for Leupold and Burris scopes at Simmons prices.

Which would you rather have: brand new Simmons at $100 or used Leupold (with it's forever warrenty) at $110?

I do have a Simmons 2.5x shotgun scope ($20 on clearance at Wal Mart), but it ain't even close to my 2x Leupold.

shrpshtrjoe -

I will second the Simmons 44Mag in 6.5-20x44. Had one for years and it was a great scope. Started having accuracy problems and sent the scope in to get it fixed. Twice. Then Simmons traded it for a Whitetail Expedition. Turns out the problem was my barrel, not the scope.

If I was in the market for another varmint scope, the Simmons 44Mag would be the one. Very bright optics when compared to some of the others, as I discovered by trying them side-by-side.

Hi Joe,

I second the Simmons as well. I put a 2.8X10X44mm Aetec on my 300 Win Mag and it stands up to the pounding the Winnie gives it. It was about $150 and came with a lens hood. I did have to put raised mounts on it though so it would clear the barrel. I wish it wasn't so high but that was the only option if I stay with the 44mm lens. I liked the Aetec so well, when it was time to put scopes on my T/C barrels, I chose Simmons handgun scopes for a couple of those as well.

Blaine