Rifle Scopes scope quality

[Muffo]

I am saving for a either a leupold vx3L or a night force large power scope, not sure which yet. In the mean time I will probably buy a cheap scope to replace the olivion that i have as the optics are horrible. My father has a scope on a winchester model70 in 243 that is made locally and only worth about 200 dollars. he also has a 20 year old 8 times 40 leupold that he said was the best leupold he could buy at the time (not sure of the model) on a sako 17REM that I use. the optics from the cheap scope are about the same as the leupold in the day time and probably better at night with a spotlight. i will have to remove it from the 243 ro determine the accuracy because even with a borrowed schmidt & bender scope it wouldnt shoot under 1MOA. where as the .177 shoots an 11mm group at 175 yards.Is there any specific tests I can do to determine the actual quality of the scope.

 

[fdkay]

Re: scope quality

There are several charts available, i can not recall their name, that you can use to check the clarity and focus of rifle scopes. You could even do it by printing the same letters in various fonts and size, tack them up at 50 yards and check which scope renders the best image. Unfortunatly, yu can't do it in a store.
You do not say what type of rifle or what type of shooting you intend on doing with it. if you want a truly low cost scope with decent optics and mil-dots, check out the bushnell 10x elite 3200 tactical scope. They can be had for around 200 and are an excellent buy. That is about the cheapest you can go and get really decent performance. There are 140-150 dollar scopes out there that will get you through till you get your good scope, but you will get a standard reticle.

The glass available on 200 dollar scopes today, nearly rivals the glass that was available on high end scopes 20 years ago. Coatings have come a very long way.
I am a huge fan of the Mueller Tac-2, it is an excellent scope with excellent glass, they also make a 4-16 AO scope that is very good, if you get them through one-click shooting or SWFA, they are very reasonable.
Another option, if you are truly looking for a temporary scope, centerpoint makes a mil-dot scope for next to nothing.
http://www.crosman.com/optics/riflescopes/power/CP312AOC

 

[Muffo]

Re: scope quality

Its going on a 223wssm. It will be used mainly for shooting between 300 and 500 yards at night. when I get set up fully it will basicly be shot off a pickup with almost a bench rest set up on it. the main thing i require is something thats accurate and can pick up enough light to see with a spotlight. Im really not a fan of trying to buy a cheap scope as id rather borrow a scope and just save for a really good one, I only ask because the scope that I mentioned is appears to be much better than every cheap scope that I have looked through. I sighted in a friends gun a couple of months ago with a lower end 3-9by40 leupold on it and it didnt have the clarity of the 200 dollar cheap scope.