Chineesium scopes can be very frustrating to use. By the time you purchase a GOOD mount and rings, another $300-500 will be spent. Personally I would have a better time shooting iron sights than putting a substandard scope on a rifle. Story. I helped my neighbor get his first M1a, a Scout rifle. The guy at the gunstore sold him a $50 Chineesium scope. It would not hold adjustments. As soon as we were on target the POI would move. We finally gave up. Put the gun away and shot my Leupold scoped rifles. The sights on these guns are great and I’ll be you could shoot it better without the scope.

 

I've neither owned one, nor known of a friend that has/had one, but it's unlikely to be a steaming turd. As long as you accept that it's an entry level optic, you shouldn't be too disappointed in it. The glass is likely decent, and the elevation turret likely tracks closely enough.

Chromatic aberrations and edge distortion probably exist, but that's not going to stop you from seeing a target within a few hundred yards. As long as you don't try to use it at 50 yards offhand in a snap-shooting situation, the high magnification shouldn't cause too many issues.

You certainly paid the right price for it.

 

Can't be any worse than a Maglight of a NcStar I bought that's now living on my 10/22. I just bought it decades ago to get on paper and to break in the barrel.

 

Take it to your range and shoot the goobers out of it and give us a report. I think what Grizzman said will be pretty much spot on. Tracking and repeatability seem to be the weakness with these less expensive scopes. If you use hold offs, my guess is it will work just fine for you.

 

It will rear its price point at longer distances. Try it. It's all you can do. Hopefully it won't be a wondering scope as they can be. Do NOT use it as a hunting scope. Cheap hunting scopes will "get you" when you need it most!

 

As others have said, try it out and see what happens, worst case scenario is that you now get a good spotting scope out of it 😱😱. Save your pennies and get yourself a better scope down the road, iron sights have worked well ever since guns were made, just ask the Buffaloes about it 😢😢

 

I have a subscription to a guy's channel called "Gunblue490". One of the videos he posted showed how, after sighting the irons, how to adjust the front sight for windage so that the rear sight can be moved back to the center marking. This never occured to me how to do this, but now I have a little more knowledge than before. Think I'll try this on my irons before I mess with my cheepie scope.

 

sig scopes (nikon)optics planet buckmasters bdc

 

Zero it, then leave it alone. Don't fiddle with adjustments for distance or wind conditions, you'll just be chasing your tail and wasting ammunition. Just aim high or low, left or right (Kentucky Windage).

If mounting on an M14, remember that these rifles recoil in both directions. They are rough on cheap scopes, especially the erector tubes.

 

The Swarovski Z8i 2-16x50P P SR rifle scope is a masterpiece in optics. I've been using this rifle scopes for a long time. Sightmark is also fine for starting out, and your Triple Threat will give you a feel for rifle scopes. However, if you’re serious about upgrading eventually, save up for something like a Vortex Viper or Leupold VX-5HD. They’ll give you noticeable improvements in clarity and low-light performance.

 

I wouldn't expect much from it. Rifle recoils in both directions, will be hard on the optic.

If you are sure you want to put a 30mm scope on the rifle, you may go ahead and spend the coin on a mount and rings and use this scope as a placeholder until you decide to buy a better optic.

 

I really appreciate all the replies. I knew I could learn on here. What would be a decent entry level optic in the 4-14 area magnification. Please keep in mind I am retired on a fixed pension, lol. Thanks again guys, for all the replies.

 

I would first look into a few of the manufacturers that offers Mil/LEO First Responder discounts.
Vortex offers a nice one also Leupold.
EuroOptic dot com has a nice discount.

If you need any more details on these programs let me know.

 

I can only recommend something I have myself and that’s an SWFA Super Sniper in a fixed 12x42. Many here have the 10x42 and really like em. I just wanted a little more as I occasionally reach out to 4-600 yds with this. The Japanese glass is as good as you’re going to find in this price range. Build quality is excellent. It’s tough and rated for a 50 BMG. It has a very usable duplex reticle. And, a 30mm tube and 42mm lens isn’t so honkin big that it’s relegated to a bench rifle. You can carry it afield. I know you’re probably looking for a variable but at $300, I don’t think you’ll find a better value. Others here with hands on experience with other scopes may make other suggestions but I’m comfortable recommending the SWFA to you.

 

Thanks for the suggestion. I have a pentax pioneer 4-14 on my '06 bolt winchester. It has held up ok so far. I am wondering if the m1a recoils more, less, or the same.

 

Look at Vortex. The Venom line. I’ve had numerous Vortex Venom scopes from low powers to variables up to 20x and they are a solid scope good glass and great value. Make sure the Vortex scope you look at is marked as a Venom. Their Viper line is great too but a little more expensive. Athlon makes a good value scope as well but I know the Vortex line better.

 

I took "Vacula"'s advise and looked at the Vortex Venom line, the 3x15x44 with a 34mm tube intrested me. It is MOA, FFP. Also offered was a MRAD model but I don't understand the difference or really what either means. The price is not bad but will have to save awhile. Opinions? Thanks in advance for all the knowledge and help.

 

MOA is minute of angle based on inches/feet/yards. MRAD is milliradians and is based on metric measurements. MOA is the way to go if you aren't into the metric system.

 

What does anyone here think about Arken Optics?

 

I just received and mounted and zeroed an Arken

EPL-4 4-16X44 FFP Illuminated VHR - Zero Stop - 30mm Tube

on a Dtech AR-15. It replaced a Burris E1 4-14. Which is one of my favorite inexpensive scopes.
So far I like it. Better than expected clarity, windage and elevation, distinct click adjustments.(unlike the Burris E1)
Just got it 100 yard zero and shot some groups with known sub moa loads.
When the weather clears up my plan is to test windage and elevation movments out to 300 yards, my range is only 300 yards.
I did compare the Arken in low light to the Burris E1, and Burris Veracity. The Arken for as bright and clear as it was in full daylight was on par with the E1 in low light. The Veracity was the clear winner in the low light.
I am no expert, just a 69 yo lifelong shooter with limited means. YouTube has many reviews of the above and all Arken scope.
ymmv jme

 

I have a couple of the Sightmark red dot and they work great! Have no idea about their optic scopes? I have 5 Vortex scopes and am very pleased! 😀