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BSA Scopes
Vanity | September 3, 2007 | oneolcop

Posted on 09/03/2007 8:59:58 AM PDT by oneolcop

Just a question about BSA scopes


TOPICS: Outdoors; Sports
KEYWORDS: banglist; telescopicsights
There are some pretty nice sounding BSA sights in a catalogue I was looking at. Does anyone know anything about this brand of sight? I realize they are bad-mouthed big time by some of the more serious long range shooters, but I was wondering if someone had any hands-on experience with one.

I'm particularly interested in the 3-10x44mm Catseye Riflescope, 1/4 MOA, European Reticle model. Any help would be appreciated

1 posted on 09/03/2007 8:59:59 AM PDT by oneolcop
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To: oneolcop

Bump, I’m curious about them too.


2 posted on 09/03/2007 9:01:09 AM PDT by VR-21
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To: oneolcop

What caliber rifle are you planning on mounting this on?


3 posted on 09/03/2007 9:57:01 AM PDT by B4Ranch ("Freedom is not free, but don't worry the U.S. Marine Corps will pay most of your share.")
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To: B4Ranch

I haven’t decided yet. I plan to hunt elk with my ‘06, but I like to shoot long-range with my Bushy E2S. I thought I’d keep my current scope on the ‘06 until after hunting season, then switch it over and try it on the Bushy.


4 posted on 09/03/2007 10:06:57 AM PDT by oneolcop (Take off the gloves!)
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To: oneolcop
As you noted earlier BSA’s got a reaming from the long range shooters. I have used and tried many scopes over the past 50 years, learning that how the my head rests on the stock is probably the #1 issue for me.

Correct and consistent eyeball alignment will make up for a lot of small deficiencies within a scope. That and range practice will bring what I might determine a cheap, dollar wise, scope into being classed as a personal favorite scope.

Using good mounts, lapping the rings, not over torquing the rings and high quality ammo should set you off to a good start.

Have fun!

5 posted on 09/03/2007 10:37:05 AM PDT by B4Ranch ("Freedom is not free, but don't worry the U.S. Marine Corps will pay most of your share.")
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To: B4Ranch

Thanks for the input. I was wondering about what specifically makes a scope “good” or “bad” I know light transmission has a good deal to do with it. What are your thoughts on that?


6 posted on 09/03/2007 10:44:03 AM PDT by oneolcop (Take off the gloves!)
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To: B4Ranch; oneolcop
I agree with what you said, but I've heard little about BSA reliability. What longevity can one expect from one mounted on rifles chambered for rounds in the .308/06/.270 range.

I appreciate quality optics as does anyone, but I'd settle of less in that area, and not worry about fogging and broken reticles.

I've been happy with my "L" scopes for many years, and I have great respect for the old Weaver K series.

BSA's prices are certainly inviting though I hear very little about them.

7 posted on 09/03/2007 11:32:07 AM PDT by VR-21
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To: oneolcop

I have a 20X Unertl that, back in the days when my eyes were good, I swear, you could see the wake turbulence of a honey bee landing on a wildflower at 500 yards. It is the most sensitive scope I ever owned. The heat waves rising from the ground made it worthless for varmit hunting after 10 AM.

The light transmission on that scope is perfect. There is no flare -inside the tube reflections-, everything comes right to the crosshairs and then to the rear lens. When assembled, the front of it has a tube, probably six inches long that screws onto the end where the lens cover goes. The owners manual cautions you not to touch the inside of the tube, contaminate it with body oils, in other words.

Now that scope is good on a sunny day because of the long *glare* tube, Remove the tube and it is a whole different scope. Now there will be some flaring, the crosshairs aren’t quite as sharp. Aim it 180 degrees away from the sun and it changes again. The crosshairs are clearer, the flare is gone, etc. On a cloudy day that trick won’t work.

So, as you can see there are many variations that the scope manufacturer has to think about when assembling a ‘new model’. No one scope is going to be good for all conditions.

If you are making long range shots, take a small dull green canvas cover with you to drape over the end of the scope. By sliding it backward or forward you will be able to *adjust* the light transmission affecting the lenses and the crosshairs.

Well that’s my 2 cents. Isn’t worth much, but I’ll share it.


8 posted on 09/03/2007 11:36:51 AM PDT by B4Ranch ("Freedom is not free, but don't worry the U.S. Marine Corps will pay most of your share.")
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To: VR-21

One of the hardest things you can do to a scope is bring it from a nice warm house out to a cold truck, then from a warm truck cab to the cold morning air. Ot take it from the direct sun into an airconditioned truck.

I don’t care whose name is stamped on the tube, they aren’t built to withstand repeated temperature shocks and remain perfectly aligned.

Longevity for rounds in the .308/06/.270 range is almost endless if you treat them like the high tech, sensitive equipment that they are.

Anytime you have to realign your scope and you are using the same ammunition, ask yourself if you have been treating it like a crowbar. If not then it may be time to send it back in for a lens calibration. Something is coming loose inside the tube.


9 posted on 09/03/2007 11:57:00 AM PDT by B4Ranch ("Freedom is not free, but don't worry the U.S. Marine Corps will pay most of your share.")
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To: B4Ranch

I appreciate you guys’ comments. I’m tempted to try the scope I mentioned above because it has a lifetime guarantee. I just wonder what qualitative differences in scopes. I guess for a hundred twenty bucks or so I can find out.


10 posted on 09/03/2007 12:04:00 PM PDT by oneolcop (Take off the gloves!)
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To: oneolcop

In scopes these days you generally get what you pay for. Last I’d heard, BSA has stopped using plastic lenses. Myself, I prefer to use scopes at least as valuable as the rifle, but these days with my eyes I need all the help I can get.


11 posted on 09/03/2007 12:12:10 PM PDT by B4Ranch ("Freedom is not free, but don't worry the U.S. Marine Corps will pay most of your share.")
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To: oneolcop

Yep.

You get what you pay for.


12 posted on 09/03/2007 12:47:54 PM PDT by Atlas Sneezed ("We do have tough gun laws in Massachusetts; I support them, I won't chip away at them" -Mitt Romney)
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To: oneolcop

BSAs are getting better. i’ve got a 4x on my .22 and a red dot on my shotgun. they work just fine for field rifles- but i probably wouldn’t even consider them for any long range shooting.


13 posted on 09/04/2007 11:13:23 AM PDT by absolootezer0 (stop repeat offenders- don't re-elect them!)
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To: oneolcop

I have a BSA air rifle scope on my light shooting Beeman R7. After about 300 rounds, the vertical sight adjustment stopped working. I’m looking for a new scope and won’t consider BSA.


14 posted on 09/04/2007 1:25:03 PM PDT by green iguana
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