GTA
General Discussion To Gateway To Airguns => Airgun Gate => : fxud May 24, 2010, 06:47:02 PM
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Are they any good ? Looking at the 3 - 12 X 44 AO. Thanks for your opinions.
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Hello to you fxud, i see your inquiring about BSA scopes, well i have had a few. First some of the good points, I have always gotten good accuracy from BSA's, they are inexpensive to purchase, and i have not had any problems from the warranty department in getting them replaced. I have had the 3x12x44 mounted on Gamo 1000's, 440's, and on Beeman r-9's and briefly on a hw97k.
Now, some of the not so finer points. My personal experience is that on a springer the BSA's will last anywhere from 250 to 500 shots and sometimes a bit more and then the scope is done and ready for warranty. I have had a couple 3x12x44's that the objective bell was a bit hard to turn, also glare can be a bit of a problem on bright sunny days, not real bad but they are not like high quality glass. But don't get me wrong BSA's are a whole lot better than no scope at all. If you do go with BSA scopes do your self a favor buy two and you will always have one at the ready when one goes down, (you should get two new 3x12x44's for under $150). Usually Optics planet or Natchez shooters supply has a good price on them. When you do need to warranty a BSA scope it will cost you shipping there and a ten dollar money order for the return shipping, so basicly for just under $20.00 you get a new scope, and hang on to your purchase receipt, you will need to send a copy of it with your scope when you do a warranty.
I have a 3x12x44 on my model 60 22lr and it will last as long as the gun with no problem, and i am sure that the BSA's would do great on a PCP rifles without breaking. If you only hunt you should get one or two season from a BSA scope, but if you target shoot often you will want to go with a scope that you don't need to mount and dismount so often. I prefer to spend my time shooting instead of mounting and dismounting and resighting scopes every couple weeks.
My best scopes are Bushnell 4200 series, i have two of them and they out lasted an r-9 and the hw97k i had. I had a bushnell legend once for about week and quickly sent it for a refund due to accuracy issues.
I am not sure if there is a mid priced scope say, $150 to $300 that will hold up indefinately, that is on a springer. I am sure others have had both good and bad luck with different scopes but if you have the extra money go for the higher priced Bushnells, NOT THE 3200 SERIES, but rather the 4200, the extra $100 dollars is money well spent. I have spent a lot of time at sportsmans warehouse looking through most of their scopes and 4200 beats the 3200 by far and is well worth the extra money.
Anyway hope this is of help to you. fb
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Thanks for your reply Arkansas Man. It was VERY informative and helpful. Guess I will not be buying the BSA. I am sending back my Leapers 3 x 9 x 32 AO because it no longer holds zero. Kind of wanted to try something different & the price was right. I have a Bushnell Sportsman series 4 x 12 x 40 AO on my Disco. Think I will try it on a spring gun & see how it stands up.
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I had their 6-24x44 SWF scope for a couple years. It served me well and never had any problems with it.. but I got this from a UK dealer. Not a Chinese make. I don't think you can get them from England any more.
I replaced it with a Hawke 8-32x56.. killer deal of $320 for the scope!
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I have a bsa 3-9x44AO its on a gamo shadow and had no issues, it on a low budget it does very well. BSA warranty and service is excellent they replaced a 4-12x50ao that I had on a diana34, IMO it did not hold zero like I wanted they replace it no problem and the new one works better and is clear.
Over the years I have concluded that I am better in the long run to spend alittle more and have better scope..I have been much happier with hawke AG scopes:) The bushnell elite's are good chioce too.:)
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Hello again fxud, i was looking at the Natchez shooters supply web site and seen that they have the 3x12x44 BSA scopes for under $45 bucks, which is a bargain. A person could get two for around a $100. I have found it to be true that even if a person perfers the more expensive scopes like leopould or bushnell, it is always a good idea to have a extra scope or two around for spares. Also, as magnum stated the BSA's are pretty clear and if one doesn't have a deep pocket for scopes, BSA is a good way to go. It is prabably true that hawk makes some good low end scopes but i have not tried them yet. I hope i did not discourage you toward purchasing BSA, i just wanted you to know what you are getting. I did not mention it but i also have a 3x12x44 on a Gene tuned Gamo 440 and it is holding up well so far with over 500 shots on it. Not trying to tell you what you should do but if you have a sporting goods store near you, it would be a good idea to look through the BSA's, that would prabably help you decide if thye are a good choice for you. In my opinion BSA makes a good low end scope. I also tried the 2x7x32 BSA's but thehy are not really that great for bringing small objects in close, i guess the objective lens are not large enough for my liking. cheers fb
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I have an 8-32X-44AO BSA on my B22. Holding up great! Had it for many years & several tins of pellets on it
(http://www.jrcbd.com/photopost/data/743/XB22_With_8-32X_BSA_Platinum_Cateye.jpg)
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Mounted a BSA Contender 4-16x40 Side AO on my B40 last night. Love the clarity and the adjustments. So far so good but only put 50 shots through it so far.
Have a 6-24x40 IR Mil Dot waiting to go on the B40 once I am sure its ready. The contender with go on one of the B26s if it survives the B40.
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I think the BSA 3-12X44 is a great scope for the money. I have >2000 twangy rounds through my CFX and it has held up. BSA will do you right on the waranty if you keep the receipt. If I am ever needing another scope in that price range, I will buy another. Natchez Shooter Supply often has good prices on these. No, it is not as good a glass as a Bushnell 4200 or other more expensive scopes, but mine has never let me down.
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Mike, I would like to know how your BSA Condender 4-16x40 scope is still holding up. I want to buy one for my Diana 48, provided it looks like it will handle springer recoil. It would be an excellent scope on my 48, its compact, has the cool push pull tuerets and decent glass.
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I have quite a few BSA scopes, had them for years with not a problem on any air gun. Leapers hold up pretty good also but have had to have two of them replaced under warranty. The last warranty replacement of a Leapers cost me twenty three dollars with shipping and postal money order. You reminded me that BSA are a good scope for the cost and I have been overlooking them as of late.
Frank
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I used BSA scope exclusively my first couple years into air guns. Then to Simmons Pro Air which they do not make any more. I still have about 7 or 8 BSA scopes on guns that are at least 5 years old now. Lots of use for sure...:) Only had one I though went south and gave it to a friend, and he is still using it I think..:)
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A little off the BSA subject, another plain jane 4X32 scope I have had good luck with the Crosman now Central Point. To me they are sharp and clear and have also held up very well as I have had no failures. To me they also seem like more than 4x, which is also a plus.
Frank
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Larry - 5/28/2010 10:46 PM
Mike, I would like to know how your BSA Condender 4-16x40 scope is still holding up. I want to buy one for my Diana 48, provided it looks like it will handle springer recoil. It would be an excellent scope on my 48, its compact, has the cool push pull tuerets and decent glass.
I couldn't get it to zero, so I switched it for the bigger scope. and it is hard to zero as well but I think i finally got it. I may try the Contender again since I never did the mirror center trick like i did for the other scope. It's centered now and that may just make a difference.
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Perhaps some scope rings or mounts that are adjustable both vertical and horizontal would make the difference on that contender. Especially if your mirror method doesn't work out. Iv'e never used the adjustable rings or mounts, but there is always a first time.
Which adjustment didn't work for you on your contender, Vertical or horizontal?
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Actually both would cause strange results. Click 2 in windage and the POI would move both horizontally and vertically same with elevation. just 2 clicks could move the POI as much as 2 inches in any direction.
So I took the 6-24x40 off and put the contender back on and got it zeroed with the CPL pellets with little effort. Switched to the Crow mag pellets and am fighting to get it lined up. Just about got it but it is a pain as it still jumps all over with just 1 or 2 clicks.
The other scope was good for about 30 shots then it started moving all over the place. Took the B40 apart added just a little more tar and 2 washers above the spring. Gave me 10 to 15 FPS and took out much of the buzz and vibration I got when i added the washer to the bottom of the spring. I think the contenedr should work ok once I get it zeroed.
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Mike, Thats good information, and I will use it now to consider my next scope purchase. Perhaps I will use Fathers day as an excuse to buy a Burris 4.5-14x32 Timberline scope ($199 at Academy Sports). I did e-mail Burris and they indicated the Timberline scopes were tough enough to handle springer recoil. They should for the cost! I also e-mailed BSA about the contender series scopes, and I have not recieved a reply.
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They take a day or 2 to reply. But the person that I spoke with was not very knowledgeable about there scopes. They kept giving me model numbers of scopes that did not exist on the website. But they did indicate the Contender "should" be able to handle the springer.