Moral of the story, most whitetail hunters can put venison on the table with a ridiculously cheap scope. Really appreciate T/C Arms doing this video to educate new hunters that one doesn't have to spend a fortune on glass to start hunting.
The Rifleman is no longer built, and is foreign. There are no more foreign Leupold rifle scopes built. Their bottom tier is the Freedom, built in the USA.
@@paulbudzynski419 Made in America……….with foreign parts 😂. I love Leupold and own a few, but the whole “Made in the USA” tag is pretty disingenuous and they’re not that different from my Burris or Vortex scopes.
That's about what I would expect out of a cheap scope. However, there is a difference in cheap and budget friendly. There are great budget scopes that follow the box drill fine and offer very good group capabilities. Not $30, but not $1500 either..
I like Sightron but have had good experience with Vortex, SWFA (love their fixed power scopes), and Primary Arms. Sig is making good affordable scopes too.
A really interesting comparison, and you sure hit the mark on cheap v expensive. An honest appraisal too. So, just getting your load tuned on even a good gun and scope can be a pain. Then add in the frustration of not being able to see the target will just add to the difficulty level of getting the set-up right. So, it is going to be much easier to eliminate the variables and add to confidence when there is a good match of rifle and optics. Your sub-minute set-up is a great illustration of matching components.
Thomps Center is like the big brother that's back from rehab. He was cool when he was young, then you didnt hear from him for a hot moment... now he's back doing the lord's work
I almost cry every time I see your gun hit the ground and can hear my ancestors scream. However your videos are some of the best. Easy to understand and logical. Your efforts to share your knowledge is great appreciated. Thank you.
I went to the range to sight in my CVA Optima V2. There was a middle aged guy there bragging about his $5-10K hunts and ultra expensive scopes, rifles and gear while berating those who buy lesser value equipment. I told him, well, you won’t like my set up then. First shot low at 50 yards, windage good. Adjusted the Simmons 4x32 scope, bullseye. He got quiet, huffed and went home.😂
I have the same Thompson stainless in .280. When I first sighted it in I had a terrible time getting it to group. I tried over 8 different cartridges ai 100. Ran in to a shooter at the range who was a Thompson collector. He built a custom replacement pivot pin as he found excessive slop in that area. He took my gun and installed his pivot. It sighted in at less than a moa with Remington Core Loc right out of the box. Sadly, he passed away taking his info to the grave.
Yes that would be a good test I have one I've beat on for over 10 years on a bolt action 450 bushmaster have never had to redjust it since it's been on the rifle
@@adamdawson464 A few years ago there was a drastic change in quality on their bottom line optics (Crossfire, Diamondback). Not sure what changed or why, but I wouldnt consider them for anywhere near the dollar being asked. The Leupold Freedom line is around/just above the same cost, is made in the U.S.A., and is considerably nicer these days. Shame Vortex kinda gave up on their budget lines, would definitely still consider a Viper/Razor though.
@tnhunts2759 ic mines an original crossfire not the series ll that dose suck tho for a company to ruin a good thang like that was an good quality product for a reasonable price I'll keep that in mind thank you for the info
I've compared a vortex to my Leupold 6.5 x 20 x 40mm in the field and there's no comparison. The Leupold cost me many $700.00 to $800.00 probably 10 years old. I've been shooting varmints for 40 years. My father has old Leupold scopes and they don't compare to my new Leupold scopes. All my rifles have (9) and pistols (4) and muzzleloaders (2) all have Leupold. My 6.5 mm JDJ has a Burris 3x12 pistol scope. The Burris 3x12 is Brighter than my Leupolds.
A wise man told me to spend as much money on my scope as my rifle when I was younger. I didn't understand it at the time. I couldn't afford to buy that that nice scope but later I found out what he was talking about.
Thankfully you don’t have to do that any more. If you don’t need to spin dials like a disco, then a couple hundred dollar scope with reasonable magnification (2-7x, 3-9x) will work perfectly fine for most people. Grab a lower end Vortex, Burris, Leupold, and it will be plenty.
I had an early Tasco Supreme 4x rifle scope on my 14 inch. .243 Encore -- worked very well,and it had the same field of view as a "pistol"scope when shooting off the bench.
@BudBanksOutdoors I have an EOTech EXPS set up for passive aiming with NVG's (well over 2.5-3" HOB) and it stacks holes. HOB only matters when youre shooting within 100y, as you'll obviously have to compensate at close range. Of course its all application dependent, less HOB is better obviously, but one isnt inherently "less accurate" than the other, as long as your mounting system is up to snuff. I'd do it simply just to keep the rifle package as compact and snag-free as possible.
Interesting comparison and a great video. Thanks. We generally get what we pay for. I often seek maximum value, and that's usually found in the middle of the price range. I've had very good experience with Sightron scopes - good optical quality, good mechanical quality, decent price. Even their lower cost scopes are good. They cost more than the $29 CVLife scope in this video, but you get a lot more quality and durability. You definitely know where the money went. The comparison of a $29 scope to a $1500 scope was interesting, but I think it's more interesting and useful to compare a $150 scope to a $1500 scope. I've had durability and reliability issues with other people's $29 scopes that lead to nothing but range frustration and wasted ammo trying to zero someone else's $29 Walmart scope. I have lower cost scopes on lower cost rifles and I love seeing how much accuracy I can get at a budget price, but the cheapest scopes are too far in the cheap direction. Unless I need to shoot at 100 yards and 1000 yards, I'll often forgo a variable power scope. I wish there were more fixed power scope options, because, particularly at the lower price point, a fixed price scope is more accurate, provides greater clarity and is more reliable and durable. Out to 200 or 300 yards, I prefer a fixed power scope. I have old eyes so I usually leave my variable power scopes on the highest magnification anyway. If you like to have many different rifles (who doesn't?) and don't want to spend almost as much on a scope each time you buy a new rifle, it's possible to use good quick release rings to share one good scope between several rifles. Keep a dope card with the zero offset for each rifle. Put the scope on the Picatinny rail, push the scope forward while pulling back on the rifle, lock the front and then the rear lever to lock the scope to the rifle, dial in the zero offset for that rifle and it should return to optical zero as long as you mount the scope to the same Picatinny rail slots and use the same mounting technique each time. The few minutes to remount the scope each time isn't much of a hassle and it allows me to shoot a cheap .22 rifle with a very nice scope. That's quite a luxury. It's also nice to shoot each rifle with the same scope so you aren't changing between different reticles, MOA vs. mil dot, different parallax adjustments, etc.
Before my shoulder rebelled against me, I hunted deer with a 12 gauge Ithaca Deerslayer. Recoil from the Brenneke slugs it preferred destroyed 3 scopes- a Burris, a Tasco, and a Bushnell. I then put a 1-4x Leupold on it, and 30 years later, when I gave the gun to my young grand nephew, that Leupold was still on the gun, and still working just fine.
I am amazed at the quality of entry-level scopes these days. The developement of green diode LASER's has turned optical coating from an art into something out of a cookbook. Mid-level scopes do what high-end scopes did 50 years ago. Makes life a lot easier on those of us with deep pockets and poor eyesight. I can put an acceptable optic on every rifle that I own.
Great test, but I think most people dont buy the $30 scope. They do buy the $130 scope as opposed to the $1000 Leupold. I think the mid range scopes like the new Bushnell's would give the Leupold a run for the money.
For many years Me and my sons have had great luck with the Bushnell dusk and dawn scopes, very reasonably priced and zero compliments using them for whitetail hunting in Michigan
I find that vortex optics are a good middle of the road option. A $50 scope with its included rings is gonna be trash. Thats best suited for an air rifle or .22 at best. A $200- $500 optic is usually going to be good enough, especially when paired with a rifle in a similar price range.
@@TODinWY That's only the case for spring piston air rifles. They have a bit of a double recoil effect and the spring decompression on firing creates a lot of torque, all of which destroys scopes. Gas ram, pre charged pneumatic, multi pump pneumatic and CO2 guns are perfectly fine for use with the cheapest of optics, since they effectively have no recoil impulse.
A $1500 Leupold 56 mm scope lasted 5 shots on my 50 BMG and the erector assembly disconnected and was banging off the lenses inside the scope. I replaced it at the range with a 42 mm SWFA fixed power scope with ALUMINUM quick release rings (from a much smaller caliber rifle) and had no problem for 200+ rounds until I was able to put a high end Sightron scope on the 50 BMG, which also has had no problems with the recoil. Leupold honored the warranty but it was a hassle I'd rather not have and I didn't really trust the scope after that, certainly not on a 50 BMG.
The scope comparison was nice and all. But I’m more excited to see that mew encore barrel on the gun with factory barrel threads. Even the barrel coating looks fresh like a new formula. IM BEYOND EXCITED FOR TC TO RETURN!!! Can’t wait to get my hands on the new encore pro hunter. Even more excited in hopes to see a slug gun barrel come out.
OK for what it is, basically illustrating a way to test a scope. A far more practical comparison would be the Leupold vs. a scope in the $150 - $200 range, a scope much more likely to be purchased by hunters than the lowest priced scope from Amazon, Ebay, or Walmart.
$150.00- $200 dollars scope is nothing to my Leupold that cost _$700.00 to $800.00 years ago. I've shot junk scopes and looked through junk scopes I've hunted for 40 years I know I different my new Leupolds are better than a Leupold 30 years ago.
I shoot Leupolds with duplex cross hairs and a target dot version. Also shoot Leupolds with extended focus range so you can adjust them if something is real close to you to clear up your target I really like those I have 3 on varmint rifles.
I like the controversial topic, way to generate algorithm traffic to the page! I know you're close to the Leupold guys and wouldn't slam them but I would like to see maybe a comparison to different level Leopold scopes like the freedom line or like others suggested vortex or Bushnell
It was a good test, I would like to see it done again against something in the $150 to $250 range. So you can see the cross hairs at 100+ yards. I once did buy a cheap Pentax years ago it was on the low side of ok a #3, nothing close to the VXL a #10 on my TC Encore 270
been filling my freezers for over 40 years with venison and have never spent over $150 on a scope, or $400 on a rifle... you dont have to spend thousands of dollars to kill deer and have a good clear scope to do it with!
I used to buy them cheap scopes when I was younger and didn’t know better. As my eyes aged and I got a good job I could pay for a good quality scope. There is no comparison in glass and performance.
I think a price delta of $950 between a $50 rifle scope and a $1000 rifle scope is a bit extreme. Maybe a $250-$550 scope compared to a $1000, $1500, $2500 optics would be more reasonable. Also noting the actual manufacture of the optic, country of origin, and cutting the optic in half would be more telling. Working your way up comparing $800 to $1000 scopes to $3500 scopes etc....
The "Cheap" scope has a 1" tube. The Leupold has a 30 mm tube. That makes a difference in brightness and fov. The real differences will show up after years of use when cheaper materials wear out.
Expensive scope's are very much so needed. I have an Encore Pro Hunter with a 35 whelen barrel. It has broken every scope I put on it. I settled with a Trijicon RCR enclosed red dot. Still holding up after several hundred rounds.
Either you had really bad luck with scopes, bought no name scopes, or you mounted them all incorrectly. I have a Vortex Crossfire 2-7x (definitely NOT an expensive rig) mounted on a 12 GA pump for over a decade and it’s never been readjusted and still hasn’t had any POI shift. That 12GA recoil impulse is significantly worse than 35 Whelan.
I been shooting Leupold scopes for 35 to 40 years and its hard to beat them. I've had people shoot my rifles and scopes and they tell me they can see they wasted money on something other than a Leupold. I have one burris 3x12 on my 6.5 mm JDJ and it is clearer than my Leupolds on my other pistols.
Doesn't it really only depend on the use of a scope? Yeah, for hunting big game I agree a superior scope is better. But for rimfire use? I topped a Marlin model 20 rimfire that I purchased for under $80 with a BSA SWx32WR scope. Admittedly low cost (cheap?) including shipping $25. I've used this combo for over fifteen years without issues. I don't hunt, just target shooting in good light. If you need a high quality (expensive) scope, get one. For my shooting purposes, this combo works.
I’ve always got a kick out of someone when they buy say $1000 rifle, $800 rifle whatever, and then go and slap a $75-200 scope on it. I’d rather buy a $300 rifle and put an $6-800 optic on it.
It's like most things in life. You get what you pay for. For some reason, people seem to disregard this reality. Way back when, when I worked at a gun shop for a number of years, when someone would come in looking to buy a rifle, I would tell them they are better off buying a good scope and spending the rest on the rifle. Tasco was big back then. They would always reply that the Tasco has a lifetime warranty. I would reply that the best warranty is not needing to use it. Not to mention the optical difference. I sold a LOT of Leupold scopes! (And no, I didn't work on commission). Back then, a Vari-X III 3.5-10x40mm was about $350 and, and if my memory serves me right, the best Tasco's were about $100. So, it wasn't as though we were talking a $1000 difference or anything like that.
Greg, great job trying to sugarcoat a turd! Cheap is cheap and quality is worth the money within reason. I’ve been a Leupold man for 40 years with no complaints. Love the new tshirt.
Are you going to release any new scopes? Would LOVE to get some new T/C Scopes! I have some VERY Old T/C Pistol scopes from my old contender , would be cool to see new models.
I dont think much of this. Ya gotta get the optic focused decently..Then the See Through SHEZZZ..Think you agree. The Biggie test of any scope can you id the varmint n make the shot at "Dark 30"?? Under any condition in the field? Crop Field.. Green Clover Field In the Deep Woods ? Against the or just inside the woodline?? Those are what often seprate a good scope for just a scope. Whem you set on the Front Porch at Sundown n compare em thats were things change.n where the rest ie that ya did begins.. As much as would try out the VX 3 n up scopes do good to get the base VX freedom n therr good glass.
I am pretty sure Leupold and Burris both have products that are not made in the USA and they componets made outside of the USA and assembled in the USA as well! So don't drink the Kool-Aide just yet!
My God man I understand what the drop test was designed for, however my butt cringed every time that Encore hit the ground. It was borderline HORRIFYING!!😂
Thanks for the video, I hope you enjoyed shooting so you got something out of it haha As mentioned you maybe shoulda splashed out on a 100 dollar scope haha what would be interesting is a scope test on price point from nearly nothing going up in 50 or 100 dollar increases
Using it for deer hunting, box drills are moot. Unless you are shooting at distance, that's the only reason you should need to click. For 1/2 a century any scopes that were available weren't sealed, didn't have clicks that worked and people have harvested millions of deer and game animals. I still have a 4x weaver from 1973 on a .22 that works fine. I kind of get your point on this, but you don't really get a real comparison from a $1500 vs $29. I personally use a Monstrum Hornet Mil for my long range rifle and it seems to click properly and is only $169 and if on sale $119 and it's optics aren't equal to the Leupold, but it's really close. It also has illuminated reticle, side focus and is a 30mm tube. There are others like Arken Optics that for $400-600 can perhaps even exceed the Leupold's performance. I know this isn't an "optics" channel, but there are some much higher quality scopes that are still reasonable.
I get the idea, however I don’t feel like this Is anywhere close to a good comparison from scope to scope? I don’t feel like a middle of the road. Scope from some of the other manufactures would even compete with this. however you would take a vortex one of the more premier scopes on the market in compare it. It might be a different story. Either way I do appreciate your content. Wait to see the new Thompson center guns when they hit the market.
Yeah now test a $550 Japanese maven RS2 I bet you get outrageous results. Perfect clicks and tracking. Great glass and durability. Also mounting scope that high is just ridiculous. It affects your cheek weld which affects your shooting entirely.
I think you should have made more of an effort to get it focused as you really handicapped yourself, the gun and the scope by not doing so. If you broke the scope in the effort, that would speak more to the build quality. As shot, you finally alluded to it in the end: all the shots fell well with in the error limits established with the zero. Now; as someone else said, do the same with a mid budget scope (say, from $100 to $400 - I'm mainly an iron sight shooter so I'm probably way off base on the pricing but I would not, ever, entertain paying $1500 for a scope - but I have paid over $2500 for a camera lens). Seriously; break that focusing ring loose if you can and repeat.
There is a guy I work with that argues that there is no difference in a nightforce and a Simmons. He has said for years how much of a Moron I am for buying paying more than $79 for a scope.
I just bought the Leupold vx5 HD and 3 to 15x44, which amazingly I just put it on my Thompson center venture compact in 7mm 08. Which I also put a new Boyds laminated Woodstock on that gun and Leopold rings and bases
I have the same scope (with FireDot) on my .260 REM Savage M11. Love it! Also wears a Boyd’s Lightweight Thumbhole laminated stock. Warne rings & bases.
That's a perfect rifle, tel me all how much will it cost me, when you convert, US DOLLARS TO SOUTH AFRICAN RAND, please workout everything including everything remember I am In South African.
That being said, I'm so glad T/C is back. (Even though the flood of new encore frames may lower the value of mine)😂. It's a fantastic platform from a great company. Now how do I talk to about my 22-250 barrel chamber being either off center or asymmetrical?
What would be more important and impressive is to get these rifle and barrels back on the market vs wasting time doing you tube videos. Get mask on the market then focus on making videos!!!
Moral of the story, most whitetail hunters can put venison on the table with a ridiculously cheap scope. Really appreciate T/C Arms doing this video to educate new hunters that one doesn't have to spend a fortune on glass to start hunting.
The difference is in low light situations and a lot of scope being bumped off is rings and bases.
Let's see a $ 250.00 Scope versus the $ 1500.00 Scope. Or better yet a Leupold rifleman Scope versus a $250.00 Vortex. The challenge is on.lol
The Rifleman is no longer built, and is foreign. There are no more foreign Leupold rifle scopes built. Their bottom tier is the Freedom, built in the USA.
@@paulbudzynski419
Made in America……….with foreign parts 😂.
I love Leupold and own a few, but the whole “Made in the USA” tag is pretty disingenuous and they’re not that different from my Burris or Vortex scopes.
Especially considering that CVlife has a $225 FFP scope with a 30mm tube. That would have been a much more interesting comparison to me.
That's about what I would expect out of a cheap scope. However, there is a difference in cheap and budget friendly. There are great budget scopes that follow the box drill fine and offer very good group capabilities. Not $30, but not $1500 either..
I like Sightron but have had good experience with Vortex, SWFA (love their fixed power scopes), and Primary Arms. Sig is making good affordable scopes too.
A really interesting comparison, and you sure hit the mark on cheap v expensive. An honest appraisal too. So, just getting your load tuned on even a good gun and scope can be a pain. Then add in the frustration of not being able to see the target will just add to the difficulty level of getting the set-up right. So, it is going to be much easier to eliminate the variables and add to confidence when there is a good match of rifle and optics. Your sub-minute set-up is a great illustration of matching components.
Thomps Center is like the big brother that's back from rehab.
He was cool when he was young, then you didnt hear from him for a hot moment... now he's back doing the lord's work
The Lord's work, really? Umm No
@timhalloran7910 jokes buds
@@warnniklz sorry, my bad
The Lord doesn't know anything about a rifle, pistol,or muzzleloader. God can't be found with a search warrant.
On a second note, I have bought Vortex and Arken a whole lot cheaper than $1500 and had good success with them.
I almost cry every time I see your gun hit the ground and can hear my ancestors scream. However your videos are some of the best. Easy to understand and logical. Your efforts to share your knowledge is great appreciated. Thank you.
I went to the range to sight in my CVA Optima V2. There was a middle aged guy there bragging about his $5-10K hunts and ultra expensive scopes, rifles and gear while berating those who buy lesser value equipment. I told him, well, you won’t like my set up then. First shot low at 50 yards, windage good. Adjusted the Simmons 4x32 scope, bullseye. He got quiet, huffed and went home.😂
I have the same Thompson stainless in .280. When I first sighted it in I had a terrible time getting it to group. I tried over 8 different cartridges ai 100. Ran in to a shooter at the range who was a Thompson collector. He built a custom replacement pivot pin as he found excessive slop in that area. He took my gun and installed his pivot. It sighted in at less than a moa with Remington Core Loc right out of the box. Sadly, he passed away taking his info to the grave.
bellm makes 1x and 2x hinge pins
@ Never heard of this company.
@@JackSmith-jj3bi Bellm has been around since the 80s. Big name in T/C, next to bullberry, EABco and SSK.
Appreciate the drop tests, I was crying and so happy at results! We are all waiting for TC to grace the stores.
What would be more impressive is to take a bottom in vortex and compare it to $1000 scope. A $50 no name we all know is trash.
Vortex crossfire II is trash as well.
Yes that would be a good test I have one I've beat on for over 10 years on a bolt action 450 bushmaster have never had to redjust it since it's been on the rifle
@@adamdawson464 A few years ago there was a drastic change in quality on their bottom line optics (Crossfire, Diamondback). Not sure what changed or why, but I wouldnt consider them for anywhere near the dollar being asked. The Leupold Freedom line is around/just above the same cost, is made in the U.S.A., and is considerably nicer these days. Shame Vortex kinda gave up on their budget lines, would definitely still consider a Viper/Razor though.
@tnhunts2759 ic mines an original crossfire not the series ll that dose suck tho for a company to ruin a good thang like that was an good quality product for a reasonable price I'll keep that in mind thank you for the info
I've compared a vortex to my Leupold 6.5 x 20 x 40mm in the field and there's no comparison. The Leupold cost me many $700.00 to $800.00 probably 10 years old. I've been shooting varmints for 40 years. My father has old Leupold scopes and they don't compare to my new Leupold scopes. All my rifles have (9) and pistols (4) and muzzleloaders (2) all have Leupold. My 6.5 mm JDJ has a Burris 3x12 pistol scope. The Burris 3x12 is Brighter than my Leupolds.
I’m just ready to buy some TC Pro Hunters the wait is killing me! Great stuff as always
A wise man told me to spend as much money on my scope as my rifle when I was younger. I didn't understand it at the time. I couldn't afford to buy that that nice scope but later I found out what he was talking about.
Thankfully you don’t have to do that any more. If you don’t need to spin dials like a disco, then a couple hundred dollar scope with reasonable magnification (2-7x, 3-9x) will work perfectly fine for most people. Grab a lower end Vortex, Burris, Leupold, and it will be plenty.
I feel like the bottom of the acceptable scope line is more like the Bushnell Banner, not a this
I'd step up a level to the Trophy. Still under a 100 bucks.
This what?
I have Bushnell banner 2s on my m4 and deer rifles just got a 300 lb hog the other day love my 90$ banner scopes
I had an early Tasco Supreme 4x rifle scope on my 14 inch. .243 Encore -- worked very well,and it had the same field of view as a "pistol"scope when shooting off the bench.
Can't compare scopes without the same rings on both as rings are just as important......
Right should of used the same. Come who puts a scope that high up. Cheap is cheap but wow.
Everyone knows that any scope set up on stilts isn’t as accurate and dependable as one sitting on the barrel!!!!
@BudBanksOutdoors I have an EOTech EXPS set up for passive aiming with NVG's (well over 2.5-3" HOB) and it stacks holes.
HOB only matters when youre shooting within 100y, as you'll obviously have to compensate at close range. Of course its all application dependent, less HOB is better obviously, but one isnt inherently "less accurate" than the other, as long as your mounting system is up to snuff. I'd do it simply just to keep the rifle package as compact and snag-free as possible.
Interesting comparison and a great video. Thanks.
We generally get what we pay for. I often seek maximum value, and that's usually found in the middle of the price range. I've had very good experience with Sightron scopes - good optical quality, good mechanical quality, decent price. Even their lower cost scopes are good. They cost more than the $29 CVLife scope in this video, but you get a lot more quality and durability. You definitely know where the money went.
The comparison of a $29 scope to a $1500 scope was interesting, but I think it's more interesting and useful to compare a $150 scope to a $1500 scope. I've had durability and reliability issues with other people's $29 scopes that lead to nothing but range frustration and wasted ammo trying to zero someone else's $29 Walmart scope. I have lower cost scopes on lower cost rifles and I love seeing how much accuracy I can get at a budget price, but the cheapest scopes are too far in the cheap direction.
Unless I need to shoot at 100 yards and 1000 yards, I'll often forgo a variable power scope. I wish there were more fixed power scope options, because, particularly at the lower price point, a fixed price scope is more accurate, provides greater clarity and is more reliable and durable. Out to 200 or 300 yards, I prefer a fixed power scope. I have old eyes so I usually leave my variable power scopes on the highest magnification anyway.
If you like to have many different rifles (who doesn't?) and don't want to spend almost as much on a scope each time you buy a new rifle, it's possible to use good quick release rings to share one good scope between several rifles. Keep a dope card with the zero offset for each rifle. Put the scope on the Picatinny rail, push the scope forward while pulling back on the rifle, lock the front and then the rear lever to lock the scope to the rifle, dial in the zero offset for that rifle and it should return to optical zero as long as you mount the scope to the same Picatinny rail slots and use the same mounting technique each time. The few minutes to remount the scope each time isn't much of a hassle and it allows me to shoot a cheap .22 rifle with a very nice scope. That's quite a luxury. It's also nice to shoot each rifle with the same scope so you aren't changing between different reticles, MOA vs. mil dot, different parallax adjustments, etc.
Before my shoulder rebelled against me, I hunted deer with a 12 gauge Ithaca Deerslayer. Recoil from the Brenneke slugs it preferred destroyed 3 scopes- a Burris, a Tasco, and a Bushnell. I then put a 1-4x Leupold on it, and 30 years later, when I gave the gun to my young grand nephew, that Leupold was still on the gun, and still working just fine.
I am amazed at the quality of entry-level scopes these days. The developement of green diode LASER's has turned optical coating from an art into something out of a cookbook. Mid-level scopes do what high-end scopes did 50 years ago. Makes life a lot easier on those of us with deep pockets and poor eyesight. I can put an acceptable optic on every rifle that I own.
Great test, but I think most people dont buy the $30 scope. They do buy the $130 scope as opposed to the $1000 Leupold. I think the mid range scopes like the new Bushnell's would give the Leupold a run for the money.
Leupold needs to start making pistol scopes again.
Great video! Truth can be painful, but it's still truth. Still hoping for some Contender barrel revival. Thanks for bringing TC back to be it's own!
For many years Me and my sons have had great luck with the Bushnell dusk and dawn scopes, very reasonably priced and zero compliments using them for whitetail hunting in Michigan
I find that vortex optics are a good middle of the road option. A $50 scope with its included rings is gonna be trash. Thats best suited for an air rifle or .22 at best. A $200- $500 optic is usually going to be good enough, especially when paired with a rifle in a similar price range.
@@krockpotbroccoli65 That’s the price range I usually end up buying. Another $1000 gets you very little more.
Break-barrel air rifles are cheap scope killers.
@@TODinWY That's only the case for spring piston air rifles. They have a bit of a double recoil effect and the spring decompression on firing creates a lot of torque, all of which destroys scopes. Gas ram, pre charged pneumatic, multi pump pneumatic and CO2 guns are perfectly fine for use with the cheapest of optics, since they effectively have no recoil impulse.
Only Leupold for me after several scope failures. Zeiss scope handled 200 rounds of .300 Weatherby and exploded never held zero.
Which Zeiss model?
I assume they warrantied it?
A $1500 Leupold 56 mm scope lasted 5 shots on my 50 BMG and the erector assembly disconnected and was banging off the lenses inside the scope. I replaced it at the range with a 42 mm SWFA fixed power scope with ALUMINUM quick release rings (from a much smaller caliber rifle) and had no problem for 200+ rounds until I was able to put a high end Sightron scope on the 50 BMG, which also has had no problems with the recoil. Leupold honored the warranty but it was a hassle I'd rather not have and I didn't really trust the scope after that, certainly not on a 50 BMG.
The scope comparison was nice and all. But I’m more excited to see that mew encore barrel on the gun with factory barrel threads. Even the barrel coating looks fresh like a new formula. IM BEYOND EXCITED FOR TC TO RETURN!!! Can’t wait to get my hands on the new encore pro hunter. Even more excited in hopes to see a slug gun barrel come out.
OK for what it is, basically illustrating a way to test a scope. A far more practical comparison would be the Leupold vs. a scope in the $150 - $200 range, a scope much more likely to be purchased by hunters than the lowest priced scope from Amazon, Ebay, or Walmart.
$150.00- $200 dollars scope is nothing to my Leupold that cost _$700.00 to $800.00 years ago. I've shot junk scopes and looked through junk scopes I've hunted for 40 years I know I different my new Leupolds are better than a Leupold 30 years ago.
I shoot Leupolds with duplex cross hairs and a target dot version. Also shoot Leupolds with extended focus range so you can adjust them if something is real close to you to clear up your target I really like those I have 3 on varmint rifles.
I shoot Leupolds with the side focus knob but years back about 10 years ago you really couldn't focus them too clear they might be better now.
I’m just digging the new font on that new encore frame!! That’s a Rochester 2.0 frame!!
I like the controversial topic, way to generate algorithm traffic to the page!
I know you're close to the Leupold guys and wouldn't slam them but I would like to see maybe a comparison to different level Leopold scopes like the freedom line or like others suggested vortex or Bushnell
The old saying is true, "you get what you pay for".
It was a good test, I would like to see it done again against something in the $150 to $250 range. So you can see the cross hairs at 100+ yards. I once did buy a cheap Pentax years ago it was on the low side of ok a #3, nothing close to the VXL a #10 on my TC Encore 270
been filling my freezers for over 40 years with venison and have never spent over $150 on a scope, or $400 on a rifle... you dont have to spend thousands of dollars to kill deer and have a good clear scope to do it with!
I used to buy them cheap scopes when I was younger and didn’t know better. As my eyes aged and I got a good job I could pay for a good quality scope. There is no comparison in glass and performance.
I think a price delta of $950 between a $50 rifle scope and a $1000 rifle scope is a bit extreme. Maybe a $250-$550 scope compared to a $1000, $1500, $2500 optics would be more reasonable. Also noting the actual manufacture of the optic, country of origin, and cutting the optic in half would be more telling. Working your way up comparing $800 to $1000 scopes to $3500 scopes etc....
Right..
After deer hunting in the cold weather when you go into the house your Leopold doesn't fog up like those cheap scopes.😂
Still waiting on seeing the New T/C rifles on the shelves. I have many and need some new ones
Me too!! Supposed to have already been out!
I sent a message and haven't heard back
@WilliamSMorris-wv4hz yeah I heard October delivery of muzzleloaders my LGS hasn't been able to get anything from them but he looks every day
Now put the rifle/scope combo in a cheap nylon case, and leave on the floorboards of a truck for 10 years.😂
The "Cheap" scope has a 1" tube. The Leupold has a 30 mm tube. That makes a difference in brightness and fov. The real differences will show up after years of use when cheaper materials wear out.
Expensive scope's are very much so needed. I have an Encore Pro Hunter with a 35 whelen barrel. It has broken every scope I put on it. I settled with a Trijicon RCR enclosed red dot. Still holding up after several hundred rounds.
Either you had really bad luck with scopes, bought no name scopes, or you mounted them all incorrectly.
I have a Vortex Crossfire 2-7x (definitely NOT an expensive rig) mounted on a 12 GA pump for over a decade and it’s never been readjusted and still hasn’t had any POI shift.
That 12GA recoil impulse is significantly worse than 35 Whelan.
I been shooting Leupold scopes for 35 to 40 years and its hard to beat them. I've had people shoot my rifles and scopes and they tell me they can see they wasted money on something other than a Leupold. I have one burris 3x12 on my 6.5 mm JDJ and it is clearer than my Leupolds on my other pistols.
Doesn't it really only depend on the use of a scope? Yeah, for hunting big game I agree a superior scope is better. But for rimfire use? I topped a Marlin model 20 rimfire that I purchased for under $80 with a BSA SWx32WR scope. Admittedly low cost (cheap?) including shipping $25. I've used this combo for over fifteen years without issues. I don't hunt, just target shooting in good light. If you need a high quality (expensive) scope, get one. For my shooting purposes, this combo works.
I like a fixed 4 power for a lot of things.
Yes indeed!
A better scope does not need batteries for low light. Some hunters swear by lighted Reticles?
Hunted with a leupold fire dot this season amazing
Nice vid matey and good shooting xden
I’ve always got a kick out of someone when they buy say $1000 rifle, $800 rifle whatever, and then go and slap a $75-200 scope on it. I’d rather buy a $300 rifle and put an $6-800 optic on it.
It's like most things in life. You get what you pay for. For some reason, people seem to disregard this reality. Way back when, when I worked at a gun shop for a number of years, when someone would come in looking to buy a rifle, I would tell them they are better off buying a good scope and spending the rest on the rifle. Tasco was big back then. They would always reply that the Tasco has a lifetime warranty. I would reply that the best warranty is not needing to use it. Not to mention the optical difference. I sold a LOT of Leupold scopes! (And no, I didn't work on commission). Back then, a Vari-X III 3.5-10x40mm was about $350 and, and if my memory serves me right, the best Tasco's were about $100. So, it wasn't as though we were talking a $1000 difference or anything like that.
Greg, great job trying to sugarcoat a turd! Cheap is cheap and quality is worth the money within reason. I’ve been a Leupold man for 40 years with no complaints. Love the new tshirt.
I used scopes 40 years ago, that were horrible.. in today's era, cheap scopes are much better, much much better..
Are you going to release any new scopes?
Would LOVE to get some new T/C Scopes!
I have some VERY Old T/C Pistol scopes from my old contender , would be cool to see new models.
I dont think much of this. Ya gotta get the optic focused decently..Then the See Through SHEZZZ..Think you agree.
The Biggie test of any scope can you id the varmint n make the shot at "Dark 30"??
Under any condition in the field?
Crop Field.. Green Clover Field
In the Deep Woods ? Against the or just inside the woodline??
Those are what often seprate a good scope for just a scope.
Whem you set on the Front Porch at Sundown n compare em thats were things change.n where the rest ie that ya did begins..
As much as would try out the VX 3 n up scopes do good to get the base VX freedom n therr good glass.
I am buying ONLY American made. Have used LEUPOLD for four decades with not a single issue. Top quality. Customer service is exceptional. 👍👍🇺🇸😃
I am pretty sure Leupold and Burris both have products that are not made in the USA and they componets made outside of the USA and assembled in the USA as well! So don't drink the Kool-Aide just yet!
My God man I understand what the drop test was designed for, however my butt cringed every time that Encore hit the ground. It was borderline HORRIFYING!!😂
You guys should make a muzzleloader barrel that uses the new firestick loads. Just a idea
That is one awesome rifle dude😮
I'd like to see a vortex compared to the 1500 Leupold. I suggest the Sonora (on sale at palmetto for 100.
Thanks for the video, I hope you enjoyed shooting so you got something out of it haha
As mentioned you maybe shoulda splashed out on a 100 dollar scope haha what would be interesting is a scope test on price point from nearly nothing going up in 50 or 100 dollar increases
When will the encore be released again? I can’t find anything exact online
Why is the picture of the target a digital one? I'd like to actually see the target.
I'd like to see this with arken LH instead of CV life. Thanks
Great video
Using it for deer hunting, box drills are moot. Unless you are shooting at distance, that's the only reason you should need to click. For 1/2 a century any scopes that were available weren't sealed, didn't have clicks that worked and people have harvested millions of deer and game animals. I still have a 4x weaver from 1973 on a .22 that works fine. I kind of get your point on this, but you don't really get a real comparison from a $1500 vs $29. I personally use a Monstrum Hornet Mil for my long range rifle and it seems to click properly and is only $169 and if on sale $119 and it's optics aren't equal to the Leupold, but it's really close. It also has illuminated reticle, side focus and is a 30mm tube. There are others like Arken Optics that for $400-600 can perhaps even exceed the Leupold's performance. I know this isn't an "optics" channel, but there are some much higher quality scopes that are still reasonable.
I bought a T/C Arms Scope kit with sling. For my T/C FX 50 cal muzzleloader and it Didn't hold up very well
Lets release some muzzleloaders man. Im sick and tired of my cva wolf. Ive bought 2 of em. A reg wolf and v2. Will be sending in the v2 on monday!!!
I think you need higher rings...💯🇺🇲🤣
Id never buy a scope that cheap. But for a fair comparison you should have used the same rings as the Leupold to keep things as close as possible.
Will I be able to buy a pro hunter ? Muzzleloader ?
What about a heavy barrel for the Compass???
I get the idea, however I don’t feel like this Is anywhere close to a good comparison from scope to scope? I don’t feel like a middle of the road. Scope from some of the other manufactures would even compete with this. however you would take a vortex one of the more premier scopes on the market in compare it. It might be a different story. Either way I do appreciate your content. Wait to see the new Thompson center guns when they hit the market.
I have maby 9 varmint rifles and they all have Leupolds. Vortex can't touch them in the field.
Yeah now test a $550 Japanese maven RS2 I bet you get outrageous results. Perfect clicks and tracking. Great glass and durability. Also mounting scope that high is just ridiculous. It affects your cheek weld which affects your shooting entirely.
Why not have a separate camera on target rather than the target with bullet hole overlays?
Would you part ways with that Leupold after that intense drop test 😂
I think you should have made more of an effort to get it focused as you really handicapped yourself, the gun and the scope by not doing so. If you broke the scope in the effort, that would speak more to the build quality. As shot, you finally alluded to it in the end: all the shots fell well with in the error limits established with the zero.
Now; as someone else said, do the same with a mid budget scope (say, from $100 to $400 - I'm mainly an iron sight shooter so I'm probably way off base on the pricing but I would not, ever, entertain paying $1500 for a scope - but I have paid over $2500 for a camera lens).
Seriously; break that focusing ring loose if you can and repeat.
Rings and bases are just as important
Those rings on the cheap scope are some of the problem, they are junk
If you pause the video when the target is showing, every bullet hole has the exact same tear pattern….identical
New threaded barrel Greg?
It would be more fair to compare it to a $100-300 scope.
Thank you, Greg. Another video made by an adult🙂.
There is a guy I work with that argues that there is no difference in a nightforce and a Simmons. He has said for years how much of a Moron I am for buying paying more than $79 for a scope.
My father was a big fan of Simmons, but not the lower end models. The Aetec was his favorite scope.
Bees don't waste time explaining to flies why honey is better than crap. Some people will never get it bub
For $29, you get what you pay for.
I need more barrels
Great test ☺️👏🇺🇸
The funny thing is that $50.00 scope is worth more than that piece of trash rifle
I just bought the Leupold vx5 HD and 3 to 15x44, which amazingly I just put it on my Thompson center venture compact in 7mm 08. Which I also put a new Boyds laminated Woodstock on that gun and Leopold rings and bases
I have the same scope (with FireDot) on my .260 REM Savage M11. Love it! Also wears a Boyd’s Lightweight Thumbhole laminated stock. Warne rings & bases.
@StumpkillerCP Yes, mine is a duplex with the fire dot!
Those drops were hard to watch
Your scope rings are not nearly high enough they need to be about another 6" higher !
What's the commission on a VX whatever lol? I love my Encore. I still don't think I need a $1000 scope.
Day 1 asking for a 25 creedmoor
That’s a great test. But them shots are digital, they’re a digital bullet impact. Why not show the actual target?
you want an amazing cheap scope? The sig buckmaster line is awesome
i use the 3-12x44 on my 50 cal muzzleloader and i can shoot quarters at 100 yards
👍
Well it doesn't matter what you put on a TC. Those guns are junk
Buy once cry once
That's a perfect rifle, tel me all how much will it cost me, when you convert, US DOLLARS TO SOUTH AFRICAN RAND, please workout everything including everything remember I am In South African.
Nightforce or nothing for me. Been screwed too many times by cheap scopes.
Most people, including myself, aren't going to buy either of these scopes. A majority of hunters will spend 200 to 400 on a reputable brand.
That being said, I'm so glad T/C is back. (Even though the flood of new encore frames may lower the value of mine)😂. It's a fantastic platform from a great company. Now how do I talk to about my 22-250 barrel chamber being either off center or asymmetrical?
I'm unsubscribing this channel has been almost nothing but garbage content
Wait....nope......yeah no one cares.
@@JosephCanell You cared enough to comment. Are you calling yourself a nobody?
@@Chef-James yup
What would be more important and impressive is to get these rifle and barrels back on the market vs wasting time doing you tube videos. Get mask on the market then focus on making videos!!!
This guy isn’t personally making rifles. Stop it.
@phild9813 this guy is the supposedly new owner. So again I'm be more focused on getting guns and barrels on the market before making you tube videos