Rifle Scope - Not SIM related

[von Bek]

I'm trying to find a good deal and a reliable US Internet based supplier for the following scope

SIMMONS Aetec 3.8x - 12x 44mm A/O or its 2005 model equivalent.

The Adjustable Objective is important due to the short ranges I normally shoot at.

I can get one in UK for £300 :eek: - in the US they are about $200.

I figured that someone on here would know a good supplier.

Thanks

Bek

[Moparmike]

I would normally sugest MidwayUSA but they don't seem to have that model listed.
They do have a 4-12x 40mm AO in their ProAir series (for air rifles) though. If this is for an air rifle, I can recommend the ProAir series as I have a 6-18x ProAir on my .22 cal RWS 48 side-cocker...it's stood up very well.


Excalibur Enterprises has the model you're after listed for $190US, but I have never ordered from them before.
http://www.excaliburenterprises.com/scopes/simmons/simmons.html

[von Bek]

I want the Aetec model particularly for low light conditions. Perhaps I'll give Excalibur a call.

[Ivan]

The places I would check would be MidSouth Shooter's Supply and possibly Spartan Supply / Natchez. I am sorta curious though, why the Simmons Aetec?

- Ivan.

[von Bek]

Its a good low light scope at a reasonable price. If there are alternatives, I'd like to know about them.

[Ivan]

Hi von Bek,
I do own a bunch of rifle scopes but most of them are fairly high-end and pricey. I ordered and mounted a Bushnell Banner for a friend of mine and was very surprised at its high quality. It was mounted on a Ruger 10/22 so extreme magnification was not a factor.
That one was ordered through Natchez or Spartan Supply. Last scopes I ordered for myself were the Tasco Super Sniper 20x from Riflescopes.com. I ordered two but had to exchange one because of some obvious imperfections that could be seen through the scope (looked like dust fibers). They look like excellent scopes and adjustments are dead on. No variable magnification though.
The BSA scopes (8-32x Target) are not bad for optical quality but their adjustments are inconsistent. Their "MIL" dots are dots but not exactly "MIL" anything.
I also have a Bushnell ScopeChief which looks like an excellent scope for a decent price. Not sure if they are still available though.
I have a few Leupold 6.5-20x Target scopes (both EFR and not) that are first rate in all respects but the price reflects it. The EFR are the better ones.
I also have a Burris about 20x scope that does not seem quite as bright as the more expensive stuff. It is very old though.
The only Simmons scope I have is the 44 Mag but I don't remember any details.

No, I did not really answer your question, did I? 'cause I really don't have an answer. I can only describe what I have used.

- Ivan.

[von Bek]

Thanks, anything I can learn is knowledge I can use!

[Ickie]

$165 new
http://cgi.ebay.com/Simmons-3-8-12X44mm-AO-IR-AETEC-Scope-New-w-sunshade_W0QQitemZ7193897336QQcategoryZ31714QQssPa geNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Simmons-Aetec-6-20-x-44-A-O_W0QQitemZ7193790430QQcategoryZ31714QQssPageNameZ WDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/SIMMONS-ATEC-RIFLE-SCOPE-2-8X-10X-44MM-NIP_W0QQitemZ7193187787QQcategoryZ31714QQssPageNam eZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[von Bek]

Ah haaaaaa!

Nice one Ickie!

[Ivan]

Just for amusement's sake then, I will tell you about some other telescopes I have encountered:
When Montgomery Ward's was getting out of the sporting goods (read shooting) area, they sold some "Western Field" 3x9 x 30mm scopes that normally retailed for about $50 or so for $15. Being the cheapskate that I am, I bought 3 of them at the same time. Their optics are mediocre at best and I don't know how precise their adjustments are, but they are about the right size for a "Period" look on a WW2 sniper rifle. They work.
I also have a Weaver KT-15 made in Japan. It managed to break a reticle wire when I had it mounted to a .300 Winchester Magnum. Oops!
I have also had a matte finish Leupold 6.5-20X that no longer adjusts. I believe I may have moved it past its proper elevation range and thus it no longer works. I need to send that back to have it fixed at the factory at some point. It did not have target knobs but maybe I should have those fitted at the same time.
I HAD a little bitty scope made in China that was probably intended for mounting on top of a SKS or AK type rifle. The spent cases eject straight up on a SKS so a short scope is necessary. I let my daughter play with it a bit and she managed to make the guts fall out of the scope. Guess that means it failed the durability test. Oops!
Next scope purchase if I find I have some extra money would be a Leupold 8.5-25 (?) with a 30 mm tube and target knobs. The idea is to have a scope with enough elevation range for long range shooting (figure 50-60 MOA but absolutely need about 45 MOA) for a medium velocity (.308 Winchester) rifle. For those who are into tactical rifles, I know that I don't need that much magnification, but I like high magnification scopes for target shooting.
The Leupold scopes that I have do have the minimum range of adjustment (one EFR scope tested to 53 MOA vertical adjustment) but don't have the margin I want to zero the rifle without tweaking the scope mounts.

- Ivan.

[von Bek]

I found a guy on eBay who had 3 of the exact scope I want brand new and boxed. Its the model with the sunshade, adjustable parallax and illuminated reticle. I managed to buy all 3 for what one would have cost me in UK. That's a bonus because I have 3 rifles with cheap nasty chinese scopes on them. Thats really cheap and really nasty.

They'll be used on airguns for vermin control around dawn and dusk (and some lamping). The combination of parallax down to 5 yds, good light transmission, low mag and IR is absolutely what I need.

[Ivan]

Congratulations! Sometimes things do work out well.

- Ivan.

[Ickie]

was that the guy I sent ya to.

[von Bek]

nope, I missed that one. I found another seller with 3 new ones to sell - end of line stock. All 3 are on their way to me now.

The rats round the henhouse are not going to like this one bit! (if there are any left that is - I knocked off another 12 tonight. hehehehe)