Good Cheap Scope for SU-16 (Or AR-15 For That Matter?)

[GunXpatriot]

Hey guys, looking for some advice on a cheapo scope for my SU-16. By cheap, I mean "for the price, this seems like it would be garbage, but is surprisingly decent". Not looking for the best, just the addition of a decent, working optic for some longer-range fun.

I've definitely been eyeing this thing:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01B2FI3VY/ref=ox_sc_mini_detail?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A32FL4O5Z8G8DU

Seems that it's some Chinese scope going around under a bunch of different names, but it seems to be okay for the money, and apparently many have had luck on their AR's. 2.5-10x40, illuminated mil-dot reticle, built-in laser, just a bunch of mall ninja tacticool goodness. And honestly, that mall ninja look goes well with the SU-16 I think.

Anyone have experience with these cheapo scopes, or anything similar? What are your thoughts? Another thing about putting an optic on an SU-16 is that it needs to be relatively short because of the way you need to take it apart, the piston kind of sticks up at a diagonal and forces you to take off your optic. This would prob remedy that, I would think...

 

[togmaster]

Anything Vortex

 

[Jaywmustang]

Never heard of them. I’m not familiar with scopes in that price bracket. I would buy a bushnell banner over that scope.

 

[kev74]

$149 after rebate Rebate Ending Soon - BUSHNELL 1-4x24mm FFP Illuminated BTR with AR Mount - $189.99 shipped w/code

Rebate Ending Soon - Bushnell AR 223 Riflescope 1-4x24mm, Drop Zone-223 Reticle, Matte Black - $157.17 ($117 after $40 MIR) (Free Store Pickup or Free S/H over $35)


Anything cheaper and you're just throwing your money away.

 

[Podmonkey]

Don't buy these shit Amazon mystery brand scopes. Waste of your money. Nikon scopes are great for the money, the Vortex Stike Eagle is a great scope for the money. I understand people have budgets but you are far better off waiting and saving up a few hundred bucks for something decent. Or you could sell some gun stuff you aren't really using.

 

[alistair]

I bought a Bushnell trs25 red dot on my AR
https://www.amazon.com/Bushnell-Tro...orting-goods&sprefix=bush,sporting,134&sr=1-2

 

[alistair]

I'd also like to find a cheap scope that I could use for shooting 100yds.

 

[Podmonkey]

I bought a Bushnell trs25 red dot on my AR
https://www.amazon.com/Bushnell-Trophy-TRS-25-Riflescope-1x25mm/dp/B00200E0HM/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2TC81TVEUG2DA&keywords=bushnell+trs+25&qid=1553887526&s=sporting-goods&sprefix=bush,sporting,134&sr=1-2

@GunXpatriot, I have had one of these and it's a very solid optic for the price.

I'd also like to find a cheap scope that I could use for shooting 100yds.

Define "cheap" 1-4 power variables are pretty cheap across the board relative to "tier" since the arrival of 1-6 and 1-8 variables. Vortex and Primary Arms offer 3x prism optics at a reasonable price.

 

[Target]

I picked up a Nikon M-233 with mount on Arfcom for $150.
A Vortex SPARC AR for $125.

 

[Phauxtoe]

check review on Youtube for any off brand scopes!
I have had very good luck with Nikon.
my brother had very bad luck with Bushnell cheap 3-9 scopes' would stay far away from bushnell scopes.
that red dot is good, i have had one and use it a lot.

 

[Exonautic]

Honestly had to look up what an su-16 was. Id go vortex crossfire II. I think the most expensive scope in that line is $200 and they're of good quality for the price.

 

[GunXpatriot]

Honestly had to look up what an su-16 was. Id go vortex crossfire II. I think the most expensive scope in that line is $200 and they're of good quality for the price.

... "You trying to say there's something wrong with my gear!?" lmao

Will check 'em out, thanks.

 

[GunXpatriot]

check review on Youtube for any off brand scopes!
I have had very good luck with Nikon.
my brother had very bad luck with Bushnell cheap 3-9 scopes' would stay far away from bushnell scopes.
that red dot is good, i have had one and use it a lot.

Thanks for the heads up. Yeah, I looked these up on YouTube and haven't seen any major problems with them. But I just wouldn't expect them to hold up like something higher quality that's combat-proven.

I agree on Bushnell, but only have one really bad experience. It was a Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn 3-9x40. Worst scope I've ever used. Worse than cheap $10 Walmart scopes in fact, especially for the price. Wasn't clear, and basically looks like when you'd crank up sharpness on an old CRT TV and it kinda' hurts your eyes to look at? Never again..

 

[Podmonkey]

What will you mostly be doing with the rifle? At what range will you primarily be shooting at?
Also what are your thoughts of the SU-16? I have always thought it was a very interesting gun.

 

[Jem45472]

I just bought a Cabela's branded 1x6. Rumor is vortex makes these. Illuminated reticle with bdc. I don't have this rifle finished yet. It does have a lifetime guarantee and comes with a cantilever mount.

Cabela's AR Riflescope : Cabela's

 

[Podmonkey]

 

[Vapor]

You can get a sig or holosun (same thing) red dot for $119 if you shop around. I've had two. Its 80% of what my aimpoint is for 1/4 the cost.

For scopes, if you're going to cheap out, at least go with a name brand that has a warranty.

 

[Mk44]

For $37.97 I wouldn't expect much from it or if it last too long. personally I would look for a good quality scope.
I have Nikon, Vortex & Leupolds. never had any issues with them, plus they have a lifetime warranty.

 

[STS556]

In my experience, cheap and optics do not mix. If you can, save up a little more for a better quality name brand scope like Nixon or Vortex. Even the lower model scopes from those brand manufacturers will be a lot better in quality than a so called upper end Chinese made scope. Lower quality optics are blurry and can be hard on the eyes, causing eye fatigue.

 

[Edwardteach72]

Nikon pro staff is a good inexpensive 5.56 scope

 

[Vapor]

Cabelas even sells a "Nikon BDC" scope for $99. Its basically an old prostaff.


Or even a Korean Bushnell Banner.


If you can stretch the budget, alot of nikons and Burris scopes can be had for $120-150. Also look at Bushnell elite or Weaver Classic scopes in that price range.

 

[Podmonkey]

Do your homework on getting a good mount too.
At the price level of these scopes you may find yourself spending as much on the mount as on the scope. But its important to find a good one that wont shift under repeated recoil and one that won't damage the scope body because the rings are out of round as you tighten the rings.
For less expensive mounting options do some research on UTG stuff. It's all Chinese but some of it is good and some of it is not. I have had a pair of UTG rings holding onto a Bushnell Banner scope on my 10/22 for many years with no shifting.
Also pay attention to what kind of eye relief the scope you choose has. If it has a long eye relief of 3-4 inches you are going to need a cantilever mount to get the score far enough forward to see through. If the relief is short though you can use regular rings.

 

[Vapor]

These are made in the USA, probably by Warne. Under $50.
AR-STONER Extended 1-Piece Cantilever Scope - MPN: ScopeMount1-20MOA

My last three bolt rifle builds, i spent over $100 on the ring sets for each. Seekins or TPS is usually what I use. I usually go with warne for ar15s.

The weaver tactical rings have a decent rep for about $30 for regular rings. For ar15s, the primary arms mounts are decent, and those AR stoners are pretty good.

 

[Blimey]

Nikon P223?

Really that $37 scope from Amazon will be a piece of shit. The reviews are probably nonsense. $37 for a scope plus a red dot, wouldn't surprise me if after a few round it just straight up self destructs.

Fakespot gives it a D, meaning the reviews are rigged.

Fakespot | Pinty 2 5 10x40 Aoeg Red Green Illuminated Mil Dot Tactical Fake Review Analysis

 

[GunXpatriot]

Nikon P223?

Really that $37 scope from Amazon will be a piece of shit. The reviews are probably nonsense. $37 for a scope plus a red dot, wouldn't surprise me if after a few round it just straight up self destructs.

Fakespot gives it a D, meaning the reviews are rigged.

Fakespot | Pinty 2 5 10x40 Aoeg Red Green Illuminated Mil Dot Tactical Fake Review Analysis

Very interesting... Yeah, if that Fakespot site is even half right, then it's probably best to stay away..

MAN, I was going to go for the Nikon P223. They had a KILLER deal on one at Walmart a while back. In fact, I think they marked the price wrong. I didn't know anything about it, so I went home and researched 'em to find they're good. But then I go back to buy one and it's like 2x the price.. Shoulda' just grabbed it while I had the chance.

 

[Podmonkey]

Nikon P223?

Really that $37 scope from Amazon will be a piece of shit. The reviews are probably nonsense. $37 for a scope plus a red dot, wouldn't surprise me if after a few round it just straight up self destructs.

Fakespot gives it a D, meaning the reviews are rigged.

Fakespot | Pinty 2 5 10x40 Aoeg Red Green Illuminated Mil Dot Tactical Fake Review Analysis

We also have to consider the standards of the one giving the legit reviews. I once bought a cheap pair of surround sound headphones because the reviews were good. When I got them the sound quality was total shit, absolutely horrible. When I went back and looked at all the reviews I saw that many of them didn't exactly have a high bar set for satisfaction. One lady whom gave a great review had bought them for her son and was completely satisfied just because she didn't have to hear "video game noises" anymore, clearly she couldn't care less about the actual quality of the item.
With this Pinty scope, and those things are absolute garbage, I am willing to bet a lot of the positive reviews are coming from new gun owners or people that have never really had any experience with scopes before and therefore just don't know any better.

 

[Edwardteach72]

We also have to consider the standards of the one giving the legit reviews. I once bought a cheap pair of surround sound headphones because the reviews were good. When I got them the sound quality was total shit, absolutely horrible. When I went back and looked at all the reviews I saw that many of them didn't exactly have a high bar set for satisfaction. One lady whom gave a great review had bought them for her son and was completely satisfied just because she didn't have to hear "video game noises" anymore, clearly she couldn't care less about the actual quality of the item.
With this Pinty scope, and those things are absolute garbage, I am willing to bet a lot of the positive reviews are coming from new gun owners or people that have never really had any experience with scopes before and therefore just don't know any better.

Or dont forget they could also be putting them on airsoft guns

 

[GunXpatriot]

We also have to consider the standards of the one giving the legit reviews. I once bought a cheap pair of surround sound headphones because the reviews were good. When I got them the sound quality was total shit, absolutely horrible. When I went back and looked at all the reviews I saw that many of them didn't exactly have a high bar set for satisfaction. One lady whom gave a great review had bought them for her son and was completely satisfied just because she didn't have to hear "video game noises" anymore, clearly she couldn't care less about the actual quality of the item.
With this Pinty scope, and those things are absolute garbage, I am willing to bet a lot of the positive reviews are coming from new gun owners or people that have never really had any experience with scopes before and therefore just don't know any better.

I agree with this, especially when it comes to things like headphones, as you said.

For example, I really love this one model of Panasonic earbuds. They go for like $8.95. And compared to every single other earbuds in their pricerange, they are best in class. But they cost 8.95. So FOR THE PRICE, yes, they are absolutely a 5-star product.

BUT... When you compare them directly to a high-quality $100 earbud, and don't consider price into the equation, and also look at the thin wires, things like that, then no, of course they can't compare in sound quality. So are these headphones 5 stars because they sound awesome for the price, and are semi-disposable if you lose 'em? Yeah, totally. But I guess that ultimate caveat is, "They're the best you can get. (for the price)".

But then at the same time, you also have to ask yourself, at what point am I paying for diminishing returns? A $1,000 pair of headphones is not anywhere close to 10x better than a $100 pair of Audio Technica M40X's. And are the 40x's 10x better than the $8.95 earbud? Well no, but they'll last probably 5x as long, and so that can def be worth it...

But then like you said, if the cheap thing is just going to fall apart, then what good is it regardless..?

 

[Podmonkey]

I agree with this, especially when it comes to things like headphones, as you said.

For example, I really love this one model of Panasonic earbuds. They go for like $8.95. And compared to every single other earbuds in their pricerange, they are best in class. But they cost 8.95. So FOR THE PRICE, yes, they are absolutely a 5-star product.

BUT... When you compare them directly to a high-quality $100 earbud, and don't consider price into the equation, and also look at the thin wires, things like that, then no, of course they can't compare in sound quality. So are these headphones 5 stars because they sound awesome for the price, and are semi-disposable if you lose 'em? Yeah, totally. But I guess that ultimate caveat is, "They're the best you can get. (for the price)".

But then at the same time, you also have to ask yourself, at what point am I paying for diminishing returns? A $1,000 pair of headphones is not anywhere close to 10x better than a $100 pair of Audio Technica M40X's. And are the 40x's 10x better than the $8.95 earbud? Well no, but they'll last probably 5x as long, and so that can def be worth it...

But then like you said, if the cheap thing is just going to fall apart, then what good is it regardless..?

That pretty much sums it up, you gotta find your own personal sweet spot. Some of the others have given you some very solid recommendations.

 

[redtail]

I’ve been very happy with the 50 mm Simmons.
100$ for the 4 x 12whitetail classic , & under 50$ for the 3x9 tru plex.
I need a lot of light with the antique eyes , thus the large objective.
The wt held up fine on a .308 so I put one on my .22 and added a 3x9 on a .17 also.
Hard to beat for the $ , and lifetime warranty.