Hey all-
Just wanted to raise a ? here-
Mini's, as we all know, are hard on scopes. "cheap" scopes lose zero quickly, because they're, well, cheap.
I've been looking and researching around, and the thing to look for nowadays is a scope w/ an etched reticle. That is, a scope that has the reticle etched into the ocular glass w/ a laser.
Traditional scopes, w/ a suspended wire reticle in the tube are subject to intense shock, and the actual wires can break/shift from excessive shock.
The etched reticle, which has no wires to break, should be just the ticket for "shocking" rifles.
Read- autoloaders, esp. based on the garand operating system.
I searched around. Seems alot of illuminated scope reticles are etched, but not all of them.
BSA is about to release a line called 357Mag, wich tout the etched(non-illum.)reticle as a selling point. I also called BSA, because I wanted a scope w/ a little more mag. than 12X. They told me they had a contender target scope, 6-24X, w/ a 40mm objective, and an illum. mil-dot reticle, that is of the etched variety. Quick check on midway usa has them listed for 120$. I know, it's cheap. But anything that will last longer than the scope I was using would be an improvement.
Questions are:
1. Does anyone use one of the BSA contender scopes(the new ones-'06 model)
2. Does anyone have any info to shed some light on the etched reticle topic?
Thanks in advance guys!

__________________
Rangers lead the way-All the way.
2005 series 1 co-champion-scope class- in the brotherhood of true marksmen.
2005 series 2, modded barrel class champion-
MOA club member

Some of the scopes that utilize a etched reticle are beyond my
budget, ie Nightforce and IOR to name a couple. The samples of those
brands of scopes that I've seen are in a word-- incredible.
Far east manufacturing is improving rapidly. Import goods that were
considered junk not too long ago has improved in quality and is now
pretty good. I recall when made in Japan =ed junk, not any more.
The Chinese are moving the same way. The latest top Simmons that
I've handled are tempting at the price..I might put one to the
test.


Give it a shot, always better to be lucky than good Let us
know how it goes.

MM

Minimizer-
Yeah, I checked them out too. A little too much $ for my blood, also. I did some asking around, and it seems that the BSA etched contender has a small but growing following in some of the long-range circles. Seems worth a try. I also checked out a really nice Leupold at bass pro, but the price(800$+), is just out of my range right now.

__________________
Rangers lead the way-All the way.
2005 series 1 co-champion-scope class- in the brotherhood of true marksmen.
2005 series 2, modded barrel class champion-
MOA club member

I have several BSA contender scopes, as well as a BSA platinum... Whether they are etched or not, I dont know... all are, however on low recoil rifles... 17HMR, .204 Ruger, 22LR... etc...

Have you ever thought to contact BARSKA and ask whether they make an etched reticle optic? I have several barska optics, one on one of my Ruger 10/22's, one on my AR15, and one on the burly .50 BMG... all are EXCEPTIONAL in their clarity, and optical movement within the scope itself. ( 4 clicks/8 clicks really does = 1 inch at 100 yards!!)

I would check them out... for a chinese made optic, at an inexpensive price, all of mine have been outstanding!

Indy-
Yes, I did check them out, and the "tactical" line, w/ side focus, uses an etched reticle. Forgot to mention them, and they are in the running also. Depends on what the wifey will allow me to spend. And after today's vet bill, it prob. won't be much!!!

__________________
Rangers lead the way-All the way.
2005 series 1 co-champion-scope class- in the brotherhood of true marksmen.
2005 series 2, modded barrel class champion-
MOA club member

Call me stupid, but how does an etched reticle adjust mechanically? Could it be why they are so expensive?

I mean, wire reticles adjust by moving the wires. If it's etched on the lense, does it move the whole lense or what?

Just curious...

Boogy-
Basically, yes, sort of. I don't know the exact mechanicals, yet, but I will soon. I do know they seem to be a beefier scope construction, as there are no unsupported wires draped inside the scope tube.

__________________
Rangers lead the way-All the way.
2005 series 1 co-champion-scope class- in the brotherhood of true marksmen.
2005 series 2, modded barrel class champion-
MOA club member

I have the IOR M2. I am thrilled with it. I realise its hard to part with the money but this brand is actually considered value priced. Mine has the etched CQB reticle and I think it rocks. The process of creating high quality glass is expensive. Do yourself a favor and save up for good glass.

Hey all-
Finally got the BSA scope I referred to in the first poste. Midway had it on backorder. Will be mounting it to the mini tonight, and head to the range tomorrow.
Hopefuly the weather will hold out, and the wind won't be too absurd.
I'll make sure to give a report on how it works, and how well it holds up.

__________________
Rangers lead the way-All the way.
2005 series 1 co-champion-scope class- in the brotherhood of true marksmen.
2005 series 2, modded barrel class champion-
MOA club member

2rangers, did you have any luck getting sited in on the mini?

-tri

__________________
" If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would send an entertainer..... our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent a Savior."

did it work?

Whether a reticle is etched or wire it is seated in a leaf spring inside of the scope tube. The etched glass variety are lazer imprinted on a small glass lens. Your adjustments move the reticle accordingly when you move the moa adjustments. Wire reticles can be as dependable as the glass reticles depending on the materials used. If your looking for a "good value" scope I'd recommend checking out Maine Vue Optics. I use a 3-12x50AO on my .270 and like it a lot. Their website is www.mvoptics.com , I've also seen a product review by a guy in Manitoba at www.skylineadventures.ca I hope this helped answer your question.

Hey 2 rangers. I have that mil dot BSA 6-24 on my mini. I have put a few hundred rounds through here since the scope was put on....no problems. I quite enjoy that scope. If it continues to work like it does I would give it rave reviews. It is not as clear as my Nikon or or Leupold scopes, but then it cost no where near what they did.
What ever you do buy, though these are my experiences, I will never buy a Barska or NcStar scope again. I have had a few of each and they have all failed; failed miserably and quickly. One of the NcStar was supposedly a normal scope, not a 22 scope, and was on my 22, and lost its zero on several occasions.

__________________
"That which does not kill me postpones the inevitable"

Hey all-
You know, I totally forgot about this thread, so pardon my tardiness.
The bsa scope was mounted, and sighted in. The sight picture isn't as bright as I would have liked, but it'll do. it zeroed easily, and so far, has maintained zero. Although I was never a big mil-dot fan, it seems to work out o.k.
So far, It's had about 150 rounds under it, and the turret caps haven't been off since originally zeroed, so it's holding zero well. 150 is by no means a decent test, so I'll report some more as more time and rounds are accumulated.
So far, so good, just not as bright as I would have liked.

__________________
Rangers lead the way-All the way.
2005 series 1 co-champion-scope class- in the brotherhood of true marksmen.
2005 series 2, modded barrel class champion-
MOA club member

I found a very clear,very good quality,etched reticle,milldot-tactical,4-16x,illuminated 40mm,made by mueller optics,about $240 last fall,mounted on an ASI custom mini.I have a whole bunch or leupolds from 2-7x to 6-20x,and this mueller is every bit as clear and after about 150 rds is working as well as any of my leupolds.I might just buy another one for a varmint rifle that I put some poor glass on a few years back.

__________________
...magnomark...

...Just take the shot...
Don't bother me-I'm reloading!