I just got a gently used Parker Hale .270 win rifle from my uncle this weekend. It has a 3-9x32 Tasco scope on it. It seems to be decent except when I dial out the focus, near the very top or bottom of adjusting the dial, the crosshairs move about 30 degrees in the direction I'm turning the distance dial. I would think they should stay true vertical and horizontal…

This is my first bolt action and scope of any kind, so any comments would be very appreciated.

Thanks,

Patrick

Find a dumpster and throw the scope away. You've got an excellent rifle, but old Tasco's can be kind of on the junky end of the scope list.

Go to Walmart and put an under $200 Leapold 2 by 7 or 3 by 9 on it. It that is beyond your budjet consider a 2 by seven Cabala's pineridge. They are $70.00 and a good buy in the scope market.

Frankly the leapold with a lifetime warrentee will be an investment you will never regret. The only scope I like near as well as Leapolds are Burris and the Simmons AETEC. All are in or near the $200.00 dollar range.

I don't know what rings or bases you have on that Parker Hale, but would suggest a good set of Leapold bases and rings. Best buy on those are from folks such as Midway sales.

I agree with Bob. Get rid of that "Trashco" and get a decent scope. All will be good with a good scope on it.

Yep, dump the scope, put something decent on it. The Sightrons and Nikon Pro Staff have caught my eye as I am looking to replace the simmons currently on my winchester

Early Tasco were not a real good scope but they have now been bought by Bushnell.
My nephew has purchsed 2 of the Tasco Titans ( 2.5 X 10 X 50 ) something and really likes them.
Up here in Canada I have not seen Walmart carry Leupold as I have a couple of Gold rings that are the best scope I have used. My Elites are a close second and that it what I am now using.

I almost gagged when I saw the heading of "Parker-Hale with Tasco scope.." :eek: . As others have said, find the nearest trash can and toss that POS in! I'm a believer or good optics but you also don't have to spend big bucks on one. You can find some good scopes for under $200. If you have any idea of what you'd be willing to spend on a scope for a fine rifle like that, many of us could give you some great recommendations.

I almost gagged when I saw the heading of "Parker-Hale with Tasco scope.." :eek: . As others have said, find the nearest trash can and toss that POS in! I'm a believer or good optics but you also don't have to spend big bucks on one. You can find some good scopes for under $200. If you have any idea of what you'd be willing to spend on a scope for a fine rifle like that, many of us could give you some great recommendations.

See that is the thing, I don't know what would even be a good price for a decent scope. I really don't want to spend more than bare minumum since I don't know if I will even like using one...

I haven't ever shot a bolt action before either, so that might seal the deal before anything is bought...

Thanks from a newbie,

Patrick

I would say you can find decent scopes between $140 and $200. Its not really money lost, even if you decide you don't like it, because you will get it back when you sell the gun

I bought a Weaver K-4 not to long ago for $125. My "good" scope is a vintage Redfield and I have a couple low end Leupolds. I was not expecting much from the Weaver but I have been very pleased with it's performance.

Agree with the others that a junk scope is worse than useless.

Nothing against KenK, but some of the guys have had problems with the weaver warranty service recently

Oh man!!! What kind of problems led to needing the work?

These were the older El Paso made scopes that Meade Optics wouldn't honor the warranty on.

Weaver (Meade Optics/Weaver/Redfield/Simmons) will honer warrentees on Weavers that say made in Japan. I don't know about the Simmons Redfield side, but I sent them a scope a few months ago and they, with a little arguing, sent me a brand new one.

I had to talk to the head of their repair/replacement department finally, but in the end got good results.

Its a shame an old brand like Weaver isn't still made in the U.S. but I've read here that some of the Leupolds aren't either.

I have used variable power (mostly 3-9) most of my life, I've found here in my declining years that I prefer the fixed powers.

Anyway, the Weaver K-4 may throw a rod tommorow but it's been good so far.

FWIW – This is a Remington VSSF in 220 Swift wearing a Tasco Target/Silhouette 6-24 power scope(no longer made?). Both were purchased about 10 yrs ago. The rifle shot very poorly. It was glass bedded fwd of the receiver and had a Shilen trigger replacement. My first 5 shot group with 55 grn V-Max’s, leaving the bbl at over 3800 fps, was 0.40 inch at 100 yds. The rifle and scope are working now, so it hasn’t been fired for a few yrs while working on other stuff. I do use Leupold, Burris and other scopes, but am very pleased with this arrangement for now. Scope cost me about 1/3 the cost of the rifle.

http://img377.imageshack.us/img377/3764/m700a0025vn.jpg

I have not been in this rifle thing for long. I hunt with other guys that have not really been into it much either so thru the last 10 years we have collectively tried a lot of different equipment, including scopes. Here is what has shook out of this.

None of us have bought a top of the line scope yet. We would all like one but we have not found our dream rifle yet so I guess the scope has not made the list economicly. So we have tried a lot of what I consider the bottom of the barrel scopes.

I got lucky with my 1st scope on a .308 rifle. Let me say now that time(degrading materials) will eventually take its toll on cheap materials. All the junk scopes will do this over years of just sitting there. The other enemy is recoil or rough, posibly accidental, handleing. The first scope was bought off a dusty shelf at a local gun shop. A well used K-4 Weaver. This scope is still doing fine on one of my 22s. The old steel tube rascal does everything a 4X scope can do and will put the bullet where you want it to at the range. 25 bucks.

Next I got lucky again. I bought a used Rem 760 in 30.06 that had an old steel tube 4X Redfield on it. Again, all you could ask for at the range at 100 yds and a good background.

Since I have put an Aetec with a 50 mm AO on my 30.06 for those few extra minutes of daylight in the deer woods. It is a 3.5 X12 I think. It does fine. I got it at midway for a reduced sale price but way less than 200 bucks.

I have a couple cheaper bushnells that are OK but not the quallity of the others.

When I have the time and cash a Leo will be on my stuff and I will be done with scopes.

Good luck, and check those old gun shots for some values, other than that get a sale price on a top of the line Simmons or Bushnell. I would avoid the no name midrange offerings. The big stores like bass pro and cabellas have their offerings and are made by one of the good scope companies. If you catch a good sale on those you could get a deal. Especially after Christmas.