Who do you believe?

When purchasing a rifle scope and you don't have much or any experience with scopes - who do you believe?

The scope manufacturers website - don't think so.

Magazines - have another drink.

The salesman behind the counter - I here almost as much BS from them as I do from customers.

Your buddy - in my experience usually not.

Forums like THF - I see great advice being given and horrible advice being given so who do you believe.

Doesn't seem like there are any easy choices. And what if you have a lot of experience hunting deer, hog, coyotes out to 400 yards but decide you want to start shooting targets at 1,000 yards? That would be me - if I ever decided to start that type of shooting. I would go to FiremanJG or Chad even though I've never met them.

I PMed firemanjg and followed his advice. Has worked well for me. I had shot bolt actions at close distances before (<150 yards) but started with google and the THF when I wanted to get more into the distance shooting game.

There are a few pieces of advice I've seen on here that can be very mis-leading, but overall I think forums like this with real users are the best source of information. You have to understand that everyone is biased to one or more brands of equipment that they own, so the important thing is to pay attention to WHY they like the piece of equipment they like (rather than the equipment itself) and try to use that information when you're doing your own research.

Your point that everyone is biased is well taken. There is great advice given on this forum. There is also not so great advice given.

I trust my eyes and the holes on the target

Like anything, do your own research and make your own informed decision. People ask me all the time about what gear they should get. What works for me, may not work for you or how you plan to use your gear. Start with items or products that fit your needs, and go from there.

I think you have to form your own opinion. There are way to many gear fanboys or way to much mis information on so so stuff.
I see it on this forum a lot with people just spouting stuff out because that is what they have or what they want. Personally I use info from about three different forums and then try to handle it myself before purchasing.

I usually check product reviews from the retailer (ie midway).. particularly the bad ones. If there is a common issue, most likely it will be addressed by many reviewers. Then, I try to look at it in a store, and if I like it, I buy it where I can get it cheapest.

That's easy.... FiremanJG. Everything he says is gospel. Always

^^Ha!

Thanks for the kind words to those that have said so. I have stayed out of the rifle scope threads where a guy wants a short range, regular scope. I figure there are plenty of people here with more experience with those than I could ever offer anything more than them. If a guy wants to shoot farther I'll try to help him and stay within his budget. People state a budget for a reason, heck I have a budget, so I get it. I've got four scopes I regularly use, and they are from three manufacturers. I don't get any kick-back from recommending a certain brand, I'm not necessarily sponsored by a brand, so I'll recommend what works for the stated task and try to not break the budget ceiling. I've told several guys, via PM, that if they increased their budget just a tad more they open up a wider set of choices. Some have said they'd increase the budget, but when they say they have to stay in the original limit, I'll do what I can to find what wil work for that much money. I don't have numbers, but I bet I've given my opinion to significantly more people that never have come out for my range day, than have come out. I'm glad to help, even if it doesn't generate any business for me. I remember trying to figure all this out, on my own, and am glad to help lower the learning curve for folks.

Some people get bent out of shape for my offerings, and that's fine. It doesn't make me lose any sleep. I know that I shoot distance 52 weeks a year, I don't know what they do. That's worth what ever it's worth, it's different for everyone.

Well see, there's the problem. JG is actually afraid of guns, a vegan too, and Chad is a teenage girl.

I knew about JG but not Chad.

I have to agree with BIL (threw up in my mouth just a little typing that). I listen to multiple sources and start forming opinions on people's credibility. Read reviews and form opinions there. Then, through process of elimination, I will make my decision.

Did I mention agreeing with BIL made me a bit ill?

I know what you mean

I use a combination of the above but I do not buy a scope until I look thru it. I just bought an inexpensive Simmons for a 22 but had to look thru it before I made the purchase.

You can't necessarily identify what's good by reading the forums, but they're pretty reliable at identifying junk.

I agree about the fads, fashions and fanboys. I've fallen victim to group think a few times myself, and I'd like to think that I've learned at least a little from my mistakes; maybe not as much as I wished I'd learned, lol.

That said, there is a reliable core of really experienced shooters on the better boards and the collective wisdom is pretty solid. It does help to understand the individual poster's shooting / hunting background and preferences. For example, I know that several posters here specialize in long range shooting: it's their thing. As a result, you shouldn't be surprised when their recommendations are heavily biased in that direction. Others are very budget conscious and their recommendations and experiences focus on low end gear. Again, this is a good thing if that's what you want to buy. Yet others are hunters rather than shooters, and they think the equipment obsessed are gear queens and should be ignored.

Reading these boards is a lot like reading Consumer Reports before you go car shopping. It's a good tool for eliminating junk and inferior products, but it's a bad tool for deciding what's perfect for YOU.

Don't hate me because I'm right