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Posted: 10/3/2009 1:46:30 PM EDT
Edit - Read to the end before telling me not to get one, I did my research and thanks to members will avoid them. Now weighing in on 3-9x40 scopes. 
Could any member do a search for me and possibly link me results for NcStar? I currently run an Eotech 512 but would like to grab a magnified scope. I found some NcStar's at my local reputable shop. They seem to be of decent quality and offer lifetime warranties. The model I was looking at purchasing is the SRTM432G 4x32 MIL DOT version. Its going for 129.99 and for the shooting I do it appears to be a promising option. Thanks in advance. |
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If that's your budget, try this instead. NCStar is not looked upon favorably, with good reason.
http://primaryarms.com/product.sc?productId=206&categoryId=64 More info http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=2&f=325&t=177714 http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=7&f=142&t=716032 http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=124&t=461189 NCStar info http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=18&t=458496 Or, for the money, look at Burris, Vortex, Bushnell, Leupold, Nikon, Pentax... |
| Look elsewhere man. You can pick up a 1-4x bushnell at academy for 200 bucks or a 1.5-4x Leupold online or at cabelas for 275 bucks (250 if you live near my dealer) or anything else. Go to primary arms and get one of their magnified optics which are budget friendly but much much better than anything NC makes. The glass is muddy, not repeatable, loses zero, etc. Never owned one because I was lucky enough to have friends who screwed up before me :) |
I appreciate the advice. I looked one over at the store and it seemed sturdy and good quality for 130 bucks but I will continue shopping around. I've looked at a few bushnell's and others but I am looking more for a ACOG styled short scope of either 4x or variable above 4x. I personally don't like the look of a full blown 10 inch leupold on an AR. 
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| A reputable shop carries their line? NCStar would call our shop about once a year asking if we would like to carry their line. For the first couple years I just told them we were not looking to increase our line of optic manufacturers. They would give me the line about big profit margins etc, but I have seen some really terrible exapmples of their scopes. A completely crooked reticle, very poor materials, mounts that would not stay fastened... After a few years I just asked them to please take our company off their calling list. I would say they are easily one of the worst. |
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Reputable shops sometimes do some strange things. One of my favorite local tacticool shops has Mk4's, NF's, and other high end scopes as well as Larue mounts, DD rails, etc and if you look they have UTG rails at the other end of the shop. It's kinda like keeping something for everyone I guess. I suppose there is nothing really wrong with trying to please everyone BUT, when I worked in the performance industry (cars) I flat out refused to install/sell ebay/chinese shit due to the liability. For one it fails, it ALL fails (car wise that is, I don't know about gun wise) and then they come back to you crying about how their 1000 dollar ebay turbo kit dumps oil out the exhaust and into the intake and the manifold is cracking everywhere there is a weld. When you inform them they didn't buy it there so there was nothing you could do they then went on a tangent to anyone who would listen about how shady you were and you ripped them off. For that reason I simply stopped installing it as well. If you want something that works you have to pay for it.
Fast, cheap, reliable. Pick two! |
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A reputable shop carries their line? Yes, on a wall of ~100 scopes they had 4 NcStars. Out of all of the forums I have read and polled, this has been the most anti ncstar forum. 
Im curious, what other forums have you checked out? Please be specific. |
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Google searches consisting of "NcStar Good" , "NcStar Poor" , "NcStar Quality" and just browsing some results. I'm not saying I am buying one to spite your opinions, just merely observing how hostile most users here are towards them. I'm heading back down today to see what they have for burris and nikons after seeing some of their designs. Thanks for the help.
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| I'll be the first to tell you that our forum has its own share of poor opinions. But in my experience, that is primarily due to the tremendous amount of people here. Google search will have the same problem as here, times about a million. You have no idea who you are reading or how they got their opinion. There are a good deal of other smaller forums which dont deal with this problem as much, but the ones I know of would never, ever suggest NcStar either. |
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We are "hostile" in this forum because we tend to like devices that actually work. I have never owned one personally, maybe because I am an "optics snob", or maybe because I have actually had direct firsthand experience with them through friends who thought that they were getting a "great deal".
If there is one aspect of an optical sighting device that is most important, it is holding zero; the subject device quite simply does not in my experience. Add to that considerations such as optical clarity, light transmission, edge effects, DOPE tracking, etc., and Ncrap doesn't even come close to being a functional device under ideal conditions, much less adverse ones. |
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After looking around a bit more I've decided to go with a 3-9 x 40 . I originally didn't want a full size optic but after some convincing and realizing I can't bring home that pretty ACOG underneath the counter I caved. Some options I looked over were the Leupold VX-I , Nikon Buckmaster with a BDC, Burris Fullfield II , and a Vortex Diamondback.
The employee at the shop leaned me towards the Leupold or the Vortex. I had never heard of the Vortex but he seemed to think it was a much better product than the Burris or the Nikon. I have always heard of and seen Leupold and assume its a safe bet. Opinions? Mostly being used for target and varmint use. All were around the same price +/- 25. |
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Nikon buckmaster glass and function is superior to the Leupold VX1 series. It's on par with the VX2 and given those two choices I would jump on the nikon in a heartbeat. I have no experience with a Vortex so I can't speak about them but I did have a Burris FF2 4.5-14 on a wicked little 10/22 I built and it was a solid piece of glass.
If you look around you will see the Leupold Mark AR for around 275-300 which is better than the VX1 and about even with the burris ff2/buckmaster scopes but has a .223 calibrated BDC and is also a pretty nice scope. |
I had read about the Mark model Leupolds but am looking to stay around 200 for price range. I'm bouncing back and forth between the Leupold and the Nikon. Most reviews and forums put them on the same pedestal. One forum says Leupold has better low light transmission and another will say the Nikon has better.  Any other members like to weigh in?
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| If you were comparing the VX2 to the buckmaster I would agree with you. The VX1 isn't really close to it though, it's in Prostaff territory. Go to wallyworld and try them both as they have the VX1/Prostaff in every wallmart I've ever been in. The Nikon buckmaster wins that contest hands down. |
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If you are looking for an NcrapStar, just check the dumpster closest to your local shooting range.....there should be some lightly used ones in there. +1......or you can go out to my shop where I threw mine in the garage after it FELL OFF MY GUN. No kidding, I was shooting from a bench, I had the "quick release" cam closed tight and after about 15 rounds, it "quick released" itself, jumped off my gun and landed on the bench next to me. I tried to adjust the cam lever and make it tighter, but after a few attempts, I realized that the reticle was now crooked and it would move zero after every couple shots. I wish I had kept it to send to people who ask about that CRAP. If you buy one.....don't blame us....you have been warned. |
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After looking around a bit more I've decided to go with a 3-9 x 40 . I originally didn't want a full size optic but after some convincing and realizing I can't bring home that pretty ACOG underneath the counter I caved. Some options I looked over were the Leupold VX-I , Nikon Buckmaster with a BDC, Burris Fullfield II , and a Vortex Diamondback. The employee at the shop leaned me towards the Leupold or the Vortex. I had never heard of the Vortex but he seemed to think it was a much better product than the Burris or the Nikon. I have always heard of and seen Leupold and assume its a safe bet. Opinions? Mostly being used for target and varmint use. All were around the same price +/- 25. The Vortex DiamondBack is an excellent optic. I have one on my Remington 270. Mine is the 4-12 x 40, but all the same, I think that Vortex is one of the best optics for the $$. Good luck and I am glad you didn't buy the NCStar.
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The only NCStar optic I've owned had the reticle come free from it's attachment in the scope body after the 7th (yes, the actual seventh) round fired.
So pissed I didn't even try the warranty, but if it's half as good as their optics it's slightly better than getting a handjob from Rosie O'Donnel. |
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s it's slightly better than getting a handjob from Rosie O'Donnel. And I just puked in my mouth a little :) The BDC on the nikons is a general BDC not specifically for any round. There will be a rough guestimate on a card with the rifle for the distances each one will be with a particular round. The only way to tell for sure is to trial and error it with your own rifle. Sometimes the perfect spot for the next known distance will be between two circles etc. |
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A reputable shop carries their line? Yes, on a wall of ~100 scopes they had 4 NcStars. Out of all of the forums I have read and polled, this has been the most anti ncstar forum.
That's because (most) of us know what a quality scope is...and what's a POS. |
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