Pentax Rifle Scope

[Mike Fontaine]

I was recently shopping around for a 'less expensive' scope to put on a new varmint gun. The shop owner had me take the scopes outside and compare. Scopes ranged in price from $180.00 to over $2000.00 (he didn't realize I was on a budget). I was amazed to see that the clarity of the pentax scopes was as good if not better than other brands that were 3-4x the price! Does anyone out there use a pentax scope? What has been your experience?
Mike

 

[Guest]

If you do a search for Pentax, you'll find another thread on these scopes with some opinions from a few people who are using them. I have always liked Pentax cameras, but the hunting optics have been outsourced to others, including Burris. I think the scopes, from what I've seen, are about as good as the Burris lines they are priced like, as well as comparable to the Leupold VX-I & II series, and perhaps some in the III series, as well as the Bushnell Elite 3200 series.

 

[HunterJim]

I tested one 3-9X40 scope from each of Pentax's four lines summer a year ago. Generally they supply their glass to the assembly house. A Chinese outfit does the Gameseeker line, while Burris does the Whitetail, Pioneer and Lightseeker. The WT&P lines are assembled in the Philippines, while the Lightseeker is here in the US.

In my test the Lightseeker bested a Leupold VXIII. The Gameseeker is a lot of scope for under $100 but it is a bit short on eye relief.

jim