Cheap scopes vs expensive

[Barryg]

I really like guns with open sights but not always, I only have cheap scopes like 3x9x40 AO mountmaster and a vintage simmons 3x9x40.

Not knowing anything about scopes, they seem fine to me, what would I gain by upgrading?

[Murphy]

Usually sharpness and build quality.

I have some £200 binoculers and some that cost 10x that.

They are way better but not 10x better.

[rapidresponse1]

ive had some decent cheap scopes over the years

[maximus]

Its diminishing returns Barry. For my purposes its not worth having anything better than a 25mm tube hawk airmax with a/o or vortex diamondback 2-7×35, they are good enough for me. I think a/o is definitely worth having to focus at the higher mags. A 4-12×40 25mm tube scope is as big of a spec that I want though, its a personal preference i guess.

[Barryg]

Are more expensive scopes lighter? I find that the mountmaster seems heavy is that because it's cheap.

[maximus]

I'd say yes generally spec for spec. I tend to go for light scopes on the heavier rifles though I have got an airmax 4-12×40 ao on my prosport which is a bit heavier than I'd like tbh.

[junglie]

Are more expensive scopes lighter? I find that the mountmaster seems heavy is that because it's cheap.

Not always I have an exellent old german pecar champion 8x45 that weighs a ton as it has a steel tube but exellent glass on it. Origially an expensive scope I believe but a mate found it for £20 at a car boot for me. I also have a cheap little simmonds 8 point 1.5-5x32 that cost less than £30 with mounts in about 1990 that has been on numerous springers over the years & is still a good little lightweight scope & used regularly.