New member here and I've been looking at upgrading my air rifle, and one thing that buyers almost universally have a problem with is the factory supplied optics. I feel that makers would be better off investing on "upleveling" other useful features (decent stock, sights, or scope mount) than compel buyers to get a rifle with junk optics.
Why bundle optics?
- Thread starter gnappi
- Start date
Marketing. Sell the sizzle, not the steak. A gun with a free scope is very enticing. They are crap but free.
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The term is perceived value. Items are marketed at the newer hobbyist that doesn't have several copies of everything. The more experienced, more in-depth, more addicted shooter usually will choose a gun that does not have an included offense.
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Actually they aren't free, most of the lower priced air rifles can be purchased without a bundled scope for about $30.00 less than the offered combo packages, the only problem is that most of the guns only offerings are out of stock so you are forced to buy the bundled rifle/scope set up anyway, if you want the gun bad enough.
I have three junk scopes sitting on a shelf in my workshop from my last three purchases, a Gamo, a Ruger, and a Center Point that came with a Crossman rifle, none of them have ever been mounted, I usually keep a couple of Hawk or Leeper's scopes in stock just in case, and discard the junk scopes when ever I'm forced to take one.
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Accessories have a much higher mark-up/profitability for manufacturers than the guns themselves. So it costs the manufacturer significantly less to add the scope than the higher price they charge for the gun 'combo'.
And the other bottom line is that some buyers will be enthralled with having a scope at all compared to only having open sights. They may never see the need to upgrade from the combo scope they got in the package. Just add a tin of pellets and maybe some air and they are hitting little army men set up at 10 yards in their back yard.
Who would ever need anything more?
And the other bottom line is that some buyers will be enthralled with having a scope at all compared to only having open sights. They may never see the need to upgrade from the combo scope they got in the package. Just add a tin of pellets and maybe some air and they are hitting little army men set up at 10 yards in their back yard.
Who would ever need anything more?
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A guy I know just bought a rifle/scope bundle. It was only $219, A savage with some kind 4-12 on it.
Mounting screws were checked at the store by employees.... and we noticed the scope had come loose after 20 rounds or so. We tightened them all again.
After about 40 rounds of centerfire we determined the scope was jacked up because we couldn't hit an easy target only 210 yards away.
If a scope cost $60 retail you can bet it costs $10 to make in China.
The lesson here is to buy "reasonable" quality.
Mounting screws were checked at the store by employees.... and we noticed the scope had come loose after 20 rounds or so. We tightened them all again.
After about 40 rounds of centerfire we determined the scope was jacked up because we couldn't hit an easy target only 210 yards away.
If a scope cost $60 retail you can bet it costs $10 to make in China.
The lesson here is to buy "reasonable" quality.
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What's funny also is the use of product names like"tactical" on single shot rifles and guns like the DPMS, SIG, and Crossman AK which really do look like "tactical" use rifles invariably come with iron sights.
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Funny you should post this.... 
I just went through one of my airgun files — the one I use for my scope shopping:
My scope file had a section (A): "My Scope Requirements Before Getting a REAL Scope"
What I DID have was a Hatsan bundle scope with 100y parallax. What an insult to bundle that with a low powered airgun!
Shooting with the bundle scope showed me all the characteristics of a scope I didn't want. The list of characteristics resembled pretty much a detailed description of the bundle scope (OK, the scope color was not on the list, black is fine by me).
My scope file then had a section (B): "My Scope Requirements After Getting My First REAL Scope"
Now, I was shooting with a sub-$100 UTG 6-24x scope. And again, I came up with a long list of things that I wanted in a scope (and that I sorely missed in my current scope as I was trying to make it do things it wasn't designed to do...).
Finally, my scope file has a section (C): "My Current Scope Requirements"
It reads like it's been written by a OCD'er.
There is an frightening progression in length of each of these sections.
(A) is real short. (B) is waaaay longer. (C) is even more detailed.
With experience we get more demanding....
The bundle scope helped me understand the general characteristics of airgun scopes.
The sub-$100 scope helped me to get into the detailed features of modern scopes.
Was it worth it? Well, I wished there had been a document that had explained to me both the general and the detailed characteristics of airgun scopes. It might have saved me from buying the $100 scope. (I'm writing such a document now....)
Matthias
I just went through one of my airgun files — the one I use for my scope shopping:
My scope file had a section (A): "My Scope Requirements Before Getting a REAL Scope"What I DID have was a Hatsan bundle scope with 100y parallax. What an insult to bundle that with a low powered airgun!
Shooting with the bundle scope showed me all the characteristics of a scope I didn't want. The list of characteristics resembled pretty much a detailed description of the bundle scope (OK, the scope color was not on the list, black is fine by me).
My scope file then had a section (B): "My Scope Requirements After Getting My First REAL Scope"Now, I was shooting with a sub-$100 UTG 6-24x scope. And again, I came up with a long list of things that I wanted in a scope (and that I sorely missed in my current scope as I was trying to make it do things it wasn't designed to do...).
Finally, my scope file has a section (C): "My Current Scope Requirements"It reads like it's been written by a OCD'er.
There is an frightening progression in length of each of these sections.
(A) is real short. (B) is waaaay longer. (C) is even more detailed.
With experience we get more demanding....
The bundle scope helped me understand the general characteristics of airgun scopes.
The sub-$100 scope helped me to get into the detailed features of modern scopes.
Was it worth it? Well, I wished there had been a document that had explained to me both the general and the detailed characteristics of airgun scopes. It might have saved me from buying the $100 scope.
(I'm writing such a document now....)Matthias
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A vast majority of air rifles sold are break barrels being sold to people who will never upgrade anything... just shoot cans in the back yard and used for training purposes for kids before giving them a firearm. I didnt believe this until I got into air rifles and started talking to friends, almost every one have a break barrel or have owned one in the past.. just for plinking.
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I only had one supplied scope which held up to the break barrel " recoil " . I avoid the forced inclusions of scopes by not buying and the occasional letter.
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