Are the Pentax scopes the same as the Burris scopes?

[slowr1der]

I've heard that the Pentax Pioneer scopes are the exact same scope as the Burris Fullfield II. Is this true? Can anyone confirm it?
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/PENTAX+-...&skuId=9535513

I was looking at that and it just seems to be an incredible price if it's really exactly the same as a Burris Fullfield II. I don't want some Chinese knock off or anything like that.

[hotcha45]

I bought one of the Pentax scopes from Best Buy, mounted it, and could not quite get it dialed in with my bore sighting set up. Too little vertical adjustment in the scope, and it was not all that far off bore axis (4 inches according to the scale on the bore sighter). To 'fix' the problem I had to get in a set of the Burris shimmable rings to move the scope axis so it was about on line to start with. The scope is nice and clear, etc., but having to get a special set of rings to allow it to work was annoying as all get out. I would not buy another because of that. As the instructions for the scope spend some time explaining that if you run in to that it means the mounts or barrel are off-axis from one another (not the lack of adjustment in the scope) I assume the lack of adjustment must be a common beef with these scopes.

[spacecoast]

hotcha45 -

What was the range you were working at? If it's too close there are a lot of scopes that won't adjust to the necessary angle. What kind of rifle?

[Palmetto-Pride]

I had no idea Best Buy even sold rifle scopes.

The zoom ring looks kind of like a Burris, thats it to me.

[madcratebuilder]

I bought one from aebco when they were selling them, they said they came off the same line as the Fullfield II. The Pentax is made in the Philippines. It looks just like the Fullfield, clarity appears the same. Mine is on a flat top AR and it works well for what I do with it.

[wingman]

I bought one of the Pentax scopes from Best Buy, mounted it, and could not quite get it dialed in with my bore sighting set up. Too little vertical adjustment in the scope, and it was not all that far off bore axis (4 inches according to the scale on the bore sighter). To 'fix' the problem I had to get in a set of the Burris shimmable rings to move the scope axis so it was about on line to start with. The scope is nice and clear, etc., but having to get a special set of rings to allow it to work was annoying as all get out. I would not buy another because of that. As the instructions for the scope spend some time explaining that if you run in to that it means the mounts or barrel are off-axis from one another (not the lack of adjustment in the scope) I assume the lack of adjustment must be a common beef with these scopes.

What type rifle, did you have another scope previously installed.? The reason I ask is I've seen a number of rifles lately that have receiver alignment/barrel problems, mount holes drilled wrong,etc.

I purchased a Savage 12 about 18 months ago tried various scopes, mounts, etc, finally returned to Savage and they replaced barrel. Overall I've noticed on various boards same problem and at my local range. More rifle quality control issues imo.

[IZZY]

The number one complaint about burris is not enough adjustment.

[trooper3385]

+2 on Best Buy selling scopes???

[hotcha45]

I wasn't working at range, but aligning the scope with the bore (or trying to) with an optical bore sighter that gives you a grid against which you adjust to line up with the fifle bore. The mounts are Weaver style that come factory with the rifle and the Burris Zee plus (or something like that with the shim kit). I used the same bore sighter set up with a Marlin XS7 in 270 recently with a different make of scope which needed about the same amount of adjustment and it was no problem.
With the shimmable rings the .010 shims at the back rotated to about the 5 o'clock position allowed me to have the scope aligned with the bore with the scope adjustments at near neutral (I took care of a lesser amount of horizontal off axis while I was at it). This let me proceed to sighting in with rounds at 50 and then 100 yds. As an aside, the rifle has so far shot neither great nor terrible with my starting handloads of 165 gr HPBT Sierra bullets and 4064 powder - about 1.5" in 3 shot groups at 100 yds, so I have some further load development work ahead of me.

[dgludwig]

Aside from the fact that both firms are located in Colorado, I'm not sure Burris and Pentax have any connection at the corporate level.
I did notice that The Sportsman's Guide catalog is offering a Pentax "Gameseeker" 4-12X40mm scope for $69.97! One has to wonder how good of a scope can be made at that price, whether the name is BSA or Zeiss...

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Don't know about since Beretta took over Burris---but the older Pentax and Burris were exactly the same--cept for maybe the reticle.

Have 3 Fullfield II's that are all US made.

[hotcha45]

Maybe it ought to tell us something that it is Burris who makes the shimmable rings I had to have to align the Burris clone? Pentax. The only other
Burris I've had is a Mini 4 on a super light Swede Mauser.
I've mounted scopes on a few dozen rifles and have used the Burris Zee rings before as they are good quality, but this is the first time I've had to have the shimmable rings, and I've had rifles that were better as far as initial bore/scope alignment is concerned and rifles that have been worse.

[Kawabuggy]

dludwid, I have the exact scope you mention-Pentax Gameseeker 4-12X40 and I can tell you that it is CRAP. It has ZERO eye relief. Even when your eye-ball is physically touching the glass, it will still wink at you if you move the slightest bit off center. Also on 12X magnification, everything within your field of vision is blurry. Yea, that entire 1 ft of area that you can see will be BLURRY. Sorry, but I've got to call a spade a spade here. That glass is junk. I've looked through many Tascos that are far better than the Pentax G/S.

[dgludwig]

I thought it sounded too good to be true. Pentax used to be a respectable player in the field of optics-certainly in cameras. From your experience, it sounds like Pentax has whored their name out for a quick return at the expense of forever losing any quality credibility. They're not the only ones who have taken the low road with this short range marketing strategy. Too bad.

[Palmetto-Pride]

I agree, these days it almost seems like nobody makes there own anything anymore it is sad.....I bet a lot of people don't know that most scope companies don't make there own lens in fact the only US riflescope make the I know of is US Optics even Leupold doesn't make there own.

[mrawesome22]

Kind of like saying "If you buy a Ford or Chevy, you support the American working man." Almost everything's parts are made in another country, then assembled in the U.S. Look at the frame on your Ford Super Duty. A big, American made truck... right? Wrong. Made in El Mexico.

[dgludwig]

Wait a minute-my 2005 Super Duty was made in Kentucky. Though I did have a Suburban that was made in Mexico.

[mrawesome22]

Wait a minute-my 2005 Super Duty was made in Kentucky.

Assembled in KY. My truck has the same sticker inside the door. All the parts were made in Mexico and China however.

I know the frames are made in Mexico because if you crawl under there, there is a label that tells you so.

[dgludwig]

I just looked and did find a Taco wrapper and what looked like a white powder residue...