Cabela's optics good or Bad?

Ridgedrifter · Feb 10, 2004

Who sub-contracts for Cabela's optics? Previous posts say it is a company out of Japan...which one? Nikon, Pentax? Cabela's will not release the info. I am interested in their Alaskan line of scopes, also their binoculars.

_droptine_ · Feb 10, 2004

Some of their binoculars are made by Celestron.

polarbear · Feb 10, 2004

Sh!t, I hope they are good! I ordered a Cabela's scope yesterday for my 250-3000. I was told that their scopes were made by Nikon, but who knows if it is true. I will find out in about a week or so.
Eric

SoTX · Feb 11, 2004

I bought a pair of the 12x50 Alaskan Guide binoculars about 3 years ago. They have served me well. I would say for the money, Cabelas is a good choice. You definetly get your moneies worth with them. Three months ago however I bought a pair of Leica 10x42 Ultravid bino's. WOW. I thought Cabelas bino's were good until I bought those Leica's.

wilecoyote76 · Feb 11, 2004

LAST EDITED ON Feb-11-04 AT 08:38AM (MST)[p]A few years back I purchased a scope in the Pine Ridge series that served me well until it went TU. I called customer service to see what kind of warranty they carried on this particular product. All they said is "We only carry a 1 year guarantee that covers parts/labor and defects in workmanship." BLAH BLAH BLAH. They did tell me that I could send it in and it would go before a review board and if they felt it could be fixed, they would fix it. Otherwise, I would have to pay shipping both ways and still have a bum scope. I thought Cabelas would stand behind their products a little better but maybe they have little or no control over 'workmanship' since it is all done overseas.

Wilecoyote76

RLH · Feb 11, 2004

my youngest son got some 10x42 cabela bino's for his 18th birthday. don't recall the model. they were the "tweeners". not the most 'spensive and not the cheapest. seem to be real good ones. he really likes em. my eyes are so bad without glasses anymore that it doesn't seem to make much difference to me what i'm looking through. haven't smashed em yet, so don't know about warranty stuff. but they seem to be quite adequate. oldest son just put an alaskan guide 4x14 on a new tikka t3, .270 wsm. ain't got to shoot it yet, but he said he thinks it's a leupold or kahles scope, with cabela's on it. don't know for sure what he's basing that on, but he said it was crystal clear. we'll load a buncha shells and shoot the heck out of it soon and will know more then.

bdkinwmsaz · Feb 11, 2004

The most recent catalog I have says the Wind River line is made by Leupold.

sirfilbert · Feb 11, 2004

I have a pair of Alaskan guide 10x42 binocs and think the glass is superb for the money. I am seriously thinking of getting a pair of 12x50 also. One word of caution, when it comes to replacement parts buyer beware. Cabelas will not tell who their suppliers are and if they have discontinued the line your SOL. I have a pair of Cabelas binocs that are ten years old and the eyecups disintegrated. Spoke with customer service three times and was finally told tough luck. Had to make my own replacements out of film canisters and black RTV silicone.

Ridgedrifter · Feb 15, 2004

Thanks for the advice guys. I spoke to a Cabela's rep. again. He said that although he could not tell me about the maker, the Alaskan series falls between a bushnell 3200 and a Leopold VII. Who knows, but it sounds like a good scope for the $.