Simmons 8 Point 3-9×40 Review: Good, But Leupold Wins in 2026

My Winchester Model 70 in .30-06 wore the Simmons 8 Point 3-9×40 through more than a few whitetail seasons and range sessions before I felt ready to write about it honestly. For target shooting and big game hunting inside 200 yards, it earns its place.

It handles those core use cases without draining your wallet, but if I’m being straight, the Leupold VX-Freedom is where I’d spend my money today.

Let’s get into it.

How I tested the Simmons 8 Point 3-9×40

I mounted the Simmons 8 Point 3-9×40 on a Ruger American .308 Win using Weaver medium rings torqued to spec. Before heading to the range, I pointed it at a printed target on my fence at 50 yards and ran through the full magnification range to check for obvious distortion, reticle tilt, or fogging.

Testing Protocol:

Test Category	Method
Zero Verification	25-yard initial, then 100-yard zero with Federal Power-Shok .308 150gr
Tracking Test	8 MOA box test (up, right, down, left, return to zero)
Zero Retention	50 rounds over two sessions, scope remounted once between
Clarity Assessment	USAF resolution target at 100 yards (3x, 6x, 9x)
Low-Light Test	Evening session, 20-25 minutes after sunset
Temperature Swing	28°F morning to warm afternoon, checked for internal fogging

Beyond the controlled range work, I carried this scope through an actual deer season. That meant climbing in and out of a truck, handling in a tree stand, and the occasional bump against a metal ladder stand. Field use tells you things a bench session never will.

Simmons 8 Point 3-9×40 Review

Simmons 8 Point 3-9×40 Product Specs

Magnification	3-9x
Objective Lens Diameter	40mm
Eye Relief	3.75 inches
Field of View	13.1–38.2 ft @ 100 yards
Tube Diameter	1 inch
Adjustment Graduation	¼ MOA
Max Internal Adjustment	60 MOA
Finish	Matte black
Reticle	Truplex
Fog Proof	Yes (nitrogen-purged)
Waterproof	Yes (O-ring sealed)
Length	12.2 inches
Weight	11.5 oz

Simmons 8 Point 3-9×40 Data Range Analysis Test Results

Testing Parameter	Result
Zero Retention (50 rounds)	Held zero within 0.5 MOA
Clarity @ 100 yards (3x)	Sharp, minimal distortion
Clarity @ 100 yards (9x)	Slight edge blur noted
Tracking Accuracy (MOA clicks)	Consistent within ±0.25 MOA
Low-Light Performance (dusk)	Acceptable; noticeable dimming at 9x

Testing conducted using Federal Power-Shok .308 Win 150gr soft point at 100 and 200 yards. Conditions included overcast daylight and late-evening low-light sessions.

Optical Clarity

The glass punches above its price tag. At 3x, everything looked crisp at 100 yards. The center of the image stayed sharp and usable.

Push it to 9x and you’ll notice some softness creeping in around the edges. Nothing that stopped me from making shots, but it’s there. One cloudy November morning, I picked out a buck’s vitals at 150 yards without squinting or second-guessing the picture.

For a scope that costs less than a nice dinner out, that’s pretty solid performance.

Low Light Performance

A 40mm objective can only do so much when the sun starts dropping. I tested this during an evening deer sit, watching the light fade from my stand.

At 4x or 5x, the image stayed usable right up until about 20 minutes before dark. Good enough to confirm antlers and place a shot.

Crank it up to 9x in that same light and things get muddy fast. The Bushnell Banner with its DDB coating handles this better, honestly. But the fix with the Simmons is simple: back off the magnification when daylight fades.

Magnification & FOV

The 3-9x range has been the standard for deer hunting scopes longer than I have been shooting.

At 3x, the field of view opens up enough to track movement in thick cover. I never felt lost trying to get on target quickly. Dial up to 9x and you’ll feel that narrowing, especially if you’re trying to thread a shot through branches at 150 yards.

I spent most of my hunting sits between 4x and 7x. That’s the sweet spot for this scope.

Reticle

The Truplex reticle is about as straightforward as they come. Thick posts on the outside pull your eye toward the thin center crosshairs fast.

No hash marks, no holdover points, no clutter. Some guys want that stuff. But when a buck walks out at 80 yards and you’ve got maybe three seconds to settle in, simple works.

For anything inside 200 yards, I never wished for a more complicated reticle.

Zeroing & Tracking

Getting this scope zeroed took me about 12 rounds at 100 yards. Standard stuff. The clicks moved the point of impact where I expected, which isn’t always a given at this price.

I have to be honest about the turrets though. They feel light. Almost plasticky. If you’re coming from something like a Vortex Crossfire II, you’ll notice the difference immediately.

That said, I put 50 rounds through the rifle and the zero stayed put. This is a dial-it-and-forget-it hunting scope, and for that purpose, it works.

Durability

This scope spent a full deer season bouncing around in my truck, getting jostled in a tree stand, and sitting through some genuinely cold mornings. One day it went from 28 degrees at dawn to warm afternoon sun.

No fogging. No zero shift. The nitrogen purging does what Simmons claims.

The build quality isn’t going to impress anyone who’s handled premium glass. But for a scope that sees a few months of hard use each year, it holds together.

Ergonomics

At 11.5 ounces, this is one of the lighter scopes in the comparison. Even lighter than the Vortex Crossfire II, which surprised me.

The 1-inch tube means cheap, widely available mounting options. The magnification ring has a nice smooth action without being too loose.

Eye relief at 3.75 inches is workable but not generous. Take your time getting your head position right during mounting. You don’t want surprises when you’re settling in on a deer.

Accessories

The bikini covers in the box are fine for storage. They’re cheap plastic that’ll protect the lenses, but fumbling with them in the cold when a buck appears is frustrating.

I’d grab some flip-up covers before hunting season.

• Butler Creek Flip-Open Scope Cover (Size 26 Objective): Sized right for the Simmons 8 Point’s objective housing — snaps open one-handed and seals out dust and moisture until the moment you need the shot.
• Weaver Quad Lock 1-Inch Medium Scope Rings: A solid, affordable mounting solution that fits the 1-inch tube and keeps zero repeatable season after season.
• Leupold PRW2 1-Inch Rings: A step up in build quality for the mounting system — worth it if you want a more secure, durable setup on your hunting rifle.

Summary

The Simmons 8 Point 3-9×40 does what a budget hunting scope should do. The glass is clear enough at typical deer ranges. The reticle gets you on target quickly. Zero stays put.

It’s not perfect. The turrets feel cheap because they are cheap. Low-light performance falls off when you push the magnification. The overall fit and finish won’t fool anyone into thinking they’re holding something expensive.

But here’s the thing: none of that actually stops you from filling a tag. Simmons backs it with a lifetime limited warranty, which adds peace of mind for a scope under $50.

If you’re putting glass on a starter rifle or a truck gun, this makes sense. It won’t let you down when a deer steps out at 120 yards on opening morning.

How the Simmons 8 Point 3-9×40 Compares Against Others

Features	Simmons 8 Point 3-9×40	Bushnell Banner 3-9×40	Vortex Crossfire II 3-9×40	Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9×40
Price	~$45	~$65	~$120	~$300
Magnification	3-9x	3-9x	3-9x	3-9x
Objective Lens	40mm	40mm	40mm	40mm
Tube Diameter	1″	1″	1″	1″
Eye Relief	3.75″	3.3″	3.8″	4.2″
Field of View	13.1–38.2 ft @ 100 yds	13–40 ft @ 100 yds	12.6–34.1 ft @ 100 yds	13–39.5 ft @ 100 yds
Reticle	Truplex	Multi-X / Circle-X	V-Plex / Dead-Hold BDC	Duplex / Hunt-Plex / CDS
Lens Coating	Fully coated	DDB multi-coated	Fully multi-coated	Advanced Optical System multi-coated
Turrets	1/4 MOA capped	1/4 MOA resettable	1/4 MOA capped, resettable	1/4 MOA capped, CDS option
Parallax Setting	Fixed 100 yds	Fixed 100 yds	Fixed 100 yds	Fixed 100 yds
Waterproof / Fogproof	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Weight	11.5 oz	14.7 oz	15 oz	9.6 oz
Length	12.2″	12″	12″	11.5″
Construction	1-piece tube	1-piece tube	Aircraft-grade aluminum	6061-T6 aluminum, USA-made
Low-Light Feature	Standard	DDB coating	Standard	Twilight Light Management System
Rings Included	Yes	No	No	No
Warranty	Lifetime limited	Lifetime limited	VIP Unlimited Lifetime	Lifetime full replacement
Pros	Budget-friendly • Lightweight • Clear glass • Simple reticle • Easy zero	Low-light coating • Resettable turrets • Budget-friendly • Wide FOV	Superior glass • Resettable turrets • BDC reticle option • VIP warranty	Premium glass • Lightest build • USA-made • CDS dial option • Generous eye relief
Cons	Turrets feel cheap • Narrow FOV at 9x • Limited eye box • No zero-reset • Basic build quality	Heavy build • No rings included • Short eye relief • Slower zero reset	Fixed parallax • Heavier than expected • Mid-range price • No illumination	Expensive • No rings included • Significant price jump • Overkill for close-range timber hunting

The Simmons 8 Point 3-9×40 is the cheapest option here, and you’ll feel that difference. The turrets and limited eye box are real compromises. But it holds zero, ships with rings in the box, and gets the job done for close-range hunting.

The Bushnell Banner 3-9×40 costs a bit more and gives you better low-light capability thanks to that DDB coating. If most of your hunting happens at first and last light, that matters. The tradeoff is shorter eye relief and no included rings. It’s heavier too.

The Vortex Crossfire II 3-9×40 is a noticeable step up across the board. Better glass, better turrets, better warranty. At roughly triple the Simmons price, you’re getting something you can hand down someday. The VIP warranty makes a difference when you’re actually using your gear hard.

The Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9×40 sits in a different class entirely. Clearer glass, the lightest weight in this group, and built in the USA. The 4.2 inches of eye relief is the most generous here. Seven times the price of the Simmons, but it’s genuinely a buy-once kind of scope.

To Summarize

The Simmons 8 Point 3-9×40 isn’t the best scope in this lineup. I’m not going to pretend otherwise. It works as a starter scope or backup optic. Once you’ve used something with better glass and turrets, though, you start noticing what you gave up.

The Bushnell Banner edges ahead in low-light situations. But it’s heavier, has tighter eye relief, and leaves you buying rings separately. The actual value difference is smaller than the price gap suggests.

The Vortex Crossfire II offers the best overall value for a serious hunting rifle. The glass is better. The turrets feel like they belong on a scope. And Vortex’s VIP warranty means they’ll fix or replace it no matter what happens.

If the budget allows, the Leupold VX-Freedom is what I’d put on my rifle. The Twilight Light Management System actually works when you’re sitting in the stand watching daylight fade. The Simmons does its job at its price. But if you’re investing in a quality rifle, the Leupold is the glass it deserves.

Frequently asked questions

Why should you trust me

My name is Richard Douglas, and I run Scopes Field. I’m a National Defense Security Consultant, Firearms Instructor, and have spent years working hands-on with marksmanship and firearm optics.

My work has been featured in publications like The National Interest and The Truth About Guns. I’ve also contributed advice directly to optic manufacturers including Bushnell and Leupold.

I’m not a sponsored reviewer pushing products I haven’t used. Over the years, I’ve wasted thousands of dollars on bad glass — that’s exactly why I started this site. Every scope I review gets mounted on a real rifle and used in real conditions before I write a single word about it.