Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Any experiences with the Bushnell Elite 4200 3-9x? comparable to 3200?

A couple years ago Bushnell made a run of Elite 4200 in 3-9x power. Has anyone used one? They were lighter and shorter than the rest of the series, and seemed more useful to me in that department. Were the optics as good as the rest of the 4200 series? Any issues?

Also, how would you compare the 3200 series to the 4200 as far as the "look" through the glass? Is the light transmission the only gain? Are resolution and clarity comparable?

I purchased one of the Elite 4200 3-9x40 riflescopes from Doug at CameraLand (through this website) early last summer and placed it on a Ruger M77 MKII .257 Roberts. I also have an Elite 3200 3-9x40 on a Ruger M77 .270 Win. I used both rifles last season. I cannot honestly say I could tell a significant difference between the two, but I didn't perform a side by side test either.

That's good info. Were you satisfied with how they performed overall, especially in comparison to a Leupie?

DakotaDeer, I was pleased enough with the Elite 3200 (had it since they were first introduced) to buy the Elite 4200. I have two Leupold VX-II 3-9x40 riflescopes; they are mounted on M88 Winchesters (a .308 WIN and a .284 WIN). I think the two Elite scopes are equivelent in sharpness, clarity and the ability to see good enough until the end of legal light to take a good shot. The one issue I have had with the Elite 3200 that I have not had with the VX-II is "flare". I think that is the correct term; if my stand is facing the setting sun and there is much glare in the 30 minutes prior to sunset I get so much light reflection in the scope I cannot see (I am calling that "flare" -I hope the term is correct). That has happened twice with the 3200. I have not had the 4200 in the situation to see if it happens.

More good info--I'd be interested in how the 4200 does in that situation, as I thought they used to advertise that they had blackened the inner tube to avoid flare. Maybe my memory is loose there though....

The Ruger .257 RBTS is at the gunsmith now getting a trigger job (the 4200 is still on it). I should get it this Wednesday if my smith's estimate on time is right. I will be glad to check it for you at sunset and see how it performs if you have that much time before you need to buy your scope. Just let me know.

I've got time--just doing research right now. Thanks for all the help.

I have a 3200 and a 4200 3x9, the 4200 is my favorite 3x9 its a great scope, glass is excellent, I bought mine for 239 from the optic zone, to me its the most scope you can buy for the money. I just wish you could add an elevation turret to it.

DakotaDeer, I have one 4200 series Bushnell and several 3200 series Bushnell rifle scopes, they are as good as a Leupold in my book and a bit cheaper too. I certainly do like the "rainguard" protection on the lenses of Bushnell, if your in the rain it is a big plus.


The main difference between the 4200 series verses the 3200 series is the amount of testing they do as far as recoil to the scope. The 4200 series is advertised as holding up after 10,000 rounds on top of a .375H&H, while the 3200 series is tested to 1000 rounds on the medium bore magnum caliber rifle. So much for marketing I suppose.

Thanks for all the info guys. Anyone else?

in addition to the test, the 4200 has Fully Multi coated lens while the 3200 has only Multi coated lens. so opticaly you are getting better glass for the money as well. i have both 3200 and 4200 elites but none in the 3-9 models. my 4200 (and a older B&L 4000) is brighter than the 3200's. but i wont kick the 3200 out of bed. as far as the mechanical parts inside, i do not know if there are any differance in the quality of the internals. perhaps someone could verify that.

I have the 4200 in 3/9*40 and a 3200 in 2/7*32. I am very happy with both of them, so much so that I will be getting more. I have the 3200 on my 45-70 and I am very satisfied with it in all respects. I love to hog hunt and they tend to move at dusk. Even in thick,dark woods when my eyes see nothing, the scope picks up everything. I am gradually selling all my Leupold and Nikon scopes and moving to the Elite series. The rainguard is a total deal breaker for me, not just because of the rain.....remember those freezing cold mornings when your breath hits the scope, rainguard works for that too.

DakotaDeer.....A big YES to the optics and "rain-guard" there is nothing more upsetting than to acidently let a breath out in cold weather climbing up a steep hill and the blessed scope lense fogs up. This is NOT going to happen on a Bushnell Elite series scope, weather it be a 4200 or a 3200 series.

Trust me--I breathed a little too heavy two years ago on a buck I was hoping to take, and it made the shot untakeable. I've been thinking about the RainGuard since then!

DakotaDeer,.....Cabela's was running a sale on the 3200 series 3 x 9 rifle scopes, this made them around a $100 dollars cheaper than the Leupold VX-2 models. Just something to think about.

I have at least 8 Leupold rifle scopes and now own 6 Bushnell rifle scopes in 4200 & 3200. I am most impressed with the "rainguard" it sure makes a difference over Leupold and others in that respect.

Dakota Deer. I picked my Ruger up from the gunsmith this afternoon (great job on the trigger by the way). I just scanned with the rifle looking all around the setting sun and tried to get the 4200 to flare - it did not flare at all (like I mentioned above that the 3200 did). I would say there is definitely some type of improvement/coating inside the tube of the 4200 that my 3200 doesn't have. Odessa