Ok, I need a new scope for my Sako .338 Win Mag. I have been using an old Redfield and it is time to retire it.

Unfortunately, can not afford the scope I really want, so have been looking at the Bushnell Elite 3200, since I have found a 3x9x50 online for 212.00 with free shipping. Now I see the Vortex Diamondback 3.5-10x50 scope, and wonder how it compares. Do they torture test the Vortex scopes like they do the Bushnells? Will the Vortex scope handle the recoil of my .338? What about Blizzard type lens caps? Are they available since I hunt in the Pacific Northwest, and it happens to rain just a bit.
Bushnell does have the rainguard coating to help deal with the wet.

Any help would be appreciated.

I have found the Elite 3200 to be lacking in eye-relief for me. I'd not want one on a 338. Can't comment on that Vortex, have only played with a 3-9x Viper and eye-relief on that was alright but would probably still want more.

I'd run a Leupold VX-1 in that price range.

338 and a 3200 will eventually = magnum eye.

I have the diamondback in 4-12x40 and it has ok eye relief, about 3.5"

I purchased a 3200 Firefly in 2-7X32 when you could purchase for just over $100 with free jacket. I have done a bit of evaluation with my other scopes & would suggest that its about equal to a Leupold VX-1. The Rain Guard is an advantage & eye relief is not a factor on a non-mag. I wouldn't think of using on a 338 Mag. Its certainly a decent scope if within a budget. I had an opportunity to look through a number of Vortex scopes at a show in South Africa in May. I would rate at close to the VX-2 for optics. Many South African farmers/ranchers use Vortex on 243's & occassionally a .270 or .308 & have no problem with durability. South Africans frequently carry a rifle in a truck on demanding roads or even tractors, so a lot of abuse occurs. I might also add that you see a lot of Leupolds also. Most shoot more than most American hunters & have little problem with Vortex durability, anything can fail. Will a Vortex or 3200 withstand the repeated recoil of a magnum? I have no idea but, would favor the Leupold.

Thanks for the information guys, I am going to Bass Pro this next week to handle them all and try to make a decision.

Huntbear,

I have a 3200 on one of my slug guns. It has just enough eye relief for me, but I wouldn't want to forget to keep a solid hold on the shotgun, or I may have a nice cut above my eye.

The rainguard works and works well. I haven't used it in a driving downpour, but I have hunted in a steady rain that lasted all morning. The view through the scope was relatively unaffected by the rain. It literally sheeted the water off as it hit the coating, never allowing a thick enough sheet of water to build up and interfere with my vision through the scope.

First of all, I'd think long and hard about any 50mm scope on a .338 Magnum. Even the fancy, expensive scopes have had problems with them. Barsness, for instance, in his excellent article, "Tough Scopes," July ,2004, page 56, relates a story by Charlie Sisk who had three Swarovski 6-18X scopes go bad on a customer's custom .338 before he finally talked the guy into a smaller Swarovski.
You have only so much money to spend and you want a tough 50mm scope ? Good luck. Such scopes do exist apparently. But not with much eye relief and tough. My suggestion is to try one of the cheaper Leupolds. All of their models must pass a mimimum of 5000 rds. @ 750 g's. Even the cheap Rifleman scopes. 750 g's is like the recoil of a .375. Other than that, the Elite 3200's are apparently tested at some kind of .375 recoil for 1000 rds. Which is pretty good, really. E
The other thing about Leupolds are their long eye relief and large eye boxes at the lower magnifications. E