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Joined: Oct 2008
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Campfire Regular
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OP
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Joined: Oct 2008
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I've never been a fan of Bushnell. However, I see people talking about their Elite series as if they are high end scopes. and they are available everywhere for cheap. Even in the classifieds here. So, here is my question for those with first hand knowledge. How high does the model have to be before it's a pretty good scope? 3200, 4200 or does it need to be a 6500? Or are they just not worth the money at all? Merry Christmas and thanks for any input!!!
A 380 in my pocket is better than a 45 in my truck!
Violence may not be the best option... but it's still an option.
"Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet." General James Mad Dog Mattis
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 18,940 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 18,940 Likes: 2 |
I've never been a fan of Bushnell. However, I see people talking about their Elite series as if they are high end scopes. and they are available everywhere for cheap. Even in the classifieds here. So, here is my question for those with first hand knowledge. How high does the model have to be before it's a pretty good scope? 3200, 4200 or does it need to be a 6500? Or are they just not worth the money at all? Merry Christmas and thanks for any input!!! Starts with Bausch and Lomb Elite 3000. The 3200 Bushnell was the first to have the Rainguard I believe and it actually works. No flies on em.
Last edited by 10gaugemag; 12/24/22.
The last time that bear ate a lawyer he had the runs for 33 days!
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Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 158
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 158 |
I have a Elite 3200 2x7 on my muzzleloader and it has Rainguard. Good scope and yes the Rainguard does work.
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,369 Likes: 3
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,369 Likes: 3 |
I still have a Bausch and Lomb Elite 3000 on a 223 that I bought new. Never seen a need to replace it. A 3200 with firefly reticle has been on my Encore muzzleloader for 20 years I'd estimate. Killed several truckloads of deer and again, no need to replace.
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 22,945 Likes: 18
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 22,945 Likes: 18 |
Elite Tactical, or bust....
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Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 23,506
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 23,506 |
I think I have three or four Elite 6500’s. I’d say they’re a nice scope. I have them sitting on varmint rifles as set and forget scopes.
I bought most as new or barely used on eBay over the years. I think the most I paid was $550 for a ANIB.
🦫
Curiosity Killed the Cat & The Prairie Dog “Molon Labe”
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Joined: May 2002
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 4,083 Likes: 1 |
Ive had a couple or three of the Elite 4200s over the years and while decent they've been bypassed by better, glass for less money in recent years. In fact I killed coyote earlier this month and pulled it for an Athlon 1 inch 2-12.
After the first shot the rest are just noise.
Make mine a Minaska
Heaven has walls and rules, H-ll has open borders
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,115 Likes: 3
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,115 Likes: 3 |
So 3200 and 4200 have the same internals I believe. It’s just that the 4200 is a pretty big step up in glass. Also the 4200 is a 4:1 zoom ratio except for the 3x9. The 3200 is a 3:1 zoom. It depends on the rifle. If it’s something I shoot more and use more I spend extra for the 4200
The 6500 I have one but I thought it tunneled more and wasn’t as easy to get behind. So the 4-16 4200 is staying. I like elites because they are reliable. I like the optical formula of eye box and eye relief. I like the power ring as well. In recent years they have gotten more expensive and harder to find.
Last edited by cumminscowboy; 12/24/22.
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,760
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,760 |
I owned a few Bushnell Elite 3200/3500 3-9x40 scopes and they were hands down the best scopes I ever owned for the money....Good luck....Hb
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Joined: Aug 2012
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Aug 2012
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I have a 4200 I bought LNIB on here for $245. It is a dang nice scope. I carried it as a spare on trips I made in my truck for yesrs. It finally found a home on my ML. Dang nice scope.
Life can be rough on us dreamers.
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 19,240 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 19,240 Likes: 2 |
My late brother bought a bunch of them, 3X9 and 5X15 3200's when they were being closed out, years ago. I ended up with 4 or 5 of them, and am still using them. I really like them, and find them to be about as good a glass as I need.
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 220
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 220 |
I have 3 Bausch and Lomb scopes and 2 4200’s, awesome glass all around, have ridden on various rifles and muzzleloaders, have always been up to the task, have harvested a pile of deer. My TC Omega as a 2.5-10x50 4200 on it, and one of my main center fire deer rifles has a B&L 4-16x50.
Last edited by Seuss; 12/25/22.
There's always hope as long as there's lead in the air.
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Joined: Nov 2015
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 19,240 Likes: 2 |
FWIW, there was a line of scopes made for Browning that were essentially the same as the 3200 and 4200 scopes. I believe they were advertised as being between the 3200 and 4200 in glass quality. I have one, a 4X12, and while a good scope, it's not any better than the 3200's I have.
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 28,879 Likes: 13
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 28,879 Likes: 13 |
I had one of the B&Ls, Elite 4000 1.5-6x42, on a Kimber Longmaster .308. Very nice outfit, sacrificed to fix a bum transmission in my Corolla. Liked that combo a lot, dammit.
That was about the time they dropped the B&L name on the scopes, probably due to early wokeness from the snooty old company that owns the B&L trademark.
Most 1 or 1.5 to 6 scopes now are of the LPVO form, with straight tubes, but the ones with larger objectives are pretty nice, bright at all magnifications. Not sure who makes one like that now, maybe Hawke.
What fresh Hell is this?
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Joined: Mar 2010
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 11,949 Likes: 29 |
4200/4500 is alot of scope for the money. Hard to beat them at their price point. They handle heavy recoil very well and the glass is excellent. Have owned many over the years and have never had an issue. Also, rainguard coating is amazing in bad weather. Scope never fogs
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,163
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,163 |
FWIW, there was a line of scopes made for Browning that were essentially the same as the 3200 and 4200 scopes. I believe they were advertised as being between the 3200 and 4200 in glass quality. I have one, a 4X12, and while a good scope, it's not any better than the 3200's I have. I have one of those Browning scopes on my Browning BAR 270, seems to be decent glass.
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Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 105
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 105 |
Currently have a 4200 1.75-6 with the firefly reticle and a 3500 3-9x40. The 4200 is on my marlin 35 rem., great low light scope. Wish I could find another one for my 30-30 marlin . .
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,415
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,415 |
Both the 3200 and 4200 scopes are great scopes for the money.
SCI Life Member DAV Life Member NRA Life Member North American Hunt Club Life Member
Your true character shows in your conduct
You cannot solve a problem at the same level of awareness that created it - Einstein
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 563
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Just bought a 4500 2.5-10. Everything seems pretty nice so far, generous eye relief. Hopefully get to try in the low light this week.
Think i need a bigger gun
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Joined: Oct 2007
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Oct 2007
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I had a couple 4200`s.They were great scopes for the money,but I did not like the eye relief.
Its all right to be white!! Stupidity left unattended will run rampant Don't argue with stupid people, They will drag you down to their level and then win by experience
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