Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Bushnell Elite Scopes????

I have nothing but elites.3200,4200,4500,elite,6500. I have more 4200 4x16x40’s than anything else. Maybe 6 of them. I have 2 6500 2.5x16x42 and a 4.5x30x50. I dont think i will ever replace them with new scopes. Never had any problems out of any of them. All of them were bought used.

Owned a few through the years. Still have a couple. ER was sometimes a little shorter than I cared for, but overall they've been tough. Like the Japan Weavers to which they were very close, they were great scopes for the money.

As stated, the Raingaurd was not a gimmick. Was impressed the first time I saw it in action. The Firefly was a useful feature as well. Shine a light through it near dark and never worry about not being able to see the reticle. Had one on an Ml For a few years, and regret selling it.

I have a Bushnell 3200 SA Elite 3-10x 40mm on my PA10. It isn't made anymore unfortunately. Made in Japan, good glass for the price I got it for.

I have a 6500 4.5-30 x 50 on a kimber 84 in 204 Ruger. I have some issues on the upper range of magnification with color distortion. That can be accounted for by my astigmatism. Seems to hold zero well.
Rider

I gave up on them a few years ago. Great scopes, but I prefer something with a good useable reticle like the Burris ballistic plex. I really like the looks of the older elite 3200 and 4200 rifle scopes. My favorite one was always the Bausch and Lomb Elite 3200 2.5-10x40. When they went newer with the DOA 600 reticle, they made the scope look like a pig with lipstick. Those are the elite 3500 and 4500 series. Too much silver etching and bold ''B" on the side of it. Larger ocular and different ergo's make it look like schidt. The 90's Elites were much better.. but again do not offer a good useable reticle or turrets and the tracking was questionable... A lot of guys like them, which has it's benefits: I still buy used rifles with them on and sell the scopes for reasonable money.

I’ve owned a few. I consider them very good at their price point.

I have a few, both B&L and the Elite series.

IIRC, they’re made by Light Optical Works (LOW) in Japan, a high end maker of some of the best scopes.

I think they’re a sleeper regarding value.

ER is OK, not the best but not a problem in most applications.

Mine are keepers.

DF

I am going to try out the 2-10x40 on a thumper I own. They are made in Korea per the latest.

Bushnell doesn’t make anything, they’re a repackaging house, importing and selling stuff from all over.

The Elite line reportedly is from Japan.

They sell stuff from China, Philippines, etc.

So, something for everyone, every budget.

DF

I've had a few 10x40 tactical models that were very good.

Let us know how it works for you. I haven't seen any reviews on the new S Korean made Elite scopes.

I 'd like to buy a used 3-9x 40mm Elite 4200 if I could find one.

Reckon folks tend to hang onto those. Occasionally see one on the classifieds.

DF

I've had a lot of confidence on Bushnell scopes over the decades. They've held up and served me well....

We have 4 Firefly 3200 2-7x32. 2 on 7mm-08, 1 on a 260 and 1 on a OptimaV2 muzzleloader. They stay set. Unlike most I really like the 3 step reticle. It’s very fast to pick up and the center wires are fine enough for me. Matter of fact it makes the glow factor redundant. I’ve never seen the need for the glow even past legal shooting time, and the glass gets no complaint for our usage.

Eye relief drops off quickly at the low setting. So much that 2X is never used. Just shy of 3X is the lowest setting used.

I’ve got a bunch of 3-9x40 Elite 4200 and they’ve been great. Eye relief is a little shorter than I’d like but I’ve had them on a 30-06 and 20 gauge slug gun with no issues.

I like the Firefly even without the illumination feature also. Great hunting reticle.

I've owned a few in the past, mostly 4200's. Just ok nothing special IMO.

I’ve used 4200’s on just about all my rifles for years. 6-24x40’s on the long range ones and 4-16x40’s on just about all others. Excellent glass and very reliable. Eye relief could be better. Rainguard is a real plus. Wish they were still made.

I have the B&L E 4200. 2-10x40 on a T-3. 30-06. Kinda wish I had a few more...ScottyO.