Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Pentax Whitetail unlimited vs. Bushnell elite 3200

Considering either the "short action" compact 3-10x40 Bushnell 3200 elite or the Pentax Whitetails Unlimited 3-9x40. Anyone having experience with either in terms of optical quality? I know Leupold has an extensive fan base out there in forumland and I might end up going that route, but thought I'd give some consideration to being a little different(I've been accused of that for years).

Welcome to the Fire Eeyore!!

No experience with the Pentax, or the 3-10 3200, but I have the 3200 in the 2-7x32 and think it is a great scope. It has all the clarity I need, has held up well to some rough use and is relatively compact.

The eye relief is a litte short if layered up and wearing my backpack, but other than that I really like the 3200.

Thanks for the welcome...First time poster, long-time viewer. The scope is going on a Howa 1500 in .308. I'm in the process of building my first semi-custom (or if you prefer, semi-production) rifle for all-around western deer hunting. I bought a stainless barreled action as a starting point and have been doing a little here and there as funds permit. I've already ordered a McMillan Sako classic stock inleted for my action and have had the bolt spiral fluted. I'll wait to see how the factory barrel shoots before deciding whether to go to the additional expense (maybe an 11 degree re-crown). Anyway, the whole project has reinvigorated me as I've been out of the hunting scene for a few years. Thanks for your response. I've read good things about the Rainguard coating but haven't seen anything about the Pentax (maybe there's good reason).

Ive never seen one but I know that the Pentax Whitetails Unlimited is just a Burris Fullfield II (MADE IN USA) MODEL. It comew with a ballistic plex or a TWILIGHT PLEX which is a fairly heavy plex crosshair. I want one too but they want too much for it everwhere Ive seen it. For $300 I can do better. I think the only difference between the Pentax and the Burris is that the Power ring is seperate from the eyepiece housing and will turn individually. The 3200 is MULTICOTED where the Pentax is FULLY MULTICOATED.

Burris assembles scopes for Pentax using glass supplied by Pentax. When Rick Bin sent around the Box of Scopes three year ago I tested one 3-9X40 from each of the Pentax lines. The Whitetail was a good scope, and I shot it on a .270-class rifle.

A Leup. scope scored better in my test, but a Pentax Lightseeker beat it.

jim

The FFII is more comparable to the Pioneer line than the Whitetail.

I would like to find a Pentax Whitetails Unlimited in 3-9x40 with a TWILIGHT PLEX for a good price. Where is the cheapest place for one of these? I actually would like on of the 2-5 x20mm models of this scope too.

I've never compared the two but consider the 3200 a lot of scope for the money. I have the 3-10 SA on a short mag and am totally satisfied with it.

I have 5 rifles with 3200 scopes on them dating back to when they were called Bausch and Lomb 3200 and see no difference between them and the newer models.

I have the Pentax Whitetails Unlimited 3x9x40 TW on my varmint rifle. I like it a lot, and it's perched on a Winchester 70 Coyote in .243 Win. Clear, bright, and fairly precise adjustments too.....bought mine from Doug at Cameraland....

They are the exact same scope, just a different name. I believe you can usually find the Pentax version for quite a bit less money too.

Well I went ahead and purchased the Elite "short action" 3-10. Got it for under $180 including shipping. Also ordered a set of Talley Lightweights to go with it. Loosely fit it to my barreled action last night. Can't be more pleased, perfect fit. It'll be another three months before the McSwirly arrives to give it a go at the range. Thanks for all the input.