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I am looking at a Bushnell scope for my .308 and I am having difficulty trying to figure out the practical difference between the Sportsman, The Banner and The Trophy lines. Can anyone provide some real world advice based on experience?

Thanks for your help
DN

The Sportsman is the bottom of the Bushnell line. It replaced the Sportview line of scopes. I've got a few Sportviews on some rimfires and they are fine for that purpose. The Trophy line is above the Sportsman line, as is the Banner. I have no experience with the Banner, but they appear to be used by quite a few people. I've had a couple of Trophy scopes and they are good for the money. If possible, you might want to consider the Elite 3200 from Bushnell. Very nice optics, Rainguard coating and a decent price. MI VHNTR

I like Bushnell scopes. I also own Leupolds, and a Nikon.

I have a Sportsman 3X9X40, that I've used on both a 280 Rem, and a 7mm RM, but not extensively. Its so sharp and clear that I enjoy looking through it. Also a Trophy 4x12x40AO that suits me, just fine.

I don't know about the Banner, or the Legend. SWFA is still selling the Sportsview. The only Sportsview I've seen, had adjustment clicks that didn't index positive, but it was an older version, I had the same complaint with an old model Scopechief. I find the newer Bushnells to be better quality, than the old ones. You can have problems with even the most expensive scopes.

My choice would be the Trophy, but if you got a Sportsman, and it broke, Bushnell could repair it. $10.00 S&H
Smitty of the North

Given all the Leupold loving at this place, I'm almost ashamed to say that I recently bought some Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn, 3-9x50 scopes that a local Wal-Mart store had on clearance. The scope is heavy and large physically, and I'm not sure where it's placed on the Bushnell quality hierarchy, but it was clearance priced for $35.00, and they gave me the 3 they had left in stock for $100.00 even.

This scope sells for around $120.00 at most places and after trying out 2 of them on new rifles last weekend, I will be content to use these for a long time before I give any thought to replacing them with something better or more expensive.

I've used Banners for years with not one failure. Had one on my 06 that I took my Elk with this year in some nasty weather--no problems. Great scope for the money. I like Redfields and have a couple that have nver faile me, but no longermade so I hear. I'll try the Trophy on my new Winchester Super Shadow 270WSM. Jess

In my younger years, I guess you could say I was impressed by the "snob appeal" of always having bigger, better, more powerful, or more expensive things than the rest of my buddies did.

I always bought comparatively expensive scopes. Time and time again at the shooting range I was frustrated by people who shot through Bushnells. Often their cheaper Bushnells were as clear, or clearer than the more expensive optics I had.

I hated those things.

just mounted a bushnell trophy 4x12 on my Winslow 30-36; corss ahir is fine; scope is bright, good adjustment on eye objective; sure i will be happy with it. have an old 1.5x5 on my 308. compairs ok with my vari 3 1.5-5. think bushnell makes quality, just not sure of bottom of the line banner is the smart thing to thrwo money at; perhaps consider more $ and buy the trophy; also hear great things about the Elite (old B&L line)

Chazgreen:
I'm with you. I put a 4x12AO Bushnell Trophy on my 7mm Rem Mag. last summer. The quality is good as far as I can tell. If it broke, I'd just get it repaired or replaced. I don't think the solution would be to buy another brand at triple the price.

I'm trying a Bushnell 2x7 Legend now, mainly because of the longer eye relief.
Smitty of the North

Smitty, any opinions on the Legend yet?? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Mauser96:
I mounted it on the rifle yesterday, and bore sighted it.

Comparing it to my 2x7 Leupold VariX II,

The view is clearer. (A subjective opinion)
The power ring has a raised part making it easier to change. (The Leupold is nearly unmovable, and I even sent it to them to free it up, but there was little, if any improvement.)
The easy focus eyepiece is FAR superior to the focus on the Leupold, because it�s easier, and I can readjust it for the conditions.
The windage and elevation knobs can be turned by hand, and I like the positive clicks better than the graduations on the Leupold.
(Each graduation on the Leupold moves the POI more like .5� at 100� than .25� as claimed by Leupold.)
(also, you need a coin or screwdriver to adjust.)
The eye relief is comparable to the Leupold.

In fairness to the Leupold, I got it used, and it may be an Old one, though that shouldn�t make much difference, plus the eyepiece is harder to adjust, and therefore get it right.

I haven�t shot with it yet. I�ll letcha know if it holds up on the 338, and the adjustments track OK, as I expect it will.
Smitty of the North

Thanks for the update Smitty, I appreciate it alot.

Sounds very good so far. As I said on the other thread, I looked at one in a store the other day for about 5 minutes, inside and out of the store, and was IMPRESSED!

Keep me posted.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Mauser96:
I sighted in the Bushnell 2X7 Legend scope today. 338 WM, 250 grain Hornadys, 12 shots, Temp. 20 degrees. Last 3 shot group was slightly over 1 inch at 100 yards, with this previously untested load. No problems. The scope tracks OK.
Smitty of the North

Thanks Smitty, appreciate the info. Pleased with the view through the scope??

Yes, Indeedy