Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Minox ZV3 vs Bushnell Elite 4200

Most of my rifles have Bushnell Elite 4200 3-9x40 scopes on on them. I like those scopes a lot and use them as a benchmark/comparison for other scopes.

I've read a lot of great reviews on the glass quality of the Minox ZV3 3-9x40 and was wondering if anyone has both scopes or has looked through both and could give me a comparison between the Minox and the Bushnell.

Thanks,
Mike

I thought the minox scope had a much more unfriendly eye box. The elite is a very easy to get behind scope, with the exception of my nightforce its the easiest scope I know of. I would not choose the minox over the elite. if you are looking for an upgrade check out the meopta meopro or the cabelas instinct same scope. bushnell seems to be loosing market share in my area, I haven't actually seen an "elite" in any of the stores around me since they got rid of the 3200 and 4200 cabelas, scheels, and sportsmans wharehouse. I think they made a mistake by getting away from the 3200 and 4200 nomenclature. all I see locally for sale now days is the lower end bushnell stuff. vortex has displaced the product they used to sell. too bad because I don't like vortex as good.

I have no experience with Minox scope, but I've owned 6 4200's and in my opinion they are one of the very best bangs for the buck. They track great, hold zero and their glass is fantastic. I agree with cummins that when they dropped the 3200/4200 model names it became confusing. Just think of it this way. If the scope has a 4X zoom (meaning 2.5-10, 4-16, 6-24 etc) it's a 4200), 3-9, 4-12, 5-15 etc are the old 3200 line. There were 2 3-9 models with a SF feature, but they were dropped from the Elite line and are now Legend HD's.

Where are the new 4200's being made, especially the 4x zoom ?

I believe the 4x are still made in Japan.

Is there a new 4200? I thought they were all Elites now or 6500's.

The 4200s and 3200s were merged into just Elite now.

All Elites are made by Light Optical Works. The two side focus models I referred to were made in China or the Philippines. They were either cataloged wrong by Bushnell or by vendors. Someone here a while back posted pics of these SF scopes and they didn't even say Elite on them. IIRC, they were marked "special edition" on the bell housing ring or words to that effect. If you see a seller tying to sell you a 3-9x40 with a side focus knob, it's not an Elite.

They did make a 4200 in 3-9x40 though. Heard good things about them too.

I've got the 3-9x40 4200 on my Remington 700 30-06, Savage 220 Slug gun and TC Encore Muzzleloader. Excellent scope for the money especially if you got one on clearance when Bushnell was discontinuing them.

Yes, they did.

I had one of each for a while, (Minox zv3 and elite 4200, both in 3-9x40) I still have the elite 4200, traded off the Minox. The elite is a much better scope than the Minox. Cumminscowboy nailed it when he said that the minox had an unfriendly eyebox in comparison to the 4200. Side-by-side, the 4200 was sharper and better in low light situations as well.

To each his own, and I don't have Minox ZVs, just ZA5s....but how anyone can use 'friendly', when describing a Bushnell eye box, is pretty perplexing to me. Couldn't give me one, but others love them. The latest ZA HDs DO have a good eye box/relief, next to my Leupolds. I think you're comparing one entry level offering by Minox, to Bushnell's top end offering. I think the ZAs are way better to get behind.

why do I say the elite is friendly, my former main squeeze coyote gun that I used for years is topped with an elite. its a gun I have spent alot of time with probably at least 15 days a year. in recent years I have switched guns and used other scopes mainly my nightforce and more recently I have started playing with ar 15's I wanted 2x on the low end and 10 on the high so I played with several different scopes. including the weaver super slam. a few months ago I completed a new upper and wanted to shoot it. I had a brand new elite in the box still. I mounted it up and while getting the scope mounted and ready. it took me ONE time throwing the gun up to my shoulder to remember ELITE!!!! It was like I was reunited with an old friend. unless I need the gun to do something special the elite 4200 3x9 is my all time favorite scope for the very reason I just described.

Well if having a scope with a good "eye box" who's eye relief can vary up to an inch, sometimes more, is the definition of a user friendly "eye box" I must be shooting in all the wrong positions at all the wrong power settings.

Oh, the several I had all looked great with regard to eye box and relief....on 2,3, or 4x (lowest power), but as soon as one cranked past that, the wheels fell off. They seemed very inconsistant in that regard, compared to other stuff...to my eyes....proof again, that glass is subjective, at least until you go prone. LOL

So when you're shooting prone, you want short eye relief like Leupold's are famous for ?

Really? Surely you don't think anyone shoots leupolds prone? Do some have well under 2" at the top end, like elites? Maybe I just haven't run across those yet?


FWIW, eye relief doesn't have to be massive, just enough, and (important) consistent as possible...but my druthers may be odd.

You're exactly right. He is comparing bushnell's top end glass with Minox's entry level. the ZA5 HD is a very nice piece of glass. I was "lucky" enough to have purchased a broken older ZA5 for next to nothing and sent it to Minox to repair. They sent me back a new 3-15X42 ZA5 HD free of charge! The ZV3 doesn't come close.
I have also owned a few 4200s in 6-24 and 4-16 and was not impressed with the eye relief at higher magnification. (which is why I don't own them any more.) i have not had that problem with my 3-9s. Now, I only have experience with two of them (3-9 elite 4200s) and may be an anomaly, but I'll take a chance on another if anyone wants to unload one.

If it works for you that's all that matters. Me, I wouldn't shoot my 300 WM prone with a scope that had 2 inches of ER. John Barsness recently tested 2 new VX-3, 3.5-10x40's and reported their ER measured 3.3 inches to 3.7 inches, same as my 4200 2.5-10x40's.