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Is the "new" Bushnell Elite 3500 3-9x40 just a rebadge of the Elite 3-9x40 scope? The dimensions are the same but I cant find much info on the new scope, I guess I will call Bushnell and see what they have to say.....Might be some good sales in the old Elite scope if anything has changed, these are excellent scopes for the money.............Hb

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I agree with Hillbilly on the Elites. Here in leupold land it is not real often they get much positive attention but I've found them to be solid glass for the money. I've got several pre-64 Winchesters and one thing I particularly like about them is the occular has slightly less diameter than the standard Leupolds and allows me to use a little lower ring/base combo. Bolt clearance has been a bigger issue than bbl./obj clearance. Except for 2 to 2 1/2 ozs. more weight, I don't feel like I'm giving up anything using the Elites over my VX2s.
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If any of them I've ever used/owned had useful or as advertised eye relief, I might have kept some of them. I've even measured under 2" of eye relief, on scopes they credit with over 3". Sure, decent glass and light weight, but between the eye box issues and Bushnell service, it's not worth it to just get some decent glass, that's matched or bettered elsewhere, in a useful platform.

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My thinking, 4200's were a good bit better than 3200's.

Not sure if that persists with the 4500/3500 series, as I haven't handled either.

ER with the older series were a bit tight for big kickers, otherwise a lot of glass for the buck.

DF


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I've got some from the Legend HD line. They're really good IMO. Only downside to the 4.5-14x44 (mil-dot) one I have is it's a bit heavy, but I didn't buy it for a hunting scope. A little more eye relief is all you get comparing it to my VX-1...and it's a touch sharper IMO. Both very good, really. It'll be interesting to look at the new Bushnell "X"500 lines.

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I had the opportunity to compare a Limited Edition (China) with an Elite 4200 (Japan), both 3-9x40. The glass was about a wash, the Chinese version slightly longer and slightly heavier. It had parallax adjustment and I thought it was about as good as the 4200.

I'm wondering if the Limited Edition was a transitional series between the 3200/4200 and 3500/4500 series, or were the new scopes designed from the ground up?

DF

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[img]http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f35/rush2830/BushnellElites007.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f35/rush2830/BushnellElites008.jpg[/img]

Last edited by Dirtfarmer; 04/10/15.
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Dirt, great photos and comparison. Thanks.
I thought I read somewhere that while that version (LE) was made in China, the rest of the Elite series continues to be done in Japan. I have a 3200, 4200, and the more current one that just goes by Elite 3-9X40, all Japanese. I hope Chinese manufacturing is not going to be the case.
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I've also got a LE Elite in 3-9x40. Very good glass IMO.

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I'd like to see a comaprison between the 4200 and 4500. I've never been a 3200 fan, have handled some, don't own one. I have several 4200's and a 6500, all good stuff, IMO.

DF

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Just checked on line. The 4500 is shorter than the older 4200 but still has a 6" tube for easy mounting. Looks like the ER is pretty short, as in 3.3" and the weight is 16 oz. I wish Bushnell could get their ER's longer.

In comparison, the VX-3 3.5-10x40, although no 4X power range like the Elite, has a 4.4" ER and weighs 12.6 oz. Now the Leupy costs more, but where ER and weight are important, it out classes the Elite by a good margin. The VX-3 has a 5.8" tube and will mount on a LA easily, especially with its long ER.

The Elite's ER is over an inch less than the VX-3 and it weighs 6.4 oz more. It's a good glass for the buck and I use my Elites on mild recoiling rifles.

DF

Last edited by Dirtfarmer; 04/10/15.
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I get sick of hearing eye relief problems, if your shooting an ubber magnum yeah put on a different scope. with the elite 3x9x40's I have owned if your having a problem with eye relief you either have the scope mounted wrong or your holding the gun wrong. this applies to anything less than a 300 mag, although personally I wouldn't have an issue with a 300 mag and an elite. people forget the very distinct downside of eye relief and there is. simply by having the scope further from your eye the image seems smaller for one and for 2 eye placement is more critical the further out you are. when I switch out to say a leupold after using nightforce or an elite. it always feels like I need more scope power. if lots of eye relief was great a scout scope would be the way to go. lots of bushnell bashers out there and eye relief is the biggest complaint. nightforce has similar eye relief specs as bushnell does. noone knocks them for it. Nightforce IMO has the best optical formula of any scope I have used.

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People do put them on big boomers.

Not me...

But, they seem to get by with it.

Why put a 3" ER scope on a .300 Mag and not use a 4" ER scope?

DF

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I like Bushnell Elites and have several mounted on my rifles. I have a practice to make sure the scope stays at the end of the visor of my ball cap and then I don't have to worry about getting hit with the scope.

I taught my kids that way when they were young and learning to shoot. Seemed to work well for them as well. The Elite series are great scopes for the money.

Dan

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The problem with Bushnell has never been the specs for eye relief. It's been meeting them. IME. 3" is fine. When you spec 3", but are under 2", across the mag range, Someone could have problems with even a .243. It's got beans to do with form, gun, ability, mount, etc. If it ain't enough, or even what it says it is, that's a problem. Maybe the latest stuff is totally different. I've got other stuff and ain't worried about it.

Last edited by hh4whiskey; 04/11/15.
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I've owned 6 Elites and not one of them had "2 inches of ER". All have been at least 3 and depending on the power setting, 3.5" of ER. Those are 2.5-10 x40 I'm referring to. The first thing I noticed different on the 4500 were the turrets which are taller and very easily finger adjustable. Can't remember if they had a zero reset feature. The " Limited" version is not an Elite, and it is, in fact made in China. I believe it is now a member of the Legend family.

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Originally Posted by Dirtfarmer

In comparison, the VX-3 3.5-10x40, although no 4X power range like the Elite, has a 4.4" ER and weighs 12.6 oz. Now the Leupy costs more, but where ER and weight are important, it out classes the Elite by a good margin. The VX-3 has a 5.8" tube and will mount on a LA easily, especially with its long ER.

The Elite's ER is over an inch less than the VX-3 and it weighs 6.4 oz more. It's a good glass for the buck and I use my Elites on mild recoiling rifles.

DF


I don't know what to tell you as I've no recent copy of a VX3 3.5-10 x 40, but about a year ago John Basness had two brand new samples of that scope and both had a measured ER of 3.3"-3.7" of ER. That means one of two things. Either both you guys are way wrong or Leupold's quality control is much worst than I ever thought.

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I hadn't seen JB's report, was going by Leupold specs.

DF

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I guess I should have said I think Leupold is generous with their ER claims. Heck, they don't even claim their 4x has 4.4" of ER.

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RD,

Are the 4500 turrets pop up like the Legend? Check the photos I posted. I've not yet examined a 4500 and am currious.

DF

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I just saw the 4500 for the first time at a LGS, and I don't think they are, but I don't recall trying to pull them up either. I just rmember I liked them a lot more than the older version on my 4200's cause they were taller. Not tall like a target turret, just tall enough to be easily turned and seeing the adjustment scale on the side instead of on top. Says on Bushnell's website that the new turrets are resettable to. That's a plus for certain.

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