Wondering how these two stack up to each other? I have a couple of older 4200's that perform quite well...but with the advent of all them on closeout as of late. Are they as good or should I just stay with the VX-II?

The Bushnell's lack of eye relief is the only reason I'd choose a Leupold. If it's going on a rifle of moderate recoil the Bushnells are awesome.

Until you need to send them in for warranty work and they send a note back stating "Everything checks to acceptable levels."

I don't know which models you're comparing, but I have owned 6 4200's and many Leupold's and the 4200 has better glass (noticeably), better adjustments and they are more durable than Leupold's (VX2's and VXIII's). Never had to use their repair department. Uncommon for one to actually break anyway.

...It's not close to me. Everyone's eyes are different but in my opinion, the 4200 blows the VXII away and is even superior to the VX3 with regards to clarity and light gathering (especially). Eye relief is an issue for some folks on some of the Elites models but the 3-9x40 tube that is $199 @ Cabelas right now is substantially better than some of their higher variable power models and bigger objectives. There is nothing out there that can touch that scope @ $199 imo -

Got one of those on my moderate recoiling 300 Win Mag.

You're not smart.

How about if it was $195 somewhere else? Predatoroptics.com will beat that $199 price if you email or call. Most other 3200, 4200 and 6500 elites are available also

Smart enough to know that you have no experience with 4200's or 300 WM's though.

IMO the $139.00 3-9X40 3200 Elite at Natches is just as good. I've owned quite a few of both.

You don't either unless you've had stitches.

I've posted pics of mine on the 300 WM, 30/06 and my 280 Ackley.......your turn to post pics of your 300 Win Mag........or a 4200 on anything

I prefer the optics in the 4200 over just about every Leupold. Up to about 7mm Wby Mag, I'd go with the 4200.

However, the eye relief is an issue and for a .300 mag or bigger, I'd go Zeiss Conquest or Minox.

And that proves what?

That you're talking out your arse. In fairness you are in the Hunting Optics forum and I'd expect no less.

A closer comparison of the 4200's, with respect to mechanical and optical quality, would be the VX-3 line.

I never had a problem with the eye relief on any of my 4200's which have adorned relatively lightweight rifles in 338-06, 7WSM, and 270WSM.

If you can't keep a scope with 3.3" of CONSTANT eye relief from kissing you in any shooting position I'd say you need examine your shooting form.

I was considering buying one as a spare.As they are 'bout $80 less on clearance than the VX-2...thus my post.

Keep a styptic pencil handy.

Swampman700 - if you have experience with both and honestly think the 3200's are just as good as the 4200's, I can only guess that your eyes are worse than mine...and that's sayin' something. Even these old brokedown pupils of mine can tell a huge difference @ dusk & dawn between to 3200 and 4200 -

Just as I suspected...........just guessing. I've shot that combo (300 WM/4200) more times then you've shot all your Mossberg 30/06's combined.

No real difference. I've owned quite a few and compared them under all light conditions.

I bought a 2.5-10x40 elite 4200 Bausch and Lomb from RDFinn and I'm hooked. I just bought a Bushnell in the same power range with the firefly reticle because some guy named Roy said they're great

I don't see the Bushnell elite 4200 on Cabelas website.Can anybody give a link to their site with the price of $199/.Would appreciate that very much.

Raj - it's there. Go to shooting, then optics, then click on Bushnell logo...$199

Check here..

[u][color:#000099]Bushnell 4200 for $199[/color][/u]

Georgiadawg and RDFinn,thank you both very much for the help.
Mr RDFinn,would you give a little bit more of your take on the 4200 as you seem very familiar with it.Also how would you rate it with a zeiss Conquest 3x9-40 and the VX-111 3X9-40.Thank you.
If this is hijacking the thread from its main topic,my apologies.

Just looked at the site Roy and it looks like I did good

I've owned a number of Leupies and now pretty much buy Bushnell exclusively. Just a lot of scope for the money IMO.

I used to think the Elites we just that, till I had a problem with one of the 4 I own. Had a 3-9 3200 on the heavy recoiling 250 Savage for about 3 years. While changing over from varmint loads to deer loads I noticed it wasn't tracking correctly. Did a box test and it wasn't even close. Sent it to Bushnell with the required $10 bucks and in due time got it back with the note about Checks to acceptable levels". It's never been back on the rifle and is the last Bushnell product I'll ever buy.

The optics are very close to the Conquest and better than the optics in the VX2 and Leupold's older VX-III line. I don't know about Leupold's newest VX-3, but there is a 300 dollar difference in price now that you can get the 3-9 4200 for 200 bucks. Tracking and durability go to the 4200 as well.

Yup and you suck for gettin that 2.5-10 FireFly...

TFF......

Ole270,

Kinda like me and Burris. IT's in the genes I tell ya.

A couple other deals through Cabela's for the next few days.

Free shipping on orders over $150 and Cabela's recently sent out a mailer for recent patrons for $20 off any purchase over $120. Can't use them both at the same time.

The 4200 for $179.99 is too good to pass up.

Plus I believe Bushnell is still giving away a free (for the cost of shipping) rainsuit with the purchase of the Elite scope.

Great deals.

Heck, for no other reason but to have a good backup scope that's a good grab.

The 4200's are heavier than the VXII's. Their eye relief is much shorter, to the point of being unacceptable to me, and their eye boxes are even worse.
They resolve and work under low light conditions equally well. My old VariXIII, for instance, can often show me .30 caliber bullet holes at 300 yds. when set at 10X. Has the same glass and coatings as the current VXII's.
Never seen any proof or even any reliable evidence that either are tougher than the other. Nobody I know uses the 4200 on any really hard kickers. Leupolds have been and still are very popular for such applications. E

You'll never be taken seriously posting BS like that. You are posting to people who have actually owned or used them, unlike yourself.

I've never owned or used the Leupold I mentioned ? I've never shot with a 4200 or a VXII ? Just where did you imagine all of that ?
Nor do I go around saying that Leupolds are so fragile that they won't stand being shipped by air w/o having to be rezeroed.
Tell me something RD. If the 4200 is so much better than the VXII, then why is Bushnell dropping the line and how come they made so few models of them when compared to Leupold's VXII ?
One of ther things I've noticed is that you can't bull$chit the players. E

E.,

what made leupold a great company is their great customer service but nowadays a lot of others companies are doing the same.

in canada the turnover is around 2 weeks to get something fixed by leupold Bushnnell it s more than two months ... but price is not the same too when you buy over the counter.

now if you can see what really stand the recoil on heavy calibers you ll be surprised about some not fancy at all optics.

the 4200 are in this bandwagon like the redfield leupold. and many more.

i ve seen a 338-378 wea killing the base and rings but not the little redfield 4-12*40 but this is not optical talking this is only mechanical and everybody knows that mechanic fails ...

Which is why I posted what I did.

You know you haven't seen or owned one. Again, why I said you're FOS on this one. Bushnell didn't drop the Elite 4200 they just renamed the entire line and made upgrades as well.

I don't think Leupold's are fragile in the field. What I said about mine having to be rezeroed after airline travel is the absolute truth.

Guy on GBO talking about his busted eye. I knew it was from an Elite before I even opened the thread.

That's a real hotbed of hunting talent..

VX-II hands down simply because of their unconditional lifetime warranty.

I have 2 Bushnell 3200s and know from shopping that the 4200's optical quality is even better than those excellent scopes, but for $80 I'd go Leupold and not look back. 10 yrs from now when you drop the rifle scope-down you'll be glad you did...

The Bushnells have a lifetime warranty too.

That statement ranks right up there with your diamond coat statements. So, now the measure of a riflescope is based on how many models fall in a product line ? Wow... I guess the S&B Summit is a real POS as it's only offered in 2.5-10.

Yep but I've talked with shooting buddies who've had bad experiences getting that honored by both Nikon and Bushnell. I've never heard nor experienced such an issue w/ Leupy nor Burris.

efw,



You're new here, right? You never heard or read anything about Burris' terrible C.S.?

Don't care. The experience I had was exceptional.

ps- but I shouldn't have said "heard" in regards to Burris, cuz you're right, I have "heard" that about them. Just didn't experience it AT ALL.

i have shot both quite a lot.
side by side on silhoutte guns both smallbore and HP. Glass wise cant tell much diff (i will say the newest leupolds do seem to be going down hill hate to say; or i did get one "bad one ") both tracked spot on and they do get "dialed" alot in in matches!! as far as eye relief that does go to leupold but never had a problem with a 4200 either but never shot a harder kicker than a .308 with 190's i do shoot mostly the vxII though mostly because of weight and having 1/4 min. clicks instead of 1/8 min. (gets you to 500m in HP with out going over a full round) and do have to say under weight requirements. i would not be scared of either one

I made the mistake a buying a 3x9 3200 at the $150 close out from somewhere. Been mounted, to the range once, Rainguard sticker removed. $100 delivered w/box. PM me. Can do pics.

That the third non leupold scope I've owned and until I make mistake four in scope purchases it will be the last. Say what you want ...

That's a great deal and as good as any VX-II.

For the price you can get a 4200 I wouldn't hesitate a second go with the Bushnell, in My opinion the Bushnell is a step or two above a VXII anyway, I own several of each and like the Bushnell much better, especially in low light...........Good luck..................Hillbilly.

I recently mounted three scopes on a newly purchased CZ 500 (.375 H&H): two Bushnell Elite 4200's (3-9x40 & 1.5-6x36) and a Meopta Meostar R-1 (1.5-5). The Bushnell's had a little less eye refief than the Meopta, but all functioned well and there were no busted eyes! I have not decided which scope to leave on it, but I think the Czech made scope might get along well with a Caech made rifle...

hey ned i was comparing to 4200 and a4200 is a good bit better than a 3200

Not really they are about the same.

Got a couple of the 4200's. Ones on a Rem 700 in .243AI, and the other is sitting on a Weatherby .300 mag. Both scopes are 4-16x50 SF. .300 hasn't kissed me, but I'm not a stock crawler. Also have several Leupold 4-12x40 AO's mounted on ".06's", .270, and 7mm rem mags. 30.06 kissed me one time early on. Just a "baby's breath" touch, but sure as hell got my attention. More than likely it was the operator--never has happened since. Quality of glass!! My old eyes got to go with the Bushnell--CS is Leupold all the way. May pick up one of the 3-9's ( haven't looked thru a non-AO or SF scope in years) Now, I've looked at my post pretty carefully. I'm pretty sure their is room for somebodys "tirade"--thats ok.

Jeez, imagine that. You're at a disadvantage to speak about them here as it appears you have actually seen or used both. Maybe you'll start a trend. Poor ol Swampy and Eremicus are stuck with their vivid imaginations as per usual.

I've used a 4200 I bought from RDFinn (2.5-10x40) quite a bit and I have no issues with eye relief. It is one of the best scopes I own and I've got another on the way. It will be going on a 338 win mag and I have all the confidence in the world that it is going to be the catz azz

SFB's, they are not only different optically they are very different mechanically from a durability standpoint. 3200's are tested to withstand 1000 rds of 375 H&H recoil on a simulator and the 4200 & 6500 are tested at 10,000 rds of recoil simulation. There is approx. a 4-5% difference in light transmission between the 3200 and the imaginary 4200 that you and Eremicus have seen.

now not wanting to start an internet war here but, i sure thought a few years ago both 4200 and 3200 both were advertised as being tested to 10,000 rounds ect... so i looked it up on buchnell,s website and you are correct about what you said 10,000 and the 1,000 rounds what they say now. how ever they state 1yr. no question ask warranty so is that saying they might or might not fix or repalce it after a year? asking cause i, been thinking of trying a 6500 now that they a gotten cheaper than they first were

No. The 1 yr thingy is a separate "No question asked" refund if you aren't satisfied with an Elite scope. They all have a lifetime warranty. Lots of folks get that confused thinking there's only a 1 year warranty.

ldholton,



This refers to the full refund; don't loose yoru receipt. When the 6500 first came out I bought a 4 1/2-30X50. It was blurry above 25X. I sent it in for warrenty. It came back very soon. Apprently they adjusted something in there 'cause when it came back the top magnification was crystal clear but it was blurry below aobut 6X. I sent it in for a full refund. The check evenincluded the original insurance on the shipping. I waited several month and ordered another; thinking that first bunch was all gone. This one is better in normal light than my Swarovski Z5 5-25X52 when both are on the same setting.

After the first year you depend on the warrenty.

thanks for the info guys maybe that sould be a new thead early 6500's vs the newest ones? i have seen lots of mixed reveiws on them

lol need to order a case of that stuff around here!! they make x-tra strenth for about three or four bad offenders

I have a case but the Douchebag-Away is on backorder.

This place is about 90% trolls.

Swampy you're quite evidently FOS or have no experience with the scopes if you say the 3200 is even close to the 4200.

I have a 4200 4-16x40 on my 338 win mag. I was scope bit by the gun only one time and that was laying prone with federal premium 250 nosler partitions. I am sure I cerpt closer than needed.
Anyway, I have shot that combo a bunch and no problems. The central clarity and brightness of the 4200 is very hard to beat. My tests vs leupold show it is a little better for central clarity and brightness but edge clarity falls off a little quicker than the leupold VXIII line.

If you want a new VX-II they are very reasonable on eBay. I usually buy all my scopes there.

Him and Eremicus must have equal time behind 4200's.

i have never got a decent buy on ebay foe a real leupold,,, better buy s on this forum

not even close, the 4200 is far better than a vx2