Which Bushnell scope do you recommend exactly?

[bladeracer]

Boy, looks like a lot of ground has been covered since I was here yesterday.

I'll just add that IMO, Asian optics in general have come a LONG way in recent times (And I'm old enough to remember when we thought anything coming out of Japan was rubbish!)

I have various brands here made in Japan, South Korea (Bushnell's Nitro) and Philippines.
The last Sightron I bought (STAC 4-20X50 SFP MOA-2 - Ideal for the OP's intended use but more than his budget) is made in The Philippines but it's certainly proving to be a decent scope from what I've seen so far.

Japanese optics have been excellent for many decades, Chinese optics were very poor for a long, long time, so finding "Made in Japan" on your Tasco, or Nikko-Stirling made them worth hanging on to. But now the Chinese probably make the equipment the "not made in China" manufacturers are using to produce their scopes, and their glass technology has really stepped up

[Member-Deleted]

When people specifically say they want to use the scope for mainly target use at paper and out to 100 yrds or more then I really cringe when I see them wanting to buy cheap scopes and the cheap scope recommendations.

Deno you say you still haven't even used your rifle so how do you know what you really need.

The old recommendation of go and have a look at people doing what you want to do and what they use is the best but nearly always un listened to advice.

Spend $500 on a scope only to find out it does not suit the job you wanted. Try to sell that $500 scope only yo find out it has basically no re sale value.

Your totally right in that I haven't fired my rifle yet. It's really killing me
I'm just waiting on my scope to arrive....
And geez I've learnt some stuff while I've been waiting.
I researched for weeks for exactly the same type of scope that OP is after.
I read every article I could find about scopes, their differences, their different uses. I went down to the range and spoke to different shooters from different disciplines. I went to 4 different gun shops and looked through dozens of scopes before deciding that I couldn't get what I wanted for what I wanted.
So I compromised and bought the AR for $395. It will go on my air rifle eventually so it won't be a waste.

The one thing I did want was versatility. A scope that would be able to do most disciplines... Field, 3p, silhouette etc.
I don't want to use my .22 for long distance stuff. 150-200m max will do.

There seems to be a hole in the tactical/target scope market between $500-$1200.
I mean if you are going to spend over $500 you may as well spend over $1500+ for a match grade scope.

And yes, if your going to spend that much then you'd want to be pretty specific of what you want it for.
I am not there yet so I'll keep saving my dollars for when I am.

[bladeracer]

The AR Optics line are not springer air-rifle rated unfortunately, they didn't say it wouldn't do the job but it would void warranty. They suggested I look at their other lines, Nitro, Forge and another one I can't recall.
The $60 Banner 6-24x50AO is on it currently and is quite good. I bought two of them five years ago when I was still trying to determine what I wanted. They've been on a bunch of different rifles since, generally while I was waiting for more AR's to arrive, and I can't recall having any significant problems with them.

I was hoping to have a play with the Visionking today, but the fires are more of a priority

[Member-Deleted]

It's not going on a springer mate.
Next rifle will be a Crosman 1077. They are CO2 powered.

I'm told they don't rattle like springers do.

[solarpak]

Ahh the good old scope trash talk ..................seems most people havent got one iota what happens in the optics manufacture industry.

There are companies in China, Japan, Phillipines, Korea (Asia) that make the bulk of the sport optics - yes the europeans still make some of their sport optics in their own countries but even they do source out manufacture of some of their scopes to the asian manufacturers.
The Asian manufacturers that make most of these sport optics you would probably never heard of - Japanese companies like Light Optics Works and Shirstone Optics make the bulk of the current 'made in Japan' scopes and basically and Joe Blow can approach them and have a range of scopes, binos etc....made to any specification - as long as you have the moolah, they will make what you want.

Even the high priced Europeans dont make all their scopes - due to high labour costs. The current Zeiss V4 is made in Japan and the old Conquest line was assembled in the USA from Japanese components (the old 3-9x40 MC was a bloody cracker of a scope!) I am sure other Euro makers do the same .

The only European maker that impresses me is Meopta - they make everything in-house including all their glass (other Euro makers buy their glass mainly from Schott) but Meopta make their own. All brilliant scopes from the Meopro, the new Optika, Meostar and the ZD. The ZD range seriously spanks the high end Zeiss, S&B, Swaro scopes for the price.

At the end of the day, you get what you pay for - and if you spend $200 on an optic and enjoy it - thats what matters.....thats what its all about, having a good time in our chosen hobby.
C.

[bladeracer]

It's not going on a springer mate.
Next rifle will be a Crosman 1077. They are CO2 powered.

I'm told they don't rattle like springers do.

Yep, I think my Ruger 10/22 .177 is based on the 1077?
Bugger all power but a decent amount of enjoyment in the shooting.

[bladeracer]

At the end of the day, you get what you pay for - and if you spend $200 on an optic and enjoy it - thats what matters.....thats what its all about, having a good time in our chosen hobby.
C.

You get what you get, how much you pay for it has little to do with how good or bad it is. Price is based on a very long list of things that have next to nothing to do with the final product you're buying, or how well it'll do what you want of it.

You can buy the AR Optics for $395 or more, or you can pay under $200, for _exactly_ the same scope when it's on special. The price changes because of factors that have nothing at all to do with the product or the manufacturer. If you want a product that has "no questions unlimited transferable lifetime warranty", you can bet that you're paying extra for it, the manufacturer doesn't absorb the cost of those warranty claims, the customers do.

[Clem]

I put a Bushnell Trophy XTREME on my wife's 223.

2.5-15x50mm with the illuminated reticle

It was $450 and it is basically only used for target shooting(up yo 200 yards), very minimal hunting use.

I really can't fault it. Are there better scopes out there? Of course, but it does it's job quite well in my opinion.
I could have probably done without the illuminated reticle, but it's there if needed.

I would recommend one.
YMMV

[sungazer]

One thing I would like to add and I think i can speak for perhaps some others as well. I am not bashing any scopes although I have looked through some really bad ones I don't remember what they were or how old. But when asked for a recommendation I look at what the poster has said he is looking for in a scope and try and fit the best value proposition to the budget they have come up with. Yes sometimes i would recommend that they double their budget given what they are looking for in a scope and buy second hand. again it might seem like elitism recommending a well know brand name scope. But they are only the ones i have personal and extensive experience with and also seen the same experience in many, many regular weekly shooters over a long period of time. they are by no means the most expensive scopes that I use and i have also bought second hand.

Deno you are right about the $500-$1000 target scopes a bit of a gap in that market. Sightron used to fill it well but their scopes have gone up and taken away the value advantage. I purchased an Athalon Argos which cost me about $800 on the recommendation of a LGS owner. I regret that purchase nothing really wrong with the scope it is over size compared to others but there is nothing special about it either I could have spent $200 more and been much more satisfied with a second hand scope that I know stands the test of time and has great local lifetime warranty and customer service with really good value repairs even if you do damage it accidentally. A friend had one repaired after it fell out of the gun safe and landed on a turret nearly breaking the turret out of the scope tube. tube and turrets replaced anlong with all the other remove, replace, service and clean for $200 back in just over a week.

[bladeracer]

I put a Bushnell Trophy XTREME on my wife's 223.

2.5-15x50mm with the illuminated reticle

It was $450 and it is basically only used for target shooting(up yo 200 yards), very minimal hunting use.

I really can't fault it. Are there better scopes out there? Of course, but it does it's job quite well in my opinion.
I could have probably done without the illuminated reticle, but it's there if needed.

I would recommend one.
YMMV

Do you find 15-power enough for 200yd paper shooting?
Can you see .22-cal bullet holes at that distance?
I can just barely with the 18x, but 180m is about as far as I can.

[SCJ429]

]At the end of the day, you get what you pay for - and if you spend $200 on an optic and enjoy it - thats what matters.....thats what its all about, having a good time in our chosen hobby.
C.

You get what you get, how much you pay for it has little to do with how good or bad it is. Price is based on a very long list of things that have next to nothing to do with the final product you're buying, or how well it'll do what you want of it.

You can buy the AR Optics for $395 or more, or you can pay under $200, for _exactly_ the same scope when it's on special. The price changes because of factors that have nothing at all to do with the product or the manufacturer. If you want a product that has "no questions unlimited transferable lifetime warranty", you can bet that you're paying extra for it, the manufacturer doesn't absorb the cost of those warranty claims, the customers do.

I think that the "you get what you pay for" is as true as it ever was. There is not a budget offering out there that comes close to a $3,000 Schmidt and Bender but many shooters do not need that high end of scope. You can get a very nice scope for $1,500 and something usable for $200. Many new shooters want to dip their toe in the water and look at the bottom end of the range of optics. The best optics that are more reliable are fixed power scopes, they usually have better quality glass and are more robust because they are simpler. I used a fixed power 12x Leupold for many years in Rimfire competition. Still have the scope and it has never failed me.

[Ferrisweil]

You get what you get, how much you pay for it has little to do with how good or bad it is. Price is based on a very long list of things that have next to nothing to do with the final product you're buying, or how well it'll do what you want of it.

You can buy the AR Optics for $395 or more, or you can pay under $200, for _exactly_ the same scope when it's on special. The price changes because of factors that have nothing at all to do with the product or the manufacturer. If you want a product that has "no questions unlimited transferable lifetime warranty", you can bet that you're paying extra for it, the manufacturer doesn't absorb the cost of those warranty claims, the customers do.[/quote]

I think that the "you get what you pay for" is as true as it ever was. There is not a budget offering out there that comes close to a $3,000 Schmidt and Bender but many shooters do not need that high end of scope. You can get a very nice scope for $1,500 and something usable for $200. Many new shooters want to dip their toe in the water and look at the bottom end of the range of optics. The best optics that are more reliable are fixed power scopes, they usually have better quality glass and are more robust because they are simpler. I used a fixed power 12x Leupold for many years in Rimfire competition. Still have the scope and it has never failed me.[/quote]

Well said mate. I’ve been very lucky over the years to look through some VERY expensive glass and it VERY much is a case of you get what you pay for. Sitting in a tree stand in the UK, in fading light and waiting for that perfect buck, made me grateful for nice bit of kit I was using. Shooting a pig at 50m at 1pm or a piece of paper at 100m with a 22 and you could get away with a school magnifying glass and say it works brilliantly.
My opinion is that high end optics are def better (if you’re using them in the right situation) but at the end of the day, we all want the best we can afford.

[solarpak]

Well said Ferriswell,

try shooting game in very low light or even under moonlight (like they do in Europe) and this is where premium glass comes into its own.

For 90 % of normal shooting (which excludes low light, spotlighting and long range ) and well made optic will suffice.........

However if you are a shooter or hunter who demands a scope perform for its intended purpose then you certainly wont opt for a lower priced optic.

All my hunting rifles carry Hawke Vantage or Endurance scopes with the exception of one which carries a Zeiss Duralyt. Being hunting rifles which are carried more than they are shot , the Hawke scopes are just what i need for the purpose intended and they are quite reasonably priced. I dont shoot at distances over 300m . The Zeiss Duralyt isnt what i call a mega-priced optic (its no longer made) when you compare it to the current V6 and v8 models but its glass is still nice and clear with great optic quality.

As for the Bushnell AR range, i have used them and they are an excellent scope for the coin....i certainly wont dispute that at all. Bushnell do make good gear .

C.

[Clem]

I put a Bushnell Trophy XTREME on my wife's 223.

2.5-15x50mm with the illuminated reticle

It was $450 and it is basically only used for target shooting(up yo 200 yards), very minimal hunting use.

I really can't fault it. Are there better scopes out there? Of course, but it does it's job quite well in my opinion.
I could have probably done without the illuminated reticle, but it's there if needed.

I would recommend one.
YMMV

Do you find 15-power enough for 200yd paper shooting?
Can you see .22-cal bullet holes at that distance?
I can just barely with the 18x, but 180m is about as far as I can.

I find it enough for 200 yard shooting. There are higher magnification options out there in the same Bushnell range.

I generally use a spotting scope at the range. I get good, consistent groupings with the scope/rifle combo. Surprisingly accurate.

[TheFirearmEnthusiast]

Mm
Thank you for the conversation everyone
A lot of people seem to enjoy the Bushnell AR Optics series
Would you guys say that the AR Optics series are the best ones to get in Bushnell?
I was looking at the Elite series as well as the Trophy Xtreme ones

[SCJ429]

If your expectations are reasonable you will be OK. You have to decide if it represents value at $400. Below is an unbiased review.

https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/gear- ... iflescope/

[bladeracer]

Mm
Thank you for the conversation everyone
A lot of people seem to enjoy the Bushnell AR Optics series
Would you guys say that the AR Optics series are the best ones to get in Bushnell?
I was looking at the Elite series as well as the Trophy Xtreme ones

I don't consider the AR Optics to be their best quality scope, they have much higher-quality lines but they cost up to ten-times the price of the AR series. The AR is the best _for me_ as it offers everything I want in a scope, at an excellent price. I don't think you are placing the same constraints as I am on my scopes though, you could be better suited by putting different scopes on different rifles to optimize them for their purposes, a lightweight hunting scope on a centrefire, a high-mag target scope on a competition rifle, and a rimfire scope on a plinker, for example. I wanted one scope that would do a great job regardless of what I wanted to use any rifle for on any day, and that is a lot to ask of any scope, but more importantly it greatly restricts my choices. You probably don't have that restriction, so there are scores of scopes you could look at for each of your rifles based on what you intend to use them for.