Busnell Elite vs Nikon Buckmaster vs Leopold VXI

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cpjws40

New member
While looking for a 3X9 scope for my 300 Win. I was told by the guy at the gun counter that the best of these comperatively priced scopes is the bushnell. I've never owned any of them so if you have... tell me what you think

Thanks /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Hello
Go with a Leopold or a Burris. Good reps, good warranties.

Where it comes to optics, you just get what you pay for. And you will need good optics on that rifle. I have seen various econo scopes come apart on stuff like 223s.
 
I have a Bushnell Elite 3200 5-15x40 with an AO, and it is every bit as good, if not better, than the Redfield's and Leupold's I own. I don't know much about Nikon, but you'd be hard pressed to find a better scope than the Bushnell/B&L Elite. In my opinion, Leupold's are great scopes with a great warranty, but lousy prices. To get into the same catagory as the Bushnell Elite you'd have to jump to Leupold's Vari-XII or Vari-XIII line and then you're looking at alot more money.

Do a search on the web for D&R sports, get their best price, and then call BearBasin and ask them to meet or beat it. The reason I say this is because I've had great luck with Bearbaasin, but have heard negative things about D&R's customer service. A while ago I priced the Bushnell 3200 Elite 3x9x40 matte finish w/rainguard at $157.00 ($147.00 if you buy three at a time)through them.
 
Pretty soon I hope all you die hard Leupold guys will learn to accept that there is just as good quality scopes for lesser money. If it's my money, I put it in a Elite, anything less by Bushnell I would not buy for a serious scope. Also the Legend, Discoverer, and Elite Binoculars are among the best out there.
 
I would have to agree with Jack 100% as I have tryed the best and find that B/L Elite 4200 series
in 6-24 power are awsome for even twice the money
I have two of them one on my tika 300win mag and
also one on my Rem.model 700 police .233rem and I have not one bad thing to say about them. I have hunted everything form crows and coyote to moose
and carribou and in temp.ranges form -47 to +100 and have had not one complant (not one).

Hope this helps
Jonathan
 
No contest. The Elite has much better glass than the Leupold and is probably more reliable mechanically. The Buckmaster has good glass too, but is notoriously lacking mechanical integrity.

- DAA
 
WOW!!! Very helpful information... Thanks to all of you for taking the time to share your thoughts. I value what I get here far more than what I here from a salesman at a gun counter. Some salesmen seem to know what they are talking about... some seem to just want your money...

I'll probably go with the Bushnell... Thanks again...
 
Hello Mr. cpjws40
I looked at this post several times and was going to stay out of this but can't. So here is my .$02 worth.
Tackdriver is giving you good advise it's true you get what you pay for.
If both scopes are the same price the Leupold or Burris will give better service, and hold there zero. Also they will not shift zero thru the power range.
I have no first hand experience with the Bushnell Elite. Had a Bushnell years ago, it did not hold up, cross hairs broke under recoil. Go to a benchrest match see how many Bushnell scopes you see? What scope make do most manufactures put on there police SWAT weapons?
Is this because Bushnell scopes are to good?
Take some time at the store check them out close.
Check the edges for clarity at the higher power settings.
Good Luck and Good Shooting /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
DAA
I have a question for you. Years ago when there was a actual Bausch and Lomb, I knew a great many that swore by the "Elite" scopes.

Then there was a buyout and I lost track of the evolution.

So tell me, is the Bushnell the exact same scope in terms of materials, manufacturing, quality?
 
Another line you might want to look at is the Weaver Grand Slam. I know several people who have them so far no complaints and lots of compliments.
 
I don't always buy into the theory of you get what you pay for. If this theory were true it would mean I would need to sell my Ruger's and Savage's and buy Kimber's or Cooper's in order to have "the best product." But the truth is, Ruger and Savage perform suprisingly well at a fraction of the cost. Sure I expect quailty, but to me quality isn't necessarily dictated by price. In all products, from clothes, to trucks, to optics there is a certain image associated with certain brand names. As I stated before, Leupold's are great scopes, but how much are you paying for the name? For one thing, I prefer matte finished scopes and Leupold charges a ton extra for matte finish. Secondly, in order to get a Leupold with the same features and same quality as the Bushnell Elite you have to bypass the VX1 line and jump to the Vari-XIII line, which generally start at over $400.00. And lastly, although it's not important to some, with a lot of their scopes Bushnell includes a sunshade at no cost, which Leupold wants $20.00-$40.00 for.
 
STU... Your right about the Weaver grand slam being a great scope. Did you know they use LEICA glass in them?... What a bargain... Also Earpopper my justification one you benchrest clones that only use leupolds is you have too much money and are to scared to look cheap. and I have seen Bushnells win competions. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif How do you like me now.
 
What has been said about most, not all, benchrest shooters using Leupold scopes is true. Probably 75% of the rifles at a big benchrest match will have Leupold scopes.

What is not being mentioned is how many times those scopes had to be sent back to Leupold before they were good enough to use in a match. I would guess, from talking to the competitors at matches like the Super Shoot, 90% have been sent back at least once. Many have made 2 or more trips back.

One reason Leupold's service department is so good is because they get a lot of practice.

I don't have anything against Leupold. I really like the 1-4X and the 1.5-5X. But in the higher powers, I see as good or better optics and repeatability for much lower prices.

Jack
 
Sheeese!!! I think you could start a fight in a morgue by bringing this subject up. "Peace brothers"... Actually its kind of entertaining to see you all get so animated. But lets save the ire for the taliban or someone who deserves it.

Great info though... keep it up.
 
I had a "old bauch.. & lomb 2.5x10 external ajusted for a zero scope I bought on a pre 64 win rifle at an estate sale. The scope had bubbles in the veiwing area. I contacted the factory and they told me to send it in. Well it was to old for there parts to fix and after some negotiating they sent me new in the box a 4200 elite and its a dandy.The old scope was over 50yrs old, and for $135 plus frt. I was not 50 at that time.
 
One thing not mentioned is resale value. If you ever decide to change scopes or sale a gun and no longer need one resale is very important. Nothing carries as good a resale value in the scope market as Leupold. Nothing
 
Joe,
No fight here. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
As I stated in my earlier post just adding my $.02.

If the price is the same. I'll put my hard earned dollars in a Leupold or Burris.

We all have a right to express our opinion here, that's what this forum is about.

Good Luck and Good Shooting /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Owning Leupolds, Burris, Redfields ( pre Blount ) Weaver T serries ( pre Blount) Bosch -Lomb,and, Bushnells ( and Sorry to admit, a tasco for about 3 weeks). I set out to buy my wife a Light- weight, 4x12 scope for her very light rifle.The Nikons were lightest, and cheapest. and it was for her not me ( she paid 1400.oo for her rifle )I bought the the Nikon and was pleasantly pleased so much that I picked up a 6,5 x 20 ( Nikon) for my Varmit rifle. It don't look like no Leupold, but it's optics in low light are impressive. The only draw back is, the damn power ring is so stiff, it takes a bit of an effort to turn. Great buy so far.
 


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