Bushnell Elite 6500!!!

utahpredator_7

utahpredator_7

New member
I got the new cabelas reloading catalog and saw this baby on the back. It has 6.5x zoom! They have 2.5-16x42, 2.5-16x50, and 4.5-30x50!! That is awesome for calling guns; low powers for yotes and high for varmints and the ones that hang up clear out there. They also have 30mm tubes and milldot or reg. reticle. On the downside....700$ is what they start at. But it could save money by using one scope for everything. It's double what I'll pay for my Monarch, but with 6 more powers, for some it just might be worth it!! Someday after college maybe I'll just have to have one /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif But, who knows what they'll have by then.
 
The features of these scopes should make them great for long range shooting, too. Your right its alittle more than were used to paying for a Bushnell, but they've never had features this good either. Plus, did you notice that Leupold raised their price 50 dollars on alot of their scopes in the same Cabela's catolog.

Hopefully they have a zero-able target turrents, track well and are clear. Hey, I've been wanting a higher power scope on one of my varmint rifles. But, I will let someone else buy it first, so they can give my their review. Then maybe I will get one.
 
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It all depends on the glass, and how clear it is. The Elite series has a very good name, but the price of such glass, that has comparable magnification is around $2500.00 +.

US Optics has been doing this with magnification for several years, but the price is High, and the Quality Incredible. Pluss its 100% made in the US, including the Glass, and Nobody else in the business can say that.

If you guys have 'em, I'd like to hear a good review on the glass, and what you guys think.

Good Hunting! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
The Elite 4200 series has amazing glass. I hope the 6500 is on par or above. This could be just what the doctor ordered for high end scopes. Can't wait to put my hands on one and look through it!
 
Funny how we can have 1 thread with people saying they find 150.00 scope plenty and will never spend more than that. Now heres the new bushy 6500 at 700 bones on up, and people are already forming a line to buy them /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I'll pass as the more I think about those wide range's of magnification, the less I need them. Rarely would a good calling rifle make a good long range PD rifle, and vise versa. 4.5 to 30x yea I'll bet the mirage thru that would be something on a nice sunny day.

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It all depends on the glass, and how clear it is. The Elite series has a very good name, but the price of such glass, that has comparable magnification is around $2500.00 +.



Are you matching the magnification range of the scopes in that price range, or just getting close to them. Or just saying the only thing that compares to Bushnell is a Swatforceski /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

You can match or better 4200 glass, with Nikon Monarch glass easy, Step up to others like Zeiss, and Nightforce for less than 2500 bucks. I was just wondering /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 
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I got the new cabelas reloading catalog and saw this baby on the back. On the downside....700$ is what they start at.



I have not checked my Cabelas Shooting Catalog but I'll take your word they start at $700. They also start at $580 and top out at $740 at The Optic Zone (a PM sponsor). Very rarely do I find Cabelas to be competitive on optic prices with places such as The Optic Zone or similiar. Don't get me wrong, I love Cabelas and order a lot of stuff through them but it pays to shop around.

And yes, I was excited to see the 6500 series as well. Never been a fan of Bushnell but never used their Elite series either. Always interested me though.

Mahamari
 
I also saw this scope in my Cabela's shooting catalog. It's not available until mid-march or so the catalog says. It's a step up from the 4200 series so the glass will be pretty darn good in my opinion. I have 2 of the 4200's and plan on looking into the 4.5 x 30. Naturally can save a couple hundred bucks buying it somewhere else. I like the option of having both and I tend to like higher magnification scopes.
 
I'm with Furhunter on this issue. I just don't need, or want, a variable scope with a lot of power range like 6.5.
I've shifted over to using all fixed power scopes on all of my hunting rifles, except for some target rifles, as well as some stationary varmint rifles too. A fixed power scope is just so much simpler to use as compared to a variable, of any power range. Some variable scopes change eye relief, and change light transmission as power goes up, as well as point of impact. Fixed powers are always the same. And, besides, how many people actually change power setting when, in the heat of the hunt, a game animal appears? Not many I'd guess. You set a variable at some intermediate power setting and leave it there. I decided to buy fixed power scopes at that intermediate power and forget all of the negatives associated with variables, like complexity and added weight. And, I buy the best glass available in those fixed power scopes.

Martyn
 
Something which needs to be considered...

The more lenses you put into the tube, the more potential for zero holding problems you will have in the future.

The simpler the scope is, the more reliable it will be.

The overwhelming majority of people use about DOUBLE the amount of magnification they actually need to make accurate shots. Often times, too much magnification will cause a missed opportunity, by either causing you problems in finding the critter in the high mag scope's reduced field of view, or by causing you to have trouble settling down steady on the target (the higher mag scopes magnify the often insignificant twitching you do, especially in unconventional field positions)...

...or when you "quickly" dial the scope to higher power after you find the animal in the crosshairs at a lower power, only to find that you've either fumbled and lost the sight picture, or you've given your target the opportunity to duck and/or run.

A good 3 to 9 variable will accomplish pretty much anything a man would have any real need of doing with a rifle. If you want to varmint or target shoot, go with a variable with a higher top end. Target and varmint rifles don't need low magnification settings.

If you think about it, a rifle which can truly use 2.5X on one end, and 16X on the other is probably non-existent. You'll either be trying to swing a 14 pound varmint rifle to make snap 20 yard shots on the low end, or you'll be trying for a hail mary at 600 yards with your soda straw barreled 2 MOA rifle on the high end.

I doubt these scopes will catch on... at least not with folks who know the capabilities and design limits of their rifles.

Dan
 
Thanks for the heads up!!! I have a .22-250 on the way that I plan to get blueprinted/accurized and turn it into the ultimate coyote calling gun. If those 6500's are as clear as the 4200's I have, then this gun will be getting a 6500 in 2.5 - 16 x 50!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
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Hi Guys,
Does the image get distorted or the edge to edge clarrity go out the window when the magnification range is so large.



Its hard to beleive it wont. I have an 800 dollar Bushnell elite spotting scope with the ED coated glass, with the variable eyepiece in it, it get fuzzy when maxed out.

Another thing to remember, try duct tape'n a 30x spotting scope to your rifles and see how steady you can hold them.

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If you think about it, a rifle which can truly use 2.5X on one end, and 16X on the other is probably non-existent. You'll either be trying to swing a 14 pound varmint rifle to make snap 20 yard shots on the low end, or you'll be trying for a hail mary at 600 yards with your soda straw barreled 2 MOA rifle on the high end.



Thats what I was saying Dan!
 
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"Another thing to remember, try duct tape'n a 30x spotting scope to your rifles and see how steady you can hold them."


I think I hold the rifle the same whether its a 6 power of a 20 The larger power only highlights my deficiencies.
 
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Its hard to beleive it wont. I have an 800 dollar Bushnell elite spotting scope with the ED coated glass, with the variable eyepiece in it, it get fuzzy when maxed out.


Furhunter thats the reason people should spend a little more for better optics. If you had a Swaro in that same set up when you maxed out the zoom it would not be blurry? As the old saying goes, "You get what you pay for."

The other thing that kills me about this place is most fellas just want a cheap scope and they think that everyone should be the same way? Then you have fellas that are the middle of the road spenders, same thing. Then you have have guys that like the best stuff... Its just, "different strokes for different folks."

I personally buy what I think are the best components for for the job, no matter the cost!

Kapac
 
I can get the 2-16x42 and the 2-16x50 right now. the 4-30x50 is not out yet.

2-16x42 $550

2-16x50 $600

I love the 3200 and 4200 scopes, the raingaurd works!!
 
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Its hard to beleive it wont. I have an 800 dollar Bushnell elite spotting scope with the ED coated glass, with the variable eyepiece in it, it get fuzzy when maxed out.


Furhunter thats the reason people should spend a little more for better optics. If you had a Swaro in that same set up when you maxed out the zoom it would not be blurry? As the old saying goes, "You get what you pay for."

The other thing that kills me about this place is most fellas just want a cheap scope and they think that everyone should be the same way? Then you have fellas that are the middle of the road spenders, same thing. Then you have have guys that like the best stuff... Its just, "different strokes for different folks."

I personally buy what I think are the best components for for the job, no matter the cost!

Kapac



Its hard to not loose resolution on anything on its highest setting, no matter what the cost. But we are also talking 60X on that scope too, anything uinder that is great, could be the variable eyepiece too. For spotting scopes under 1k I found it to be one of the best one's out there, they are nice. I was merely giving an example, I think you knew that. I am with you on the best tool for the job though, cost doesnt make a difference to me either.
 
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I can get the 2-16x42 and the 2-16x50 right now. the 4-30x50 is not out yet.

2-16x42 $550

2-16x50 $600

I love the 3200 and 4200 scopes, the raingaurd works!!



At those prices, you could add just alittle more and buy Zeiss /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 
The reason your high mag scopes get a bit blurry is atmospheric distortions. Even with the best glass, you're going to see blurry aberrations from mirage and such.

Even the Hubble telescope gets a bit blurry "way out there"... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Astronomy_Hubble_Telescope_Deep_Space.jpg
 
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