Leupold scope vs Bushnell Elite 3200??

redfeather

redfeather

Member
I was trying to decide on a new scope purchase next month. I was seeking feedback about the brightness/clarity between the Elite 3200 scope and Leupold scope. I am probably going to get something like a 4x12 or 5x15 power. Thanks in advance for your replys.
 
I think the optical quality of the Elite 3200's are a lot better than the Leupold VxII's, and about the same or a little better than the Leupold VxIII's. From my limited experience, mechanical reliability seems about the same. The only area where I like the Leupold's better is in size and weight. Which, often enough, is enough reason for me to end up with the Leupold.

- DAA
 
It's my opinion that the Bushnell/B&L 3200 series scopes are one of the best bargains available. They compare optically to the Leupold Vari-XII; however, they're a good deal cheaper. The Bushnell/B&L 4200 series scopes compare to the Leupold Vari-XIII line, but again, they're cheaper. As DAA stated, the Bushnell/B&L scopes are a bit heavier and longer than the comporable Leupold's, but not enough to really matter. I love Leupold's, but I only buy them used. Leupold is often praised for their warranty, but I believe Bushnell stands behind their products as well. I like the finger-tip adjustable turrets, and I've also been impressed with the rainguard coating on the Bushnell Elite's. As an added bonus, Bushnell is offering a "free" ($10.00 shipping) rain jacket with the purchase of their scopes with Rainguard between now and the end of the year. I just received a jacket last week, and I must say it's better quality than I really expected.

I own two 3200's ( a 3x9x40 on a Ruger 77/17 and a 5-15x40 on a Browning A-Bolt .300 Win Mag) and one 4200 (2.5-10x40 on a Remington BDL .17 Remington) all have performed flawlessly to this point, I highly recommend them.
 
Hey Buster, Is American Fork near Payson. I worked up at the boy scout camp up there one summer many moons ago. I loved it up there. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
You can not tell the difference in the optics until you get them side by side on 2 rifles.

The normal high power range is 200, 300, and 600 yards. At 200 they look about the same. At 300, 7mm bullet holes can be seen with the Bushnell, not with the Leupold. The click adjustments are very repeatable with the Bushnell. This is very important for long range shooting. Holding off does not work at 500-1500 yards.

I like the low power Leupolds. But in the higher powers, the Bushnell (B&L), I like better.

Jack
 
Thanks for the replys, and Jack I am going to buy the 5x15x50mm Bushnell Elite 3200 because I felt the clarity was better and these replys helped confirm it. Thanks again, and keep up the excellent work. I will email you from Iraq.
 
Crapshoot,

American Fork is about 30 miles or so North of Payson, just before going over the Point of the Mountain into Salt Lake City. I went to that scout camp (Maple Dell) as a kid, probably in 81' or 82'. We went there for summer camp as well as a winter camp (Klondike Derby). I'll never forget the summer camp because I got sprayed by a skunk. You brought back memories I hadn't thought of in a long time.
 
Don't make the mistake like myself and buy the Bushnell 3200. ordered it from Natchez, put it on my rifle tried to sight it in, would group about 8"group. Called Natchez, they said Bushnell would repair scope, remember brand new scope. Scope was returned from Bushnell repaired, problem corrected, along with a bill for $10 return shipping & ins. Brand new scope remember, I own 9 Leupolds, wish I had never seen this 3200 Bushnell. Never a problem with the Leupolds. Don't know what made me think i would get Leupold quality at a cheaper price. You get what you pay for & Bushnell can't hold the light for a Leupold. Thanks, Get a Leupold and never looook back!!!!! My 2 cents.
 
All I have to say is that I have Leupold scopes on all my centerfire rifles. I bought my first Leupold scope over 30 yrs. ago and still have it. Since then I`ve went through alot of scopes, but still have never gotten rid of any of the Leupold scopes I bought. I`m some where over 12 Leupold scopes now.
 
I have 3 B&L scopes, 6x24 4000 Elite, 36x 4200 Elite Target and a 3x9x32 3000 Elite. The 4000 has spent time on coyotes and PD's in extremely dusty/dirty conditions, the 4200 is fairly new and the 3000 is on my favorite coyote rifle. These scopes have preformed each and every time without fail. Also I blieve that some of the cheap hype is or used to be largely myth. My big scopes were within $50 of a comperable Leupold and at the prices that we ae talking about $50 means nothing. I have fought this fight before btu I will keep on fighting it. The B&L/Bushnell scope is in my opinion far superior to a similar Leupold. Now as far as warrantee is concerned I cannot comment other that that I have never sent any of my B&L/Bushnell's back for any reason, but a lare percentage of Leupold owners that I know have sent at least one of their scopes back for repair/adjustment. To be fair I have also e-mail talked to a fellow PM member about warrentee problems with one of Bushnells 3200 varmint scopes.
 
There is a lot of truth to the "saying" (for lack of a better term) that Leupold has a great repair facility, because it is well used. Bushnell's repair department is not as refined, because, it is not used often.

Talking to the shooters at the big benchrest matches: On average, it takes 3 trips through Leupolds repair shop to get a good BR scope. True, the BR guys are real particular.

When I have put a couple thousand into building a rifle, the price of the scope is not a factor. The optics and click repeatability are the deciding factors. In my experience, and it is limited, the Bushnell is the hands down winner.

FWIW

Jack
 
I have several Bausch & Lomb products and they of excellent quality however I and my hunting partners have had to send a few of the Leupold products back for repair.Mine was a pair of 10X40 binoculars which fell of a rock bluff and broke the lens the second was a pair of 9X25's that were run over by a full sized chevy blazer the third was a pair of 9X25's that were scorched when they were dropped into a camp fire the fourth was a 2X20 pistol scope that also dropped and on hard rocks smashing the turret and objective lens all were returned at no charge post paid and they even through in a new leather binocular case for free that I had requested.You only pay once for their products and thats an easy decision to make.
 
I hear you Jack. I've got a Leupold 6.5x20 that has been back THREE times now for clicks that are erratic and not responsive. It's still not right. So I've finally just given up on it.

Also, both of the times I've sent Leupold damaged scopes for repair, they have charged me to fix them. One was a bent tube, the other a chipped objective lens. The damage in both cases was my fault and the charges were reasonable, so no complaint. But the notion that Leupold will just fix everything for free, is false. They don't. Not for me anyway.

- DAA
 
I got the Bushnell Elite 3200 5x15x50mm scope in, and it is (to my eye) brighter than my Leupold 6.5x20x40mm VXIII which cost twice as much money. I am going to mount it on my 17 VSS and shoot it, but they sure are bright for the money. Just my .02 worth. I do have several Leupolds, too.
 
Now I know why they can put that"GOLD" ring on them, its our repair monies...l.o.l.
I too have had to send my Benchrest scope back and the third time I just went out and bought a B&L like many of my competitors did. Also just try to get answers from Leuplod about their stuff and youll see they are no different than the others...most are slow to respond to customers problems and requests(LIKE what is a varmint scope without 1/8 moa adj?)

To each his own but there are better scopes out there than just Leuplod.You might want to look at the Sightron too.
 
I just purchased a Bushnell Elite 3200 after comparing it with the Leupold VX I amd VX II. The Leupold has fewer features for the same money and is not as clear. Heck, the VX I doesn't even have click adjustable windage and elevation adjustments! Further, you don't get lens covers either. I'm not knocking the Leupold, but they sure charge a lot more money to get the equivalent features that other scopes offer as "standard" features. MI VHNTR
 
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