LETMGROW Posted January 3, 2010 Report Share Posted January 3, 2010 I got a new rifle for Christmas and am trying to decide what to put on it for a scope. I have pretty much decided on a Bushnell Elite 6500 2.5-16x42with multi X reticle. I'm wondering if anyone here has seen or used one and what your opinion might be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted January 3, 2010 Report Share Posted January 3, 2010 What rifle is it and what do you intend to use it for most?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted January 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2010 It's a Thompson Center ICON .308, camo stock, weathershield. I will use it mainly for deer hunting, although the caliber gives me a lot of versatility. Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted January 3, 2010 Report Share Posted January 3, 2010 Sounds like 2.5-16 should just about cover anything you might wanna do with a .308. I have not laid hands on a 6500 as yet. Should be a quality piece if it follows the 3200 and 4200. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted January 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2010 I'm really hoping so. My son [ Born2hunt] has done a lot of research on the net and nearly everyone rates this unit very highly. Some are even comparing it to the VX-7 which might be a stretch, but the VX-7 is 2.5 times the price. Anyone I have talked to who owns a 3200 or 4200 has a lot good to say about either. I don't know if the extra $ for the 6500 is worth it but this gun is really worth topping with a good scope. I do like the 30 mm tube for light gathering and some of the other features. Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted January 5, 2010 Report Share Posted January 5, 2010 The Bushnell Elite scopes are great IMO! I have two 3200's, one 3-10x40 and one 5-15x50. The clarity and light transition (especially the 50mm) they produce is awesome! I ALMOST traded the 5-15x50 on a 4200 4-16x40, if it would have been a 50mm bell on it I probably would have. The 6500s were a little out of my price range, I could see if I was going to shoot the rifle a ton, I could justify putting that kind of cash into a piece of really high quality glass. I think I'd go for the 4.5-30x50 though if I was going to get a 6500. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntinman802 Posted January 25, 2010 Report Share Posted January 25, 2010 i really like leupold scopes, i have them on all of my deer rifles except the .44. best quality and clearity i think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grady269 Posted January 25, 2010 Report Share Posted January 25, 2010 Bushnell vs Leupold I really like the Elite 3200 I have. Compared to a VX-II Leupold I would say that the 3200 has it beat on clarity and low-light by far. The Leupold is better for eye relief though. For the $$ I would buy the Elite over the VX-II everyday. VX-III is a different story, it wins hands down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted January 31, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2010 I bought the 6500 like I said I wanted and am not disapointed. Haven't sighted it in yet but have bore sighted it. Just waiting for warmer weather and the time to do it. I have taken it out at low light and am impressed with the light gathering capability. We'll see. Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted February 1, 2010 Report Share Posted February 1, 2010 Oh how I hate equipment discussions that do not include cost as a factor. Very few of us can use product evaluations that don't at least mention MSRP or some idea of a general price-tag that may come with selections. Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted February 1, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2010 Oh how I hate equipment discussions that do not include cost as a factor. Very few of us can use product evaluations that don't at least mention MSRP or some idea of a general price-tag that may come with selections. Doc Cost wasn't a factor as much as performance evaluation. Finding cost is really easy if you want to know. In this case the 6500 sells for $649 give or take, depending on magnification and objective size etc. Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted February 1, 2010 Report Share Posted February 1, 2010 Don't have any experience with the upper end bushnell scopes but do have a sportsman model on our black diamond and it has been a good scope for what it cost. Have had only one experience with bushnell's customer service and they would not honor the lifetime warranty on a product(upper end binos) who they acquired that company. Stinks to have a lifetime warrantied product that the company was bought out and the warranty is not worth the paper it was written on. That experience and the way their customer service folks treated me kind of turned me off of bushnell, otherwise I might consider one of their upper end scopes. Next scope purchase here will likely be a nikon or leupold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted February 1, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2010 I had a Bushnell scope which got dropped hard and the reticle came loose. I sent it to them and they replaced it at no charge and even refunded the cost of shipping to them. A couple years ago I returned a rangefinder to them which wasn't under warranty. They wrote me an estimate which I approved. They had the rangefinder back to me within a week as new. Total cost was just over $40 plus shipping. This was in accordance to the warranty terms, as the original warranty had expired. I was more than satisfied. Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted February 2, 2010 Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 Cost wasn't a factor as much as performance evaluation. Finding cost is really easy if you want to know. In this case the 6500 sells for $649 give or take, depending on magnification and objective size etc. Lynn I don't know about anybody else, but with me cost is ALWAYS a factor Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grady269 Posted February 2, 2010 Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 Cost I am in sales so I tell people all the time not to buy on price but of course that's BS! I think up to a point when you buy scopes you get what you pay for and all the rest is personal opinion. My opinion is: Bushnell Elite 3200 3-9x40 $199 is the best low end rifle scope out there Leupold 3-9x40 VXII $299 is a good scope that does not gathe rlight as well as the 3200 but comes to my eye better than the 3200 Leupold 3-9x40 VXIII for $489 is a fantastic scope and is the one I prefer on my hunting rifles. Zeiss 3-9x40 for $399 is the biggest piece of junk I have ever owned in my life and I would prefer to have a $59 4x Tasco. I am in the market for a high magnification rifle scope now and am not sure what I am going to buy. I am strongly considering an Elite 3200 5-15 for $389. I am pretty sure that is what I am going with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubleA Posted February 3, 2010 Report Share Posted February 3, 2010 Zeiss 3-9x40 for $399 is the biggest piece of junk I have ever owned in my life and I would prefer to have a $59 4x Tasco. Hey, I dont have a Tasco but I'll give you $60, nawh make it $75 for your junky 3x9 Zeiss. What kind of shape is it in, does it have ring marks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunterwebb Posted February 3, 2010 Report Share Posted February 3, 2010 my daddy always say you get what you pay for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunterwebb Posted February 3, 2010 Report Share Posted February 3, 2010 my daddy always say you get what you pay for leupold vx iii Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowana Posted February 3, 2010 Report Share Posted February 3, 2010 I have probably bought more rifle scopes than I will ever use. I have: 1 Leupold VariXII 7 Leupold VarIXIII's 3 Leupold LPS scopes 1 Bushnell 6500 1 Swarovski Z6 (my latest purchase) 1 Burris shotgun scope with L/Retical tasco's, weavers, simmons and redfields the simple conclusion is this: 1.Buy the best you can afford. 2. Spend the most on Binoculars....second rifle scope....third rifle (you can't shoot what you can't see) 3. If you are going to travel out west, use horses, or work this scope hard....buy a Leupold. They just work and thier customer service is second to none. Quick story: I hunted out in Montana and my scope stayed out in the snow/environment waaay....longer......than it should have. Leupold repaired same no questions asked......in 12 days. They are clear, they adjust well and work OK in low light conditions. WORTH EVERY PENNY. 3. If eastern whitetail hunting with a rifle or long range muzzleloader SERIOUSLY consider a Bushnell 6500. The low light capability is better than scopes costing twice as much. I don't know why.....but I can tell you that it has the same low light capability as my Leupold LPS 2.5x10. the 6500 was around $680 the LPS $1150. 4. If you want the best...buy a Swarovski. I shot a Mulie deer at over 380 yards (ask Dean Haun that runs Rocky Point Outfitters in Thompson Falls, MT) with a Weatherby 338-378 using my new Z6. It was like shooting fish in a barrel. The clarity and eye relief are to die for. Yea, I paid a mint for it.......but really worth it. But, like doc states.....the dollar factor does count. I love my Swarovski, but I have to give the ultimate nod to Leupold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted February 3, 2010 Report Share Posted February 3, 2010 My friend has the 3200 firefly and loves it. I do have a Legend that has been a great scope for the money ($200). I think the 6500 has a lot to prove to me before I would spend the extra money. Paying that much extra for more zoom range isnt enough to sell me on one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeritrase Posted February 6, 2010 Report Share Posted February 6, 2010 Opinion on scope choice Looks really good abadrs,how do you like the scope kit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunterbobb Posted February 8, 2010 Report Share Posted February 8, 2010 I too am a firm believer in you get what you pay for. However, you can take that too far. IMO there is no need to be placing a 2.5 X 16 on a .308. A 4 X 12 will make any shot you should be taking. This seems kind of like putting a 50 HP outboard on a 12 foot john boat. While the motor is great and will really move. Do you really need all that power. Once again just my opinion. The 6500 is a great scope. :gun2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted February 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 I too am a firm believer in you get what you pay for. However, you can take that too far. IMO there is no need to be placing a 2.5 X 16 on a .308. A 4 X 12 will make any shot you should be taking. This seems kind of like putting a 50 HP outboard on a 12 foot john boat. While the motor is great and will really move. Do you really need all that power. Once again just my opinion. The 6500 is a great scope. :gun2: The real reason I went for the 2.5 x 16 is that is what the 6500 came in with the 42 mm multi x retical. Besides with the accelerator bullets this can double as a good shooting varmint rifle. Do I really need 16 power? Probably not, but I don't have to turn it up that high if I don't want to. Too much sometimes isn't all that bad. Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunterbobb Posted February 9, 2010 Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 Fair enough. That makes sense. Thats the great thing about Rifles we can rig them out how WE want them. I'm glad your happy with your choice. :gun2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted February 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 Don't be too happy for me yet. I haven't shot this yet. Darn weather just won't cooperate. I have taken the gun out in the early AM and later PM and am impressed with the light gathering quality. It is really clear. I'll be sure to post the results when I do get to sight it in. Trust me, if I don't like it, I won't hold back. If I do, I'll be sure to tell you. One thing I neglected to mention though. This Icon was a gift from my better 1/2. I didn't want to put a cheap glass on it as she might not think I appreciated the thought. I have wanted an Icon for a while but just wouldn't spring for it on my own. The combo looks great as well. Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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