Nikon or Bushnell?


Shaun_300

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My cheap bushnell banner on my .300 WSM took a dump, the magnification adjustment won't move anymore. So I took the 3-10x40 Bushnell Elite 3200 and put it on the WSM from the .25-06 since I wanted a bit more magnification for the .25-06 anyway. I was planning on getting an Elite 3200 4-12x40 for it, then I seen the ad for the Nikon Prostaff 4-12x40 on the forum page. Checked eBay and the Nikon is $80-$100 cheaper than the Elite 3200. I've never had a Nikon, always heard good things about them though. I also have a Elite 3200 5-15x50 on my .220 Swift that I love, super clear scope, same with the 3-10x40.

Just wondering what you guys think..... :gunsmilie:

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I've got a Bushnell Elite 3200 3-9x40mm on one 30-06 and a Nikon Prostaff 3-9x40mm on another 30-06. Honestly, I can't tell any difference between the two. My Nikon is pretty bright and seems to hold it's zero well. The Nikon Buckmaster series is a step above the Prostaff series scope and price wise closer to the Elite 3200 series. As I said though between my two scopes I can't see any difference. I'm happy with my Prostaff scope and don't know if I'd pick one over the other.

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The new scope is going to be for the .25-06. The 3-10x40 Elite is going on the .300 WSM. (it was on the .25-06) I put the 3-10 on the .300 because I usually use it more short range situations. So I wanted a higher power scope for the .25-06 because I'll be using it in an open field where 300 yard shots are not out of the question. I've been looking more and came across the Nikon Buckmasters 4.5-14x40 with the side parralax adjustment. This might be the one I end up with. :)

The recoil isn't too bad from the .300 WSM, definitely not as stout as the recoil from the .300 Win Mag. :D

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  Shaun_300 said:
.... I've been looking more and came across the Nikon Buckmasters 4.5-14x40 with the side parralax adjustment. This might be the one I end up with. .....

I've got a Buckmaster 6-18x40 with side parrallax adjustment and target turrets on my .223 varmint rifle. I like it. I think you'll like that scope you mentioned.

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I know a lot of folks who love the 3200 Bushnells. I know that the glass in the high-end Nikons is on par with the $1000+ european stuff. I have not looked through the entry level Nikons enough to form an opinion. I'd suggest going somewhere (preferrably at last light) where you can put them side by side out the front door and compare brightness and clarity.

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  Strut10 said:
I know a lot of folks who love the 3200 Bushnells. I know that the glass in the high-end Nikons is on par with the $1000+ european stuff. I have not looked through the entry level Nikons enough to form an opinion. I'd suggest going somewhere (preferrably at last light) where you can put them side by side out the front door and compare brightness and clarity.

Cannot speak for the prostaff line, but got to agree with Don here. The buckmasters line from nikon are pretty darned bright and clear. In 3-9x40 the buckmaster on the wifes savage is every bit as bright and a bit sharper than the burris on my AR.

Only issues I have heard of with the nikon's may be sensitivity to heavy jarring and potential zero hold issues, I have not experienced that with any of the rifles we have scoped with nikons though. Matter of fact my .270 topped with a monarch made the trip to Alaska and back, gun got lost on the return trip home and the case it was in got busted up pretty good. Scope was still perfect that fall, made no adjustments to it and killed a bobcat at over 175 yards with it.

Bushnell in my opinion has some issues of concern to me. They bought and own tasco few years back, tasco left their customers with lifetime warranty products basically out of luck and bushnell did not honor those warranties, says something to me about the company when they take on another brand but refuse to honor warranties for customers who own those products.

Guess I am still a bit sour over the tasco exp binos the wife bought me that bushnell still distributes/sells under another label, but will not honor the tasco lifetime warranty. Those binos were around $250 when the wife bought them, not what I expected of tasco. Last I checked another company sells those exact binos under their own label for over $300, however bushnell service reps and that company both deny it. Shame is the only problem with them is the eyecups won't stay open(manufacturer flaw), they are just as bright and clear as my monarchs.

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  Strut10 said:
I know a lot of folks who love the 3200 Bushnells. I know that the glass in the high-end Nikons is on par with the $1000+ european stuff. I have not looked through the entry level Nikons enough to form an opinion. I'd suggest going somewhere (preferrably at last light) where you can put them side by side out the front door and compare brightness and clarity.

This is good advice. The pro-staff is Nikons entry level scope. However being a Nikon it is sure to have good glass. I have a couple of them and am happy with them all. The Bushnell Elite is one of their high end scopes so the glass on that should be good as well. Best thing to do is as suggested above, good somewhere and look at them both side by side.

:gun2:

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