Bausch& Lomb Scopechief

[Turkeyslayer 1300]

What did these sell for new and what is the equivalent scope today.

 

[AP]

Scopechief's were produced for many years in a variety of models etc.
Hard to say... figure on $169-$269 new.. that was the price point in Canadian dollars they were targeted at...
today probably the Bushnell 3200 would be close ..probably a little better than the Scopechief's

 

[buckbrush]

There are newly manufactured Scopechiefs on Ebay. They are probably made in China, and are way under $100.00

 

['Boo]

What did these sell for new and what is the equivalent scope today.

They were the top of the line scope for Bushnell until the introduction of the Elite 3000 scopes. They are quite good scopes and in a catalogue I have from 1988 they had a list price only 10% less than a Leupold Vari X 2 ($270 for the Scopechief 3-9x40 and $300.00 for the 3-9x40 Vari X 2)

Today on eBay they sell for between $75.00 and $125.00 used in good condition.

 

[Wrong Way]

I just pulled a cool little ScopeChief VI off a rifle I sold (guy wanted to put on a tasco ) Anyway, its a 3-9X40 with a BDC (bullet drop compensator) built into the elevation turret. Anyway, it is extremely bright and clear....as bright and clear as my 2.5-10 4200, and almost a good as my VX III's. I am impressed as hell with these old scopes! If you can find an VI for 150, I think thats the best bargain going for a decent scope.

 

[AP]

Hope I didn't imply they weren't any good in my original message - I also have a 1.5-5 Variable Scopechief IV on a 35 Whelan pump... very clear, bright, big field of view and holds zero as good as any scope.

 

[prosper]

There were a bunch of different scopechiefs, varying in quality. The best were the B&L made in japan ones, and then the Bushnell VI's and IV's.

 

[Wrong Way]

There were a bunch of different scopechiefs, varying in quality. The best were the B&L made in japan ones, and then the Bushnell VI's and IV's.

Ummm...how do you explain the VI I was talking about earlier...it's a VI, marked bushnell on the turret, marked BL on the tube and is made in japan

 

[dan belisle]

Bushnell bought out B&L, took over manufacture, but kept the name. They supplied some Bushnell parts, and , at that time, all the Bushnells were made in Japan as well. - dan

 

[prosper]

For a while after the acquisition, the bushnell scopes were just rebadged stock left over from B&L. So the tube is stamped with a B&L logo, but Bushnell on the turret

 

[xcr800]

I've got two B&L scopechiefs.One is a 2-7 on my ruger 44 carbine and the other is a 3-9 on my 325 wsm.Glass is excellent,imho better than the 3200,and so far holding a zero.I would buy another in an instant.

 

[cosmic]

I've had several over the years... One shortcoming I've found - a relatively high percentage show parralax error at 100 y (ie 6 in plus) Who knows - perhaps they were purposely set that way.

 

[Fassteel]

Bushnell and B&L

Dan, Bushnell was originally owned by Dave Bushnell and he sold out to Bausch & Lomb. B & L then ran Bushnell for a number of years then sold it off to a group of investors in the USA. The original Bushnell head office was in Vancouver and the Rep group that handled the line for western Canada was run by a fellow named Ted Goodson in the 50's, 60's 70's. Bushnell Canada opened an office in Toronto in the late 70's.
Bushnell has never had its own manufacturing facilities, and to this day still does business as a contract manufacturer with suppliers from many places in Asia.
The B&L names on Balvar which was the top of the line until the 3000 and 4000 series were introduced, after which Bushnell paid a royalty to B&L to use the name on all of the high end line up including binos and spotting scopes.
When that agreement expired Bushnell stayed with the Elite brand name on their high end products. FS