People may laugh on this thread, but... I have had excellent luck with the Cheap Bushnell Banner "Dusk and Dawn" 4-12x40 AO scope on my .308. It has been all hauled over the place, up tree stands and through brush, in and out of the truck and always held zero without issue. Light transmission is good but I am sure not as good as The 3200 or 4200 or the leupold's. But hell it was $114.95 and the deer is in the freezer and the target paper looks very nice.... so laugh if you like but $300 buy a lot of ammo.
$200-400 budget, what scope should I get?
- Thread starter Beer_drinker
- Start date
I used the change for ammo to confirm suspected scope failures, after swapping scopes. I also got to spend the change on return postage, return fees and return fuel back to the range to use more of the "free" ammo to sight in again. Once all the "savings" are added up on multiple scopes I could have bought Zeiss and came out ahead.Oh well, you live and learn.
Not sure about the higher end scopes, but the Leupold warranty kicks the crap out of the "on again, off again" Bushnell service. Some like Bushnell, the rest of us hate it. You'll be hard pressed to find any #####ing about Leupold service.
Quite a few $200 - $400 Bushnell rifle scopes are made in CHINA now days, I tried a few at local gun shop, didn't feel too good, Leupold is much better with their mid-high end scopes but more pricey. For myself, I picked up a Browning 3-9x50 (Excellent eye relief and it was made in Japan in the same MFG who made scopes for Bushnell before), since Browning discontiuned their scope line, you should able to find one on Ebay or local gun shops with 20-30% off.
You decide. I sent a scope back for repair in October, it's been gone 3 months and 2 weeks. This scope was new in box and came to me with a faulty turret. They tell me 2 weeks ago that they're going to replace it and a replacement is ordered. Meanwhile....I still wait.
Contrast that to Leupold warranty that's the best in the business, and your extra few dollars spent will be will worth it. I've sent several bushnells in for warranty over the last few years with much the same story but I've yet to sent a Leupold back.
Leupolds are light and compact, yet very tough, Bushnells are cumbersome and heavy (relatively speaking) Save yourself a headache and do it right.
were these elites you sent back? I sent a 3200 3-9x40mm back due to not holding zero and the following week I got a brand new one and a gift certificate/mail in rebate for $50 off any bushnell products so I bought a 3200 5-15x50mm with it........
If you can swing it go with the VX111 and never look back. You do know that a Vari-X 111 and a VX111 aren't the same thing right? A VX11 is so close to the older Vari-X 111 that it's tempting to call them the same thing if you want to shave a few bucks.
Bushnell warranty is that bad.
Two were 4200s, a couple were cheaper Banners iirc, and the present scope was a Banner 17hmr rimfire. The waiting just about drives me up the wall. This will be the first replacement, if it ever reaches me, and I've never received a gift certificate.
This forum is full of Bushnell horror stories, and I've read most of them. Just thought I'd add my 2 cents since I'm waiting for a repair right now.
hummm well every product will have its down fall and I agree you don't see many my Leupold sucks threads weather it's because they don't break or the owners just don't post about it who knows.......
I think the average wait time on warranty is 6 months from Bushnell. Sure they have a lifetime warranty, but you spend half your lifetime waiting for it.
If they only made a solid, quality product, they wouldn't have to take so long fixing stuff. I'm sure its all the low end junk that takes up their time, where Leupold doesn't offer the $50-$200 stuff...
If they only made a solid, quality product, they wouldn't have to take so long fixing stuff. I'm sure its all the low end junk that takes up their time, where Leupold doesn't offer the $50-$200 stuff...
Why would the Leupold owners be less likely to report failures than anyone else? In my experience the more expensive something is, the more pissed-off the owners are if it fails.
There is a perverse side of human nature that forces some people to put their mouth where their money went, but there is no reason to think that it applies more to Leupold owners than, well, those other guys.
or more forum members buy bushnell so the chances of a few bad incidents showing up are increased...
either way, id still like to pick up a leopold, that gold ring is enticing
anyone know of an online leopold supplier that lists prices?
Or find one of the few dealers that don't bend you right over, and buy from them.
