Bushnell new and old?
- Thread starter hawk-i
- Start date
I don't know but I'll tell you this for nothing:
I dropped a really nice set of mid 1970s Japanese-made Bushnell Ensign 7x35 binos on a rock and knocked them out of collimation.
Sent them in for repair and they replaced them with a made in China set.
I'd say they are about 1/2 the quality of the Japanese-made ones.
I dropped a really nice set of mid 1970s Japanese-made Bushnell Ensign 7x35 binos on a rock and knocked them out of collimation.
Sent them in for repair and they replaced them with a made in China set.
I'd say they are about 1/2 the quality of the Japanese-made ones.
I believe the difference between the two is the newer gen 2 rainguard hd coatings and ultrawide band coating. I have both the older 4200 and new Elite tactical. Clarity is about the same. Lowlight performance is about the same. 4200s had very good glass for the money.
I tend to find that my older Bushnell elites made in Japan seem to be slightly better quality and hold zero better than the newer ones made in China and maybe also the Korean ones.
I never have had a issue with a Japanese made one but did have a problem with a Chinese made one that would go slightly out of zero often, I would have to adjust it back to zero regularly after a extended range session on a .308 M305, never had that happen with a Japanese made one.
Same deal with the older Bushnell banners, I still have a couple of old Japanese made ones including a 25+ year old one with very good glass and clarity on a .30-06 beater hunting rifle that has never lost zero and have never let me down. Can't say that for some of the newer Chinese made ones that I have owned that seem to only last 5 years max before giving me issues.
I never have had a issue with a Japanese made one but did have a problem with a Chinese made one that would go slightly out of zero often, I would have to adjust it back to zero regularly after a extended range session on a .308 M305, never had that happen with a Japanese made one.
Same deal with the older Bushnell banners, I still have a couple of old Japanese made ones including a 25+ year old one with very good glass and clarity on a .30-06 beater hunting rifle that has never lost zero and have never let me down. Can't say that for some of the newer Chinese made ones that I have owned that seem to only last 5 years max before giving me issues.
For a true elite, get the made in japan elites. Anything that is "limited edition" or for binoculars the E2 series, is not true elites and are made in china. All elites I have including 3200/4200s, elite tactical and 6500s are made in japan. I have an older scopechief which is also made in japan which is very clear for its age and has never let me down.
