Who owns a Bushnell 6500 4.5-30?

KDX

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
97   0   1
I'm thinking of buying one of these scopes although at one time I swore I would never buy a Bushnell product again. It would be going on a varmint rifle that I also shoot paper with so I would like the high magnification.
 
I have one on a bench gun and it is an excellent scope for that purpose, mine is one of the early ones without marked turrets for easier repeat settings. The new ones have that and DOA, they are good value.
 
I looked through one when I bought my 6500 2.5 16, the 30X was a bit extreme for me, not too extreme, just more than I wanted at that time.
I remember being in the parking lot of a gun shop holding that thing, cranked it up to 30X and tried to look through it, with no rifle connected to it I couldn't hold it still.
If I were doing longer range coyote popping I would have went with the 30X, but my rifle isn't set up for that. The 16X is plenty for 275 yard squirrels, coyotes significantly longer.
I love that series of scopes, I obviously recomend it.
 
KDX I also swore never to spend 1 dime on a bushnel again. But... I got a second hand 4.5x30. It's a pretty good optic, I think so far. Clear, repeateable. I have some issue with eye relief @ 30x, but have a similar prob. with nightforce and leupolds at high power.
Have mine on a 6.5x47 and shot out to 600 with good results. Well under moa. Weather is so crappy here can't get to the 1000 yet.
With the $ being near par the nightforce scopes are looking better, the 8-42?? was approx. $1350 at an online place last week. My opinion only, Mark
 
I have one ( I'm putting my bias on the table up front when I say I am a fan of the Elite series from Bushnell ) and like it - good glass + repeatable mechanicals. I also have the 4200 6x24x50(T) which is quite frankly just as good optically ( albeit with 24x vs. 30x magnification ) but has less internal adjustment.

Oddly perhaps, my only real criticism of the 6500 4.5x30x50(T) is that the markings are in a light green colour which, given my age and eyesight, means I fish around for my reading glasses every time I have to make any adjustment but, of course, YMMV.

Overall, a good scope for the money - I paid something like $1100 - and well worth considering.
 
I had the 4.5-30x50mm version and sold it, swapping it for the Sightron SIII 6-24x50mm. I'd say for the small price difference the Sightron is clearer, lighter and better than the Bushnell.
 
KDX I also swore never to spend 1 dime on a bushnel again. But... I got a second hand 4.5x30. It's a pretty good optic, I think so far. Clear, repeateable. I have some issue with eye relief @ 30x, but have a similar prob. with nightforce and leupolds at high power.
Have mine on a 6.5x47 and shot out to 600 with good results. Well under moa. Weather is so crappy here can't get to the 1000 yet.
With the $ being near par the nightforce scopes are looking better, the 8-42?? was approx. $1350 at an online place last week. My opinion only, Mark

I can understand having an issue with the Leupold eye relief being that it varies upon magnification. The nightforce scopes are fixed however are they not!?:confused:
 
I'm thinking of buying one of these scopes although at one time I swore I would never buy a Bushnell product again. It would be going on a varmint rifle that I also shoot paper with so I would like the high magnification.

Be sure that there is enough internal elevation.

Specs for Elite 6500 4.5-30 x 50mm, Matte [654305T]
Adj Range in@100yds/ mm@100m 50 / 1.3


Specs for Elite 6500 2.5-16x 42mm, Matte [652164T]
Adj Range in@100yds/ mm@100m 78 / 1.9


Is 50 enough?
 
Well I have one on my Savage .22-250 I paid $899+tax for it. The scope is great although above 25x it starts to blur slightly. I think for $899-$949 its a good scope for the money. Most 24-30x scopes of any decent quality are over $1000 so its in no way over priced. If your going to be using it past 600yds a lot and have it on 30x often then I would look at a different scope.

I don't know if the Sightron 30x or < scopes Mysticplayer is carrying have a better quality sight picture up on high but it might be worth sending him a PM to inquire if 30x is a must for you.

Me personaly I have no need for 30x the longest distance I can shoot on my property is 600yds and 20-25x is more then enough magnification for that distance.
 
I have a 6500 4.5-30x50 I like it a lot, but wish had of waited a few month and got the same scope but with tactical turrets.

If someone plans to shoot at long distance eg. 1000 yds you'll need a 20moe base for it, not enough up elevation on it.



JonnyBender
 
You couldn't give me one .A buddy has one on a CZ .308 Sniper and that SOB has wandering zero continually.The scope was exchanged and same problem.As well anything over 20X looks like looking through a dirty bar glass.Get a Leupold........................Harold
 
You couldn't give me one .A buddy has one on a CZ .308 Sniper and that SOB has wandering zero continually.The scope was exchanged and same problem.As well anything over 20X looks like looking through a dirty bar glass.Get a Leupold........................Harold

I had the opposite results, the Leupold had an awful brown tint, and eye relief that required a more effort than I was willing to give.
There is no Leupold that offers the same options as the 6500 series.
Besides, since when did the "I have a friend who (cousin, buddy, aunt, guy at work).." story ever hold water?
 
You couldn't give me one .A buddy has one on a CZ .308 Sniper and that SOB has wandering zero continually.The scope was exchanged and same problem.As well anything over 20X looks like looking through a dirty bar glass.Get a Leupold........................Harold

Sounds more like an issue with rings/bases or rifle possibly the bedding then a 6500.....The odds of a 6500 not holding up to a .308 is slim. Sure it could be a defect but the possibility of two 6500's having the exact same issue is suspect of a larger issue.....I know a guy who has one on a .50bmg shoots over 1000m easy adjustments are repeatable and the zero is always bang on......Same with my 6500 further more 20x on my scope is clear as day but eye relief does get difficult it does get a bit blurred around 25x and up.....Show me a $900 leupold that even comes close to the features of the 6500 and I will buy one you can hardly get a VX3 3-9x40mm for that and a Leupold VX3 8.5-25x50mm is $1500.
 
I had the opposite results, the Leupold had an awful brown tint, and eye relief that required a more effort than I was willing to give.
There is no Leupold that offers the same options as the 6500 series.
Besides, since when did the "I have a friend who (cousin, buddy, aunt, guy at work).." story ever hold water?

:agree: 100% have owned Leupolds (they are good, but) I now own 5, 4200s and a 6500 I Like my Bushnels :)
Pete.....
 
I have an Elite 6500 4.3-30x50 on my 300WSM and a Leupold 3.5-10x40 on my .223
Love both scopes, don't feel one is better than the other, excellent results from both. I would buy an Elite again without hesitation.

Don
 
Back
Top Bottom