Rifle Scopes Any reviews on the Bushnell Elite 2.5-16X42?

[BIPMaster]

I used the search function and did some google searches, but reviews seem to be kinda scarce (or my search-fu is fuggly.) Anyway, I have a 24" .223 build in mind. This would be for bench shooting and possibly praire dogs. I have been looking for scopes for this rifle, and the three I have narrowed it down to are as follows:
Burris XTR 4-16X50
Vortex Viper PST 4-16X50
Bushnell Elite 2.5-16X42
The PST and the XTR are both illuminated, and the bushnell is not. The Bushnell has a bigger magnification range. The Burris and Bushnell are both SFP and mil/moa, while the Vortex is FFP and mil/mil (or moa/moa.) I like a standard mil-dot, but that is not a sticking point.
Price-wise I can get the best deal on the Burris since I have some .mil discount coupons. I do not want to go above the price of the Vortex, which is around $850.
Anybody have any opinions or reviews on which of these three scopes offer the best value?

 

[LoneWolfUSMC]

Re: Any reviews on the Bushnell Elite 2.5-16X42?

I would suggest taking a look at the Bushnell Elite Tactical 6-24x50. It is offered in Mil/Mil and now available with the G2 reticle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCUZmH8n8g0&hd=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGBYzbnSYGE&hd=1

The standard mildot version is illuminated. The G2 is not. I kicked the snot out of one and it's good to go. Tracks true and correct.

You may also want to look at the Weaver Tactical 3-15x50 and Bushnell HDMR.

My initial impressions of those two are good, but I have not been able to run a tracking test on them yet.

 

[BIPMaster]

Re: Any reviews on the Bushnell Elite 2.5-16X42?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: LoneWolfUSMC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would suggest taking a look at the Bushnell Elite Tactical 6-24x50. It is offered in Mil/Mil and now available with the G2 reticle.

The standard mildot version is illuminated. The G2 is not. I kicked the snot out of one and it's good to go. Tracks true and correct. </div></div>

Thanks, I was hoping you would post in this thread. I looked at your website to see if you had any reviews on the Bushnell, but that was a no-go. I really like the magnification range on the 2.5-16, and I really was curious how the glass performed at the higher ranges. I have heard that on the 4.5-30 version it gets fuzzy above around 22X, and I was wondering if the same was true with the other model. The 6-24 does look appealing though.

 

[Ackley Improved]

Re: Any reviews on the Bushnell Elite 2.5-16X42?

Mate

I have this scope on my Air rifle. It is ok, on the lower end of magnification it becomes a little distorted with fisheye lens look but fine on higher end.

It works great, turrets are nice, reticle is good, return to zero is perfect. I got this due to it being able to focus down to 10yds, but on the higher magnification the parallax is critical (well to 100m). You could nearly use it as rangefinding it is that critical. I have not used it further than 120m though.. cause its on a air rifle....

50 meter zero, 14.5moa to 100m. Good watching slug go through air. Furthest kill 94m.

Cheers

 

[LoneWolfUSMC]

Re: Any reviews on the Bushnell Elite 2.5-16X42?

Most intermediate level scopes will be clearer at low magnification than they will at high magnification. As you go up in the price range clearer glass is one of the benefits.

However the Bushnell Elite Tactical and 4200 scopes are acceptable at 24x. The HDMR is extremely clear at 21x

 

[BIPMaster]

Re: Any reviews on the Bushnell Elite 2.5-16X42?

I guess one other thought would be to just watch the WTS threads and see if I can get another SSHD 5-20 on the cheap. Really on this scope I want to stay in the intermediate range since I doubt I will ever use this rifle in a competition, so the bells and whistles of a NF or USO are simply not needed.

 

[Downzero]

Re: Any reviews on the Bushnell Elite 2.5-16X42?

I have the 6-24x50 mentioned above, but I suspect that the 2.5-16 provides a much more useful magnification range and if the Elite 6500 was offered FFP and mil/mil, I would seriously consider switching.

 

[Pappasniper]

Re: Any reviews on the Bushnell Elite 2.5-16X42?

I have the Bushnell in a pure hunting scope. Very nice.

 

[Chambo32]

Re: Any reviews on the Bushnell Elite 2.5-16X42?

I have the 2.5-16 tactical and it is a great scope very clear at full zoom. Tracks nice and good eyerelief. The paralax down to 10 yrds is cool. The milot reticle is fine and works well yet is think enough for low light hunting. I have it on my 10/22, but kind of want to put it on my predator pursuit and move my new SIII 6x24 to my 10/22. The 6500 has 90 MOA evaluation which is really nice. Website says 120 but is wrong.

you can get one used for under 500 and is a lot cheaper then a viper.

I just got a SIII 6x24x50 with MOA 2 reticle and it is clearer and better contrast than the 6500 2.5x16. The clicks on the 6500 are softer then the SIII but I like the knobs better then the SIII