Rifle Scopes Bushnell Elite Tactical 4.5-30x, 50mm Mildot

[30Hart]

Ok guys,

I pulled the trigger today on a Bushnell Elite Tactical 4.5-30x, 50mm Mildot brand new from OpticsPlanet for $739 after military discount. This is the cheapest I have ever seen these scopes. Cheap enough that I'd at least put it next to my 6.5-20 Leupold Mark 4 and my Zeiss Conquest 6.5-20 to see how it compares. I was really wanting a scope for my 6.5 X47 that had more than 20x on the top end and I really like its low end too. I've reviewed a couple of independent tests on the net that were positive and with the 1 year return for a full refund and the lifetime original owner warranty I figure its a safe bet. Will use it for long-range antelope and paper to 1300 yards or so.

I looking for any feedback you guys have on it both good and bad. I figure at that price it would be hard to beat with the other mid range scopes out there. 90 MOA elevation, decent glass, good internals, and an excellent warranty...lets hear it! Did I do good?

 

[jasin1890]

let me know how it does i have been looking at them

 

[30Hart]

Will do, I plan on doing a chart test in daylight and dusk with it...I'll post results here.

 

[scudzuki]

They don't have the glass to pull off 30x very well.
Other than that well built scopes for the money.

Joe

 

[30Hart]

That's the one thing I'm worried about.

 

[BgBmBoo]

I own two of the 6500 Elite Tactical's. They are the 2.5-16X and I REALLY like these scopes. I was building a "budget" 1000 yard rifle a couple of years ago and bought the 4.5-30X. I was very dissapointed with it. It was nothing like the 2.5-16's.

At 300 yards I could not make out .30 bullet holes in my targets where my 5-22X Nightforce could. Anything over 20X was pretty much useless for my use.

I ended up selling it at a loss. I do not mean to rain on your day, but my experience was not the only one. A gent in our club had one and had the same issue.

Maybe for your use it will workout?


Take care,Stan

 

[30Hart]

Thanks for the honesty.

 

[tipper]

These scopes have been around for awhile, got my 4.5-30 in 09 still like it. At max the side-focus is a little touchy, it been on alot of rifles 22-250,6BR,308,260 and i still like it

 

[BobD]

. I was interested in the 4.5-30 as well for such a large mag range. I liked the idea of having the lower bottom with great FOV on a higher power scope. After some searching and debate I now own the 2.5-16x elite tactical. It's a great scope for the money with a crisp useful mag range. For the 30x... I decided to to pick up a Sightron SIII 8-32x56 with the LRMOA-2 reticle. It's slightly more than the Bushnell but had better reticle choices, matching turrets and a top end that's still very clear. I had to forgo the extra 4x mag on the bottom, but I'm very happy with it.

There's a lot of mixed feelings out there regarding this model. If it doesn't live up to your expectations I would strongly recommend the SIII, it's still very affordable ($800+)

Again, good luck. Hope it serves you well-

 

[30Hart]

Thanks guys!

 

[ArmyJerry]

Had the same issue at 30x sent it back for a 6-25, very happy now.

 

[ollie]

I had 2 of these scopes and must say tey were very nice. The clearity started to want around 24x. It tracked and repeated well.

 

[pudge243]

I'm a believer in bushnells! I don't know about the elite tacticals but the HDMRs are really good....... I am very pleased

 

[Cobracutter]

Why do you ask for verification, AFTER you bought it?
Wouldn't that be due dillegence durring your research?
Are you looking for an atta-boy or just bumping post counts?

 

[scudzuki]

Bushy ETs have the bulletproof warranty.
If you don't like it, Bushnell will refund your purchase price for up to one year after you buy it.

I have the ET 6-24x50 FFP G2DMR and I really like it; at 24x it is not the brightest scope around (which is why I wrote above that it would not be very good at 30x) but is useable in most conditions, and at 20x it is very good.

I will never get rid of this scope.

Joe

 

[springer01]

Bushy ETs have the bulletproof warranty.
If you don't like it, Bushnell will refund your purchase price for up to one year after you buy it.

I have the ET 6-24x50 FFP G2DMR and I really like it; at 24x it is not the brightest scope around (which is why I wrote above that it would not be very good at 30x) but is useable in most conditions, and at 20x it is very good.

I will never get rid of this scope.

Joe

So you don't think your XRS 4.5-30x50 is clear at 30x ?

 

[scudzuki]

I don't have the original $799 XRS the OP posted about, I have the new $2000+ XRS which is a gen II DMR with greater magnification.

2 different scopes.

Bushnell still sells both models.

My XRS is good at 30x.

Joe

 

[springer01]

I don't have the original $799 XRS the OP posted about, I have the new $2000+ XRS which is a gen II DMR with greater magnification.

2 different scopes.

Bushnell still sells both models.

My XRS is good at 30x.

Joe

I gotcha, I knew you had the new XRS. I have been following your post and asked a couple of questions to you. I just saw that you said "They don't have the glass to pull off 30x very well. Other than that well built scopes for the money." I just assumed you meant Bushnell in general, I have a new XRS ET45305GZ coming so I wanted to be sure what you were talking about.

Thanks
Tanner

 

[scudzuki]

I recognized your avatar from some of the other threads on the new XRS and realized you were probably all worried about the scope you were waiting on...

Don't worry, you're gonna be happy with your XRS.

Joe

 

[30Hart]

Called on status of the scope and found out the lady I talked to canceled it. She even charged the card instead of authorizing it. Guess it wasn't meant to be. I really wanted to check it out but was worried about the top end. I ordered a Zeiss instead.

 

[scudzuki]

Probably for the best.
I think you would have been disappointed with the glass at top magnification, regardless of how good the price was.

Which Zeiss did you settle on?

Joe

 

[30Hart]

I'm going to give the new Conquest HD5 5x-25x, 50mm w/ the lockable ballistic turrets a try, especially since this gun will be used mostly for long range antelope hunting. I've owned a few Conquests and Divari's before and I've had good luck with them. Plus the price was right for me on it with the military discount.

 

[jasin1890]

Probably for the best.
I think you would have been disappointed with the glass at top magnification, regardless of how good the price was.

Which Zeiss did you settle on?

Joe

Thats really disappointing I have been looking at them trying to decide what I like, and I had just about settled on the Bushnell Tactical Elite 4.5-30X50 I like the low end of 4.5 but I want the high end of 25-30 what do you think is the best for less than 1K

 

[scudzuki]

If you are willing to give a little on the top end, 6-24 Bushnell ET6245FG (FFP, G2DMR) and Vortex Viper PST 6-24x50 FFP are pretty damn nice.
Sightron has some SIII scopes with 32x at the top end that have very good glass for the money, but they only go down to 8x.

I'm not saying that the gen 1 XRS is totally unusable at 30x... in good light it is useable and you can always turn it down.

There's a gen 1 DMR with G2DMR reticle for sale here on the Hide for $1025 (great price) but it's only a 3.5-21x which of course I call a 4-21x since it tunnels below 4x.

Joe

 

[jasin1890]

If you are willing to give a little on the top end, 6-24 Bushnell ET6245FG (FFP, G2DMR) and Vortex Viper PST 6-24x50 FFP are pretty damn nice.
Sightron has some SIII scopes with 32x at the top end that have very good glass for the money, but they only go down to 8x.

I'm not saying that the gen 1 XRS is totally unusable at 30x... in good light it is useable and you can always turn it down.

There's a gen 1 DMR with G2DMR reticle for sale here on the Hide for $1025 (great price) but it's only a 3.5-21x which of course I call a 4-21x since it tunnels below 4x.

Joe

Well I have kinda figured out that I am going to have to give the higher end I looked at the sightron siii but I dont like the 8 pwr for the low. I wont always have good light bc if I am hunting I will be shooting in low light.
what do you mean gen 1 DMR.
How does the 3.5-21 do compared to the 6-24 Bushnell or the Vortex Viper PST?
Thanks for the help

 

[scudzuki]

The glass in the 3.5-21 is slightly better but the overall scope construction is in another league.
Competitions have been won with the 3.5-21 and it has put Bushnell "on the map" as a serious scope builder.
It has 34 mils internal elevation and windage adjustment, 34mm tube, and huge (some consider objectionable) locking turrets.

I consider the 6-24 its baby brother; it does not have the built like a tank feel.

The 3.5-21x started out with a list price of $1400 (and a few hundred more with the Horus reticle) but with used ones going for a bit over a thousand, they are a great deal... lifetime warranty, and I guess you could call it transferrable since Bushnell does not ask for a receipt when you send it in.

A month ago I found a DMR 3.5-21x50 with a plain mil-dot here used for $875 shipped.
I jumped on that one and sold it to my buddy for his .308 bolt gun.
Mounted and bore sighted it one morning before heading up to the range.
After sighting it in with 3 shots, he finished the 5 round mag then jumped up and shook my hand, thanking me emphatically for finding him such a great scope.

I highly recommend it if you have the means and oppurtunity.

Joe

 

[ArmyJerry]

I have both the Viper and the Bushnel 6-24, very similar glass, since getting these I have begun to rethink the need for the illum reticule, I thibk I ould pass on the next scopes if possible.

Well I have kinda figured out that I am going to have to give the higher end I looked at the sightron siii but I dont like the 8 pwr for the low. I wont always have good light bc if I am hunting I will be shooting in low light.
what do you mean gen 1 DMR.
How does the 3.5-21 do compared to the 6-24 Bushnell or the Vortex Viper PST?
Thanks for the help

 

[jasin1890]

Thank you verry much that helps me alot I like the fact that you talked ab the durability/(built like a tank feel) I am not going to use it as a competition gun it will be used in the field and I am usually hard on stuff it mite accidently take a fall off of the back of the truck. So I wish I could afford a USO scope but there is no way that I could afford one of them. I think the 3.5-21x50 would be a good option from what you have said. I really appreciate the help.

The glass in the 3.5-21 is slightly better but the overall scope construction is in another league.
Competitions have been won with the 3.5-21 and it has put Bushnell "on the map" as a serious scope builder.
It has 34 mils internal elevation and windage adjustment, 34mm tube, and huge (some consider objectionable) locking turrets.

I consider the 6-24 its baby brother; it does not have the built like a tank feel.

The 3.5-21x started out with a list price of $1400 (and a few hundred more with the Horus reticle) but with used ones going for a bit over a thousand, they are a great deal... lifetime warranty, and I guess you could call it transferrable since Bushnell does not ask for a receipt when you send it in.

A month ago I found a DMR 3.5-21x50 with a plain mil-dot here used for $875 shipped.
I jumped on that one and sold it to my buddy for his .308 bolt gun.
Mounted and bore sighted it one morning before heading up to the range.
After sighting it in with 3 shots, he finished the 5 round mag then jumped up and shook my hand, thanking me emphatically for finding him such a great scope.

I highly recommend it if you have the means and oppurtunity.

Joe

 

[jasin1890]

AJerry
are you going to the illum reticle or away from it? Are you considering getting rid of one of yours or what I didnt really get what you were saying. If you are going to let one go I would be interested just let me know.

I have both the Viper and the Bushnel 6-24, very similar glass, since getting these I have begun to rethink the need for the illum reticule, I thibk I ould pass on the next scopes if possible.

 

[hawk_ce]

If you contact Luepold through there website they offer special military pricing. Luepold will send you a catalog and a sheet with their military pricing once they verify your eligibility.