Swarovski and Kahles have been my bread butter on my hunting rifles for the last ten years. When I decided to get into long range shooting I came across the Bushnell HDMR 3-21x50 l. I have been very aprehensive about purchasing a bushnell scope. After all the reading I did i figured they were worth a try. It showed up today and wow. This thing is clear and built like a tank! I see good things ahead. Just have to get it paid for and it will top my Savage 10 PC Carbine.
Rifle Scopes Bushnell HDMR
- Thread starter JohnLaw
- Start date
I felt the same way. After purchasing a Nightforce F1 the Vortex Viper PST didn't look so good. So after seeing all of the positive feedback on the G2DMR, I gave it a try. In Short, liked the G2DMR so much I bought a XRS and couldn't be happier.
The Kahles and the Swarovski have a lot better glass and an over all nice feel. With this said the Bushnell Tactical Scopes are rock solid, good feeling turrets, good glass (not amazing), outstanding reticle, lots of elevation, and very compact. I really like the Bushnell scopes.
We sale all the above scopes so if we can be of help feel free to let me know.
Mike @ CST
We sale all the above scopes so if we can be of help feel free to let me know.
Mike @ CST
I was in the same boat as you and decided to try the ERS and am really impressed! I've owned several other $2000 scopes and this is my favorite thus far. I've looked through some $3500 S&B's that if they were better, it was by a very small margin. The G2 reticle on this scope was a deal clincher for me too. It is great!
I just had a freind over a little while ago whom brought his over for me to see. I looked through it, and was impressed. I still would like a little more feedback on the tracking. The outside looks great, and feels solid, but it's price range is up there too. This is why I want to be sure before I pull the trigger on one for my next build. If anyone has more on this scope, I'm interested in hearing about it.
They are a great value for sure and Bushnell has done a good job with their new tactical line, but spend a few days behind one, then hop back over to your S&B or other high end scope and you'll see what you're missing.
I have two. They are great scopes for the money.
I'll be a little more specific on my needs, and expectations. Obviously, clarity is important, but the turrets have to be repeatable/consistent, and built from materials that don't wear easy. The only ones I can say I have done that a lot to and they held up are NF and Leupold. I have used, but not really cycled the turrets on a lot of the other high end scopes that I have been fortunate enough to try out. BTW, others may disagree, but high end for me starts at about $1200.00. Some of those higher end scopes that I've tried are S&B, US Optics, and Premiere.
Care to elaborate for us folks that don't have high end scopes? Like me.
The optical quality is a big difference. I mean, you get what you pay for and I'm not trying to slam Bushnell, but I find the image through the HDMR starts to get a bit washed out when you go towards the higher end of its magnification, it doesn't transmit light as well as say S&B and NF scopes (in my opinion). The turrets are annoying too and I don't think it's as durable as some make it sound, but for the money it's a great value.
Please explain what you don't like about them.
Can someone show me an $1200 S&B? I dont think Im missing much, even got an extra $1800 in my pocket
That's the part you are missing if you have a S&B.... ;-)
I got this one. I wish the locking turrets would click into the up/unlocked position. For me, it's a little awkward to adjust the elevation turret without letting it slide down if I'm prone. I have to make a bit of effort to make sure I keep it pulled up. Not a deal breaker, but that's why I personally think the turrets can get annoying.
They're a bit mushy on mine, the locking mechanism is temperamental and I don't like the 0-5 rotations, but your mileage may vary. In the year I've had mine, the windage turret has gotten super stiff, requiring quite a lot of effort to unlock whereas my buddy's elevation turret won't lock anymore at all (which he's totally fine with). It's a budget scope, and a good one at that, so I'm not frustrated by any lack of features.
But for the third time, it's still a great value in a scope and why I run one on my SPR.
DMR: First one had uniform adjustments, nice feel. Second one is crisp to 2.2 Mils, then mushy to 5 Mils, then crisp again until the process repeats itself.
ERS: First one adjusted elevation when setting the zero stop. Second one works fine.
When hunting prairie dogs with a HDMR we were dialing from 100 yards to 650 yards for 2 days and the adjustments were always on the money.
I've got maybe 600 rounds through a Savage .308 Model 10 FCP-K using a 3.5-21x50 DMR with the G2DMR reticle and am very happy with it. It is the only "good" scope I have so I don't know what a top of the line scope looks like for comparison. All I know is that I have about 250 rounds through it at 545 yards and can shoot good groups most of the time. When I can't, it's me, not the scope or the rifle, or the ammo.
I haven't shot it out to 1000 yards yet, however, or in low light, or hunting. So far only paper punching.
Joe
I haven't shot it out to 1000 yards yet, however, or in low light, or hunting. So far only paper punching.
Joe
I have been following this thread as the Bushnell is one of the scopes I am considering and am assuming that the posts above are describing the first generation version of this scope. Is anyone using the newer version and if so is the image and / or build quality any different than described above? Thanks in advance.
The new ERS scopes appear to have better glass than the first generation DMRs. Even the new DMRs are better than the old ones. I sent back an old DMR, first generation, that was blurry on the left edge, fuzzy in the middle, and clear on the right edge. Bushnell sent me a brand new scope and the image quality was quite good.
I can't find any reason not to go with another DMR....
I've shot it in the cold and wet, and lately, the uber heat and humidity, rifle its on took a tumble of about 5ft out the side of my truck onto sand and rock, checked zero days later and it was spot on (I almost didn't want to mention that blooper), the G2 reticle is good, it tracks reliably, and I like the locking turrets.
Having said that, I do find that it is a wee bit dark on the 19-21x power end. But nowhere near as dark as a PST I had on 16x. And there is significant tunneling at 3.5-4.5x , so to me it's really a 5-20x ish scope. But, given its price, the reliability, and features, I don't find anything to replace it for now.
I've shot it in the cold and wet, and lately, the uber heat and humidity, rifle its on took a tumble of about 5ft out the side of my truck onto sand and rock, checked zero days later and it was spot on (I almost didn't want to mention that blooper), the G2 reticle is good, it tracks reliably, and I like the locking turrets.
Having said that, I do find that it is a wee bit dark on the 19-21x power end. But nowhere near as dark as a PST I had on 16x. And there is significant tunneling at 3.5-4.5x , so to me it's really a 5-20x ish scope. But, given its price, the reliability, and features, I don't find anything to replace it for now.
It must be a seasonal thing, 'cause if you asked the same question a month ago, people were coming out of the woodwork extolling the virtues of Bushnell's big Elite Tactical scopes (DMR, HDMR, ERS, XRS); good glass, rugged, repeatable, accurate tracking, Bushnell's unlimited lifetime warranty (they don't even ask where the scope came from, just fill out the form and return your scope). In the last month at least one shooter compared a Razor 5-20 to an XRS and said the Bushnell was BETTER to his eyes, and so he sold off the Razor.
Here's my experience.
I bought an HDMR (DMR with Horus reticle) with an H59, used, for $1100 (a steal for a Horus H59 reticle).
The glass was about the same as my Elite Tactical 6-25x50 (as it should be, I believe it's the same glass and coatings).
The focus went down to 25 yards (they now bottom out at 50) so it must have been an early one.
Eventually, I sold it back to the seller, as the reticle was a bit busy for me and I'm more of a dialer than holder, and he was kicking himself for selling it (another Hide member).
I bought a new DMR with G2DMR reticle.
To my eye the glass was a little better, just a little brighter, in lower light conditions.
I found my buddy a DMR with mildot reticle for $875 (!) shipped here in the classifieds. It was in like new condition. I've never seen him so elated as the first time he shot with the scope, since he'd never had anything nearly that nice (ex-army with lots of weapons experience). I think the glass in that was the best I've seen in one of these, and chalk it up to illusion or variation within different examples of a model (manufacturing variation).
I have an XRS that I bought from a member here, one from the original group buy.
I would rate the glass the same as my DMR. The XRS has nearly the FOV of the DMR at the bottom end (4.5x with no tunneling vs. the DMR tunneling below 4x) and a good deal more magnification. A lot of erector travel (internally 31.4 elevation and 20 or so windage to the DMR's 34 and 34 mils), 10 mils per rev, locking turrets, zero stop. The turrets track well, the clicks have some slop as a result of the locking mechanism but they're not bad, the zero stop has given a few shooters trouble getting it set but I've not had any trouble.
The XRS pulls off 24x really well but above that it can get a little dark if the target is in the shade. The resolution is fine at 30x but it may not be as efficient (bright) as the alpha scopes. I usually run it no higher than 24x or so unless conditions permit (bright, no mirage). OTOH I was shooting with a new Steiner 5-25x56 today and of course it tops out at 25x, but it was a little darker than I'd like at my local 150 yd. range, too.
I don't think you'd be terribly disappointed with a DMR or XRS, but I'm not sure how I feel about paying $500 more than a DMR for an ERS just to get 10 mil/rev and zero stop (according to the specs, the ERS tunnels at low power, too).
Look in the classifieds for nearly new DMRs and XRSs for sale at a few hundred off list. If you don't like it, you can sell it at nearly no loss, and with the lifetime warranty, it's practically no risk.
Joe
Here's my experience.
I bought an HDMR (DMR with Horus reticle) with an H59, used, for $1100 (a steal for a Horus H59 reticle).
The glass was about the same as my Elite Tactical 6-25x50 (as it should be, I believe it's the same glass and coatings).
The focus went down to 25 yards (they now bottom out at 50) so it must have been an early one.
Eventually, I sold it back to the seller, as the reticle was a bit busy for me and I'm more of a dialer than holder, and he was kicking himself for selling it (another Hide member).
I bought a new DMR with G2DMR reticle.
To my eye the glass was a little better, just a little brighter, in lower light conditions.
I found my buddy a DMR with mildot reticle for $875 (!) shipped here in the classifieds. It was in like new condition. I've never seen him so elated as the first time he shot with the scope, since he'd never had anything nearly that nice (ex-army with lots of weapons experience). I think the glass in that was the best I've seen in one of these, and chalk it up to illusion or variation within different examples of a model (manufacturing variation).
I have an XRS that I bought from a member here, one from the original group buy.
I would rate the glass the same as my DMR. The XRS has nearly the FOV of the DMR at the bottom end (4.5x with no tunneling vs. the DMR tunneling below 4x) and a good deal more magnification. A lot of erector travel (internally 31.4 elevation and 20 or so windage to the DMR's 34 and 34 mils), 10 mils per rev, locking turrets, zero stop. The turrets track well, the clicks have some slop as a result of the locking mechanism but they're not bad, the zero stop has given a few shooters trouble getting it set but I've not had any trouble.
The XRS pulls off 24x really well but above that it can get a little dark if the target is in the shade. The resolution is fine at 30x but it may not be as efficient (bright) as the alpha scopes. I usually run it no higher than 24x or so unless conditions permit (bright, no mirage). OTOH I was shooting with a new Steiner 5-25x56 today and of course it tops out at 25x, but it was a little darker than I'd like at my local 150 yd. range, too.
I don't think you'd be terribly disappointed with a DMR or XRS, but I'm not sure how I feel about paying $500 more than a DMR for an ERS just to get 10 mil/rev and zero stop (according to the specs, the ERS tunnels at low power, too).
Look in the classifieds for nearly new DMRs and XRSs for sale at a few hundred off list. If you don't like it, you can sell it at nearly no loss, and with the lifetime warranty, it's practically no risk.
Joe
Hey Joe, where did you get the info regarding Bushy's warranty being unlimited lifetime? I believe it is limited lifetime, IIRC. Since I have had such poor luck with another optics' company's scopes, I am leery of throwing down that much cash and not having an unlimited. The problems I have experienced have made me gun shy and I am uber weary of spending 1-2K on something that will need to go back after its third use.
Well, maybe their warranty is not without limits, but to start a warranty claim, you go to their website and fill out a form.
The form does not ask where you bought it, nor are you required to provide a receipt for Elite products. They require $10 per unit for return shipping, though.
If you call them for warranty work on an Elite product they direct you to the website, so the only way to get the warranty work is to include the completed form with the unit.
Here is the form
Bushnell - Repair Form
Here are the details of their repair service
http://www.bushnell.com/global/customer-service/global-customer-service-product-repairs
Joe
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Ok, cool. My buddy has offered me a great deal on his DMR with G2 reticle, but having owned SSHD's in the past, it is difficult for me to choose. Those SSHD's are just damn great scopes...almost too great to pass on.
In his tactical scopes compare, Ilya Koshkin came to the conclusion that in the under $2k scope category (including the Razor 5-20 and the DMR) the SWFA SSHD 5-20 had the best glass. Pretty impressive for a $1500 scope with illumination and its feature set.
High End Tactical Scopes: Part III » OpticsThoughts
OTOH Bushnell has come a long way in a few years.
It's a good problem to have, choosing between the 2.
Joe
High End Tactical Scopes: Part III » OpticsThoughts
OTOH Bushnell has come a long way in a few years.
It's a good problem to have, choosing between the 2.
Joe
There are a lot of great scopes out there now days and the Bushnell XRS is one of them. We got a lot of them in stock the other day so if we can be of help let us know.
I love it when we get more in stock.
I love it when we get more in stock.
Are there any plans for an MOA/MOA version?
Anybody have a link to the differences between DMR, XRS, ERS, etc ?
Anybody have a link to the differences between DMR, XRS, ERS, etc ?
Glad I found this thread. I've been searching the board for information about the differences between DMR, HDMR, and ERS. The Bushnell website (and another post in this thread) shows the only difference in the DMR and HDMR is the Horus reticle. I'm not interested in the Horus anyway, so I'm more interested in the difference between the DMR and the ERS. Based on the website, and again another post in this thread, the ONLY difference is that the ERS has the Z-Lok and the turrets are 10 Mils/rev instead of 5.
Is that it??? Am I missing something? Before reading this thread I was thinking the ERS must have considerably better glass than the DMR to justify the $500 price difference. Much like the difference in the Vortex Viper PST and the Vortex Razor. Both good scopes, but one simply has better glass.
That being said, I still think the SWFA has great glass and is an exceptional scope for the money. I just think the Razor is better with the price increase being justified.
Is that it??? Am I missing something? Before reading this thread I was thinking the ERS must have considerably better glass than the DMR to justify the $500 price difference. Much like the difference in the Vortex Viper PST and the Vortex Razor. Both good scopes, but one simply has better glass.
I have to disagree with Koshkin's assessment. I'm sure he's more qualified than me to make that call, but this is my personal opinion. I currently own both the SWFA SS 5-20 and the Vortex Razor 5-20. I actually started off with the Vortex PST 5-25 and had planned to replace the SWFA SS with it, but once I got it and compared the two, the SWFA had better glass and seemed to be put together better (those are technical terms!) I tried a buddy's Razor and was highly impressed, so I sold the PST and got a Razor. Then put it side by side with the SWFA. I ended up getting a 2nd Vortex Razor so I would have identical scopes running on my two bolt guns, and I put the SWFA on my gas gun .223. I favor my bolt guns if that tells you anything about the scopes. I recently purchased another gas gun with the intention of replacing my current one, but was going to run them side by side to see which one I liked better. I put one of the Razors on the new gas gun, and left the SWFA on the other. The last 3 times I've gone out to the range I've spent 90% of my time shooting both gas guns, so I've been seeing the SWFA and the Razor side by side. I shot a various times - starting at 7:00 am, during the middle of the day on a sunny day, during the middle of the day with it getting very cloudy and overcast as a storm passed nearby, and late into the evening . No matter what time of day or the condition, the Vortex Razor was always more clear than the SWFA.scudzuki said:
That being said, I still think the SWFA has great glass and is an exceptional scope for the money. I just think the Razor is better with the price increase being justified.
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