Re: 4-16x40 4200 AO vs SF model, or an LR/T 4-14x40?
6.5BR,
Are you talking about the apparent differences in resolution between a Bushnell 4200 4-16 Side focus and a Leupold 4.5-14x40mm LR/T Mk4 Side focus? Or something else?
Generally speaking, front mounted AO's resolve better than Side Focus scopes, if the quality and construction of the scopes are similar.
But the differences are small, and any "quality" scope with side focus will let you resolve your target well enough to hit it. Note I said quality.
However, in my experience, the side focus of the Bushnell 4200 series is pretty good, and very forgiving. You can focus down to 20 yds, and go from one setting to another, smoothly.
Leupold's side focus, on the other hand, in my experience is less flexible. On the Leupold's I found that you cannot simply adjust the side focus to a new setting. You must first turn back to infinity, and then to your setting. Plus they focus clearly down to only 50 yds.
But both will do the job required. On a side note, if you are considering both these scopes, the Bushnell 4200 4-16 has only 50 MOA of adjustment. The Leupold has 100 MOA.
If you are considering any work north of 600 yds, that extra 50 MOA could come in very handy....
Just saying....
Bob