I recently obtained Bushnell’s new Illuminated 6-24X50 First Focal Plain Scope with mil-radian reticle and turrets. My first exposure to this scope was at the 2010 Snipers Hide Cup hosted by Rifles Only. I was squadded with SGM(ret) Tom Fuller of Bushnell who was using this scope mounted on a Barrett 98B .338LM. I was initially impressed with the optic’s clarity and positive engagements on the turrets when casually looking through it at the competition.
I placed an order for this same optic and received mine a few weeks after the match. It was identical in clarity and touch as the one I viewed at Rifles Only. I mounted the optic on my AR-10T. The majority of the scopes I have mounted on this rifle have been near a 100 yard zero with the scope set at mechanical zero. Knowing this, I ran the turrets to see how much elevation I would have. I discovered the optic had 12.8 mils of vertical travel. I was concerned because my 155gr Scenar load takes 8.5 mils to 1000 yards and my 175gr SMK load takes 10.5 mils. I ordered a 22 MOA Badger base to compensate for the lack of elevation and mounted the scope.
I went to my private range and zeroed the rifle. The scope tracked great and box tests were conducted with no issues. I proceeded to shoot about 100 rounds at 100 yards testing different .308 loads. After the tests, I zeroed the rifle to my standard load for this rifle which pushes the 175gr SMK at 2700fps. The POI was the same elevation as the 155gr Scenars at 2940fps at 100 yards. The available travel I had left was 8.2 mils which was just short of the needed elevation for the Scenars. However, a 0.3 mil holdover is very doable for this range. I staggered steel targets out to 800 yards and the scope tracked true to the numbers on my Density Altitude cards.
I didn’t complete any kind of torture test on it because I felt it was unnecessary. I saw this same model scope ride a Barrett 98B .338LM for a week straight at the Snipers Hide Cup preceded by the train-up. The illumination is variable and the color is green. I asked Bushnell why they chose green. They advised it wasn’t really anything scientific. The designers took a poll on whether red or green had less glare and they felt the green was more user friendly. That’s good enough for me. It is just a different color.
This photo attempts to depict the image clarity on 10X.
So, I love everything this scope has to offer but the elevation. I discussed the elevation issue with Bushnell and they are aware of the shortcomings and are in the process of redesigning the turrets to compensate for this. <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="color: #CC0000">So, how do I get this to work at 1000 yards without holdovers?</span> </span>
<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="color: #000099">Barrett came to the rescue!</span> </span>
Barrett has optic rings called ExRings. These are rings with dual-MOA settings (15 MOA or 40 MOA on one model and 20 MOA or 30MOA on another). I had never used these rings before and would normally be leery about adjustable rings. However, Kyle Lynch (Director of Sales & Marketing) of Barrett was also squadded with me during the competition. Both he and Tom were using these rings on their .338 LMs and I never observed any failures, complaints, or issues.
So, I mounted the scope in the rings on the 30 MOA setting and it was a success!
I zeroed the rifle to my known load. I had .3 mils of down travel left over and total of 12.5 mils of elevation. It isn’t perfect and Bushnell is re-working it to make it even better. However, you just can’t beat a FFP Mil/Mil 6-24X50 reliable optic, combined with excellent rings for about $1000. Definitely an alternative to consider. I'm keeping this one mounted on the rifle
I placed an order for this same optic and received mine a few weeks after the match. It was identical in clarity and touch as the one I viewed at Rifles Only. I mounted the optic on my AR-10T. The majority of the scopes I have mounted on this rifle have been near a 100 yard zero with the scope set at mechanical zero. Knowing this, I ran the turrets to see how much elevation I would have. I discovered the optic had 12.8 mils of vertical travel. I was concerned because my 155gr Scenar load takes 8.5 mils to 1000 yards and my 175gr SMK load takes 10.5 mils. I ordered a 22 MOA Badger base to compensate for the lack of elevation and mounted the scope.
I went to my private range and zeroed the rifle. The scope tracked great and box tests were conducted with no issues. I proceeded to shoot about 100 rounds at 100 yards testing different .308 loads. After the tests, I zeroed the rifle to my standard load for this rifle which pushes the 175gr SMK at 2700fps. The POI was the same elevation as the 155gr Scenars at 2940fps at 100 yards. The available travel I had left was 8.2 mils which was just short of the needed elevation for the Scenars. However, a 0.3 mil holdover is very doable for this range. I staggered steel targets out to 800 yards and the scope tracked true to the numbers on my Density Altitude cards.
I didn’t complete any kind of torture test on it because I felt it was unnecessary. I saw this same model scope ride a Barrett 98B .338LM for a week straight at the Snipers Hide Cup preceded by the train-up. The illumination is variable and the color is green. I asked Bushnell why they chose green. They advised it wasn’t really anything scientific. The designers took a poll on whether red or green had less glare and they felt the green was more user friendly. That’s good enough for me. It is just a different color.
This photo attempts to depict the image clarity on 10X.
So, I love everything this scope has to offer but the elevation. I discussed the elevation issue with Bushnell and they are aware of the shortcomings and are in the process of redesigning the turrets to compensate for this. <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="color: #CC0000">So, how do I get this to work at 1000 yards without holdovers?</span> </span>
<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="color: #000099">Barrett came to the rescue!</span> </span>
Barrett has optic rings called ExRings. These are rings with dual-MOA settings (15 MOA or 40 MOA on one model and 20 MOA or 30MOA on another). I had never used these rings before and would normally be leery about adjustable rings. However, Kyle Lynch (Director of Sales & Marketing) of Barrett was also squadded with me during the competition. Both he and Tom were using these rings on their .338 LMs and I never observed any failures, complaints, or issues.
So, I mounted the scope in the rings on the 30 MOA setting and it was a success!
I zeroed the rifle to my known load. I had .3 mils of down travel left over and total of 12.5 mils of elevation. It isn’t perfect and Bushnell is re-working it to make it even better. However, you just can’t beat a FFP Mil/Mil 6-24X50 reliable optic, combined with excellent rings for about $1000. Definitely an alternative to consider. I'm keeping this one mounted on the rifle
