Re: Bushnell HDMR -- Just a Fad?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Hamstur</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Sort of curious on other folks' perspective...
As I browse the scope discussion forum, I've seen a lot of recommendations for the Bushnell HDMR lately. I've never seen or looked through one in person, but read what I could about it and thought
Ilya's high-end tactical part 3 review provided a great impartial side-by-side review.
Noticed folks are specifically only saying get the GAP G2 reticle, so I'm just curious it's all the rage right now simply because the name 'GAP' is tied to it. 6 months ago, folks would scoff if you threw the Bushnell name in the ring against NF, USO, etc. Folks were snagging up the SS 5-20 when it was hot-off-the-press and now you see them for sale everywhere.
When ZS/HS became widespread for NF, folks started dumping their non-ZS/HS units off like crazy and only budget-concious shooters kept or bought them. You can go to the classified anytime and see plenty of non-ZS/HS sitting there with little interest.
Is the fate of the HDMR the same as the SS 5-20 and non-ZS/HS NF? </div></div>
Here's my perspective.
I think many practical precision shooters realize the convenience and advantages of FFP scopes for their game.
Scope company's will always be coming out with new scopes with certain features at a certain price point. Nowadays there is a huge demand and market for reliable moderately priced FFP scopes.
A little history. I'm not sure if it's exactly correct but you'll get the message I'm trying to convey.
For years there were only U$O and S$B that sold tactical style FFP scopes. NF was the next best thing but were only available with SFP. Even back then the FFP scopes weren't much cheaper than they are now. So you either paid up or shoot SFP scopes like NXS or Leupold. Later on IOR started selling FFP scopes but had reliability issues so shooters wanting reliability stuck with the old standby's. Shortly after that NF came out with the F1 so there was finally a less expensive FFP option till Vortex come out with the Razor which was cheaper still. Then the Vortex PST, Weaver FFP and Bushnell tactical came out which all have/had some downfalls related to the price point like ho-hum clarity, not very much elevation travel, average build quality, some reliability issues, only available in mildot, no ZS, etc.
Enter the SS-5-20 and the Bushnell HDMR that came out last year. They both split the difference between the cheaper and expensive FFP scopes and have a lot going for them like 20-21x mag on the top end, very good glass, are reliable, track well, have great reticles, approx 30 mil elevation travel, aren't super heavy or large, etc. However both are missing some nice features. The HDMR was designed originally for a military contract submission so higher quality than the other Bushnell lines. It is 3.5-21X so has a mag advantage, 5 mil knobs, locking turrets, is available with Horus reticle/other reticles but lacks illume and ZS. The SS 5-20 doesn't have a ZS but has 10 mil knobs and illume with one reticle choice. There were some problems with the indicating marks lining up on the knobs and illume bleed otherwise you don't hear much about other issues.
I believe the HDMR has come out with 10 mil knobs for 2012 ??? I bet that next year we'll see some other nice features. I own 3 HDMR/H-59's. They are very nice scopes. Especially the glass quality.
I wouldn't be surprised if SWFA has some refinements up their sleeve for the future as well.
I think one of the reasons you see the SS 5-20's up for sale is because of the large volume of scopes that were sold compared to the HDMR's. That and many folk are making a $100-200 profit on the ones bought during the original group buy and spending the money for other priorities.
The HDMR just a fad? For right now I can't think of another scope I'd rather have for the money and the features I want but that could change in a couple years. Heck, give me a HDMR with 10 mil knobs,ZS and Illume and my criteria for a perfect scope is pretty much fulfilled.
