I went to the gun show today to get a new scope for the 358JDJ CARBINE i'm getting from Van Horn. I had a chance to compare many brands at one table like I never have before. IMHO, most of these are in the same class, I guess.
The scopes were all 3x9. They were Nikon Monarch & Buckmaster, Leupold VX II, Weaver V9, Simmons Whitetail Expedition, Burris Fullfield II and a Bushnell Elite 3200 with fast focus eyepiece.
They all were nice scopes to say the least.
But the best one of all of them was the Bushnell. When the fast focus eyepiece was dialed in,it was as clear as any glass i've ever seen. And this was at all powers. Eye relief is more like 4" and not 3.3 as there spec. says. I have 3 other Elites but none with the fast focus eyepiece and even after there adjusted there not as clear as this one. I really can't say what it's like in the feild or at the range,cause I don't have my own web site yet.
This is the specs on it.>>>>>>>>>> http://www.bushnell.com/productinfo/riflescopes/specs/323944m.html
I didn't get one at the gun show....to much $$$, but I ordered one from Graf and sons as soon as I got home. They were the best price I found. I know some of you will disagree, but if you get a chance, look through one and i'm sure you'll get a smile on your face.
BTW, Not to talk shit on TC or anything but I saw some of the worst used Contender barrels of my shooting days. I looked through 10 barrels and only 1 of them could I not see the bore and chamber misalligned. The worst was a 7mmTCU that the chamber was almost even with the bore on one side.
After seeing these,I know now how lucky I am with the factory barrels I have.
At the show I only bought two boxes of 25cal. bullets...My wife loves me again

I picked up one of the 6X18, 50 mm adjustable AO, matte finsh, for $69.95. Put it on my custom rifle for working up loads and it has been there ever since.

[ 07-06-2002, 22:51: Message edited by: wildcat51 ]

wildcat,
You must be talking about a Bushnell Banner.
Bushnell dosen't make a 6x18 Elite 3200.

The Elite series used to be called Bausch & Lomb. Now they are the Bushnell upper end scopes. The point I was trying make is that even the cheaper Bushnells are great scopes.

I have been told by some Bushnell employees, that B&L in a round about way wanted out of the industry as it was not politically correct. Also if you think some of the upper end scope optic's look familiar, probably so, as B&L is grinding some of the lenses on the upper end scopes.
I don't recall if the two merged or exactally what the situation was.
Jeff

B&L acquired Bushnell several years ago....

I jumped the gun again yesterday. I said that Graf and Sons had the best price and that was wrong. D&R Sports has them for the best price $156.80. Graf and Sons didn't have them in stock and I have canceled my order with them. I ordered one from D&R Sports.
My bag, Sorry for the bad info.

I know what you mean Jules, I think that even the cheaper bushnells are a great scope. One scope I really like and I hope you guys don't laugh at me for this is the Tasco world class 3-9 40mm mil dot. That's what I put on my 358jdj carbine. I liked it so much I put another on my wifes 7tcu carbine, at about $65 I think they can't be beat.

Well, I have been asking everyone on here about other scopes cause I was kinda burnt out on Bushnells. But when I looked through all the top made brands, the Elite came out number 1. I think i'll put it on the 250imp. and get something in the 1x4 for the 358JDJ, maybe a Trophy or Banner.
I haven't heard of many people sending them in for repair like the Burris or Leupolds.

Dino32HR, Ain't life a funny thing? This weekend I took my Encore in .250 Savage to the range. For the past year I have had one of those Tasco Varmint 2.5-10x Mil-Dots on this gun. My first shot Sunday Morning blew the scope all to Hell. No warning, no loss of accuracy just reticle gone and my scope rattles like crazy now. Same day a buddies Pro-Point quit on him. Did they throw a switch or something? :^) Sean

Jules-
I am glad to hear your assessment of the B&L Elite scope. I have one on the way (maybe here tomorrow) from a trade that I had made. It's NIB, and I plan on keeping it. I looked at a couple of models early on, and the resolution really seemed nice -- not quite in the league of a Monarch but sure as heck rather close.

Bobby, I know how much you like the Nikons but if you haven't had a chance to dial in and look through the 3200 fast focus, try to do so. It was as good and maybe a little better then the Nikon I looked through. I wanted to look through the Elite 4200 but theres none to be had around here. I just never see them. No matter though, I just can't see them being worth twice the price of the 3200s. You'll be happy with the Elite.

Bobby, did they show up yet?? The check will be behind it and the FFL behind the check.
I am suprised you have not tormented any of these guys with your hog pictures.
Jeff

Jeff-

They haven't made it, but I do know that mail here in Texas has been slowed since the flooding hit. Some of the roads around San Antonio are just opening up, and south of SA, the floodwaters are just receding. But I'll keep my fingers crossed for tomorrow. Guess I'm like a kid waiting for a new toy...

Jeff-
I'd like to post the photo of at least the big hog, but the web host service I used is apparently no longer working. What are you guys using?

Thanks,
Bobby

I need to get moving on my didital camera and figure it out.
I don't know about some of the host', but at varminthunter.com the guys post some pretty good pics there, don't know who there server is though.
Jeff