My thought's about Bushnell's optics.

Fisheadgib

I've noticed tons of adds and marketing for Bushnell and I want to vent about my past experience with Bushnell products.
In the early eighties, I was going to school on the GI bill and didn't have a lot of expendable income. Buying a pair of Bushnell 10x50 binoculars was a huge splurge. I was also given a model 70 in 30-06 by my father at that time and bought a Bushnell 3x9 for it as my dad bought it in 1966 and hunted it scopeless. The binoculars had focus issues and had to be sent back to the factory and were corrected in short order. The rifle scope worked fine when it was warm out. Deer season in Wisconsin can get pretty cold out and during my first season with my new scope and binoculars in cold Wisconsin weather, they both locked up and couldn't be adjusted. Bushnell told me that the products were made to spec and it wasn't à warranty issue. It appeared that Bushnell products were useless in extremely cold weather and they didn't care. I tossed both items in the trash and haven't bought another Bushnell product since. I don't normally hold a grudge but there are so many optics to choose from nowadays that I don't even think about offering Bushnell any reconsideration.

Flashover

Every single Bushnell optic I have tried has a strange blue tint to the glass that drives my eyes crazy. leupold has the same blue tint for me but it is not as pronounced as Bushnell. I think it is something in the lens coatings and my eyes. At least with Leupold the quality makes up for it.

terminator012

My only Bushnell's are on a few .22 rifles. For that they are ok. Haven't noticed the blue tint.

orchidman

The only Bushnell product I own is a 4-12 AO trophy scope which I bought for my 10/22. For some reason every time I mounted the rifle I got the 'Black Ring of Doom' in the scope. Tossed it in a draw and forgot about it until I bought the Ruger M77 in 204. Mounted it and took it to the range. No matter how much I adjusted the eye relief I still got the B.R .of D. Bought a Leupold 6-18 and used that on the Ruger.
Then I bought the Howa in 204.........swapped the Leupold over to that and was going to sell the M77 204 with the Bushnell scope.

After the last range trip with both rifles I decided to keep both so the Bushnell stays on the M77 for use as a truck gun...................until I can replace the scope with a Leupold.

For some reason, Bushnell scopes don't seem to work with my prescription lenses ( I have prisms in each lenses to cure a 'lazy eye' and they play hell with parallelax ) .
I am sure they suit other people.................but they don't suit me.

( Bloodhound tried the Bushnell and I wont repeat what he said :cuss:)

bisley

I had a 4x Bushnell in the 70's that I liked OK, but I'll admit that I wasn't as picky back then. But, I also have a Bushnell variable power rimfire scope from 7-8 years ago that is a very decent scope for my Remington Speedmaster .22 rifle.

1965Jeff

I had a rangefinder that crapped out after two years sent it back to Bushnell for repair, they wanted as much to fix as the initial outlay, I told them to keep it. Bought a leupold and never looked back.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

bullsi1911

I had a couple of the Bushnell "Clamshell Packaging" walmart scopes back in the mid 90s, and they were complete junk. But then again- what else would you expect from a $40 3-9x40 scope?

Never gave them another look until I bought the handgun scope on my .454. I bought it used, and fully expected it to come apart in short order. But it has been a solid scope. I lose a little bit of hunting time in the early morning and last light time because it does not have the clarity and light transmission of a higher end scope, but it has been a solid performer. Also, the TRS-25 I have on my Saiga 12 is a darn good red-dot. I think it's one of the best 'bang for the buck' red dot dealsnon the market.

early

I don't recall ever having a Bushnell optic.

The thing is I've had a Tasco binocular freeze up in the cold. At the same time a top a the line Luepold scope froze up too. When the temperature drops well below zero the lube inside the focussing mechanisms solidifies. Maybe modern optics have resolved this issue, I don't know. Sometimes specialized preperation is needed for extreme conditions.

Big Chief

I have what later became the Bushnell Elite line Bausch & Lomb on my REM 700 after Bushnell took their optics over.

Only Bushnell I have is a pistol scope on my S&W 629 Classic and it has held up well. I think some others on here use their pistol scopes too.

jaywapti

I guess I'm the exception to the norm, I have 3 of there optics, the oldest is a 1.5 x 4.5 x 20 mounted on my light weight 6.5lb M-70 .358 bought in the 70s, hunted in Wisc. & Minn. for 18 years, & Canada, Colo., Wash., Idaho, & Alaska never had any trouble in cold weather, still using it today, a fixed 10 x 40 AO on my AR, for PD, and a 15 x 45 Trophy spotting scope, its not the best but even with my old eyes I can see a .22 hole at 200yds.

JAY

PS forget a 7x20 cheapo light weight binocs I got on a whim years ago and there still fine.

JasonMPD

Fisheadgib wrote: »

I've noticed tons of adds and marketing for Bushnell and I want to vent about my past experience with Bushnell products.
In the early eighties, I was going to school on the GI bill and didn't have a lot of expendable income. Buying a pair of Bushnell 10x50 binoculars was a huge splurge. I was also given a model 70 in 30-06 by my father at that time and bought a Bushnell 3x9 for it as my dad bought it in 1966 and hunted it scopeless. The binoculars had focus issues and had to be sent back to the factory and were corrected in short order. The rifle scope worked fine when it was warm out. Deer season in Wisconsin can get pretty cold out and during my first season with my new scope and binoculars in cold Wisconsin weather, they both locked up and couldn't be adjusted. Bushnell told me that the products were made to spec and it wasn't à warranty issue. It appeared that Bushnell products were useless in extremely cold weather and they didn't care. I tossed both items in the trash and haven't bought another Bushnell product since. I don't normally hold a grudge but there are so many optics to choose from nowadays that I don't even think about offering Bushnell any reconsideration.

All of mine have been awesome.

Especially my Bushnell 3.5-21x50 ERS G2B 34mm tube.

Make_My_Day

I have Bushnell binoculars, and although they are a bit finicky to use, I have not had any major problems with it.

snake284

All I've ever used made by Bushnell is some of their cheapo Binos. However, I've looked at some in Academy on occasion, and they look fine.

But I think Bushnell has evolved through the years from a company that made cheap optics into one nowadays that makes many grades of optics to satisfy as many customers as possible. You can still buy a $40 Bushnell 3-9x40 scope and you can buy a $400 Bushnell 3-9x40. They come in all grades at all prices. Just remember, you really really do get what you pay for. As for myself, I can do very well with a scope in the $200 range for hunting, no matter what brand. But, YMMV!

Varmintmist

Had a 3-9 for years and it never failed and was plenty clear. Probably got it in 1988 and it was out in every hunting season wet, cold, sunny, whatever. I still have a beat up set of cheap folding compact 8X roof prism binos from them. The hinge no longer holds, and they actually rattle when shaken, but they are my go to to toss in the fanny pack.