Bushnell Elite 3200

[CanAm500]

I am looking at the 3200 vs the Banner Dusk to Dawn scope. I want a bushnell scope so dont tell me to get a leupold.

I am looking at the 5-15x40. Does anyone know what the firefly rectilcal does?
How much does the 3200 go for (usually)?

[ruger#1]

paint im sure you will be happy with the 3200. firefly glows a little bit, when you are sighted on a dark object, or just before dark, i have a bush and lomb 3000 at 1.5 to 6 power . it is a very nice scope to. are you planning to shoot long range with the 15 power.or varmits. might run for around $400.00

[Steeleco]

I believe the firefly can be charged, by that I mean if you shine a flashlight in it the recticle will glow, and for quite some time I hear.

[Schmaus]

I have a 3200 and I have a leupold vx-11 and for the amount of money that the leupold costs I don't think that it compares to the 3200 for picture especially in the rain. The only thing that my leupy has is better eye relief but I am definately a fan of the 3200's and will buy more. I think that they have come down to about $299 this year.

Schmaus

[atri]

I use the 3200 (3-9x40) for my 270, and have been very happy with it. The rainguard works very well. It also has decent eye relief. Have had the Banner as well, and while it is substantially less expensive, I wouldn't recommend it for any of the hard kicking calibers: I've busted a couple of their reticles on my 300WM.

Higginson's has the 3200 5-15X40mm for $417.00. However, they are also selling the 3200 3-9X40mm for $244.00. Now that sounds like a pretty could deal.

[CanAm500]

Atri: Have you put your banner on your .270 at all?

[Seth]

I bought a 3200 new last year and put it on my model 70 .338. It is the best thing you can do for yourself. I'm waiting until the outdoor show at Tradex during the last week of March to go buy two more from the guys at Italian Sporting Goods for my other two rifles. They put them down to a "special" price. Last year I got the 3x9x40mm for $219.99.

[ryanb]

I own both. The elite 3200 is much better for hunting as the rain guard works very well. I have the banner on a rifle I use mostly at the range and it works just fine, but tends to fog up on the outside when the weather is a little foul. The 3200 is worth the extra 100 bucks. I paid $235 for a 3-9x40.

[CanAm500]

So it looks like 3-9x40 is the most common. I kinda wanted to get away from the 3-9x40 and get something with a little more zoom.

Anyone have the firefly rectical in the 3200?

[Cappy]

Don't forget if you get extra zoom you get extra wobble. The more you zoom up on a target the more noticeable scope movement is. I have a 3-9 power on my long range hunting rig (270WSM) and it is plenty. Fact of the matter is I rarely crank it all the way up. Of the four deer I shot this year it was 3X, 6X, 6X and back to 3X. You will also find that the more you crank up your scope in low light the less you will see as the picture gets darker. The longest shot I took this season as luck would have it was only 130yards and I kept it on 3X because it was getting dark. I have done a lot of long range shooting out to 1000 yards with a fixed 10X and it works just fine. I would only shoot something with a higher magnification if I knew my shots were going to be consistantly on the long side.

[youngfellla]

I have a 3200 with the FireFly. You charge it with a flashlight for a couple minutes, and the crosshairs will glow a bright green. The charge actually lasts for a couple hours. That being said, I have never used it while hunting, the Bushnell scopes are bright enough in low-light situations.

[CanAm500]

Thanks for that Cappy...i didnt know about the wobble.

I am going to go for the Banner Dusk and Dawn 3-9x40, as I dont have the funds for the 3200.

[atri]

lcpaintballer,

I have used the Banner on my 270, and it worked OK at the range. I hunted with it a couple of times in the rain but it fogged so easily that I upgraded to the 3200. The 3200 is worth saving up for.

[brotherjack]

Speaking of zoom, I'm in the 'less is better' camp too. My next scope will probably be a 1.5-6 or similar. When punching targets from a benchrest, the extra zoom is very nice, but for critter shooting in field conditions (adrenalin rush, off the shoulder or using a tree or stick for a brace), 6x is plenty to get me out well past any range I would realisticly take a shot at a critter (100 to 150 yards max for me). I've never turned my 3-9 up past 3x in the field, and there's been times I've wished for lower zoom for light gathering, less wobble, and wider field of view.

[Tarp Man]

LC, save up for the 3200! I did it and it is woth it (Elite 3200 3-9x40 no firefly cause they don't need it). Go scope shoppiing at dusk on a rainy day and take a couple outside the store. Only then look through them to check brightness and clarity in the low light. (Get the sales person to go with you and hand you the scopes without telling you which one it is. A little blind test.)

Also if you can, find a couple rifles to hold with scopes on them. Now get into real shooting postitions (kneeling, standting, sitting, prone) and dial that zoom up. If you can handle the scope wobble from these positions great, but I doubt you can. Most can't. I know I can't, especially over 200m.

If you wait until the first weekend in March, the Fraser Valley Outdoor show will have great deals on stuff like this. Plus, Bushnell and Leupold dealers will be there with all their scopes to look through. The deals are worth waiting for and the time to save up is worth it too. Besides, what can you hunt bewteen now and March anyway? The other question is one I was told - always buy scopes that are at least as good as your bino's, cause it would really suck to see a big animal in your binos and then look through your scope and you cannot really see it.... do you take the shot and guess? Buying a better scope is worth it!
-Tarp Man

[Husky7mm]

I have a 4-12 Elite 3200 without firefly, I love the scope! The best part about it is its always maintians zero.I also have a B&L 3200 3-9L Its has been excellent. Every time I purchase a" buget" optic it has broke or failed or just dissapointed me. In the end I upgraded anyway so it acually cost more to cheep out on hunting gear in the end!

[Elkhound]

On my 30-06 Elite 3200 3-9X40. Love it.
Just bought an Elite 3200 3-9x50 for the .338

Wholesale sports carries the 3-9x40 for $250, You can not go wrong with that price. Everyone is on a budget, that I really understand, but I would save an extra few dollars every time for an Elite scope. And that Rainguard system is the best.

[CanAm500]

Ok, the past 5 posts have really changed my mind. I have a friend that is going to buy my scope that is on my model 710, so that will give me some money to spend on a new one.

I am going to go to the Duncan Sportman Show this sunday, and look around. If I can find one for a resinalbe price (bushnell 3200) I will buy it. I also got a local gunsmith gaterhing some scopes up for me (told him I wanted a scope for deer and/or bear hunting but must also be good for the range).

So I will look into the 3200 some more, but keep your reviews comin!!

[CanAm500]

Besides, what can you hunt bewteen now and March anyway?
-Tarp Man

I know, but I still go to the range to pop off some rounds :razz:.

[CanAm500]

Ok, after some quick research and some consulting from my dad I have decided to get the Bushnell Elite 3200 in 3-9x50. I want a bigger field of veiw/recticle.

Now to wait until sunday for the gun show in Duncan.

[atri]

I have decided to get the Bushnell Elite 3200 in 3-9x50. I want a bigger field of veiw/recticle.

If you're getting the 50mm: check that your rings are high enough so that the objective clears the barrell. Moreover, if you plan to put on scope covers, make sure you'll have the clearance as well.

[CanAm500]

Alright, thanks for the info Atri!