I'm thinking of picking up a Bushnell SPortsman scope on sale. It's a 3x9, 40. Seems like a good basic scope. It has the right eye relief and length to attach to my rifle.

ANyone out there with experience w/ Bushnell and this scope? For a few bucks more I could move up to a "better" scope, but I'm too ignorant to know what features are important and which brands have the best value.

thanks for any ideas.

If you buy a $60 scope you will get a $60 scope. One gets what they pay for and with the Bushnell Sportsman you're not going to get much.

The Legend is likely to be the Bushnell scope offering the best value if you are on a limited budget. With fully multi-coated optics it will be much clearer and brighter than the limited performance of the Sportsman. It is just a much better scope for about twice as much money. If you can spend more, certainly do as it is not a good idea to scrimp on optics. For $200 you can get a Bushnell Elite 3200 3-9x40mm (forget the Firefly reticle) or even the heralded Sightron SII 3-9x42mm. If you buy the Bushnell Sportsman it is highly likely you will be disappointed, if you upgrade just a little you are likely to be satisfied.

I'm with Jack, I used to have a Bushnell Sportview and I believe this is the same scope. It was one half of the optics (along with Simmons Binos) that cost me the largest buck I've seen to date. Don't learn a lesson the hard way like I did and save your money and put it towards a better quality scope. Get the best you can afford and the Bushnell Elite is a good scope as is the Simmons AETEC. These are probably the only two scopes I would get from either of these makers. You can also get a Leupold VX-I for under $200 along with many others in that price range that are decent scopes.

Jackfish - Tell me a little about the Sightron SII 3x9x40 - worth the money? See where Lock, Stock and Barrel has them on sale.

For $200 the Sightron SII 3-9x42mm has to be one of the best values for a 3-9 variable scope. Excellent 7 layer full multi-coating and tracking, rugged construction, great eye relief and a lifetime "no-fault" immediate replacement warranty. I'd have one if I needed another scope. I wish I would have known more about them before I bought my last scope, a Leupold VX-II 2-7x33mm.

thanks...you've given me a lot to think about.

I have only shot one Sportsview (Sportchief) scope. It is a fixed 3 power with a 20 1/2 objective and was put on the rifle when it was brand new. It's a pretty cool scope in that it has both crosshairs or post that are selectable with a lever under the windage turret. I haven't had any problems with it so it has been going strong since the '80s on a rifle with a bit of recoil (Marlin 375 Win). I did replace it with a Bushnell Banner 1.5-4.5X32, like I have on the rest of my rifles. I did keep the 3X20.5 and it is now providing service on a ranch rifle. It's mounted on my Universal M1 Carbine and is doing an outstand job there.

About 4 years ago I wanted a compact low power variable to put on my 444P. A fellow on the old MarlinTalk recommended a Bushnell Banner 1.5-4.5X32. I had a two Banner scopes in use at the time so I spent some time on the Bushnell's web site (http://www.bushnell.com/products/riflescopes/riflescopes.cfm) and found out that I had a distant in-law who was a distributor for Bushnell and other scopes.

I took all that info and made a chart to compare the product line and here it is:

http://my.awesomenet.net/~shiela1/images/Firearms/Optics/Bushnell Chart.gif

Notice that the Sportsman series is not on the chart but I believe the only difference between the Sportsman, Banner, and Trophy series is the country of manufacture and the target retailers. For instance, you will find the Sportsview at Wal-Mart but I doubt the Trophy. That MarlinTalk member also directed me to D&R Sportcenter (https://www.dnrsports.net/miva/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=DSC&Category_Code=scopesbsn) as having the best prices on Bushnell products. This in-law also confirmed the fact as my retail price through D&R was cheaper than through his cost... they must sell a bunch. I believe D&R is not allowed to post prices on the top of the line products such as rangefinders, etc. because they are so low...

Anyway, 15 Banners and 1 Scopechief later, I'm still a happy camper. If your interest is in this scope, spend some time on the web site links above and read through Bushnell's Tech Notes.

I had a Sportsview n a .223 for ~6 ys. Rifle never got shot much...

Last year I gab the rifle to shot Yotes while visiting ILl (form CO). Scpe didn't survive the trip. It was an the rifle, in a hard case int the back of the truck... Checked it as the sun was comin up, and the cross hairs were GONE.

Gave it to a buddy who paid the $10 to have it fixed... Hope I never see it again!!

I believe Bushnell makes some fine scopes, don't think this product like is one of them

Best of luck

Nate

My dad's and my Bushnell's took two fine antelope on the opening day of the Texas antelope season this weekend.... pictures to follow!

It might be a little bit of a help if you told us what kind of gun this scope was going on, the caliber also. And the type of conditions you will be hunting under, ie long shots over a green field or powerline, or thick woods hunting where close shots are more common. Or maybee a combo of both?

If money is an issue here are a few scopes I can reccomend from past experience starting from cheapes to most expensive. Also I'll list a few differnt power ranges in case you might be looking for something other than just a 3x9x40

$60
Bushnell Banner 1.5x4.5
I used this scope on a 444 Winchester big bore. Held up to the recoil just fine. Great scope for the money. Good optics, Good reputation with other hunters, (check out any of RanchDog's posts on the matter). Adjustments repeatable and accurate. Lifetime warrenty and I know from personal experence that Bushnell's customer service is top notch.


$129-149
Nikon Pro Staff 2x7x32
I have this scope mounted on my Marlin 1895GS. Optics are incredibly clear and bright. Feild of view is great at 2x and has enough power for the longer shots at 7x. Again adjustments are repeatable and accurate. Hasn't shifted POI at all and comes with a lifetime warrenty. I think the Pro Staff series of scopes are one of the better deals going out there.

$199
Bushnell Elite 3200 3x9x40 with firefly glowing recticle
I bought one of these and put it on a BLR. Loved the scope, extremly clear and bright, ect. The firefly crosshairs are realy a nice feature, you just shine a flashlight on them for about a min and they will glow like illuminated crosshairs for about 10-15mins. Unforunatly it started to shift POI, I called Bushnell about it and they told me to send it in and they would give me a new one, or If I had my original reciept, that they would cut me a check for 100% of my purchase price tax and all. Now that is standing behind your product. I don't know of any other manufacture that offers a "you'll like it or you money back" on a scope. Thats right, I read their site and you can get your money back within the first year of ownership if you just don't like the scope for whatever reason. Due to the way I was treated, and the quality of their products I always try to reccomend bushnell products to people. And if you have the money their Elite 4200 line of scopes are really some of the best out there.

You said you were looking for a basic scope so I'll stop at the $200 mark, but there are better scopes for more money out there. But really I know I could do 100% of my hunting with any of the scopes I listed

thanks for all the info, folks.

What am I using it for...let's see. This started out as a scope for a project 308 Mauser that I bought for $125 on guntrader. But as I started climbing up the product lines from the basic scope...and learning more, I've decided to get a good scope for another rifle and put the existing bargain scope on the 308.

It could go on a 30-06 with up to 200 yard shots likely, 300 yards are possible.

Might go on a 45-70 that thumps real hard. I think durability here and less concerned about distance.

I have a 30 cal magnum, but it's shooting cloverleafs now with the current SImmons scope...best not to monkey with that one. That's the choice.

GI Joes has Bushnell Trophy 3-9x40 at $75. Midway just sent me their flyer and shure enough they have Bushnell Legends for $119. But, I'm thinking the elite.

I have a Bushnell Sportview but it's not on any of my guns anymore, just sitting in a drawer.

I don't need high quality optics - heck my eyes are a little blurry already so I'm not going to notice that bit of a difference if the scope is a little blurry around the edges. The clarity of the Busnell Sportview is acceptable for my purposes.

I don't need a super bright scope. If it's too dark to shoot then too bad. I don't need to spend a bunch of money to be able to shoot in the twilight. The Bushnell Sportview gathers all the light I need, thank you very much.

All I need is to be able to hit my target. A cheap basic scope that will put a bullet on target is what I'm looking for. My Bushnell Sportview allowed me to do this if my target was at least 8" in diameter. That ain't good enough. The Sportview I have is a piece of junk.

I have a $70 Millet 4X32 and a $30 Barska that will stay on target better than that crappy Sportview. I wasted $10 sending it in to Bushnell and they sent it back saying there's nothing wrong with it. :rolleyes:

Don't waste your $60 on a Bushnell Sportview. I'm not telling you you have to spend $200 for a scope that will hold a zero. But if you're paying less than that you're taking your chances.

Oh yeah, with all the money I wasted on ammo and shipping that pig back to Bushnell for inspection I'd have nearly enough money to get a Leupold Rifleman, a Burris, a Weaver, a Mueller, or a Sightron. Buying the Sportview was definitely a mistake.

If you shoot your gun once a year at deer camp and only care about hitting a pie plate at 30 yards, the $60 Sportview is right up your alley!