Bushnell Trophy 3-9x40mm Multi-X reticle $59.99

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Bushnell Trophy 3-9x40mm Multi-X reticle $59.99 -https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/bushnell-trophy-3-9-x-40-riflescope

If you are looking for a low cost scope option, it's hard to beat Bushnell Trophy which provides brighter/sharper view than Banner/Dusk & Dawn and on par with Leupold American Marksman at less than half the price along with lifetime warranty.

Here's my side-by-side comparison test - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...mendation-for-308.842282/page-2#post-10944780

"6/10/18 UPDATE: Received the Bushnell Trophy 3-9x40mm scopes and compared to Leupold American Marksman 3-9x40mm and Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn AO 6-18x50mm tonight.

Between 9 PM and 9:30 PM PST, I focused on a car grill emblem parked 100 yards away and nearby objects under canopy of 100+ feet of redwood and pine trees without any other ambient lighting.

Even with diminishing ambient lighting that made it difficult to see the grill emblem with my eyes, I was able to clearly see the emblem with Leupold. (FYI, for my eyes, Leupold Marksman 3-9x40mm provides brighter view than my old Bushnell Banner 3-9x40mm)

But the surprise came when I viewed the Bushnell Trophy 3-9x40mm. Initially, Bushnell Trophy view seemed slightly brighter than Marksman. I went back and forth with Leupold Marksman and while Leupold Marksman provided bright sharp images of grill emblem and car body parts, Bushnell Trophy seemed to register sharper initial image that I did not need to adjust to. I adjusted the focus of both scopes and my impression is Bushnell Trophy is on par with Leupold Marksman or has slight edge."
 
cheygriz said:
Old Italian proverb:
"Cheapa U buy, cheapa U get."

I've owned a dozen cheap scopes over the years. Regretted wasting my money on every one of them.
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20 years ago, I would have agreed with you but this is 2018 and that notion has not been always true for several years due to globalization.

Like "Made in Japan" no longer means junk, "Made in China/Made in Korea" no longer always mean junk.

On recommendation by many, I bought two CenterPoint 4-16x40mm AO IR and after many years of shooting 9mm/40/45 carbines and .223/.300BLK/.308 rifles, I would not call them junk. If somebody was looking to buy Bushnell Banner 3-9x40mm, I would definitely persuade them towards Bushnell Trophy 3-9x40mm as I believe it is a superior product.

As to Bushnell Trophy 3-9x40mm mentioned for this thread at $59.99, for my eyes, I would gladly say comparable to Leupold American Marksman at less than half the price - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...mendation-for-308.842282/page-2#post-10944780

Personally, I prefer Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn 6-18x50mm AO but price is around $100.
 
bds said:
20 years ago, I would have agreed with you but this is 2018 and that notion has not been always true for several years due to globalization.

Like "Made in Japan" no longer means junk, "Made in China/Made in Korea" no longer always mean junk.

On recommendation by many, I bought two CenterPoint 4-16x40mm AO IR and after many years of shooting 9mm/40/45 carbines and .223/.300BLK/.308 rifles, I would not call them junk. If somebody was looking to buy Bushnell Banner 3-9x40mm, I would definitely persuade them towards Bushnell Trophy 3-9x40mm as I believe it is a superior product.

As to Bushnell Trophy 3-9x40mm mentioned for this thread at $59.99, for my eyes, I would gladly say comparable to Leupold American Marksman at less than half the price - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...mendation-for-308.842282/page-2#post-10944780

Personally, I prefer Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn 6-18x50mm AO but price is around $100.
Click to expand...
How's the clarity on those center points?
 
I'm sure that you're at least partially correct in that the cheap glass is far better than it was 20 years ago.

My "rule of thumb" is, and always has been that the scope should be roughly the same price, as the rifle you mount it on.

There's a scope available for every taste from $25 to $2500. You pays yo money and you takes yo pick!:thumbup:

Personally, I'll stick to Trijicon, Vortex Razor, Night Force, Swarovski, S&B etc.:)
 
Once you experience the difference between good glass and poor glass at dusk when trying to make out the shot on game, it will sour you on cheap scopes, at least for when it is needed.

Want a cheap shooter for playing at the range? Some of the cheap scopes will do fine.
 
Walkalong said:
Once you experience the difference between good glass and poor glass at dusk when trying to make out the shot on game, it will sour you on cheap scopes, at least for when it is needed
Click to expand...

Walkalong, do you remember the old adage:
With my Bushnell, I could tell that there was a man on the other side of the lake. With my Leupold, I could tell he was smoking a cigarette. With my Schmidt & Binder, I could tell what brand of cigarette.":)
 
Ummm ... you do all realize this thread is about sub $60 scope with comparisons made at 100 yards?

When Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Mazda 3, Hyundai Elantra, etc. are being compared for daily commute, talking about 0-60 times of sub 4 seconds by higher HP sports cars being better is not necessarily applicable.

I certainly hope $300-$500+ scopes provide better clarity than $60 Bushnell Trophy, but I started the thread in the hopes to benefit members who maybe in the market for sub $100 scope for more casual work.

I am in the belief there is a market segment for $60 3-9x40mm scope of Bushnell Trophy quality with lifetime warranty. Of course, you can spend hundreds more but if Bushnell Trophy suits need, why spend more?
 
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cheygriz said:
Walkalong, do you remember the old adage:
With my Bushnell, I could tell that there was a man on the other side of the lake. With my Leupold, I could tell he was smoking a cigarette. With my Schmidt & Binder, I could tell what brand of cigarette.":)
Click to expand...
bds said:
Ummm ... you do all realize this thread is about sub $60 scope with comparisons made at 100 yards?

When Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Mazda 3, Hyundai Elantra, etc. are being compared for daily commute, talking about 0-60 times of sub 4 seconds by higher HP sports cars being better is not necessarily applicable.

I certainly hope $300-$500+ scopes provide better clarity than $60 Bushnell Trophy, but I started the thread in the hopes to benefit members who maybe in the market for sub $100 scope for more casual work.

I am in the belief there is a market segment for $60 3-9x40mm scope of Bushnell Trophy quality with lifetime warranty. Of course, you can spend hundreds more but if Bushnell Trophy suits need, why spend more?
Click to expand...

Combined those two post (exept the Leupold part, I've never seen well thru them, untill this last one I got), and you have my desires, and reality lol.
 
bds said:
Ummm ... you do all realize this thread is about sub $60 scope with comparisons made at 100 yards?

When Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Mazda 3, Hyundai Elantra, etc. are being compared for daily commute, talking about 0-60 times of sub 4 seconds by higher HP sports cars being better is not necessarily applicable.

I certainly hope $300-$500+ scopes provide better clarity than $60 Bushnell Trophy, but I started the thread in the hopes to benefit members who maybe in the market for sub $100 scope for more casual work.

I am in the belief there is a market segment for $60 3-9x40mm scope of Bushnell Trophy quality with lifetime warranty. Of course, you can spend hundreds more but if Bushnell Trophy suits need, why spend more?
Click to expand...
Would be a killer scope on top of my marlin 62 30carbine. Maybe price will hang til I get my christmas and birthday money to blow. With 30 carbine there is absolutely no reason to ever need more scope than this gives.
 
WestKentucky said:
Would be a killer scope on top of my marlin 62 30carbine. Maybe price will hang til I get my christmas and birthday money to blow. With 30 carbine there is absolutely no reason to ever need more scope than this gives.
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PM me your address and I will PIF Bushnell Trophy 4-12x40mm scope for $69.97 to you for Christmas - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...2x40mm-69-99-with-free-2-day-shipping.844589/

bds said:
20 years ago, I would have agreed with you but this is 2018 and that notion has not been always true for several years due to globalization.
Click to expand...
cheygriz said:
I'm sure that you're at least partially correct in that the cheap glass is far better than it was 20 years ago.
Click to expand...
bds said:
If somebody was looking to buy Bushnell Banner 3-9x40mm, I would definitely persuade them towards Bushnell Trophy 3-9x40mm as I believe it is a superior product.
Click to expand...
LoonWulf said:
I've never seen well thru them, until this last one I got
Click to expand...
Some things change over time. Some manufacturers improve product line over time.

Due to globalization, manufacturing technology and equipment could be shared and quality improve over time. As a result, cost could lower.

I have a coworker who is a major in the Air Force reserves who already has masters in Business Management and I am helping her with PhD assignments and projects (I tutored math in High School as I attended Saturday program at CalTech for math/physics and worked as Teacher's Assistant for Calculus in college). I just got done helping her with CPM diagram and GANTT/PERT charting used to set business project path and cost projections and previous assignments I helped with addressed recent decade/years change in manufacturing process and globalization.

Fact is, global companies wishing to stay profitable/competitive demand continued improvement in product line/quality management and seek out manufacturers/production options/component development/supply chain to improve quality of products and/or lower cost which results in increased sales/profit margin. As companies compete to improve their products/manufacturing process and lower cost, we consumers benefit with improved products and/or lower cost.

You can bet Vista Outdoor which split from ATK and owns Bushnell, Weaver, Millet, Redfield, Night Optics, Simmons, Tasco (and host of other companies) is doing just that and why we are seeing Bushnell at competitive pricing as they work to increase their market share and brand loyalty.

Just because companies may be successful in product line/manufacturing improvement to lower cost doesn't necessarily mean quality is lower. On the contrary, I believe overall manufacturing in China/Korea has improved over the last decade. Who knew an unknown car maker Hyundai who brought us Excel for $4995 now come with lifetime dealer warranty and expanded with Genesis line/bought Kia to produce performance cars like Stinger GT which compares in performance with Mustang GT but has 4 doors with AWD Stinger beating "enhanced" Mustang GT in quarter mile drag race (Stinger GT is on top of my retirement car list to replace C5 Corvette Z06).

Yes, some things change over time. Some manufacturers improve product line over time.

 
For the record I love me some Hyundai, and Kia
I've had a 2nd and 3rd gen suped up Tiburons, and our family car (and when I get around to fixing the second one my 4x4 suv) is a kia.
Much for the same reasons I like Bushnell's, and Athlons, and Nikon's, and Burris. Cost to performance is excellent.
 
And this thread right here is why i keep coming here and will till the day i die! I've been on a few other forums but this one has the best people by far! Any other forum this would have turned into a yelling match about who's stuffs better but instead we have people helping one another out!
 
I have been a fortunate recipient of generosity and PIF starting with my shooting and reloading mentor who was a bullseye/PPC match shooter. He helped me build my first match 1911 making me do all the gunsmith work including 2.5 lb trigger job and hand fitting all Wilson Combat components on Norinco frame. I recall spending almost 4 hours on beaver tail grip safety with Harbor Freight diamond files but when I gripped the finished pistol with my aching/spasming hands, sense of achievement and appreciation for connecting with firearm I "customized for me" overwhelmed my mere desire to shoot.

What my mentor did was teaching me to "fish" instead of just "giving" me a fish. As he made me shave the lead bottoms of FMJ bullets so they weighed exactly the same and ensured I focused on finished dimensions of match rounds regardless which press they were loaded on (He trained me on both Dillon 550 and Lee Pro 1000), he worked on "transferring" his knowledge and experience of shooting and reloading.

While he worked on producing tight groups at 50 yards, he helped me produce tighter groups at 15/25 yards. While preparing for a PPC match, he had me shoot several pistols at 25 yards to determine which was most accurate. To my surprise, a Ruger P89 that I never shot before produced the smallest groups and whiling smiling he told me to conduct my own tests instead of listening to other people's opinions.

Why am I posting this on a thread about economy scope?

In my mentor's honor, over the decades, I have carried the notion he taught me to conduct objective tests myself. Many match shooters were surprised to find out I loaded my match loads on Pro 1000. But when my rounds produced comparable and smaller shot groups compared to their blue and red presses, they were curious and showed up at my house with scales and calipers. What they found was while I used the same Montana Gold jacketed bullets, my powder drops were more consistent and did not drift over 1000-2000 round reloading session and my finished dimensions were often more consistent.

When my defensive shooting instructor (who taught PD/SD SWAT teams and USPSA RSO) showed me the virtues of point shooting, he also taught me to "fish" how to shoot consistently regardless of pistol used and dared me to shoot USPSA matches with my defensive pistol which was Glock 22. So with two factory stock Glock 22s (and more "how to fish" teachings by regional USPSA shooters), I climbed the local club ladder against open/limited division shooters (with $2000-$3000 race guns) and when I surpassed above 80 percentile ranking, got the accolades of other shooters as I shared with them the virtues of match ammo production and shooting technique consistency regardless of brand/price of components and firearms.

Fast forward to THR where I have spent the past 8 years posting and PIF the knowledge and experience of these generous mentors.

Even though I have 12 presses (Including Dillon 650 with case feeder), I intentionally use the humble Pro 1000 for all of my test rounds used for THR threads as it is capable of .001" OAL variance with less than .1 gr powder charge variance (.05 gr with Sport Pistol). All 9mm/40S&W testing is done with factory stock Glock 22/23/27 using 40-9 conversion barrels. Scopes I use for 25/50/100 yard testing are also lower cost Bushnell and I picked up Leupold American Marksman last year as a reference comparison benchmark which Trophy 3-9x40mm matched (BTW, I bought 8 scopes last year which I shared and gave away as Christmas presents).

Point I am making is regardless brand name or price of equipment, as long as they perform consistently and meet certain performance standards, it is acceptable for me.

Is cost a factor for me?

Not really.

I spent over $120,000 the past 27 years of shooting and reloading and last year spent $10,000 on shooting/reloading related items and this year spent over $5000 just during Black Friday. So no, cost is not a factor for me as I can buy whatever I want to due to being able to trade more than my monthly salary on a consistent basis (and I have 5 figure monthly salary) as illustrated on this board I moderate (which BTW is my "how to fish" PIF for those seeking a new hobby of financial independence) - https://investorshub.advfn.com/Swing-Trading-Model-36395/

I think Bushnell which is owned by a HUGE company Vista Outdoor that also owns Federal, CCI, Speer, Alliant powders, etc. has done the necessary work to improve Trophy line of product so their 3-9x40mm at $60 and 4-12x40mm at $70 scopes represent the NEW NORMAL for quality and pricing for entry level and higher level market segment.

As to PIF, I will continue my promise to rcmodel who graciously sent me some of his reloading equipment before passing to support THR and perpetuate the notion of teaching "how to fish" to future generation of shooters and reloaders, even at the lowest possible cost factor so everyone can enjoy their hobby/passion even though they do not have much money. ;)

Peace and Merry Christmas.
 
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I still say:
If one puts a five-hundred dollar scope on a two-thousand dollar rifle, one has a five-hundred dollar rifle, therefore; if one puts a $59.00 scope on a $500.00 rifle, one has a $59.00 rifle.

I know that’s just fine for some people, but for others it isn’t. For me it is not, with nicer scopes my eyes don’t get as tired and strained. I’m also down with Walkalong concerning low light performance because it seems most of the animals I shoot are crepuscular.
 
cdb1 said:
I still say:
If one puts a five-hundred dollar scope on a two-thousand dollar rifle, one has a five-hundred dollar rifle, therefore; if one puts a $59.00 scope on a $500.00 rifle, one has a $59.00 rifle.

I know that’s just fine for some people, but for others it isn’t. For me it is not, with nicer scopes my eyes don’t get as tired and strained. I’m also down with Walkalong concerning low light performance because it seems most of the animals I shoot are crepuscular.
Click to expand...
I do agree with the low light part of the scopes. I compared a Nikon prostaff and Luepold VX2 at low light and the leupold shined. I'm not one to shoot something right at very last light. say 5min before legal light because i really cannot see it that well regardless of what scope i have. I like watching where they run too so i know where to start tracking and if i shoot something that i can see through the scope but cannot see with the naked eye i maybe out there for hours in the dark searching for it.
 
For low light, definitely consider 50mm objective.

Optics Planet is selling Bushnell Trophy 3-9x50mm for $141 with 5% THR discount on $50+ order with THRFORUM discount code - https://www.opticsplanet.com/bushnell-trophy-3-9x-50mm-multi-x-reticle-riflescope.html

You can also buy Bushnell Legend Ultra 3-9x50mm for $159 with free shipping - https://www.amazon.com/Bushnell-Multi-X-Reticle-Riflescope-3-9x50-mm/dp/B006UJ004Q

I have Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn 6-18x50mm AO and works very well under low lights. At $99 and free shipping, hard to beat the price too - https://www.amazon.com/Bushnell-Multi-X-Adjustable-Objective-Riflescope/dp/B00IYHG1MM?th=1&psc=1
 
I've shot dozens (probably hundreds) of critters at last light, and while spotlighting, and while I again DO like expensive scopes, I've never passed on a shot inside of 50-100yds I thought I could have made with a scope that was 2-3x the cost of what I was using.
The two best scopes I owned during highschool we're a Bushnell trophy and a pre-monarch Nikon. The Nikon I got senior year (as a gift from a friend I took hunting on our property a few times a year. It's now been gifted to a member of the site and continues to soldier on) , and the trophy went to live on my .22 that I used for game control.

I never felt underguned or scoped, even when hunting with my buddy who used leupolds or redfields, and high-power rifles for the same tasks.
He could do stuff a little farther out, far enough for me to not want to stumble out and pick it up. But that was more related to his .30-06 than the scope lol.
Again, I don't need to be able to see the deers, goat, sheep, pigs, cigarette to be getting second hand carcinogens later.

If I'm gonna spend an hour or two behind the scope, am shooting in poor conditions (looking into bright light) or going on a once in a lifetime (I lie, I did the Kahuku ranch hunt with a rem 700sps and a Midway Simmons 6.5-20) tho I much prefer to do so with a higher end optic.
Otherwise I'm very happy with my "cheap" scopes.

I'll never say DONT spend the money on expensive optics, infact I'll happily suggest you DO, but I also won't crap on the guy who uses the 50 dollar Simmons, Bushnell, or Tasco. Especially considering how many critters I've seen those scopes put on a plate....and fired from guns that hold a 6" group at 100yds, if they are lucky.
 
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