Redfield/Bushnell/Prostaff scope inquiries.

T

the rifleer

New member
I want to put a reasonable quality scope on my k31.Ive narrowed it to a couple of scopes. The first is the Bushnell 3200 elite tactical 10x mildot scope. I've hears nothing but good things about this scope and I have heard people say they use them on 50 cal BMG's with good success.

The second it the Nikon prostaff 3-9x40. Again, I've heard alot of good things about them, but it doesn't have a mil dot or target turrets.

The last is the Redfield Revolution 3-9x40 with the Accu-retical or what ever its called. It is essentially a wannabe mildot that can be used for very quick shooting at 300, 400 and 500 yards.

They are all half decent scope. What I am REALLY looking for is something that I can reliably use out to 800 yards or so. I want to be able to turn the dials around and KNOW how much I am moving the bullet. If its 1/4 MOA adjustments, I want to move it 8 clicks at 300 yards and know that the bullet is going to impact 6 inches higher than the one before.

I don't care about clarity or fog/water proof or anything like that. I live in a place of low humidity and lots of sun. I want to shoot targets, not hunt with it. I don't care about its ability to capture light because it is always sunny here and I don't plan to shoot at dawn or dust.


I really just want a scope with reliable knobs and half-decent clarity. I don't need the best optics, I really want returnability and reliability. Im not a sniper, im not going to be in swamps or jumping hurdles with it, I just want to move the dial a few clicks and have it shoot where the cross hairs are for around $250. Is this feasable?
 
I like the new Redfields but their "Accureticle" or whatever is silly and too busy. If you choose it save the $10 and get the regular reticle.
 
Another vote for Redfield. I used to give the nod to the Prostaff as the best buy in a budget scope (It ain't bad either), but I like the Redfield a little better.
 
So most scopes are adjustable in terms of power. Does the adjustment have any effect on the zero of the scope. I.E., if I went from 3x to 9x then to 6x and screwed around with it until I got it where I liked it, would that ever effect the zero of the scope?
 
Go to NIKON Spot on and it will show you how hold overs are affected by changing the magnification. Now if you are just using a crosshair reticle, I don't think it messes with your zero if you change magnification power. I have the prostaff and redfield. The NIKON actually can be had in mildot, 4-12x40 from midway.
 
So most scopes are adjustable in terms of power. Does the adjustment have any effect on the zero of the scope. I.E., if I went from 3x to 9x then to 6x and screwed around with it until I got it where I liked it, would that ever effect the zero of the scope?
Click to expand...

With quality scopes your zero will not change. This can be an issue with some lower quality scopes. It would be very rare for this to be a problem with any of the scopes discussed so far.
 
Spot On

Marquez is correct. Go to Nikonhunting.com, click upper right hand corner,Spot On logo and it'll ask you to register,it's all free, then it'll take you to the
Spot On Ballistic Match Technology Program. Here you can enter whatever cal./ammo you shoot and get the ballistic information. If you reload you can go to the drag tables and enter that information.
Check it out, I hope you like it.
 


If you are going to be adjusting the reticle a lot (instead of using some type of reticle with hold-overs marked), then get the 3200 fixed 10x.


-tINY

 
I've owned both the Bushnell Elite 3200 10x Tactical model as well as the Nikon Prostaff. I've never owned the Redfield though. IMO after reading what you want to do with it I'd go with the Bushnell Elite 3200 Tactical. You say you want to twist the knobs and have it return to zero, and imo the Elite 3200 Tactical is the only one on that list that's going to do that.

The one I had had decent glass and was repeatable. I can't really complain about it. The only reason I got rid of it was I found a fixed 10x was more than what I needed on the rifle it was on.

The Prostaff while a decent scope that holds up decently, and tracks well enough for a hunting scope isn't something you want to be twisting the knobs on. Not to mention they take a coin or screwdriver to adjust. I'm not sure it would be repeatable enough for you to adjust back to where you came from either. This is just not the way to go for what you want. The glass is also not great in them, but decent for the price.

The Redfield is the same way. It's not something you want to be constantly twisting the knobs on and I'd not expect it to return to zero.

Another scope to check out if you want to dial in for long ranges and have it return to zero is the SWFA SS fixed power scopes. They are a lot of scope for the money.
 
Nikon ProStaff

Fusion, The 2011 Prostaff is redesigned and now comes with fully multicoated optics, return to zero 1/4 MOA turrets. I have had the pleasure of using these and I have not had any difficulty nor have my friends who have spun them back and forth, getting them to hold zero. The new ones also offer up to 98% light transmission which is excellent.
Defintely worth giving them another look.

http://www.nikonhunting.com/products/riflescopes/prostaff/3-9x40_BDC_RETICLE/6722
 
I have the Nikon ProStaff 3X9X50 and have had no problems with it.
I first installed it on a Marlin 30-30 and now its on a Remington 30-06.

I would buy another one..................
 
That's good to hear they are upgrading the turrets and glass on the Prostaff. Those were the only two things imo holding them back from being great. I'm curious to try one of these new ones out so I may have to get one.

For the record, I've never had any problems with them holding zero either, the one I've got holds zero great even through abuse, but I don't think it would return to the same spot if you cranked the knobs way up and then tried to bring them back to where they were. If you aren't cranking on the knobs constantly and you are just going to sight it in and leave it, it works perfectly though.
 
glad I was able to help

Glad I was able to help you out. My goal on this forum is to help with questions about Nikon Optics, inform where necessary, make guys aware of special promotions that could save them some $. I am not here to sell you a scope or Bino's, Just get you the correct information so that you can make the right decision for you. If you choose Nikon, great, if not, I hope you are happy with whatever you think will work best for your needs.
I do want to thank you guys for all your questions and PM's. Please continue to feel free to contact me, I am happy to help. If I don't get back to you right away be patient.
Thanks Guys!
 
I own a couple of Redfields, one is an older "WideField" and the other is their latest "Revolution" (mine is a 4X12). The new Redfields are essentially rebadged Leupold "Riflemans" and have the advantage of the fine Leupold warranty. So far, my new Revolution has been a good scope and I think the new Revolutions represent excellent values.
I also have a Nikon Prostaff and I have nothing but good things to say about it either, again, so far. I'm careful to use the qualifying phrase so far because I haven't owned either scope long enough to make qualified judgements yet. But the jury has been filtering in and I can say at this point in time, "so far, so good". :)
 
The Redfield Accurange and the Nikon BDC reticles have holdover points for quicker aim while hunting. I have both. They both work great for their intended purposes. After rereading your initial post, I think you would do best to go with a tactical scope and it sounds like the Bushnell fits the bill better than the Redfield and Nikon.
 
The Bushnell Elite is the only scope of the three that meets your criteria. I have one and its a decent scope for the money and the adjustments are easy and accurate. Downside is there is no parallax adjustment. Mines on an AR-10 and Ive had no issues.

The Redfield is a better scope IMO , but its a hunting scope. You zero it and leave it.
 
the rifleer said:
The first is the Bushnell 3200 elite tactical 10x mildot scope. ...

....

The last is the Redfield Revolution 3-9x40 with the Accu-retical or what ever its called....
Click to expand...
(Edited for brevity)

The only nice thing I can say about my 4200 Elite, is that Bushnell is supposed to have a refund check on its way to me. The 3200 and 4200 series are not worth the price. I thought my 4200 was pretty decent, initially... ...but began hating the scope, the longer I had it, and the more I used it in field conditions. Clarity and light transmission just weren't up to what a scope of that price should have. In addition, my 4200 had a wandering zero, with good (and tight) rings and a good (and tight) base.
(Bushnell has a 1 year guarantee on the Elite models. If you don't like it, send it back for a refund. ...But they don't cover shipping, taxes, or anything other than actual purchase price, up to MSRP. So, you're still out some of your hard earned money, if it doesn't work out.)

I have no personal experience with Nikon, but my father lost 2 ProStaff scopes in the last year (on a .30-06 and .223 - both bolt rifles). He went back to Leupold and Zeiss as replacements for the crapped-out Nikons.

And... the Redfield...
It's essentially a cheaper Leupold Rifleman, with the same warranty.
Some people don't like the Accu-Range reticle; some do.
I ordered the exact scope you're looking at, as a replacement for the Elite 4200 I sent back. In my opinion, it's an upgrade from the Bushnell Elite series. (And happens to shave 7 ounces off my "mountain rifle", versus the 4200.)

My vote is for the Redfield. (A year ago, it would have been for the Bushnell :eek:.)
 
I have two Nikon ProStaff's ... 4-12x40mm , first one Nikoplex reticle the second one BDC reticle.

The first one was one sale for $160 something after Christmas and that was right up my alley... It impressed me so much I bought the BDC from Dick's for another .22LR. Both are great for my limited use, I'm using .22's mostly indoors and they are great. But I have the juice to take them outdoors past 100-150 if the opportunity ever arises and I figure, I'm set forever on them.

I did get a Bushnell Rimfire 3-9x40 on my Savage as a combo- FAULTLESS. It really did an awesome job, I probably would have just left it on, but the rifle fell over at the range and landed on the scope, made a small mark and I think messed up the internals a bit... So I was never happy after that. I really wanted one of the Bushnell Elite 3200s, then I saw all the closeout specials for the 4200s, and I REALLY wanted some of those , but I kept wanting a bigger better more expensive 4200 elite and finally said enough is enough just buy another ProStaff 4-12 and be happy. And I am very happy.
 
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