Author Topic: Bushnell Elite vs. Leupold VX2.. Biggest bang for your buck? (Read 2527 times)

HuntingGuy · « **on:** July 12, 2004, 09:41:49 AM »

Hey Guys-

I am starting to get into a lot of rifle shooting and buying. These 500.00 Leupold VX3's are just getting too pricey at 6 or 7 guns a year!

So I am evaluating other options, and I am wondering which scope is best for the money? Leupold VX2 or Bushnell Elite 3200 or 4200?

Sure, some guns deserve a 500.00 scope, but the others I think can manage with a 300.00 scope

Thank you!

HuntingGuy

Steelhead · « **Reply #1 on:** July 12, 2004, 09:45:18 AM »

I am a sucker for the Leupold's. You don't give up ANYTHING with the VX-II. They are lighter then the 4200 and have better eye relief, that is why I like them.

Zachary · « **Reply #2 on:** July 12, 2004, 10:10:49 AM »

Yes, the VXIIs are certainly lighter than the Elite 4200s, and they do have longer eye relief. However, comparing quality with quality, and apples to apples, the VXII should be compared with the Elite 3200, and the VXIII should be compared to the Elite 4200. In each respective category, there is no question, in my opinion, that the Elites are a better buy and thus bang for the buck. Don't get me wrong, the Leupolds are great, but they are indeed pricey.

I own both and have used both.

Zachary

HuntingGuy · « **Reply #3 on:** July 12, 2004, 10:16:44 AM »

I just think it is going to be easier said than done to get out of my Leupold state! The one thing that really seperates Leupold from other companies in my eyes is their warranty. Break it, send it back, get a new one.. Now THATS service.

HuntingGuy

Zachary · « **Reply #4 on:** July 12, 2004, 11:58:41 AM »

Yes, that's definately true.

TheOpticZone · « **Reply #5 on:** July 12, 2004, 03:23:26 PM »

Well, here my opinion on this one. The Elite 4200 is better than the VX-II which is better than the Elite 3200. Before this year, everyone was comparing the Vari-X III's to the Elite 4200's. Nothing has changed with the Elite 4200's, but the Vari-X III's have been downgraded to the VX-II model. So basically when you looking at the new VX-II, you are getting an old Vari-X III model.

Graybeard · « **Reply #6 on:** July 12, 2004, 11:50:45 PM »

Quote

I just think it is going to be easier said than done to get out of my Leupold state! The one thing that really seperates Leupold from other companies in my eyes is their warranty. Break it, send it back, get a new one.. Now THATS service.

HuntingGuy

Bushnell Elite warranty is EXACTLY the same as Leupold's. No difference at all.

GB

Daniel · « **Reply #7 on:** July 13, 2004, 11:54:58 AM »

Yep, Leupold no longer has a monopoly on good warranty service. I don't know about Bushnell, but Zeiss is every bit as good as Leupold in this regard.

Zachary · « **Reply #8 on:** July 13, 2004, 01:13:55 PM »

I think that there is a difference between a written warranty and customer service regarding a warranty.

While both Leupold and Elites have the same lifetime warranties, I personally have no first hand experience with their actual customer service regarding their warranty. In other words, a company can have a lifetime warranty, but take a year to fix it, or at the most attempt to try and fix it, then the written warranty really ain't much to brag about.

I'm not saying that Leupold's customer repair service is better or worse than that of Bushnell for their Elites because, like I said, I don't have any problems to exercise the right to use the warranty. The only thing that I have heard is that Leupold's customer service is apparently second to none - quick and fast with complete customer satisfaction.

For those of you who had to send their scopes for warranty work, can anyone either confirm or deny?

Zachary

quickdtoo · « **Reply #9 on:** July 13, 2004, 01:35:21 PM »

I've never had a bid of a problem with my leupold scopes, but I have read that some customers have not been real happy with leupold CS. This is the only link I have concerning this in general. I have read a lot of individual complaints of leupold basically telling the customer that the scope is working properly and that's all leupold would do for them. Reading between the lines on some of these complaints, I detected some personality conflicts between customers and the leupold staff, but that is just an opinion. I've also heard a lot of praise for leupold CS. Anyway, these shooters surely weren't very happy with leupold in the least.

http://www.benchrest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15286&page=1&pp=15

Zachary · « **Reply #10 on:** July 13, 2004, 02:38:52 PM »

That's a very interesting string of posts. I noted that it seemed to be pegged with Leupold's Benchrest scopes. I wonder if Leupold's CS is the same with all other models? I woudn't see why?

I must also say that I'm kinda surprised. I usually hear great things about their service.

Oh well, I'm just glad that I don't have ANY problems with either my Nikons, Elites, or Leupolds.

Zachary

Buckfever · « **Reply #11 on:** July 27, 2004, 01:49:28 AM »

Zachary I noticed you did not mention your Zeiss. I am thinking of trying one in the future. Did you have a problem with your's? Buckfever

smoky · « **Reply #12 on:** July 27, 2004, 03:51:28 AM »

I own and shoot several Leupolds.

One of the things that makes them so popular is the extensive offering they have. I don't think any scope manufacturer even comes close to the Leupold lineup. Just as in my case, I prefer the the Leupold dot reticle, which I cannot get in another scope.

Also, consider that most decent scopes probably have sufficient glass for the vast majority of hunting situations. What some tend to forget or overlook is the internal workings of a scope and its ability to make definitive adjustments and hold zero. This is where I think the Leupold comes to the top.

Also take a look at any picture taken at a sillouette or bench rest match. Almost every gun on the line will be wearing a "gold ring" scope.

I'm certainly not saying that the elites, or for that matter, aetecs, sightrons, burris', weavers, etc aren't good scopes because they are. In fact, I think that these manufacturers have closed the gap between their optics and Leupolds in the past few years. But for me, a scope is usually going to be a lifetime purchase anyway, and the extra cost spread over that lifetime for something that I have total confidence in and familiarity with (and is exactly what I want without compromise) is worth it to me.

Just my 2 Cents,

Smoky

Robert · « **Reply #13 on:** July 27, 2004, 05:09:09 AM »

I am considering the VXII or the Elite 4200. I have an Elite 3200 on my Ultra-Mag..I am pretty happy with it, although..I could use a little more eye relief, I have heard the 4200 has more eye relief AND better light transmission for hunting at dawn and dusk. I am not reall happy with the Illuminator that I have on my 35 Whelen, it has pretty good light transmission, but not to good with F.O.V....and it has already drawn blood..I am tired of getting hit in the head with these magnums....it is not good to flinch when you are hunting or to be afraid of the gun hitting you in the eye. Question for you guys that have them....Am I ready for an expensive Leupold, or will I be satisfied with the 4200?

Steelhead · « **Reply #14 on:** July 27, 2004, 05:38:45 AM »

Well you can get a Leupold for less than the 4200 and be better served in the eye relief department. I have a Leupold 1-4x on my 35 Whelen. Of course you probably want something with a bigger objective, you could go with a VX-II in a 2-7 or a VX-III in 1.75-6x32mm for about $399.00. That would be my choice, I haven't been happy with the eye relief of the 4200 either.

flintlock · « **Reply #15 on:** July 27, 2004, 05:45:27 AM »

I have 3 VX-IIs...have sent them all back...no problems...had the parallex on my 3x9 compact on my Remingto 541 .22 adjusted to 50 or 60 yds..can't remember which...had both the 3x9x40 on my Ruger .243 and my Knight sent back and had the Heavy Duplex reticle installed...seems as I get older, I like a heavy duplex...all came back within 3 weeks...all track well...all gather enough light to shoot as late as you need to be shooting ... (in NC legal shooting hours are 30 minutes after sundown and 30 before sunrise)...If you shoot later than that you are illegal...so you might as well use a light instead of buying a more expensive scope :eek: JUST KIDDING :-D
One of my buddies used my 3x9x33 compact on his Model 7 .260 last year...was perfectly happy with light transmission...killed 3 deer with it...and one was right at the end of legal shooting time...
Have you considered a VX-I??? I understand they are the same as the old VX-II....but I'm not sure of this...I do have 2 buddies that have them, and they are happy with...
Also...has anyone had scopes sent back to Nikon or Bushnell...to have reticles changed or parallex adjusted??? Can they do that

What was the turn around time??? flintlock

jlk · « **Reply #16 on:** July 27, 2004, 08:43:27 AM »

Well, judging by the number of used scopes being sold, which ones do you see more of for sale. Apparently more people are keeping the (Bushnell or B&L 4200) more than the Leupold's. I see used Leupolds for sale everywhere, I know about the warrenty, and it is a good selling tool, but I would rather not have to try the warrenty out.

I did a side by side test with a Bushnell 4200 and a Leupold and the Bushnell was clearer and brighter set on the same power settings than the Leupold. Now that was through my eyes, I am talking physically doing the compairson myself, as apposed to taking someone else's word for it. I will possibly get flammed for this, but it was my test and I know what worked for me. I will use the old B&L or Bushnell 4200 over the Leupold based on my personal compairson.

Zachary · « **Reply #17 on:** July 27, 2004, 12:53:16 PM »

Quote from: Buckfever

Zachary I noticed you did not mention your Zeiss. I am thinking of trying one in the future. Did you have a problem with your's? Buckfever

The optics on it are great, but I haven't even had a chance to mount it on my rifle, so I really can't give you a personal report yet.

However, I have shot other friends' guns at the range with this scope, anywhere from .270 to .300Win Mag so that I can help them sight in the gun. Tracking was just excellent. No problems at the range.

Zachary

Graybeard · « **Reply #18 on:** July 27, 2004, 04:48:03 PM »

Quote

Question for you guys that have them....Am I ready for an expensive Leupold, or will I be satisfied with the 4200?

Personally I think you are a prime candidate for trading off that silly magnum no one really NEEDS to kill game cleaning at reasonable hunting ranges and get a .30-06. Recoil problem solved.

GB

7magWoodsman · « **Reply #19 on:** July 28, 2004, 03:26:38 AM »

I always loved Leupold but one time while I was hunting I saw a decent doe and decided I needed some more meat in the freezer so I shouldered the rifle and guess what...my Leupold had fogged internally, a total disgust , I returned home unmounted the scope drove with my rifle to town, bought a Nikon and have been using it ever since with no problems. I also have an Elite on another rifle and I love it, I would recommend The Bushnell Elite but maybe consider a Nikon Monarch the raingard does work but I have never missed a shot with the Nikon in the rain.
As for leupolds warranty, I gave the scope to a friend(I was going to trash but) he sent it in, they repaired(told him somehow it degassed) and he is very happy with it, as for me I will never buy another.

Cabin4 · « **Reply #20 on:** July 28, 2004, 05:00:49 AM »

I own both VX2's and Elite 3200's. I do not own a 4200. To me, the 3200 and VX2 appear to be optically equal. Don't know which will be more reliable in the long run. The Raingaurd feature on the 3200 is an added plus not to mention the lower price tag.

Steelhead · « **Reply #21 on:** July 28, 2004, 07:48:03 AM »

Quote

Well, judging by the number of used scopes being sold, which ones do you see more of for sale. Apparently more people are keeping the (Bushnell or B&L 4200) more than the Leupold's. I see used Leupolds for sale everywhere,

Well for one I guarantee there are more Leupolds than 3200 or 4200's out there, and not by a small margin. Secondly, Leupolds do MUCH better in the second hand market. People are still suspect of the Bushnell name.