Firearms Talk banner

AR scope Vortex or Bushnell

3K views 17 replies 10 participants last post by  JTJ 
#1 ·
I'm looking for a scope for my AR. Will be shooting static only. I was looking on the Vortex Diamondback tactical 4-12x40 and the bushnell 4.5-18x40 with Dropzone reticle. What would be the better choice? I like the reticle on the vortex but the bushnell got higher magnification I would prefer that. Which one is better in terms of optic qualitiy and tracking on the turrets? Does the paralax adjust acutally work? I know thats not the case on some cheap scopes like this. But if it works it would be a huge plus. Or maybe is there something completly different out there thats maybe even better?
Thanks for your advice guys!
 
#2 ·
May I suggest a 3rd option? The http://cameralandny.com/products.ht...s+4-20x50&catalog[sort][on]=relevance&x=0&y=0 Athlon Argos 4-20x50 with SF for only $249.99 would be an excellent choice.

FEATURES
Fully Multicoated Fully Multicoated optics effectively reduces reflected light and increases the transmission of light giving you a brighter image than normal single coated lenses
XPL Coating XPL Coating gives you an extra protection on the exterior lenses from dirt, oil and scratches or anything else mother nature can throw at you.
Aircraft Grade Aluminum Aircraft Grade Aluminum provide extra strength and durability to handle the toughest terrain and offers lifetime of use.
Heat Treated One Piece Tube Construction Heat treated one piece tube gives the scope extra strength over multi-piece tubes. A one piece tube also is better at keeping moisture out thus keeping your scope fog proof for the life of the product
Waterproof Waterproof to protect the scope in the harshest weather conditions or if accidently submerged underwater
Fog proof Fog proof to allow you to immediately engage your target when you take your rifle to cold ambient temperature from warm inside
Shockproof Robust mechanical system with special designs on both control and erector system that give you the ultimate recoil resistance to withstand 1000G recoil for 1000 times.
Argon Purged Argon Purging uses the inertia gas with bigger size molecules to purge any moisture out of the tube giving you better waterproofing and thermal stability .

SPECIFICATION


Magnification 4-20
Objective Lens Diameter 50 mm
Reticle BDC 600
Surface Finish Matte
Lens Coating Fully Multicoated
Extra Coating XPL Coating
Tube Material 6063
Tube Diameter 1 inch
Exit Pupil 12.5-2.5 mm
Eye Relief >3.8 inches
Field of View @100 yards 23.6-4.7 ft
Click Value 1/4 MOA
Adjustment range per rotation 15 MOA
Total Elevation Adjustment 50 MOA
Total Windage Adjustment 50 MOA
Turret Style Capped
Parallax Adjustment side focus
Purging Material Argon
Length 13.1 inches
Weight 19.5 oz
Reticle Subtension Validity 15x
User Instruction Manual Download

This Argos 4-20×50 model has Athlon BDC 600 second focal plane reticle in it. Please click the link for more details of reticle subtension.

The BDC600 reticle will work with any of the following ammunition loads: .223 Win 55gr / .243 Win 95gr / .25-06 Rem 115gr / .270 Win 130gr / .270 WSM 150gr / 7mm Rem Mag 150gr / 7mm WSM 150gr / .300 Winchester Mag 180gr / 300 WSM 180gr / .308 Win 150gr / .338 Win 200gr

SKU#:214015

 
#6 ·
I like the Bushnell, but the Vortex ain't bad!

For an inexpensive scope, have you looked at Centerpoint? I have a 45-70 that was eating scopes. At the advice o a friend, I topped it with a Centerpoint. It has been running strong for years.

I recently bought a second Centerpoint. A 6x20x50. I bought it specifically because it was the only scope in the store that had adjustable parallax and did not cost $800 or more. I mounted it on a Ruger Precision Rimfire. The scope is clear and repeatable. My only complaint is at the higher magnifications it stats to wash out, it's good up to about 18 power but will need some kind of sun shade beyond that.
 
#7 ·
Centerpoint are not avilible in europe at least not for a good price. But still not sure about the opical quality of the vortex (diamondback hp) and the bushnell (ar optics) in comparision? I don't know much about buget optics on my other rifles I got swarovski scopes. And I know it won't be even near that quility.
 
#8 ·
I'd stay away from the lower end Vortex scopes, and also the Bushnell AR scopes. The Bushnell has great glass in it, but everything else about it sucks.

Being in Europe, look into the lower end Zeiss, Meota, or other scopes produced in your neck of the woods. The quality of them alone is worth staying away from the cheaply made Chinese scopes.
 
#10 ·
Over the 50 years of shooting and hunting I have found the following to be true for me when I decide on a scope and its relevance to the job I expect it to perform.

1. Magnification has its uses and its limitation. My experience shows that when I have shot at distances beyond 500 to 1000 yards on a hot day the scope is always dialed between 7X and 10X. I get best sight picture at that mag level with the least distortion and haze, and mirage.

2. Magnification for me beyond 10X is good for me only when I want to see how many points the deer has or to ensure it is not a doe so that I do not have to track it long distances. Only time I love to use 10x or more is when I shoot a 200 yard target with a rimfire rifle or I am shooting for tiny groups with a rimfire.

3. Reticles on a scope are very personal so decide what you like best just know that BDC reticles have advantages and disadvantages. For me the advantage is that you can shoot further distances if the scope has very little MOA elevation. The con is that the reticle will only work for that specific bullet weight you zeroed with.

4. If I am shooting for long distances I than want the scope to have enough Moa elevation to get me there so this will be a deciding factor.

5. All else equal between brands the deciding factor will be optical quality not price.
 
#11 ·
The BDC on 2nd focal plane scopes only works at 1 magnification. Usually the highest but some are set at 10X. Check out at what magnification your choice will perform at and remember it is the only X you can use. A BDC that only works at high X is not a great idea.
1st focal plane is harder to find but works through the whole range. The reticle changes size with magnification.
I have a Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6X24 and if I want to use the BDC I have to use 6X. I dont see me shooting over 300 meters so I dont need a higher X but it would get me out to 600 meters if necessary.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Imurhuckleberry
#15 ·
Snow Deer hunting Vertebrate Dog Carnivore

Scopes with aux aiming points in the reticle work fine with different loads.........just gotta find out what the points correspond to LOL.

Accuracy of a stock AR........usually pretty darn decent, if the trigger gets some love.

My last Frankengun, another 16"..........for yotes. It wears a Redfield Revolution 2-7X.
Regular duplex reticle.
 
#17 ·
I have a 6-18 Banner I had on my .243WSSM and never had a problem with it. I also have a Bushnell 3.5-10x45mm that is about 20 years old which I killed more that 50 deer with. I also have a Bushnell 8-32x50mm with mil-dot. The problem with the Nikon P Series is they don't have enough magnification for me. I'd put my Vortex 6-24x50mm FFP PST with the custom turret on my M4 if it wasn't so big.

I want a small scope with at least 18 power that won't cost me an arm and a leg.


PS: The Banners are the only Bushnell scope I did not like. I never liked having to focus it every time I had to shoot
 
#18 ·
Nikon has a program that you plug in your ballistic info and it tells you the distance for the different BDC marks on their scopes of course.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top