As some know, I bought a Bushnell Elite 3200 in 2-7x32mm with the firefly option for my White M97 .451 rifle. I wanted a short, moderate range scope with good clarity, good warranty, and not break the bank with it. Natchez was selling them for $119.00 so I could not pass that up. I set the scope with Warne QD rings (which is all I use).
Last night I sighted it in for 13 yards on a door knob and matched the bore to the scope so I knew it would be on close today. I then trudged through the nasty soft snow (twisting a knee in the process) and set a Birchwood Casey Shoot N-C target up at 50 yards. I was shooting the M97 .451 caliber with 70 grains of Triple Se7en 3f and a 488 grain Bull Shop Conical using CCI Magnum #11 caps.
Shot #1 was a very nice surprise on a clean bore. Shots 2-4 were tight enough at that distance that I made the first adjustment. I then fired 5&6 and made just a few more clicks to the left. Shots 7-12 were good enough for now. I know I fired a total of 12 conicals but was having trouble finding all the hits, even in that fancy target.
It was in the 50's but there was about a 35mph cross wind, so I knew I was not going to do real well with the rifle and scope's final adjustmentthis time out. Besides I have a lot of time to play with the rifle.
I then walked out to photograph my target (which is where I twisted my knee) and decided I better bring it all in. Well I got back to 25 yards and decided I could hobble that far again. So I set the target up and wanted to try some different powder in the rifle. This time I wanted to see how the scope and rifle with Pyrodex P did at 25 yards.
All I had left of my Birchwood Casey Shoot and See target stickers was the small demonstration sticker to show the potential buyer how they work. I figured at that range it would be easy to see that through the scope, and I was right. That Bushnell Elite 3200 is an EXCELLENT SCOPE!! At 25 yards I could even see the tiny red dot in that 3/4 of an inch little sticker.
I swabbed the barrel clean to be fair to the rifle and the powder. I have a powder measure for shooting Pyrodex and it was set at 75 grains. I decided that would be fine. On the clean barrel it shot a little different from the fowled barrel. On the fowled barrel, holding dead on that little red dot, I squeezed off those other shots. Then I must have got a cap stuck under the hammer striker as it was almost impossible to pull back, so I called it quits for the day. Actually the rifle shot pretty good with Pyrodex P.
So far I am really impressed with the White Rifle. All the other White owners used to tell me how accurate that caliber is, but I was pleased with my other Whites in .504 . this one is no different. Also the new Bushnell Elite 3200 is a great scope. I might buy another one to just keep it around the house for some other rifle.
I was playing with the firefly option last night. Shine a flashlight through the scope for about ten seconds, and the cross hairs turn a pale green. Very easy to see, even in total darkness. Should make some of those last minute sitting in the tree during season shots in the marsh, a little easier for me.
The Bushnell Elite 3200 is EXCELLENT
