I just boughtmy rifle back from the gentleman that I sold it to a year ago. When I purchased it back he added a Bushnell Banner 6-18-50 scope to it which is a good scope but I would like to upgrade come spring time to a higher end scope. The three that I am debating in my price range are Nikon Buckmaster 6-18-40 with the BDC reticle, Burris Fullfield II 6.5-20-50 with Ballistic Mil-Dot reticle, and the Bushnell Elite 4200 6-24-40 Mil-Dot with a free 5" Sun shade. Just so you all know I have a Browning A-Bolt 7 WSM. Can someone please help me with my future purchase?

If you like 50mm, go with the Leupold VX-L 3.5-10 X 50mm Low Profile. I prefer Zeiss Conquest 3-9X40mm.

The Bushnell 4200 elite is a very good, yet somewhat affordable scope. It would be my choice, as I already have one, but the Leupolds and Nikons from what I hear are good quality as well. By the way do you really need such high magnification 6x18 or 6x24?

Red Lion

I don't know if it is so much what I need or if I just like the big powered scopes. I had a 3-9-40 Nikon Buckmaster on it before I sold it and I was not at all happy with the magnification. The scope was excellent in quality but I just wanted more power. I may eventually use this rifle for two purposes deer and coyote expensive ammo but at least I do not have to buy another rifle.

I was just curious. I have a 4200 4x12 power, and wished that I had gotten it in 3x9 instead of 4x12, as I really do not need as much magnification as I currently have. You sound as if you could use good magnification if coyote hunting though.

bushnell also makes a 5-15x50 elite. i have a 3-9x50 zeiss conquest, gave $500 for it and it draws light amazingly. leupolds are great too. high end nikons are nice but buckmaster lacks quality IMO.

I have this same scope and I used it for several years up until last season. I upgraded to the Nikon Buckmasters 4x12x50mm due to the same reason you said. I didn't like the magnification of the 3x9 and I wanted the 50mm. I was debating between the Leopold VX-III 4.5x14x50 ($679.99) and the Nikon 4.5x14x40 ($298.99) and 4x12x50 ($338.99). (The 3x9x40 is $218.99) All had Adjustable Objective and that was a big plus for me. I went with the latter due to a couple reasons.

I could have bought two Nikon 4x12x50's for the price of 1 VX-III. 338.99 compared to 679.99

I wanted the best scope for low light situations and the 50mm is better than the 40mm for that.

I sacrificed 2x for better low light situations and could not be happier. The Nikon is the best non-european made scope there is in my opinion and they run a really close 4th for all scopes. Hope this helps

Swarovski
Ziess
Leupold
Nikon

I would buy the Bushnell.I have one and I love it on my .270.

If you are hunting big game 9x or 10x is plenty of magnification out to 500 yards,and I wouldn't have more than 3x for a minimum magnification.The high powered scopes are a handicap when a close range shot presents itself.A good 40mm scope is just as bright as a lower grade 50mm scope.On a limited budget the 3x9x40 elite 3200 is a good choice.If your budget is larger,it is hard to beat the zeiss 3x9x40 conquest.

Holy crap did hell just freeze over?

I actually agree with you.

You don't need more than 10x unless you plan on target shooting at over 400 yards.

You're going to want the versatility of a 3-9x or a 2-10x for hunting puposes.

In optics you get what you pay for.

Ziess or Leupold are pretty much the same quality and only vary by features.

For your price range I would go with a Nikon Buckmaster or Pro-Staff or a Leupold.