Rifle Scopes Bushnell Elite 6500 2.5-16X Target knob/mil dot

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Here is a "review" of the new Bushnell Elite 6500 Target knob/mil dot scope. I am no expert on scopes...so take this info for what its worth.
I have a new ground squirrel rifle on the way and I decided to get a decent scope for it.
I currently have three of the Bushnell Elite 6500 2.5-16X scopes on two of my hunting rifles and one on a AR. The one on the AR is a mil dot model but no target knobs.

My plan was to get another 2.5-16X with the standard fine plex reticle but they were out of stock. So I decided to pick up the target knob model and swap out the one on my Tikka .223.

Now I really have been impressed with these scopes. For the money ($550.00 for the standard and $630 for the target knob model) the quality is very good and IMHO the glass is very good.

I own/owned Night Force scopes...the NXS models and the BR model...many Leupold MK 4's, and some cheaper Nikon's, Swift,etc.
So I do have other higher end scopes to compare the 6500's to.
Also I have owned the Bushnell Elite 4200 Tactical and have a 1.25-4X on one of my AR's.

Ok...so...the new 6500. Very clear,crisp glass. No surprises there.
The side parallax knob is very smooth...just like my other ones. The lettering,etc., are in a green color and the normal gold "ELITE 6500" is black color on this one.

The target knobs are the same style they have on there 4200 and 3200 series tactical scopes.
But...the clicks on this one are VERY crisp and positive feeling. As good as my NF knobs. The 4200 I had was a bit mushy. As are the standard knobs on my other 6500's.
The elevation marks are kinda hard to see with the green paint they use but still ok for anything I will be using it for.
Zeroing the knobs requires the loosing of a allen head screw and pulling the knob up and lining up the 0 with the "hash" mark.

The magnification ring is very smooth...again...same as the other 6500's I own.

Now...I know this is a big issue with most folks today...I am talking about the whole MIL/MOA setup. But...for me...it is not a big deal other then I wish I could have gotten the standard fine plex ret. in place of the mil dol ret.
For what I am using this scope for...hunting coyotes and shooting it in known distance factory class matches...a ranging reticle is not needed.

And I would not consider this scope a true "tactical" class scope.
But for the price and quality and its a good piece of glass and will work very well for my needs. YMMV

One of the major pro's (for me at least) for this scope is its very large magnification range. I find when I am in close, brushy area's I can run the scope at 2.5X and can keep both eyes open.
If I have time to setup and shoot from the prone at a longer range target (a coyote hung up at 300+ yards)...I can crank her up to 16X and be assured of my shot placement. This feature as saved me before.

Ok...well thats all I got now. Below are some pics. "Target" was 82 yards away and the mag settings are 2.5, 8, and 16X.

Take care,Stan

PS...I know the reticle looks gold...it is just the way the pics came out...it is in fact black when looking through the scope.












 
Re: Bushnell Elite 6500 2.5-16X Target knob/mil dot

Nice write up Stan. I always thought that very same scope would make a great hunting scope due to its wide mag range and price. and +1 on WTF were they thinking on the green markings!
 
Re: Bushnell Elite 6500 2.5-16X Target knob/mil dot

I recieved this same scope a few weeks ago, overall it's a very very nice scope, I do have a few areas that are in my opinion not so good, they would be 2.5x curvature of field is a bit excessive, i guess by the optical design, it's more prodomint.On higher powers 12x - 16x you have to find the sweet spot directly behind the eyepiece,if you movr slightly left or right you loose the image, last the green markings, a little hard to see, not really a big deal but why not white markings.

Do you experience these things also?
 
Re: Bushnell Elite 6500 2.5-16X Target knob/mil dot

Hi Doug.
Since I read your post I pulled out the other three 6500's I have here. The one I took off this rifle (Tikka .223) shows a bit of what you describe on the 2.5 setting. Not so much that I noticed but can see it now.

I find the eye relief and sight picture very nice. Heck...it is even better then my NF! So maybe my poor eyes are seeing (not seeing) things different.

Take care,Stan
 
Re: Bushnell Elite 6500 2.5-16X Target knob/mil dot

Nice review.

Inspired me to think of doing a review on the 3200 tactical.
 
Re: Bushnell Elite 6500 2.5-16X Target knob/mil dot

And the reticle are gold cause of the angle you took the pictures looking in the scope and how close you were.. My 3200 did that
when i first looked up into it and I was mad I thought they gave me white reticle. But at night they almost are illuminated which I thought were cool. Helps them stick out when your shooting in low-light conditions (well at least for me).
 
Re: Bushnell Elite 6500 2.5-16X Target knob/mil dot

From all I have read they use the same glass....the 4200's and the 6500's.

The main difference is that the 6500 series has 80 MOA internal adjustments vs 50 MOA on the 4200.

From owning the two models to my eyes the 6500's glass looks a bit brighter and clearer. That being said the 4200 was a 6-24X so the extra magnification in the 4200 might be the reason for a dimmer sight picture at the highest setting.

Again...I am not a expert on rifle scopes...or pretty much anything else for that matter.

Take care,Stan
 
Re: Bushnell Elite 6500 2.5-16X Target knob/mil dot

I have the 3200 Tactical on my 22-250 and was considering the 6500 Tactical on my 260. We compared the 3200 brightness to my 2004 built Mark 4 and at the same magnification the 3200 looked brighter. Looks like it will have to try the 6500.

Seddo
 
Re: Bushnell Elite 6500 2.5-16X Target knob/mil dot

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">WTF were they thinking on the green markings!
</div></div>

Bet ya it glows in the dark
laugh.gif
I've been impressed with both 3200 tactical scopes I've owned. Very firm clicks on the turrets, hold zero, track well, 10x40 model is very affordable, 5-15x40 still a good scope at $300
 
Re: Bushnell Elite 6500 2.5-16X Target knob/mil dot

The green markings do not glow in the dark, overall this scope is really a great buy, I was a little bugged with the green markings but they aren't that bad.
 
Re: Bushnell Elite 6500 2.5-16X Target knob/mil dot

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Doug308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The green markings do not glow in the dark, overall this scope is really a great buy, I was a little bugged with the green markings but they aren't that bad. </div></div>

I was just funnen with ya, I don't think the green looks bad, but it may be harder to see.
 
Re: Bushnell Elite 6500 2.5-16X Target knob/mil dot

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">And I would not consider this scope a true "tactical" class scope.
But for the price and quality and its a good piece of glass and will work very well for my needs. YMMV</div></div>

Why do you not consider it a target class scope? Just curious?


Seems like the me (a non expert) the biggest thing making it non tactical is the lack of a NF, S&B or MK4 emblem.

I'm sure the above mentioned scopes are higher quality and built with tighter tolerances. But this 6500 seems like one he'll of a cope for the $$$. I'm really digging the 2.5-16x mag on it as well. From super close to way out far, seems like it can handle it all.