Not so Fast! How many here have used one?
I have an ACOG on my Bushmaster A3 and find it to be pretty cool. Then, last week I saw this sight listed in Midway USA. When I had an FFL, I did a lot of business with them. Awesome company. Back to topic. Click the link to see it (and buy it):
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=859535
ACOG will set you back bewteen $850.00 to well over $1,500.00 depending on the bells and whistles you desire.
ACOG: There is something to be said for magnification, built-in trajectory, no batteries, etc. Bushnell: Conversely, there is something to be said for no magnification, and two colors of reticle for day and night shooting, and the abiltiy to turn it off (the light CAN be seen out the front). The later is the bill that the Bushnell fills.
Let me state clearly, I didn't want any magnification. Take out your ACOG and do precision, two-eyes-open shooting at close range, 20 to 25 feet. What do you notice when you close the non-scoped eye? Exactly--the crosshair is "off" of the target. Meaning, at close range, for precise fire (squirrel head at 25 feet), you can miss with both eyes open.
Well, I purchased the Bushnell for the reasons stated above. I just returned from the shooting range, using the new Bushnell on my Carbon 15 pistol. Of what value is the ACOG on a 7" .223 pistol? Answer, darned little. All of the built-in desireable aspects are nullified by the short barrel.
The Bushnell scope held tight, was awesome for accurate firing, and even had an impressive, near-perfect return to the original zero when I removed and replaced it at the range. So my answer is the following: buy both as both have different purposes. At $154.00, I doubt you can find a red dot, lifetime warranted scope that can out-do the Bushnell. Perhaps as good as, sure, but not better.
The sole drawback was, and for me little consequnce, there is no hole drilled through the base to enable one to use the iron sights. A fact which was unimportant to me for the Carbon 15. Compare these facts to the "Redhead" reddot scope that I paid $115.00 at Bass Pro shops last year, and that came with a (I think) 90 days warranty. Bushnell: lifetime warranty.
I would really like to hear from other Bushnell owners who have factully used the scope to see their impressions. By the way, the base as shown is same as an ACOG. You can remove the rail adaptor and mount it on an AR's sight handle (same as an ACOG). Oh, but unlike ACOG, the company does send you two base screws. They don't force you to purchase the second carry handle screw.
My call, awesome product and I'm glad I bought it. I'm also glad I bought it from Midway USA. Best of all, I'm glad that I own both.
Edit to add: Oh yeah. It comes with nice, soft rubber lens covers.
Doc2005
