Bushnell Banner?

[Frog48]

I'm looking for a scope for my Savage 110 .30-06. I dont want to break the bank, since I'm still in school and it only gets used a couple times a year for hunting (deer, hogs, etc).

Right now, I have an el-cheapo Simmons on it, since it was a "package" rifle. I figure that just about anything has got to be better than this.

Originally I was set on a Nikon Prostaff. But in the past day or so, I've run across numerous positive reviews for the Bushnell Banner line of scopes. They all seems to say that they are a great scope for the money.

Are the Bushnell Banner scopes a good buy, or is the Nikon worth the extra $50-$100?

 

[Bill_Rights]

well, I just bought one, so we'll see...

Hey, I was reading what THR members said about the Bushnell Banner scopes in this area of the forum (first visit here - only came over because Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow invited all Rifle Country dwellers over), and it seems that the experience with them is favorable, especially for a "one-pebble-higher-than-rock-bottom-price" scope. Saw decent percentage of good reviews at Bass Pro and Optics Planet as well. So I bought the 3.5-10 x 36mm .17 Super AO Riflescope Matte Multi-X 713510 for $98 from Optics Planet (free shipping). Did I do OK?

It's going to go on a plastic-stock Marlin 917 .17HMR, which I plan to use mainly for squirrel hunting and training newbies punching paper and exploding plastic water bottles. So, $100 scope on a $250 rifle - not outrageous.

I got my hopes from one thing in one of the reviews - see highlighted text:

/************************Review from Bass Pro Shop web site********************/
Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 Great scope and value,
April 16, 2007
By Anonymous from Coeur D' Alene, ID

"I have a (Leupold) VX-III 4.5-10 scope on my .17 HMR that took on a few problems. Apparently bouncing off my wife's lap going 40 mph on the 4 wheeler can have some harm on glass. It was a sad sad day in Idaho. Anyways, I jumped in my truck and headed into the nearest town and bought a cheap scope that would get me through the weekend. This scope was the Banner Dusk and Dawn 3.5X10 17 model....and guess what....I actually liked it better than a scope that cost about 4 times the amount I paid for the Bushnell! I'm not as freaked out about breaking this one because I can buy 4 or 5 of them before I replace my one Leupold!!! Dont get me wrong...Leupold makes amazing optics, but if you are looking for an inexpensive piece that is good quality and has a couple of cool features on it (I like the flashlight charged recticles) then you WILL not regret this scope. If you have a $1300 300 win. mag, I wouldn't recommend it, but if you have a good or mediocre smaller caliber that you want a good and affordable scope...this IS the answer!
~Cam"

What do you usually hunt? Deer How many times a year do you hunt on average? 11+
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But then my hopes were dashed by this piece on the Bushnell company web site:

/******************** from Bushnell web site ****************************/
FireFly™ Glowing Reticle Technology
Developed by Bushnell® engineers for the lowest-light hunting situations, the patented FireFly™ reticle illuminates the crosshairs after only a quick 10-second flashlight charge. Unlike battery-powered reticles, which often fail at the absolute worst times, the FireFly will glow green and you’ll see your crosshairs against your quarry. Featured on select Elite 3200 riflescopes.

Apparently you don't get this feature on the cheapie "Banner" line. Anybody know what "Cam" was smokin' or could Cam be correct about the flashlight-chargable reticle?