The Bushnell Trophy 3-9x50 riflescope is a popular choice among hunters and shooters seeking a reliable and affordable optic. This review delves deep into its performance, features, and overall value, helping you decide if it's the right scope for your needs.
Performance and Optics
The Bushnell Trophy 3-9x50 boasts a relatively bright and clear image, especially considering its price point. The 50mm objective lens gathers ample light, making it suitable for low-light hunting situations. While not at the level of high-end scopes, the image quality is sharp enough for most hunting applications, offering good target acquisition and detail resolution. Chromatic aberration (color fringing) is minimal, particularly in the center of the field of view. Toward the edges, some slight color fringing may be noticeable, but it's not overly distracting.
Eye relief is generous, allowing comfortable shooting even with heavier recoil rifles. The field of view is adequate for its magnification range, providing a good balance between magnification and the overall view. The included illuminated reticle, while not the brightest, adds significant value for low-light conditions.
Features and Build Quality
This scope comes with a few key features that make it appealing:
- 3-9x Magnification: This range is versatile, suitable for various hunting situations, from close-range shots to longer-distance engagements.
- 50mm Objective Lens: The larger objective lens improves light transmission, enhancing performance in low-light settings.
- Multi-Coated Lenses: Bushnell's multi-coating reduces glare and improves light transmission, resulting in a brighter and clearer image.
- Illuminated Reticle: The illuminated reticle provides additional aiming assistance in low-light conditions, although the brightness settings might be limited.
- Durable Construction: The Bushnell Trophy is known for its sturdy build, constructed to withstand typical recoil and outdoor conditions. It's a rugged scope capable of handling the rigors of hunting.
While the build quality is generally solid, it's important to note that this is not a tactical-grade scope. It's designed for hunting and recreational shooting, not high-intensity applications.
Reticle and Adjustments
The Bushnell Trophy 3-9x50 typically features a duplex reticle, known for its simplicity and ease of use. This reticle is ideal for both hunting and general target shooting. Adjustments are fairly precise and easy to make using the capped turrets. These turrets are not zero-resettable, however, a minor drawback for some users.
Value and Overall Impression
The Bushnell Trophy 3-9x50 offers excellent value for its price. It's a reliable and versatile scope that provides good performance for its cost. It's a great option for hunters and shooters on a budget who are looking for a scope with decent optics and a sturdy build. Its performance is more than adequate for most hunting scenarios, providing a clear and sharp image in various lighting conditions.
However, it's important to manage expectations. This is not a high-end scope, and you won't find the same image quality, features, or build robustness as in scopes costing two or three times more.
Who Should Buy It?
This scope is ideal for:
- Budget-conscious hunters: Looking for reliable performance without breaking the bank.
- Beginner shooters: Seeking a user-friendly scope with good all-around performance.
- Hunters in varied terrains and lighting conditions: Benefiting from the versatility of the magnification range and the illuminated reticle.
Who Should Look Elsewhere?
- Long-range shooters: For extreme distances, a scope with higher magnification and better clarity is recommended.
- Professional hunters or competitive shooters: These users may require a higher-end scope with more advanced features and superior image quality.
- Users demanding extreme durability in harsh environments: While durable, this isn't designed for the most extreme conditions.
Ultimately, the Bushnell Trophy 3-9x50 riflescope provides solid performance and value for the price. Its combination of features, build quality, and optics makes it a popular choice for many, but understanding its limitations is key to making an informed decision.
