If you love watching birds or the skies, you already know spotting scopes are so important. What many people do not understand is that spotting scopes are also used for hunting activities involving long-range distances because of their magnification and objective lens size.
One popular optics manufacturer is Bushnell, with a wide range of products that include spotting scopes. Bushnell has tens of different spotting scopes for hunters, long-range shooters, bird watchers, and more.
Their list consists of spotting scopes with different profiles and prices: some of their products’ prices range from a few hundred dollars to comfortably over 1000 dollars.
Bushnell Sentry 18-36x50mm Porro Prism Spotting Scope
Our Top Recommendation for Bushnell Spotting Scope
Why should you bother about the Bushnell Sentry 18-36x50mm spotting scope? It is affordable, sports a good magnification range, and is highly durable. These are some quick reasons the scope is thriving.
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Bushnell lovers know the level of quality the brand brings to their products while maintaining a healthy price point. If you want to enjoy a quality Bushnell spotting scope, you’ll need to select from the tens of available options. You can use the stressful but effective method of trying each spotting scope to see the best.
You can also employ the scattergun approach of trial and error and hope you luckily pick a good scope if you do not have the resources for testing every scope. Or you can use the easy yet effective method of following a trusted guide like this.
This guide has gone through the liberty of doing the research and coming up with the best Bushnell spotting scopes so you can quickly select the best one.
Table of Contents
Best Bushnell Spotting Scopes
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | FEATURES | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Bushnell Sentry 18-36x50mm Porro Prism Spotting Scope | • Magnification of 18-36x • Objective lens size of 50mm • Affordable | View Price |
 | Bushnell 781545ED Legend T-Series FLP Spotting Scope 15-45x60mm | • Magnification range of 15-45x • Objective lens size of 60mm • Mil-hash reticle | View Price |
 | Bushnell Trophy Xtreme Spotting Scope 20-60X65mm | • Magnification range of 20-60x • Objective lens size of 65mm • Good eye relief | View Price |
 | Gosky Updated 20-60x80mm Spotting Scope | • Magnification range of 20-60x • Objective lens size of 80mm • Good in low light conditions | View Price |
In this section, you’ll see some of the best spotting scopes from Bushnell optics, their features, pros, and cons. With the information about each scope here, you can select a suitable spotting scope for your activities.
1. Bushnell Sentry 18-36x50mm Porro Prism Spotting Scope
This is a straight Bushnell spotting scope with magnification starting from 18x up to 36x. Its magnification level matches some long-range rifle scopes, and it covers distances from 100 to 300 yards. The color remains crisp at higher power levels, but you may encounter blue distortion on the image edges. Its objective lens size is fitting for this power level at 50mm, allowing the right amount of light into the tube.
Its construction is superb, with an airtight body sealed with an O-ring to keep moisture out even if it is submerged in water. It is purged with nitrogen which makes it fog proof. It has a rubberized armor that protects the body even if it accidentally falls to the ground. Such levels of protection bring trust and prolong its use. You get a good grip on the scope and plenty of protection.
The glasses are quoted to improve light transmission and durability. Its high-definition optical system consists of ED prime Extra-low dispersion glass and premium Bak-4 prisms. This system helps to produce exceptional image quality in different weather conditions. This sentry scope is also easy to use with its large magnification and focus wheels that can be used when wearing gloves.
Bushnell Sentry 18-36x50mm has a Porro prism system with bak-4 glass. It is affordable and of impressive quality. However, you may have to deal with some blurriness at high power levels. It comes with a portable tripod stand, so you don’t have to spend more money to get one. This makes the deal even more impressive.
Pros
- Magnification of 18-36x.
- Objective lens diameter of 50mm.
- Impressive optics.
- Affordable.
- Shockproof, fog proof, and waterproof.
- Includes a tripod stand, view-through carrying case, and hard case carrying case.
Cons
- Blurriness may occur at high power levels.
- Limited eye relief makes shooting at awkward angles difficult.
2. Bushnell 781545ED Legend T-Series FLP Spotting Scope 15-45x60mm
Another straight Bushnell scope here but this time from the popular T-Series line. This spotting scope has a 15-45x magnification range that covers more distances than the first. It comes with a 60mm objective lens size which is more than enough for optimum light intake.
It weighs 37 ounces and is 11 inches long, giving it a lightweight and compact design. It uses the quality bak-4 glass with its exterior glasses coated with Bushnell’s hydrophobic EXO coating that causes water to run off easily.
With this, your vision remains clear even in the rain. Its optical quality can be better as it has a bit of chromatic aberration when it is at higher power levels. The lenses are fully multi-coated.
It uses a first focal plane Mil-hash reticle and comes with a rangefinder that makes it easier to calculate range when looking through the scope. Its durability is not under any question, with its IPX7 waterproof rating enhanced by the O-ring sealing the openings. It can be immersed in 3 feet of water for up to 30 minutes, and the insides of the scope will remain dry.
Its eye relief is at 1.18 inches with a 4mm exit pupil with a field of view of 60 m at 15x and 20 m at 45x. The spotting scope is protected by the no questions asked lifetime warranty.
Pros
- Magnification of 15-45x.
- Objective lens size of 60mm.
- Fully multi-coated lenses.
- IPX7 waterproof rating.
- Mil-hash reticle.
- Lightweight.
Cons
- Some of the scopes come defective; luckily, it has a great warranty.
Bonus Read: 5 Best Spotting Scope Under $500 {Expert’s Choice}
3. Bushnell Trophy Xtreme Spotting Scope 20-60X65mm
Now for a spotting scope with more reach, this Trophy Xtreme scope with impressive power levels ranging 20-60x will help you spit targets far away. It follows with a 65mm objective lens that collects the light needed to brighten up images formed.
It uses Porro prism glasses which is a quality bak-4 glass with good refraction and coating that has phase correction abilities. Chromatic aberration is non-existent here, no matter the power level, with contrast and resolution remaining clear.
The glasses are fully multi-coated, which improves their light gathering ability and durability. The objective lens is recessed into the tube to reduce the amount of direct sunlight hitting the surface. It acts in place of a shade.
It has a hard-wearing rubber armor housing with a smooth rubber casing house. The smooth housing can cause the scope to easily slip out of hand. The scope is O-ring sealed like most other scopes, and its insides are nitrogen-purged to make it waterproof and fog proof. It comes with a tripod stand, but this is hardly a quality stand with its poor design. You may need to purchase another if you want to fully utilize the scope.
It is easy to use as long as you’re not using it for activities like bird watching that require special angles. The magnification and focus wheels are easy to operate. It is protected by Bushnell’s lifetime warranty. Its field of view at 20x is 110 feet at 1000 yards, while at 60x, it is 55 feet at 1000 yards. It has good eye relief at 18.3 mm.
Pros
- Magnification of 20-60x.
- Objective lens size of 65mm.
- Porro prism design.
- Fully multi-coated optics.
- Waterproof and fog-proof tube.
- Good eye relief.
Cons
- Poor quality tripod stand.
- A smooth body can cause the scope to slip off easily.
4. Gosky Updated 20-60x80mm Spotting Scope
A curved spotting scope finally makes an entrance, with this Gosky scope having a magnification range of 20-60x, covering just as many distances as the previous scope mentioned in this list. You can easily see distances of up to 1000 yards. However, this scope’s objective lens size is higher at 80mm, allowing an impressive amount of light inside the tube.
Its angled eyepiece makes it comfortable to use for birdwatching and other activities requiring awkward angles benefitting from its design. The images formed here are clear with no color distortion, even at higher magnification levels. The objective lens is multi-coated while it uses the quality bak-4 glass.
This Gosky spotting scope is waterproof and can be used in wet conditions. The adjustable eyecups make for good eye relief whether you’re wearing glasses or not. The O-ring is sealed and purged with nitrogen to keep the fog out. You can also attach your smartphone to the eyepiece area to view and record.
It comes with a phone adapter, a tripod stand, and a carry case. It has a sight bead for quicker target acquisition and an adjustable elevation knob to get a more precise view. This is an awesome value-for-money scope at under $200.
Pros
- Magnification of 20-60x.
- Objective lens diameter of 80mm.
- Excellent value.
- Adjustable eye relief.
- Good in low light conditions.
- Waterproof and can be used in different weather conditions.
- Retractable sunshade.
Cons
- Heavy and bulky.
- Small eyepiece.
Factors to Consider Before Buying a Bushnell Spotting Scope
Before you buy a Bushnell scope, you’ll do well to check out some of these factors that’ll guide your search and help you choose the right scope.
1. Build Quality
Although Bushnell produces quality spotting scopes, their level of durability is not the same. Some are made with stronger materials and added durability features than others. You should consider these when choosing a Bushnell spotting scope. Getting a durable scope cannot be overemphasized as you get more life out of it.
2. Ease of Use
Some Bushnell spotting scopes have easily adjustable knobs that can be adjusted even with gloves on, while others do not so much. You want to consider Bushnell scopes that make it easy for you to use the scope with easy-to-reach buttons and comfortable viewing.
3. Magnification
The magnification of the spotting scope you choose should depend on what you intend to use this scope for and the distance. For bird watching and activities requiring long distances, you’ll need a spotting scope with a higher magnification level.
Bonus Read: Best Long Range Rifle Scopes – Our Top 7 Choice
4. Objective Lens
The objective lens size of the Bushnell scope you choose should complement the magnification level of the scope. Longer range scopes typically require a wider objective lens to produce clear images. You should also bear in mind that objective lenses affect the weight and compatibility of the overall scope.
FAQ’s
Here are common questions about Bushnell spotting scopes and their answers:
Ans. Not all Bushnell spotting scopes come with a tripod stand, but they have a good number with tripod stands. These stands vary in quality, with some being too small and requiring you to abandon them for another.
Ans. Although Bushnell optics was established in 1948, it wasn’t until 1961 before it began the manufacture of spotting scopes.
Ans. Bushnell spotting scopes are made in South Korea, China, and Japan for their high-end products. Even though most of these scopes are assembled in the U.S, it still doesn’t classify as being made in the U.S because of the Country of Origin (COO) importation law in the U.S that states the country where the majority of parts are sourced is tagged the country where it is made.
Ans. In a roof prism, the ocular and objective lens are aligned and form a slim, lightweight, compact, and rugged optical system. In Porro Prism, the objective lens tubes are offset from the eyepiece. They are the more affordable option among the two.
Summary
Bushnell is no stranger to the optics industry, with over 70 years of experience producing differing accessories. Its spotting scope range has tens of different scopes that will take a considerable amount of money and time if you want to test everything to know the right one. A simple guide like this stating the best scopes is a lifesaver.
