Well I ordered a bushnell 4200 4-16x50 and the elite rangefinder. However the rangefinder is no long available and my scope shipped. I will be getting the legend 1200 rangefinder instead. I talked to bushnell and they said I can ship the scope back unopened for exchange of a different scope as I was told the rangefinder was in stock and wanted to spend my alloted ammount. So now with the cheaper rangefinder I have more for the scope... looking at either the 2.5-16x50 with either the fine x or mil dot reticule or the 2.5-16x42 BDC style reticle. All scopes will be the 6500 series. So which reticle and why? I wanted the doa before but its 42mm instead of 50. They all also have 30mm tubes which means I have to change my rings as I was coming from standard 1" rings. So tell me which scope to get and why? It will be placwed on a 7mm-08 remmington model 7. Thanks in advance!

personaly for a rifle of that size and caliber i think you're way over powered on the scope. i just don't think it will balance the way you want to. buy the 4200 3-9x40 and not look back.

You don't say what the gun and scope are for, but, to me a Model 7 in 7mm-08 would be a "deer rifle", I too think you are buying way too much scope.

Why do you need so much power? Why do you need a rangefinder? Why do you need a 50mm objective? The reticle choice depends on usage - what will the gun do?

I have a fixed 4X Leupold on my "deer rifle". Why is that not appropriate for you?

nothing wrong with going with a variable, but then again a really really good fixed power on a rifle like that would be a nice choice too. when i said too much scope for your model 7 i was refering to both the magnification range and the physical size of the scope you were looking at. the model 7 is a bit more compact model and you want it to balance well when you shoulder it. a Leupold VX-III 1.5-8x36 (if you can find one) would be the bees knees on that rig. i have an older 1.5-6x36 4000 Elite set up for my Micro in 7-08 and it is the perfect fit. too bad bushnell doesn't offer a scope in that configuration anymore, hence the leupold recommendation.

Well I was going to buy the 3-9x40 but at the prices I was able to get the 4-16x50 at I couldn't pass up. As the 40mm objective wasn't available on my choices. Now with a different range finder I had more money for the scope. So I looked at the 6500 series. And can get one for not a whole lot more. The thing about the 2.5-16x50 6500 is it is basically the 4200 2.5-10x50 but has more power. It is significantly more compact(shorter and weighs less) than the 4-16x50 4200. This is going on my all around riffle which includes elk. And yes it has brought home everything its shot at including 2 elk already and hopefully a third as I got drawn for cow this year. I am currently just upgrading optics as my gun has a tasco on it now that was $120 new. I have the option to get the bushnells through work at a fantastic price. I have never had nice optics so this is my chance to splurge.

Well disregard completely. Bushnell won't let me ship it back unopened and get a different scope. They told me based on the way I ordered It(through work) I am unable to exchange it for the better scope with the extra money since they said the rangefinder was in stock when really it was discontinued and unavailable. So I guess ill keep the 4-16x50 4200. I wish they would have told me that about the rangefinder when I called to make sure it was in stock so I could have ordered the better scope from the get go....

well actualy they do have to refun your money. the Elites come with a bullet proof waranty, if for any reason you are unhappy with the scope within the first year they will either replace it or REFUND your money. it is right there in the waranty papers. i woul call them back and ask to talk to a supervisor.

If this is for whitetail deer hunting, then I say a 3 x 9 x 42mm is plenty of rifle scope! It you are planning to shoot long range, I would go with a 5 x 15 x 42mm model with mil-dot reticules and adj AO. I have 4 such scopes and they are great for down range work using our varmint/predator caliber rifles.

In the woods, I have always liked the 2 x 7 power scopes. They are fast to get on target and they still work very well for shooting out to 300 yards on any deer you might want to tag that season. If I am going to be ranging something down range, I like a range finder for the job, as it is smaller and easyier to handle than the rifle and scope.

OK heres the scoop. I do maintain full repair warranty. I just dont get the refund/exchange option since I ordered it through a military/police/fire program. I spoke with the director and she was extremely nice and helpful. Basically they had to stop doing the refund/exchange on the program because they were having a ton of issues with people buying 3 or more scopes/optics and using them till they found the one they liked and returning the rest for full refund. I'd imagine you could do that if you were paying retail but since its through the M/P/F program it isnt allowed. I will likely put it on my other gun and order a 6500 for my current gun. we will see. I may not even open it as my brother who is also able to get the M/P/F program is interested... we will see...

you mind me asking what kind of price you had to pay?
i understan if you don't want to answer that.