Bushnell Banner - DON'T DO IT!!!

[Calvin Rayborn]

Sighting-in my brand spankin' new "100% Waterproof, Fogproof, and Shockproof" Bushnell Banner "Dusk-and-Dawn" 6-24x40 Scope on my Browning BAR 7mm mag; Getting ready for spring bear (8-points, Fingers crossed!)...Couldn't get it to pattern for sh!#...2 shots near the bull, next shot barely on the paper. Spent about FIFTY rounds fiddling with the turrets, cleaning all the copper out of the barrel (Sweets), checked the rings, bases, everything I could think of. THEN one more shot and the reticle looked like it dropped into the bottom left of the scope. Unloaded and shook the rifle back and forth, discovering the ENTIRE OCULAR LENS SET HAD LET LOOSE AND IMPLODED INTO THE SCOPE!!! I know that the "Banner" brand is the on the lower end of Bushnell's product line, but the scope is nearly identical in basic design to my father's vintage Bausch & Lomb (now Bushnell) Elite 6-24x40, which served him well for 30 years. I figured that there wouldn't be much to go wrong with a proven design. Guess I didn't realize that the banner's internals would be held together with a roll of visqueen and some scotch tape! Apparently I'm not the only one that was fooled; checked and several hundred of that model have been purchased on the interweb by unsuspecting buyers looking for a decent basic scope at a good price. BUYER BEWARE!!!

[Oh Mah]

  I have this on my .300 Weatherby (Came with it)I was gonna take it off and put a real scope on it but at the range it shot consistent quarter sized patterns at 100 yards.It has now been on it for about 10 years over 200 rounds from me. 

[Calvin Rayborn]

Pics uploaded!

[Calvin Rayborn]

I have this on my .300 Weatherby (Came with it)I was gonna take it off and put a real scope on it but at the range it shot consistent quarter sized patterns at 100 yards.It has now been on it for about 10 years over 200 rounds from me. 

Only thing I can say is thank the good lord that it happened at the range and not while drawing a bead on a trophy of a lifetime!  OhMah, I sincerely hope that you get 200 more rounds and many more out of it without a failure! I know this one's goin' straight back to Bushnell for repair, and then my boy can have it for a play telescope! 

[Oh Mah]

thanks,although mine is not this exact model(not the new dusk and dawn)mine made in Japan.

[Calvin Rayborn]

thanks,although mine is not this exact model(not the new dusk and dawn)mine made in Japan.

My old man's Elite model was also made in Japan. On a .300 H&H for 30 years till he upgraded to the Elite 6500 4-30x50 (MIJ as well). Took a WA state record typical Elk with it  . I think the Japan-made scopes are in a completely different class than the scope that I'm dealing with.

[Oh Mah]

I agree.

[CAMPMEAT]

Bushnell will fix it. I've had one for years on my 22-250 with zero problems.

[DRobnsn]

Had the same thing happen to a couple year old bushnell 3x9 on a model 88 in 308 17 years ago. Getting ready for the season at the range took a shot and it turned into a monocular. You could hear the parts rattling around in it as you moved it around. Good thing the gun had open sights to use. Fairly confident it cost me an elk the year before but I can't prove it.

I have another model 88 in 243 that has had a vx2 leupold on it that was installed by my grandfather about 35 years ago. Guess what, still not a single issue with the leupold today. 

The kicker, the 243 was my gun when I was a kid (hard on stuff) and the 308 was my dads (much nicer on stuff) but the bushnell still failed. While the Leupold keeps on tickin.

[Biggerhammer]

I figured that out back in 94. Put a Bushnell Banner 4-12 on a Remington 700 Classic in .375 H&H. Lasted five shots with 300gr Hornady BTSP handloads before the reticle came loose and tilted 45 degree's.

[jackelope]

Mine worked sweet on a 10/22. Don't think I'd ever put one on a heavy hitter.

[carpsniperg2]

I have a couple on 22’s that’s about all I would trust them on.

[Calvin Rayborn]

Bushnell will fix it. I've had one for years on my 22-250 with zero problems.

I don't doubt it. In fact, spoke with Travis in Customer Service and he said to send it on back to HQ for repair. Trouble is I just don't think I could ever trust that scope in a hunting situation after experiencing this type of complete failure. 7mm Mag is a powerful cartridge, but pales in comparison to many of  the "ultra-mag" game stoppers that exist nowadays. Failure after fifty rounds on the sandbags, repair-replace, whatever...just too much of a gamble in my humble opinion.

[CAMPMEAT]

Bushnell will fix it. I've had one for years on my 22-250 with zero problems.

I don't doubt it. In fact, spoke with Travis in Customer Service and he said to send it on back to HQ for repair. Trouble is I just don't think I could ever trust that scope in a hunting situation after experiencing this type of complete failure. 7mm Mag is a powerful cartridge, but pales in comparison to many of  the "ultra-mag" game stoppers that exist nowadays. Failure after fifty rounds on the sandbags, repair-replace, whatever...just too much of a gamble in my humble opinion.

Get it fixed and put it on a smaller caliber rifle. Vortex Diamondback perhaps.

[Calvin Rayborn]

Bushnell will fix it. I've had one for years on my 22-250 with zero problems.

I don't doubt it. In fact, spoke with Travis in Customer Service and he said to send it on back to HQ for repair. Trouble is I just don't think I could ever trust that scope in a hunting situation after experiencing this type of complete failure. 7mm Mag is a powerful cartridge, but pales in comparison to many of  the "ultra-mag" game stoppers that exist nowadays. Failure after fifty rounds on the sandbags, repair-replace, whatever...just too much of a gamble in my humble opinion.

Get it fixed and put it on a smaller caliber rifle. Vortex Diamondback perhaps.

Sounds like a plan. Was looking into the vortex diamondbacks and the vipers, have heard some pretty good things about them. Don't know if I want to switch to 30mm rings tho. Saw the Burris Fullfield II Ballistic mil-dot 6.5-20x50 with 1 in tube which might be a winner