A question about a vintage scope: A hunting buddy has a Bausch & Lomb 12-32x40 target/varmint scope. It's an older scope, although I don't know precisely when they were made. He's not using it anymore and wondered whether I might be interested in taking it off his hands. It looks to be in good condition and has a fine cross-hairs reticle. Does anyone on this forum have any experience with this scope? I guess I'm wondering about the optical quality of these older B&L scopes along with their tracking ability and adjustment range. Did they compare favorably with the Leupold scopes of the day? If I take it, I'll mount it on a varmint rifle.
Bausch & Lomb 12-32x40 target/varmint scope
- Thread starter South Pender
- Start date
Will he let you "try" it? Mount on a known good rifle. run a couple box test etc. Check out the optics, eye box etc. Since there is no warranty or support from the manufacturer, this is the only way I'd even consider it. But if the price was right I would like to have one!
Frank
Frank
Prose
Silver $$ Contributor
The "ELITE" line are outstanding scopes to this day. They are from a time before twisting turrets was a thing, and they don't have an adjustment range comparable to most modern scopes, but for a set and forget varmint rifle they are simply the best.
The Elite 12-32x40 would be worth at least $400 in good condition. I do not think you can get a better scope at this price point nowadays.
nilebartram
Silver $$ Contributor
I have a 2 B&L 36X scope and for the quality of the optic's and the price, you can not beat.
I don't think it's an "Elite." Aside from "Bausch & Lomb" inscribed on the side of the turret, it has "Balvar" inscribed on it just ahead of the eyepiece. Were these before the Elites? Better or worse than the Elites?
AckleymanII
Gold $$ Contributor
I have owned at least eight of the 12x32 B and Lomb, they are excellent varmint scopes, still have one left on a 6 Dasher. These scopes can usually be purchased for around $450 and they are a steal, I have never had one not track perfectly, and I twisted knobs all day long on p. dog towns.
jghoghunter
Gold $$ Contributor
I've had 3 or 4, 6-24 B&L on pd guns and twisted knobs all day long as stated by Ackley. I've also had absolutely no issues. I think B&L scopes are a great bargain.
AckleymanII
Gold $$ Contributor
They are darn good in optics, but not a March, or Nightforce. They are not blury at all. Easy to see the edges of bullet holes at 100 yards.
I stumbled on one of these on a singleshot Mauser, with doubletriggers, Setting back the barrel and rechambering again in 22-250, it shoots excellently. I am amazed at the optical quality. The reason I picked it up cheaply was that the adjustment rings were all gummed up from 40 year old lubricants. We cleaned the adjustments rings and moved the rear scope ring to the second action bridge, for finer adjustment; lubricated the rings properly and the scope works absolutely consistently.
Give Iron Site a call. They can repair your scope.
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Ackman
Gold $$ Contributor
Those are very high quality scopes. I got one many yrears ao after seeing Ackleyman II's scopes. Beautiful glass. My only dislike over time was that it only goes down to 12x, which is too much when scanning for targets in many situations. Also, most of the people at Bushnell weren't even born when these came out and have no idea what they are. Sold mine several years ago on here, now wish I'd kept it.
ELR LVR
Silver $$ Contributor
I have one of the exact models you are speaking of.
They are top quality in the Glass arena
From what I've read and researched (I have several B&L scopes because they are just THAT GOOD)
Their glass is left over from the Hubble Space Telescope Project
Fabulous scope,
Worth every bit of $500 plus some
Many go for around $750 for the 12-32 since they are more rare than the 6-24
So it depends on price he is selling to you for.
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They only have one downfall which is not much elevation adjustment since they are 1/8 MOA usually
So about 40 MOA of total vertical
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I don't know the vintage of these scopes
Here is some history regarding Bushnell and the Elite Line
In 2004, the licensing agreement ended and Bausch and Lomb elected not to renew the arraignment so Bushnell could no longer use the B&L name. Bushnell moved production of the rifle scope line to a plant in Japan and renamed the line the Bushnell Elite series (which is still produced today).
Bausch and Lomb Scopes - Rifle Scope Guide
Although best known for contact lens and sunglasses, Bausch and Lomb (also commonly seen listed as B&L) produced some very nice rifle scope models from the mid 1960's until the early 1970's. Here are a few featured Bausch and Lomb scope models for sale.
rifle-scope-guide.com
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