Bushnell Scopechief Scope VI Wide Angle 3X9 - ODD BABY

[usabaker]

I pickup a used rifle, and on it was mounted an odd scope. While Bushnell is a well-known company, and I have many of their older scopes, I never ran across one like this.

When I first looked through the scope, I didn't know what to make of the box at the top of the objective lens or the extra horizontal reticle line. It wasn't until I looked through the scope in the daylight that I saw the "box" had a yardage number in it; as I turned the power ring, the numbers changed. I've never seen anything like this.

Looking on the internet, it looks as though this was a "range finder" How to use it or calibrate it remains a mystery to me at this point as I continue to look for a manual.

With the depth and width of experienced and knowledgeable people on this Forum, I figure y'all would know something about this oddity.

The rifle, a Mossberg Patriot in 270 Win is just a project rifle that I don't intend to keep after I'm done and I was going to replace the scope, but it's kind of neat, and just might see if it holds zero.

Information

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[USGI]

Saw a little bit of info included with this eBay item. - Bob

https://www.ebay.com/itm/324331467175

[usabaker]

Saw a little bit of info included with this eBay item. - Bob

Hi Bob, I found another person on eBAY selling the exact same scope that I have with all the manuals. I asked if I could buy a photocopy of the manuals and was told that they couldn't because they are copyrighted. A few minutes later he told me that if I bought this other Vintage Bushnell 3x9 scope he had for 12.00 he would include a copy of the manuals for the Scopechief VI. Well sounded like a good deal to me, I have a 22 that can use the other Vintage Bushnell scope so win-win.

---------- Post added at 08:22 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:18 AM ----------

Probably the space between the horizontal lines change with the distance. Allows you to adjust aim.

The distance seems to stay constant through the powers. It is an incredibly clear/crisp glass; Ahhh the original Bushnell, my childhood scopes.

[Daan Kemp]

Probably the space between the horizontal lines change with the distance. Allows you to adjust aim.

[USGI]

Probably the space between the horizontal lines change with the distance. Allows you to adjust aim.

Daan, from the link above in post #2. the seller of that particular scope has this to say about it's aiming dot and horizontal lines:

"The DOT in the center of the reticle is for ranging 9 inches (9”) game such as standing squirrels,groundhogs etc. The two parallel horizontal lines are for ranging 18” targets"

[usabaker]

Daan, from the link above in post #2. the seller of that particular scope has this to say about it's aiming dot and horizontal lines:

"The DOT in the center of the reticle is for ranging 9 inches (9”) game such as standing squirrels,groundhogs etc. The two parallel horizontal lines are for ranging 18” targets"

Sadly, the scope in the eBAY listing is newer than the one I have and its a 4-12x40mm AO. Mine doesn't have the "dot", no AO, and is only a 3-9x40mm

[Aragorn243]

I've been using Bushnell Sportviews for 40 years for hunting. Never saw the big desire for expensive scopes. First one was about $30 and they are $70 now. Original lasted 30+ years before I had to replace it.

I never saw one like this.

[Surpmil]

Funnily enough I was looking into these recently as I have an old Bushnell Sportview with a similar, but less sophisticated system. Apparently the Scopechief was the top of Bushnell's line and inspired by the ART scopes of the time.

It seems the distance between the crosswires is used to establish range by increasing the power until the known target height; the chest height of a deer for example, fills the space between the crosswires, at which point the range is displayed and you set your range knob accordingly.

On the Sportview there is no internal display of the range, you read it off the power adjustment ring and there are three rows of ranges for different cams/cartridges in white, yellow and red labelled D E and A respectively.

OK, just snooping around the Net I found this, which pretty much confirms what I thought, but explains the D E A on the power ring and the corresponding ranges at each power of magnification.

My range knob is marked 150-500 and ID'd as "RM-2". Will have to find out what calibre that is for.

This is a 3-9x x 40 waterproof scope, but doesn't say whether Japanese-made.

Scope?

JT I believe you have a Bushnell range finder scope. I have one and it is about 25yrs. old.I think it is their prismatic range finder scope. To use is as follows. The two horizontal hairs are used to bracket a deer body not counting legs or head.,So 1.Get deer in view,change the power change ring until the body of the deer is bracketed between the hairs,2 read the range that appears as a bright number at the top of the objective lens,3 Dial the BCD knob (top knob)to the range shown and aim dead on. Hope this helps. I have an origional instruction sheet that came with this scope and it goes into detail, If you like I will send you a copy of it I took with a digital camera.O yes these scopes are now worth about $250.00 to scope collectors. Let me know if you want a copy of instructions.
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#3

Jul 19, 2006
The 'D', 'E', and 'A' refer to Deer, Elk, and Antelope. The numbers refer to ranges at a given power for a given animal. Bracket the animal, chest to back, between the horizontal lines by turning the power ring. Read the range above the power number for the animal you are ranging. i.e. deer @ 5 power=250yds. Turn elevation turret to 250, hold dead on, fire.

So now I know what DEA also stands for.

[usabaker]

Funnily enough, I was looking into these recently as I have an old Bushnell Sportview with a similar but less sophisticated system. Apparently, the Scopechief was the top of Bushnell's line and inspired by the ART scopes of the time.

No DEA on this version of the ScopeChief VI, but there are others, like BDC with B, C, & E dials for Banner Models and 1, 2, 3, & blank dials for ScopeCheif Models. And then there is PRF for Prismatic Rangefinder and RO for Prismatic Rangefinder Readout. Lots of acronyms going on here, almost like Bushnell is run by ex-military folks. LOL

I did get copies of the manual for this scope, and made a deal with the seller that I would buy an old Bushnell Sportview 3-9X40 and he would include the manuals (2) for the ScopeChief. Well, who doesn't need another vintage scope?

This ScopeChief VI turns out to be an interesting scope; how useful it really is leaves one wondering, though, not sure that I would want to take the time to mess around with the rangefinding feature on a Deer hunt; in my experience Deer in California at least are not in the habit of waiting around waiting for you to fiddle with your scope. Nope, I'll stick with MPB (Max Point Blank). Just the same, its a neat little scope.

So as it turns out, this ScopeChief has a BDC, the ammunition choice determines what dial (1,2,3, or blank) you put on the elevation turret. For for example, once the rifle has been zeroed at 100 yards, shooting 30-06 Springfield 150 SP would require a#2 dial this (in theory) would allow you can out to 500 yards by turning the dial to the distance marker you want.

The cooler feature of this scope is the Prismatic Rangefinder and RO for Prismatic Rangefinder Readout. Then you look through the scope you will see the stadia lines (the two horizontal reticle lines) you place the game between the lines and turn the power ring, increasing or decreasing the power until the stadia lines are between the upper and lower target limits of the game; for instance, for a Deer, the upper stadia would be at the top of the shoulders and the lower stadia on the base of the brisket (or so that how I read it). Once that is done, the distance to the target is displayed in the RO (Prismatic Rangefinder Readout). You then take that number and turn the BDC dial you installed to that range.

I'm crap at explaining things so here are the pages of the manual that discuss the BDC, PRF, and RO. I do think I will keep this scope on the rifle if it holds zero still. If anyone would like PDF files of the two manuals, just drop me a PM