• Bushnell Elite Tactical DMR II-i 3.5-21x50mm Review

    The RevLimiter zero stop proved to be extremely easy to use and provides a rock solid stop at your zero point. I much prefer this system over another brands’ which requires the use of shims, mainly because 1) if you have to reset your stop you may need to carry extra shims with you, and 2) the shim stack doesn't always provide a positive stop right at your zero and may permit you to go several clicks past it.

    The T-Lok locking windage turret is something I wish all rifle scopes with exposed adjustable windage turrets would be equipped with. On more than one occasion I have found myself scratching my head at the shooting bench wondering why my zero had shifted so much at 100 or 200 yards, only to find that the windage turret had been turned sometime since my last trip to the range. Maybe the turret gets inadvertently turned a few clicks when inserting/removing the rifle from a soft case, or maybe I have a gremlin in my gun safe. In either case a mechanical locking feature such as the T-Lok will prevent such accidental and unintended adjustments.

    As much as I like the T-Lok I do have one minor complaint about it. When pulling the knob out or pushing it in the fit is such that it creates a bit of a vacuum, and on more than one occasion I thought I had locked the turret only to find that I hadn’t. There’s a middle zone that the cap can stop in due to the vacuums’ resistance making you think it’s fully seated when it is not, and in this position the turret can still be adjusted. It would be interesting to see if this issue lessons over time with more use as the O-ring that seals the cap to the turret wears in.

    During testing I found that the markings on the side-focus were pretty accurate to the indicated distances. When shooting at 100 yards the dial was set to just above the 100 yard mark, and when shooting at 200 yards the dial was set right at 200 yards with no noticeable parallax. Parallax settings at ranges out to increased ranges were similarly close to indicated markings.

    One feature I especially like about the DMR II-i is the G3 reticle. It's clear that some serious thought went into this reticle as it offers everything the serious tactical shooter needs without being too cluttered or overly complicated. The "Christmas Tree" layout as I call it is very effective for both ranging and for holding off for windage. However, Bushnell's reticles tend to be a little on the heavy side compared to other brands, and the G3 follows in that tradition. It's not horribly thick by any means, but I would like it a little more if the crosshairs and hash marks were a little thinner.

    If I had one bone to pick with Bushnell’s new DMR II-i it would be with the illumination. It works just as it should, but I found that several tiny points on the etched reticle that aren’t supposed to be illuminated would light up as well and they proved to be somewhat distracting. These points all fall within the mil numbers as can be seen in the accompanying photo, and are likely just sharp corners in the etching that are catching light from the LED. This may or may not be something specific to this one sample, but I can say that none of my other illuminated reticles on far less expensive scopes exhibit a similar problem.

    In closing I have to say that I really like the new Elite Tactical DMR II-i 3.5-21x50mm. It’s a big, bulky, heavy beast of a scope, but it needs to be to offer all the included features while also providing the durability and reliability expected in a scope of this caliber. The glass quality and tracking leave nothing to be desired, and aside from a small issue with the illumination (a feature which I rarely ever use) there’s nothing I could find to fault. I also really like the layout of the G3 reticle as it offers just what the shooter needs without being to busy or complicated. I haven't been able to find this specific model available for sale anywhere online yet, but I would estimate a street price of around $1,600 for the DMR II-i which would be a pretty good value compared to similarly equipped scopes competing for sales in the PRS and sniper competition markets.



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    Contact Information

    Bushnell Outdoor Products
    9200 Cody
    Overland Park, KS 66214
    (800) 423-3537
    www.Bushnell.com