I haven't been actively looking for a 1x8, so can't honestly say if this sale is great or so-so. This is the Bushnell AR Optics 1-8x24mm SFP Illuminated Scope, and I think they went for about $300 18 months or so ago. Brownells lists the regular price as $495.00 and a today-only sale price of $219.99.
https://www.brownells.com/aspx/search/p ... pid=142332
But I've been wanting a scope with these sorts of specs, just haven't been hunting (pun intended). For budget-friendly glass, the reviews I read and watched on YouTube indicate that this competes very well with scopes in a higher price range. It's seems to be well designed to bridge the hunting (for some game and conditions) to tactical (as well as 3-gun competition) overlap.
The main plusses that had me go ahead and order one were:
1) Second focal plane reticle. With a 1x4 I wouldn't care much, but flipping it up 8x I think it's important.
2) Reticle is illuminated with several brightness settings, and uses a standard CR2032 battery. But the reticle displays as a non-illuminated black if you don't turn it on or if the battery dies.
3) Bushnell calls it the Throw Down Power Change Lever: it's a foldout lever that stays collapsed against the scope until you want to change the magnification setting, then you flip it out for a quick switch. I think this was a mod that came from the 3-gun world. You evidently get two levers of different lengths to choose from; you just screw in either the shorter or longer of the two.
4) One review stated that the 1x view was good, better than he'd seen on other scopes claiming 1x. In other words, that it was very true to an undistorted 1x image.
5) Says it's IPX7 waterproof. I don't plan to drop it in a river---heaven forbid I lose it overboard while in the GOM like some of my other guns--but I do want something that can be happy functioning in the rain.
6) Price. For $220, I figured it was well worth trying. If it doesn't stay on one of my primaries, I'm sure I'll still find a home for it.
Negatives:
1) While the reviews mostly say that the glass is very good, they do note--which wouldn't be uncommon--some barreling distortion at the very edges of the field of view at the highest magnifications.
2) Field of view. But I really wouldn't expect anything more from a LVP 24mm tube (it's a 30mm mount, BTW).
3) Reticle type. I don't really know if this is a negative or not based on my purpose for the scope. Bushnell uses it on several of its scopes; they call it the BTR-1.
Here's an image that gives the specs. It looks to be specifically designed for 5.56 with 55-62 grain bullets (I assume out of a 16-inch barrel). It has an EOtech-like fast-acquisition, multiple MOA circle with the aiming point at its center, and four vertical holdover lines; if zeroed at 100 yards, the holdovers are supposed to equate to 200 through 500 yards, respectively. Not in MILs and no windage holdovers. So, no, nothing I could ever imagine taking a 500-yard shot with. And if you use the scope for something with a different caliber and/or barrel length, I imagine you'd need to dope your own, actual holdover results for those reticle lines. Again, kind of a crossover between hunting and CQB.
4) Stiff brightness adjustment. Some reviews noted that the turret to change the reticle brightness (same place the battery is inserted) is a bit stiff to turn. Doesn't bother me a lot, though. I think that would only be an issue if needed to change the brightness vary quickly, and one reviewer noted that he felt the adjustment rotation had gotten a little easier after he'd used the scope for a while.
5) It's an inexpensive scope and you really do often get what you pay for. But I thought someone else on the forum might be looking for a budget optic for a new build or, as is my intent, to replace an RDS so I can have a "bridge" carbine that can reach out a little bit farther with more confidence but still have a decent, fast-acquisition 1x.
I mean, since mine just shipped.