What a mouthful of a product name. The Bushnell Legend Tac Optics/T-Series 15-45×60 Spotting Scope (Bushnell product code 781545ED) is an FFP, Mil reticle spotting scope. I picked this spotting scope up 8 months ago and have been using it off and on. At $480, it’s not the absolute cheapest spotting scope but it’s a far cry from expensive.
Minimum viable quality?
For some products, there’s a minimum viable quality required before they’re useful. A laser rangefinder that only reliably goes out to 300 is not super useful for rifles, and a spotting scope with shit glass will not help spot hits or check targets any better than a decent riflescope. I have owned some cheaper spotting scopes in the past and they’re worthless in my opinion. That said, the T-series has glass that’s good enough. At the same magnification, it’s sharper than my fancy $1200 rifle scope and so it justifies its existence in my range bag.
- 15-45 magnification and 60mm objective
- Straight line view (some spotting scopes angle the eyepiece)
- FFP Mil hash reticle
- Twist up eyecup
- Rails on the sides and top for a rangefinder and other pieces of flair
- Covered by Bushnell’s “No Questions” warranty
- Super shitty case
Usability
More expensive spotting scopes are easier to use. The Bushnell T-series spotting scope crowds 3 controls and a twist up eyecup all within a few inches of each other and they all work the same way. You can get used to the different tactile feel of each of them but it takes some getting used to.
Focus is also harder to nail with the relatively small and stiff focus ring. Nicer spotting scopes use larger focus rings with more range of motion to make it easier to hit focus.
The Bushnell Legend spotting scope is straight-line. Some people prefer angled for bench shooting, some people like straight. Many spotting scopes are offered in both options.
The Mil hash reticle is FFP and changes size with magnification. If you spot for PRS shooters who use mils on their scopes, being able to call out corrections in mils with this spotting scope will be handy.
The included soft case is cheaply made and very poorly designed. It’s a complete piece of shit. Limp by with it or just buy an aftermarket one from Triad Tactical.
On the positives, this spotting scope is very compact and the glass is coated in Bushnell’s hydrophobic EXO coating so it sheds rain really well.
Optical Quality
In short: it suffers from a bit of chromatic aberration: the blue tinges you see on some objects at range. It’s not terrible, it’s just not as nice as the glass on other, more expensive spotting scopes.
It’s still sharp enough for common use at a PRS match and it’ll still easily beat the pants off your kid’s $250 telescope for moon watching.
As much as I enjoy straining through an eyepiece waiting to catch a glimpse of my buddy’s impact and give corrections, putting a phone-scope knockoff on this thing and using a phone is the way to go for just range-duty. Easier to watch, replay if you’re not sure where it hit, and get more exact corrections.
Conclusion
“Good” spotting scopes are $2000. I’ve spent budget money on spotting scopes in the past that turned out to be a total waste of money. I’m glad to say that this spotting scope is good enough for the price. Since it’s still kind of hard to use, you would have to show a new spotter at a PRS match how to use it before turning them loose on it, but the mil reticle will be very handy for those same spotters to call out corrections. Just remember to replace the case.
