Crimson Trace Brushline Pro Review | Best Scope Under $600?

I was fortunate enough to get a new scope for hunting in the Midwest, specifically Southwest and North West Ohio. I wanted a scope that would give me more range than my typical 3-9x magnification. However, I didn’t want to get too much magnification because I’d still only be able to see about 200 yards without obstruction.

The best rifle scope for hunting in the Midwest is the 6-24x magnification. I spent 5 hours at the range with a friend, and we attached my new Brushline Pro 6-24×50 BDC scope to his legendary 71′ Browning BLR. I’m a sucker for lever-action rifles, and my friend’s Browning BLR didn’t disappoint with the Crimson Trace Brushline Pro scope.

I was incredibly excited to get a chance to fire this rifle, and having my new scope on it made it a helluva day. This blog is based on my first 5-hour range day with the Crimson Trace Brushline Pro. I hope you enjoy reading about the scope as much as I’ve enjoyed shooting with it.

Crimson Trace Brushline Pro 6-24×50

I’ve been a fan of Crimson Trace since I bought my first laser grip a few years ago. Their customer service is great, and their packages always come in impressive packaging. As you can see from the pictures below, this was no different when I first opened the Brushline Pro. The Brushline Pro features a unique style of BDC reticles that make it easier to adjust your shots based on weather, elevation, or distance.

First Impressions of Brushline Pro Series Scope

My first thought when I opened this package was if a company is putting that much effort into their packaging, they must want to protect what’s inside. When I opened the box and saw the packaging, my first words were, “Wow, I hope the scope is as nice as the presentation." The packaging, with the addition of the stabilizing bands for the scope, was a nice touch. It’s great to know this scope will be in great condition upon arrival; you can’t say that for every company’s packaging and presentation.

Specs

How Good is the BDC Reticle on the Brushline Pro?

Before we get too involved, I want to cover the basics. BDC scopes use a reticle pattern that predicts how much a bullet will drop at a given range. One of the biggest reasons I bought the Crimson Trace (CT) Brushline Pro was due to its unique Bullet Drop Compensator (BDC). I love the idea of a BDC reticle because it takes a lot of pressure off my inability to do math. The CT BDC reticle is so good because the diamond shape of the BDC makes it incredibly easy to follow the manual and lettering of each mark.

How Many Shots to Zero the Brushline Pro?

As you can see from the Subtensions table above, the reticles are designed to be 100 yards apart for use with any centerfire rifle and 50 yards if you’re using a rimfire rifle, such as the most common .22LR.

At first, we shot about 10 rounds to see if we could zero the scope in without any help from the manual. It didn’t go well because we could not zero in the scope without reading the manual first.

Once we read the manual, the Brushline Pro 6-24×50 scope took one shot to zero. As you can see from the target below, my friend’s first shot is right above the center target at 100 yards. I gave him the manual, and he adjusted it with the following two shots in the center of the bullseye.

He was able to make these fast adjustments, in part due to the aggressive knurling of the turrets. These knurls on each turret allow you to grip them with bare hands, spring lightweight gloves, or even winter gloves. As you can see from the picture below, the markings for each adjustment are clearly stated and easy to make with the added grip texture of the aggressive knurling.

How Accurate is the Brushline Pro Scope?

There are many things to be impressed with this scope, but my biggest surprise was how accurate the BDC reticles were. Our adjustments were spot on once we read the manual and realized we’d never shot a BDC scope with a hunting rifle.

Shooting a rifle that was created over 50 years ago ago with commercial ammo and still maintains its level of accuracy is incredible. The rifle is a legend and deserves its due, but I’ve never seen a scope under $900 that performed like the Crimson Trace Brushline Pro.

We shot at 100 yards and 200 yards with 20 shots each, and the accuracy never strayed. Since I wanted to get as accurate a test as possible, I used the exact ammo specifications that Crimson Trace recommends for this scope. We used Federal SP 150 Grain .308 ammo boxes of 20 bullets, and each shot 3 boxes after zeroing in.

At 210 yards, we both consistently shot just under 2 MOA. That’s on par with the chart above based on Crimson Trace’s claims. As someone who reviews guns, gear, and optics weekly, I’m rarely this impressed.

We even switched back and forth between the 100-yard lane and the 200-yard lane and made adjustments after each switch. Every time we changed lanes and made adjustments, we consistently shot 1 MOA at 100 yards and just under 2 MOA at 200 yards.

For us in the Midwest and Eastern United States, 200-yard shots of a living, moving animal is a long shot. Our forests are dense and rarely offer clear shots past 200 yards. Next weekend, I plan to go shoot at 300 and 400 yards to get further testing.

Is the Brushline Pro The Best Scope Under $600?

I almost feel like I’m doing the scope a disservice by saying it’s the best one under $600. After shooting it, I asked my friend what he thought the scope was worth, and he said he’d pay $900-$1,000. Shooting with this scope and knowing I can make an accurate adjustment anywhere from 50 yards to 500 yards reminds me of rifle scopes that are 2-4x more expensive.

I’d love to find a scope for $585.00 that offers consistency, accuracy, and versatility comparable to the Brushline. However, if you want a BDC reticle for making quick and effortless adjustments while maintaining sub-MOA accuracy at 100 yards, this is the scope for you.

Why Should I Buy the Brushline Pro BDC Scope?

It’s always nice when you receive a scope wrapped like the Brushline Pro, but it’s much better when it works exactly as they claim. I’ve only owned the scope for a month, but it feels like it will last and do great things for me this fall whitetail season. I can’t wait to see how all the nice features work throughout over the next couple of years.

Which Environment is Best for the 6-24×50 Brushline Pro?

You can always contact Crimson Trace and find their thoughts, but this scope was made for the Midwest. Large open fields and big areas covered by farmland are perfect for this scope. You can use any caliber hunting rifle you’d ever use on a whitetail or mule deer, and this scope would work as if it were meant for your rifle.

Can I Improve the MOA with Reloaded Ammo?

Absolutely! At 100 yards with factory ammo, the BLR was shooting a sub-MOA grouping. The biggest difference that you’ll notice when you reload is the accuracy at 200-400 yards. Since I’ve been reloading my own ammo, I’ve noticed a significant difference in my consistency and accuracy at 200 yards. We were barely under 2 MOA with commercial ammo, and I know that I could get 1.5 MOA at 200 yards with some Lapua brass and premium powder.

I haven’t tried different weights for the bullets, but I think that I may have better luck with a heavier bullet like a 168 Gr, especially at 200 yards. If you’re interested in learning how to reload, look at one of our newest blogs, Step-By-Step Guide | Reloading Your Own Ammo.

Where Can I Buy the Brushline Pro 6-24×50 Riflescope?

1. Sportsman’s Guide- $509.95
2. Sportsman’s Warehouse-$449.99