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Pros - Fully multi-coated optics - Easy to sight in and stay sighted in - 91% light transmission rate Cons - No illuminated reticle - No rings included

Welcome to our review of the Bushnell Trophy XLT 2–7x36mm Crossbow DOA Reticle Scope. Bushnell makes excellent rifle scopes, and they have recently started providing a Crossbow DOA reticle on their Trophy XLT line. I was anxious to see how well the scope would perform, so let’s check this baby out.

What Are the Dimensions of the Crossbow Scope?

The Bushnell Trophy XLT 2–7x36mm Crossbow DOA Reticle Scope is 13 inches long, with a 1-inch tube diameter. It requires 5.9 inches of mounting space, and weighs 14.3 ounces. It’s a bit heavier than I like, but it’s still under a pound.

How Powerful Is the Bushnell Trophy XLT 2–7x36mm Crossbow DOA Reticle Scope?

This particular model has a 36mm objective lens, and offers adjustable magnification from 2X to 7X. That’s more than enough magnification for most crossbow deer hunting purposes, and some might even say that it’s too powerful. Then again, my theory is that the closest I can get to a heart shot, the better, so more magnification is always a good thing. Clarity and resolution are fantastic, even at maximum power.

How Good Are the Optics On This Crossbow Scope?

The Bushnell Trophy XLT 2–7x36mm Crossbow DOA Reticle Scope features fully multi-coated optics, and truly offers a great view. This glass is well-made, with O-ring seals around the lenses to prevent water ingress and a nitrogen-purged optics barrel to make the scope fogproof.

Eye relief on this model is a comfortable 5 inches, which means the scope is great for any crossbow you might mount it on. It’s also suitable for most rifle and shotgun gauges, but the reticle is designed for crossbows. The fast-focus eyepiece makes it easy to quickly acquire your target and get it crisp and clear, ready for the kill shot.

Does the Bushnell Trophy XLT 2–7x36mm Crossbow DOA Reticle Scope Perform Well In Low-Light Conditions?

With its fully multi-coated optics and excellent design, the Bushnell Trophy XLT 2–7x36mm Crossbow DOA Reticle Scope offers 91% light transmission. Whether you’re hunting during daylight hours or the early dawn or late dusk time, this crossbow will perform flawlessly. My only complaint about this particular scope is the lack of an illuminated reticle. Even so, I’ve scored several trophy bucks using this scope during the minutes right after dawn, even on overcast days.

How Wide Will I Be Able to See?

From 100 yards, the Bushnell Trophy XLT 2–7x36mm Crossbow DOA Reticle Scope offers 33 feet of linear view at 3X, and 11 feet at 9X magnification. That’s not exactly the worst in the industry, and is actually a much wider field of view than much of the competition. The 36mm objective lens works really well to give you a generous field of view, so you won’t have any problems locating your prey and then zooming in on it.

How Easy is the Bushnell Trophy XLT 2–7x36mm Crossbow DOA Reticle Scope to Mount?

No rings ship with this scope, so be sure you have a set of 1-inch rings ready to go when you get the scope. No need for high rings, and the scope mounts in seconds. Then you’re ready to sight in and fine tune your xbow.

How Easy is the Bushnell Trophy XLT 2–7x36mm Crossbow DOA Reticle Scope to Sight In?

I’ve heard of people who had problems sighting in the Bushnell Trophy XLT 2–7x36mm Crossbow DOA Reticle Scope. They said there wasn’t enough adjustment range to account for the fall in the arrow. My thinking here is that they might have received a scope with the normal DOA reticle instead of the Crossbow DOA reticle, because I had no problems whatsoever sighting in the crossbow with this scope. I was sighted in from 10 to 60 yards in minutes.

Once sighted in, the scope holds zero for almost infinity. No, really. I sighted this scope in once, and it’s still zeroed in two years later. And that’s even with the occasional bump in the truck and drop from the tree stand.

How Durable is the Scope?

Bushnell has backed the Bushnell Trophy XLT 2–7x36mm Crossbow DOA Reticle Scope with its Bulletproof 100% Money Back Guarantee, which the company does not do lightly. I wouldn’t recommend actually shooting a bullet at the scope, but I can say that it’s proven to be darned near indestructible. The Butler Creek flip-open scope covers work wonderfully to protect the glass, and the scope has withstood some abuse that a lesser-quality scope would never handle. It’s also waterproof and fogproof, so you can be sure the scope can handle anything Mother Nature throws at you.