I'm looking for a scope to put on my 15 inch 7mm-08 Encore barrel. I looked at a Bushnell 2-6X32 XLT and a Weaver 2-8X28. The Bushnell looks a little brighter but was wondering if anyone has used one. How do they hold up? How clear are they while hunting? Or what would you recommend?

I use the 2x6 Bushnell Elite when I choose to mount a variable. I have a couple of the "old" Banners on guns that belonged to my late friend. The Elites have better glass than the Banners, IMHO. Have had no problems with either.

I cannot address the Weaver variable. I owned one (came on a used gun) but I did not keep it. I did not feel that it had the quality that I see in the Leupolds or the Elite.

I have both and they have given me great service with no problems.

3 Bushnell's : 41 mag 10" Contender
30-30 A.I 14" Contender
209x50 Muzzleloader 15" Encore

1 Weaver: 243 win. 15" Encore

Shortgun

Both are great scopes. The eye relief on the Bushnell is longer than the Weaver. You might wanna take that into consideration depending on the location of the scope on the gun.

The Bushnell 2-6X Elite has given me very good service. I have 7 in use.

Both are good choices, the Bushnell's have treated me well.

I have used both Weaver variables and the Bushnell Trophy and Elites. The only scope failures that I experienced have been with the Bushnells. So for my money I'll stick with the Weavers or Burris.

Thanks for the comments. I looked at the eye relief on the Bushnell again tonight. It still looks brighter than the Weaver. The Bushnell is also about $50 cheaper. I took a Simmons off of one of my other guns for now. Decisions, decisions!

I have the Bushnell on my BFR 454 and have no problems with it. I had a 2x Weaver on my 454 at first and thought it was a great scope for the money. No complaints with it.

I narrowed my choice to the XLT or the Weaver as well and I went with the Bushnell. The XLT has thicker crosshairs and less magnification than the Weaver, but It is very bright, has longer eye relief and is extremely accurate. I am getting less than 1 inch 3 shot groups at 100 yards from a Contender 30-30 AI (MGM 15 in. barrel) with federal 125 gr 30-30 factory ammo.

I also have had good luck with both.

The 32mm may help you at higher magnification, although on a handgun I rarely go past 4x due to my pronounced wobble.
(You might consider a fixed)

Unlike many products available at this time, I believe
Bushnell has actually improved it's quality in the past 8 or 10 years.
Their Elite, at least, is a nice scope.