Money aside, which would you go with? I am looking at the 2.5-8 Leupold or the 2-6 Bushnell.

It is going on a SBHH 44 Mag, which will see a lot of hunting action. It will be for Texas exotics and hogs.

I can't say I have experience with those specific models...some here will...but I have found Leupold to be slightly better in other comparable products.

I'll give a vote for the Leupold; but, I've never owned a bushnell so....

If you have the cash get the leupold

Money aside, allways go for the leupold. I rarely get to say money aside. I start thinking of everything else I could spend that money on. I have been considering the burris 3-12 just for working up loads but I think either of the ones you mentioned will serve you well. They are about the same size, same field of view,and the leupold weighs about an oz more that the bushnell.

The Leupold is a nice scope, but they are rather large. I like the Weaver 2.5-8 for its size. The bushnells have long eye relief which should work well with the factory mounting on that hunter. I have changed all but one of my scoped wheelguns to dot sights of some sort, if you aren't going to stretch 100 yards much and if quick shots can be commonplace, you might want to consider an UltraDot or similar.

it comes down to $$$, The Leupold is the better of the two and my preference in scopes but the Bushnells are a solid scope and my second choice in handgun scopes. I run both and have the Bushnells on my Encores in the big Win mags and so far they are taking the punishment. The eye relief, clarity and light gathering abilities are good but Leupold does out perform them some. Natchez has the Bushnells on sale for 299.00 right now. I'm not sure what they are normally going for now but they showed retail at around 400.00 if I remember correctly but they normally always bump that number to make the sale seem better. They also have the Nikons on sale for about the same price and they are a very good scope too. I haven't used the variable Nikon but the 2X was very close in performance to the Leupold.

My SRH has worn a Bushnell 2-6x for a lot of years. I've shot nothing but heavy loads of 240 or 300 grain bullets. No issues with Bushnell.

Leupold is my preference and I have both (on revolvers and single shots).

However, both are great optics - the Bushnell's were being run last year at $199 "closeout" through Natchez as they purged old stock...I should have bought a case of 'em. Ah, hindsight.

Quote from a cabelas review -
Let me start by saying I used to be a Bushnell fan.
I didn't think spending the extra money was worth the difference in quality. Now have a Leupold scope on every gun I own. I was not aware of the product I was missing!
This scope replaces a Bushnell Trophy Hand gun scope on my
Colt Anaconda. What a HUGE difference between the two.
Eye relief is miles ahead better than the old one, and with all Leupold scopes I have owned ; Bore sight ,shoot twice ,adjust once and DONE!!! You might use two maybe three clicks to get it to drive nails. I just wished I didn't spend all my money on other scopes so I could have gotten this scope sooner!!

The Leupold 2.5x8, for my money, is a better scope than the either Bushnell the standard or elite one...

I own both. I will take the Bushnell every time.
My first choice is the 2x7 Burris.

Leupold....

I own both. I like the Bushnell better than the Leupold VX-2 but the new version is a VX-3 and it is better than the Bushnell.

I would get a leupold straight 4x,

both or good scopes, I would say leupold being higher quality, but twice the price.

They are worth the $ Leupold all the way.

Bushnell.

Leupold...gets the vote ( 2.5x8 to 2x to 4x ) I have them on most all my Handguns big and small and have never had any trouble with them. I owned a few other brands I wont say and wasnt pleased with...Just my opinion.

You need to look thru them to be sure. I preffer the Leupold, as the eye relief appears to be far better for me. I have a few of each, and in 30 years usage have only had one failure from a 2x6 B&L, due to sliding down a mountain with it in my belt holster. The Bushnells are a great value tho.

I just saw that Nikon has come out with a new handgun scope. I have no clue how it works, but thought I would add that to your list of things to check into.

Nothing wrong with the Leupold but speaking for myself, I have to watch how much I spend on my shooting stuff. Bought a Bushnell Elite 2x6 and have never regretted it.

I have a couple of Leupold scopes on rifles but no handgun scopes.

All mine wear Bushnell's and one Weaver.

No problems with either.

Just put a Bushnell Elite on the Contender this weekend. Nothing against Leupold, own their rilfescopes and bino,but compared the pistol scopes and the Bushnell was more forgiving. The Leupold was sharper,would be great for a bench gun.