My Daniel Defense DD5V3 needed a scope; I was using a temporary measure while I mentally masterbated the past year about what to buy. My primary issue is my eyesight. I am -7.25 to -7.75 D (power depends on glasses vs contacts) with astigmatism. I am very sensitive to eyebox issues and any sort of "fish eye" or distortion seen on LPVOs. I love my Kahles 1-6 as a consequence. I can say the Steiner 1-4x works well for me too. I like my VCOG 1-8x, and I use it on my SCAR 17. However, I wanted to try something different. I was not impressed by the 1-10 Vortex; I did not like the Nightforce ATACR on low magnification. I came real close to ordering a Kahles 1-8 on sale at Euro Optic (30 mm tube), but I wanted a FFP scope if possible. Hence, I saved my pennies and went ahead and tried the S&B.
Anyhow, this set up is meant to be a "battle rifle" or at most a "DMR" type set up, not a sniper config. You can see I have a Surefire RC2 762K on the end of it to try to keep it compact (feels great, especially with the BCM stock and pistol grip). For a long range AR-10, I may buy another DD5 in V4-5 guise in the future if I want magnification (I also have a 308 bolt gun). I plan on taking this to a class at some point. I put the S&B in a ADM 1.93" recon mount I had. This height works best for me with my neck. The pic below is at a local 100 yard range (about the longest range I can get to these days):
Pros/Positives:
1. The scope comes with Tenebraex caps out of the box installed. They work perfect. The best thing is I can adjust the diopter easily without messing up the caps much. I have to adjust the diopter shooting with glasses or contacts. Today I shot with my contacts
2. I love the MDR-T6 reticle. It is the best reticle I have used on any LPVO. The dot is the key, much like the SKMR 3 reticle (or similar other reticles) that use a center dot. Very nice trying to shoot a 1/2" circle at 100 yards.
3. Eyebox is great on both 8x and CC mode. Just slightly smaller than say my VCOG 1-8x, but it is definitely larger than the Nightforce ATACR and Vortex 1-10. It is darn close to a Kahles 1-8 (30 mm tube). The Kahles 1-6x is still the king of LPVO eyeboxes from what I have tried at least. Regardless, S&B did a good job, and it opens up on the CC mode. I had no issues getting behind this scope on 8x.
4. Reticle illumination is good. Dot illumination is just like an Aimpoint, only crisper (no scatter at all). I had zero issues on CC mode hitting a steel plate from standing at 100 yards or on the bench.
5. Glass is clear. It's a covered canopy I was shooting in (open, not completely enclosed). Had no issues with light; I will have to try truly outdoors in low light in the future.
6. The turrets are very easy to adjust and lock. No issues.
Gripes (not really negatives).
1. I wish the illumination dial had spaces in-between the settings to turn off the dot/illumination. My VCOG 1-8 has this feature, and it's very hard not to want it on your other scopes. Likewise, they should better mark the difference between the two adjustments. One direction is for the dot, the other is for the reticle. You can't use both at once of course. With training, it won't matter, but I think a single direction of turning for the dial would have fixed the issue (just like passing the NV mode on Aimpoints to get to the main brightness).
2. My scope's elevation turret came from Euro Optic on the "6-7" mil setting. The adjustment above it where it wound up being zero at 100 yards. I then reset the zero stop to "0". Not sure if I'm going to lose some mil adjustment if I ever get to stretch out beyond 600 yards with this rifle. These are single turn turrets.
3. The magnification ring is sharp. Not easy to adjust unlike say a Leupold Mark 5 or any Kahles. I may get a throw lever for it.
All in all, despite the cost, I am very happy thus far with my purchase. If funds allow, I may buy another one for another rifle. Time will tell if it is worth it. With my eyes, I really prefer Euro glass, but that is me.
Anyhow, this set up is meant to be a "battle rifle" or at most a "DMR" type set up, not a sniper config. You can see I have a Surefire RC2 762K on the end of it to try to keep it compact (feels great, especially with the BCM stock and pistol grip). For a long range AR-10, I may buy another DD5 in V4-5 guise in the future if I want magnification (I also have a 308 bolt gun). I plan on taking this to a class at some point. I put the S&B in a ADM 1.93" recon mount I had. This height works best for me with my neck. The pic below is at a local 100 yard range (about the longest range I can get to these days):
Pros/Positives:
1. The scope comes with Tenebraex caps out of the box installed. They work perfect. The best thing is I can adjust the diopter easily without messing up the caps much. I have to adjust the diopter shooting with glasses or contacts. Today I shot with my contacts
2. I love the MDR-T6 reticle. It is the best reticle I have used on any LPVO. The dot is the key, much like the SKMR 3 reticle (or similar other reticles) that use a center dot. Very nice trying to shoot a 1/2" circle at 100 yards.
3. Eyebox is great on both 8x and CC mode. Just slightly smaller than say my VCOG 1-8x, but it is definitely larger than the Nightforce ATACR and Vortex 1-10. It is darn close to a Kahles 1-8 (30 mm tube). The Kahles 1-6x is still the king of LPVO eyeboxes from what I have tried at least. Regardless, S&B did a good job, and it opens up on the CC mode. I had no issues getting behind this scope on 8x.
4. Reticle illumination is good. Dot illumination is just like an Aimpoint, only crisper (no scatter at all). I had zero issues on CC mode hitting a steel plate from standing at 100 yards or on the bench.
5. Glass is clear. It's a covered canopy I was shooting in (open, not completely enclosed). Had no issues with light; I will have to try truly outdoors in low light in the future.
6. The turrets are very easy to adjust and lock. No issues.
Gripes (not really negatives).
1. I wish the illumination dial had spaces in-between the settings to turn off the dot/illumination. My VCOG 1-8 has this feature, and it's very hard not to want it on your other scopes. Likewise, they should better mark the difference between the two adjustments. One direction is for the dot, the other is for the reticle. You can't use both at once of course. With training, it won't matter, but I think a single direction of turning for the dial would have fixed the issue (just like passing the NV mode on Aimpoints to get to the main brightness).
2. My scope's elevation turret came from Euro Optic on the "6-7" mil setting. The adjustment above it where it wound up being zero at 100 yards. I then reset the zero stop to "0". Not sure if I'm going to lose some mil adjustment if I ever get to stretch out beyond 600 yards with this rifle. These are single turn turrets.
3. The magnification ring is sharp. Not easy to adjust unlike say a Leupold Mark 5 or any Kahles. I may get a throw lever for it.
All in all, despite the cost, I am very happy thus far with my purchase. If funds allow, I may buy another one for another rifle. Time will tell if it is worth it. With my eyes, I really prefer Euro glass, but that is me.