Rifle Scopes High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

[koshkin]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Gappa</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I thought there was one article he wrote (he did several) that the scopes were loaners and he actually said he would have liked to mount them.. But maybe I read wrong.. </div></div>

In one of the articles, I did not check tracking on a scope that I borrowed from a friend since he told me that the tracking was good and he is a better shot than I am.

In another article, I did not re-test the turrets of the S&B since I thoroughly tested that same scope in a previous article.

Generally speaking though, you should try reading my articles before commenting on them. If you just skim over them (and they are long, so I would not blame you), perhaps you should not comment.

To the best of my knowledge, you are the only person in the universe who thinks that evaluating a scope without using it is the way to go.

ILya

 

[koshkin]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: billyburl2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">http://opticsthoughts.com/index.php...-vs-west&catid=4:rifle-scope-reviews&Itemid=4
You might want to actually read the article. He did mount them. Even put them on his 338L. </div></div>

I thought if one did not read the article, the pictures of scopes mounted on rifles would give it away...

ILya

 

[the once-ler]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

You were able to elaborate quite extensively about the optical qualities even without shooting, I saw pictures of you mounting scopes on tripods doing side by side comparisons.

 

[koshkin]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Gappa</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You were able to elaborate quite extensively about the optical qualities even without shooting, I saw pictures of you mounting scopes on tripods doing side by side comparisons. </div></div>

Yes, for an optical side-by-side I mount the scopes on tripods. However, that is only a part of the testing and it is at its best at comparatively low magnifications. A lot of the optical testing (and virtually all of the mechanical testing) is done with the scopes on rifles.

ILya

 

[Guy Montag]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Gappa</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You were able to elaborate quite extensively about the optical qualities even without shooting, I saw pictures of you mounting scopes on tripods doing side by side comparisons. </div></div>

 

[BDunn]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

tag

 

[mescalito]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

Thank you ILya for your efforts and comprehensive reviews. I always enjoy the read.

 

[SNIPERS4DUMMIES]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

TAGGED for a future read, glad someone on here got the initiative to do this.
thanks for the contribution.

 

[PatrickChewing]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

Thanks for taking the time to do all this. Im really curious to see how the Kahles performs. Thanks again!

 

[the once-ler]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

how's this coming?

 

[MadKap]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

Wow, this is fantastic. It's super tough to get a look through many of these scopes before pulling the trigger on a purchase.

Which scope, of all you've tested, did you find to have the most forgiving eye-relief?

 

[koshkin]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MadKap</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Wow, this is fantastic. It's super tough to get a look through many of these scopes before pulling the trigger on a purchase.

Which scope, of all you've tested, did you find to have the most forgiving eye-relief? </div></div>

Which configuration are you looking at? Generally, Hensoldts have most exemplary eye relief flexibility. However, I will have more information once I am done with this article.

ILya

 

[JSF]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Gappa</div><div class="ubbcode-body">how's this coming? </div></div>

Read the thread. In his first post he said he will not be done until the end of the year.

We are still waiting on the review you were going to give. Gappa, please hurry as I value your opinion and need help picking a scope.

 

[Jeeprider]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

I can't wait for this article!

 

[sirhitalot]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

instead of talking to the importers it could be an idea to talk with some stores. In Norway its normal for magazines to borrow stuff from different stores for their tests, and at the end of the article it says who loaned them the equipment.

 

[koshkin]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sirhitalot</div><div class="ubbcode-body">instead of talking to the importers it could be an idea to talk with some stores. In Norway its normal for magazines to borrow stuff from different stores for their tests, and at the end of the article it says who loaned them the equipment. </div></div>

I do that sometimes as well.

In the grand scheme of things, I do not care who the scope comes from as long as it as close to new condition as possible.

ILya

 

[vonbalkenbush]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

Any updates?

 

[Swift]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JSF</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Read the thread. In his first post he said he will not be done until the end of the year.
</div></div>

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SagebrushShooter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Any updates?</div></div>


You gotta be shittin me....

Ilya is very thorough in his testing and takes a lot of time to formulate a very clear, well articulated write-up; it won't happen overnight and the final product will be all the better for it.

 

[vonbalkenbush]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: THEBEARRRRRRJEW</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JSF</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Read the thread. In his first post he said he will not be done until the end of the year.
</div></div>

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SagebrushShooter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Any updates?</div></div>


You gotta be shittin me....

Ilya is very thorough in his testing and takes a lot of time to formulate a very clear, well articulated write-up; it won't happen overnight and the final product will be all the better for it. </div></div>

Go shit yourself you ass clown. I've been browsing this thread consistently from the first day it was posted. His original post when he opened the thread made no reference to him not being done until the end of the year. He was originally planning on having the testing portion (not the write up) done around the end of this month. I see that he edited his first post to reflect that. I don't normally go back to the first post of threads I've already been through once and read them over and over like a jack ass with loads of time to kill. It appears you do have that kind of time and also the jackass label to go with it.

And I don't need a tutorial on the quality of Ilya's work either. I've already read the first three parts of his "High End Tactital" write-ups. But in your great and superior wisdom you probably over looked that as a possibility also.

-SBS

 

[bryanZ06]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

tagged

 

[gmz71]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

Tag. Thank you for doing this!

 

[Swift]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SagebrushShooter</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: THEBEARRRRRRJEW</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JSF</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Read the thread. In his first post he said he will not be done until the end of the year.
</div></div>

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SagebrushShooter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Any updates?</div></div>


You gotta be shittin me....

Ilya is very thorough in his testing and takes a lot of time to formulate a very clear, well articulated write-up; it won't happen overnight and the final product will be all the better for it. </div></div>

Go shit yourself you ass clown. I've been browsing this thread consistently from the first day it was posted. His original post when he opened the thread made no reference to him not being done until the end of the year. He was originally planning on having the testing portion (not the write up) done around the end of this month. I see that he edited his first post to reflect that. I don't normally go back to the first post of threads I've already been through once and read them over and over like a jack ass with loads of time to kill. It appears you do have that kind of time and also the jackass label to go with it.

And I don't need a tutorial on the quality of Ilya's work either. I've already read the first three parts of his "High End Tactital" write-ups. But in your great and superior wisdom you probably over looked that as a possibility also.

-SBS </div></div>

Maybe I overlooked your reading comprehension. You don't have to go back to the OP. Go back 4 frickin posts. I won't resort to name-calling but I'm baffled by some people's unwillingness to spend 5 minutes reading before posting. And for the love of God, you could spend a couple hours reading all of his previous articles but you can't take 5 minutes to check recent posts? You're helpless. Take some initiative and you won't ask stupid questions.

Anyways, Ilya will post it as soon as its finished and I look forward to reading it.

 

[vonbalkenbush]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: THEBEARRRRRRJEW</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Maybe I overlooked your reading comprehension. You don't have to go back to the OP. Go back 4 frickin posts. I won't resort to name-calling but I'm baffled by some people's unwillingness to spend 5 minutes reading before posting. And for the love of God, you could spend a couple hours reading all of his previous articles but you can't take 5 minutes to check recent posts? You're helpless. Take some initiative and you won't ask stupid questions.

Anyways, Ilya will post it as soon as its finished and I look forward to reading it. </div></div>

Initiative is a good thing. I'm not unwilling to read before posting, I was just in a hurry. I just don't think it was terribly productive on your part to get your point accross the way you did. However, if I read a larger portion of the thread before posting we wouldn't be having this conversation. Enough said, I'm sure both of us have better things to do.

-SBS

 

[TNtrg.300]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

Tag

 

[Swift]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SagebrushShooter</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: THEBEARRRRRRJEW</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Maybe I overlooked your reading comprehension. You don't have to go back to the OP. Go back 4 frickin posts. I won't resort to name-calling but I'm baffled by some people's unwillingness to spend 5 minutes reading before posting. And for the love of God, you could spend a couple hours reading all of his previous articles but you can't take 5 minutes to check recent posts? You're helpless. Take some initiative and you won't ask stupid questions.

Anyways, Ilya will post it as soon as its finished and I look forward to reading it. </div></div>

Initiative is a good thing. I'm not unwilling to read before posting, I was just in a hurry. I just don't think it was terribly productive on your part to get your point accross the way you did. However, if I read a larger portion of the thread before posting we wouldn't be having this conversation. Enough said, I'm sure both of us have better things to do.

-SBS </div></div>

Agreed. I don't wanna crap all over a good thread. Most guys would turn this into a flame war so kudos to you for taking the high road.

 

[sib1948]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

I am really looking forward to this article, since my 64 year old eyes feel the March 5X40 56 would best suit my LR & ELR endeavors. Agree this would most likely make my spotting scope unnecessary when target shooting.

 

[Lafayette]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

Damn I can't wait for this. Really looking foward to hearing your thoughts on the Kahles 6-24. Your previous threads on high end optics have been excellent.

 

[sib1948]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

Switching to mil/mil and just received the March 3-24 and 5-40 and find them both amazing compared to other scopes I've used. Love the clarity, tracking and zero stop features along with the great magnification for my old eyes. Some mirage issues at 40x here in the Arizona desert at 85 degrees, but resolved by reducing the magnification to 30X. Price point is also great compared to other options.

Can't wait for this review. Purchased these based on your last review. Your non biased, expert opinion is much appreciated. Good Luck

 

[locolife]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

Can't wait to read the review. I am holding off on a new optic purchase till you complete it. Your review and some great SHOT Show discouts on the the top performers would be a perfect combination.

 

[Rushfan]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

Subscribing

 

[InTheHills]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

Anyone heard from ILya?

 

[warbird2006]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ILya</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Just a quick heads up that I am assembling a line-up for one more High End Tactical article, this time focusing on high magnification scopes with 56mm objective lenses.

I will be starting on it fairly soon and will finish around the end of the year, I think.


So far:

- I've got the Steiner 5-25x56 in hand and will start testing it
- Premier 5-25x56 should be arriving in September some time
- Ken Pratt of Khaybes (Kahles importer) will loan me their 6-24x56 for the article later in the fall
- I sent an e-mail regarding March 5-40x56FFP
- Leupold Mark 8 3.5-25x56 may be available to me later in the year

What else can I get my hands on?

- Zeiss/Hensoldt has a 6-24x56, but that one is SFP only. I do not think the new 3.5-25x56 is available yet, but I'll check with Zeiss.
- Does anyone have a contact at S&B I can talk to? Historically, I have been singularly unable to get anything going with them. Their 5-25x56 would make a good fit for the article, but they seem quite scarce at the moment.

Previous articles in this series:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

ILya
</div></div>


I'd like to play on your playground, pretty please.

 

[diverdon]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

Has Ilya dropped any hints when this rill be done?

 

[Hennig]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

Stop bumping this and getting me all excited

 

[dc45]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

Ilya,
I don't know how far you are down the road with this test, but I would love to see you include 'tall target test' (shooting a 3 shot group @ 100 yards, cranking 10 MILS up and shooting another group). I was disappointed with the accuracy of the 5-40X March click values (105%!), and would like to know how that compares to the other scopes you are testing. If you use a plumb bob and a vertical line this simple 6 shot test also reveals whether the reticle is properly aligned with the elevation mechanism, a problem Leupolds have had problems with in the past.
Regards,
DC

 

[koshkin]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: diverdon</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Has Ilya dropped any hints when this rill be done? </div></div>

I have dropped a variety of hints on the subject and they were all a bit on the optimistic side...

 

[koshkin]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DC Smith</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Ilya,
I don't know how far you are down the road with this test, but I would love to see you include 'tall target test' (shooting a 3 shot group @ 100 yards, cranking 10 MILS up and shooting another group). I was disappointed with the accuracy of the 5-40X March click values (105%!), and would like to know how that compares to the other scopes you are testing. If you use a plumb bob and a vertical line this simple 6 shot test also reveals whether the reticle is properly aligned with the elevation mechanism, a problem Leupolds have had problems with in the past.
Regards,
DC
</div></div>

I am still working on the article. This is not too dissimilar to what I normally do when I check tracking and I will make sure I repeat this test on the March I have here.

ILya

 

[khw9mm]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

Tagged. Interested in reading your thoughts on Part IV.

 

[tactic-als]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

I really hope I don't regret my purchase today....I'm sure "it" will be an excellent scope but it'll be interesting to see how "it" stacks up to others in your write up.

 

[Pike Bishop]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

Hi, Ilya.
Thanks for all the hard work on these evaluations. I'm new to this site (thanks to all for your comments/guidance), but not new to the consumer optics industry. Your "High End Tactical Scopes" family of articles are enjoyable and informative. Like so many here, I look forward to the completion of Part IV. I had the opportunity to look through most of these at SHOT, but there's no way to quantify and memorize image attributes when going from booth to booth. Your Part IV will provide me with the data needed to make the best decision for my application.
Thanks again and all the best.
P.

 

[sib1948]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

This should be a very definitive comparison. I have found all your previous articles very legitimate and informative. Thanks for all your valuable time so well spent, in advance. If the doubters and complainers think they can do better, THEY SHOULD !!!!!

 

[gehrm]

Re: High End Tactical, Part IV: The Heavyweights

I really enjoyed your other articles in the series. Extremely useful for those of us without easy access to all the high end glass. Has caused me to reconsider my optics choice for a planed long range build. Thanks for taking the time to post your results!

 

[Fred @ Bison Tactical]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DC Smith</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

I am still working on the article. This is not too dissimilar to what I normally do when I check tracking and I will make sure I repeat this test on the March I have here.

ILya

Ilya - any ball park timeframe when you think this article will be out?

 

[TippyRacer]

Darn, I saw this on the first page today and got all excited

 

[Bruno]

Ilya, enjoyed reading your articles and look forward to the next part in the series.

 

[MrNobody308]

Subscribed.
Very interested in the March scopes.

 

[gmz71]

tag-tag-tag

 

[pmclaine]

More interested in this than what Ben Bernanke has to say.

 

[InTheHills]

The suspense is killing me!

 

[Sako man]

Ilya, enjoyed reading your articles and look forward to the next part in the series.

Totally agree.