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Rifle Scopes $3500 for a new scope, which one.

M

Muskox

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Jul 10, 2011
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Sucky Kentucky
This scope will play rifle tag between a 280 Ackley, 243, and 338 Lapua until I buy a 2nd one. So it needs to be tough, it will be in a Spurh type saddle mount.

Here are my thoughts, I am looking between Zeiss, Hendsolt, Schmidt Bender, Leupold and Night Force and nothing else.

1. I want at least a 30mm tube and more is better.

2. I want a Horus mil reticle Christmas tree, I don't care if it's the Tremor or the H58

3. I want a mil/mil turret system

4. It needs to be a quality product, though honestly it's only job is going to be sniper competitions and hunting.

5. The company has to be established and customer service should be "non plus ultra" as the Germans say (the best there is).

I am retired military and have Promotive so if you think one of those 2 brands would be best let me know.
 
Geez, take your pick:

Zeiss Victory FL Diavari 6-24x56 T - Not sure if it has the reticle choice you are after though.
Leupold Mark 8 3.5-25x56 - If you're eligible for discount then you'll save money here, 34mm tube + plenty of other features make this scope an interesting option.
Night Force B.E.A.S.T - Not quite on the market yet I believe, but they're not far away. Heard some early rumours that the sight picture and optics on this is superior to S&B. It has some innovative features too.
Hendsolt really sells itself although it's probably the most expensive option
S&B 5-25x56 - Obviously favoured by many around the world, although I think Steiner, Nightforce and Kahles all have decent options that are worth considering, and are slightly cheaper than S&B. Steiner supply S&B with their glass too by the way.

I'd be inclined to have a good hard look at the Nightforce BEAST and Leupold Mark 8 to be honest.
 
If you are Mil, get on Leupolds Mil/LE list and you get a very good discount. You can fervent Mark 8 with 34mm tube for around $2400, and that's with the H58 reticle. There stuff has come along way, I don't think you would be disappointed with that scope at that price point.
 
Choose the scope all others are compared by. Your answer is what you should buy. Whether one favors Steiner or USO or Kahles or Hendsolt or Nightforce or Leupold, when trying to insist of the quality of their favorite scope, others ask how does it compare to Schmidt and Bender. There are scopes that come close but always remains at the top because of its ability to provide the highest quality Glass with the ergonomics that the majority of the worlds military are prepared to risk their lives on. This is what helped me decide which scope to buy. Their only downfall.........design hasn't changed in years, giving everyone else the opportunity to try to make it better year after year after year.
 
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Get in line for a Mk8 using your military discount....as was posted, this will be around $2400. They started delivering this week-supposedly. If you don't like the Leupold then sell it for a profit and move on to an SB or a BEast
 
Pleistarchus said:
Choose the scope all others are compared by. Your answer is what you should buy. Whether one favors Steiner or USO or Kahles or Hendsolt or Nightforce or Leupold, when trying to insist of the quality their favorite scope, others ask how does it compare to Schmidt and Bender. There are scopes that come close but always remains at the top because of its ability to provide the highest quality Glass with the ergonomics that the majority of the worlds military are prepared to risk their lives on. This is what helped me decide which scope to buy. Their only downfall.........design hasn't changed in years, giving everyone else the opportunity to try to make it better year after year after year.
Click to expand...

+1...

Hard to beat the Schmidt, IMO.
 
For hunting the low end of the power range is very important. A low end of 6.5 simply does not have the field of view for close shots.

OFG
 
Jedi said:
My choice would be
Kahles or Stiener with MSR
Click to expand...

He wants a Horus reticle.

Kahles and Steiner are not in his list either. While I agree with you on and those are fine choices too.

I would go for a S&B 3-20 or 5-25 or a Zeiss/Hensoldt

I would not consider Nightforce because they do not make the scope you want. The only FFP scope is the Beast, it is not out yet and does not come with Horus reticle.

Leupold with LE discount might be a great choice as well...
 
I'd go with the 5-25 over the 3-20 S&B. I've got two of the 3-20s and while very nice, they're not much smaller than the 5-25 and I rarely use the 3-5x range. Also the Horus isn't great at below 7-8x IMO.
 
For that amount of money.................you can buy more than 1 quality scope......and unless you compete at an Olympic level....... or make your living shooting...... you`ll probably never be able to tell the difference in the bag limit or checking account......
 
I have a different way of thinking, if you are trying to scope multiple rifles with one optic I would go with a Premier Heritage 5-25 due to its quick rest turrets. I can tell you first hand its a pain in the ass resetting standard turrets on multiple rifles, but if you document all your zeros on each rifle you can flip the turret cam on the PH and rock your zero and be on target. The PH Gen2 XR reticle is one of the best on the market, not a Horus but its a great option.


Second option, purchase two Bushnell HDMRs with the Horus reticle and scope two rifles. I am in a similar situation you are, I currently have a S&B 5-25 on my primary match rifle but just finished a 6.5CM POF gasser and it needs optics, I may sell the S&B to buy two HDMRs and have cash left over. Many here have been where you are now and will be back there again, but I would opt for the second and purchase two scopes, its nice having the best of the best but its not always the best option.

Kirk R
 
Muskox...

I have two Bushnell ERS H59 on order. One for 6.5CM and other for 6.5 Grendel. both ordered with Mil discount program directly from Bushnell. Had HDMR before that but now going to give the updated ERS a try, heard allot of great things about the ERS especially when you factor in the mil discount price!!

Also have on order BEAST with H59, again Mil discount program from NF. Will go on Black Ops Precision Jaeger .300Norma.
I don't have the BEAST yet so can't tell you if it lives up to all the claims, NF is squared away so they shouldn't disappoint.....I HOPE;)

Just my humble recommendations.
 
Muskox said:
5. The company has to be established and customer service should be "non plus ultra" as the Germans say (the best there is).
Click to expand...
That would be true only if the French beat the Germans in WWII. However, the French still talk like that.
 
if you have access to the leupolds Mil/Fed program it would be foolish to go with anything else. one can make the argument that at retail pricing the Schmidt may come to as the best scope choice when comparing it to your other choices, but its only by a very slim margin. at that price point you are talking about great scopes, loaded with features, that all yield pretty much the same product. they just get there a different way.

a 3500 dollar S&B vs a 3500 leupold Mk8, the S&B might have a slightest edge in glass and better turret feel
a 3500 dollar S&B vs a 2400 mil/fed priced leupold MK 8, ill take the 1000 dollars and shoot my ass off that year,

as for nightforce, I really am not impressed with the Mil pricing program, the beast looks great, but not a grand more than a mk8 great
 
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schmidt_bender.jpg
 
Simple solution to your problem. Jump in line now to get a nightforce beast with the H59. I rolled the dice and already paid for it. I know it's going to blow all our expectations out of the water.
 
Nightforce does make the scope he wants, 3.5-15x50 f1 h59
 
One-Eyed Jack said:
That would be true only if the French beat the Germans in WWII. However, the French still talk like that.
Click to expand...

Hmm,

That's funny, I know lots of Germans that use it all the time in hunting circles to explain the highest level of quality. They also say "bon appetite" when we sit down to eat. Frankfurt and west to the French border. I have never been to Munich.
 
GUNNER10 said:
if you have access to the leupolds Mil/Fed program it would be foolish to go with anything else. one can make the argument that at retail pricing the Schmidt may come to as the best scope choice when comparing it to your other choices, but its only by a very slim margin. at that price point you are talking about great scopes, loaded with features, that all yield pretty much the same product. they just get there a different way.

a 3500 dollar S&B vs a 3500 leupold Mk8, the S&B might have a slightest edge in glass and better turret feel
a 3500 dollar S&B vs a 2400 mil/fed priced leupold MK 8, ill take the 1000 dollars and shoot my ass off that year,

as for nightforce, I really am not impressed with the Mil pricing program, the beast looks great, but not a grand more than a mk8 great
Click to expand...

Valid point, a friend of mine has just received an early version of the Beast, and I am going to look at it on Wednesday night.
 
Captain Kirk said:
I have a different way of thinking, if you are trying to scope multiple rifles with one optic I would go with a Premier Heritage 5-25 due to its quick rest turrets. I can tell you first hand its a pain in the ass resetting standard turrets on multiple rifles, but if you document all your zeros on each rifle you can flip the turret cam on the PH and rock your zero and be on target. The PH Gen2 XR reticle is one of the best on the market, not a Horus but its a great option.


Second option, purchase two Bushnell HDMRs with the Horus reticle and scope two rifles. I am in a similar situation you are, I currently have a S&B 5-25 on my primary match rifle but just finished a 6.5CM POF gasser and it needs optics, I may sell the S&B to buy two HDMRs and have cash left over. Many here have been where you are now and will be back there again, but I would opt for the second and purchase two scopes, its nice having the best of the best but its not always the best option.

Kirk R
Click to expand...

Kind of like asking me if I want to screw the prom queen or her 30 pounds overweight sister.

I already have a Trijicon 5-20, and couple Burris 30mm tacticals.

I eventually want to only have one scope type and brand.
 
I can't wait till I have that kind of scratch for a new scope, though I think I'll be going with a Premier when that time comes. I can't offer any help with the question since I have no experience with any of those scopes, but that sure is the right kind of problem to have.
 
Pusher591 said:
If you are Mil, get on Leupolds Mil/LE list and you get a very good discount. You can fervent Mark 8 with 34mm tube for around $2400, and that's with the H58 reticle. There stuff has come along way, I don't think you would be disappointed with that scope at that price point.
Click to expand...

This. I'm a NF and S&B fan, but with the discount, it's hard to beat a 34mm Mk8. Although, it would help if you disclosed the type of shooting you'll do and distances you'll be shooting at.
 
Muskox -

PERSONALLY, I'd go S&B but I've been working with my shooting buddy to help him select a new optic and rapidly came to one conclusion that may make your choice easier (or more difficult depending upon how you look at it): you really cannot go wrong with scopes in this pricerange. If you get something and don't like it, you'll have no problems re-selling it here on the 'hide. Given your .mil discount (thank you for your service, by the way), you're in the position to get a great scope at an amazing price and potentially make a profit if you should need to sell it.

My two cents,

M
 
After what I learned today regarding Zeiss-I'd say scratch that mfg off the list, or unless some really strong indications are given by the new owners that they plan to continue to mfg scopes, and that they plan to honor the warranty given by the old Zeiss corp., or at the very least, offer a new warranty at a fair price. Nobody seems to know what is going on with zeiss, except, a lot of good zeiss stuff is up for "discontinued-discounts", just saying.
 
I'd go with the S&B 5-25. I've got three of them and they are as good as it gets in my opinion. If you are shooting comps you can't go wrong and will be in good company with the S&B.
At the PRS Finale (a match that invites only the top ranked shooters in the country to attend) 42% of the competitors this last year were running S&B's.
Equipment list was posted in this thread. Scopes, rifles, prefered gear, etc.
http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...8-prs-season-finale-match-december-1-2-a.html
 
You can read and research all day but save ur self time, buy SB and don't look back....cuz it is top of the line :D (im sure there are a lot of good scope out there) but i like the name SB that most people know.
 
GUNNER10 said:
if you have access to the leupolds Mil/Fed program it would be foolish to go with anything else. one can make the argument that at retail pricing the Schmidt may come to as the best scope choice when comparing it to your other choices, but its only by a very slim margin. at that price point you are talking about great scopes, loaded with features, that all yield pretty much the same product. they just get there a different way.

a 3500 dollar S&B vs a 3500 leupold Mk8, the S&B might have a slightest edge in glass and better turret feel
a 3500 dollar S&B vs a 2400 mil/fed priced leupold MK 8, ill take the 1000 dollars and shoot my ass off that year,

as for nightforce, I really am not impressed with the Mil pricing program, the beast looks great, but not a grand more than a mk8 great
Click to expand...

I'm trying to find out more about the Leupold MK8, the Mil discount makes it very tempting.
 
When I had to make the same choice I went with a S&B 3-20 for my AIAX


Also: A S&B with the Horus is another 500 over what you intend on spending
 
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Have you thought about a bushnell HDMR with zero stop and 10mil knobs. I really like mine. I own an s&b and a hensoldt. Is the glass as good as them? Probably not. But I am impressed with the scope. I would sell off my heny and buy two more. But I like my hensoldt to much. Plus my S&B is AI marked to go with my AW. So I would definitely take a look at the bushnell the feild of view is on par with the henny.
 
I'm happy with my Kahles 624i (not on the list, I know). Optically, I can definitely tell a difference between it and my F1. Love the MLR2 reticle on my F1 though. I'm sure S&B or the BEAST would do the trick too.
 
Check out the US Optics ER25 before deciding. Awesome scope and a huge supporter of the precision shooting community.
 
Kinda suprised that nobody has mentioned a March scope. Maybe cUz it doesn't have Horus. I really like my 3x24 but it is only a 42mm objective. The larger objectives are heavier and longer and pricier.
Skip
 
Thanks guys, I appreciate the input.

I'll call Nightforce, Scmidt Bender USA and Leupold's military sales departments when I get home and see what works out to be the most for the money.

A friend of mine just got a ATACR so I am going to check that out in the next few days and see how it goes. He got it at dealer pricing for setting up a Nightforce Demo for the Australian government.
 
Muskox said:
Retired or Disabled and have an ID card, yes.

Anything beyond that.....No.
Click to expand...

You know I said that, but honestly I'd call them and plead your case, you never know what they are willing to do. Especially if you have time in the Cat Box, Somalia, Afghanistan, Bosnia or Kosovo.
 
Muskox said:
Thanks guys, I appreciate the input.

I'll call Nightforce, Scmidt Bender USA and Leupold's military sales departments when I get home and see what works out to be the most for the money.

A friend of mine just got a ATACR so I am going to check that out in the next few days and see how it goes. He got it at dealer pricing for setting up a Nightforce Demo for the Australian government.
Click to expand...

Didn't know S&B had Mil sales; I'll try them also. thanks
 
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