Rifle Scopes decision made! ss hd 5-20x50 or steiner tactical 4-16x50

[gumby510]

Hello everyone after another comparison thread I did I thought I was set on the swfa ss hd 5-20x50 illuminated scope..... but after searching out the steiner tactical 4-16x50 ive been finding them for around $1800. Is the steiner tactical 4-16x50 worth the extra $400 and 4x less mag over the ss hd? (hoping the new RZR-16004 Razor HD Gen II 1-6x24 Rifle scope with VMR-2 Illuminated Dot Reticle (MRAD) $1,399.99 wont be as good as either of these)

primary use would be paper to 100-600yds (85%) with the occasional trip to the 1000-1200yd range(10%) and possible hog hunting(5%)

It will be going on a custom LH Tikka t3 308 (still building)

I know the steiner tactical 4-16x50 is discontinued but it still seem to pop up once and a wile. I want a Steiner scope but im not willing to pay there prices for there current line up of FFP scopes.

Thanks again everyone I hope this is my final scope thread/decision process

 

[jpspeeddemon]

I've not used the Steiner although i hear good things about them. I had a SS 5-20 for about a year and half and put about 2000 rounds through it, both easy range use and field shooting. I thought it was great. I used the turrets a lot and checked its tracking frequently and it was always spot on. The eye box is very generous even at 20x, so alternate position shooting was comfortable with it. Its simply and robust, the reticle is very usable, i liked it. The turrets are very good, good solid audible clicks and 10 mils per rev are nice. The only complaints are that the parallax knob is stiff and the power ring is not easy to grip in cold weather, but that is fixed by putting a cattail on the power ring. Also, the glass is top notch. you can find used ones on here for $1100-1300 in bnib condition which is a bargain. +1 for SS5-20

 

[SomeOtherGuy]

I wouldn't spend $1800 on that Steiner right now, even though it's a great scope. I would wait until after SHOT to buy anything, there's a lot of promising stuff coming out and you may want to buy something new to market, or get a great deal on something that's still nice but is no longer latest and greatest.

No knock on either SS-HD or Steiner, both are wonderful, though the SS-HD is a somewhat mixed bag between awesome glass and specs vs. somewhat stiff parallax and zoom controls. The Steiner is great all around, but I'd have a hard time dropping $1800 on one when they were $500 cheaper just a month or two ago on the best clearance deals. $1800 is close to the price for a newer generation Steiner, or a huge number of wonderful scopes.

 

[hk dave]

I have owned both and while I love the SS for the money, imo the Steiner is the superior scope.

Steiner 4-16x50mm ADVANTAGES over the SWFA 5-20x50mm from my personal observations: Glass is better, parallax is smoother and easier to use, zero stop, euro style focus diopter focus, reticle remains sharper throughout magnification range, more forgiving eyebox.

SWFA 5-20x50mm ADVANTAGES over Steiner 4-16x50mm from my personal observations: Magnifies to 20x which is nice... and it actually resolves at 20x unlike lesser optics. I actually prefer the feel of the SWFA Turrets. I believe but am not certain but I think the SWFA has more available elevation.

But given that when normally priced there is a significant difference in price, all this is to be expected.

 

[gumby510]

Thank you for the replys so far. I wont be ready to purchase a scope til March or April. We will see what shot 2014 brings to the table and if nothing's a must have maybe it will drop the prices of what im looking at.

 

[SomeOtherGuy]

I believe but am not certain but I think the SWFA has more available elevation.

SWFA 5-20x50mm has claimed 30 mils of elevation, all of which can be used like any conventional non-zero-stop scope. The Steiner has, I believe, 19.5 mils up available after zeroing, with a zero stop. The total possible elevation is in the 30 mils ballpark, but no more than 19.5 is useable after zeroing, even if you have a crazy 40 MOA base or something. Of course, there are few situations where you would ever want more than 19.5 mils up from your zero anyway.

SS-HD glass is VERY impressive at the price. I have a Steiner 3-12x50 and would be hard put to say my Steiner has better glass. And for that matter I'd rank the SS-HD glass solidly above my Nightforce NXS, and also above my Sightron SIII 6-24x.

I don't have an illuminated SS-HD but the reports on the illumination are mixed. The Steiner has outstanding illumination, probably the best I've ever used.

But anyway, I'd still wait for after SHOT, as you said you're doing anyway.

 

[Painless300]

Never had a Steiner but I have the SS and a Swaro Z6, the glass on the SS is almost as good as the Z6 and IMO it resolves better than the Z6. I only use the Z6 on my hunting rig because its so much lighter.

 

[hk dave]

I agree with the consensus regarding the SWFA HD glass... it's might good.

 

[gumby510]

Thank you everyone for your input. Im going with the discontinued Steiner tactical 4-16x50

 

[black max]

Thank you everyone for your input. Im going with the discontinued Steiner tactical 4-16x50

Good choice!!! I might have one on the chopping block soon. Shoot me a pm with your contact info and I'll let you know when it's for sale.

 

[gumby510]

Thank you avidflyer this Steiner is amazing. It far exceeds all my expectations. The clarity and resolution is unbelievable.