Rifle Scopes Am I crazy?

bm11

bm11

Gunny Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Jun 18, 2010
2,562
13
41
Maine
#1
I currently have a Schmidt and Bender PMII, 4-16x50 with a gen2 XL illuminated reticle. I love this scope, but I am still considering trading "up." It is mounted on my AW .308.

I have my eyes on a 5-25x56 pm2 with the p4f reticle. Having 25x magnification is rediculous at the 200m distance my range is limited to, but then again, I am kind of a magnification whore and tend to shoot better with excessive magnification. The fine reticle seems like it would be a benefit too.

The last selling point is kind of cool too- my 4-16 only focuses down to 50m, where the 5-25 focuses to 10m. I don't shoot that close, but I do practice a ton inside (per the online training,) and it would be nice to be able to see through the scope.

I figure I can trade up for like $300 or so, if I find the right deal on a 5-25, and sell mine outrighy. It isn't much money in the grand scheme of things, I just wanted to get some opinions from you folks before I did anything rash!

Thanks,

-BM
 
#5
Re: Am I crazy?

I'm always finding myself wishing for more mag with my USO 3.2-17 and different brand FFP 3-12's.The 5.5-22 NF is fine but SFP.So I must be crazy too
smile.gif


I hardly shoot below 8x and use the highest mag except if the mirage is bad.

I've been trying to resist spending $3000+ for a FFP 5-25 with Horus reticle but I'm slowly wearing down.For me thats allot of fffnn money.
 
#6
Re: Am I crazy?

That's the thing. I don't see what I'd be sacrificing. The lowest power is 5x vs 4x, but I never really go below 10 except when I'm practicing indoors. I don't really see the downside for me.
 
#8
Re: Am I crazy?

I think I'm going to give it a try. I just listed my scope, we'll see what happens. I'm screwed though if I don't have a 5-25 lined up, so anyone with one for sale (has to be a p4f) please PM me with the details.

Thanks,

-BM
 
#10
Re: Am I crazy?

It would appear I priced perhaps a little to aggressively! It was sold 3x over in the first hour.

Oh well, at least I know for sure I can upgrade, even if it cost me a couple hundred bucks over holding out for the long dollar...
 
#11
Re: Am I crazy?

The 5-25x are great scopes and because they are FFP you can use it at any power. The only down side is the size and the little added weight. I use a 5-25x56mm and I have a 4-16x42mm and I will say the 4-16x42mm is one of my favorites. Going back to the 5-25x I tend to find myself shooting it at 14x to 18x but for the SUB MOA targets it is nice to have that 25x.
 
#13
Re: Am I crazy?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: steve123</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm always finding myself wishing for more mag with my USO 3.2-17 and different brand FFP 3-12's.The 5.5-22 NF is fine but SFP.So I must be crazy too
smile.gif


I hardly shoot below 8x and use the highest mag except if the mirage is bad.

I've been trying to resist spending $3000+ for a FFP 5-25 with Horus reticle but I'm slowly wearing down.For me thats allot of fffnn money. </div></div>


I will be selling one in about a week........
 
#15
Re: Am I crazy?

Well, that ended up being more expensive than I had planned on, as all things are! I sold mine short in anticipation of a steal on Gunbroker... that didn't end up being a steal. The auction went nuts in the last few minutes.

Oh well, retail it is!

-BM
 
#17
Re: Am I crazy?

On the low end, it's only 1x difference 4 vs 5, however, on the high end it's 16x to 25x which is a big difference. With the 5-25, you get more and give up nothing. Better to have and not need, than need and not have.

There is one downside from my perspective, and that's objective size. I really don't like objectives over 50mm. I like them between 40mm to 44mm. Scope gets up too high and then you are forced to use a cheek rest, and even then you're more upright off the bore line. I like staying as close to the bore line and behind the rifle as possible, as opposed to slightly above it.





 
#18
Re: Am I crazy?

Thanks Hoploman! I am amazed when I see shooters who can be so accurate with such low magnification, because I do so much better with more. I have a Holosight on a SCAR with a 1moa center dot, and at 100 shooting off bags, I'm lucky to hold 6moa, when it seems like I am holding it at the center of the target!

I'm sure a lot of that is ability, that's the part I'm still working on...
 
#19
Re: Am I crazy?

I edited that part out because I thought it was off topic and I didn't want to be rude. But yes, shooters are all different. I've learned that spotting scope with crossshair level magnification isn't needed for making tight groups or being effective. I can do pretty well with a 6x. I like 10-12x the most. It's all about sight picture in how you place the reticle on the target. How it looks, how you see it and what is comfortable for you. The downside is the loss of field of view as you crank up that zoom. That's a different topic, as the 5-25 overlaps the 4-16. It applies to both, so it's moot point. If you need more FOV, turn down that 4-16 and it's the same as the 5-25 practically speaking.
 
#20
Re: Am I crazy?

Yeah, I didn't see much downside as I'm only give up 1x on the bottom end to pick up 9x on the upper end. It does weigh a bit more, but on a rifle package that weighs in at 16 lbs or so as it is, so it's not going to be the straw that breaks the camel back, so to speak.
 
#21
Re: Am I crazy?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Hoploman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
There is one downside from my perspective, and that's objective size. I really don't like objectives over 50mm. I like them between 40mm to 44mm. Scope gets up too high and then you are forced to use a cheek rest, and even then you're more upright off the bore line. I like staying as close to the bore line and behind the rifle as possible, as opposed to slightly above it.
</div></div>

Actually with the 34mm rings you use on the S&Bs you will use the same 1" height rings on the 42, 50 or 56mm objectives so having the 56mm doesn't make any difference. You can even use the slightly lower Seekins at .92" on most all rifles except mabe a straight contour barrel. If they were 30mm tubes then it might be different but not with the 34mm tube.
 
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