Comparing Optics Quality at 20x, 1760 to 2000 yds

[Butleroutdoors]

Good Evening:
Getting closer to selecting replacement scope for PST G2 5x25 and narrowed down selection to:

Mark 5HD 5x25
Cronus G2 4.5x29
XTR3 5.5x30
Toric 4.5x30
T5xi 5x25

Out of this list, how would you order these on a composite optic quality/clarity/brightness at 20x shooting 1 mile to 2000 yards (my PST G2 struggled optics wise to do a mile shot)?

Realize lots of variation, but want to zero down on quality at 20x and mile to 2000.

Thank you in advance

 

[upSLIDEdown]

Out of those, no question, I'd pick the Leupy.

 

[Glassaholic]

The XTR III 5.5-30 is going to have the widest FOV of all these scopes. Glass is going to be subjective, but my XTR III punches well above its price with regard to optical quality. I did not like the SCR2 reticle in the 3.3-18 (too thin) but I like it a lot in the 5.5-30. At 20x the resolution is superb, I haven’t put it up next to my Tangent but now I think I will just for kicks to see how well it compares.

 

[Butleroutdoors]

Glass, that will will be interesting to see, please let me know your comparison. Many thanks

 

[Butleroutdoors]

Upside, yes I keep hearing the MK5 is quite the glass. I have been looking at one at Cabelas but don’t have the others to compare to. It’s definitely on the short list.

 

[celltech]

I have the Cronus G1 and Tract ELR. At 20X there is little optical difference between them. The Tract gets slightly better at 25X+. It's hard to touch a Cronus if you look at cost.

 

[supercorndogs]

Mark 5 or XTRiii from that list. I like the 3.3-18 with the SCR. I like the 5.5-30 with the SCR. The TX5i is more in the league of the the DMRII.

I would scratch the TX5 and Toric and replace them on that list with the Sig Tango 6 or GenII Razor. Pretty tough to choose one out of the group as a clear winner. I would tend to put the Cronus more toward the bottom of the list, and the Razor more toward the top. But everyone is going to shuffle them differently.

 

[Chickentoast]

XTR3 without a doubt, objectively due mostly to FOV, and subjectively, I happen to love the thin reticle in the SCR2, especially at very long ranges. Mk5HD has more contrast and is not as bright, but a lot tighter viewing screen. Cronus might be brighter than XTR3, but it has been a while. All 3 very close in terms of total optical quality, but that FOV is the biggest differentiating factor, and contributes a lot to (re)acquisition.

 

[Butleroutdoors]

Chicken, have you had any experience with the Cronus?

 

[Chickentoast]

^Buddy had one, but I wasn't able to side by side with my XTR3. I did side by side with my Trijicon/Delta clone, and the Trijicon had better clarity and better contrast by a hair, same brightness. Trijicon is brighter than the XTR3, hence the transitive property...

 

[mi650]

Completely anecdotal, and subjective to my eye...

A couple years ago, I was in the market for a new scope, and trying to decide whether to buy another Mk5, Tango6, or AccuPower.

Since I had all 3, I pulled them all out at twilight to have a look at my neighbors barn 300 yards away, at 20x.

I ended up with another AccuPower, and a couple more since then. Also a Tenmile. I no longer have the Mk5.

Not to muddy the waters, but I'd say add the AccuPower/Tenmile to your list.

 

[Chickentoast]

^Yes, for me it is 2nd place after the XTR3. FOV is world's apart, whereas the clarity difference is say, 5%? in Trijicon favor, i.e. not big enough to make a difference identifying at distance. Tough to put numbers on it.

 

[mi650]

I haven't tried an XTR3 yet. I've have a few XTR IIs, and wasn't happy with them.

Everything I've read/heard, leads me to believe the 3s are better in just about every way.

 

[Steel head]

I personally wouldn’t fuss so much about best image because it’s so subjective.
Get a reticle you like and the features you want at the price range of scopes you listed.
Want all the cake and eat it too?
Get a TT or ZCO.

I’ve self spotted a lot further than 2000 yards many many times with a Cronus.
Once you get past PST glass you’ll not be hindered really from the difference in image among the various scopes you listed.