Re: Schmidt and Bender Marksman Sunshade
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: shar</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Are there any benefits to using a sunshade on your S&B?</div></div>
Of course they are - several in fact:
(a) Helps help light rain off of the Objective Lens, reducing the need to wipe the Objective off as often
(b) Helps keep light bright light off of the Objective Lens, helping to prevent glare from washing-out the image
(c) Helps keep light off of the Objective Lens. Reflected light announces your presence in the area
(d) Serves as a rudimentary protective device for the Objective Lens
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: shar</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> $90 plus for a 56mm 2" shade. Is it really worth it? </div></div>
U.S. Optics makes an excellent <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Sunshade</span></span> to fit the 56mm PMII (they've also made 50mm units is the past as well). U.S. Optic's <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Sunshade</span></span> is well-constructed, Type III hard anodized, and threads directly into the front threads of the PMII (just like the factory S & B Sunshade does). The U.S. Optics Sunshade is also less expensive than the S & B factory Sunshade. However, Since the U.S. Optics unit is Type III anodized the finish doesn't match the S & B's finish. No big deal to mean but it may be for some.
However, U.S. Optics also makes an excellent <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">ARD</span></span> (Anti-Reflective Device) which runs $90.00. The ARD is actually more-efficient than the Sunshade because of the incorporated ARD insert. Not only are the USO ARDs' very efficient - they are also very well made. The USO ARDs' consist of three (3) components:
(1) A threaded, Type III hard anodized aluminum housing, (which by itself is the USO Sunshade), (2) a high-efficiency anti-reflective <span style="font-style: italic">"honeycomb"</span> insert that is expoxied into the aluminum housing, and (3) an aluminum "Stop ring" that limits the depth of the honeycomb insert within the housing.
The <span style="font-style: italic">actual</span> OAL of the Housing is .25" longer than the <span style="font-style: italic">installed length</span> (male .25" thread mates with the female threads at the front of the scope). Therefore, the OAL of the Sunshade (or ARD) of a 2" USO Sunshade or ARD is actually 2.25".
<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">USO 2" ARD for 56mm Schmidt Bender:</span></span>
<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Tac Ops X-Ray 51 w/metalworkwork in Tac Ops OD Green-T & Black-T w/PMII 5-25X 56mm & USO 2" S & B 56mm ARD:</span></span>
<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Kimber Model 82B "Classic" with Murphy Precision 25 MOA Two-Piece Base, PMII 5-25X56mm Gen 2 XR CCW, & NEAR Manufacturing Rings:</span></span>
As as to whether a Sunshade or ARD is <span style="font-style: italic">"really worth it"</span> that's entirely up the the user. It's totally worth it to mean for the above-mentioned reasons and I have USO-manufactured ARDs' on my two PMII 5-25X[56mm] scopes, with a third ARD ready to be mounted on another PMII 5-25X[56mm]. However, the fact that you had to ask your questions tells me maybe not so much for you...
Keith