Rifle Scopes Talk me off the leadge. 2nd FP hensoldt?

[athanasios23]

So I'm looking to buy a scope. I had decided on the S&B pm 2. I currently own 2. I know what I'm getting with this scope. Plus I will have 3 rifles with 3 scopes with matching reticles and knobs. BUT going through site after site I ran into the hendsolt. Same exact price as S&B. Only issue is the Hendsolt is 2nd FP which I can't seem to get over. But at the same time. I have always wanted a hendsolt in my safe. Anyone own both and can give a side by side review.

Looking at S&B pm2 p4f and the hendsolt 6-24x56 mildot.

These really are the only 2 scopes I'm looking at. S&B is the gold standard but Hensoldt seems to always be held in highest regard. I also know kahles and nightforce have made great strides to catch up but I doubt I will find them NIB for $2300-$2400. If so please point me in there direction.

 

[m1match]

WHY????

For myself, I have 3 S&Bs PMIIs, a 5-25, a 4-16x42, and a 3-20x50 and I have no desire to own any of the Hensoldts. I'm sure the glass is equal to the S&B, but the reticles aren't anything special, the mildot reticle is a big circle every full mil which isn't as usable as the P4F that you already have and the clicks are .05 mil which I think is too fine. It's easy to count 10 clicks per mil but to count 20 clicks per mil gets to be too much. For shooting PRS type matches, I like the S&B H2CMR better but I like the Vortex AMG's EBR-7B and the Kahles SKMR3 even better. I just bought a demo Kahles K624i with the SKMR3 and am looking forward to trying it out. The Hensoldt reticle hasn't been improved at all from the very first mildots made decades ago.

The deal killer for the Hensoldt is it's 2nd focal plane. If you're shooting known distance all the time it's ok , but when your shooting multiple targets at unknown ranges like in PRS style matches, the Hensoldt mildot is only accurate at 12x magnification which kills it for me.

Of my S&Bs the 5-25 is the gold standard, the 3-20x50 is almost it's equal in my eyes, and the 4-16x42 is a great scope in a more compact package, but it just never was as popular as the 5-25.

 

[Vargmat]

Hensoldt scopes are nice, best glass I have looked through and a HUGE eyebox. The drawback is the reticles they offer and SFP is pretty much a no go, unless you shot known distances, then it does not really matter.
I had a 4-16x56 FFP Henny a few years ago, it was an awesome scope for the reasons stated above, but I never could get used to the reticle. So I sold the scope after less than a year. It was replaced with a Vortex Razor Gen 2 4,5-27x56 which we all know is another great scope, but the glass does not even come close to the Hensoldt. My Razor was replaced a year later with a 5-25x56 PM2, opportunity knocked at the door and I went for it, and I pretty much feel that it is the best scope I have ever had, with great glass and a great reticle (MSR).
I would stick with S&B if I were you. I know I will.

 

[athanasios23]

WHY????

For myself, I have 3 S&Bs PMIIs, a 5-25, a 4-16x42, and a 3-20x50 and I have no desire to own any of the Hensoldts. I'm sure the glass is equal to the S&B, but the reticles aren't anything special, the mildot reticle is a big circle every full mil which isn't as usable as the P4F that you already have and the clicks are .05 mil which I think is too fine. It's easy to count 10 clicks per mil but to count 20 clicks per mil gets to be too much. For shooting PRS type matches, I like the S&B H2CMR better but I like the Vortex AMG's EBR-7B and the Kahles SKMR3 even better. I just bought a demo Kahles K624i with the SKMR3 and am looking forward to trying it out. The Hensoldt reticle hasn't been improved at all from the very first mildots made decades ago.

The deal killer for the Hensoldt is it's 2nd focal plane. If you're shooting known distance all the time it's ok , but when your shooting multiple targets at unknown ranges like in PRS style matches, the Hensoldt mildot is only accurate at 12x magnification which kills it for me.

Of my S&Bs the 5-25 is the gold standard, the 3-20x50 is almost it's equal in my eyes, and the 4-16x42 is a great scope in a more compact package, but it just never was as popular as the 5-25.

Did you buy that kahles from Euro optic? Thought there was one demo on there sight and poof, gone before I could add to cart. I only want the kahles with the skmr3 reticle. I really likes the ebr-2c reticle in the razor but I moved that scope along.

 

[BarrettBoy]

SFP really puts the hensoldt scope into a different category.
If I were you and just looking to mix it up, then try out a 3-20 SB.

 

[m1match]

I actually bought the demo Kahles K624i that Doug at Cameraland NY posted on the PX on Tuesday. Great guy, I spent time on the phone with him talking about the scope before buying it, he shipped it right away and I got the scope yesterday, two days later. So far I like the reticle, the turrets feel pretty good, the zero stop is really easy to set, but I don't have it mounted yet and can't really tell how the glass is compared to my S&Bs.

 

[athanasios23]

Doug is a good guy. So is Neal. I live 10 mins from them. My sister is literly walking distance. I'd love to buy from them but I get hit with the sales tax. Drives the price up couple hundred on high end optics.

 

[m1match]

I hear you, CS Tactical is in my state but to buy from them is another 8.5% price increase because of sales tax.

 

[mdmp5]

I have 2 Hensoldts; the 4-16 and the 6-24. The 4-16 is a very versatile scope and can be used for matches if you are ok with mildots. Now the 6-24 is SFP as stated above, with hollow mildots. The main problem with this scope is the adjustments. .05 mil per click with limited elevation. The markings on the turrets are just awful and make the scope unusable for quick adjustments. That being said, you won’t find a better piece of glass. The image is so clear. I use this on my 300wm, now on my 22, and eventually on my 7saum that is in the works.

 

[cageli]

To me, the biggest drawback of Hensoldt is their warranty and service location. Dropping thousands into a two years warranty scope these days, just sounds stupid. Not to mention the "sending back to German" part.

 

[mdmp5]

Yeah it was really convenient when Nathan was running hudisco

 

[BurnOut]

I have trouble paying more than $999.99 for an SFP optic, much less Hensoldt money.

Yes, I know that many shooters before me did just fine with SFP optics, but that's not the point... the point is that right now, in this market, I can get a decent enough SFP optic under $1k, and if I'm going to pay more than that, I want FFP.

 

[steve123]

I've been behind the 4-16 and the 6-24x72. Eyebox is nice, yes, but I just couldn't see a difference in glass compared to S&B and the build quality seems about the same .

Personally I'd look elsewhere, too me the positives don't offset the negatives.

 

[athanasios23]

You guys did it. I'm off the hendsolt kick. Seems to be a general consensus to not get one.

 

[mdmp5]

The 6-24, no. The 4-16 is an outstanding scope in every regard, but the reticle is lacking. You can get something more functional as far as reticles go, and some more mag. Personally, I don't think Schmidts are worth what they cost these days, but that is just me. I have the Kahles 624i, and that seems to be one of the best things going these days.

 

[BCX]

Look into a Hens 4-16x56 FF w NH-1 reticle. I have one and find it simply amazing. I have compared it to many other Tier 1 scopes and the image quality comes out on top w my eyes.

 

[mdmp5]

Yes the NH1 is much better than the mildot. It is simple