Rifle Scopes Whats your favorite scope and why?

R

radmcg

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Jun 5, 2008
535
9
Mobile, AL
#1
Don't want a flame war really looking to gather information on what people like about about their scopes (and don't like) and why. Mostly talking about long range stuff. 3-15s and 5-25s etc. My real question is if you could only have one for a 800 to 1000 meter plus gun what would it be.

Premiers
PROs great turrets great glass. So far have gotten good service ie click repairs.
CONs Reports of cold weather performance problems (I live in mobile not a problem here), long term reliability (fairly new)? No marks on the parallax (understand new ones will have this). Hate the ring on the objective of the 3-15. Proprietary covers sux expensive

SB
Pros unbelievable glass like the turret arrangement
Cons don't like the finish, 4-16 only has 13 mils elevation on the single turn. Would prefer MTC at mil marks like Premier. expensive. Only center of the p4 is illuminated. Is there a new US service center in the US?

USO
Pros great reputation, great service, built like a tank, great reticle choice, custom built choices.
Cons Takes to long to get one, glass doesn't seem as good as SB or premier. Turret arrangement on the TPAL is cluttered. ERGO you need arms like a monkey to reach the parallax. Don't like having to remove illumination cover (easy to loose)

If I have to choose one it would be my premier 5-25. Would love to try a SB 5-25 but have never owned one.

Your review of your scopes would be appreciated
 
#2
Re: Whats your favorite scope and why?

I'm really liking the Premier Heritage right now. I love the Gen II XR reticle and the more definitive 1 mil clicks are great. The glass is second to none.

My only complaint is in the .1 mil clicks. I think they could be improved upon.
 
#3
Re: Whats your favorite scope and why?

S&B's new US repair center is in NH I believe.

I've only owned USOs so can't comment the others. For me, I would add "good glass" to your list of Pros also but that is my subjective assessment after looking through NF, S&B, Zeiss, and hopefully a Premier some day. For myself the Cons listed regarding the cluttered TPal and Illumination knob do not apply. I have handled the TPal versions and still find there is room, especially with left windage knob behind parallax. The knob covers are great for keeping dirt out. Illuminations doesn't get used much and the covers for windage don't have to come off if holding for wind.

 
#4
Re: Whats your favorite scope and why?

If first focal plane was not important, then NF 5.5-22 would probably be my favorite. However I would wait until May until the new speed turrets with 20 Moa per turn came out. If FFP was important, I would probably go with the S&B 5-25.
 
#6
Re: Whats your favorite scope and why?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: radmcg</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
USO
Pros great reputation, great service, built like a tank, great reticle choice, custom built choices.
Cons Takes to long to get one, glass doesn't seem as good as SB or premier. Turret arrangement on the TPAL is cluttered. ERGO you need arms like a monkey to reach the parallax. Don't like having to remove illumination cover (easy to loose)
</div></div>

Agree with most but ERGO and the illumination cover.
- One has to have really short arm to have a problem to reach to the ERGO.
- If you don't like the cover, don't use it, it is the additional accessory option compare to others anyways.

As to the glass, I don't know if you have looked through a 58mm obj. lens. Was at USO 2 days ago, and John lined up 4 USO scopes with different combination side by side on the rack. If you compare 44mm obj. with TPAL to a Premier's 50mm or 56mm obj. lens, I can agree with you, but a 58mm obj. with ERGO is hard to say which is better. I do agree S&B has the best glass, but I'm not using this lens for photography.
wink.gif


Don't get me wrong, S&B makes great scopes, but with very high price tag. Customer service and custom built options of USO wins my vote.

Just my $0.02 and experience to share with yall,

Dyl..
 
#10
Re: Whats your favorite scope and why?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">1- 4-16 only has 13 mils elevation on the single turn.

2-Only center of the p4 is illuminated.

3-Is there a new US service center in the US?
</div></div>


1- 13 mils is 44.69 MOA. Not sure how far you are shooting, but that will get me well past 1K and in a single turn

2- If the reticle needs to be lit to make the shot, how far will you be able to see well enough to shoot?

3- Yes
 
#11
Re: Whats your favorite scope and why?

After owning 2 S&B PMII's 5x25x56-I don't regret the purchases one bit.

I also have 2 Nighforce NXS w/mil turrets-outstanding if the application doesn't need a FFP reticle.

I've owned 4 USO's of various model-they were sold but no complaints other than very short eye relief.

Lots of good glass out there.Buy what you can afford and hope its what you really want.
 
#12
Re: Whats your favorite scope and why?

Lt. Arclight you hit the nail on the head. Just sux to spend big bucks on a scope and figure out I don't like this or that on it. Usually it's little things like how small the reticle is on the premier 3-15 on 3 power or the eye relief on the uso. Thats exactly why I ask the question. I need a scope for a 338 lapua I'm building and don't know which way to go. I could move a uso or premier to the 338 and buy a nightforce for my 260 but then I would go back and forth between 4 FFP scope and a SFP. Just kind of seems to me having a mil/ mil SFP scope kinds of defeats the purpose on any power other than max. Which is where I assume NF range at.
Thanks for the imput
Rad
 
#13
Re: Whats your favorite scope and why?

My favorite scope is without a doubt the Premier Heritage.
I ordered the 3-15X50 DT, Gen X2 from Liberty optics last year and I absolutely love it.
The clarity is outstanding to my eyes.
The Gen X2 reticle is outstanding to me and it is not too thick.
The scope is extremely stout and I like the huge amount of travel it offers in 2 turns of the turret.
The Illumination is not too bright and I like those little cam locks on the turrets, They just made it simple when I had to use them to Zero it.

I was thinking of trying a little cheaper scope this year but if it were to show up and it wasn’t as good as the Premier, I would have absolutely been kicking my self.

I like it so much that I bit the bullet and ordered a Premier 5-25X56 DT, Gen X2 form Liberty optics this morning. I cant wait!.

DSCN3321.jpg


Now I don’t think enough can be said for the trusty little SWFA Super Sniper. The Premier might be my favorite but I
have 3 Super Snipers that have handled a lot of abuse and have outlasted
several of my other cheap scopes.
I have done things to these scopes that I would never intentionally do to a $2500-3000 dollar scope and they keep on working.
In my book, SWFA Super Snipers are great for beginners or for shooters who don’t have
a lot of money to spend, they are Stout, repeatable, affordable little scopes that get the job done.
scope-3.jpg


 
#16
Re: Whats your favorite scope and why?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sniper6</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My favorite scope is without a doubt the Premier Heritage.
I ordered the 3-15X50 DT, Gen X2 from Liberty optics last year and I absolutely love it.
The clarity is outstanding to my eyes.
The Gen X2 reticle is outstanding to me and it is not too thick.
The scope is extremely stout and I like the huge amount of travel it offers in 2 turns of the turret.
The Illumination is not too bright and I like those little cam locks on the turrets, They just made it simple when I had to use them to Zero it.

I was thinking of trying a little cheaper scope this year but if it were to show up and it wasn’t as good as the Premier, I would have absolutely been kicking my self.

I like it so much that I bit the bullet and ordered a Premier 5-25X56 DT, Gen X2 form Liberty optics this morning. I cant wait!.



Now I don’t think enough can be said for the trusty little SWFA Super Sniper. The Premier might be my favorite but I
have 3 Super Snipers that have handled a lot of abuse and have outlasted
several of my other cheap scopes.
I have done things to these scopes that I would never intentionally do to a $2500-3000 dollar scope and they keep on working.
In my book, SWFA Super Snipers are great for beginners or for shooters who don’t have
a lot of money to spend, they are Stout, repeatable, affordable little scopes that get the job done.

</div></div>


Sniper6...I like the paint job on your rifle and scope...(the premier scoped gun)....did you do it?
 
#17
Re: Whats your favorite scope and why?

I'm sorry but that second photo is fantastic. Remind me to never lend you a rifle.
smile.gif
I have almost ordered the SS3-9 2 or 3 times for my AR 10 but keep waiting to see the new vortex pst. The PST line took some hits from people at the shot show but you got to give them credit they acknowledged the problem and said they would fix it. Thats my big issue with Premier. I love their scopes but they kind of concern me as a company. When Vortex got bashed on here they responded. When Premier got bashed for foriegn parts, turrets freezing etc we got silence or "nunya" (not to bring that up again). I don't give a crap where the parts come from why make it an issue as long as they are quality. Now first let me say I've never heard from SB or leupould on here at all. So thats not a jab at Premier just an observation. They are competeing in a highly specialized market and the SH and other sites like it are their primary civilian market customers. I understand Military and LE comes first but USO seems to find time to take care of us civilians as well. I'm not refering to product I'm talking about public relations and answering concerns. USO is on here constantly listening and interacting. Don't get me wrong Scott at liberty is a great representative for Premier but he does that for all the scope companies he carries. But I have to agree with you sniper 6 My premiers are my favorites. But then again I don't treat my rifles like you and lowlight
smile.gif
 
#18
Re: Whats your favorite scope and why?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sniper6</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Now I don’t think enough can be said for the trusty little SWFA Super Sniper. The Premier might be my favorite but I
have 3 Super Snipers that have handled a lot of abuse and have outlasted
several of my other cheap scopes.
I have done things to these scopes that I would never intentionally do to a $2500-3000 dollar scope and they keep on working.
In my book, SWFA Super Snipers are great for beginners or for shooters who don’t have
a lot of money to spend, they are Stout, repeatable, affordable little scopes that get the job done.
scope-3.jpg


</div></div>

And that right there is why there is almost always a SS16X around here! I try to always keep one on hand-if not on a rifle then on the shelf as a backup. The old SS line has never failed me. Same can be said for the Bushnell 3200 10XMD, but I prefer the SS for its parallax adjustment.
 
#19
Re: Whats your favorite scope and why?

Yes I did the paint on the Premier, good ol Krylon, I used stencils and weeds from around the yard to get the patterns I wanted.

The SS under water is one of my better pictures. I posted it over at SWFA back when I got the scope about 5 years ago.
That SS scope has been through a whole lot more than that in the last 5 years and it works just as good as it did on day 1.


I cant wait to get some Krylon on that NEW 5-25X56 Premier I ordered yesterday
grin.gif
, I will post a full report when I get it.
 
#20
Re: Whats your favorite scope and why?

My favorite scope is the S&B 5-25x56. About the perfect scope for me and what I use it for which is sniper comps which can go from 10 feet to 1300 yards. The right combination of great glass, excellent reticle, reliability, ergonomics and tracking of the knobs, parallax adjustment down to 10 yards, and good power range. About the perfect scope in my opinion.

Having had 5 USOs, 2 Premiers, 3 NF and 4 S&Bs in all different configurations, the S&B 5-25 is my favorite.

ETA Pics
SHC08_FLG-0740.jpg

P1010012.jpg
 
#21
Re: Whats your favorite scope and why?

My favorite scopes are NXS 3-15x50 MLR reticle w/ Mil knobs.

1)The more I shoot, the more I like lower X and 15x is perfect.

2)Rock solid reliable

3)Perfect tracking

4)Great reticle

5)IMO, the best feeling knobs and clicks in the biz.

6)Excellent glass

7)I personally LOVE the IR reostat. I set it where I want it for lowlight and then forget about it.

8)The rotating ocular can be a PITA for mounting a flip cap, but when running the scope in the field Ive become to like it more than the magnification rings found on other scopes.


I dig my S&B 3-12 MTC. Excellent all the way around.
Only thing I dont like is where the IR reostat is located and how easy it can be accidently turned on.
 
#23
Re: Whats your favorite scope and why?

Hey Rob, which reticle do you prefer in the S&B?

The more I think about it I may have to see what I can do to get some time behind an S&B. I'm thinking P4F, but sure wish the Gen2XR were more available.....
 
#25
Re: Whats your favorite scope and why?

What my favorite scope and why?

In the pantheon of great First Tier Tactical scopes:

Hensholdt Tacticals
Schmidt und Bender PMII's
Premier Heritage
USO SN3's
Nightforce F1
Vortex Razor

I have chosen; None of the above.....

I like and use IOR's, specifically the 3-18x42mm FFP MIL/MIL and the 2.5-10x42mm FFP MIL/MIL Illuminated.

There turrets are not as good as any of the above; they are not a well built; there customer service is bordering on the mediocre; and they have no zero stop, and the 3-18x42mm has no illumination.

The IOR's do have, without a doubt, some of the best glass available; and the best tactical reticle ever developed, IMHO, the MP-8 Special. There is no other reticle that will allow you to use reticle holds, with a 308, out to 1000 yds without having to dial the range.

But what I like best about the IOR is: I can afford them in multiple copies. The IOR's simply gives me more bang for my buck, while delivering near Tier 1 scope performance, at a Tier 2 scope price.

Not a bad trade off, considering what you get.....

IMHO and YMMV,

Bob
 
#26
Re: Whats your favorite scope and why?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BobinNC</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> There is no other reticle that will allow you to use reticle holds, with a 308, out to 1000 yds without having to dial the range.


</div></div>

My GAP reticle will let me hold to 1000 yards with my 308....
although I'll concede it wouldn't if I were at sea level....
wink.gif

(155 AMAX @ 2850 FPS 9 mils exactly at 1000 )


It's USO for me,
I had an IOR SH edition 3-18, it was very nice.....
Haven't gotten to use a S&B or Hensoldt...
 
#27
Re: Whats your favorite scope and why?

Bob the P4 and P4F will give alot of hold over too. Enough for a .308 to make 1000.

Sobr, I like the P4F alot in the 5-25 but the standard Gen II is nice as well if you can find one.
 
#28
Re: Whats your favorite scope and why?

Rob1,

Yes, your right, as usual. My recollection of peering through a 5-25 S&B, was when it was sitting @ 25 power, where you have only about 8 mils. But on 15x or so, your more than right, you do have more than enough MILS. My bad....


Bob
 
#29
Re: Whats your favorite scope and why?

The (theoretical) wisdom says that S&B PMII would be the best, beaten by Hensoldt. For myself I chose Razor HD as the best deal for my money (being unable to afford Hensoldt
grin.gif
).
 
#30
Re: Whats your favorite scope and why?

I've only handled Leupolds, super snipers and nightforces. I like my NF 3.5-15 the best. The 5.5-22s and 2.5-10s come in a close second.

I bought a couple used 1" 3.5-10 Leupolds with target knobs over the years for $300 each. I like them for cheap scopes to put on .22s or guns I don't use a lot.
 
#31
Re: Whats your favorite scope and why?

If I had it to do over again, I'd go with the 5-25 S&B over the 3-12 I bought. Purchase price was more the right so I can't complain, but I'd love to have more mag. Sure you don't need 25 all the time, but 2 issues: 1. Do you really need 3 over 5, not really. 2. Can you use 25 at some point over 12, YES. Hindsight, but as far as glass, I'm alright with my purchase.
If not a certain glass, go with the 5x mag instead of the 4x.
Chad
 
#32
Re: Whats your favorite scope and why?

I'm going to have to say that my favorite scope so far is my ACOG TA01NSN-DOC. I have only recently started shooting with higher powered scopes, but I love the ACOG on any of my ARs. Having the 4X helps me shoot to 200 yards fairly well, and the red dot on top is great for close in shooting.
 
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