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View Full Version : Probably the most comprehensive optics review ever.


Koshinn
10-08-14, 18:22
The guy(s) at Precision Rifle Blog did a ridiculously comprehensive and objective test of some of the best optics in the $1,500+ range with of course an emphasis on bolt gun use.

I'm not affiliated with them, but if you're looking for a tactical scope and have at least $1,500 to spend, you'd be doing yourself a disservice by not reading the articles. Yes, articles.

http://precisionrifleblog.com/2014/09/19/tactical-scopes-field-test-results-summary/

That link is the summary. When you scroll down to the "Other posts in this series" section, you can look at each test in detail.

To summarize the summary...
40% of the score is mechanical (calibrated clicks, return to zero, elevation adjustment range, reticle cant)
35% of the score is optical performance (resolution and contrast, zoom ratio, field of view)
15% of the score is advanced features (reticle choices, first focal plane, etc)
10% of the score is ergonomics (turret design, weight, size, etc)

Overall scores (I grouped by relatively similar performance):

1: S&B 5-25x56

2: NF BEAST 5-25x56

3: Kahles 6-24x56
4: Hensoldt 3.5-26x56
5: USO 5-25x58
6: Leupold Mk8 3.5-25x56
7: Valdada 4-28x50
8: Leupold Mk6 3-18x44

9: Bushnell 3.5-21x50

10: Nightforce ATACR 5-25x56
11: S&B 3-27x56

12: NF NXS 5.5-22x50

13: Steiner 5-25x56
14: Vortex 5-20x50

15: Valdada 3.5-18x50
16: Bushnell 4.5-30x50

17: March 3-24x42
18: Zeiss 6-24x56



Best value: Bushnell 3.5-21x50 (at 1/3 the cost of the S&B 5-25x56 and just finishing in the top half of the scopes)
Best mechanical: Valdada 4-25x50
Best optical: S&B 5-25x56, Hensoldt 3.5-26x56, Zeiss 6-24x56
Best adv. features: S&B 5-25x56, NF BEAST 5-25x56, S&B 3-27x56
Best ergos: Leupold Mk6 3-18x44, March 3-24x42

Honestly though, just read all 15 articles. They're very thorough and the tests are all as objective as possible - they even went so far as to disguise what the scopes were when third parties did the ratings for the tests. The only really subjective thing is the score weighting, which was done via blog reader poll.
thopkins22
10-08-14, 19:02
That's superb. I've been weighing a Bushnell for a while based on what I've heard here and other places...really looks to be a solid buy for those of us turned off by S&B prices.
MBtech
10-08-14, 19:41
Wow! Very nice, I still can't afford any of them but I know a hell of a lot more now than I did before on making a choice when I hit the lotto
All the tests they did were great!
JBecker 72
10-08-14, 19:52
Wow, thanks for posting this.
JohnnyC
10-08-14, 19:58
Very interesting. I disagree with not including Premier, even though they are not longer in business. Stuff floats around forever on the secondhand market, just look at the MST-100's. Considering the resale value of them is fairly high and they're competitive scopes with the other listed it would have been interesting to see how they compare. Gotta draw the line somewhere though I guess.
T2C
10-08-14, 20:26
This is disappointing. The scope on my F Class rifle scored 12th.
Koshinn
10-08-14, 20:29
Very interesting. I disagree with not including Premier, even though they are not longer in business. Stuff floats around forever on the secondhand market, just look at the MST-100's. Considering the resale value of them is fairly high and they're competitive scopes with the other listed it would have been interesting to see how they compare. Gotta draw the line somewhere though I guess.

I would've loved to see the new Vortex Razor II in the test too, it's too bad it hadn't come out in time. But yeah, you gotta draw the line somewhere or there'd be like 500 entries in the test.


This is disappointing. The scope on my F Class rifle scored 12th.

The scope on my Surgeon scored 8th lol. I'm actually surprised the Mk6 did that well considering how much of a disadvantage it had at being a x44.
MBtech
10-08-14, 21:16
A review of that great detail on some 1-4s, 1-6's, 1-8s would be great too
Kain
10-08-14, 21:32
A review of that great detail on some 1-4s, 1-6's, 1-8s would be great too

That was what I was hoping for when I opened the thread.
MBtech
10-08-14, 21:47
That was what I was hoping for when I opened the thread.

I have a work in progress Rem 700 AAC SD that needs one from this list being the NXS probably for my budget on the rifle.
But also have a SCAR 17 that needs glass on top as well.
Kain
10-08-14, 21:49
I have a work in progress Rem 700 AAC SD that needs one from this list being the NXS probably for my budget on the rifle.
But also have a SCAR 17 that needs glass on top as well.

I personally have a few rifles that I need to scope. Looking at a SWFA SS10X for one, but am still undecided. Also needing to scope my FN .308 and wanting something variable on that since it will be more of a deer rifle than anything else but again don't want to cheap out either. Also, while I run an ACOG on one of my BCMs I have toyed with going to a 1-4x or 1-6X from time to time.
UDT
10-09-14, 08:52
Thanks for sharing this, Great post.
jpmuscle
10-09-14, 18:54
Thanks for sharing this, Great post.
x100 koshinn.
tylerw02
10-09-14, 22:24
After having owned or used several, I can agree with the assessment. After all these years the S&B 5-25x56 is still cream of the crop.

The Bushnell is amazing for the money. The Mark 6 is impressive for the cost and weight.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
TehLlama
10-10-14, 00:44
After having owned or used several, I can agree with the assessment. After all these years the S&B 5-25x56 is still cream of the crop.
The Bushnell is amazing for the money. The Mark 6 is impressive for the cost and weight.


Even within my fairly limited number of these I've gotten any useful time behind, this basically rings true. The Bushnell overachieves noticeably, and the Mk6 once weight is considered becomes a real contender, but when cost stops being an object (or when part of a much pricier system) S&B makes the best answer.