Another user on here asked me my thoughts a couple months ago via PM on RDS vs Steiner LPVO. At this time, I’ve been using my P4xi now for long enough that I feel like I am able to share my experience. This will be less a comparison, more of thoughts on the P4xi through the eyes of a previous skeptic. The more I use it, the more versatility it seems to have.
Background:
I’ve used a variety of LPVO’s professionally and recreationally over the past decade or so, starting with the Elcan and Short Dot. I didn’t really like them back then, but my eyes are starting to age. So I bought a Steiner and a 3x Vortex magnifier for my Comp M’s maybe 9 months ago, and I’ve been wringing them out. This is the first LPVO that I have purchased, unless we can count 2-7x’s.
Speed vs RDS:
This is what everyone seems to be interested in. I’ve noticed no practical loss of speed on 1x in any conventional position at any range. I’m even a little faster at ranges past 25yds. This is because with the fine dot, and optional magnification, I’m able to either shoot just as fast, but more accurately, or slightly faster with the same degree of accuracy vs RDS. I shot a carbine qual course with a small SWAT team a week or two ago with my P4xi and got a perfect score. I was also faster than a little over half the cops, all of which were using a RDS of some sort. I’m not saying this out of ego, or because I think I’m better than them, because I am not. Just for perspective on speed, because a LPVO is not slowing me down.
Now, if we’re talking wazzoo positions like junkyard prone and such, yeah the RDS might be a bit faster, but not as much as you might expect. The pupil is easy to find at 1x.
Weight:
The P4xi in an ADM flip lever 1.93” mount weighs 25oz. The Comp M4s in a Larue lower 1/3 with flip lever weighs 12.8oz. Comp M4s plus 3x weighs 24oz. The numbers speak for themselves. If you have no need for magnification, the LPVO is a waste.
Battery Life:
Longer than expected. I have not measured it, but I would have expected much less. Obviously you can’t leave it on for 3 years, but even if the battery dies, the unlit reticle works great.
Brightness:
Excellent. It is beyond daylight bright. If you use it to look directly at the Sun, trying to observe the transit of Mercury, the last thing you will see is two dots: the red dot of the reticle and the black dot of Mercury.
Low Light Use:
It works as well or better than any other optic I have used, except maybe my Zeiss or the Razor HD. It is certainly better than any other magnified optic I have used that is similarly priced. Unrelated note, I hate muzzle brakes. I’m currently rocking A2s on almost every rifle I own.
Reticle:
This is the second reticle I’ve ever truly loved, with the first being the old school ACOG. I left my wife for this reticle. Side effects include: priapism, muscular hypertrophy, inflated ego, increased IQ, greater sexual stamina, and your children will love you again.
The dot is bright, fine, and easy to find. The crosshairs are heavy and taper to the center, which is a great feature in weak lighting. Or anytime you need to find the center fast.
The BDC is what makes it awesome, with a caveat. Steiner literature shows a 100yd zero for the dot and the bottom hashmark is 500. Nein. The dot more closely coincides with 200yds and the bottom hashmark is 600. I’ve tested this practically with several loads, and also run a bunch of numbers through Strelok Pro. Interestingly, the subtensions that Steiner publishes reflects my findings. They simply mislabeled the reticle diagram.
I stock 4 types of 556 ammo, mostly. 68/69gr HPBT for target shooting at medium ranges, 70TSX for hunting, 62gr Fusion MSR for HD/Soviet invasion, and 62gr ball for close range blasting. These have been chosen to be cost effective and to have a similar POI at the distances appropriate to their purpose. With a zero at 300 yards using the first hashmark and “match” 68/69gr ammo, I can get first round hits with the same ammo out to 600yds using the BDC. I can then load up the 70TSX and get good hits on deer well beyond any range I would consider ethical, or Fusion MSR 62 and whack Cuban paratroopers. Or whatever crazy fantasy you may have.
Point is, this reticle’s BDC follows my ammo perfectly using a 16” barrel. It is also auto-ranging on 18-19” wide targets. If you are shooting at E-type’s, just use whatever hashmark matches the width of the target most closely, hold into the wind if necessary, squeeze it off, then celebrate. Its that easy. I’ve shot matches that use E-type pop-ups and steel out to 500, and its like cheating. I really like this reticle.
For SBR’s, you can probably get a similar level of satisfaction from the T5xi with .308 reticle, which Strelok tells me would be close to perfect with my 12.3”. Run your chosen ammo through a ballistic calc before choosing. This thing does not like RA556B, for example. With the P4xi, you are looking for ammo with ~47.5” drop at 500 with a 200yd zero. With the T5xi .308, Strelok and Steiner say you want ~53.75 drop at 500 with a 200yd zero. Zeroing further out (300-400) with the appropriate part of the reticle will make most any ammo follow the reticle better, of course.
Comments from Use:
It has capped turrets, which I prefer. Ain’t nobody clicking DOPE with a 1-4x. The turret caps have not fallen off. Thats never happened with any other optic I’ve used, but for some drunken reason it seemed noteworthy. The illum adjustment is kinda mushy. However (comma) I like that it has an off position between each setting.
The mag ring rotates the opposite direction of pretty much any other scope I can remember. If you own other scopes, this might not be a good thing. But I dig it. With the throw lever, the mantra is: righty tighty, lefty longy. Or whatever similarly lame thing you use to remember. The reason I like it this way, is that at 1x, the mag ring won’t get accidentally adjusted by my gear, since I am right handed. The ring rotates smoothly, but is stiff enough to help prevent accidental adjustment. You want the throw lever.
Eye relief is excellent. No chance of getting whacked with this thing. Its basically the opposite of the ACOG, and I run my stock a click further out than I do with a RDS and magnifier.
Its astigmatism-proof. Which is starting to be “A Thing” for me. This is because it uses a fiber to produce the dot rather than whatever wizardry other dots use.
Durability:
It seems durable enough. It retains its zero. I have not broken it yet. It (rifle plus optic) goes nearly everywhere with me and spends a lot of time in a case sliding around the bed of my truck; approximately 6-8hrs a week, driving way too fast on rough roads. The rifle has been treated like a beater, and has been used in force-on-force training and competition. This scope has gotten rained on, a lot, and has been submerged a few times. Its been painted. The cat has knocked it off the table. Did I mention that it retains its zero?
Where Other Optics are Better:
I have to nitpick on this one. I plan on replacing most of my current optics with Steiners. It is heavier than a RDS, and the RDS can be left on. The weight is negligible compared to a magnifier. I kinda wish it used a AAA or something battery somehow, but I don’t think thats realistic. There are scopes with better glass and more magnification, that cost twice as much. Taenebraex does not make covers for the P4, but they do for the T5. The illum knob is mushy. The Comp M and Eotech are slightly better in funky positions that you are unlikely to use. Razor would be better for 3gun because of the JM1 reticle. I dunno; I’m grasping at straws here.
If this reads more like a glowing endorsement than a comparison, there is a reason for that. Its a really versatile optic, and is priced super low. I plan on re-equipping every non-clone rifle from 12.3” to 18” with either a P4xi or P5xi.
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