Updated S&B 1-4x24 Zenith Short Dot LE *Added Review*

[bp7178]

I got an email reply from Mark at S&B today. I had been asking about the 1-8x and the rumor that the Zenith SD LE could be had with a P3 reticle.

As it turns out, there have been some changes made to the Zenith SD LE. It appears to have been shortened, and the turrent box is just about halfway forward from the occular end.

Now you can get it with the FD2, FD7 and P3 mil-dot reticle. The P3 addresses the one want/need I had, some type of drop/ranging stadia.

Also only the elevation and illumination turrets are locking. I can't see dialing wind with a 4x scope, so this works out.

Of course, the new(er) Zenith SD LE is not in stock, and 12-14 weeks out.

I was wondering if anyone had the updated version, if there was any insight you can offer. It looks like this is going to be my next scope.



Mark attatched the letter they received from Germany regarding the 1-8s. Bascially, its at the upper end of workable technology, and they aren't satisfied with it. The factory hasn't commited to a time frame, October was just another rumor. So the 1-8x may be quite a way away.

[Singlestack Wonder]

Thanks for the update!

[Greg Bell]

Nice to see at least one outfit not willing to blow their reputation to push a product out the door.

[bp7178]

I was bummed about it, but good for them.

*Cough* Leupold Mark 8 *Cough*

But, I'm really excited about the changes to the Zenith SD LE. For what I want to do, I was going to by the 1-8x for its other features, the extra magnification was just icing. But, before I had heard about the changes, the exit pupil of the 1-8x had me thinking.

[Belmont31R]

I can't see dialing wind with a 4x scope, so this works out.

Exactly how are you shooting, then?



When I still owned a Short-Dot the windage got used just as much as the elevation.


Also what are the clicks calculated in? One my complaints with the PM Short-Dot is MOA based turrets. Any new scope I buy will have the turrets matching the reticle. No sense in MOA turrets with a mil reticle.

[bp7178]

The spec sheet says the clicks are 1/2 MOA. The 1-8x's are using 1/2 MOA clicks as well.

While this would be something I would like to see, mil reticle & mil clicks, this was minor to me compared with the other features.

How are you shooting? Do you dial wind every time with a 4x scope? Are you counting clicks or using the cam/distance subtentions on the elevation knob? Or are you just adjusting your zero that much?

I came across a rather lengthy article about dialing elevation and holding wind. This was based around a standard mil-dot reticle. If I can find it again I'll link it. But, I'm not making 1000 yard shots either. YMMV.

I would imagine the 75gr TAP cam should get me pretty close with 77gr SMKs, if not then the 75gr Hornady ASYM loads. IIRC, the older Zenith SD LE didn't have the 75gr cam as an option.

[RyanB]

I won't buy one til I can get one in mil to match every other scope myself and my shooting partners use.

[bp7178]

I also added this information to the Short Dot sticky thread.

Just received my Schmidt & Bender today. I purchased the 1.1-4x24 Short Dot LE with a P3 (mil-dot) reticle.

At some point S&B revised the design of the Short Dot LE. The newest versions are shorter, about 10" overall. This makes the form factor just like the Short Dot Gen II. The new data sheet I got from S&B says the FD2, FD7 and P3 reticles can be had. They are all installed in the second focal plane.

The reticle doesn't change size as magnification changes. This gives you an approx 5.5 MOA dot on 1x, about 1.5 MOA on 4x. Of course, the tradeoff is the mil-dots aren't accurate for ranging on any other magnification other than 4x. With how fine the CQB reticle is on the regular Short Dot on 1x, I don't think this is an issue. Its hard to range on 4x, next to impossible on 1x. For any shooting you would be doing past 200-300 yards where drop needs to be factored, you would more than likely be on 4x anyway. If not, you can dial the elevation into the turret or approximate a holdover with the dot/reticle as you would with an Aimpoint.

The S&B german site lists the current specs, but says the only reticle is the CQB. The P3's bold lines are very easy to pick up. From the center, you have four dots spaced in the typical fashion then the lines go bold.

The flashdot is typical of S&B. Daylight bright on the high end, night vision compatible on the low.

Before anyone asks, there is NO blue tint to the glass.

Reticle pics will follow when I get to the range...

Pictures were taken with an iPhone 4. All of my money was spent on this thing, nothing left over for a fancy digital camera. So forgive me if they are slightly off.

Unboxing.





Yeah. A riflescope which retails for $2,699.00, and who's pricing is agressivley controlled by S&B, is shipped in cardboard. I will say the packaging of the Trijicon TR24 blows this away. Just a note, not a gripe.



What you get...a manual and a warranty card, product survey form, and bikini scope covers.



Notice the posistion of the erector assembly relative to the length of the tube forward of it. About an inch and a half shorter than the previous version.







When you remove the windage cap, this is what you get. A compartment for a spare battery, and a view of the Posicon turret. The Posicon shows a representation of where the reticle is within its adjustment range. So this means if you want to dial wind, you have to take the windage cap off and try not to loose it. Of course, with a mil-dot reticle, you can just hold for wind and dial elevation.



View under the battery on the brightness adjustment knob. No rubber washers added. Yes that was a shot at SWFA.



This is what the elevation turret looks like disassembled. Mine was ordered with the 75gr Hornady cam. What is odd is that the manual doesn't state at what range the optics needs to be zeroed at for the range marks to be accurate. Of course the clicks are 1/2 MOA. I would have rathered .1 MIL, but not a deal breaker.

The cap has a nice slot for a coin to unscrew it. Now wanting to mar it up to all hell, which is what will happen if you use a nickel, I've found the rim of a dummy round works great.



Here you can see the turret markings with the referenced ammunition. I had just received a case of TAP T2 last week. Perfect timing. On a side note, the TAP T2 is amazing stuff. Surprisingly uniform.



Without the optic mounted, my rifle weighs 8lbs on the money. Not a lightweight build, but it was never intended to be. Stripped of the Scout light, Larue FUG and rail covers, the rifle is 7.2lbs.

With the S&B mounted in a Larue SPR, its rocking at 9.6lbs. The Short Dot LE is a damn tank. If you want light, get a T-1.



With the bi-pod, its at 10.4lbs.



Should be out to the range tomorrow, more pics will follow...

[Tuukka]

I have been using the Short Dot 1.1-4x LE for a few years now, both at work testing suppressors and in competition use.

It is actually probably one of the first scopes out, as it is marked Zenith but has the SD BDC turret, with the original longer body.

The scope has the FD 7 reticle and a .308 BDC ( works fine with .223 just need to know your adjustments, ie. my .233 cal 300 m zero is 250 m for the .308 )

It has been great overall. The dot being in the second plane can be used out to longer distances and overall it is an excellent scope for varying distances.

[bp7178]

Did yours come with 3 ballistic turrets? I thought that was how they shipped them, but I only got the 75gr cam.

I have two minor gripes. I wish the 6 setting on the dot brightness was brighter. 5 and 6 look just about the same, and there is a huge jump to 7. The 7 setting is suppose to be the first daylight setting. For night use I always kept my RDS bright enough so when I activated a white light, the dot didn't wash out. The 7 setting setting seems perfect for this. But I find myself wanting the dot brightness a bit brighter on the 6 setting.

S&B went through the trouble of beautifully laser etching all of the turret markings and lettering on the scope. Except for the circle dot logo on the windage cap. Its just silk screened/painted on.

Not deal breakers, but at this price point, i'll nit pick.

I actually moved it back a little bit in the mount from where it was when that picture was taken, just to sharpen up the edges of the image when standing.