Rifle Scopes Which Crossover Scope would you choose?

Which crossover scopes would you choose?


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@Glassaholic and @C_Does, First, thank you for what you both do. I've spent hours reading your reviews and watching your videos, you are invaluable assets. I've finally quite lurking, and made an account so I can get your opinions.

The TLDR is what you each think of the IQ and eye box of the T6Xi 3-18 vs LHT 4.5-22.

The long of it is this. I have a 20 inch 5.56 gas gun that was my go to rifle for a decade. My truck gun, training rifle, 3 gun rifle, 800 yards on steel, coyote rifle, spotlighting gun and prairie dog gun. Up until I got out of the military, back in Wyoming, and got a can. Now its too long so its getting reworked to become a 16 inch dissipator with an OCM5. The rifle has had a PST-2.5-10x32 on in for most of its life, but I'm done dealing with the non locking turrets, find myself wanting a more complex reticle, better IQ, and wouldn't mind a bit more magnification, particularly for spotting impacts and killing prairie dogs.

In seeking an optic I considered everything on the spread sheet and a few optics that aren't, ranging from the Burris XTR3 3-18 to the TT315.
I initially focused on S&B (I run a 5-25 PMII Tremor 3 on my PRS gun) but found that cost/weight/reticle selection just didn't make it worth it to me.
I ruled out March for glass quality/eye box/cost.
Ruled out the MK5 for the hit and miss reviews, especially compared to 4-16 ATACR, and the cost of a ilm tremor3, even with a Mil discount. (yall are right, they needa do a PR2 with illumination
The TT and ZCO I decided to wait on till I get a 6 ARC built.

Current front runner is the 4-16 ATACR (waiting on NF to get back to me with Mil pricing and lead times) even though the rotating ocular drives me nuts as I really like my dope in my scope cap.

Along with the T6Xi 3-18 and the Razor LHT 4.5-20. The draw of the LHT is the weight, and a more usable low mag reticle, especially compared to the rather portly Steiner and the SCR2 limited usability. The Steiner's superior turrets seem nice and I would expect a better image, more forgiving eye box and, I also like the larger FOV.

It should be stated I almost never dial on this rifle and almost never turned the PST down from 10x, I run a piggyback T2 and am extremely comfortable with it, even without a Christmas tree I've probably only touched the turrets on the PST three or four times, which is good because I doubt the track very well. Aside from setting them back to zero every other day... which is the main reason I'm upgrading.

I think you would both say the ATACR is the obvious choice for me, and my decision may be easy once I hear from nightforce on pricing/lead time.

That said, between the light weight of the Razor, vs the better turrets, better illumination controls, better(?) eye box, and better FOV, better zero stop, and better low light performance on the Steiner which optic would you each recommend?

The Burris XTR isn't out though I see it as a lower quality Steiner and wouldnt expect the IQ to stack up with either the Razor or Steiner.

It may be worth waiting for the new S&B 3-18 or the Primary arms PLx 2.5-20.

Thank you in advance gentlemen or any of you other optics wizs on here.
 
Thank you in advance gentlemen or any of you other optics wizs on here.
While you wait for those two dudes to chime in, here is my 2¢.

Sounds like you want locking turrets, or locking elevation/capped windage. I’m right there with you.

And the gun is for pdog shooting. You don’t dial much, and are always at 10x (the max of your current scope).

But you don’t want a “typical” pdog mag range of 5-25? Dang.

Ok. Not sure why but I’ll roll with it. I’m a pdog shootin’ fool.

I own three Razor 4.5-22 scopes (two are mounted, one still in the box), so I’ll comment on that. It has only a few faults and is nice.

Faults for me:
  1. FOV is a bit constricted
  2. Image is smallish (separate from FOV & eyebox)
  3. Old-style locking diopter is slow to focus
  4. Zoom & focus knobs can be very stiff, in cooler weather, esp.
The FOV isn’t a huge deal, I just zoom out more. Price I’ll pay for lightness. I’d prefer it be wider, though.

The image presents kinda small. This seems different than FOV and eyebox, but it may not be. Like, the eyepiece doesn't “blow up” the image, so it feels a little more “looking through a straw”. Conversely, the Razor G2 4.5-27 has a “HD TV sitting right in front of you” feel to it.

I can imagine a wide FOV but on a tiny TV, however, so I don’t know how else to describe what I see.

These above two issues are the biggest negs to me.

I don’t mess with the diopter much so it hasn’t created problems for me.

I have added throw levers to the zoom rings of my two mounted samples, as they are stiff even in warm weather. Their parallax knob seems to loosen up in warm weather…but it gets stiff in winter. I wish the knob had more diameter to it for leverage.

I bet if I send them back to Vortex for the stiffness issues that they could adjust that. But I don’t want to remount/rezero the scopes lol.

Other faults for some (but not me).
  • Turrets are mushy (but I don’t care as I don’t dial either)
  • Illumination control is subpar. I don’t use it anyway.
Pros:
  1. Super light!
  2. Reticle is ideal for pdog shooting IMHO
Neutral
  1. Eyebox is fine. Not bad, not great.
  2. Image is fine

FOV & eyebox compared to some scopes I own:
  • PST II 5-25 has more FOV & better eyebox.
  • PST 3-15 has WAY more FOV (same FOV as the TT 3-15!) & better eyebox. A true sleeper; wish turrets were locking.
  • Razor G2 4.5-27 has a huge image, more FOV and a much better eyebox but is made of lead (which is great for my application)
  • NF NX8 4-32 has more FOV but eyebox I can’t remember (but is heavier and elevation turret is non-locking)
  • All four of the above also have “bigger TV” images when compared to the Razor 4.5-22.
An ATACR 4-20 would seem to fit the bill but (as you undoubtedly know) it has a non-locking elevation turret. So that leaves me suggesting the ZCO 4-20, which IIRC @koshkin says might be the best of their lineup. But…just noticed you’re waiting on a 6arc for one of those.

Note that I haven’t used either of these two above scopes.

Btw everything I’ve read about March suggests they have great glass, so not sure where you have heard that they don’t? Eyebox issues I have only read about on their 3-24x model…not sure if it was the 42mm or 52mm or both.
 
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@Glassaholic and @C_Does, First, thank you for what you both do. I've spent hours reading your reviews and watching your videos, you are invaluable assets. I've finally quite lurking, and made an account so I can get your opinions.
Welcome lurker ;), I did the same many years ago as well as many guys here, you're in good company.
The TLDR is what you each think of the IQ and eye box of the T6Xi 3-18 vs LHT 4.5-22.
Steiner T6Xi 3-18x56 has a great eyebox, very forgiving to about 16x then gets a bit finicky. The LHT is about average, not the best but not the worse either.
The long of it is this. I have a 20 inch 5.56 gas gun that was my go to rifle for a decade. My truck gun, training rifle, 3 gun rifle, 800 yards on steel, coyote rifle, spotlighting gun and prairie dog gun. Up until I got out of the military, back in Wyoming, and got a can. Now its too long so its getting reworked to become a 16 inch dissipator with an OCM5. The rifle has had a PST-2.5-10x32 on in for most of its life, but I'm done dealing with the non locking turrets
Why do you say you are "done with non-locking turrets?" I assume you've had issues with the use for this rifle and the turrets not staying at zero? I'm not saying there is anything wrong with locking turrets, but I would posit that the PST 2.5-10 may not have the best turrets in the industry so you may fair better with a better scope even without locking turrets... maybe.
, find myself wanting a more complex reticle, better IQ, and wouldn't mind a bit more magnification, particularly for spotting impacts and killing prairie dogs.
Fair enough
In seeking an optic I considered everything on the spread sheet and a few optics that aren't, ranging from the Burris XTR3 3-18 to the TT315.
I initially focused on S&B (I run a 5-25 PMII Tremor 3 on my PRS gun) but found that cost/weight/reticle selection just didn't make it worth it to me.
The 3-20x50 ultra short was supposed to come with TR2ID reticle but I don't see any at EO... I assume it was the reticle that was the issue as it is only 2oz heavier than the ATACR 4-16?
I ruled out March for glass quality/eye box/cost.
Depends on the March, the 4.5-28x52 has excellent glass, decent eyebox and costs less than the Schmidt... This scope is essentially the same size as the ATACR 4-16x42 with regard to length and weight and FOV is greater at 4.5x than ATACR at 4x. For those who love the ATACR but feel they want a little more magnification I highly recommend it.
Ruled out the MK5 for the hit and miss reviews, especially compared to 4-16 ATACR, and the cost of a ilm tremor3, even with a Mil discount. (yall are right, they needa do a PR2 with illumination
Right there with you...
The TT and ZCO I decided to wait on till I get a 6 ARC built.
(y)
Current front runner is the 4-16 ATACR (waiting on NF to get back to me with Mil pricing and lead times) even though the rotating ocular drives me nuts as I really like my dope in my scope cap.
Can't go wrong with the ATACR unless you need something more at the bottom or top of the mag range. I would not worry about waiting for mil discount from NF, talk to CS Tactical and other Hide vendors who sell NF and I bet they can match the NF mil discount...
Along with the T6Xi 3-18 and the Razor LHT 4.5-20. The draw of the LHT is the weight, and a more usable low mag reticle, especially compared to the rather portly Steiner and the SCR2 limited usability. The Steiner's superior turrets seem nice and I would expect a better image, more forgiving eye box and, I also like the larger FOV.
Steiner QC is somewhat hit and miss, but I do like the 3-18x56 but agree with you it is a bit chonky for a gas gun, but with that comes a very forgiving design. You might actually like the SCR2 reticle, even at low mag with illumination.
It should be stated I almost never dial on this rifle and almost never turned the PST down from 10x, I run a piggyback T2 and am extremely comfortable with it, even without a Christmas tree I've probably only touched the turrets on the PST three or four times, which is good because I doubt the track very well. Aside from setting them back to zero every other day... which is the main reason I'm upgrading.
Hence your desire for locking turrets...
I think you would both say the ATACR is the obvious choice for me, and my decision may be easy once I hear from nightforce on pricing/lead time.
One of my favorites for a gas gun and even as a crossover for a hunting/LR rig. But as I mentioned before, don't wait for mil, call Richard at CS Tactical and Doug at Cameralandny (both are Hide vendors, both sell NF and both do not charge ST if you're outside their state... and both give great deals over the phone)
That said, between the light weight of the Razor, vs the better turrets, better illumination controls, better(?) eye box, and better FOV, better zero stop, and better low light performance on the Steiner which optic would you each recommend?
Did you read my review where I compare the Steiner to the ATACR, that has some good information there. Both have some pros and cons.
The Burris XTR isn't out though I see it as a lower quality Steiner and wouldnt expect the IQ to stack up with either the Razor or Steiner.
Burris does not have locking turrets unless they changed something recently???
It may be worth waiting for the new S&B 3-18 or the Primary arms PLx 2.5-20.
Yes, the new Schmidt 3-18x42 is likely worth waiting for, the question is how long? Schmidt says summer, but Schmidt also has a sketchy track record of delivering product on time, especially to the US market. I do expect the new Meta 3-18 to be an excellent option, but at over twice the price of the ATACR (MSRP is at $4990 right now) you would have to REALLY want 3x on bottom and 18x on top to make it worth the price of two ATACR's. I expect after a few months of lackluster sales in the US we'll see Schmidt drop the MAP price of the FFP Meta similar to what they did with the 6-36x56 after it released.
Thank you in advance gentlemen or any of you other optics wizs on here.
Happy to help when I can...