Rifle Scopes $800 Budget - Steiner P4xi or Bushnell DMR 2?

ccasanova

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Minuteman
Jul 10, 2010
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Alright, decided to sell some things I don’t use enough and bump my budget a bit higher but $800ish is about it.

.223 Tikka Tactical
300 yard range at the house, access to 4-600 yard range but have never shot that far before...plan to work up to it.

Could later swap this to my .17hmr for more challenging 2-300 yard work.

I’d like something easy to get behind and learn on. Something nice enough to know misses are my fault.

I know the PST2 is in this range and others...seems like these 2 are the best mid-tier “deals” going on at the moment unless I’m missing something.
 
I just recently put a dmr2pro on my 223 and I like it but I dont think youll find a DMR for 800, its more of a 1k to get one from what Ive seen. Granted, at 1,085 it comes with the free kestrel right now which lowers the net but still.
If you dont have a weather meter then go for the dmr, if you do then its a toss up.
I like the dmrs g3 reticle more than the scr personally.
 
I have a couple of Bushnell scopes and I like them. I would vote for dmr2. But like the other mentioned, would be hard to find a dmr2 under $1000. I see The first gen dmr in classified in that price once a while.
 
I have a couple of Bushnell scopes and I like them. I would vote for dmr2. But like the other mentioned, would be hard to find a dmr2 under $1000. I see The first gen dmr in classified in that price once a while
 
Have been using the P4xi a bit, so far very impressed with the scope, and paid a lot more than the $800 you guys are getting them for stateside. Tracking is bang on and glass seems quite nice, very comparable to my Meopta zd glass, and the Meopta is darn good.
 
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I’m not sure what the glass is like on the dmr2, but I had the hdmr gen 1. The glass was good until it got cloudy out. Then it really dropped off.

If the glass is better, the GA deal with the kestrel would be nice.
 
Just got the GAP DMR-II special myself. Have the Kestrel 5700 on eBay and it’s up to $365. Puts the total excluding fees/shipping at ~$720!

I haven’t had experience with the P4Xi, but I had the Steiner 4-16x50 Gen 1 Military for a while. It was a good scope, probably similar-ish performance to the P4Xi? I liked it.

Given the current deal I would get the DMR-II. Either would be fine I’m sure.
 
I’m in the same boat. 800-1000 to spend and I’m seriously considering the PX4i from what I’ve read about it. Dark Lord of Optics has a good write up on the PX4i on his site. Where is the DMR II made? I want something made in Japan, Germany, or the US.
 
I’m in the same boat. 800-1000 to spend and I’m seriously considering the PX4i from what I’ve read about it. Dark Lord of Optics has a good write up on the PX4i on his site. Where is the DMR II made? I want something made in Japan, Germany, or the US.

Both are good scopes. I think P4Xi has an overl edge in optical quality and will definitely work better in low light.

DMR2 has a broader magnification range and different reticle.

I would start by figuring out which reticle works better for you.

ILya
 
The Steiner to me looks like a better hunting/tactical scope. I’m not opposed to the G3 but I don’t mind spinning the turret either. Is the DMR II really worth 2x the price of the Steiner?
Isn’t the dmr2 frequently on sale for only 2-300 more than the Steiner? It’s not double.

I got my dmr2pro for 1100
 
Steiner, way better glass and no tunneling. The bushnell tunnels badly under 5.5x. The bushnell is really a 5.5-21.. also the Steiner is illuminated and lighter and made in the USA. No brainer imo. Steiner has dmr ii pro glass and a better feature set and NO ANNOYING TUNNELING.
 
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I have the P4xi and I’m really happy with it. The only minor con for me is the knobs are a bit mushy. Not a big deal with capped turrets (just set it and forget it), but would like a more defined feel for the reticle illumination knob. It also comes with a free throw lever.
 
I have the P4xi and I’m really happy with it. The only minor con for me is the knobs are a bit mushy. Not a big deal with capped turrets (just set it and forget it), but would like a more defined feel for the reticle illumination knob. It also comes with a free throw lever.
I’m guessing you’re referring to the turrets on the 1-4, the 4-16 has very tactile turrets.
 
I like the DMRII better, because I ended up with one of the PX4's with an extremely stiff elevation turret. Its still "useable" as in it works and tracks, but it is annoying and makes me feel like it lacks the refinement I expect in a 1k scope. If they are the same price DMRII all day every day. For 800 for a PX4 vs 1k for a DMRII they are about the same value IMO. All you are giving up with the PX4 is a little top end magnification. The PX4 gives you a little more FOV. I don't think there is anything markedly better about one than the other.
 
I like the DMRII better, because I ended up with one of the PX4's with an extremely stiff elevation turret. Its still "useable" as in it works and tracks, but it is annoying and makes me feel like it lacks the refinement I expect in a 1k scope. If they are the same price DMRII all day every day. For 800 for a PX4 vs 1k for a DMRII they are about the same value IMO. All you are giving up with the PX4 is a little top end magnification. The PX4 gives you a little more FOV. I don't think there is anything markedly better about one than the other.
Id send it back to have them fix the elevation turret. The glass on the steiner is almost on par with a razor gen ii and you get illumination over the bushy.
 
There is no older gen, and there are no copies. Pertinent point Razor > PX4i by a long shot.
Modern manufacturing has a tolerance range. Not all scopes of the same model have the same optical clarity. My reference to the term copy means that the P4xi I own may be sharper than yours due to that range.

Also, Steiner discontinued the 4-16 P4xi and reissued them due to an issue with the parallax knob. I was asking if you had one of them prior to them fixing the issues.

I’ve owned MANY razors and the P4Xi glass is very good in comparison, definitely not a “long shot”. I’ve owned a dmr ii which it beats and a dmr ii pro which it closely compares in glass quality.
 
My brother in law and I both recently purchased P4XI scopes for 850.00 and I am completely amazed with the field of view zero tunneling excellent glass excellent tracking, this is a lot of scope for very little price I am completely impressed and have zero bad to say about it been running it on my 6.5 and I love it almost as much as my nightforce scopes, and that’s saying a lot for me as I am diehard nightforce but I couldn’t pass up the low price for this scope!!!
 
Modern manufacturing has a tolerance range. Not all scopes of the same model have the same optical clarity. My reference to the term copy means that the P4xi I own may be sharper than yours due to that range.

Also, Steiner discontinued the 4-16 P4xi and reissued them due to an issue with the parallax knob. I was asking if you had one of them prior to them fixing the issues.

I’ve owned MANY razors and the P4Xi glass is very good in comparison, definitely not a “long shot”. I’ve owned a dmr ii which it beats and a dmr ii pro which it closely compares in glass quality.

The long shot I am talking about is not glass. I am not going to sit around and argue opinions about glass.
 
I have both. DMR only goes to 75yarfs partellex. Something to keep in mind if you are moving it to a rim fire. Both are fantastic. Steiner has an edge on glass. I like the ergonomics on the Bushnell better. Camera land had a sale on the PX4 a month or so ago.
 
I have both. DMR only goes to 75yarfs partellex. Something to keep in mind if you are moving it to a rim fire. Both are fantastic. Steiner has an edge on glass. I like the ergonomics on the Bushnell better. Camera land had a sale on the PX4 a month or so ago.

Doesn't the Steiner only go to 50?
 
Steiner P4Xi 4-16x56 - SCR on sale for $799.99 at Camera Land

Designed for patrol and tactical operations, the rugged P4Xi scopes offer clear images and a fast-action reticle to tackle every day use or sudden action.

The P4Xi 4-16x56 is a medium range scope with 34mm tube, an illuminated front focal plane Special Competition Reticle (SCR™) and side parallax adjustment.

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Field of View at 100 yds27.5-6.9
Eye Relief.5-4.0
Exit Pupil14-3.50
Length14.6 in
Weight30 oz
Diopter Adjustment Range+2 to -3
Elevation Adjustment Knob.1 mRad
Illumination ControlRotary Dial
Wind/Elevation Click Value1cm
Elevation Range at 100 m.30 MIL
Wind Range at 100 m.16 MIL
Parallax/FocusSide Focus
Parallax/Focus Range50 yards to infinity
Nitrogen FilledYes
Lens CapNo
Waterproof/FogproofSubmersible to 33ft
BatteryCR2032
WarrantyHeritage Warranty
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SCR Reticle

Steiner’s Special Competition Reticle (SCR) is a proprietary reticle designed by Steiner for precision shooting use. An extended illumination area lets the shooter engage targets at long distance even in low light. The vertical crosshair features 1/2-mil marks for distance holdover. The horizontal crosshair offers 1/2-mil and 2/10-mil lines for windage
hold-off.





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The windage and elevation knobs
are designed for precise adjustment. The dials are calibrated so that 1 click equals 1 cm @ 100 meters or .1 mRAD for the 4-16x.





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Ruggedly constructed

scope tubes are milled from solid, high-grade aluminum stock so there are no welds or seams, for greater strength and durability.