After a few years with the Vortex Viper PST 6-24x and SWFA SS HD 5-20x FFP/M-M scopes, I'm ready for something better. The SWFA SS HD 5-20x had 10mils/rotation turrets and good eye box, but parallax was difficult to turn, magnification was only good to about 16-18x, and the glass was good but not great. The Vortex Viper PST had better glass, better magnification, and smooth turrets, but was only 5 mils/rotation and had a terrible eye box. I'm fine with a high price, but only so long as it absolutely delivers value for the cost. My requirements seem rather basic: FFP, high-power (24x or better), mil-turrets, mil-reticle, 10+ mils per rotation, excellent optical clarity. Zero-stop is optional, since 10 mil rotation paired with 20-min rail gives lots of room to move.
Here's what I've found so far in order of preference:
• U.S. OPTICS ER-25MIL $2773: 25x max, 0.1 mil, 11 mils/turn, 16.6 mils travel, 34mm tube, 58mm objective, illuminated.
• Steiner M5Xi Military 5-25x56 $3150: 25x max, 0.1 mil, 15 mils/turn, 26 mils travel, 34mm tube, 56mm objective, illuminated.
• Kahles K 624i $3054: 24x max, 0.1 mil, 14 mils/turn, 34mm tube, 56mm objective, illuminated.
• March Tactical 3-24x52 FFP $3250: 24x max, 0.1 mil, 10 mils/turn, 34 mils travel, 34mm tube, 52mm objective, illuminated.
• Schmidt & Bender 5-25x56 PM II/LP/MTC $3740: 25x max, 0.1 mil, 10 mils/turn, 22 mils travel, 34mm tube, 56mm objective, illuminated.
• Bushnell Elite Tactical ERS 3.5-21x50mm ET35215GZ $1670: 21x max, 0.1 mil, 10 mils/turn, 34 mils travel, 34mm tube, 50mm objective.
(Scopes below are not yet available)
• Nightforce 5-25×56 F1 B.E.A.S.T. $3300*: 25x max, 0.1 mil, 10 mils/turn, 35 mils travel, 34mm tube, 56mm objective, illuminated, stupid name, not yet available.
• Vortex Razor HD Gen II 4.5-27x56 EBR-1C 27x max, 0.1 mil, 10 mils/turn, 33 mils travel, 34mm tube, 56mm objective, illuminated, not yet available.
• Tangent Theta 5-25x56mm TT525P (doesn't appear available)
Any thoughts or comments on these choices would be appreciated, along with other product suggestions.
Here's what I've found so far in order of preference:
• U.S. OPTICS ER-25MIL $2773: 25x max, 0.1 mil, 11 mils/turn, 16.6 mils travel, 34mm tube, 58mm objective, illuminated.
• Steiner M5Xi Military 5-25x56 $3150: 25x max, 0.1 mil, 15 mils/turn, 26 mils travel, 34mm tube, 56mm objective, illuminated.
• Kahles K 624i $3054: 24x max, 0.1 mil, 14 mils/turn, 34mm tube, 56mm objective, illuminated.
• March Tactical 3-24x52 FFP $3250: 24x max, 0.1 mil, 10 mils/turn, 34 mils travel, 34mm tube, 52mm objective, illuminated.
• Schmidt & Bender 5-25x56 PM II/LP/MTC $3740: 25x max, 0.1 mil, 10 mils/turn, 22 mils travel, 34mm tube, 56mm objective, illuminated.
• Bushnell Elite Tactical ERS 3.5-21x50mm ET35215GZ $1670: 21x max, 0.1 mil, 10 mils/turn, 34 mils travel, 34mm tube, 50mm objective.
(Scopes below are not yet available)
• Nightforce 5-25×56 F1 B.E.A.S.T. $3300*: 25x max, 0.1 mil, 10 mils/turn, 35 mils travel, 34mm tube, 56mm objective, illuminated, stupid name, not yet available.
• Vortex Razor HD Gen II 4.5-27x56 EBR-1C 27x max, 0.1 mil, 10 mils/turn, 33 mils travel, 34mm tube, 56mm objective, illuminated, not yet available.
• Tangent Theta 5-25x56mm TT525P (doesn't appear available)
Any thoughts or comments on these choices would be appreciated, along with other product suggestions.
Last edited: