Best eyebox

[GO@HORNS]

Needing a scope in the 3-18 to 5-25/30 range. Like to stay +/-$2100 new or used. Not really picky about a lot of the glass aspects, but I do want clear and bright. Biggest thing I’m looking for is very good/easy eyebox. I’m sick of great glass and turret scopes that I have to stay perfectly centered at all times/positions to use. I just tried the Element Nexus G2 and the Zeiss S3 4-25s. The Zeiss wasn’t too bad but the Element totally was.
Thanks for any firsthand recommendations.

 

[Rob01]

The Zeiss is a good choice as I have no issues getting behind mine at matches but also look at the Burris Pro or XTRIII as they also have very good eye boxes.

 

[Glassaholic]

Check out the Steiner T6Xi 3-18x56 - outstanding eyebox and clear and bright. Minox ZP5 5-25x56 also going to be in that price point and offer excellent glass but you have to deal with shipping to Germany if something goes awry.

 

[GO@HORNS]

Thanks Rob. At 67 I’m looking for something easy to get behind. I really liked the S3, but it was a little tight for me. Is the 3-36 any different than the 4-25?

 

[Rob01]

Thanks Rob. At 67 I’m looking for something easy to get behind. I really liked the S3, but it was a little tight for me. Is the 3-36 any different than the 4-25?

They are about the same. As mentioned above the Steiner is also a good eye box. Similar to the Burris.

 

[GO@HORNS]

Thanks. I had a couple of ZP5s and they were very good. I don’t see a lot of them but that’s definitely one to look for. Also the Bushnell DMR 3-21 was always easy for me, but I’m spoiled for better glass than that.

 

[264win]

Have the ZEISS s3 4-25 and it’s a great scope, but not overly forgiving in the eye box. The 6-36 seems better in that area to me.
For the OP,
I would look for a used S&B 5-25. Often found here used for 2100-2200.
Hensold and S&B 4-16x are also great and in your budget if you are ok with 16x

 

[CSTactical]

Thanks Rob. At 67 I’m looking for something easy to get behind. I really liked the S3, but it was a little tight for me. Is the 3-36 any different than the 4-25?

We have on Zeiss LRP S3 4-25 left in stock right now if you decide you need one https://cstactical.com/zeiss-lrp-s3-4-25x50/


Richard Alves
Ofc: 916-670-1103x2
Cell: 916-628-3490
www.cstactical.com
@richardatcstactical

 

[koshkin]

Needing a scope in the 3-18 to 5-25/30 range. Like to stay +/-$2100 new or used. Not really picky about a lot of the glass aspects, but I do want clear and bright. Biggest thing I’m looking for is very good/easy eyebox. I’m sick of great glass and turret scopes that I have to stay perfectly centered at all times/positions to use. I just tried the Element Nexus G2 and the Zeiss S3 4-25s. The Zeiss wasn’t too bad but the Element totally was.
Thanks for any firsthand recommendations.

The two scopes you looked at, from an optics standpoint, are essentially identical. Assuming you set up both eyepieces properly, whatever eyebox difference you found is purely due to the sample variation.

ILya

 

[GO@HORNS]

I kept the Zeiss for several months, but the Element only a few weeks. I thought about the 6-36 Zeiss and the Element Theos and wondered if there was any difference between them and the 4-25s. I liked a lot about them both(especially the Nexus) but the eyebox was a killer in the Nexus.

 

[Birddog6424]

The Burris XTRs, as already mentioned, have a fantastic eyebox.

The 18x XTRIII is one of the best I have looked through in all my comparisons. The sight picture is beautiful through that optic.

 

[YotaEer]

Razor LHT has an amazing eyebox and eye relief, good glass, but probably less scope than you’re looking for

 

[carbonbased]

I wonder how the eyebox on the (discontinued?) Razor Gen II 3-18x50 is? I know my Razor Gen II 4.5-27 has an awesome eyebox.

The glass in my 4.5-27 isn’t as good as my S&B 5-25, but it’s pretty good. But both the 3-18 and 4.5-27 are heavy pigs if that matters.

 

[Glassaholic]

I wonder how the eyebox on the (discontinued?) Razor Gen II 3-18x50 is? I know my Razor Gen II 4.5-27 has an awesome eyebox.

The glass in my 4.5-27 isn’t as good as my S&B 5-25, but it’s pretty good. But both the 3-18 and 4.5-27 are heavy pigs if that matters.

I had the RG2 3-18x50 in house that I had with Steiner T6Xi 3-18x56 and Delta Stryker 3.5-21x44. I have to say the RG2 3-18 for being over a decade old was a surprisingly good performer, the reason this scope did not do better was because it was simply too heavy for the user base of a 3-18 form factor, but optically it was pretty outstanding. The eyebox I found to be very good, not quite as good as the Steiner but very good.

 

[Birddog6424]

I had the RG2 3-18x50 in house that I had with Steiner T6Xi 3-18x56 and Delta Stryker 3.5-21x44. I have to say the RG2 3-18 for being over a decade old was a surprisingly good performer, the reason this scope did not do better was because it was simply too heavy for the user base of a 3-18 form factor, but optically it was pretty outstanding. The eyebox I found to be very good, not quite as good as the Steiner but very good.

I agree. I think the GenII eyebox in both magnifications is very good. What a great optic that was for Vortex.

It definitely eliminated versatility with that crazy weight.

 

[carbonbased]

Considering buying a Gen III 6-36 Razor…anyone compare its eyebox to the Gen II 4.5-27 Razor?

 

[stanley_white]

My 3-18x Gen 2 Razor had an amazing eye box.

-Stan

 

[GO@HORNS]

I went ahead and bought an XTR Pro. Can’t wait to get it.

 

[Birddog6424]

Considering buying a Gen III 6-36 Razor…anyone compare its eyebox to the Gen II 4.5-27 Razor?

Crazily enough, I don't think the GenIII is as good.

Not sure why they didn't keep some of the characteristics of the GenII. But the eyebox and turrets are better on the II.

 

[rothgyr]

I also don't think the Razor III's eyebox is its strongest point. Optical clarity is.

Of all the ones mentioned here that I've looked through (haven't looked through Zeiss or Steiner), the Burris XTR Pro is going to have the most forgiving eyebox. You get a lot more CA and stuff if you're not centered up, but per the original question, you can see through it easily.

 

[koshkin]

Crazily enough, I don't think the GenIII is as good.

Not sure why they didn't keep some of the characteristics of the GenII. But the eyebox and turrets are better on the II.

I disagree on both counts. On high mag, Gen3 has better eyebox than Gen2. The turrets on Gen3, after the changes during the first production run, are very good.

ILya

 

[koshkin]

I went ahead and bought an XTR Pro. Can’t wait to get it.

Good choice. I have one here and like it.

ILya

 

[carbonbased]

I disagree on both counts. On high mag, Gen3 has better eyebox than Gen2. The turrets on Gen3, after the changes during the first production run, are very good.

ILya

Btw what’s high mag to you? To me, I suppose, 20x+.

 

[CS95]

Crazily enough, I don't think the GenIII is as good.

Not sure why they didn't keep some of the characteristics of the GenII. But the eyebox and turrets are better on the II.

I whole heartedly disagree. The turrets are basically identical except the improvement to one screw zeroing on the gen 3. The gen 3 is the easiest scope to get behind that I own/use. I have or have access to pretty much every scope in this class. The ZCO is right there with it, but I believe if they didn't throttle the FOV the way they do, the eyebox would not be as perceivably friendly.

 

[koshkin]

Btw what’s high mag to you? To me, I suppose, 20x+.

Above 20x is a reasonable estimate.

ILya

 

[GO@HORNS]

Got the Burris Pro today and just got it mounted. What a great scope. Very good glass and turrets and I can’t say enough about the eyebox. If anyone is having trouble with the Zeiss A3, the Element Nexus gen 2 or the NX8 this is the scope to try. EXCELLENT eyebox. So easy to get behind.

 

[fedupflyer]

Picggybacking on this thread.

Which 1-8 (or 1-10) has the most forgiving eyebox?

Disappointed with the Razor 1-10, considering getting a NF Atacr 1-8.

 

[rothgyr]

Picggybacking on this thread.

Which 1-8 (or 1-10) has the most forgiving eyebox?

Disappointed with the Razor 1-10, considering getting a NF Atacr 1-8.

At 8-10x? A 2-10, not an LPVO...

 

[CS95]

Picggybacking on this thread.

Which 1-8 (or 1-10) has the most forgiving eyebox?

Disappointed with the Razor 1-10, considering getting a NF Atacr 1-8.

Are you sure you have diopter adjusted correctly? The RZR 1-10 is a fantastic scope to get behind( scope just disappears) and has a super friendly eyebox. If you are disappointed with it in that aspect the 1-8 atacr sure isn't going to make you happy. Maybe you need something other than an lpvo?

 

[fedupflyer]

At 8-10x? A 2-10, not an LPVO...

huh?
re-read what I wrote.

 

[Guns&WhiteWater]

Got the Burris Pro today and just got it mounted. What a great scope. Very good glass and turrets and I can’t say enough about the eyebox. If anyone is having trouble with the Zeiss A3, the Element Nexus gen 2 or the NX8 this is the scope to try. EXCELLENT eyebox. So easy to get behind.

Good choice. My S3’s eyebox is as forgiving at 6 power as my T6Xi is at 18 power. I would think the Burris and Steiner are similar.

 

[Tall Pine]

Get a nice/used K624i. Great eyebox and overall value imho for Alpha level glass/performance (or maybe I should the gen2 was once knocking on the Alpha level door). You can tell the gen2 by the "scalloped-cut" turret knobs.

 

[ratton]

Hensoldt 4-16x56 : There is no substitute (eyebox)