After my recent review of the Vortex Razor I figured it was time to review the Hensoldt 4~16x56 FFP Mildot Scope. I know that there are a limited number of these out there so the reviews are few and far between, I'll try to fill in a few of the gaps and if you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask them here or pm me.
In summary, the Hensoldt simply rocks. It has the clearest glass, nice clicks, the best eye box & sight picture I've seen as well as Zeiss standing behind it. My review and comparisons are based off shooting it next to a Premier 5-25, a S&B 4-16 and the Vortex Razor HD.
Like my Vortex review I've done some quick, one line reviews, of all the basic stuff. The more important stuff I'll cover more in depth and there's no reason to spend any more time on the boring parts.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Color</span> - Black, like 99% of the others, nice finish overall.
<span style="font-weight: bold">34mm</span> - The industry standard, lots of rings options, 1" high rings gives clearance but keeps it pretty low.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Scope Caps</span> - Comes with some hard plastic ones connected with a rubberband type thing. It doesn't work with the sunshade so get BC caps.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Reticle</span> - Standard mildot, perfect for tactical shooting but could use some half mil marks for ranging and holdovers (insert new reticle rumors here).
<span style="font-weight: bold">Price</span> - It's high, the highest in its class for sure, but once you're spending $3,000 on a scope what's a couple hundred more if it's truly the best of the best.
Now, the meat of the review for the big stuff that counts.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Eyebox, Eye Relief, Etc</span>
Possibly the biggest selling point of this scope for me is the eyebox and sight picture. This scope is so easy to get behind it's scary, you put your head on the stock and POW it's there, very nice indeed. The scope almost disappears when you're looking through it, a thin black line. I wouldn't hesitate to say that the "tunnel effect" is half of what the S&B is. I think the video review LL did showed this as well. I am a terrible weak side shooter, very right eye dominant and can't get lined up well shooting left handed, this scope helps me compensate for that. I wish I could type more and describe this better, but it has to be seen to appreciate it.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Scope Body/Size</span>
My next favorite selling point and one of my reasons for even trying the Hensoldt is its size and weight. For its power range and features it's the smallest in the field, the 4-16 Hensoldt is roughly the same size as the S&B 3-12 and much shorter than the S&B 4-16. It weighs less then the S&Bs as well. As I am trying to lighten my rifles a little here and there, the few ounces I save while gaining performance was very important in my decision to buy. Also, unlike the S&B, the illumination adjustment isn't on the tube severely limiting where the rear ring can mount. Check out the pictures below and see what a compact package the Hensoldt makes.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Glass</span>
As always, the glass is hard to judge, any of the big boys will work just fine for tactical shooting. I will say the Hensoldt was brighter than the others without question and very very clear. I'm sure it was the clearest of them, though I didn't spend that much time comparing clarity since they all are very nice. Hensoldt has a reputation for nice glass and this scope lives up to it.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Turrets</span>
Not to big, not to small....they are just right. The clicks are solid, maybe a little lighter than S&B but I don't find myself missing a click or going to far. Easy to use for sure.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Zero Stop</span>
This is one of the biggest complaints from people that don't own a Hensoldt (funny statement isn't it). There is no true zero stop, as you may have read before there is a stop about 3 to 5 mil (depending on your zero). This lets you actuall dial below your zero, which can be handy, but you can't get "lost" by turning too far. You simply turn until you hit the stop, then dial back up to zero, it takes about 1 full second longer than a true zero stop. Yes, if you shoot in pure darkness very often a true zero stop might be better, but I don't so it's just fine by me.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Illumination</span>
I can't really review this, I've used it very very little. It works well, is adjustable from very low to pretty bright. Again, I like that the adjustment isn't on the tube (like S&B) so that you've got more flexibility on where to place the rear scope ring.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Tracking</span>
Tracks well, as it should, no complaints here. Shot this scope in a local competition out to about 500 yards and won so that's a good sign. Hope to shoot it to about 900 yards this weekend and will report back then. I will say that Hensoldt ships the scopes mechanically zeroed, I mounted mine on the Surgeon in Surgeon rings, dialed some elevation for the boresight and then had to adjust the windage 1/10mil (one click) for my zero, that's pretty damn good.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Customer Service</span>
Never used it, Zeiss has a US based service center, I honestly don't know for sure if they take care of Hensoldt as well. Nathan at HDC tells me that he hasn't had one come back with warranty issues.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Summary </span>
The Hensoldt is truly the scope to judge all others against. Shooting it with the other scopes and allowing other shooters to do the same the reviews were all the same, the Hensoldt was truly the best of the best. If it has any negatives they would be price, limited to the mildot reticle (for now) and no real zero stop. If you can afford to own them, the positives far outweigh the negatives, the Hensoldt is a work of tactical art.
As always, if you're going to buy a Hensoldt or any other scope, support your snipershide.com sponsors.
In summary, the Hensoldt simply rocks. It has the clearest glass, nice clicks, the best eye box & sight picture I've seen as well as Zeiss standing behind it. My review and comparisons are based off shooting it next to a Premier 5-25, a S&B 4-16 and the Vortex Razor HD.
Like my Vortex review I've done some quick, one line reviews, of all the basic stuff. The more important stuff I'll cover more in depth and there's no reason to spend any more time on the boring parts.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Color</span> - Black, like 99% of the others, nice finish overall.
<span style="font-weight: bold">34mm</span> - The industry standard, lots of rings options, 1" high rings gives clearance but keeps it pretty low.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Scope Caps</span> - Comes with some hard plastic ones connected with a rubberband type thing. It doesn't work with the sunshade so get BC caps.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Reticle</span> - Standard mildot, perfect for tactical shooting but could use some half mil marks for ranging and holdovers (insert new reticle rumors here).
<span style="font-weight: bold">Price</span> - It's high, the highest in its class for sure, but once you're spending $3,000 on a scope what's a couple hundred more if it's truly the best of the best.
Now, the meat of the review for the big stuff that counts.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Eyebox, Eye Relief, Etc</span>
Possibly the biggest selling point of this scope for me is the eyebox and sight picture. This scope is so easy to get behind it's scary, you put your head on the stock and POW it's there, very nice indeed. The scope almost disappears when you're looking through it, a thin black line. I wouldn't hesitate to say that the "tunnel effect" is half of what the S&B is. I think the video review LL did showed this as well. I am a terrible weak side shooter, very right eye dominant and can't get lined up well shooting left handed, this scope helps me compensate for that. I wish I could type more and describe this better, but it has to be seen to appreciate it.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Scope Body/Size</span>
My next favorite selling point and one of my reasons for even trying the Hensoldt is its size and weight. For its power range and features it's the smallest in the field, the 4-16 Hensoldt is roughly the same size as the S&B 3-12 and much shorter than the S&B 4-16. It weighs less then the S&Bs as well. As I am trying to lighten my rifles a little here and there, the few ounces I save while gaining performance was very important in my decision to buy. Also, unlike the S&B, the illumination adjustment isn't on the tube severely limiting where the rear ring can mount. Check out the pictures below and see what a compact package the Hensoldt makes.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Glass</span>
As always, the glass is hard to judge, any of the big boys will work just fine for tactical shooting. I will say the Hensoldt was brighter than the others without question and very very clear. I'm sure it was the clearest of them, though I didn't spend that much time comparing clarity since they all are very nice. Hensoldt has a reputation for nice glass and this scope lives up to it.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Turrets</span>
Not to big, not to small....they are just right. The clicks are solid, maybe a little lighter than S&B but I don't find myself missing a click or going to far. Easy to use for sure.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Zero Stop</span>
This is one of the biggest complaints from people that don't own a Hensoldt (funny statement isn't it). There is no true zero stop, as you may have read before there is a stop about 3 to 5 mil (depending on your zero). This lets you actuall dial below your zero, which can be handy, but you can't get "lost" by turning too far. You simply turn until you hit the stop, then dial back up to zero, it takes about 1 full second longer than a true zero stop. Yes, if you shoot in pure darkness very often a true zero stop might be better, but I don't so it's just fine by me.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Illumination</span>
I can't really review this, I've used it very very little. It works well, is adjustable from very low to pretty bright. Again, I like that the adjustment isn't on the tube (like S&B) so that you've got more flexibility on where to place the rear scope ring.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Tracking</span>
Tracks well, as it should, no complaints here. Shot this scope in a local competition out to about 500 yards and won so that's a good sign. Hope to shoot it to about 900 yards this weekend and will report back then. I will say that Hensoldt ships the scopes mechanically zeroed, I mounted mine on the Surgeon in Surgeon rings, dialed some elevation for the boresight and then had to adjust the windage 1/10mil (one click) for my zero, that's pretty damn good.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Customer Service</span>
Never used it, Zeiss has a US based service center, I honestly don't know for sure if they take care of Hensoldt as well. Nathan at HDC tells me that he hasn't had one come back with warranty issues.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Summary </span>
The Hensoldt is truly the scope to judge all others against. Shooting it with the other scopes and allowing other shooters to do the same the reviews were all the same, the Hensoldt was truly the best of the best. If it has any negatives they would be price, limited to the mildot reticle (for now) and no real zero stop. If you can afford to own them, the positives far outweigh the negatives, the Hensoldt is a work of tactical art.
As always, if you're going to buy a Hensoldt or any other scope, support your snipershide.com sponsors.
