Rifle Scopes New S&B PMII Question On Parallax?

Steel+Killer

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  • May 27, 2014
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    I just got a new S&B PMII 5-25 PSR rifle scope (My first S&B) I sighted it in yesterday and noticed in the manual that is says to adjust parallax turn the parallax knob to the correct distance if known. I was kind of surprised that they are that confident that the numbers on the knob actually match the correct distance, so when I Got down behind the rifle scope and adjusted parallax the numbers seem to be dead on. The parallax numbers on my NF 5-25 f1 ATACR don’t even come close to matching the distance that the numbers on the dial say. Just curious if others that have owned both scopes have noticed this as well?
     
    On a good day with decent weather, sure, they seem to match up well. But on a damp day with fog and shitty weather it can prove hard to dial out parallax, but that would be the case with any scope. I will never sell my 5-25x56 pm2, I will probably get at least one more in the future.
     
    I can’t lie I am very impressed with it tracking was dead on out to 600yds very easy to adjust parallax and get on target. This scope just screams precision and quality. I’ve heard some people complain about the illumination isn’t very bright, but it is definitely bright enough for when you need illumination anyway. I do wish S&B had a reticle like the NF MIL-C. The MSR is similar, but I wish every whole mil was numbered.
     
    I think the Nightforce ATACR or Vortex AMG scope would have been a closer match in optical quality to the S&B. But S&B sits at the top of the long range scope mountain for a good reason - it has exceptional quality in every part. The US Marines bought this scope for their Scout-Snipers for a good reason, it is tough and accurate.
    To my eyes, an ATACR F1 or Razor AMG are not even CLOSE to my S&B PMII 5-25×56DT for clarity, color, contrast. Especially the AMG. I was quite disappointed in the AMG actually.
     
    Congrats on the new optic. I was very pleased with my S&B US 5 x 20 as well. I thought I had reached the top tier of precision scopes, and it is a very nice piece of gear. Battle proven and built for the long haul. Today I made my first trip to the range with another new optic and was surprised. One point that comes up frequently is a scopes light gathering ability. Another point is the tall target test. And obviously return to zero. Today I stumbled a crossed another little thing that I did not even know existed. Mirage can be extremely frustrating and here is what happened.
    Two rifles on the bench both 6.5 cm bolt actions. Both scopes diopter and parallax fine tuned and clear as can be. Rifle number one with S&B US, experiencing heavy mirage at 14:00, Florida sun baking the range. Unable to make out hits on paper at 400 meters. My vision is 20 / 20 I just had an eye exam last week. Rifle number two with TT 3 x 15m, exact same target at 400 meters. The TT is 5 power less and the holes in the paper were very easy to see. I had to do a double take and sure enough the 3 x 15 was out preforming the 5 x 20. What was explained to me and I think I understand it is as follows. The process of how the glass is indexed during the design phase is where this results can vary. Next comparison she will go toe to toe with the 624i.
     
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    Congrats on the new optic. I was very pleased with my S&B US 5 x 20 as well. I thought I had reached the top tier of precision scopes, and it is a very nice piece of gear. Battle proven and built for the long haul. Today I made my first trip to the range with another new optic and was surprised. One point that comes up frequently is a scopes light gathering ability. Another point is the tall target test. And obviously return to zero. Today I stumbled a crossed another little thing that I did not even know existed. Mirage can be extremely frustrating and here is what happened.
    Two rifles on the bench both 6.5 cm bolt actions. Both scopes diopter and parallax fine tuned and clear as can be. Rifle number one with S&B US, experiencing heavy mirage at 14:00, Florida sun baking the range. Unable to make out hits on paper at 400 meters. My vision is 20 / 20 I just had an eye exam last week. Rifle number two with TT 3 x 15m, exact same target at 400 meters. The TT is 5 power less and the holes in the paper were very easy to see. I had to do a double take and sure enough the 3 x 15 was out preforming the 5 x 20. What was explained to me and I think I understand it is as follows. The process of how the glass is indexed during the design phase is where this results can vary. Next comparison she will go toe to toe with the 624i.

    Mirage can be a pain in the rear. I expect that you turned the magnification down to 15x on the Schmidt when you compared to the TT? Otherwise it was not really fair? In my experience you always have to dial down the magnification in heavy mirage. I have been down to 10x to get a good view of the target when there was heavy mirage or other disturbance, and I seldom go above 20x on my 5-25x.
     
    A lot of manufacturers might as well stop putting numbers on their parallax knob if they're going to be inaccurate.

    NF did not have numbers on the BEAST parallax knob when it first came out.

    Congrats on the new optic. I was very pleased with my S&B US 5 x 20 as well. I thought I had reached the top tier of precision scopes, and it is a very nice piece of gear. Battle proven and built for the long haul. Today I made my first trip to the range with another new optic and was surprised. One point that comes up frequently is a scopes light gathering ability. Another point is the tall target test. And obviously return to zero. Today I stumbled a crossed another little thing that I did not even know existed. Mirage can be extremely frustrating and here is what happened.
    Two rifles on the bench both 6.5 cm bolt actions. Both scopes diopter and parallax fine tuned and clear as can be. Rifle number one with S&B US, experiencing heavy mirage at 14:00, Florida sun baking the range. Unable to make out hits on paper at 400 meters. My vision is 20 / 20 I just had an eye exam last week. Rifle number two with TT 3 x 15m, exact same target at 400 meters. The TT is 5 power less and the holes in the paper were very easy to see. I had to do a double take and sure enough the 3 x 15 was out preforming the 5 x 20. What was explained to me and I think I understand it is as follows. The process of how the glass is indexed during the design phase is where this results can vary. Next comparison she will go toe to toe with the 624i.

    Thanks I am really liking it. On the rifle with the S&B curious as to how hard you were running it, and if you may have been getting a little heat mirage off the barrel. I was shooting my rifle one time and I noticed the image keep going in and out of focus it seemed like the parallax knob was being turned and I wasn’t turning it. This went on for a few shots and at first I thought I had a problem with my scope then I noticed that when the wind blew pretty hard the image would clear up momentarily then go back to being out of focus. I didn’t realize at first it was the heat wave coming off the barrel directly in front of the scope. I was ready to throw my scope in the trash.....lol I was so laser focused looking through the scope and turning the parallax knob trying figure out why the image wouldn’t stay focused it just didn’t occur to me until I had that moment when the light finally kicked on.
     
    I have a S&B PM II 5-25, a 7-35 ATACR, a couple Vortex Gen 2 3-18's and a MX5 3-15 Steiner. I can say that the S&B and the ATACR are very close in clarity and color pop. The Vortex snd Steiner are there but are a couple of rungs down on the ladder from the Nightforce and the S&B. The ATACR can see bullet holes at 460 yards when on a white backing paper. The S&B can too but the Vortex and Steiner the day has to be absolutely perfect. I am very impressed with the Nightorce ATACR series of optics.
     
    NF did not have numbers on the BEAST parallax knob when it first came out.



    Thanks I am really liking it. On the rifle with the S&B curious as to how hard you were running it, and if you may have been getting a little heat mirage off the barrel. I was shooting my rifle one time and I noticed the image keep going in and out of focus it seemed like the parallax knob was being turned and I wasn’t turning it. This went on for a few shots and at first I thought I had a problem with my scope then I noticed that when the wind blew pretty hard the image would clear up momentarily then go back to being out of focus. I didn’t realize at first it was the heat wave coming off the barrel directly in front of the scope. I was ready to throw my scope in the trash.....lol I was so laser focused looking through the scope and turning the parallax knob trying figure out why the image wouldn’t stay focused it just didn’t occur to me until I had that moment when the light finally kicked on.
    Both barrels were warm but not to the point of generating enough heat to be concerned. Now the suppressor (with sleeve) was to the point of to hot to hold. My Ultra Short is a perfect match for the PVS-30. I believe this is where she truly stands tall. Be safe
     
    Mirage can be a pain in the rear. I expect that you turned the magnification down to 15x on the Schmidt when you compared to the TT? Otherwise it was not really fair? In my experience you always have to dial down the magnification in heavy mirage. I have been down to 10x to get a good view of the target when there was heavy mirage or other disturbance, and I seldom go above 20x on my 5-25x.
    Very good point. I did not dial down the magnification, your right.
     
    Yeah , depending on the internal design , and especially the diopter setting has an
    effect on parallax / focus . Haven’t run the new PSR yet , but on some optics like
    an LRHS , if you have the diopter screwed a long way out , then it is difficult to
    focus at longer range and distance to knob position relationship changes .
     
    Yeah , depending on the internal design , and especially the diopter setting has an
    effect on parallax / focus . Haven’t run the new PSR yet , but on some optics like
    an LRHS , if you have the diopter screwed a long way out , then it is difficult to
    focus at longer range and distance to knob position relationship changes .
    My right eye is week and I do have to have the diopter out pretty far to get a focused reticle, I find that parallax is easier to adjust and the distance numbers seem to match up way better on this new S&B than on my NF ATACR 5-25 F1 in fact out of all my scopes I find parallax the most difficult to adjust is on the NF.
     
    Last edited:
    I just got a new S&B PMII 5-25 PSR rifle scope (My first S&B) I sighted it in yesterday and noticed in the manual that is says to adjust parallax turn the parallax knob to the correct distance if known. I was kind of surprised that they are that confident that the numbers on the knob actually match the correct distance, so when I Got down behind the rifle scope and adjusted parallax the numbers seem to be dead on. The parallax numbers on my NF 5-25 f1 ATACR don’t even come close to matching the distance that the numbers on the dial say. Just curious if others that have owned both scopes have noticed this as well?

    I have noticed this as well. It’s the design of their scope. People bitch about tunneling in this scope but ignore all the good stuff like what you brought up plus more. They don’t appreciate what’s important.
     
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    I have noticed this as well. It’s the design of their scope. People bitch about tunneling in this scope but ignore all the good stuff like what you brought up plus more. They don’t appreciate what’s important.
    Yea and to add that it only tunnels a little towards the lower magnification that your not going to be on 80% of the time anyway and when you are your looking at something close where it doesn't matter anyway.......IMO I have bought and sold many scopes, but my S&B is the only one that ain't going anywhere.