Rifle Scopes Optronika/Premier 5-25x56

[ronas]

I purchased another 2-25x56 Premier. This one says Optronika on one side and Premier on the other as well as made in Germany. Took it to the range not mounted on a rifle to compare with another Premier that is mounted to do some initial tests to see if it was a keeper. Passed all my initial tests. Parallax and power ring are nice and stiff and smooth. Turrets are of course excellent. No chromatic aberration at full power at 600 or 800 yards with the parallax resolving those targets. Compared to other Premier it was the same. Need to wait on new rings to mount and shoot.

I got one of those ARD devices to try out. I was surprised that with it installed I could not really tell any difference. The sun was not in a position to go right down the tube so I’ll try that another day. I did not test to see if it eliminated glare when viewed from downrange.

I bought this 5-25x56 Premier/Optronika from Mike Cecil of CS Tactical. It is not the first scope I have purchased from Mike. He is knowledgeable and he tests many of the products he sells.

Another plus with Premier is you have Paul Lange in Va. to service your scope should the occasion arise. I would think most people know they will be in good hands with a quick turnaround time. Most people myself included would like to think if you spend over 3K for a scope it should be perfect and never malfunction. Unfortunately that is not the reality. Anything mechanical can malfunction.

 

[excaliber]

I believe S&B is making them for Optronika.

 

[BillyGoatMachine]

I have one as well. Bought it from Oakland tactical. I'm really happy with mine and I have to admit it has my Schmidt slightly beat in glass quality. Ymmv.

 

[dvdt]

Thanks for posting. This is the first side by side review I've seen.

Are they coming out with any new reticles?

 

[avidflyer]

Ive owned a couple Premiers...great glass and all around great scopes. NOW to say the glass is as good as my SB...it's close but there is a difference. With that said, I'd pick up another Premier for the right price anyday.

 

[ronas]

Ive owned a couple Premiers...great glass and all around great scopes. NOW to say the glass is as good as my SB...it's close but there is a difference.

It's good that everyone can have an opinion. I would say that about 1 1/2 years ago I was going to get two S&B but switched and got two Premier instead. The Premier has to my eye the best reticle same being the GEN2 XR. If S&B could work out a deal with the owner of Prmeir I presume S&B would make that reticle. After all US Optics has a licensing agreement to make the GEN2 XR and does so.

When in the past I compared the Premier glass to the S&B glass they looked the same to my eyes. Also I know other things to look for like, degree if any of chomatic abberration, Parallax resolving target, tunneling, ease to get behind eyebox.

 

[avidflyer]

It's good that everyone can have an opinion. I would say that about 1 1/2 years ago I was going to get two S&B but switched and got two Premier instead. The Premier has to my eye the best reticle same being the GEN2 XR. If S&B could work out a deal with the owner of Prmeir I presume S&B would make that reticle. After all US Optics has a licensing agreement to make the GEN2 XR and does so.

When in the past I compared the Premier glass to the S&B glass they looked the same to my eyes. Also I know other things to look for like, degree if any of chomatic abberration, Parallax resolving target, tunneling, ease to get behind eyebox.

SB use to have the genii xr you see them for sale from time to time

 

[Jerry R]

I believe S&B is making them for Optronika.

Although Optronika is down the road just a few kilometers from our main facility in Germany I can assure you that we are not making their scopes.
I know a couple of the people there and they are more than capable of assembling their own product.

 

[Plange]

What Jerry R said is correct. While close distance-wise they are 2 different companies and S&B is not building our scopes. Optronika is.
Yes, there are S&B scopes with the Gen II XR in them as PR built them back around 2005-2006 but since we no longer deal with S&B the agreement has gone down the tubes. I do not know if the new owners of PR's property plan on trying to license the reticle again or not.
Thanks,
Paul

 

[TiroFijo]

Is optronika making scopes for other brands? Or perhaps subassemblies, parts, etc.?

 

[jbailey]

Is optronika making scopes for other brands? Or perhaps subassemblies, parts, etc.?

I believe that Optronika is also making scopes for Steiner, or at least that is what a knowledge Steiner owner told me.

My 5-25x Premier is an insanely good scope, not sure who made it, but whoever did, knew their sh*t about light transmission and magnification. Premiers really shine in low light situations - dusk/dawn, fog, rain, snow, heavy clouds, even full night and the Premier's imagine is hardly reduced vs normal lighting conditions.

 

[Steiner Optics]

I believe that Optronika is also making scopes for Steiner, or at least that is what a knowledge Steiner owner told me.

That Steiner owner is incorrect. We make our own scopes in our own factory. In fact we just built a new scope assembly section in our factory due to exceeding our capacity in our original assembly room.

 

[jbailey]

That Steiner owner is incorrect. We make our own scopes in our own factory. In fact we just built a new scope assembly section in our factory due to exceeding our capacity in our original assembly room.

My apologies and thank you for the correction. Congratulations on the expansion!!!

 

[CSTactical]

Thanks for the great feedback.

Premier makes their own scope and so does Steiner.

Mike @ CST

 

[akkill]

little confused, if optronica is not making premier´s scopes why the scope in the first post have premiers in one side and optronika in the other side ?

 

[RHutch]

Did you read post #9 from a year ago?

 

[hk dave]

little confused, if optronica is not making premier´s scopes why the scope in the first post have premiers in one side and optronika in the other side ?

Optronika is the design team that makes the Premier.

Original Premiers were made in the US and the scope said "Made in the USA". When production moved to Germany they started labeling one side Optronika and the scopes now say, "Made in Germany".

I own both and to me the Optronika labeled one seems to have slightly better MTC turrets but outside of that, they seem identical.