Rifle Scopes S&B PMII, NightForce NXS, Viper PST comparison

[cmacclel]

I friend of mine that is into high end optics vistited me this morning with his M96 50bmg WindRunner. We made a custom picatinny rail for it so he could mount his Larue 1 piece scope mount. The Factory rail is not mispec so one piece mounts will not fit! Anyways he brought his new S&B PMII 5-25x and Nightforce NXS 12-42 glass along with him. I just last week picked up a Vortex Viper PST 6-24x and have heard conflicting reports on the quality of the glass. We setup a small stand to accurately aim the scopes at the same target approximately 120 yards away.

The S&B obviously was noticeable better in all aspects with the best clarity and resolution with more forgiving eye placement. The NightForce and Viper PST compared pretty close but the weird thing was that the Viper PST make whites look white and very bright where as the NightForce looked more if a light beige color. The S&B also showed white objects as a slight beige color. We figured this must have something to do with the lens coatings?

I think both of use if had to choose between the NightForce and Viper PST on what we both saw this morning the Viper PST would be a no brainer as it was almost a 1/3 of the cost and the optic quality was a toss up(I thought the PST was slightly better). Of course this opinion is based off of the one Nightforce copy we had in front of us today.....he does own 2 of the NXS scopes so I figure if one was noticeably better than the other he would have noticed. NightForce scopes have proven they can take a beating and the Viper PST's where basically just released so only time will tell. Anyway I'm very please with my Viper PST scope

Mac

 

[TonyAngel]

Re: S&B PMII, NightForce NXS, Viper PST comparison

Man, I have the PST and the Nightforce that you compared. I'm not going to try to tell that you didn't see what you thought you saw, but after having done more than just setting them side by side, I'll take the Nightforce all day, any day, at twice the price.

The PST has a wicked eye relief shift going from 6X to 12X. The eye box is NARROW. Heat mirage is handled better by the NF and the NF exhibits a lot less distortion under fire than the PST. I don't know. Maybe my eyes are lying to me.

Lots of guys really want to believe that they got a $1500 scope for half that, but it isn't so.

 

[problemchild]

Re: S&B PMII, NightForce NXS, Viper PST comparison

With camera lenses and filters I see the same thing. The tonality, saturation, brightness, contrast differs greatly. Its the glass and coatings that makes the difference.

Good glass gives good results. I shoot with primes not zooms and I get very accurate color rendition.

 

[cmacclel]

Re: S&B PMII, NightForce NXS, Viper PST comparison

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TonyAngel</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Man, I have the PST and the Nightforce that you compared. I'm not going to try to tell that you didn't see what you thought you saw, but after having done more than just setting them side by side, I'll take the Nightforce all day, any day, at twice the price.

The PST has a wicked eye relief shift going from 6X to 12X. The eye box is NARROW. Heat mirage is handled better by the NF and the NF exhibits a lot less distortion under fire than the PST. I don't know. Maybe my eyes are lying to me.

Lots of guys really want to believe that they got a $1500 scope for half that, but it isn't so.</div></div>


Do you have the FFP or SFP PST? I do not have the FFP and just looked through the scope and eye relief from 6x to 12x had zero shift it was only when I reached 24x when I had to move my eye forward about a 1/2 inch.

Mac

 

[pdogdown]

Re: S&B PMII, NightForce NXS, Viper PST comparison

Try the NF again in lowlight vs PSTs. No comparing the two. PST walks away with it. It is awesome and resolves very well in low light. Way better than ior 3-18, siii 8-32, nxs, uso,bushnell elite 4200 with five of us comparing. Not the hensoldt. Each has their strengths and what could be described as personal prefs but I encourage you guys to get out and compare for yourselves.

Low light performance is pretty universal in importance and the pst rocked. It maintained quality resolution in low light to boot not just brighter.

Another thing we noticed was that the bushy resolved and separated browns and greens about the best. We started in the late afternoon and finished past sunset and earlier in the evening when the sun was at the top of the trees at 220 and the bushy up to that point could separate a deer against brush or foliage very well.

All in all I am with the first poster. Slight edge to pst and big once dusk hits and transitions to dark. Nevermind the cost. Talking better than the nxs glass wise.

Downside in Psts is vortex still can't compete in the br game with NF or leupy etc because they don't have high mag small click supervise article options.

NF still is top dog across the option spectrum.

Best part is we all win from competition. Quality and options are improving and gaining momentum.

Other big thing we noticed is in measuring offset over 30" of clicks the pst was 3/16" off the siii was 3/8 and the NF nxs was 1 & 1/16 off using the yardstick test(broken so we went 30"). These three all boxed true but the siii didn't give you the warm fuzzy of the nxs pst or ior. Pst really crisp.

$0.02 for what its worth from the collective group on the lighting and optical aspects of the glass.

All I can say is check for yourself before you pay double on optics alone. NF has more options hands down but for the price and quality you owe yourself a look especially when could get two or add another toy etc.
Justin

 

[TonyAngel]

Re: S&B PMII, NightForce NXS, Viper PST comparison

I do have the SFP model. I guess I have a special Nightforce.

 

[taterxl]

Re: S&B PMII, NightForce NXS, Viper PST comparison

I would take a nightforce over a pst any day also. Not to take anything away from the PST, they are a great scope for the money but I haven't looked thought one that was better than a nightforce or even a mark 4 for that matter. Maybe I played around with a bad one? JMHO

 

[cmacclel]

Re: S&B PMII, NightForce NXS, Viper PST comparison

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TonyAngel</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I do have the SFP model. I guess I have a special Nightforce.</div></div>

Or I have a special Viper PST

Coming from the DSLR hobby at one time optics due vary from copy to copy so to get a accurate comparison you definetly would need a few of each to compare to. As for me I do not have the $$$$ to spend on big money optics so the PST serves my individual needs. Also you can't beat the warranty.

Mac

 

[cmacclel]

Re: S&B PMII, NightForce NXS, Viper PST comparison

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Boise Tactical</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I haven't looked thought one that was better than a nightforce or even a mark 4 for that matter. Maybe I played around with a bad one? JMHO </div></div>


How many have you looked through? Was it side by side with the NightForce and Mark 4? The PST's just came in stock what 2 weeks ago?

Mac

 

[taterxl]

Re: S&B PMII, NightForce NXS, Viper PST comparison

As I said the PST is a great scope especially for the money. You stated your opinion as we are all stating our opinions.
You said you compared them at 120 yards, go out and compare them at longer ranges, 500, 750, 1000 and then come back and tell me that it is better than the nightforce. If you still think so then awesome.

I am a vortex dealer and not a nightforce dealer. I do not own a nightforce but have shot them extensively. I love the Vortex razor HD and it is one of my favorite scopes. So I am not knocking Vortex or the PST.

I have however compared a 6-24 PST, 5.5-22 nxs, 5-20 razor, and a 8.5-25 m4 lrt, and the pst was everyones least favorite. For the main reason that once you got out to extended ranges the other scopes just had better resolution and clarity. That being said the razor was everyones favorite...lol, Same company just different models and classes. We all agreed that the PST was a hell of a scope for the money, and is more than enough for a lot of people. I have 4 on order as I type this.

At 120 yards I agree that they probably look very similar,but in order to really do the higher end glass justice and see the difference you need to shoot at extended ranges. The further out the more you will see and appreciate the difference. Once again this is just one mans opinion. You don't have to agree with me, that's why we have so many options when it comes to glass, what one person likes another might not.

Sorry for the long response

 

[pdogdown]

Re: S&B PMII, NightForce NXS, Viper PST comparison

I am with you boise. We weren't shooting at 120. Just comparing the treeline and determining low light conditions for the purpose of hunting. Good point. I shouldhave better clarified. And I razor am 100% with you. Just pointing out the difference is fairly minimal for optical resolutions as people that have been behind the NF and compared are on both sides of the fence. Wonder when vortex will get a quality benchrest option out there to compete as NF overall is still big dog i would say there with so many options.
Justin

 

[taterxl]

Re: S&B PMII, NightForce NXS, Viper PST comparison

I am hoping we will see something in a benchrest option from vortex. Something with the glass of the razor with a really nice SFP reticle would be a big hit I think, especially at the right price. I have not looked through the the PST at low light conditions.

We shot them on a sunny morning that turned into an overcast afternoon, but not what I would consider really low light. So I cannot comment about low light and dusky performance. I was just commenting on the overall comparison of the scopes. I have heard that the PST's are very nice in Lowlight though.

I would like to spend more time with one for sure. The one I got to shoot was a buddies and we shot squirrels for about 9 hours. While this was not an extended review, it gave us a chance to compare all the scopes with each other.

Given the cheapest scope next to the PST was a Mark 4 LR/T I would say the PST definitely held its own. They all looked about the same until we started to make much longer shots.