Here is my S&B Update:
First off, the S&B 5-25x is optically still the gold standard which all other scopes are judged by. No one questions that, and since the optical design in the 5-25x has not changed, clearly we are not talking about that single scope optically.
To start, you guys are too way too narrow minded in your understanding of what I say. I also encourage you read Sinister's post above mine, post #37.
Personally I think the locking turrets are / were a big mistake. The early ones has a recognized problem and S&B has addressed this problem. I don't think the fix has been 100% effective, but they have fixed it. If you look at an old locking turret, and a new one, there is a small pin added to help fix it. So they have quietly addressed it.
The Ultra Short line has a lot of nice features and changes over the locking turrets of the previous design are worth mentioning. They have greatly improved them. Sure you have to look at the need for a very long 3-20x when compared to the 5-25x and now the very short, 5-20x vs the 3-20x in the same line. Also you have to consider the prices. They are up there.
Clearly we are in the age of the $7000 scope. There are several models on the street now touching this price point. That is a big picture problem to address, for many on several levels, us & them.
There is also some nice military innovations happening in the 5-25x line, like linking an external ballistic solver that adds an overlaying HUD to the shooter's FOV. Neat stuff.
In the US, with Jerry R at the wheel, we have always had excellent customer service. His attention to their customers is outstanding. There is never a worry that it won't get fixed and in a timely manner, most of the time for very little money. He is also the reason why many can look at the change with the warranty and most likely dismiss it. However, the change to a 2 year warranty can be a long term costly one for us and them.
I have a lot of S&Bs and will continue to use S&B, maybe not to the degree I have in the past, but certainly in some fashion. The one true statement here I will make is, I have definitely had to use their customer service a bunch more in the last 1.5 years vs only having to use it once in the previous 8 years. So weigh that into the equation however you want. But I believe it has some merit.
Competition is growing, and because the 5-25x is the Gold Standard you have a lot of their competitor's using it to raise the bar with new products. It's not that hard for them to put out a competing product for less money with similar features at the same quality level as the Gold Standard. I can't think of one manufacturer that doesn't have a S&B 5-25x sitting on their desk to use as a measuring stick. Built it and they will come, and it has been plenty long enough for competition to catch up. I get quoted resolutions numbers all the time, and they will say to me, "Frank the S&B we have resolves 2.8 and our new scope resolves 2.3.... "
At the end of the day it is your money, it is going on your rifle and only you can decide. What I like, how I see it, only really matters to me. Buy whatever makes you happy. If you want to pay close to $7k or better for a new 3-27x, or new Hensoldt, more power to you. If you like March, Vortex, NF, even that piece of junk from IOR, fly that flag and be proud. You made your decision, stick with it. But if you think you are doing anything more than fooling yourself that you'll be a better shooter because you choose S&B over product X, well I have very expensive bridge to sell you. It's really splitting hairs with a lot of this at the end of the day. So pick the scope with the features that are important to YOU. You have to live it, I don't... The scope is just one small part of the picture.
I had two very pleasant conversations with S&B. I think the Ultra Short scopes are a nice addition to the line, but, their competition is walking through the door right behind them now. Make no mistake the new scopes at SHOT 2014 from NF, Vortex, March, Tangent Theta, Kahles, are really, I mean, Really, really good... they are looking that gold standard directly in the eye.
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