Re: Steiner 4-16 or 5-25x56
Here is a review I posed yesterday. You may find it helpful.
This is a short review of my new Steiner tactical 5x25 34mm FFP with MSR reticle.
Let me preface this short review by stating that in no way am I an expert in rifle or sport optics. Nor in any way am I knocking any other optic manufacture, this is just one mans opinion. Now in saying that I have been looking though rifles scopes since I was fourteen years old. I have owned optics from IOR, Leupold, Premier, SWFA, Burris, Bushnell, Nikon, Eotech, Aimpoint, Vortex, and Weaver. I have also used optics from Nightforce and S&B. I know what I like and have some perspective as a hunter and tactical target shooter. Up until this Steiner optic my Premier Heritage 5x25 has been the highest end optic I have owned and operated. The premier is an excellent and hearty optic in most every way.
This particular Steiner tested is a FFP optic with a MSR reticle that is very similar to the S&B P4F reticle, those of you who know the MP8 or Mill Gap reticles I would say it's close to those as well. The optic was mounted on a Sako TRG 22 with a 34mm QD mount.
Size: The physical size of the Steiner is comparable in most ways to the Premier 5x25 however it feels significantly lighter. It is a large optic, no doubt. Hard to say which one would take more of a beating however as the Steiner feels very sold. Considering Steiner has been one of the foremost manufactures of military optics it would probably be a solid piece of equipment, so making a judgment call based on feel and pedigree on this one.
Adjustments and tracking: The level of adjustment and accuracy of the adjustment on this optic is stellar and gets excellent marks. On my range test I zipped back and forth from the 100-yard mark on the parallax knob to the 600-yard mark to some targets that I know exist at those distances. The parallax was dead on; I needed almost no adjustment once the knobs were set to the appropriate distance. This makes a big difference when having to move from target to target quickly. I did a tracking test out to eighteen mills vertically and eight mills horizontally, the tracking was dead nuts. I zipped the turrets back to zero after taking it out to eighteen and the optic went back to zero perfectly.
Glass: As I get more and more experienced with the higher end rifle optics the more important glass clarity becomes to me. Now I was not able to test the optic in rain or fog or low light conditions. The test was performed mid day in very overcast light conditions. That said the picture was very bright and clear. The clarity was equal too any S&B I have looked through, I would say the only optic I have owned that comes close was my IOR 3.5X18 that sported German made Schot glass. There was no chromatic aberration what so ever and the glass tends to be on the neutral to cool side. So the glass provided an image that was not too warm and not to cool. The sight box was easily the most generous I have ever experienced as well the eye relief is equally as good, this was even at its highest magnification. Bottom line I would say the glass is as excellent as I have ever seen.
Conclusion: At least for my initial thoughts and views on this optic I would say I really believe its world class. Considering it is five to seven hundred dollars less expensive than an equivalent S&B with equally impressive German glass, build quality, and pedigree. For me it’s a no brainer and a solid barging at $3,000 in comparison. Is it cheap, no way! but is it as equally as good as an S&B but for less cash. In my limited experience and opinion, I would say yes. Steiner is the in some ways the new kid on the block at least in the American market and only time will tell if its going to last, or if the build quality will remain solid? But if this is any indicator of what those crazy Germans can do then I would say the other manufactures have something to worry about.
I hope this provides a little insight to anyone considering purchasing one of these excellent optics.
Tuber out.
