Mr_Logic wrote:The Japs are also pretty good at producing glass you know. People knock 'em but I compared my Nightforce 5.5-22x56, set on 8x, to my old Schmidt 8x56, and there was nothing to tell them apart, even in low light. My Nightforce has the benefit of a boat load of adjustment and being very very solid.
In my opinion the NF should not be compared to a S&B as they are for different purposes. I run a S&B PMII and a Nightforce BR, there is no comparison. The Nightforce glass is not in the same league, the build quality is inferior and S&B generally feels nicer to use. The NF is at best a weak alternative. Fair to say I am biased as my preference has always been single turn turret milrad 'scopes.
A worthy alternative to the S&B glass wise is the IOR and the Kahles, both use the same glass but with different coatings.
I would agree with the Nightforce BR. I would not agree with the NXS. They are targeted at the same market, well with various models anyway. I've looked through NXS, PMII and Sightron on the same day at the same targets in the same conditions. I preferred my NXS.
I am not saying the NXS is better, tbh I think the Schmidt probably is if you compare them scientifically, and I had setup my NXS for me, the others obviously weren't. But the NXS certainly is in the same league. And given the price difference, IMHO it's far better value for money.
3 years ago I purchased a pair of Leupold 10x50 Tactical binoculars and was so disappointed and disgusted when I discovered they were marked "China" I returned them and purchased a pair of Steiner 8x30 Military/Marine instead.
I have a Mk4 8.5-25x50 (also with Alumina flip-ups) fitted to my CZ550 and it's a very good scope.
It's tricky to find anything not made in China these days. Doesn't mean it will be bad quality. In fact a properly managed production facility in China can produce very high quality parts and of course they will be cheaper.
And as already said, you can put "made in XXXX country" on the product just as long as some assembly has been done in that country before the finished product goes on sale.
It has come to this because the vast majority of consumers aren't prepared to pay a premium for goods, regardless of quality or country of origin.
Leupolds are good quality binos and scopes and IMO are sold at a very fair price. They can only do this because they source parts from China.
I agree disagree with some of the comments on here. Ovenpa re IOR excellent scopes I bought the 3-18 for my SGC Speedmaster and am still amazed when I use it the glass is really good, function and repeatability is excellent I had a S&B on my 308 fall from a gun stand on my kitchen table to the floor (wood) and is now junk Insurance proceeds paid for the IOR. MR Logic how you can make a comparison of scopes when they aren't "set up" for you is beyond me and much beyond focusing the eye piece what "set up" is there?
forbie wrote:I agree disagree with some of the comments on here. Ovenpa re IOR excellent scopes I bought the 3-18 for my SGC Speedmaster and am still amazed when I use it the glass is really good, function and repeatability is excellent I had a S&B on my 308 fall from a gun stand on my kitchen table to the floor (wood) and is now junk Insurance proceeds paid for the IOR. MR Logic how you can make a comparison of scopes when they aren't "set up" for you is beyond me and much beyond focusing the eye piece what "set up" is there?
I don't change eyepiece focus of other people's optics, just parallax. So it's never going to be quite right. Also eye relief is a personal thing. For a true comparison I'd want to mount each scope myself, focus carefully and really have a play. But you can't do that with someone else's kit at a range. A quick butcher's showed me that I was happy with the kit I have; my point was that it did not give me a basis for in-depth comparison.
OK fair enough. one thing I would like to add about the IOR and should be the same for ALL scopes is that the rear eye focus adjustment is from -4 to +4
Leupold Scopes - you get what you pay for. I personally wouldn't have one one my rifle. They are no better than some of the other American manufacturers (Burris, Bushnell). What i can't fault is their commitment to after sales service & guarantee (if in the US).
Unfortunately IOR are a victim of their own success. The original scopes were heavy but bullet proof and with good glass. I have a review somewhere where they tested their optics against competitors using some sort of laser device. They p*** all over Nightforce. They became popular, expanded quickly and sub contracted some of their manufacturing. Faults started occurring, scopes arrived faulty or soon developed faults and neither the dealers nor IOR had the capacity to repair so many. Hence them being dropped by both Borders Barrels and York Guns. Lee at Borders used to have a big box of faulty returned scopes that IOR hadn't arranged pick-up.
Nightforce are no-where near the major german manufacturers. They openly advertise that they are contracted to the US military but I know for a fact that snipers are replacing them. Optically they just can't compete. Especially at first and last light which is when you are most dependant on the glass.
Christel has an IOR than is a few years old now and I have to begrudgingly admit the glass is absolutely superb, dare I say second to none. personally I find the turrets clunky but she seems to get on very with them and tracking is precise.
/d
Du lytter aldrig til de ord jeg siger. Du ser mig kun for det tøj jeg har paa ...
I have owned more optics than a man should and have have found them all to work very well. At present I have a Swarovski on the 6.5, a Leupold on the .223, and a Nightforce on the Match Rifle. I have also had a Schmidt on the 6.5. All of the above have performed flawlessly. In addition, I own two pairs of Leitz binos, plus a pair of Swarovski. and a pair of Ross 8x40 Spectaross, ( for myopes like me). I bought the Ross for £15 in a pawn shop and had them overhauled. Bearing in mind that the Ross were made in London in the late fifties, they are superb, better than a pair of Nikon 7x50's that I had in the 80's. Almost all modern optics are very good indeed. Just an opinion.
