PM2 5-25 for stalking?

Shooting Supplies : Ammo - Reloading - Firearms - Optics - Accessories
Leglas

Leglas

Well-Known Member
I'm still only a couple of years into stalking, and to having a FAC (half of which has been scuppered with covid). One piece of advice I'd been given several times was to get a decent rifle but spend my money on the best optics I could. I'd been using a second hand (read: pretty battered) Remington 700 with an old Swarovski 6x42, which was great and certainly did the job, but having really got into the hobby I wanted to get a decent scope. Now I know that something like a Z8 or a Zeiss Victory would be a good blend of optical quality and wouldn't weigh too much, but back in April I had read less on what made a good scope in the context of stalking and more on what made the 'best scope', so, when a new Schmidt and Bender PM2 5-25x56 came up at a really good price, I decided it was the one to invest in. I've not shot since getting it and I've now traded in the 700 in 308 for a Schultz and Larsen Victory in 6.5C.

My questions is this - the S&B is 1.2KG or thereabouts, which is the weight of a bipod or a GRS stock above a good 'stalking scope', is this the only issue with it as a stalking scope? I admit, I will feel silly turning up to go stalking with optics designed to take out Taliban insurgents, but then the reputed robustness of it does appeal to me and I'm not convinced a few hundred extra grams overall will make a difference, especially for a man shooting off sticks who could himself shed a few stones to make a day in the hills easier.
 
It's your rifle to have as you wish mate...you have to carry it so use what you like.

I use a PM2 for foxing and yes it is not a light piece of glass but the it is very flexible in its use...6x or 8x for a stalking shot but 20-25x for observing? ;)

If all else fails then it's a mobile gym for you
 
I use one at work and it's superb for assisting with hitting small things at distance but I personally wouldn't want it for deer stalking. Long range varmints definitely, targets yes, sitting in a highseat and head/neck shooting yes again or hunting deer in open terrain taking long shots then great again. For most the deer stalking in the UK then I'd choose something else but not to say if I saw one at a great price I wouldn't get it and use it and see if it did work for me if I'd never used one before. Having used one regularly it wouldn't be my first choice.
 
fantastic scopes. Stalk with it 3 clicks up from 100m zero and dial into the longer shots. Ive shot muntjac at 20m with one and larger deer a long way out. Use it right and there isnt much better but as a relative novice dont get caught up with messing with it.
 
Others will no doubt disagree but my view is weight and size are some way from the key consideration here as in my experience it’s whether or not you’ll get to deploy that wonderful flexibility in magnification in all but 1% of Lowland stalking scenarios.

If however you intend to also use said rifle for competition and/or varmint eradication at ‘interesting’ distances a scope such as you refer to would not be a handicap.

K
 
I have used one in the past and still have one on my loooong range rifle. The only downside is the weight and the tall turrets that might look out of place on a fine wood stocked rifle. Other than that it is incredibly flexible. Go for it, it’s your rifle
 
I’m sure many are different in their tastes but all I use on all my rifles are PM1s and PM2s. Fantastic flexibility from either the 3-12s or 5-25s. Bombproof and fantastic glass.
In addition, a bit of weight in a rifle (within reasonable parameters) makes it easier to shoot accurately especially if you’re relatively new to stalking.
One final point- I started on PM2s and sold them on for Swarovskis. I’ve since sold the Swarovskis and I’m back on PM2s! 😂
 
Another option - the one I'd probably go for - would be to sell your pm2 here on SD and buy a second hand Schmidt dedicated hunting scope like a classic, zenith, or even one of the newer models. It would be considerably lighter (maybe close to half the weight), but still retain the S+B toughness and other qualities. And swapping over would be unlikely to cost you anything - you might even make a bit, depending on what you replace it with.
 
I would think it’s about the best scope out there, so yes absolutely fine for stalking. Possibly a bit heavy and complex for some but if weight isn’t an issue and you fancy some long range steel ringing go for it. A mate of mine has one and I am rather jealous, even though my 4-16 precision Hunter is a damn fine scope in its own right. Like you say most of us could shift a wee bit of timber if weight was the be-all end-all 😂
 
Thanks all, that's a lot more promising than I'd thought! I'm just looking forward to being able to get out and use it. It's definitely overkill on the family croft but it looks like I may be able to do some clearing of deer in a relatively young area of woodland in the hills of Sutherland this summer, which given the terrain (very light sparse woodland in a valley 4 or 5 hundred yards wide, it's probably not a bad setup. Good to hear it's used by others on here too.
 
Just my 2 cents on the characteristics of a good stalking scope:

  • as light as possible
  • as short as possible
  • max. 12x, therefore eliminating the need for a parralax adjustment
  • as little gadgets as possible to play on
  • capped or at least lockable low profile turrets
  • no-frills reticle, which is also visible in low light --> no illumination required
Make of it what you like.
 
Rider said:
Just my 2 cents on the characteristics of a good stalking scope:

  • as light as possible
  • as short as possible
  • max. 12x, therefore eliminating the need for a parralax adjustment
  • as little gadgets as possible to play on
  • capped or at least lockable low profile turrets
  • no-frills reticle, which is also visible in low light --> no illumination required
Make of it what you like.
Click to expand...

Interesting opinion that is definitely not wrong in any way. The only thing I would add from someone who regularly stalks with a 4-16 PMII and has stalked a fair bit in the past with a 5-25 PMII is that if you set the magnification to a normal stalking mag of 6-8x and the parallax adjustment to 100 -150 m or so you do have a similar situation to your lower power scope with no parallax adjustment, except with the option for greater magnification if desirable.
Your comment on capped or lockable turrets is valid but I have never inadvertently knocked my turrets on a PMII whilst stalking, even on the tall double turn elevation which does stick up a fair bit. What is imperative however is to be very disciplined in returning turrets to zero after a dialled shot has been taken as when plinking steel this has been my downfall on a few occasions! 😫
 
1.2kg! crikey... just make sure you mount it with some fancy german quick release mounts, at least then you can remove it when you approach a downed deer use it as a priest to dispatch any wounded beasts!!

(I shoot a 3-10x42 Z3... 380grams or thereabouts so oppoiste end of the spectrum!)
 
I use mostly swaro 6-24x50 on my rifles except the .280ack which has the pm2.
That one is in an AI AX chassis and has a 30” f profile barrel(heavy!) as its used for longer shots.
Before that gun arrived it was on my .308 and the pm2 helped in the grassing of a few deer.
Its a great scope and you should enjoy. Ill happily swap it for a spare 8x50 swaro if you like lol.
 
I have 3 Zeiss Victory 3-12x56 and a Zeiss V8 2,8-12x56 all in 60 illuminated ret. I prefer the 3-12x56 for stalking for ease of use as no parralax adjustment messing about required. Yes its nice to turn the scope up to 20 power for longer shots, but a 12 power its more than adequate for the same task. Any of the older Zeiss Victory will do, doesnt have to be an HT. For me I would stick to the Zeiss/Swaro/Smidt options. I really do like the Swaro 2,5-16x56 gen 2 though.
 
I have used 5-25 PM11 extensively for stalking / culling in the past

It was fine, but heavy

I also have 4-16 PM11 which, I find the perfect compromise scope which allows near and far target acquisitions with superb low light ability

The 4-16 isn’t particularly heavy

Another option if you must use 5-25 is the Kahles K525i

I have one that has been used in intensive culling scenarios and that is as good as anything I’ve used

Like Srvet, I’ve never had any issue with the Schmidt or Kahles dialable turrets moving or snagging when moving around stalking or culling

I do tend to use the bikini covers zip tied to the scope body so they can’t be lost, they are also silent to use

I haven’t used this cope yet in anger but I’ve just bought a second hand Polar 4-16 Schmidt

This is going on a lighter weight rifle that I’ve built to replace another

The polar has 10 mil adjustment elevation on a lockable dialable turret and in my view looks to be about right for a second focal plane dedicated stalking scope

One to consider if you are yet to press go on the 5-25

The glass is superb and brighter than the PM11 4-16 side by side

You may find that as you get older you want lighter kit ,,,,,no harm in having what you think you want now, but no harm in taking advice from long on the tooth killers who have been there and done that years before learning their own developmental points along the way

😃
 
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