PM2 5-25 for stalking?

[Edinburgh Rifles]

I will let you know on Monday......

 

[Dan Newcombe]

Isn’t the gentleman’s choice a 6/42 ,,,,

I’m sure you could leave it on 6x if you wanted to but it certainly wouldn’t make you a gentleman - a gentleman needs something to twiddle and you can’t get twiddly turrets on a 6x42!

 

[Heym SR20]

A big heavy scope makes a rifle quite unbalanced and cumbersome. A big and heavy variable scope will generally be kept at 6 to 8x magnification when shooting deer at any reasonable range - gives you plenty magnification as well as a wide field of view.

You have a good Swarovski 6x42, and unless its all scratched up, the image quality and light transmission will be just as good if not better than a bigger variable scope - a variable has more lenses within. And it doesn't have the weight, it can be kept mounted nice and low and it will do everything you need it to. The only thing I would swap a 6x42 Swarovski for is 6x42 Schmdt & Bender, or a Swaro z3 3-9x36 or the older Nova.

I have been down the spending money on variable scope route. My conclusion is that it has n't enabled me to shoot any better than I can do with 6x42. I shot this scruffy stag last year - 230 yds with my 7x65r with a 6x42 Zeiss in claw mounts.

 

[Ronin]

Whats wrong with a March 3-24x42. High quality, compact, just as capable and half the weight.
CH

But not a Schmidt or Kahles and my own eyes don’t get along with March (had a 5-40 for a while and didn’t like the glass or turrets )

 

[smokey]

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 is a quality piece of kit you have now just use it as often as you can

 

[rem284]

I dont see any disadvantage in using a good quality high mag scope other than weight and cost. I use nightforce scopes. I set the mag to 8x so I can deal with most opportunities where speed is important. If time allows and the circumstances require a more mag then I have it there to use. I could still shoot deer with a 6x scope but I know I would not be able to shoot some of the deer that I do without the higher mag and the dial up turrets

 

[Dave_45]

I want to also stalk with a target scope , something like a leupold MK5HD 5-25-56

 

[swagger700]

I've got a atacr on my rifle which is a lump but it is as clear as anything else I've ever had and like above nice to have extra mag and be able to dial

 

[harrygrey382]

Apart from weight and bulk, only downside I can see is cheek weld - it’s going to be sitting high

As long as you don’t mind carrying it then it will be fine.

Nearly as good as a Nightforce in fact - the gentleman’s choice of stalking scope.

I’ve always considered it the other way round- nightforce nearly as as good as S&B...

 

[DVS1]

Apart from weight and bulk, only downside I can see is cheek weld - it’s going to be sitting high

I’ve always considered it the other way round- nightforce nearly as as good as S&B...

I remember a friend and me comparing optics once, by no means am I a glass snob but attention to detail...yes. he said his Nightforce was best because it was used by Craig Harrison to shoot Terry Taliban over 1000m away. Now nightforce glass is good glass I didn't debate that that I knew the MOD issue S&B not nightforce and that was my point...he went off half cocked! Highly strung lad he was. He phoned a mutual friend who put him right like me who then called me to ask wtf was going on and why were arguing!?!?!? Said I wasn't arguing just pointing out which scope the MOD issue...we both scratched our heads at his reaction

 

[harrygrey382]

I remember a friend and me comparing optics once, by no means am I a glass snob but attention to detail...yes. he said his Nightforce was best because it was used by Craig Harrison to shoot Terry Taliban over 1000m away. Now nightforce glass is good glass I didn't debate that that I knew the MOD issue S&B not nightforce and that was my point...he went off half cocked! Highly strung lad he was. He phoned a mutual friend who put him right like me who then called me to ask wtf was going on and why were arguing!?!?!? Said I wasn't arguing just pointing out which scope the MOD issue...we both scratched our heads at his reaction

Yeah I was under the impression most special forces used PM2s, although I’ve heard one or two use nightforce, and maybe Hensoldt (are they still going?). Either way, it doesn’t matter, and I’m sure there are politics involved in what defence forces used as well as pure physical performance of the scope

 

[DVS1]

When I did my sniper cadre we had the old 6x42 S&B scope and to the best of my knowledge that was then replaced by a 10x before the 5-25x came in with the. 338 calibre rifles...I could be wrong though I was out of the green stuff by then. Either way all are good glass, just personal preference

 

[topscots1]

When I did my sniper cadre we had the old 6x42 S&B scope and to the best of my knowledge that was then replaced by a 10x before the 5-25x came in with the. 338 calibre rifles...I could be wrong though I was out of the green stuff by then. Either way all are good glass, just personal preference

It went through transition period with the 3-12 PM2 in there for a bit. Swarovski 10x fixed appeared on some 50 Cals the last one i seen was on the AW50 That we took out to play in the desert. Changed it out for a spare PM2 and put the Swarovski on a sharpshooter rifle. There has been an abundance of UOR and trial scopes used over the past few years.

I remember a friend and me comparing optics once, by no means am I a glass snob but attention to detail...yes. he said his Nightforce was best because it was used by Craig Harrison to shoot Terry Taliban over 1000m away. Now nightforce glass is good glass I didn't debate that that I knew the MOD issue S&B not nightforce and that was my point...he went off half cocked! Highly strung lad he was. He phoned a mutual friend who put him right like me who then called me to ask wtf was going on and why were arguing!?!?!? Said I wasn't arguing just pointing out which scope the MOD issue...we both scratched our heads at his reaction

I think he was confusing himself Chris Kyle used Nightforce scopes as they were US issue. Perhaps confusing books or magazine articles.

 

[BE Precision]

Whats wrong with a March 3-24x42. High quality, compact, just as capable and half the weight.
CH

They dont compare in low light.

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

Love the scope
But am afraid the tunnelling at low mag is no use.
I want the lower range for a wider field of view, not to see it from inside a black hole
Even when comparing the field of view to a 6x 50 objective it was no better

 

[Siggy]

Just switched from a 8x56 to a 3-12x56 and I love it!

 

[Cloudhopper]

They dont compare in low light.

I've heard that before so did a comparison with my other scope, a Zeiss 2.5-10x50 Classic (i.e. fully coated lenses). With both set at the same mag of 8x I really couldn't detect a difference. I could resolve the same level of detail with each scope. Having said that I do prefer the characteristics of Zeiss image, it seems warmer. As a multi purpose aiming tool the March is right up there and much lighter.
CH

 

[nun_hunter]

I've been to the importers of March Scopes and they're kit is seriously top quality, certainly up there with any of the best and some of their designs and specifications are a lot better.