Quest for the Best Illuminated Scope

[powerbird101]

I am on a quest for the best reticle illuminated variable scope that money can buy. I am considering anything that can dished out to me with an blank checkbook. it will be mounted on a mk11 mod 1 and a m4 by rock rive arms. Thanks

 

[Zak Smith]

By illuminated, do you mean reticle illumination or night vision? For long-range/precision or a short/medium range fighting rifle?

For a long-range reticle-illuminated scope, the best of the best are: S&B, Premier, Hensoldt, and USO. These start around $2500-3000. On my DEMIGODLLC site (link below), I have a series of articles on these long-range optics.



article | The Hensoldt 4-16x56mm: How does it stack up? (abbreviated version)


article | The State of Optics for Practical Long-Range Rifle Shooting [2009]



article | Practical Long-Range Rifle Shooting, Part II - Optics

For night vision on a long-range/precision rifle, the best method is to start with one of the above scopes and add a UNS such as the AN/PVS-22/24/27. A PVS-22 starts around $10k.

For medium-range fighting rifles, read this:


article | Fighting Carbine Optics

For night vision capability in conjunction with those types, an UNS will be the hot setup. For some of these optic types, you can put a PVS-14 behind the optic but this is problematic.

 

[powerbird101]

Sorry i meant reticle illumination

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

A pretty strong case could be made for the Premier 1.1-8x24mm tactical scope, I'd imagine:

http://www.thetacticalwire.com/story/211234

http://swfa.com/Premier-Heritage-11-8x24-Tactical-34mm-Riflescope-P45504.aspx

http://www.ak47.net/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=18&t=482939

I'd have this one on 3 or 4 rifles if money were no object.


But I think the answer is gonna depend highly upon what general magnification range you're talking about- low, mid, or high? On the low end, the Premier appears to be the shiznizzle. On the higher magnfications, the answer is more likely to come from S&B or US Optics, depending upon your preferences.

 

[Rembrandt]

Question for Zak Smith.....

I'd like your opinion on Countersniper illuminated scopes.....I see you and Kokalis both write for Shotgun News, he had rather good reviews on them. Actually he compared them favorably with Schmidt-Bender. Other forums decry them as Chinese junk and lower than snail turds. What's the truth?

 

[Zak Smith]

I haven't seen one in person, nor have I ever seen anybody at one of ours matches show up with one.

From the photos, it looks like they stuck M1-style knobs on a Leupold or USO style body.

Looking at the specs for the models in the approx 3-12 to 5-25 magnification range on their web site, the ones that listed specific specs give approx +/- 20-21" elevation and 0.125" clicks. Some other models only have a PDF that do not list the specific specs, just that "some have 40-240 MOA depending on model" - not real helpful.

I don't like to make conclusions before I've tested a product, but I also wouldn't recommend anyone spend their money on one of these when there are well-proven scopes on the market in the same price range.