Schmidt PM2 5-25 gets new ret but is outclassed now 

As an ex soldier and sniper with over 16 years of service i wouldn’t like to deploy without an SB on my rifle if I was still serving. Testing a scope in a filed in Britain firing a few rounds is not the same as going to war in Iraq or Afghan really testing. I would say a lot of them other scopes wouldn’t come close.

Subscriber from the Other Side of the Pond, and I just wanted to give you a big thank you for your honest, no BS reviews! You have an excellent manner of telling what needs to be told to fellow gun guys. I built a rifle last summer in 7mm-08 and was at the seriously difficult decision of what to spend my money on for the glass, and your Sept 2nd review of the 34mm ERS put me over the top on that one... I absolutely could not be happier.

This is my first ever reply to a post. I’m the last to add a review on any product or you tube reviewer but I’m super impressed with your delivery. Extremely well thought out and the explanations are a no BS approach to the item your reviewing. Brilliant and spot on. Question, will you do a comparison of the new SB 5x45 and the Valdada Recon 5.8x40 Again, I truly appreciate your videos and the only source I turn to for optics reviews

For me it was between Hensoldt and Schmidt. I went with Schmidt because it's tried, tested and proven in theatre and has strong resale.The results the PMII has achieved make it legendary. A classic.I only compared scopes of equal tube diameter as I prefer to use Sphur ISM mounts. The mount is as important as the rifle and scope in my opinion.

Upgraded from a Bushnell ET 3.5-21x50mm to the SB 5-25x56mm and was Blown away. The PMII is worth twice the price of the Bushnell all day long in my book. At 25x the S&B has the best clarity I have ever seen with no noticeable chromatic aberration, no blurring, nothing. FOV at 25x is great and almost doesn't feel like 25x. Mine has the P4 Fine FFP reticle and it's a joy to use! Here in the US we can get the S&B for $2550US and I think that's a fair price considering the Bushnell ET 3.5-21x50mm DMR2 sells for $1550US. The bushnell has the same features but is paled in terms of optics when the bushnell goes beyond 10x. Having said that, I would LOVE to look through some of the scopes you say are even better. My S&B is the first scope that I've been completely happy with and it hasn't left me feeling a need for something more. Every other scope I've owned has felt like a real compromise in some respect. If there are better, I would probably be in awe when looking through them. My biggest complaints with the S&B are the way they did the turrets. Like you say, a little too finely spaced although very positive clicks (no slop). I HATE the triangle markers and wish they used a line. I have a hard time seeing which line the triangle lines up with, especially when on the second rev. The Zoom knob is very stiff and not smooth at all, which is a shame. All things considered, minor tradeoffs for the level of optics this scope gives me.

The elephant in the room here Richard which hasn't been mentioned needs to be mate. As good as the IORs are optically, that means little if the rets fall short and if reliability falls short. The rets are min 0.1MRads which is 1cm/100 yards. That's fence-post thick compared with the P4F S&B ret and sadly, because of IOR rets being ill though out, I wouldn't buy one no-matter how good the glass is. A fair few shooters seem to be sending IORs back for repairs too. I've been looking for a good top tier replacement for a Bushnell DMR (and you're spot on about those, especially when equipped with the G2DMR ret) and have been through the usual suspects but what it boils down to is this: The PM2 is not the best in any area any more, except perhaps for objectively measured resolution at the top end (see the PRB blog) BUT it is consistently still in the top 5 or six scopes in just about every area. That, and the range of useful and fine rets makes it still the no-nonsense best buy for precision shooting applications in many shooters' books. So what if it tunnels low down....not many people ever use the lower mags and 8x gives plenty of FOV but point taken...it would have been better as a 7-25. Little quality issues are a niggle but unless people have an extra £1K in their back pocket for a FFP NF ACTAR scope, I can't see the competition clearing up without attention to their own issues first. Just my honest take on it as someone still looking for a decent replacement to the DMR which sits in a class of its own in the middle price range (although the Deltas now use better glass).

Interesting reviews and comparisons of different of high end scopes. Rarely see the high end scopes at ranges I shoot at. Good to see that a lot of the features of various brands that initially appear too complicated are just as easy to work with as less encumbered designs; turret turn indicators, multi-scale numbering on turrets, locking dials and zero stops.

How about the new PM II Ultra Bright? There is a 4-16x56 that seems to have a serious FoV increase over the older 4-16x50.

I love my pm2 I got it for a great price. I wanted an ior but there were non in the country and I didn't want to wait 6 months. my pm 2 was sevral hundred dollars less than the crusader. thanks for the video.

The Vortex Razor gen 2 EBR-2C scope MIL/MIL are #1 in the USA for PRS matches.

how are the 3-27 and 5-45 pm2 scopes (besides pricey)?

Are the four times mag range PMii better with the tunnelling issue. Such as the 4-16, or indeed 12-50, two utterly different animals there 😀

Such a good review. I honestly think night force is catching up but everyone says otherwise because they all want to sell their scopes

great review as all ways richard , thanks

Thanks for all the great reviews!!! You always give a honest opinion. That why i'd like to hear you opinion on the nf atacr vs swaro x5 glass. Also nf comp vs kahles 1050. Thanks again!

cracking review. Have you used any Minox? perhaps the ZP5 5-25?

Hi Richard, what's your point on the S&BPMII 3-20x50? Have you every tried? Also I have seen the LT which seems to be cracking. Nice video!

Really appreciate your time. Any opinions on Tangent Theta?

Hi Richard ,can you get caliber specific rings or turrets for a pm2 in the uk

Richard Utting, I purchased a Barrett MRAD in .338 Lapua and am planning on getting into shooting at 1000m. Can you please give me 3 different scopes to check out that are excellent for that range category?

Hello, I am currently in the process of choosing a scope for my Daniel Defense DD5v2 and I hesitate between a S&B 5-25x56 PM II/LP/MTC/LT with a H59 reticle or a Vortex Razor HD Gen II 4.5-27x56 with a EBR-2C reticle have you compared them? Best regards and greetings from France.

How about IOR quality control? Or maybe Tangent Theta?

What's your opinion on Anschutz rifles?

Just got a Tikka T3A1 Tactical in 6.5 Creedmore comes with full length 0 MOA picatinny rail. Do you have a recommendation on an excellent scope for this setup for long range?

Totally true about the tunneling, i think its a ridiculous. The only reason i still like the S&B is due to the turrets.

I have a question I asked you on one of your previous videos on your 6 x 24 x 50 IOR once you set it to your rifle and zeroed it and how much elevation did you have left on it and what rifle did you put it on I want to get one for my 308 I am looking at the 6 x 24 x 56 I am guessing those two are close

i have a 0 x 0

You mention glass quality all through the video. But that's secondary to tracking. Tracking is EVERYTHING.

Sorry partner, I have to disagree. The S&B is the worlds best, exception hensoldt. (maybe) Who needs bottom end optics on a long range scope??

How do you like the Ruger Precision Rifle? What caliber is it?

Have to admit I am liking my Razor Hd 2 better than my S&B. Not worth the money anymore.

Ill take my Minox ZP5 over a Schmidt and Tangent Theta and Zero Compromise over my ZP5.

that sticker cost 500.00 bucks loool

@tiborasaurusrex

Thanks for all the great reviews!!! You always give a honest opinion. That why i'd like to hear you opinion on the nf atacr vs swar x5 glass. Also nf comp vs kahles 1050. Thanks again!