DavidReed
FNG
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2019
- Messages
- 52
I’ve had a Schmidt & Bender 3-18x42 Meta FFP with the DT23 elevation turret and SBX reticle for a couple of weeks now and though I haven’t been able to work it up through a range session my initial subjective impression is generally positive. I'll keep this higher level since most of the technical details can be found at S&B or through vendors that sell S&B products.
This is definitely a medium sized scope, bigger than a NightForce 2.5-10x42 NXS and about on par with a SWFA fixed 6x or 10x scope. At 27.5 ounces, perhaps the scope is tending towards being a few ounces too heavy for some use cases, but I don’t think that it will be an issue for me or keep me from using the scope for any hunting scenario. The ocular focus ring and magnification ring both move with deliberate effort but not exceedingly so. My first thought when I unboxed it, is that this scope has a bank vault feel to it.
The turrets are very tactile and positive. Each 10th mRad is well defined and each full mRad of adjustment has a distinct feel to it that lets you know you have moved the turret 1 full mRad. The elevation and windage turret have a locking feature that is intuitive and easy to use; pull up to unlock, push down to lock. I really like these turrets at my initial impression.
The eye-box is easy to get behind and forgiving, perhaps marginally more than other scopes with 42mm objective lenses. It’s not as good as a S&B with a 56mm objective and gets a bit sensitive to movement at 18X but I give it a high mark.
Resolution is exceptional and brightness is excellent. Color saturation and rendition is provisionally very, very good but I’ll reserve that judgment when I can put it though a full field work up. It is much better than any scope I have looked through in recent memory.
The field of view is acceptable (could be a bit wider if Swaro was playing nice…) but overall the eye-box, resolution, and optical clarity don’t leave me wanting more.
The SBX reticle is sufficiently visible in daylight at lower magnification (3x) and perhaps so in fading light. At 6x magnification I like the view of the reticle enough that I probably could set the scope at that magnification in the field and never have to move it and only turn the illumination on in low/fading light. From 6x to 18 x I find the reticle to be crisp and well defined and the Christmas tree portion is there if needed but is not distracting to the overall viewing experience. If S&B would have raised the lower post to only give us 3 – 5 mRad of hold over that would be an improvement for hunting use. Illumination is good and has some bleed, though not excessive at the higher settings.
Weather and professional life cooperating, I plan to test this scope over the next few weeks while waiting for the gunmaker to complete its permanent home rifle.
This is definitely a medium sized scope, bigger than a NightForce 2.5-10x42 NXS and about on par with a SWFA fixed 6x or 10x scope. At 27.5 ounces, perhaps the scope is tending towards being a few ounces too heavy for some use cases, but I don’t think that it will be an issue for me or keep me from using the scope for any hunting scenario. The ocular focus ring and magnification ring both move with deliberate effort but not exceedingly so. My first thought when I unboxed it, is that this scope has a bank vault feel to it.
The turrets are very tactile and positive. Each 10th mRad is well defined and each full mRad of adjustment has a distinct feel to it that lets you know you have moved the turret 1 full mRad. The elevation and windage turret have a locking feature that is intuitive and easy to use; pull up to unlock, push down to lock. I really like these turrets at my initial impression.
The eye-box is easy to get behind and forgiving, perhaps marginally more than other scopes with 42mm objective lenses. It’s not as good as a S&B with a 56mm objective and gets a bit sensitive to movement at 18X but I give it a high mark.
Resolution is exceptional and brightness is excellent. Color saturation and rendition is provisionally very, very good but I’ll reserve that judgment when I can put it though a full field work up. It is much better than any scope I have looked through in recent memory.
The field of view is acceptable (could be a bit wider if Swaro was playing nice…) but overall the eye-box, resolution, and optical clarity don’t leave me wanting more.
The SBX reticle is sufficiently visible in daylight at lower magnification (3x) and perhaps so in fading light. At 6x magnification I like the view of the reticle enough that I probably could set the scope at that magnification in the field and never have to move it and only turn the illumination on in low/fading light. From 6x to 18 x I find the reticle to be crisp and well defined and the Christmas tree portion is there if needed but is not distracting to the overall viewing experience. If S&B would have raised the lower post to only give us 3 – 5 mRad of hold over that would be an improvement for hunting use. Illumination is good and has some bleed, though not excessive at the higher settings.
Weather and professional life cooperating, I plan to test this scope over the next few weeks while waiting for the gunmaker to complete its permanent home rifle.
