I have extensively used and owned most of the brands and popular models mentioned in this thread so far, including:
Hensoldt
March
Schmidt & Bender
NightForce
US Optics
Leica models unavailable in the US
Vortex Razor Gen I and II
Leupold Mark 6
Vortex Viper PST
I have not owned or spent much time with Kahles to be able to provide an informed opinion of them.
I literally have no affiliation with any of these companies other than being a customer for many years. I used a Hensoldt 3-12x56 FFP optic when my partner and I placed 2nd in FinnSniper in 2008. Used USO, NF and Schmidt in some of the other matches. There weren't any Vortex options back then that I had heard of.
In PRS, the Vortex Razor HD Gen II is the most popular scope among the top 100 shooters Nationally and has been for the past 2 years, overtaking the Schmidt PMII.
As to military use...
The reason I advocate for Vortex and NightForce for self-loaders like the AR15 in Grendel, the AR10, and the SCAR is because I know for a fact those two companies bed their optical elements with epoxy in order to take reciprocating mass effect recoil and impact forces from the BCG. If March does the same, put them on that short list as well. I agree fully that March glass is some of the best I've ever seen, reminds me more of the image quality and perception with a Hensoldt or Leica. There was a 2.5-10x March I was shooting on top of a bolt gun out to 700yds, and I was just firing away like normal. It wasn't until I looked at the magnification setting to realize I was only on 2.5x, and I had 100% hits rapid fired with rapid bolt manipulation. Awesome little scope that has always been in the back of my mind since then.
Truth is we are spoiled nowadays with phenomenal optics selection among a handful of brands. I frequently recommend Vortex HST or PST to people on a budget because they simply aren't going to glass all their rifles with $3-$6k optics. I've dealt with CS with several of the companies when the scopes failed, and have learned what the return rates are for certain brands, some of which were 19% last I had the conversation (for a $2400 scope). I had an S&B PMII's side focus die on me right before I was to fly out for an international sniper competition, and had to find another solution quickly because S&B CS was like frozen tar at the time (Germany).
We had a guy show up to BoomerShoot for the precision rifle clinic a few years back. Dropped his rifle from the back of his rental upside down onto the parking lot asphalt a day prior to the course snd smashed his elevation knob/turret in pretty bad. Vortex shipped him a new scope next-day air with morning delivery, even though he told them it was his fault, he was willing to pay. They said not to worry, just focus on the course and send the broken unit back when he's done. I've never seen that with another company.
Hensoldt
March
Schmidt & Bender
NightForce
US Optics
Leica models unavailable in the US
Vortex Razor Gen I and II
Leupold Mark 6
Vortex Viper PST
I have not owned or spent much time with Kahles to be able to provide an informed opinion of them.
I literally have no affiliation with any of these companies other than being a customer for many years. I used a Hensoldt 3-12x56 FFP optic when my partner and I placed 2nd in FinnSniper in 2008. Used USO, NF and Schmidt in some of the other matches. There weren't any Vortex options back then that I had heard of.
In PRS, the Vortex Razor HD Gen II is the most popular scope among the top 100 shooters Nationally and has been for the past 2 years, overtaking the Schmidt PMII.
As to military use...
The reason I advocate for Vortex and NightForce for self-loaders like the AR15 in Grendel, the AR10, and the SCAR is because I know for a fact those two companies bed their optical elements with epoxy in order to take reciprocating mass effect recoil and impact forces from the BCG. If March does the same, put them on that short list as well. I agree fully that March glass is some of the best I've ever seen, reminds me more of the image quality and perception with a Hensoldt or Leica. There was a 2.5-10x March I was shooting on top of a bolt gun out to 700yds, and I was just firing away like normal. It wasn't until I looked at the magnification setting to realize I was only on 2.5x, and I had 100% hits rapid fired with rapid bolt manipulation. Awesome little scope that has always been in the back of my mind since then.
Truth is we are spoiled nowadays with phenomenal optics selection among a handful of brands. I frequently recommend Vortex HST or PST to people on a budget because they simply aren't going to glass all their rifles with $3-$6k optics. I've dealt with CS with several of the companies when the scopes failed, and have learned what the return rates are for certain brands, some of which were 19% last I had the conversation (for a $2400 scope). I had an S&B PMII's side focus die on me right before I was to fly out for an international sniper competition, and had to find another solution quickly because S&B CS was like frozen tar at the time (Germany).
We had a guy show up to BoomerShoot for the precision rifle clinic a few years back. Dropped his rifle from the back of his rental upside down onto the parking lot asphalt a day prior to the course snd smashed his elevation knob/turret in pretty bad. Vortex shipped him a new scope next-day air with morning delivery, even though he told them it was his fault, he was willing to pay. They said not to worry, just focus on the course and send the broken unit back when he's done. I've never seen that with another company.
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