Schmidt and Bender Police Marksman II 4-16x50mm

[livingston]

The PM II series of scopes from S&B has been a long time standard to judge other scopes, and we look at exactly why that is the case.
By Melvin Ewing October 27, 2014
Specs

• Manufacturer: Schmidt and Bender
• Model: Precision Marksman II
• Finish: Matte Black Anodizing
• Magnification Range: 4.0-16.0
• Objective: 50mm
• Tube Diameter: 34mm
• Eye Relief: 3.7"/94mm
• Click Value: .25 MOA
• FOV: 22.5' - 7.5' @ 100 yards
• Adjustment Range: 56 MOA
• Reticle: P-3 (Mil-Dot)
• Focal Plane: 1st
• Weight: 32oz/907g
• Overall Length: 15.5"/394mm
• Buy Here:
  

One of the most talked about optics topics as of late has been the USMC’s move to adopt the

Schmidt and Bender PM LP/2 3-12x50mm scope on all of their M40A3 and M82 sniper rifles. This was quite the surprise as there were scopes provided by 25 companies and the S&B supposedly is the only scope that passed all the tests. No matter what controversies may arise from the testing and the adoption, the fact remains that the S&B is now the USMC’s official sniping scope. The S&B scopes have had a long time reputation of amazing optics and high quality, but the price has always been out of reach for most shooters and even most law enforcement agencies out there. We managed to get an S&B on loan from one of our loyal readers (Thanks!!) and decided to run an evaluation on the scope.
Schmidt and Bender Police Marksman II 4-16x50mm Rifle Scope review

 

[Podmonkey]

I thought my Kahles was expensive, yeesh!

 

[tapper3]

I thought my Kahles was expensive, yeesh!

Free shipping.

 

[Podmonkey]

Free shipping.

Oh, well, that makes all the difference then. If it was shipping from Mars. Interplanetary shipping is normally very expensive. Thank goodness for Prime.

 

[tapper3]

Oh well, that makes all the difference then. If it was shipping from Mars. Interplanetary shipping is normally very expensive. Thank goodness for Prime.

I knew that would make you feel better.

 

[Podmonkey]

S&B is of course the ultimate, last word in optics.
However, when I am blessed to have the sexy, sexy LMT MWS Sniper Rifle in my collection

(it will happen someday)

This is the scope I would put on it:


Nightforce NXS 2.5-10x42mm Mil-R Riflescope C461

It's the "I can only afford to eat ramen noodles now" combo special.

 

[Jaywmustang]

Wish I had that kind of money lol. I’m pretty happy with my optics.

 

[Podmonkey]

Wish I had that kind of money lol. I’m pretty happy with my optics.

What have you?

 

[Jaywmustang]

What have you?

My most expensive scope is a vortex razor hd gen2 4.5-27x56. I also have bushnell lrts 4.5-18x44, nightforce shv 4-14x50 f1 and Steiner p4xi 4-16x56. I have some cheaper optics also.

 

[Podmonkey]

My most expensive scope is a vortex razor hd gen2 4.5-27x56. I also have bushnell lrts 4.5-18x44, nightforce shv 4-14x50 f1 and Steiner p4xi 4-16x56. I have some cheaper optics also.

All of those are really good scopes.
I have been shopping scopes both online and in store for 2 years before setting on the Kahles but the Razor HD Gen 2 1-6 always floored me with the optical quality and how the scope body is near invisible looking through it. When the E version came along and shed 5oz off the weight I very nearly got one. However Europtics gave me a great deal on a demo model and the Kahles was only $100 more so I went with it. The Razor HDs have better reticles though.

 

[GOPerfect]

I will pass on this kind of cost. I am happy with and have always been happy with my Vortex scopes, nary a complaint.

 

[Jaywmustang]

All of those are really good scopes.
I have been shopping scopes both online and in store for 2 years before setting on the Kahles but the Razor HD Gen 2 1-6 always floored me with the optical quality and how the scope body is near invisible looking through it. When the E version came along and shed 5oz off the weight I very nearly got one. However Europtics gave me a great deal on a demo model and the Kahles was only $100 more so I went with it. The Razor HDs have better reticles though.

I do like the razor. The weight of the razor Wasn’t a issue......the rifle by itself was 13-14lbs, another 50 oz wasn’t going to hurt lol.

 

[Podmonkey]

I do like the razor. The weight of the razor Wasn’t a issue......the rifle by itself was 13-14lbs, another 50 oz wasn’t going to hurt lol.

Depends on the application of course. I was looking to glass a 6.2lb rifle and I wanted to keep it as light as possible. The Leupold VX6 is the lightest 1-6 at 14oz but I didn't like the reticle, the illumination nor the illumination control. Optical clarity isn't as good as others in its price range either. The Kahles is just under 17oz.
The Schmidt & Bender 1-8 short dot weighs 22oz BTW.
I am not a huge fan of 8x magnification with a 22mm objective and a 30mm tube. At maximum magnification the image becomes dim.
I see 6x as the practical upper limit for such a form factor.

 

[squib]

You really only appreciate a piece of glass when you compare it side by side to its peers. The glass clarity and field of view is outstanding. S&B even requests there optics be returned to them for maintenance, very few have issue.