NEW 12.5-50x56 S&B Target Scope

[Forum Boss]

Wow,

Schmidt & Bender 12.5-50x56 Target Scope. $2200 Estimated. First production March/April 2007.

UPDATE: The current design is intended for Air Rifle use in Field-Target comps. S&B MAY or MAY NOT adapt it for centerfire application. But we just talked to David Tubb and he says "I've seen it and talked to the engineers. It will work for long-distance."

Here is the .pdf on the new scope: http://www.shotshow.german-pavilion.com/pdf_docs/exhibitor_8893.pdf

Show info: http://www.shotshow.german-pavilion.com/content/english/floor_plan/floor_plan.php

Press release lists price of $1700 Euros, which is about $2200--however the US version could cost more.

Only negative I can see is that the scope has only 1/4 MOA clicks.

I am stoked. This is exactly what I asked Schmidt & Bender to build last year.

"Magnification: 12.5-50x
Field of view,at 100 m distance) 3.50 m – 0.90 m
Exit pupil 4.55 mm – 1.18 mm
Eye relief 70 mm
Twilight factor 26.5 – 53
Light transmission > 90 % between 450 and 600 nm
Eyepiece focusing + 2 dptr. up to – 3 dptr.
Elevation adjustment:
1 click = ¼ MOA
Adjustment range 0 – 32 MOA
Windage adjustment:
1 click = ¼ MOA
Adjustment range ±16 MOA
Parallax adjustment from 7 m up to 70 m [Editor: The parallax adjustment, being intended for Airgun use, stops at 70m,220 feet) as this is configured currently.]
Reticle illumination Adjustable settings from 1 – 11

This specially designed scope sets new standards in its optical qualities and designed in features it leads the field in image brightness and resolution.

The Shooter can decide which reticle to choose in first or second image plane and can decide for an optional elevation- and windage adjustment,BDC)."

 

[AckleyImproved]

Well

S&B making a target scope.... should be 1/8 clicks.....

Something else I'll have to buy and try!!

Why, Why, Why??????

Cheers
AI

 

[memilanuk]

32 MOA of windage doesn't hardly seem worth it for a long range scope. Must not be very windy over there

 

[rstreich]

I'm hoping that the 1/4 minute clicks are just a type like the parallax adjustment. I can't remember, but do the PM scopes use 1/4-minute? My 2.5-10 Zenith has ~1/3-minute and my 4-16 has ~1/6-minute adjustments. 1/4-minute just seems odd for them.

As to 30 MOA of windage, well, if you need more than that, you just zero on one of your neighbors targets.

Ahh, just went and looked, the PMIIs have an option for 1/4-minute adjustments. So, it's not so odd.

 

[Forum Boss]

The scope isn't slated for production until March. If enough people communicate with S&B perhaps we might get a finer click adjustment. If not 1/8 moa, perhaps 1/6 MOA like the Swaro 6-24x:

Being able to chose First- or Second-Focal-Plane is very cool though.

Weight of 1.150 kg,40.48 ounces) with all options is heavier than a NightForce 12-42x Benchrest,36 ounces). However one of those options is a big "sidewheel" focus ring. I suspect the basic unit,without illumination) will weigh 3-4 ounces less.

 

[Forum Boss]

OK,

Our correspondent Andy in Florida just checked out the unit at the S&B booth. It has a 34mm maintube. Schmidt & Bender says the intended application is for airguns.

This means the max parallax distance may, indeed, be just 220 feet,70m).

I can't believe that S&B would go to the trouble of producing a scope like this solely for the airgun market.

I will call S&B in Germany Monday and see if I can learn more.

The big question is can an "airgun" scope handle centerfire recoil. Don't know the answer to that yet.

Sorry guys if I got ahead of the game here. It is just hard to believe S&B would engineer $2200 scope with a 34mm tube just for airgun shooters. Doesn't make sense.

I just talked to David Tubb via cellphone at the show. He's looked at the scope and he says "It will work--it'll work for distance. S&B has built about 200 other scopes for me and they can get the parallax worked out."

 

[Asa_Yam]

I can't believe that S&B would go to the trouble of producing a scope like this solely for the airgun market.

Sorry guys if I got ahead of the game here. It is just hard to believe S&B would engineer $2200 scope with a 34mm tube just for airgun shooters. Doesn't make sense.

The airgun market in Europe is far bigger than for F-Class or benchrest. In fact, most mainstream firearms businesses are.

The big question is can an "airgun" scope handle centerfire recoil. Don't know the answer to that yet.

An airgun scope is braced differently than a scope for a centerfire rifle. A spring piston gun recoils forward. This is why putting an ordinary scope on a spring piston gun will destroy the scope in short order.

 

[Forum Boss]

Asa,

Thanks for the clarification on the recoil issue. I knew that Airguns had special characteristics.

David Tubb has a lot of experience working with S&B, having commissioned a special run of 5-25s for his Tubb LR rifles.

If David says it will work for centerfire, I'd tend to believe him. The glass, zoom and focusing mechanisms have been worked out, which is a substantial part of the engineering. But I think we're left with a big "maybe" in terms of whether we'll see this scope for the North American precision centerfire market.

We can certainly try to get one for testing and ring it out on Jason's .284.

 

[243Mendoza]

I was wondering how long it would take S&B to have a competitor to the NightForce NXS 12-42X56; hopefully some variation of this scope will be suitable for centerfire. I like the 1/4 moa clicks. I had 1/8 in a Weaver T36 and I hated the 1/8 moa clicks. I hope that S&B has better choice of target reticles than NF. Did a quick view of S&B website and did not see this scope.

 

[rstreich]

S&B's website is pretty bad if you're looking for info on available models. I haven't noticed an update to it in years. It's kind'a sad really 'cause it's somewhat difficult to get reliable information on them.

 

[Forum Boss]

The scope exists. S&B had full working models on display at shot show. Should have some photos soon, I hope.

The press release says production starts March/April. Remarkably, the S&B representatives at Shot Show seemed honestly surprised that there would be a long-range centerfire competition application. They don't have many 300m+ ranges in Europe. Also, much of the serious competition is iron sights.

I will call Germany Monday and try to learn what would be involved in adapting the scope for centerfire. David Tubb seems to think it would be no big deal.

Yes, it would be nice if there was some real competition for NightForce in the high-magnification market. What has me excited is with S&B glass, I think this scope could allow one to see 6mm holes in paper at 600.

 

[dreever]

The real question in everyones mind has to be is it $1000++++ better than Nightforce???? I sincerely have my doubts.

 

[Forum Boss]

The real question in everyones mind has to be is it $1000++++ better than Nightforce???? I sincerely have my doubts.

Danny,

You've certainly put your finger on the key question. It's hard to put a value figure on something that is "slightly better". I can say this, the difference in clarity and edge to edge sharpness between a 5-25 S&B and an 8-25 Leupold,$900) is really quite dramatic. I liken it to looking out through the window of your car and then rolling the window down. Your eyes instantly note the difference.

With a NF 12-42 I could just barely see bullet holes,more like smudges) on white paper at 600. If the Zeiss can do that better, and more consistently, then we do have a "better tool" for 500 and 600 yard BR and varmint matches.

I expect that overall QC would be better with the Schmidt & Bender as well. One thing I've noticed about Nightforces is that some,of same magnification) are better than others.

 

[dreever]

I wish price wise they'd be apples for apples. I agree it would be great to have some competition for Nightforce. Perhaps then they'd put real target knobs Ala the NXS on the BR model. Hell, I'd pay to have both mine retrofitted.
Are you listening Nightforce?????

Competition breeds better products and we the consumer benefit.

Danny

 

[243Mendoza]

S&B's website is pretty bad if you're looking for info on available models. I haven't noticed an update to it in years. It's kind'a sad really 'cause it's somewhat difficult to get reliable information on them.

It would be nice if S&B had reticle info as comprehensive as NF who show reticle component sizes in moa.

 

[243Mendoza]

If the Zeiss can do that better, and more consistently, then we do have a "better tool" for 500 and 600 yard BR and varmint matches.

I expect that overall QC would be better with the Schmidt & Bender as well. One thing I've noticed about Nightforces is that some,of same magnification) are better than others.

Another S&B feature is a constant size of the reticle with magnification.

 

[rstreich]

It would be nice if S&B had reticle info as comprehensive as NF who show reticle component sizes in moa.

If you get the PDFs that are somewhere on their site,the German one, I think it was) you can get all the dimensions of the reticles.

Another S&B feature is a constant size of the reticle with magnification.

Sometimes that can be a negative. With Swarovski coming out with 6X variables now, I can't imagine a first-focal plane reticle as it would be huge at the top magnification.

My favorite reticle of all is the S&B Varmint dot #8. It's as fine as a target crosshair at 4X but at 16X it's on the thick side. Not enough to be objectionable in the least, but rapidly approaching that point.

Because of the first-focal plane reticles, there are only two S&B reticles that I can tolerate: the Varmint dot #8 and the L-7,now the FD-7). Everything else is incredibly thick at top magnification. OTOH, if I had an application for a 1.5-6, I might choose one of the other reticles.

I love first-focal plane reticles in principle, but I'm not quite sure about them in use yet. But then, I'm finicky and really find thick crosshairs objectionable because they obscure so much of the view. Hmmm, if I had a floating reticle like some of the NightForce choices, that would probably work out much better in a first-focal plane scope. I never saw much point in posts that went all the way to the edge.

robert

 

[243Mendoza]

It would be nice if S&B had reticle info as comprehensive as NF who show reticle component sizes in moa.

If you get the PDFs that are somewhere on their site,the German one, I think it was) you can get all the dimensions of the reticles.

Another S&B feature is a constant size of the reticle with magnification.

The German website is now down for updates.

Sometimes that can be a negative. With Swarovski coming out with 6X variables now, I can't imagine a first-focal plane reticle as it would be huge at the top magnification.

That may be a problem when shooting at fixed sized targets but the rings of NRA highpower prone competition targets, more or less, are constant size in moa.

 

[mikecr]

I'd be surprised if S&B could MATCH a NF for +$1000.
Name one thing they can do better without giving up more. Afterall, nothing is free.
34mm rings?
30moa?
Even HEAVIER than NF,which is too heavy)?
FFP? Get serious.

Ask em to match NF first..
Then see if they'll give us something extra. Like Zero Stop, quality flip up covers & well for $1000, quality glass goes without saying.

 

[DRGreysun]

Try $2600!

S&B Scope

Honestly this scope screams Quality. The smoothness of the side wheel, the precise focus and clariety are the best I've ever seen. It will probably be April before any are in country. Dealing direct with Schimdt & Bender, hoping to recieve a couple of the first shippment. Actual price with lighted reticle and factory side wheel will probably be more like $2,600.00 Leupold and Night Force are still great scopes, but for those who want the Very Best, this is it.

Yellow Forum

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