Schmidt & Bender 3-20×50 PM II Ultra Short Riflescope -The Firearm Blog

It is a overview of the Schmidt & Bender 3-20×50 PM II Extremely Quick riflescope, as part of my mission to overview all the PM II fashions. I’m very keen on the Schmidt & Bender 5-20×50 PM II Extremely Quick, which is an ideal match if you wish to make your high quality AR platform carry out higher. I personal one, and I form of wished (at the very least) another. Enter the Schmidt & Bender 3-20×50 PM II Extremely Quick, which attracted me with its bigger magnification vary.

Schmidt & Bender @ TFB:

Let’s make a overview, and discover out what sort of efficiency it may well ship! S&B had a number of contract overruns, from the Canadian C20s’ trials {custom} Cerakoted in Coyote M17 TAN. Two of my mates ended up shopping for one every, in order that’s what you’re taking a look at on this overview.

The traditional size 3-20×50 PM II was initially made for the German Military, as a DMR (Designated Marksman Rifle) resolution. This scope has additionally been adopted by different army models, however extra needs extra so there was a requirement for a 7x zoom ratio made as compact as attainable. S&B managed to shorten the 3-20×50 PM II goal bell with about 4cm/1,57inch, and that’s how the present 3-20×50 PM II Extremely Quick – with an identical optical parameters – was born.

Quick, Shorter, Extremely Quick…

Some ideas concerning the TREMOR reticle

Relating to the Tremor reticle, I had some discussions with ”some mates within the enterprise”, and in accordance with statistics (sorry, no onerous info have been offered) 80-90% of the ”issues” are solved throughout the space marked RED, in opposition to targets marked GREEN. The capturing turns into extra city, and ID the goal and a fast hold-over is the one factor there’s time for. There’s extraordinarily seldom time or a must calculate excessive ballistic options. One of many mates despatched me this picture, which is a superb dialogue level. (It’s past the purpose, however the chimney is at round 1250 meters, method too far for many calibers.)

In actuality, the decision is method higher than this iPhone picture that has been processed a number of occasions. I used to be aiming at black patches lower than 1×1 inch with out points, I simply hoped that my accuracy was a bit higher on the time (soiled gun) and for lots much less wind. That is from after I confirmed my zero earlier than my DMR competitors.

The Tremor reticle makes life fairly cluttered. Fortunately it really works fairly effectively in observe, but it surely’s like having a number of reticles in a single and an instruction handbook with 100 pages. I solely actually look after the MILs.

It’s in all probability no coincidence that a whole lot of these skilled rifles come geared up with Schmidt & Benders, a whole lot of armies purchase them in related configurations.

Pictures from EnforceTac 2024.

Whereas discussing particular colours for Schmidt & Benders, that is the newest coloration (RAL 7005) that was displayed at EnforceTac 2024, in H&Ok’s stand. S&B have since launched a number of restricted editions on this coloration, stated to be known as Mouse Gray. What do I would like? I would like one in OD Inexperienced for my LWRCI REPR.

Schmidt & Bender in Mouse Gray (6-36x)

That is what my JP Rifles PCS-12 appears like competition-ready. Rebaralled right into a 6.5 Creedmoor it’s about 7.2 kilograms, with a very good stability with none additional weights. It goes into the Open DMR division.

A DMR rifle for the 5.56 SA division, with an S&B 5-20x PM II Extremely Quick. The bolt-action runs a ZCO 840.

The suppressor is from A-Tec Norway and works nice for PRS and DMR competitions.

Perspective from 500 meters. I by no means actually had any points with the attention field, even with fairly uncommon capturing positions.

Confirming the zero earlier than a contest at 500 meters, ringing metal of varied sizes. The FMJ ammunition from Sellier & Bellot isn’t good, but it surely does its job at these distances except the targets are actually tiny (round 10 cm).

To be sincere, I don’t actually practice something besides checking the zero earlier than a contest. Maybe I ought to?

Right here you’ll be able to see the ”management panel”, with illumination first left and parallax in the primary and middle ”cross”. On prime, there’s a small turret, with good tactile clicks. Partly seen to the suitable facet is the correction for left and proper, windage. This turret is capped, so I presume Canadian DMR:ers maintain for wind.

The highest Aimpoint is for aiming largely on the goal with 1x, then you’ll be able to ”sink in” into the primary goal lens at 12x energy or so, and interact the goal with out having to search for it.

Right here’s the identical rifle, with the newest version of the S&B 5-20x PM II Extremely Quick. You should utilize a standard fashion mount with this scope, whereas the S&B 3-20x PM II Extremely Quick wants a cantilever.

The second Aimpoint is a take a look at we’re doing, and meant to interact targets at 20-25 meters or so, very precisely.

Right here we’re on the brink of shoot at 900 meters at a 60cm spherical metal plate. We did hit it, however removed from each time. The ammunition has its limits, and it was fairly windy over the fields.

The suppressed 556 SA did its job as effectively, which is fairly wonderful. With 73 gr Berger bullets, it hit the metal a number of occasions and stored very shut on a regular basis. It was attainable to see the hint or the impression with some good recognizing scopes. The Garmin chrono labored nice till it up to date its firmware by itself.

Utilizing the Schmidt & Bender 3-20×50 PM II Extremely Quick reside

No overview is full with out utilizing the gear in competitors, proper? This yr’s spotlight, aside from the upcoming IPSC Rifle World Shoot, was Easthammer DMR 2024. Right here’s a recap from final yr’s model: Easthammer DMR Problem 2023 – Fuel Gun Precision Rifles Competitors.

I managed to do a lot better this yr and completed 4th in Open SA and tenth general with fairly a number of internationally recognized prime shooters in entrance of me. Partly as a result of final yr we shared the gun, and after I shot it, it malfunctioned, however primarily as a result of I’m now way more assured with the idea of DMR and to get into place to have the ability to fireplace and hit. I nonetheless have masses to work with, so removed from what’s attainable. As an example, I’m not likely used to working barrel up, and I nonetheless take without end to get my bag in place. This yr every little thing with the rifle labored, and it’s all as much as the shooter – simply the way in which I prefer it.

Stage 1 was capturing from a Ford Property wagon, from the within, exterior and round it. Every place has its personal problem. The protection angles have been fairly tight right here for good causes, so needed to transfer with excessive care to keep away from a DQ.

Begin: Sitting in driver seat with each fingers on steering wheel . Rifle placedon the again seat, muzzle pointing down vary. On sign, have interaction targetsthrough again seat facet window in accordance with sequence 1. The muzzle mustbe exterior the car earlier than participating targets.Exit car in accordance with directions proven throughout stage transient. Engagetargets in accordance with sequence 1, utilizing the hood as the first help.Transition to the again of the car and interact the targets in accordance tosequence 1, utilizing the roof as help.Transition to susceptible place and interact the targets, in accordance tosequence 1, from the market space.

Beneath: …have interaction targets by way of the again seat facet window… There’s a photographer to the left, and the RO is retaining a extremely good eye on what’s happening contained in the automotive.

Beneath: …have interaction targets in accordance with sequence 1, utilizing the hood as the first help… I selected to shoot from a bag (provided by DRENGR Precision), notice the folded bipod.

Beneath: …transition to the again of the car… (finger will not be on the set off)

Beneath: …and interact the targets in accordance with sequence 1, utilizing the roof as help… Once more utilizing the DRENGR bag. The final place was from the bottom, and I used the bipod as the primary help, with the bag again.

Beneath: Right here’s one other stage, the place a low stone was for use because the rifle’s fundamental help. These low positions are killing not solely me. However they may very well be fairly reasonable in occasions of unpeace, with metal targets in three instructions and holdovers.

You get a most time of round 120 seconds per stage, however should you hit all targets and end earlier than the set time, you get bonus fractional factors per second, that ultimately add as much as your benefit.

And right here is my good friend, who received the 556 SA division, utilizing 73 gr Berger bullets. The riflescope is a Schmidt & Bender 5-20x PM II in a Spuhr mount. The suppressors are from A-Tec Norway.

My rifle discovered a good friend! OD Inexperienced JP Rifles with a S&B 5-45x PM II. The suppressor is from ASE Utra (Finland).

My home has at all times house for another JP Rifles, and I actually cherished this setup with an S&B 5-45x and OD Inexperienced.

Value and availability

This riflescope ought to be obtainable from many sources, and the worth appears to start across the $4,180 mark.

Conclusion

For us who consider within the energy of long-range gasoline weapons, this can be a nice riflescope. I’m actually glad to have tried and used this riflescope in two main DMR competitions, ending simply exterior the rostrum within the DMR Open division. I wouldn’t have chosen the Tremor reticle, however somebody satisfied the Canadian military (and doubtless a number of different armies) that it’s the very best there may be. Then again, I can’t actually blame the reticle for not gaining extra hits and factors. Fortunately S&B has a lot of choices with regards to specifying precisely the way you need your riflescope, and the primary overview right here is the optical high quality, the mechanics and the general design – not the reticle itself as all of us have our personal preferences.

Not as soon as throughout these DMR competitions, that are very related for what the optic needs to be, did I ever take into consideration the attention field or the rest in reality. Throughout the competitions, with targets between 85 to 600 meters (most being within the 300-500 meter vary), I used a mix of hold-overs and clicking, all relying on what wanted to be performed and during which order.

It signifies that the riflescope will need to have labored! As a result of in critiques like these, it’s what annoys you that you just bear in mind and produce up as negatives, and I sit right here a bit empty with issues to inform.

Yup, we used the S&B for PRS22 Semi Auto as effectively.

One factor I can complain about, and partly that may very well be attributable to me shedding my eyesight yr by yr (I’m nonetheless in denial), is the studying of the primary turret. The truth that this scope was Cerakoted (in Canada’s {custom} coloration) didn’t assist in any respect. For certain, it isn’t as clear because the black ones (distinction) I usually use. I typically overtravel, hitting 2 clicks as an alternative of 1. I do know MK Machining has magnifiers to make studying of the turrets simpler, and I actually should attempt a kind of out ASAP.

The illumination isn’t actually daylight vivid both. I personally wouldn’t thoughts having a a lot brighter middle dot, however I can’t actually say that it holds my capturing down.

One other factor to think about is that the general size over the 3-20x US is way more than the 5-20x US. For DMR competitions you usually work round 12-18x  magnification, and NEVER beneath 10x, I’d say.  Why would you want 3x if you’re by no means utilizing the 5x? Purely judging primarily based on that, the brand new 5-20x PMII US could be a straightforward alternative. Different customers could have totally different views, particularly in city areas and ”tight corners”, the place you would possibly need to remodel your riflescope to an LPVO.

Protecting with the S&B model, I’d additionally take into account the brand new S&B 6-36x PM II which is great, and never that a lot larger.

We used a lot of varied platforms in our overview. Here’s a 16″ OAL .223 Rem from JP Rifles, for if you don’t know should you’re going to the Arctic or the desert subsequent.

By way of optical and general high quality, there’s nothing I can actually complain about, it’s just about a Masterpiece.

I visited the Schmidt & Bender workplace and manufacturing unit final autumn, and it actually struck me how custom-made every scope is. Not solely is it Made in Germany, which has its price, but it surely’s additionally hand-built precisely to your specs. I truly left the manufacturing unit pondering they’re low cost for the exclusivity you get. You simply must make up your thoughts about which S&B mannequin fits your wants finest, and I hope this text helped.

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