Thanks for the first look video Ilya. I'm looking forward to your future videos on this scope model. I have one of these and my first impressions were similar. The low power tunnelling doesn't bother me much, as i rarely use it below 5x. I would have preferred they simply made it a 5-17. The only thing I'm disliking so far is the single button illumination, and it's short locating pins. I swapped in a 3 button control from an older US Optics scope, which has much longer locating pins, and allows me to turn it on/off while keeping the same brightness setting. I was initially bothered by the main body having a slightly different anodize color than the eyepiece and objective housing. My wife says it was intentional, to give it a cool looking 2 tone look. I'm a little skeptical about that. Thanks for the video. I find your objectivity refreshing.
I use low power when I shoot standing since, even when there is tunneling, at lower power there is less perceived shake. Once I spend some time doing that, I will know exactly whether this amount of tunneling is a problem for me. Aside from the illumination, for now I like the scope. Even the locating pins are not that big of an issue, but I do not like to have to click a bunch of times to get to the illumination I want.
@@DarkLordOfOptics I hadn't considered standing and other less stable positions, but i can certainly see the benefits of low magnification for that. At this point, other that tracking tests, I've only used it twice, for some load development. So far with my limited use of the scope, the best part of it has been the interaction with US Optics. This is the first time ever, that I've been able to call a company and have an actual person answer the phone, every time. Even more surprising, the person was actually competent and could answer questions. Even if the scope turns out to be mediocre, my experience with Kayleigh, and US Optics customer service will keep them on my short list for scope suppliers. In 2 weeks I'll be using it on my FN SPR 6.5 in a Modern Day Sniper class Caylen Wojcik is hosting in Yakima. Hopefully it does well.
Let me know how it goes during the class. Every year, I make a resolution to take more of those... and then life happens. Taking a class with Caylen would have been amazing. I was going to go take a DMR class in August at The Site, but I am not sure I can pull that off with all the restrictions. As far as magnification goes, I find myself using 3-5x with less stable positions and when I need the FOV to find the target. 12x to 15x is where I usually end up shooting prone. As light goes down, I often dial back down to 6-8x. That is one of the reasons I really crossover scopes that go down to 3x or so. It is nice to have the option and 3-15x, 3-18x, etc are some of my favourite configurations.
@@DarkLordOfOptics Will do! I'll report back when I get back from Yakima. I'm hoping for good weather and plenty of wind. Thanks for all the hard work and objective reviews Ilya. Keep up the good work, it is very much appreciated.
@@DarkLordOfOptics I just got back home from Caylens wind reading class. I have nothing but good things to say about Caylen Wojcik and Phil Velayo. It was a very good class! We had plenty of wind to practice in. My FDN17x performed well, with no problems. Several of us who attended this class wrote a little about it in Caylens thread in the SH training forum here: www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/modern-day-sniper-wind-reading-seminar-yakima-wa-april-9-10.6981334/
Hi DLO, you are doing a great job at reviewing scopes and please keep up your effort. I'm looking at buying the Leica PRS 5-30x56 Ballistic. Are you able to post something about this sooner rather than later? I'd like to hear your opinion before I commit to the purchase. Thank you
MegaChocs I’d also like to see a review side by side with the Delta Stryker for the opinions between the two seeing as the share such similar chassis architecture.
Fantastic review Ilya! Would a comparison between the Delta and Leica behind you be possible? I’d love to hear your thoughts on the similarity’s and differences..
I've looked at the Stryker and PRS side-by-side when I was testing the first PRS scope with PRB reticle I had and I will repeat that again with the L-Ballistic scope. Generally, while they are related mechanically, Leica has different turrets and different optics.
@@DarkLordOfOptics Thank you for the reply Ilya, Do you believe the mechanics of the turrets are completely different or the two scopes share the same mechanism with different turret body's?
Do you plan to review the Burris Laser Eliminator IV? Sometimes, I am not sure why I would buy a different DMR scope, at least in that price range. Incorporated electronics... the future of optics?
I wrote an article on the future (as I see it) of precision riflescopes for Guns and Ammo's Precision Rifle Shooter magazine that is about to hit the newsstands. Generally, I agree with you that the future is with electro-optic integration, but that can take many different forms. Read the article if you get a chance. As far as the Eliminator IV goes, I will try to take a closer look when I get a chance, but not for a little bit. I have a lot of reviews to wrap up first. I do have quite a lot of experience with Eliminator II and III. IV is an enhanced version, but is fundamentally not different from the previous generation in terms of operating principles.
Which PMII? There are quite a few. Generally, it is in the same general class in terms of overall performance. Full size PMII is a bit better optically, but also more expensive. The most comparable would probably be the older 4-16x50 PMII
@@jn3750 I have not spent much time with the 5-25x, but from what I have seen the quality is comparable between the two. Both tunnel on the low end, but once you get above that magnification, they are very good both in terms of image quality and FOV. Tracking has been flawless.
@@DarkLordOfOptics that says a lot about the US Optics, considering that the pm ii 5-25 is almost 4000 $. I'd like to see how the us optics 5-25x fdn fares against the battle proven Pm Ii counterpart
I stopped looking at IORs a few years ago. They were very inconsistent with a host of mechanical and QC problems, so I pretty much ignore then entirely.
Thanks for the reply. Snipershide hold the same view but actual faulty egs were prior models to the Recon 4-28x50, which I rate for glass, FOV & dialing. Maybe I got lucky! It is a bit agricultural & the centre dot ret would benefit from being a diamond, cause I use the top edge for grouping. But a great all round scope, hunt on 4x, PRS at 10x & load test at 28x.
The multipiece tube could have some problems, when it comes to different ambient temperatures and usually unless it is welded together, it will not be as strong as a one piece tube.
Since the tube pieces are made out of the same material, I'd very surprised if temperature expansion causes any issues. Strength argument is not very clear cut at all. It really depends on how the joint is engineered and which adhesives are used.
Thanks for the first look video Ilya. I'm looking forward to your future videos on this scope model. I have one of these and my first impressions were similar.
The low power tunnelling doesn't bother me much, as i rarely use it below 5x. I would have preferred they simply made it a 5-17.
The only thing I'm disliking so far is the single button illumination, and it's short locating pins. I swapped in a 3 button control from an older US Optics scope, which has much longer locating pins, and allows me to turn it on/off while keeping the same brightness setting.
I was initially bothered by the main body having a slightly different anodize color than the eyepiece and objective housing. My wife says it was intentional, to give it a cool looking 2 tone look. I'm a little skeptical about that.
Thanks for the video. I find your objectivity refreshing.
I use low power when I shoot standing since, even when there is tunneling, at lower power there is less perceived shake. Once I spend some time doing that, I will know exactly whether this amount of tunneling is a problem for me. Aside from the illumination, for now I like the scope. Even the locating pins are not that big of an issue, but I do not like to have to click a bunch of times to get to the illumination I want.
@@DarkLordOfOptics
I hadn't considered standing and other less stable positions, but i can certainly see the benefits of low magnification for that. At this point, other that tracking tests, I've only used it twice, for some load development. So far with my limited use of the scope, the best part of it has been the interaction with US Optics.
This is the first time ever, that I've been able to call a company and have an actual person answer the phone, every time. Even more surprising, the person was actually competent and could answer questions. Even if the scope turns out to be mediocre, my experience with Kayleigh, and US Optics customer service will keep them on my short list for scope suppliers.
In 2 weeks I'll be using it on my FN SPR 6.5 in a Modern Day Sniper class Caylen Wojcik is hosting in Yakima. Hopefully it does well.
Let me know how it goes during the class. Every year, I make a resolution to take more of those... and then life happens. Taking a class with Caylen would have been amazing. I was going to go take a DMR class in August at The Site, but I am not sure I can pull that off with all the restrictions. As far as magnification goes, I find myself using 3-5x with less stable positions and when I need the FOV to find the target. 12x to 15x is where I usually end up shooting prone. As light goes down, I often dial back down to 6-8x. That is one of the reasons I really crossover scopes that go down to 3x or so. It is nice to have the option and 3-15x, 3-18x, etc are some of my favourite configurations.
@@DarkLordOfOptics
Will do! I'll report back when I get back from Yakima. I'm hoping for good weather and plenty of wind.
Thanks for all the hard work and objective reviews Ilya. Keep up the good work, it is very much appreciated.
@@DarkLordOfOptics
I just got back home from Caylens wind reading class. I have nothing but good things to say about Caylen Wojcik and Phil Velayo. It was a very good class! We had plenty of wind to practice in. My FDN17x performed well, with no problems.
Several of us who attended this class wrote a little about it in Caylens thread in the SH training forum here: www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/modern-day-sniper-wind-reading-seminar-yakima-wa-april-9-10.6981334/
Hi DLO, you are doing a great job at reviewing scopes and please keep up your effort. I'm looking at buying the Leica PRS 5-30x56 Ballistic. Are you able to post something about this sooner rather than later? I'd like to hear your opinion before I commit to the purchase. Thank you
MegaChocs I’d also like to see a review side by side with the Delta Stryker for the opinions between the two seeing as the share such similar chassis architecture.
I'll see what I can do.
Fantastic review Ilya! Would a comparison between the Delta and Leica behind you be possible? I’d love to hear your thoughts on the similarity’s and differences..
I've looked at the Stryker and PRS side-by-side when I was testing the first PRS scope with PRB reticle I had and I will repeat that again with the L-Ballistic scope. Generally, while they are related mechanically, Leica has different turrets and different optics.
@@DarkLordOfOptics Thank you for the reply Ilya, Do you believe the mechanics of the turrets are completely different or the two scopes share the same mechanism with different turret body's?
Do you plan to review the Burris Laser Eliminator IV? Sometimes, I am not sure why I would buy a different DMR scope, at least in that price range. Incorporated electronics... the future of optics?
I wrote an article on the future (as I see it) of precision riflescopes for Guns and Ammo's Precision Rifle Shooter magazine that is about to hit the newsstands. Generally, I agree with you that the future is with electro-optic integration, but that can take many different forms. Read the article if you get a chance. As far as the Eliminator IV goes, I will try to take a closer look when I get a chance, but not for a little bit. I have a lot of reviews to wrap up first. I do have quite a lot of experience with Eliminator II and III. IV is an enhanced version, but is fundamentally not different from the previous generation in terms of operating principles.
@@DarkLordOfOptics I will wait patiently then.
Would love to hear your opinion on the USO TS-20x scope
I have not seen that one. I do have a TS-12 coming.
Just ordered ts-20 but probably going to exchange for fdn17
is it as good as SB PM II?
Which PMII? There are quite a few. Generally, it is in the same general class in terms of overall performance. Full size PMII is a bit better optically, but also more expensive. The most comparable would probably be the older 4-16x50 PMII
@@DarkLordOfOptics the 5-25x is better than this one optically? how about the tracking?
@@jn3750 I have not spent much time with the 5-25x, but from what I have seen the quality is comparable between the two. Both tunnel on the low end, but once you get above that magnification, they are very good both in terms of image quality and FOV. Tracking has been flawless.
@@DarkLordOfOptics that says a lot about the US Optics, considering that the pm ii 5-25 is almost 4000 $. I'd like to see how the us optics 5-25x fdn fares against the battle proven Pm Ii counterpart
So, now that it's been about 8 months, what are your thoughts about this scope? Any problems or issues?
I like it. It will be added to my list of recommendations during the next update.
Dose it support .300 win mag , on the web site thy have 6.5 and .308...
I would not expect any issues, but I have not tried it on any big boomers. You may want to ask US Optics.
IOR Recon has a better FOV at 4x, an a very usable reticle, do you rate them? Haven't heard you discuss them?
I stopped looking at IORs a few years ago. They were very inconsistent with a host of mechanical and QC problems, so I pretty much ignore then entirely.
Thanks for the reply. Snipershide hold the same view but actual faulty egs were prior models to the Recon 4-28x50, which I rate for glass, FOV & dialing. Maybe I got lucky! It is a bit agricultural & the centre dot ret would benefit from being a diamond, cause I use the top edge for grouping. But a great all round scope, hunt on 4x, PRS at 10x & load test at 28x.
As long as it works for you, keep using it. I like the phrase "a bit agricultural".
The multipiece tube could have some problems, when it comes to different ambient temperatures and usually unless it is welded together, it will not be as strong as a one piece tube.
Since the tube pieces are made out of the same material, I'd very surprised if temperature expansion causes any issues. Strength argument is not very clear cut at all. It really depends on how the joint is engineered and which adhesives are used.