Review - https://youtu.be/qL3bN_QERm8
Comparison - https://youtu.be/IXCHmI9bEWA?t=1259 (Against ATACR)
Acquire - https://rebrand.ly/34ig10q
The Run Down:
- German Made
- $4500+
- Feature Packed (The most of any LPVO)
- Stupendous Build Quality
- Multiple Colors & Reticle Options
- 22oz
- 11.5”
The PMII has been around for forever and a day. The glass technology and internal mechanisms I believe are unchanged from when they were first put into production with this scope back in 2003 when the 3-12x50 dropped. If that is true then “if it aint broke, dont fix it” comes to mind. PMII’s have been used by military and policy agencies since its inception, and their track record speaks for themselves.
This is the first time I have been privileged enough to review a S&B. But it isnt the first time I got the chance to get behind one. Many many moons ago before I started reviewing scope, I was fortunate enough to get behind a gentlemans 5-25x56. I remember it being exceptionally nice. But that was at least 12 years ago. Only around 4-5 years ago I got behind someones 3-20x50 Ultrashort. That experience left me feeling totally underwhelmed. Horrible CA and tightish eyebox left me feeling queezy. This made me want to review any S&B even more. To see if it was a one time deal or if the designs are showing their age.
The Short Dot is in a league all to its own. Among being the most expensive LPVO I have reviewed. It is by far and away the most feature packed. Just edging out the March Shorty Gen II 1-10x24. Yes they are both Dual FP, yes they both offer exposes locking turrets and slick controls. But the SD has Close Combat mode (CC) Which is a feature unique to this optic (AFIK). It changes the parallax from 110y (1-8x) to 7.3y (CC). What this does it help your eye focus at closer range, as well as prevent any parallax shift. Its a neat feature. But one that I think just overly complicates the scope.
That brings me to my final lil statement. This isnt a LPVO for anyone. Even if the price was affordable. I think it would be way too much of a scope for what a lot of people actually need from a LPVO. IMHO LPVO’s should be as small, light weight, and as simple as possible. This is non of those. Its big, Heavy, and has Way too many things to change on the fly. With that being said, if your like the owner of this scope and you Need everything it has to offer. Then God Bless. You are buying a stellar optic. Its ONLY Negative that I was able to discover was the image stability. Even at 1x it isnt great. But from 2-6x its not good. 8x however is perfect. And the 1x is about as true to 1x, and about as flat as you can get. So if you treat this like a 1x or a 8x prism. Then I think youll love what it has to offer. Oh, one last thing. The reticle design is meant for the 1x to be as minimally invasive as possible. This means to really use this thing at the lower magnification. You Need to use illumination. That is all.