Hensoldt Storms The US Market By David M. Fortier

[ADMIN]

When it comes to building high quality precision optics, Germany has been at it longer than anyone else. They have built a virtually unmatched reputation over the past two centuries. Their expertise in this area extends into the medical, sporting and even the military fields.

Hensoldt, though, is not as well known here in the USA, which is a pity. Now a part of the Zeiss Gruppe, Hensoldt specializes in producing top-tier optics for military and law enforcement. While its scopes have been unavailable here in recent years, after a long hiatus, the well-respected Hensoldt line is once again available to American riflemen through Hunt Distribution Company (HuDisCo).
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This is a thread for discussion of the article, Hensoldt Storms The US Market, By David M. Fortier. Here you can ask questions or make comments about the article.

[HUAINAMACHERO]

Impressive, one more scope to consider for my next rifle project.
Thanks for the article, very interesting and very well written.

[phorwath]

Nice article on another tactical scope option for those that have the financial resources and are willing to carry a heavy scope and pay for top-tier optics.

Thanks for sharing this information and conclusions from your examination of your loaner/test models. An educational read on the Hensoldts.

[Joaquin B]

Very nice article. However, the author has probably never heard of Schmidt und Bender, the premier GERMAN telecopic sight manufacturer. S & B probably make the best scopes on earth. I'd like to own one someday.

JB

[JRu]

Anybody aware of Hensoldt's existence is most likely very familiar with Zeiss and S&B.

Personally I *do* think Hensoldt makes better scopes than S&B -- I've owned both a Hensoldt 3-12x56 FF and a S&B PMII 5-25x56 LP P4F, and I preferred the Hensoldt. Now they are both gone and I shoot a Zeiss Victory Diavari 3-12x56 mil-dot with the new ASV elevation turret, it's better for my purposes, but if I had to choose again ( and I might, depending on how things turn out on a LR project rifle ) , I'd probably pick the Hensoldt over S&B.

These are top tier manufacturers and the differences are mostly fractions of a percent in any objectively measurable attribute, boiling really down to personal preference. It's just that I like the extreme optical and mechanical quality of Hensoldt, combined with compact size and good ergonomics. If I had to suggest improvements on the Hensoldt, the only thing I'd really come up with is a Gen 2 mildot reticle.