Schmitt & Bender feedback

Bravo 4 said:

Yep, and I used it twice on a brand new PST gen II before it was ever mounted...
Leupold's is equally as good, have used it about a dozen times (6 times on a FFP MK4 I owned).
So far NightForce has had the best, because I've never had to use it.

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I have owned several vortex scopes, still have 3 - I have used their warranty for a broken scope 1x. I had a horse roll 50ft down a hill with my 300 rum that was wearing a 6-24x50 hslr - scope was totally F'd up. Thought my hunt was done - got to phone service and called vortex. They overnighted me a new scope to a motel in the closest small town to me and told me to send the busted one back when my hunt was over. Saved my hunt and earned my loyalty. Would a nightforce or S&B come out of that unscathed? Maybe, but I doubt it. How many companies are willing to overnight somebody a new $1k scope on their dime and just tell you to send the busted one in after the hunt? Vortex is great to deal with.

djfergus said:

$2k optic, $4k rifle, $1k of dies & components, your 80 year old grandmother being able to take game @700 yards...... Priceless

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Don't mean to disrespect your grandmother but she sounds like a slacker. My 100 year old grandma kills everything from Grizzly's to chipmunks out to 1000 yards and she is blind and missing 8 fingers. She has a $80 Bushnell Banner with 3 of the crosshairs missing but she is shooting a 6.5 Creedmore so that might explain part of it.

Sorry I couldn't resist. Cheers everybody.

300whisper said:

I believe feenix covered it too. He did a screen shot, so you're slacking!!

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Aye Sir, from the same website!

FIGJAM said:

Sure, they will keep the parts and skills necessary to service it for 30 years - they don't say how much that will cost you. I am sure it isn't cheap, even if you slow boat that ---- back to Germany...

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Touché Fig, that is good customer service. Hard to beat that! Leupold actually sent me a loaner a few days before an elk hunt when mine went tits up. The elk hunt before that one a Leupold went down two weeks out and they swapped me one in short order. The problem is, does it make up for all the problems I've had with them? No, it is them just doing the right thing. Which seems so hard for guys/companies to do today. I know I sound like I'm bashing them, but all I'm doing is sharing my experiences. I actually bought two Leupolds and 4 Vortex last year, all at a good price of course. Would I trust them with my life or the hunt of a lifetime...good Lord I hope it never comes to either!

Well Kimber7mam I have only sent one scope back about 18 years ago it was a Leupold vx3 that I bought used. 2 week turn around. Oh ya no charge. Haven't had a problem with any of my Leupold since.

FEENIX said:

View attachment 130868

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I saw that - made me wonder if it was like IOR's US service center. Based on my experience they are just a middle man with the mothership. I was waiting days and weeks for communication from them, whenever I got a hold of Val over there he was always waiting to hear from Romania...i was underwhelmed with the whole process and a little ****ed I was dealing with Romania

FIGJAM said:

Nightforce makes the same claim - they were advertising the scope that took a bullet in combat and kept working allowing them to complete the mission. I am not questioning S&Bs quality or reliability - I think they were the gold standard. I just feel like other companies have stepped up to the plate and have created equally reliable, quality optics for a lot less money.

I know Vortex gets a lot of crap, but I have a lot of respect for the company - they have their ear to the ground and have made an effort to put out an american made product that is exceptional in the AMG - maybe at 37 years old I am finally growing up and trying to be more sensitive and aware, but in the last couple years, whenever I can afford it I support american manufacturing or companies who are making an effort. I think Vortex is one of those. Leupold is another - luckily I didn't get into them until a couple years ago and my first Leupold was a VX5HD - another exceptional american made optic.

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Oh I'm not here to change minds, just getting facts straight. I'm sure, and agree. Hell, people have shot the SWFAs and they worked, scopes now days are made good.

Me? I'm not without bias, I used it in the military, now I may or may not still travel abroad for this or that doing the same **** for more money and I personally still use what I'm used to for duty purposes. I trust it. Nightforce and vortex and others is cool too. They have military versions of their civilian lines. Swaros however are not typically as rugged hence their lightness, are probably shouldn't be dropped or beat.

That being said, I'm ALWAYs down to get jap scopes or other brands of euro made optics, used or other, for the best deals I can for other things I do for funzies. So it makes no difference to me who uses what. Except leupold. Leupold to me is still trash compared to...everyone else. I don't think most people NEED to go buy a $3000 scope for "hunting" personally, but if they want then whatever.

FIGJAM said:

I saw that - made me wonder if it was like IOR's US service center. Based on my experience they are just a middle man with the mothership. I was waiting days and weeks for communication from them, whenever I got a hold of Val over there he was always waiting to hear from Romania...i was underwhelmed with the whole process and a little ----ed I was dealing with Romania

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I remember waiting for several months (I think over 6) on one occasion. Totally sucked because this was a present from my wife after a deployment to Iraq.

I guess I just don't understand how the "best scope money can buy" that cost around $3000 is built like a brick **** house, weighs a ton. Has what I consider a poor warranty.

FEENIX said:

Aye Sir, from the same website!

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I'm sorry I'm over here trying to smoke some carne asada in the rain. I wasn't keeping up

FIGJAM said:

I saw that - made me wonder if it was like IOR's US service center. Based on my experience they are just a middle man with the mothership. I was waiting days and weeks for communication from them, whenever I got a hold of Val over there he was always waiting to hear from Romania...i was underwhelmed with the whole process and a little ----ed I was dealing with Romania

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Good question. I have a couple of IORs but don't have any experience with dealing with any warranty/service issues as of yet. I was at Romania in 2017 for an 8-day European tour and near their plant, just could not find the extra time for a visit ... maybe next time.

dfanonymous said:

I'm sorry I'm over here trying to smoke some carne asada in the rain. I wasn't keeping up

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Come on, you know the rule, you have post them good eats. YUM!

The top S&B optic here would set you back $5000 Cnd funds and change...

That's 2 1/2 Night Force optics.
4 mid priced Vortexs.
5 $1000 Leopold optics.
8 mid price Nikon's.
3 Sightron for national match.

But most folks only need 1 or 2 optics,,, the left over $3000 allows for 3 to 4 months of hunting so long as you stay in the mountains to hunt the full season.

The trick is to spend all the left over funds on food and a good par of boots to walk off the food you ate... Ha.

Pretty sure I know where the win win is at on the hunting grounds...

Now if I won the power ball I'd be looking at this different. LOL