Schmidt & Bender 5-25×56 PM II 2FP Scope Review
Schmidt & Bender 5-25×56mm PM II SFP Review
Test conducted by RifleShooter.com
For police and military use, the Schmidt & Bender PM II (Police Marksman) is the gold standard of extreme use rifle optics. Other high end scopes aspire to the PM II’s level of durability, optical clarity, repeatability, and performance. With our assistance, RifleShooter.com recently conducted an in-depth test of Schmidt & Bender’s 5-25×56 PM II, Second Focal Plane (SFP) version. Here are the results…
» READ FULL 5-25x56mm PM II Scope Review (LONGER VERSION)
The test scope is a 5-25×56 PM II (SKU: 677-911-995-A8-A2) with a Second Focal Plane (SFP) P4FL2-MOA reticle; double-turn elevation with rotation indicator; single turn windage; 1/4-MOA click values; illuminated reticle; and side adjustable parallax from 10 meters to infinity. This is an impressive beast — a big, sturdy, well-made optic.
Schmidt & Bender scopes have sophisticated features and a wide array of available options. The many options and features of the 5-26x56mm PM II are explained in this Schmidt & Bender video:
Second Focal Plane (SFP) Reticles
The Second Focal Plane (SFP) reticle design works well for long-range target shooters, benchrest shooters, hunters, and law enforcement. Often, SFP reticles are associated with Minute of Angle/MOA-based reticles. For target shooters who like to dial-in the elevation corrections, frequently SFP is the preferred reticle type. Also, these reticles are offered with thinner lines and markings to aid in target shooting, by not covering up as much of the target area, which is absolutely necessary in such cases as F-Class and Benchrest shooting. With a SFP reticle the size/width of the reticle lines stay constant at all magnifications.
Tall Target and Box Tests
Commentary by Rifleshooter.com Editor
To get an idea of how the PM II tracked I wanted to conduct a tall target and box test. I set up a couple of ISPC targets at 100 yards (below).
The target on the left is for the tall ladder test, the target at the right is for the box test.
With the scope zeroed* I set up a tall target test at 100 yards. I placed a 1″ orange dot on a pair of targets (above, left). We then used a four foot level to draw a plum line moving up from the dot and fired the three shot group below.
I dialed 30 MOA of elevation on the scope and fired another group. Measuring the distance between the two groups, would indicate how well the scope is tracking.
Since 1 MOA is 1.047″ at 100 yards, 30 MOA would be 31.41″ (30 x 1.047″ = 31.41″), looking at my tape measure, everything checked out (above).
Next I conducted a quick box test and set up an IPSC target with a orange paster at 100 yards. To do this I first Fired one round with the scope zeroed, then…
Dialed 6 MOA left, fired one round
Dialed 15 MOA up, fired one round
Dialed 6 MOA right, fired one round
Dialed 6 MOA right, fired one round
Dialed 15 MOA down, fired one round
Dialed 6 MOA left and fired one round
After this, you want to see two holes close to each other on the first target, as well as the correct spacing dialed in between each hole, so how did the PM II do?
Well, it worked like a champ! The rest of my time with the PM II has been equally impressive.
SUMMARY — Our Assessment of the 5-25×56 PM II
Here are our key conclusions from testing the Schmidt & Bender PM II 5-25×56 SFP:
— It’s a lot of scope. The PM II is pretty much the best scope you’ll be able to buy anywhere in the world. There is a reason they are in such widespread Military and Law Enforcement use, it has earned its reputation.
— Great zero stop. The PM II has the easiest-to-adjust turret and zero stop system I have ever used. On the PM II, Schmidt & Bender’s exclusive “Sub Zero Stop” system allows movement below zero. On the test scope it was 1.75 MOA. This is a great feature if you switch ammunition or elevation and need to bump your zero down.
— Tracks well. This was to be expected with its widespread use by military units throughout the world.
— Crisp, precise adjustments. The tactile feel of the knobs is exceptional.
— Crystal clear glass. Great light transmission and reticle.
This Schmidt & Bender catalog page shows reticle options for the 5-25×56 PM II:
Click image to zoom
Turrets and Controls — How They Work
On the right side of the optic, you’ll notice a .250 MOA single-turn windage adjustment knob. On the top you’ll note the .250 MOA elevation adjustments. The tactile feel of each “click” is impressive — crisp and precise. A large parallax knob is located on the left side of the turret. The smaller knob located closer to the eyepiece is the adjustment knob for the illuminated reticle.
Here the view from behind the scope. Note the DT (double turn) elevation turret. At its current setting in the photo above, it is still on the first revolution (.250 MOA below 0) and as adjustments within the first revolution are made, you’d read the white numbers. During the second revolution, the windows in the top of the turret turn yellow, as shown below.
Test Rifle — .300 Win Mag in Accuracy International AICS AX Chassis
For testing and evaluation purposes I mounted the PM II in Spuhr ISMS mount on a custom made .300 Winchester Magnum rifle. Testing was done with handloaded ammo: Sierra’s 195-grain Tipped MatchKings over Norma brass and Hodgdon H4831SC powder.
This is the test rifle I used. It was built primarily with parts from Brownells.
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Here is the Schmidt & Bender 5-25x56mm PM II SFP (foreground) alongside three other S&B products:
5-25×56 PM II FFP (Desert Tan), 12-50×56 PM II, 3-20×50 PM II
Better Pricing, Better Warranty, Better Availabilty
In addition to increased production and availability, Schmidt and Bender has reduced retail pricing on PMII models 14-19% depending on the model. S&B Marketing Director Kyle Brown commented, “S&B improved its warranty in the USA for 2017, and now offers a USA 20-Year Transferable Limited Warranty. We have reduced our pricing to be competitive; and have greatly increased our on-hand inventory levels to supply our customers with complete and on-time deliveries.”Schmidt & Bender has made an effort to support the Precision Rifle Series (PRS). Brown said “for 2017 we have made a very hard push to become more active in PRS with our brand and with our products.”.
To learn more about Schmidt & Bender optics, CLICK HERE.
* Zeroing Process for PM II: The zero stop and turret settings are controlled by set screws. Zeroing is a breeze. You don’t have to move caps, insert shims, move clutch mechanisms, and so on. Simply loosen the screws, swing the turret back to “0” and you are all set. To establish a 100-yard zero, I hung a target at 50 yards, fired one round, dialed a correction, fired a confirmation shot and moved back to 100 yards. I fired one round at 100, made a correction and was zeroed. That’s it, three rounds, done.
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Tags: 5-25x56, P4FL2-MOA reticle, PM II, Police Marksman, Schmidt Bender, Second Focal Plane, Tactical Scope
Nice scope but looks like you will need a magnifying glass and instruction manual to operate the turrets.
OK, I’m confused. I cannot tell who produced this video. The only official S&B product line video I can find on their website is this one – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDby-PW4038&feature=youtu.be So where did it come from?
Please explain the difference between 64 MOA “Elevation Adjustment” and 106 MOA “Total Internal Elevation” and, likewise, between +/- 16 MOA “Windage Adjustment” and 106 MOA “Total Internal Windage”. I found nothing about 106 anything on the S&B site. Thanks.
Editor: The video was created by Schmidt & Bender. It has not been released on the S&B website yet. It is brand new and was provided to AccurateShooter.com and RifleShooter.com.
Hi
Schmidt & Bender produced and provided that video.
A tall target test and a box test, feel of turrets, etc. What comparisons with other scopes (Nightforce, Vortex, etc.) led you to your assessment that the PMII is “…pretty much the best scope you’ll be able to buy anywhere in the world”?
They are good scopes, but I’ve seen PMII’s fail on a military rifle before during normal range use. It’s price point is more expensive than the Nightforce ATACR and the Vortex Gen2 Razor HD. I would think one would need to evaluate all the scopes with those capabilities together to make such a definitive exclamation.
Thanks for responding regarding the source of the video. Now…
Please explain the difference between 64 MOA “Elevation Adjustment” and 106 MOA “Total Internal Elevation” and, likewise, between +/- 16 MOA “Windage Adjustment” and 106 MOA “Total Internal Windage”. I found nothing about 106 anything on the S&B site. Thanks.
One rev of the turret is 32 MOA. it stops at 2 revs, 64 MOA. That 64 MOA starts from where your sub zero stop is set. Mechanically it is capable of 106 MOA.
Rifeshooter.com – please explain, from a practical standpoint and in detail, how the shooter can use 106 MOA. Thanks.
Thanks for the review. I came upon it because I was wondering if you had any experience with paint flakes inside of your reticle. On my second newly purchased S&B 5-25×56 PM II ffp P4FL MOA, I discovered one the size of about 2 MOA. A few taps with my hand over the eye piece and it settled somewhere else inside of the scope. At least it is no longer in view but it is concerning that it happened at all. I find no other issues and will likely not return the scope but wanted to both include this observation in your review blog area and ask you or anyone else if they have experienced the same.
Otherwise, very pleased with my first S&B. So much so, I bought a second.
Also, wanted to add that the reticle in first focal plane is very useful as I can range distance using the mill scale and still use MOA for my hold offs (MOA version both in reticle and clicks). I think S&B identified shooters like myself who are more comfortable with MOA yet find it easier to range targets using Radians. But I do find that S&B did a poor job explaining their reticle as the instruction manual provides no example information on its use. They clearly expect the user to have a very comprehensive understanding of mils and minutes.