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That is good news. Although I kinda figured they would come out with illumination shorty after i made my purchases...

Any word on price?

I was told the same price, I guess because they eliminated the adjustable parallax they are able to keep the same price point. I don’t think illumination would be as necessary on the Forceplex but could definitely see it being useful with the MOAR, and a deal maker also.

I’d rather keep the parallax, skip illumination, and just tweak the reticle a tiny bit.

Me too.

I'm not familiar with the latest Steiner products but is this scope really in the same league with Nighforce?

The SHV is an okay scope. It's a good value for <$800 bucks. It is not in the same league as the Nightforce NXS series.

For a set and forget scope, in my opinion, the Swarovski Z3 has better glass and weighs less. Never had an issue with any of my Z3s.

I would take my Nighthunter Xtreme 7 days a week and twice on Sunday over the SHV. Again, the SHV is a good value, but seems to me to be hyped up by forum members.

If you are going to dial, the Athlon Ares BTR, at about the same price point, is a better choice. Glass is equal to the SHV, FFP, zero stop and higher magnification.

To go a step further, again, just my opinion, the best buy and value in a scope right now under $800 is the Bushnell LRHSi 4.5-18X44 being sold by GAP.

I'd be curious to hear Mule Deer's opinion. He rated the Nighthunter an 8 on his line chart and likes the SHV too.

Optics preference is certainly subjective and it does seem everybody's eyes are different.

Have you used the SHV?

Yes. Even managed to shoot a buck with one last year.

Every scope I mentioned I either own, or have owned, and some in multiples.

As we can see, one cannot make everyone happy.

We can all agree on that......

Everybody has their preferences. I prefer no parallax setting on a scope that only goes to 10x....I'd much rather have illumination on it.....but I'd prefer bolder outer posts on the Forceplex to illumination (which I'd have no objection to in addition).

....and how about adding a zero stopped elevation turret to the 3-10 SHV.

...and how about adding the Illuminated Forceplex to the NXS 2.5-10....of course, making the outer posts heavier as well.

...and how about adding.......

It can go on forever....

None of those scope you mentioned is even remotely close in reliability, durability, and correct function to the SHV. “Glass” is the most over hyped, over talked, over spent, least needed, least important, least used, piece of the scope puzzle.


One can not like them, however as aiming devices SHV’s are only bested by NXS/ATACR’s.

I’m starting to like the S&B Klassik 3-12x42 Precisión Hunter with P3 reticle. The BDC dial has 3.2 mils of elevation and has consistently returned to zero every time I’ve “run” it up and down. 3.2 mils gets me out to 600 yards which is more than I’m going to shoot at game.
At 21 oz with scope covers, it’s a lot to like. I really wish they made a PMII 3-12x42 like it.

I wasn't speaking strictly in terms of "glass." I already mentioned some of the other features. Durability is over hyped too. The pendulum has swung far the other way where posters speak strictly in terms of durability. No one on this forum is an "operator." We aren't using scopes to pound tent stakes, nor will ever need a scope to function after taking a direct hit. Most of the audience here are simply hunters and shooters.

You have way more experience behind scopes than me, for sure. And were I back in uniform and if my life depended on it, the choices may be different. But for a hobbyist shooter, and that ~$800 price point we are speaking of, those scopes will get the job done.

I beg to differ. I've had enough scopes go wonky on me, as a "simple hunter and shooter" that I value mechanical function and durability over all else in my scope choices. My days of worrying about my scope holding zero or tracking correctly are nearly eliminated.

exactly right, Jordan.

Have mentioned this before, but I've had 19 brands of scopes go wonky on my rifles, from sheer shooting. That's brands, not individual scopes. These days I only use scopes I KNOW are reliable, and the more the rifle they're on recoils, the more I rely on well-proven scopes.

Have wasted far too much time and ammunition on scopes that have gone bat-crazy on rifles, especially in the past decade. When I have to test a rifle for a magazine deadline, so don't have time to dink around with sloppy adjustments, much less the possibility of the scope failing during the tests. While I don't use Nightforce exclusively, I'm sure they'll work, especially if the testing will involve considerably shooting on a harder-recoiling rifle.

On average, us typical hunters likely stress a rifle/scope less frequently. But it’s not zero. On the rare occasion something happens like a fall, it’s nice to think you’ve tilted the odds in your favor with good equip. That doesn’t even speak to functionality. I spent a lot of ammo chasing what turned out to be a wonky scope. I’d rather not do that again. Two others had a piece hanging loose, no troubleshooting required. I’m a fan of the SHV.

Form,

I thought you liked the Bushnell LRHS. You don’t think they are close to a Nightforce?

I went to the range today, my .308 with the new SHV was among the ones I took.

Another rifle had a Superchicken.

Though I did not do an extensive and exhaustive test, I found out enough about these two scopes to cause the "warm and fuzzies" to persist.

Great point.

A scope if primarily an aiming device. That's it's first and most important role.

Glass is nice, but IMO, secondary to #1.

Other than being a tad heavy, I find no fault with the SHV or the Forceplex reticle.

DF

I believe that is an incorrect statement.