Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Got a S&B Polar Ordered!

Just picked up a Polar T96 in 3-12x54 and I am excited! I hunt large fields and food plots for Whitetail deer, hogs, and coyotes in the southeast. Would love to hear any personal experiences with the scope and particularly the things that are most important to me, low light performance and clarity.

Thanks!

I can't wait to hear about your impression of it.

This one is on my bucket list.

I turned 50 this year and decided to treat myself! Has been a bucket list item for me too. I will let y’all know for sure!

Wow, that thing’s impressive. Not as heavy as I’d expect either.

Congrats!

Thanks, Pappy!

Have the same scope.....you won't be disappointed!!!

Thanks 300!! I’m excited for sure!

I had been talking to Bobby Tomek on the site for a while and getting his opinion on them. He probably has more experience with Low Light optics than anyone on the site and his input helped me tremendously in my decision to spend the money. I too hunt fields and open plots but most of my hunting is dense hardwoods where it will block out the sun way before legal times here in Louisiana. Most that hunt out west and up north don't understand how dark it can get fast. There is one area on my 150 acres that its still legal light and without the polar, you just simply can see, let alone 30 min after sunset. So I decided to pull the trigger on it. I went with the 4-16x56. I wanted the extra magnification because I do make trips out to south west Texas in wide open mesquite fields. You will also like the illumination system if your model has it. The polar has the ability to be turned down so low that the illumination doesn't over power your pupil, thus making those last minute shots very capable. I too am 50 and my eyes are going down the toilet. I only wish I would have talked to Bobby sooner and pulled the trigger on one sooner. You'll enjoy the heck out it. Picked up a scopecoat as well to protect it. Here is mine on my tikka 308.

Thanks so much for sharing! Reading Bobby‘s posts and information on various threads was super helpful for me as well. It’s really good to read your first-hand experience. I eased into the water by picking up a fixed six power S&B Klassik last year and was impressed with it, but the Polar was the goal. The conditions and variations of your hunting set up are exactly like mine. I spend a lot of time in the hardwoods and Pines. And you are right, especially on an overcast evenings you lose light well before legal shooting is over.

Mine is going in a Tikka as well! That is a nice looking rig there.

What reticle did you get? I went with a D4 on the 2-10x50 I ordered earlier this year. I also ordered a Klassik 8x56 with an L3 and took these plus a VX-5HD 2-10x42 that I had for comparison several evenings as the sun was going down. Maybe it wasn't a fair comparison, but both S&Bs were much sharper as light got dim. I can't say that the Polar was that much better than the Klassik 8x56, but it might have had a slight edge in brightness. I prefer the reticle on the Polar and of course the variable power. So, if I had to choose between them I'd choose the Polar but not because the image is significantly better.

I too had a Klassik, 2.5-10x56. Actually bought it from Doug (site sponsor) years ago. Was a very nice scope. The one thing that I noticed from the Polar to the Klassik is the illuminated dot on the Polar is like a pin prick and to my old eyes, can be turned lower output setting than the Klassik. Which is better for low light hunting. The polar did also allow me to see longer until total darkness. Oh and BTW, if you have legal shooting times where you are, you better watch out. With clear skies and a little moon light, I could easily go to jail for making shots well over 100 yards at night using only a very little moon light and the illumination.

I went with the illuminated D4. Man I hope it is brighter than my Kassik fixed power!!! Because it sure cost a lot more. But honestly if it gives me five more minutes of shooting it’s worth it to me. I know it’s not worth it to a lot of people but I will spend 30 or 40 evenings a year and there’s no telling how many good bucks I’ve killed in that last few minutes in the pines or hardwoods or at the far end of a field.

And that’s not to mention the meat does I will shoot after waiting to the last minute, and the hogs. Spread out over a decade it is about $150 a year. Worth it to me. I k ow everyone is different.

I believe the laws are 30 minutes after sunset in LA and NC. If those are the rules you are hunting under, I'd think that less expensive scopes would also work. I've made much later shots using a 30 year old Leupold, but conditions were ideal in those cases. As far as comparison with the Klassik I own (just that one 8x56), I have to say the improvement is slight. I doubt that image quality between these two scopes will ever make or break a shot. I still doubt I'll reliably get 60 minutes past sunset unless conditions are right. YMMV.

I get it! Try 1 hour after sunset here in SC. Following with interest.

GreggH

Billy, in your first post you said both scopes were significantly better than the Leupold. I currently have a couple of VX-5’s and one VX-6 so that’s pretty good to hear. Thanks for sharing that.

+1


Yeah the same ones that tell you a 3-9x40 will work and that is all one needs. I gave up trying to convince people that thought that way. I have spent a small fortune on lowlight stuff the last 20 years and finally have what I need.


I sold my Polar a few years ago (2.5-10x50) when I sold my 7mm Accumark that it was mounted on . I guess it was the 34mm tube and limited mounting options . I still have S&B, Leica and one Swaro lowlight scope. I also have 10x56 SLC bins which are incredible in lowlight. They are really fun to use in the dark .


It was not unusual to hunt an hour or more after sundown in AL since there were no fixed laws on shooting time where I hunted. They have since changed it to 30 minutes after sunset but I can still see the benefit of great optics.

Good for you! Everyone's eyes are different, so get what works best for you. I hunt some thick stuff in Western Wa. I have a really nice elk on my wall because my hunting partner could not see out of his scope and mine (Zeiss Diavari FL) was as bright as high noon.

I'm envious, wish I had one. You have to give us a quick write up after using them a few times, please.

If it’s significantly better than a Kahles Helia C 2.5-10x50, I need to get one!

Yessir I absolutely will! Will give a first impression then will do a follow-up after a few days afield this fall.