As part of our attendance at this year’s IWA fair, we had the opportunity to stop by the Schmidt & Bender booth and check out their latest products. The company flaunted the new single addition to their riflescope collection – the S&B 10-60×56 which was developed for competition shooting. Longtime clients of S&B products will most likely be familiar with their long-standing S&B 12-52×56 series that gained popularity among customers over the years.
However, with the relatively high price point and the emergence of competitors like March, the popularity of the 12-52×56 began to decline. By bringing Schmidt & Bender 10-60×56 to the table, the company is now surprisingly entering the F-class category with clear intentions of a comeback.
General Overview of Specifications
Although the 10-60×56 was the company’s only novelty at this year’s IWA, the product immediately looked promising. Expanding upon its proven components, the Schmidt & Bender 10-60×56 incorporates the MTC II turrets which set S&B apart from other manufacturers.
The Double Turn II+ elevation turret allows for click values of 0.1 MIL, while the Multi-Turn II turret permits even finer adjustments with click values of 0.05 MIL. With the scope’s main tube diameter of 34 mm, the company’s engineers have made it possible for an impressive elevation adjustment range of over 23 MIL.
The model on display at the fair featured a MIL-based M1FL competition reticle in the first focal plane with an illuminated interrupted center cross and a free-floating center dot. However, the company states that 10-60×56 will be offered in the second focal plane with MOA reticle and turret configurations with click values of ¼ or ⅛ MOA soon.
With a 56 mm objective lens diameter, the scope delivers a 90% light transmission, which provides a clear and bright picture even at high magnifications. The larger knob positioned on the left side next to the tube operates the side focus/parallax adjustment and provides a large field of view. The “LPI,” which stands for “Illumination Parallax Integrated,” allows for the use of illumination with 11 levels of adjustment and 20 m to infinity parallax adjustment.
It was no shocker that the housing is made of high-quality aluminum which looks sturdy and robust. The manufacturer claims the scope can be used in a temperature range from -40 °C to +61 °C. What is more, the internal components have been thoughtfully arranged to achieve a weight of just under 1000 g, which is impressive considering the scope’s size.
Final Thoughts
Schmidt & Bender’s 10-60×56 is set to make its debut at the end of the year, and we are thrilled to see the company re-entering the F-class market with a refined product. The scope is a step up from its predecessor, particularly in terms of eye relief which was the weak point of the 12-52×56 series, and we anticipate that it will continue to evolve in the future. Schmidt & Bender’s commitment to using top-notch turrets and premium materials is a welcome sight, and we are pleased to see the company sticking to their high-quality craftsmanship. The starting price for the scope will be 4959€, which is to be expected from a device in this class.
With limited options for high-quality F-class scopes on the European market and Kahles being mostly an isolated exception, it is fair to assess that the Schmidt & Bender 10-60×56 is poised to become a top contender in the F-class race.
While Nightforce, Sightron, and March will likely pose direct competition, we believe that Schmidt & Bender has something unique to offer in this segment, and the company is headed in the right direction. One thing is certain – the 10-60×56 will find its way to the customers as it has all the potential to drastically change the F-class community. We look forward to seeing its impact on the market.
