Glad I found this post. I just purchased my T5Xi 3-15 last week. I upgraded from my Vortex Viper PST 4-16 SFP. I am a scope newb, and hardly a scope snob, but owning the Vortex for the last few years I feel has made me appreciate a finer optic all that much more.
I did a lot of research on this optic and got mostly negative reviews and feedback, mainly surrounding a few things:
-Glass quality and manufacturing claims
-Turret tracking
This really dissuaded me for a while but I was impressed how Steiner/Burris/Beretta responded by actually acknowledging the issue, and providing a fix. I took note that virtually everyone who had sent their scope in for retrofit, found it tracked perfectly upon return. I also found this review, which is more recent than most of the negative forum posts on the scope:
High End Tactical, Part V: The Cruiserweights » OpticsThoughts
The author also lists the T5Xi as his top pick for tactical scopes under $2000:
Riflescopes: Under $2000 » OpticsThoughts
After reading this in depth review and talking to a few other sources I highly respect, I decided to make the purchase. I ordered mine directly from Steiner-Scopes.com, they were running a promotion, free pair of rings, and free action cam rebate deal. For $1499 I ordered my scope and rings.
The scope shipped a few days later (from Burris HQ in Greely, CO) But to my disappointment, I learned on delivery day, the shipper had entered my address incorrectly and my scope was being sent back. I was able to contact the rep and he was able to overnight another scope to me, unfortunately just not the rings. I ended up buying a set of Seekins low rings myself (look for a set of 34mm low Steiner rings for sale here soon).
When it finally arrived I immediately noticed something different about it, that relates the the first complaint many have on this scope. The "Germany" text engraving on the ocular bell was not present as shown on marketing materials. To me this meant two things: these do not have German glass, and some Germans at the real Steiner factory may have gotten offended.
Like I said, I am a scope newb so take my opinions FWIW, but I am thoroughly impressed and happy with this scope. The glass isn't as clear as a Razor or S&B's I've looked through, obviously. But I would easily put it on par with the few Nightforce scopes I've looked through, and it was definitely a step up from the Viper PST I had. As mentioned in the review I linked, I really had to spend some time getting the diopter set up just right, but once it was the glass was fantastic. I will say, however, the illuminated reticle did not impress me much, even compared to the one on my Viper, although I didn't get much time looking at it in the dark, especially after I got the diopter dialed in.
I performed a simple box test, and ran the turrets while comparing a fixed object in view to the reticle: The unit seemed to track OK, but I understand this is hardly scientific. After getting a zero and adjusting my turrets at the range, I ran both the turrets up and down all the way several times, I also played with the parallax and the unit returned to a perfect zero each time, producing nice groups right on the bullseye.
As far as the fit and finish: all the knobs and turrets had a good solid feel. I did notice a few spots on the logo where the lazer engraving did not complete, hardly a functional matter, but something to take note of. Also, some of the lines on the turret knobs seemed a bit faint, I scrubbed them with a q tip and some isopropyl which cleaned away whatever gunk was there.
All in all, this was the single most expensive firearms related purchase I've ever made, and I haven't yet regretted it.
I'll post some pics and additional thoughts later.