Steiner Predator 4 4-16x50 rifle scope review

Review: Steiner Predator 4 4-16×50 rifle scope with E3 BDC reticle


The German-made Steiner Predator 4 4-16x50mm rifle scope, with its carefully considered design, this is one of the best medium- to long-range hunting scopes on the market.

With its top power of 16x, this Predator 4 scope is obviously intended for wide-open spaces, while its bottom-end 4x magnification provides a suitably wide view for closer ranges, and the 50mm objective endows it with good low-light performance. 

Steiner Predator 4 4-16x50 rifle scope review
At a recommended $1669, the Predator 4 is a well-priced and versatile sight appropriate to a range of different hunting firearms

It has a length of 373mm (14.7”) and weighs a quite reasonable 670g (23.7oz). The main tube is 30mm in diameter and has a length of 146mm (5.75”), allowing plenty of latitude fore-and-aft to mount it on a rifle with a long action.

The Predator 4 scope is sealed and purged with nitrogen, rendering it waterproof and fogproof. From objective lens to ocular lens, the assembly’s profile is as trim and streamlined as one would expect from a hunting-style optic, but the large eyepiece and three-turret system are indications that the Predator may be as functional on the range as it is in the field.

The eyepiece houses the magnification ring, which is knurled to improve purchase. Movement throughout the power range is smooth, facilitating easy adjustment. A fast-focus ring on the end of the eyepiece allows you to quickly focus the BDC reticle.

An ocular lens with the increased diameter of 38mm (1.5”) offers an advantage by increasing the width of the field of view. The size of the field depends not only on eye relief, but the size of the ocular lens and the scope’s magnification. 

Steiner Predator 4 4-16x50 rifle scope review
Knurled adjustment ring for magnification is grippy and turns smoothly

The Steiner is also designed to give you the generous, constant eye relief of 90mm (3.5”) so that you aren’t obliged to cheek the comb at different places every time you change the power.

The etched glass reticle is located in the second focal plane and is illuminated. 

The Predator’s left turret controls parallax from 18m (20yd) to infinity, and brightness of the illuminated reticle; the top turret is for elevation adjustments while the right handles windage. 

A CR2032 battery is housed in a compartment in the left turret. There are 11 different brightness levels — five for daytime and six for at night.

Steiner Predator 4 4-16x50 rifle scope review
The turret located on the left side includes an on-off switch for the reticle, the battery compartment, and adjustment for parallax and for reticle brightness

The windage and elevation turrets feature protective caps and are medium height — taller than those on many hunting scopes but not as high as competition-style turrets. Each click has a value of ¼ MOA and both the windage and elevation dials can be reset to zero; once the scope and rifle are dialled in, simply use a five-cent coin to loosen the turret’s top cap, lift and spin the turret to align with ‘0’ and replace the cap.

The E3 BDC reticle’s most obvious virtue is simplicity. If properly calibrated and etched into glass, there is nothing to move or break. There are no clicks to count and forget. And reticles are exponentially faster than turrets when it comes to making that first shot count or following up with a correction on elevation. 

For the shooter who understands the capabilities of a BDC reticle, it is a good option. It is only if you extend the range beyond 500m that it becomes a problem.

The hashmarks placed below the main vertical crosswire in the Predator are progressive subtension lines spaced in a pattern to accommodate the ballistic path of the .223, .308 and other cartridges matching those ballistics at a specific velocity range.

The Steiner Predator 4 has the E3 BDC reticle. Once you’ve determined your bullet’s flight path, knowing which hashmark gives the correct holdover allows you to make the hit. Hashmark widths indicate the effect of a 5mph breeze at different ranges; the dots represent a 10mph wind

I’ve found that BDC reticles have their place and work just fine if the ranges are moderate and conditions are consistent. 

However, my vote goes to a scope like this Predator 4 with its MOA ballistic second focal plane reticle that has turrets graduated in the same unit of measure. Having both in sync allows a great deal of flexibility. Actually, the system will work fine with any ballistic path at any velocity using the power ring.

However, you can simply use the highest power and the Steiner app will tell you what ranges the hashmarks are good for.

There are any number of reticles on the market these days and choosing a reticle is almost always a compromise. The finer the reticle the more precise the aim, but the bolder the reticle the more quickly the eye is drawn to the centre. 

Steiner Predator 4 4-16x50 rifle scope review
Steiner has retained its pull-up turrets to zero the MOA elevation and windage dials on its Predator 4. Caps protect the turrets from damage and accidental adjustment

For shooting varmints at long range the finest, thinnest crosswire is just fine, but as the light starts to go you will have increasing difficulty seeing the thin wires. This is why the Steiner reticle, having heavy outer wires surrounding a fine centre which can be illuminated, is so versatile. It’s a very utilitarian design and isn’t overly complicated or cluttered.

Shooting the square proved the internal mechanisms provide consistent, repeatable adjustments, producing tight groups when repeatedly dialled up, down, left and right.

Glass quality and optical design have continued to improve. The Schott high-transmission glass in the new Predator 4 is very good. The fully multi-coated, extra-low-dispersion (ED) lenses are designed to allow maximum light transmission and provide crisp, clear images throughout the magnification range. Indeed, the optical quality is most impressive.

Considering the Predator 4’s array of features, its performance in our evaluation and its reasonable price tag, shooters in the market for a well-made, do-anything German scope with plenty of magnification for mid- to long-range hunting would be hard-pressed to find more bang for their buck.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Manufacturer: Steiner Optik, Germany
  • Reticle: E3 BDC, second focal plane
  • Main tube diameter: 30mm
  • Objective diameter: 50mm
  • Field of View: 10-2,5m at 100m (30-7.6ft at 100yd)
  • Exit pupil: 9.2-3.0mm
  • Eye relief: 90mm (3.5”)
  • Adjustment range: 30 MOA
  • Click adjustment: ¼ MOA
  • Length: 373mm (14.7”)
  • Weight: 670g (23.7oz)
  • RRP: $1669 (2024)
  • Distributor: Beretta Australia

 

 

 


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Nick Harvey

The late Nick Harvey (1931-2024) was one of the world's most experienced and knowledgeable gun writers, a true legend of the business. He wrote about firearms and hunting for about 70 years, published many books and uncounted articles, and travelled the world to hunt and shoot. His reloading manuals are highly sought after, and his knowledge of the subject was unmatched. He was Sporting Shooter's Technical Editor for almost 50 years. His work lives on here as part of his legacy to us all.

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