It is not only aesthetic aspects and manoeuvrability that are fuelling the current trend towards short and compact riflescopes. In particular, the emergence and widespread use of night vision and thermal imaging attachments is accelerating the demand for compact riflescopes enormously. One of the pioneers in this field has been the traditional German manufacturer Steiner from the very beginning. With the new Ranger 4S 4-16x44, it is now presenting a particularly short riflescope that even undercuts the already small dimensions of the Ranger series. We took a closer look at the Ranger 4S and tested it in practice on a Bergara BA13 Take Down rifle.
Construction and field of application: Steiner Ranger 4S 4-16x44 technical details
Weighing just 518 grams, this very lightweight and extremely compact scope with a length of 278 mm is particularly suitable for applications where weight and small dimensions play a key role. The Ranger 4S is not only a lightweight all-round scope for petite guns, such as takedown rifles, but is also particularly suitable for hunting in the mountains thanks to its small size, weight and maximum 16x magnification. Thanks to its short overall length and small objective lens diameter, it is also ideally suited as a basic scope for night-time use.
Optical quality: our first impression of the Steiner Ranger 4S 4-16x44
The optical performance of the Ranger 4S is outstanding. High-contrast lenses with a special coating ensure a light transmission of over 90 per cent. The illuminated reticle in the 2nd focal plane is known as the 4-Al fiber dot. The very fine illuminated dot can be dimmed in 11 illumination settings (6 night / 5 day). An integrated automatic switch-off function ensures that the battery is conserved. If you forget to switch off the red dot, it switches off automatically after six hours. The sharp-edged image is not outshone by the red dot, even in difficult lighting conditions, making the scope ideal for twilight hunting. Colour fidelity is outstanding,
With a magnification of 4 to 16x, the Ranger 4S offers great flexibility. The low magnification is ideal for use at shorter ranges, while the higher magnification enables precise shots at longer distances, as is usual in mountain hunting. The combination of compactness, variable magnification and low objective lens diameter makes it a versatile companion, especially in combination with a thermal imaging attachment.
Steiner Ranger 4S 4-16x44 technical specifications and price
| Model: | Steiner Ranger 4S 4-16x44 |
| Magnification: | 4x – 16x |
| Objective Lens Diameter: | 44 mm |
| Exit Pupil: | 10.8 - 2.95 mm |
| Eye Relief: | 85 mm |
| Field of View (at 100 m): | 11 m - 2.75m |
| Main Tube Diameter: | 30 mm |
| Elevation Adjustment Range (to 100 m): | 116 cm |
| Windage Adjustment Range (to 100 m): | 116 cm |
| Adjustment per Click (at 100 m): | 1 cm |
| Parallax-Free: | 50 m – ∞ |
| Light Transmission (ISO 14490-5:2005): | 90% |
| Reticle: | 4-AI fiber dot in the 2nd focal plane |
| Reticle Illumination: | Yes, 11 settings with automatic switch-off |
| Battery Type: | CR2032 |
| Lens Tube Diameter: | 51 mm |
| Overall Length: | 278 mm |
| Weight: | 518 g |
| Price (RRP in Germany): | 1,250 euro |
Our first conclusion on the Steiner 4S 4-16x44
The new Steiner Ranger 4 S riflescope only had its premiere at the IWA in March this year. Lukas Dorn from Steiner Optik had already presented the scope and the idea behind it to us in detail in a video interview. The shortest riflescope (only 278 mm) with 4x zoom comes from Germany. With the Ranger 4S 4-16x44, Steiner has succeeded in creating a very short and lightweight all-rounder that cuts a fine figure for stalking, in the mountains and also for night hunting with attachments. Thanks to the parallax compensation with a large adjustment range (close range 20 m) specially designed for use with thermal imaging clip-ons, high magnifications can be used at night. Optics and function proved to be flawless during our practical tests.
The adjustment turrets are clearly labelled and are protected against unintentional adjustment with aluminum caps; the maximum adjustment range is 100 cm in elevation. The zoom ring covers the adjustment range with just half a turn and is rubberised. It can be moved softly and smoothly, but with the necessary feedback. The eyepiece has a rubber ring to protect the eye when using high recoil guns. The eye relief is a comfortable 85 mm. The diopter adjustment (+2 to -3 dpt) is located at the end of the eyepiece as usual. The field of view ranges from 2.75 m (16x magnification) to 11 m (4x). This means that both the features and the optical quality are just right. What makes the Steiner Ranger 4S unique compared to the competition is its short length and low weight.
Even though we did not expose it to any strong forces of nature in our short test, the material quality and the workmanship of the optic gave absolutely no reason to doubt Steiner's well-known ruggedness. And last but not least: €1,250 is not much for a mid-range hunting all-rounder made in Germany.
