I’d been running a Leupold Mk5HD 3.6-18x44 PR1-Mil for about six months when I finally realized the optic was great but the reticle I got wasn’t what I needed for what I was doing. I needed a Horus or Tremor-esque reticle, something with more holdover capability and better marking for quick reference at all magnification levels.
I looked at A LOT of optics with the following criteria:
First Focal Plane
MRAD
Exposed Elevation turret (capped windage is OK)
Magnification somewhere around 3-18, 5-25, 4.5-27, etc…was flexible
Solid, tactile adjustments
Reticle that was functional at all magnifications
Illumination nice but not necessary
Reputable company
$2000 was my “target” but I looked above and below
I looked at and handled A LOT of optics. Ultimately I’ll probably end up with another MK5HD 3.6-18 when they release it with the PR2-MIL reticle but that’s another year off from what I’ve read.
I looked at and handled, to name a few, Athlon Cronus 4.5-29, Nightforce NX8 2.5-20x, Eotech Vudu 5-25, Vortex RazorHD 2 4.5-27, Steiner TX5i 5-25, and the Trijicon TenMile 4.5-30.
I quickly nixed the Razor due to weight. Great scope but was a boat anchor. The Cronus was decent but didn’t quite do it for me. The NF I handled had really difficult magnification and parallax adjustments and the eyebox was very unforgiving, and getting the eye relief clear was a PITA. I like Steiner but the model I really wanted was an extra $2k almost soooo Steiner is a “maybe later”. The Eotech Vudu surprised me. Very compact and would make a great DMR scope, and it actually was my second choice had I not been able to get what I ultimately settled on: the Trijicon TenMile 4.5-30x56 FFP/Mil. I picked it up from EuroOptic on sale for $1700, but most places it’s $2000-2600.
First, the packaging was amazing. They spared no expense with this as well as the “extras” you get with it.
It comes with a sunshade, scope coat, actual press-fit caps, and tenebraex ratcheting flip up caps…basically any configuration you might want.
The reticle has red and green illumination for your preference or target color for proper contrast, capped windage turret for transport or if you’re holding wind
The zero stop was easy to set and I had the thing zeroed in 15 rounds on my Larue SPR mount. Once I had it zeroed at 100yds I ran the steel from 200 to 600 at Panteao no problem at all. I need to dry fire a ton just to get used to the feel of it. The turrets are excellent and the lens color and clarity is very good. No issues with tracking or RTZ either.
I’ll eventually transition this to my .308 when I get the MK5HD PR2-MIL but for now…on the SPR it will live.
Specs:
20” Stainless Proof Research 1:7 rifle gas with superlative adjustable block
Geissele 15” Mk14
Rainier Arms forged receivers and enhanced BCG
CMC competition 2 stage trigger
Griffin Armament minimalist taper mount brake and SNACH
Larue 34mm SPR-E
And I know I’ve got a detailed DOPE card and holder but this is a quick reference one for the scope cap I made
I’ll update this as I get more time behind it. Things I like, things I don’t like or would do differently when I change it out, etc
I looked at A LOT of optics with the following criteria:
First Focal Plane
MRAD
Exposed Elevation turret (capped windage is OK)
Magnification somewhere around 3-18, 5-25, 4.5-27, etc…was flexible
Solid, tactile adjustments
Reticle that was functional at all magnifications
Illumination nice but not necessary
Reputable company
$2000 was my “target” but I looked above and below
I looked at and handled A LOT of optics. Ultimately I’ll probably end up with another MK5HD 3.6-18 when they release it with the PR2-MIL reticle but that’s another year off from what I’ve read.
I looked at and handled, to name a few, Athlon Cronus 4.5-29, Nightforce NX8 2.5-20x, Eotech Vudu 5-25, Vortex RazorHD 2 4.5-27, Steiner TX5i 5-25, and the Trijicon TenMile 4.5-30.
I quickly nixed the Razor due to weight. Great scope but was a boat anchor. The Cronus was decent but didn’t quite do it for me. The NF I handled had really difficult magnification and parallax adjustments and the eyebox was very unforgiving, and getting the eye relief clear was a PITA. I like Steiner but the model I really wanted was an extra $2k almost soooo Steiner is a “maybe later”. The Eotech Vudu surprised me. Very compact and would make a great DMR scope, and it actually was my second choice had I not been able to get what I ultimately settled on: the Trijicon TenMile 4.5-30x56 FFP/Mil. I picked it up from EuroOptic on sale for $1700, but most places it’s $2000-2600.
First, the packaging was amazing. They spared no expense with this as well as the “extras” you get with it.
It comes with a sunshade, scope coat, actual press-fit caps, and tenebraex ratcheting flip up caps…basically any configuration you might want.
The reticle has red and green illumination for your preference or target color for proper contrast, capped windage turret for transport or if you’re holding wind
The zero stop was easy to set and I had the thing zeroed in 15 rounds on my Larue SPR mount. Once I had it zeroed at 100yds I ran the steel from 200 to 600 at Panteao no problem at all. I need to dry fire a ton just to get used to the feel of it. The turrets are excellent and the lens color and clarity is very good. No issues with tracking or RTZ either.
I’ll eventually transition this to my .308 when I get the MK5HD PR2-MIL but for now…on the SPR it will live.
Specs:
20” Stainless Proof Research 1:7 rifle gas with superlative adjustable block
Geissele 15” Mk14
Rainier Arms forged receivers and enhanced BCG
CMC competition 2 stage trigger
Griffin Armament minimalist taper mount brake and SNACH
Larue 34mm SPR-E
And I know I’ve got a detailed DOPE card and holder but this is a quick reference one for the scope cap I made
I’ll update this as I get more time behind it. Things I like, things I don’t like or would do differently when I change it out, etc
