Falcon M18+ Owners Opinions welcome
- Thread starter sidester
- Start date
After my previous experiences with Falcon scopes, I'll put put the money toward something with a better reputation/warranty. Bushnell, Vortex, Leupold, Sightron. Maybe they will cost me more, but I know that I'll still have a usable scope in 5 years, and won't feel like I wasted my money
I have an m18+. Haven't used it yet though, been too busy with work 
Gonna put it on my savage 10 .308
From what I can tell out of the box it seems solid, clicks feel good, lenses are clear.
I think I paid 565ish shipped and taxes in
Gonna put it on my savage 10 .308
From what I can tell out of the box it seems solid, clicks feel good, lenses are clear.
I think I paid 565ish shipped and taxes in
I've bought 4 of the Menaces over the years. Like you guys, really happy with it out of the box. 2 X the 4-14, and 2 X the 5-25. Bought them because a friend recommended them. Paid an average of $500 per scope, so about 2K invested in glass.
Had a 4-14 on my Remington 700. Shooting off the bag at paper, and the parallax adjustment/focus knob just fell off. Threads didn't seem to be deep enough to hold it on. I'd had it over a year at that point. Forget any warranty. I've since got it to stay on with super-glue but I sure don't trust the scope. It's now on a .22
Put a 5-25 on my Savage .223 HB. Shooting one day and turned the power ring to increase magnification. Funny! The little dot that you line up with you numbers has moved. Managed to get it tight so t wouldn't move anymore, but it now sits at about 2:30 on the scope. It looks a little funny on the .22 it now sits on. It's almost bigger than the .22
So I've got 2 Falcon scopes out of 4 that are still functioning the way they should. BUT, do I trust them - not on your life. I won't put them on anything that I might take hunting, or to a PRS shoot. I just don't trust them not to fail when I need them. 2K invested in scopes, and what do I have to show for it - nothing. AND, just for the record, I do not abuse my scopes or my rifles. Warranty? Forget it. Maybe I'd of only had one scope for the money, but that 2K would have bought me Leupold, or even Nightforce, that I'd still have and trust
I have had issues with other scopes. Every company has its off days. But over the last fifteen years the 2 issues I had with Vortex, the scopes were promptly replaced. The Hi-Lux scout scope that had dots in the field of view? Wolverine shipped a new one out to me before they even received the bad one in the mail.
Maybe Falcon has made a better scope. Maybe they'll stand up. Maybe you can trust them. But, until I see a better warranty and service, I'll let you guys gamble with your money, and do the beta testing.
Had a 4-14 on my Remington 700. Shooting off the bag at paper, and the parallax adjustment/focus knob just fell off. Threads didn't seem to be deep enough to hold it on. I'd had it over a year at that point. Forget any warranty. I've since got it to stay on with super-glue but I sure don't trust the scope. It's now on a .22
Put a 5-25 on my Savage .223 HB. Shooting one day and turned the power ring to increase magnification. Funny! The little dot that you line up with you numbers has moved. Managed to get it tight so t wouldn't move anymore, but it now sits at about 2:30 on the scope. It looks a little funny on the .22 it now sits on. It's almost bigger than the .22
So I've got 2 Falcon scopes out of 4 that are still functioning the way they should. BUT, do I trust them - not on your life. I won't put them on anything that I might take hunting, or to a PRS shoot. I just don't trust them not to fail when I need them. 2K invested in scopes, and what do I have to show for it - nothing. AND, just for the record, I do not abuse my scopes or my rifles. Warranty? Forget it. Maybe I'd of only had one scope for the money, but that 2K would have bought me Leupold, or even Nightforce, that I'd still have and trust
I have had issues with other scopes. Every company has its off days. But over the last fifteen years the 2 issues I had with Vortex, the scopes were promptly replaced. The Hi-Lux scout scope that had dots in the field of view? Wolverine shipped a new one out to me before they even received the bad one in the mail.
Maybe Falcon has made a better scope. Maybe they'll stand up. Maybe you can trust them. But, until I see a better warranty and service, I'll let you guys gamble with your money, and do the beta testing.
I have four Falcon scopes, three of them are 8+ years old, and one I purchased a couple of years ago.
The only one to let me down is the newer one, it basically fogged up in really miserable weather (miserable even by VI standards) in March this year. I have used it since, everything works okay, but I am looking at getting it repaired / argon purged so it will not fog again.
Would I recommend them them as a brand, probably not on the basis of warranty. Are they good value for money, yes, as long as you do not have a problem, which it appears that a lot do.
As with most things, go the next step or two in terms of cost and you will have a better product. I really like Sightron, but I have had to have one of their unit replace too, so nothing is certain.
The warranty on a scope is important, so that really remove's Falcon from the line in for most.
Candocad.
The only one to let me down is the newer one, it basically fogged up in really miserable weather (miserable even by VI standards) in March this year. I have used it since, everything works okay, but I am looking at getting it repaired / argon purged so it will not fog again.
Would I recommend them them as a brand, probably not on the basis of warranty. Are they good value for money, yes, as long as you do not have a problem, which it appears that a lot do.
As with most things, go the next step or two in terms of cost and you will have a better product. I really like Sightron, but I have had to have one of their unit replace too, so nothing is certain.
The warranty on a scope is important, so that really remove's Falcon from the line in for most.
Candocad.
- Location
- Central AB
I have a M25 IR/B that I'm very happy thus far, mounted on a Tikka Varmint in 204. But I've only had it for 18 months or so. Guess time will tell, but so far I'm impressed with the features, given the lower price.
Some people have had luck with them and no complaints. I'm working on a 50% failure rate. For the price, I don't think there is another scope out there that offers the features. FFP optics for under $600, that's unheard of.
But, if you go out tomorrow and your focus knob falls off, or the lens are fogged up with moisture, will you feel that you've wasted your money? Given that the warranty is non-existent will you be happy with a $500 paper weight.
- Location
- Central AB
From what I've read the M18 and M25 series are much better quality than the old menace scopes. But I adopted the "I'll give it a try" philosophy. So far so good. Would I be happy with a $500 paper weight? Not especially, but life would move on. But I've bought surplus scopes from Bosnia, Israel, France etc. There are few guarantees with these, so I just accept the risk. Quite often it works out OK, some times not. Such is life.
Went through the appropriate steps, or the steps that were available at the time. This was over 5 years ago. If you search some necro-threads you'll find a few discussions on the topic. At that time there was no "warranty centre" in North America - don't know if there is now. There are a lot of "Lifetime" warranties out there, that sound really good, until you try to use them. Kel-Tec comes to mind.
I, too, tend to have a try it and see attitude. I've tried optics and parts from different makers and countries. I've found some very good values over the years. Maybe I sound a little bitter in my previous comment, and maybe I am. Part of it might be that I truly liked these scopes, and felt very disappointed when they failed. But the question was asked what the issues were that I had, and I explained.
I am not saying don't buy them. The options that they have, at the price point, are pretty much unbeatable. And their quality may have improved since my experiences. These new models do have some good reviews, but so did the Menace's when they came out. I was simply letting the Op know that there have been issues with this brand in the past, and that if you are on a budget and you need a scope/warranty that you can depend on this might not be the answer.
I, too, tend to have a try it and see attitude. I've tried optics and parts from different makers and countries. I've found some very good values over the years. Maybe I sound a little bitter in my previous comment, and maybe I am. Part of it might be that I truly liked these scopes, and felt very disappointed when they failed. But the question was asked what the issues were that I had, and I explained.
I am not saying don't buy them. The options that they have, at the price point, are pretty much unbeatable. And their quality may have improved since my experiences. These new models do have some good reviews, but so did the Menace's when they came out. I was simply letting the Op know that there have been issues with this brand in the past, and that if you are on a budget and you need a scope/warranty that you can depend on this might not be the answer.
Its the reticles and reasonable optics that I have fallen for. I'm a fan, even though one has fogged up.
If I had more $$$ at the time of purchase, i would have still bought, one, maybe two. But I didn't so thus the purchase, they appear great value for money.
At around $500, given the warranty challenge I would now go higher in quality if I had the money available. But they are still tempting!
Candocad.
If I had more $$$ at the time of purchase, i would have still bought, one, maybe two. But I didn't so thus the purchase, they appear great value for money.
At around $500, given the warranty challenge I would now go higher in quality if I had the money available. But they are still tempting!
Candocad.
This is a good thread; I'm torn between going with the Falcon for the FFP and the MRAD Reticle (with matching turrets!) or the Vortex Viper 4x16-40 PA Second Focal Plane and BDC Reticle. I know, apples and oranges but I'm trying to get a scope that'll be fun for targets and good for hunting.
Or do I get the Nikon Prostaff 5 FFP with the BDC Reticle which is basically the love child of the Vortex and the Falcon!? Decisions, decisions!
Or do I get the Nikon Prostaff 5 FFP with the BDC Reticle which is basically the love child of the Vortex and the Falcon!? Decisions, decisions!
Last edited:
