New Optics line development - Need your input

norlandgeese said:
Do you mean the quality will be at the Schmidt-Bender and IOR level? Or just that you like the features of those brands?

It would be great if:
(1) Each click does exactly what it is supposed to do consistently.
(2) Once zeroed it does not shift.
(3) If anything goes wrong, it is backed up by the kind of warranty Vortex offers.
(4) Accurate side parallax adjustments.
(5) Compact 1-6.
(6) Compact fixed 6.
(7) Usable built in back-up iron on top, better that the ones on the Elcan scopes.
Click to expand...

(8) Horus reticle
 
I have a 1-4x, I have a hard time continuing to justify it's existence.
2-10x? Sign me up. Even the 2-8x is more functional to me than 1-4x
And honestly, 3-12x is likely the sweet spot for what I need.
Fixed 4x? Considering the amount of time I put my 4x lower than 4, it might as well be a fixed power scope.
Fixed 10x, I agree with NavyShooter. Make it a bushnell 10x killer.

I like spring loaded turrets I can reset to zero easily.
3.5"+(I like 4") eye relief that's consistent is preferred.
10x magnification and above, needs adjustable parallax.
I'd prefer a germen #4 reticle for lower power scopes

My rifles are pretty much limited to 100yrds as the closest common use distance, while I might find myself on the range shooting 600yrds the odd day.
Hence, why my thoughts are likely different from others.
 
1) FFP
2) locking turrets that match the reticle and have a zero-stop
3) illuminated christmas-tree reticle that matches the turrets and is not BDC (not horus though, since their royalties add to the price)
4) 4x or more zoom (ie 1-4, 2-8, 3-12, 4-16, etc)
5) parallax adjustment

in the case of a 1-x scope parallax adjustment not necessary, and a dual focal plane setup would be best.
 
Everyone shooting 3-gun now is using an optic that switches to zero magnification for close in shots.

Then flip a lever and instantly go to 4x or 6x or whatever magnification.

Make sure your scopes do that. It's a big selling point.
 
I'm always on the lookout for an FFP scope like my Falcon Menace but with better glass that doesn't cost thousands:
FFP
4-16x44ish
mil/mil
30mm tube
some sort of enhanced mildot
 
I say take a page out of vortex's book; they offer the best glass in any given price range that I have seen, up until the options include swarovski. They have a warranty that undoubtedly sells more items and engenders customer loyalty (I have personally passed over other brands and bought vortex knowing that if it breaks it will be fixed, no questions). As for a product line, the market seems to be short on scopes that have reasonably portable sized objectives. I doubt I am alone in using my riflescope to be a spotter at the range when shooting or zeroing, but when I hunt I dont really want a 56mm objective to pack all over hell's half acre. So for a hunting rifle scope, a large magnification range is a huge plus, but not the massive objective. I say a 3.5-18 or 4-20x44 is a pretty ideal product; a 3.5-21x44 would be amazing. Most hunters are happy with the ability to use up to 7-8x in low light but can cheat and use their riflescope to spot targets at the range in daytime light. Also, unless you want a scout/pistol scope it is hard to find a 2 or 2.5x fixed at all. A 2 or 2.5 fixed by 20 or 25mm with good glass and an illuminated reticle in the $300-400 range would be a great product.
As an aside, a feature that really seems to sell well is a ballistic turret type system. I personally like them, even knowing that they are of fairly limited use (lets be honest, who here can actually, reliably shoot more than 400 meters in a hunting situation? If its less than 400m, the ballistic systems are of little utility shooting most modern cartridges), but as you must sell this product I would think that it would be a feature that many, if not most, are looking for.
 
Honestly I think the trend RIGHT NOW is the 1-4 and 1-6 30mm tube. Like the Vortex strike eagle and the Vortex crossfire II.
 
What would be awesome is a matched set of lenses (in what ever the magnification is you choose to get made) scope , field binoculars . Helps with eye transfer when out in the field.
 
4-24x range for magnification, 30mm tube. I have a Vortex Strikefire for my 1-6x needs but I'm very interested in a good long range scope for my Model 10 PC.
 
Regardless the glass/coating, and optical system design, 1-10x in ffp will give a huge challenge to who ever trying to design that reticle. Either too thick on 10X or too fine on 1X.
I remember even S/B have been screwed up once on optical designs, which we can say it is a serious high tech business.
After spending quite a bit of "tuition" on no name, weirdo scopes, i found good glass/coating, good optical design, and good mechanical parts, are the most important elements.
Don't get caught up with non-piratical fancy options and high zoom ratio. Usually, they have been placed there to cover up other(maybe major) flaws, such as smaller area of view, blurry edge of the sight picture, losing focus on higher power, unstable tracking,ext.
It is possible to have a product combined some good features with reasonable price, but asking everything like Nightforce in NCstar price, just not possible at all.
 
Last edited:
1-5x24 and a 2-10x44, both on 30mm tubes, MRAD based reticule (something like Leupolds TMR reticule), 0.2MRAD adjustments on the 1-5, 0.1 on the 2-10, illuminated, zero stop, locking turrets, parallax adjustments on both (maybe a novel design on the 1-5, something like a lever that switches it from "close" to "far" parallax, like a 50/250m thing).
 
Whatever it becomes it would be nice if it looked like a scope instead of a NASCAR. The current trend for scope manufactures to place lettering all over their products can be annoying. I know that I purchased an " ACME death slayer scope" I do not need ACME scrolled down the side of the tube with snake graphics on the bell and what ever reticle |I have plastered on the eyepiece. If these companies want me to advertise their gear send me a decal...but the NASCAR writing on scopes is IMHO a bit much. Even Leupold felt the need to place big white letters on the VX-R scopes. The first thing people normally remark when I pull out that rifle is " what does VX-R stand for?"
 
Hunting Rifle I would say a 3-15x40 with a 30mm tube, plain plex reticle with MOA adjustments

Target rifle I'd be looking at 5-25x56 or 4-30x56 30mm tube minimum, would want MOA adjustment/crosshair like the Nightforce MOAR-T

Tac rifle a 1-6x30 or even a 2-10x30 with general hold over reticles (BDC) for 223 and probably want to do one for 308 too
 
Basically what others have said but I think it bears repeating. I'd be happy with a fixed x10, mil-dot type reticle, matching turrets and reticle (MOA-MOA/ MIL-MIL), .1 MIL or 1/4 MOA adjustments, 100% turret tracking, side focus, zero stop, grunt-ready durability, and 30mm tube. 34mm is nice but I'm sure it'd be harder to get and definitely at a higher price point. If it's got to be variable, it needs to be FFP and go to at least x10. There are plenty of variable scopes in Canada that meet most of the criteria but fail in terms durability, matched turrets and reticle, and especially FFP. I don't absolutely need magnifications higher than x10 and this generally requires glass quality to be exponentially higher, anyway. IOR already makes a scope to these exact requirements. If you could get those, that would be perfect in my book.

IMO, the market is flooded with plenty of options for 3-9's and hunting-oriented scopes. I've yet to see more options for practical long-range shooting at a price point of $1000 - $1500. So far, it seems like only Vortex is filling this niche. While my PST performs satisfactorily, I'd like to have more options for my next rifle.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom