The AR15 rifle has become the most popular and widely adapted rifle in the US. Countless variants of the rifle are available from innumerable manufacturers. Its original direct impingement design that is still used by many manufacturers pushes high pressure gas from the barrel directly into the action. As suppressors become more and more common, more folks are finding issue with the design. Suppressors add backpressure, and that means even more obnoxious gas being pushed into the action and your face. Our topic today is the Breek Arms Omni-Buster charging handle. A new product designed to reduce the gas blowback into your face while shooting.
Charging Handle Design
DI charging handles have a hook shape at the front that allows the bolt carrier to be drawn to the rear. There is a hole in the front, where the gas tube that pipes the pressure directly into the bolt-carrier.
One of the many causes of unpleasant gas in the face is caused when the bolt carrier begins its reaward movement. As it disconnects from the gas tube, whatever remaining gas flow continues out the gas tube. Which is shot right down the upper receiver and into the face of the shooter. As I mentioned, adding a suppressor only exacerbates this problem.
The Omni-Buster
Breek’s Omni-Buster charging handle is designed to reduce this flow of gas into the shooter’s face. Using different geometry on the charging handle optimized for reducing the gas coming at you.
This is done with several different design features; inside the stem of the charging handle, scalloped cuts are made that work like baffles in a suppressor to slow the movement of gas. And the stem itself is shaped to reduce gas flow coming at the shooter, feeling a slightly tighter fit as well. Additionally, the raised shelf at the back also closes space where gas traditionally would flow out towards the shooter.
the Omni-Buster shown next to a competitors charging handle
It does all this while offering oversized dual handles that lock the charging handle when not in use. The two handles are interlocking with each other, to actuate the locking jaw. This also keeps the tolerancances tight to prevent gas flow through the assembly.
But Does it work?
I do a lot of shooting, and most of it is done outdoors with not a particularly high cadence. With that kind of shooting practice, I usually don’t have a problem getting gassed out. I have noticed that I dont really need low backpressure suppressor designs in these scenarios. So in order to actually see if the Omni-Buster works, I would have to change it up a little bit.
With the rifle suppressed, I would swap between charging handles before shooting some long strings of fire. Different suppressors also create different amount of back pressure, so that was part of the shooting as well. And shooting indoors would inhibit natural air currents from taking gas away, which would make it easier to notice differences. For the most part, we used the same ammunition. But that too could vary the amount and volume of gas noticed by the shooter.
After shooting quite a bit using the Omni-Buster, I can say I definitely like it. Not only for its tight fit and reduction in gas coming in my face, but also because of the large handles. Overall it felt like there was less fumes coming out of the rifle in my face while shooting. And depending on who you are and your shooting practice, even a small reduction might be worth the upgrade.
Particularly for those who shoot suppressed direct impingement rifles, this seems like a worthy upgrade. Improving the overall experience while shooting. The Omni-Buster seems to be an even better improvement over Breek’s previous designs. Its not going to completely stop the issue of gas in the face. I’m not sure that anything truly can without changing the rifle and how it works. But little improvements is how we eventually reach perfection.
With age and time, most of us develope a larger and more refined collection of firearms. If you are rifleman like me, that means your scope inventory also develops as well. I love mid-range scopes like the 3-18 and 4-16 power range, so I have worked towards adding more of them to my inventory. Today I share one of those with you; the Vector Optics Continental 3-18X50 precision rifle scope. I am no stranger to this line or Vector Optics, my experience with other scopes is what inspired me to get this one.
The Vector Optics Continental 3-18X50
Vector Optics Continental line of scopes all incorporate most of the desired precision rifle features. The 3-18 Continental is no different, it comes with many of the things precision rifle shooters are after.
Inside the Continental you’ll find the FFP VCT-34 Reticle, a Christmas Tree style reticle with a broad grid for holdovers or making corrections. Of course it is illuminated because this isn’t 1998. The reticle is matched by a set of turrets perfect for making corrections. With 10-MRAD per rotation you get plenty of mechanical adjustment, the 1/10 MRAD clicks are very tactile and can also be heard. Both turrets can be locked by pushing in, and the elevation turret features a pop-up pin indicating which of the three revolutions you are on.
With its large 34mm tube, this scope has 44 MRAD of mechanical travel within. More than enough for what most folks will be doing with this scope. And it’s 50mm objective is still fairly compact, allowing the scope to be mounted low.
All the control surfaces feature a nice texture, allowing quick and easy adjustments to be made. The diopter at the rear sharpens focus on the reticle, and the adjustable parallax on the side allows you to sharply focus your targets.
Specifications
Magnification:
3-18x
Objective Lens Dia.:
50mm
Ocular Lens Dia.:
42mm / 1.7 inch
Ocular Lens Length:
54mm / 2.1 inch
Exit Pupil:
8.0-2.8mm
Optics Coating:
VePro Fully-multi coat
Field of View:
40.8-6.8 feet @100 yards
Eye Relief:
100mm / 4.0 inch
Length:
338mm / 13.3 inch
Weight:
820g / 28.9 ounce
Tube Diameter:
34mm
Click Value:
1/10 MIL
Elevation Range:
44MIL
Windage Range:
16MIL
Side Focus:
10 Yds to infinite
Reticle:
Etched glass VCT-34FFP
Illumination:
6 Brightness Settings
Battery Type (Not Included):
CR2032
Focus/Parallax mark:
10,15, 20, 30, 50, 100, 200, 300, 500 and infinite
Including items:
34mm Picatinny high rings (default) rings, spare common elevation turret, sunshade, instruction, lens cover and a cleaning cloth
The extra included items drive the value of this scope up significantly. It comes with an extra elevation turret that you can swap out should you not wish to use the zero-stop and revolution indicator pin. A nice pair of scope rings, a shunshade and more. All boxed up nicely in an impressive package.
Unboxing the Continental 3-18×50
I wasted no time mounting the scope, as I wanted to bring it along on one of my next shooting trips. The Vector rings that come with the scope are great, and look much better quality than the typically included rings. But, for the way I was mounting this scope they were a bit high. So instead I used a set of low Vortex 34mm rings.
With the scope set inplace and torqued, all that was left was to boresight the scope prior to heading to the range. My tool-less boresight method is easy and you can read more on how to do it here.
On the Firing Line
Once I’d made it to a firing line, it was time to zero the scope. This was pretty easy after having boresighted it. In just a few shots, I had a good zero on the rifle, and it was time to set the turrets back to zero. This is done using either a coin or even better is the included plastic tool. this prevents you from marring the finish, and overtightening the turret fastener.
Left; zero-stop setting. Top right: Unlocked elevation turret with indicator pin extended showing third revolution. Bottom Right: battery compartment installing the CR2032 lithium
With the rifle already zeroed, I also decided to set the zero-stop at the same time. This is done by removing the elevation turret, and looking at it from underneath, you turn the ring inside in the indicated direction until it stops. A tiny spring-loaded pin pops into a small hole on the inner ring, which is what stops it when you turn it. If you are using a canted scope base to get more use out of your scope’s elevation, you may need to push the little pin in allowing you to counter rotate the inner piece so you can set the turret below where it comes zeroed from the factory. For more on canted bases and why, go read this.
Once the zero-stop was set, I reinstalled the turret on zero. Giving me maximum sweep of the scopes internal movement for my corrections. You could also swap out the turret for the non-zero-stop elevation turret, if thats what you prefer.
Optical Quality
Like the other Vector Continental scopes I have used, this one had a great picture. According to the companies website, they use Schott HT lenses with their own proprietary coating. I expect that is why they look so good. Not only are the images bright and clear, but there is excellent uniformity. There are no abberations around the edge of the image.
a couple different perspectives looking at the reticle, note only center of reticle illuminates (left)
The adjustable parallax in this scope allows you to get both the reticle and target sharply defined. This is a very important aspect of shooting, particularly at further distances. For more on that topic, read: All you need to know about parallax. I guess the easiest way to describe the imagery in this scope is; it looks way better than you’d expect with this price point.
Reliability
Mechanical integrity is important for precision shooting, and this scope is very repeatable. Dialing the scope across its entire elevation range is smooth and consistent. Running boxes using the turrets show it returning back to zero every time. And as a FFP scope its also important that the turret movements match the values on the reticle. Measuring movements with the reticle and dialing the correction with the turret show the values match. At least close enough to not to notice any difference.
This is not my first Continental scope, and my others have proven to be very durable. Surviving plane trips, bouncing around in vehicles and off road vehicles. Freezing temps and the damp heat of the gulf coast. I try and avoid physical abuse of my scopes, but they do get used a lot. I have every confidence that this scope, like the others will last a long time. If I was to improve anything about it durability, it would probably be the finish. It is a little easy to scratch.
Value
I keep finding myself repeating something along these lines when it comes to these scopes; I cannot believe I paid two or three times as much for scopes in the past that aren’t even close to as good as these ones (as far as features).
The optics market has been absolutely flooded with good, great and outstanding products that cost half or less than what I used to pay for good rifle scopes a decade or two ago. You can bounce over to Optics Planet and pick this scope up for a mere four-hundred and eighty-five dollars. And if you use my discount code coldbore at checkout you can even save an additional 5%.
Pros and Cons
There is plenty to like about this scope, as I’ve already mentioned. There is one drawback to this scope, and for some its a big one. A huge majority of optics are being manufactured overseas and much of them in China. For some of you that might be a deal breaker, and for others it may not be. Rest assured though, the Chinese have upped their game significantly .
As if all the things I’ve already mentioned about this scope weren’t enough, the added value is incredible. You can buy these same included scope rings for $20 on Optics Planet, which seems really cheap. But I must say they are great looking cheap scope rings, had I not known I would have said they were at least 50-60 dollar value. And the new ones they are shipping now use the dual torx screws to secure the foot, instead of the single 1/2-inch nut. The included sunshade is also a very nice touch.
Last Thoughts
Much like my experience with my other Vector Continental scopes, this one has been an excellent experience. I could see myself putting this scope on any of my hunting rifles as you’ve seen here, or on a precision rifle that can take full use of its faculties. The medium power magnification of the Vector Continental 3-18×50 gives dexterity in use, without giving up long-range features and sharp imagery. I look forward to putting this scope to work, and I will update it as my experience continues.
Even inexpensive hearing protection is better than none. I went most of my shooting career using foamies, mainly because I wanted to spend my money on things besides ear protection. But times have changed, and I am the happy owner now of several good head sets to protect whats left of my hearing. Today we are going to take a look at one of the most affordable sets I have, the Walkers Game Ear Razor Slim Ear Muffs. These are battery powered ear muffs that amplify normal sounds so you can talk and listen to whats around you, without going deaf from gunfire.
The Razor Slim Ear Muffs
Walkers Game Ear Razor (WGE) Slim muffs are available in a surprising variety of color and even patterns. The use a wire-band spring to hold the two muffs together, padded to fit the top of your head. The unit is powered by two included AAA batteries.
The muffs use dual omnidirectional microphones to pick up sounds from all directions, and their .02 second compression time means you’ll only hear safe levels of sound. Full range speakers are used in the muffs to provide clear sounds while you are shooting. This all results in a 23dB reduction in noise.
the Razor Slim muffs kept down the noise while shooting my Custom 7PRC
Powering up the unit is done using a dial on the left side, you can simply roll it with the tip of your finger. It has definitive click when it reaches the off position, so you dont waste battery life. As you roll the dial it adjustes the volume. These also have WGE’s typical input jack, allowing you to add your own sounds to the mix. Or it can be used together with WGE’s walkie talkie attachment to enhance communication between people.
On the Range
In no time I was on the range, shooting both rifles and handguns. Even though I often shoot suppressed, the fact that other shooters don’t often requires me to wear hearing protection anyways.
With the Razor Slim muffs powered up, I could comfortably hear people talking around me on the firing line. Even little things like bouncing brass and footsteps on the dirt would come through. This gives you much better situational awareness while shooting, and that can be important around others.
Wearing the muffs for an hour here and there during the course of my shooting gave a good impression. Some other muffs often give me a headache from squeezing too hard. The soft cups of these muffs felt fine, and even sealed up over the temple arms of my glasses well. To be sure they were comfy, I even wore them around the office for a few hours.
Pros and Cons
These muff are perfectly serviceable for most shooting purposes. Whether you shoot indoor or outdoors like me, they will keep you hearing safe from gunfire. I will say this, when shooting extra large guns like the 50BMG, you may want to double up by adding some foamies underneath the muffs. I love the various color patterns, allowing you to get your own custom look. Additionally it is much less likely to get your muffs mixed up with someone else’s. They fold up nicely, and fit easily into your shooting bag.
I am not sure if my demerits for these muffs are fair. I have several other pairs of hearing protection, but they are significantly more expensive. While the others might be more comfortable, and have added tech like bluetooth, that comes at a cost.
Whereas the WGE Razor Slim muffs are obviously meant to be more for the mainstream. If you need those additional features that come at a higher price point, you can certainly look at WGE Recon or Firemax muff sets.
Unless you are some kind of professional shooter, these WGE Razor Slim muffs are more than enough hearing protection for most American shooting enthusiasts. And even if you are a professional shooter, they’d still probably work. I am going to make sure they are always in my shooting bag, in case I need them, or someone needs to borrow a set. With a street price under $60, its a small price to pay to keep your dirty shooting fingers out of your ears.
Holster options are as diverse as the spectrum of pistols they carry. And the different options that people use for carrying handguns can be quite subjective as well depending on the situation. Today we are looking at another new to me holster, like many modern holster designs this one has some unique design features. Our topic today is the Blackpoint Tactical Leather Wing OWB holster.
My Ruger RXM fit perfectly in the holster, note belt loops and their diameter
The Blackpoint Tactical Leather WING Holster
Blackpoint Tactical is an American company based in Georgia, with a focus on making holsters that are comfortable and concealable. They manufacture various different holsters but our focus today is on their Blackpoint Tactical Leather Wing OWB holster. It uses both traditional Kydex and as its name idicates, Leather Wings.
This dual material construction has its advantages. The traditional Kydex gives that perfect fit and retention, while the leather gives the durability and dexterity that handgunners have enjoyed since the beginning of carrying a gun. Extremely durable metal belt loops are attached using steel fasteners, the same ones are used to attach the leather to the Kydex as well. The leather wings give a natural flex-point for comfort when moving, sitting and other activities.
These holsters are available for a variety of popular pistols, mine is made for a Glock 17 pattern pistol. You can order the holsters molded for specific weapon light combinations, and since I usually use the Surefire X300 thats what I got.
When you order the holster you can specify much more. Different color patterns of both Kydex and leather can be specified for customization, as well as right or left-handed. You can also select a canted angle or straight depending on how you like to carry your gun. Different belt loops are also available, allowing you to fit whatever belt you plan on using.
Features
Leather Wings– Allow for ultimate comfort, reliability, and concealment by allowing the leather to curve naturally to the body.
Metal OWB Loops– Eliminates a common failure point on many OWB holsters.
Sweat Guard– Standard option that extends from top of holster between body and firearm. Protects gun by providing a sweat barrier from the body. Protects body from gun when holstering. Provides touch point for ease in holstering.
Cant Options– Available straight up and down or at a 15° forward cant.
OWB Concealable– The thin mounting profile of the holster allows for OWB concealment.
Thread Locker– Applied to all screws to prevent loosening over time.
Additional OWB Loops– Available in 2.00”, 1.75”, and 1.5”. Our adjustable loop is 1.75” and allows for adjustments in ride height.
OWB/IWB Conversion– All OWB holsters can be converted to IWB by removing the OWB loops from the back of the holster and attaching IWB loops to the front of the holster.
Wearing the Blackpoint Tactical Leather WING Holster
Over the course of several weeks of daily carry, I familiarized myself with the Lether Wing holster. My main pistol for carrying in the holster was a Ruger RXM. This pistol is also configurable using either a G19 sized grip or the G17 sized grip. I used both during my testing but as you might imagine the smaller grip was more concealable. I also used another Glock clone pistol, this one was the BCA Grizzly 9mm. A full size G17 clone.
Comfort and Fit
For this type of holster I prefer carrying behind my right hip. But I did try different variations both further towards the hip and further towards the back. As always with such things, this greatly depends on the comfort and preference of the person doing the carrying.
The flexibility of the leather on this holster did make it a little more comfortable, allowing it to move just enough. I did notice when worn more towards my hip, the natural pivot point when sitting did cause a little pinching sensation. As clothing/holster flex when I sat, there was sometimes a little bit of a squeeze where I didn’t want it. This also could be related to my physical shape (more round than not), and will of course depend on yours. In the end I found it wasn’t a problem by moving the holster further around towards my back.
There is a Kydex “ear” that extends up to prevent the slide from riding against your clothes or skin. This is always a nice touch, especially for those of us who aren’t as slender as we once were.
Retention
The tight fitting Kydex kept my pistol secure in the holster. There is a definititve snap sensation when the pistol is seated or pulled from the holster. I wouldn’t call it a hard pull, it felt like just the right amount of retention to keep the pistol safely secured. Without making it hard to access. The retention varied obviously with different pistol designs. Friction alone should be plenty to keep a CCW pistol like this secured, and the clutch of the Kydex is just right in my opinion. Unless you plan on riding roller coasters or doing tuck and roll dismounts you shouldn’t have a problem.
the Ruger RXM and Surefire X300 combination fit perfectly in the Blackpoint Tactical Leather Wing holster
Due to the two sided Kydex clam-shell design, there is a natural split at the bottom of the holster. Left open to prevent accumulation of debris and the dreaded CCW fuzz-ball. The gap is almost enough to even use my RXM with the threaded barrel installed. Even if I needed to trim it slightly it would still work.
Quality
Blackpoints build quality is great, with quality fasteners holding the whole thing together. The screws do not come loose, and there are strong rivets holding the individual pieces together. The nicely finished edges make it less likely to snag on clothing, or harsh against skin. And the handsome different patterns available allow you to match your holster to your style and tastes.
Pros and Cons
Almost all of my complaints when it comes to CCW issues stem from comfort and printing. Both of these issues should be reason enough for me to get in better shape, which should fix the issues. But as it pertains to this holster specifically, there is little to complain about.
Other Glock patterned pistols like this BCA Grizzly also fit nicely, even with large optics like the Gideon Omega
I mentioned the slight pinching issue I had, but I already mentioned how that can be remedied. I suppose the only other thing I would change about it if I could would be to make an option for thinner belt loops. I found there was just enough slop between my belt and holster loops to allow some movement. Not a big deal, but something I would prefer given the chance to change it.
This holster gives a very secure place for your CCW pistol. With great retention and placement, without giving up some dexterity in how you wear it. It also allows plenty of room for pistol mounted optics, like the Gideon Omega seen here.
Final Thoughts
As I mentioned at the beginning, a holster is a lot like a ladies purse; which one you use depends greatly on what you intend to put in it that day, what you are wearing for an outfit, and where you plan on going. I have found that this means you are bound to end up having various holsters for different occasions and activities. I have found that the Blackpoint Tactical Leather Wing OWB holster is a great asset to have in my inventory.
When I first started down this rifleman’s path, like many others I found myself lusting over the high power long-range rifle scopes. It never fails, whether in media or our daydreaming that we think of a big powerful sniper scope filled with all the bells and whistles you can imagine. But is all that necessary? I’ve been down that road a few times now, and I can tell you about it.
Large Magnification
Many long-range optics are higher magnification, like 6-24, 5-25, or even beyond 5-30 power. While there is nothing wrong with these scopes, and I have quite a few of them, some folks seem to think that these scopes are going to make them more accurate at long-range shooting. While not wholly untrue, it certainly is problematic for those who think a big scope will make all the difference.
3-18 power scopes offer excellent diverse settings for hunting rifles like this AR15
I have done a significant amount of long-range shooting using what many would consider low magnification scopes. Keep in mind that barely a generation ago, a straight 10X scope was used by many military and law enforcment snipers. I myself have shot many targets at as far away as a thousand yards with as little as 6 or 8 power scopes.
Another thing I have noticed about all scopes, is the dimming effect when they are at maximum magnification. The image looses some of its sharpness and detail.
You’d be very surprised just how much you can get done with less magnification, but why would you want to? Lets get into that…
Why a 3-18 You Ask?
Larger scopes like the ones I mentioned above are often bigger, heavier, and have 50-plus millimeter objective lenses. This means they have to be mounted higher above the bore. It also makes the overall profile of the rifle larger.
One of my favorite scope sizes is the 3-18 range of scopes. They are usually shorter in length than bigger scopes, and they can also be mounted closer to the bore. And often they will have 50mm or smaller objectives.
3-18X offers both wide angle viewing for close encounters or locating targets, while also offering enough power to articulate precise shots on even distant targets
Also, as I am mainly a hunter, I like having the low power option. If I am sneaking through a forest looking for targets, its nice to back off the power to as low as 3X. Making it much faster to acquire a moving target, especially at closer ranges. And should I need to shoot an animal that is way out there, 18X is still plenty of magnification to cleanly see and take a shot. I often find that regardless of what magnification scope I have, I most frequently shoot no more than 14-16X anyways.
Suggestions
I have several 3-18 power scopes, all of which I can strongly recommend. Which one simply depends on your taste and budget. All of them are FFP, which is certainly my preference. There are many other features worth looking at too.
Sadly, I dont find the GLX available many places anymore. They still sell the SLX but it is a 50mm objective. One of the reasons I love the GLX is because of its 44mm objective that allows me to keep the scope low, and the overall rifle compact. It is built on a 34mm tube which gives a lot of erector movement within the scope.
The locking 10-MIL turrets and zero-stop on this scope make it great for hunting. Sadly, it only locks secure in the zero position. The reticle might be a touch busy for some, and I have other preferences myself, but its still very useful. Its throw lever makes it quick to adjust, and its parallax and illumination make it adaptable to various purposes. At just under $500 these are a great affordable option.
the GLx has done extremely well on every rifle I’ve put it on. This custom 10/22 you see on my Two Vets Tripod is just one of many
For just a little bit more, you can also get the Vector Optics Continental 3-18X50. This 34mm tubed scope has a slightly larger objective, but also gathers more light. It also has locking 10-MIL turrets, with a zero-stop. It also has a rotation indicator pin to help you keep track of what revolution of the turret you are one. The turrets on these scopes are among my favorites.
Optically the Continentals are also very good for the price, giving a very sharp and bright image. The reticle of the Continental is also very useful for various tasks, and it is illuminated too. It also has added values like included sunshade and rings.
Moving up in price a little more, is the US Optics TXH 3-18X50. This one retails for just under $750, but if you use my discount code you can save 15%. The TXH is also built on a 34mm tube, and has the larger 50mm objective. Like the previous mentioned scopes, this one is also pretty short by comparison to other long-range optics. Making it a good candidate for a small precision rifle. This scope has been used on a dozen or more rifles in my collection, jumping from gun to gun. Its definitely durable and can stand up to heavy use.
the TXH is often at home on my Desert Tech WLVRN, which is also constantly changing calibers
Again I am a big fan of the turrets on this scope, the outer ring of the turret locks up and down to prevent unwanted movement. And you get 10-MIL per revolution of the scope, with sharp audible clicks. An easily set zero-stop is also a nice addition. You can read the complete review of the TXH here.
Various reticle options give you a little bit of choice with the US Optics TXH, which you don’t get with the previous two scopes. And the reticle can be sharply focused with the parallax adjustment, all the way down to 10 yards. It can also be illuminated for low light conditions.
the TXH has proven very useful at long-range, making a perfect shot on this mule deer at 500 yards. Read all about the hunt here
Starting at around $1999, the Mark 5 3.6-18X44 from Leupold is a significant step up in price. That should be expected as big names draw big prices. I love the size of this scope, it is likely the most compact of all the scopes mentioned today. A must have if you are going for the smallest footprint. This scope is built on a 35mm tube, just enough different from the norm to be irritating. And requiring some different mounting options.
But like the others, the Mark 5 uses 10-MIL turrets that lock on zero. It does feature an indicating pin on top of the turret to let you know which rotation you are on, which is very handy. It also has a variety of reticle options, some of which greatly increase the price. There are both illuminated and non-illuminated reticle options, and again the price change is significant.
Other things like included throw-lever and capped windage turret make it stand out a little bit. I understand this scope is popular with law enforcement as a compact sniper rifle scope. To read all my thoughts on this scope you can read the review here.
Starting around $2600, the Kahles 318i is at the top of my list. It brings the highest quality out of those mentioned, with a long history of quality service. Like most of the others it is built on a 34mm tube, and they opted for a 50mm objective. Despite it not having the 44mm size, it is still very compact, only a fraction of an inch longer than the Leupold.
The turret design on the Kahles uses 16-MIL per rotation, needing only two turns. On top of the elevation turret is the indicator pin that lets you know which rotation the turret is on. The windage turret is on the left side of the scope, which makes it easier to operate with your non-shooting hand while targeting.
The parallax adjustement ring is right under the elevation turret, and adjustable down to 25 yards. The new Kahles turrets feature a spinning outer ring, to avoid inadvertent movement of the turret, a nice feature that works well. The various reticle options can be illuminated by a variable brightness knob on the right side of the housing.
Exceptional clarity and brighness can be expected from these scopes. As well as sharp tracking and durability. For my whole opinion about this scope, read the review here.
Honorable Mention
Perhaps becaus of its cost, the Kahles would likely be the last one of these scopes to leave my collection. But I do love the scope, so its not just about the price. It gives outstanding views and rock solid performance.
Besides that, I think the Vector might be the overall best buy. I think it gives the best optical performance of the cheaper priced options mentioned (albeit a small margin). And it brings excellent mechanical performance and features. Though its Chinese origin is a deterrent for many. Of course if you use my discount code at checkout, the TXH is pretty close in cost, and you get a more reputable name from a US manufacturer.
Last Thoughts
There is nothing wrong with the higher magnification scopes, I use them almost daily. Just keep in mind that lower power scopes can be just as useful, and perhaps even better depending on the application. Its not lost on me that there is some cost involved, and if you are going to spend a significant amount of money, you might want to go for the max. I get that, and have done it myself.
Perhaps it is with some affluence in ones gun collection that he can afford to diversify both guns and scopes in such a way. If so, I recommend you aim for that. Lets get out of here before I start in on 4-16X’s….
Maven Optics has worked very hard at producing quality optics and selling them direct to customers. Their products are built in Wyoming (one of my favorite states) from high quality components sourced from places like Japan. I am not new to Maven’s products, and I’ve been very happy with my experience so far. You can read more about other Maven products I’ve used here. But today we are looking at a more recent product, the Maven M.2 12x50mm Monocular. A compact handheld 12X monocular, basically a handheld spotting scope.
I love optical devices like this one, but my immediate thoughts were whether or not I would want this monocular over binoculars. Or if I would leave my spotter in the truck to carry this instead. Hunters love reducing their loadout weight, so carrying an extra optic might be a big ask. But what if it fits in the palm of your hand?
it fits nicely in the palm of your hand
The Maven Optics M.2 12x50mm Monocular
I eagerly opened the box containing the Maven monocular, and was impressed with the packaging and quality. The monocular came with a soft Maven cinch-bag, as well as front and rear rubber lens covers. It also came with a wrist strap that attaches to the lens body, but can be quickly detached by a clip if needed.
The controls of this thing are as simple as you’d expect. There is an adjustable eyecup at the rear, and a ring around the center of the body to adjust focus. That’s about all there is to it, as this thing was made for looking.
Specifications
Magnification
12x
Obj. lens diameter
50mm
Exit pupil
4.2mm
Field of View (FOV)
5.5°
Apparent FOV (FOV x Power)
66°
Field of view (ft/1000 yds)
289
Brightness
17.6
Light transmission (%)
93.80%
Twilight factor
24.5
Multi Position Eyecup Y/N
Yes
Eye relief
17.5mm
Near focus
7.5ft
Dimension WxHxD
2.31″x6.56″x2.31″
Weight
20.0 oz
Lens constr. obj.
3 groups 4 elements (ED)
Lens constr. ocular
4 groups 6 elements
Prisms type
Wide Angel Schmidt-Pechan
Prism reflective coating type
Dielectric Coating
ED Glass
Yes
Phase correction coating
Yes
Lens coating
Scratch and Oil Resistant
Pressure tested to what pressure
1m for 30 min. (IPX7)
Storage temperature
-40°~158°F
Functional temperature
-13°~140°F
Frame material
Magnesium
Internal gas purged
Nitrogen
Tripod Adaptable Y/N
No
Origin
Japanese components assembled in the U.S.
I spend a lot of time in the springtime Rocky Mountains, mainly chasing Rockchucks. I couldn’t think of a better reason to break the little Maven M.2 out, it would be great for glassing up some chucks.
In the Field
On a beautiful spring day, my son and I climbed to the eight-thousand foot peaks near our home. And in the cool breeze we sat in the sunshine, looking for varmints that might be doing the same thing.
In the process I got very comfortable with the M.2. I was impressed with how small it is, and how great the image is when looking through it. Whether we were looking close at 100-yard targets or across a deep canyon, the M.2 provided a great picture. It’s 50mm objective lens is likely responsible for taking in so much of the view.
I was also surprised at how sharp the focus was, and particularly how close you could focus on things. It was also impressive that I could focus on things across my kitchen, as well as across a canyon. I wish I could attach this little monocular to my phone for taking pictures.
the wrist-strap is handy for keeping the M.2 close and safe from falls
The rubberized eyecup is nice, and rotating it you can accommodate your preference from the eye. Both front and rear lens covers are made of that stretchy and sticky rubber texture. This makes them more likely to stay in place. It also made it a little more challenging to put into the cinch-bag. The sticky texture of the rubber doesn’t like to slide against the fabric. Not a big deal, but slightly annoying as I like to keep it inside the bag to keep it clean and dust free.
The small strap loop built into the bottom of the housing is perfect for attaching the sling and lens cover lanyards. The wrist-strap is nice, but not sure I’d use it much. I almost wish they’d have put a small threaded boss in the bottom to allow attachment to a tripod. But I have no problem just setting it comfortably in one of my rifle saddles just as I do with binoculars.
Optical Clarity
I have been quite happy with the optical performance of this unit since I first looked through it. The images are very sharp and detailed, giving excellent observational use. Low light conditions like just before dark or as the sun rises are also seen very well through the Maven M.2. The large objective does a great job compressing the landscape into a smaller high definition package for the eye.
With its 12X, some might feel it is a bit much for a handheld device. As I only plan on using it supported, its almost like having a tiny spotting scope in your pocket. When supported by a tripod or backpack, it allows impressive definition of targets and their surroundings.
Usability
This thing is much smaller than I anticipated, which is great news. You wont believe this, but it just like having… half a binocular…
It fits great in the pockets, and is easily used single handedly while your other hand holds a gun or tree branch. The real question when it comes to usability is whether you want to carry the M.2 monocular AND a pair of binoculars, or the M.2 monocular OR a pair of binoculars. It seems not only superfluous to have both, and perhaps even a bit gaudy if you throw a rangefinder into the mix as well.
Durability
As with other Maven products I own, this M.2 Monocular is very well built. Everything is tight and tucked neatly together, I have every expectation that this optic would last for years. There is very little to wrong with it, so unless it gets dropped or run over I don’t see how it might otherwsie fail. And even if it did, Maven has a great unconditional lifetime warranty.
Value
Looking for comparable monocular choices, I found very little that is even close. There is a wide variety of monoculars for significantly less money than the M.2, but they don’t look to be anywhere near the same class either. Most other monoculars that cost more are thermal monoculars that cost thousands not hundreds.
That said, I think you really need to want this monocular in order to justify it. For around the same price you can get a similar pair of binoculars from Maven. Unless you are a one-eyed pirate, there must be a good reason to want the monocular configuration.
set atop my Two Vets Tripod, this thing is stable and very handy for spotting
Pros and Cons
One reason you might want a monocular is because they are lighter than binoculars. This unit is surprisingly light for what you get from it. If I was on a very remote hunt where every ounce mattered, the lightweight of this unit would be appealing. Its amazing views would be very helpful for both identifying and evaluating trophy animals. As well as general observation. The controls are tight and feel very smooth.
The only downside I can think of is that if you already have comparable binoculars then you probably dont need this. In my opinion it would be an excellent optic to keep handy, unless you already have a pair of binoculars for the same purpose. This does fit easily in the glove box of the truck, giving me an always available high quality optic for observing.
The Maven M.2 was easily tucked in a pocket of my Eberlestock Pack, always handy for spotting
Last Thoughts
Whether you use this as your main spotting optic, or like me, as a capricious indulgence, the Maven M.2 is a very nice addition to your kit. Its quality build and excellent imagery make it suitable for just about anything you need to look at.
Today we are taking another look into riflescopes from DiscoveryOpt Optics. Our topic today is their DiscoveryOpt HD Gen II 5-30X56 Riflescope, not a new scope but it is to me. Having had a good experience with another similar scope from DiscoveryOpt, I was curious to see how this model compared. These optics are manufactured in China, which brings a bit of a double edged argument. On one hand, they are very affordable when compared to better known manufacturers. But they are affordable because they are made in China which some folks might find distasteful at best. I have been impressed at how Chinese made optics have improved even in the short time I have been paying attention to them, so let’s get into this scope and see if its worth your time and consideration.
The DiscoveryOpt HD Gen II 5-30X56 Rifle Scope
My very first impressions of the HD Gen II scope were not unsimilar to the last riflescope I reviewed from DiscoveryOpt. Good packaging accompanied the scope on its arrival, and some included accessories that would be very nice.
In addition to the scope itself, I found they had included a set of 34mm scope ring (the rings are available at additional cost) As well as a 56mm sunshade, and some of the little things most scopes come with like lens cloth, tools and stickers. Also were some nice flip caps that look like a clone of the expensive kind from Tenebraex.
Like the last DiscoveryOpt scope I got, this one has some very standout features like very large turrets. They also included a throw lever on the magnification ring which is nice, and it appears to be removable too. I didn’t remove it for reasons I’ll go into later. At 38 ounces, this beast is NOT lightweight. As soon as you lift it from the box you can tell it is heavy, which comes as no surprise when you come to terms with its physical size. These scopes are built big, bigger than the rest I would say. Every other 56mm scope I have easily fits inside the 56mm objective of this scope.
The large turrets are quite nice, moving 10 MRAD per rotation which I consider the minimum these days. The clicks are both audible and tactile, and the turret is easily zeroed loosening four tension screws around the top. Underneath the turret you will find the zero-stop lock ring. It is also secured by four tension screws that lock it to the hub of the turret. And the ring engages a machined in post on the housing base, it is easily set once the scope has been zeroed to the rifle.
here you can see the zero-stop lock ring, and the post it stops against
Specifications
Magnification– 5-30X
Focal Plane– FFP(First)
Objective– 56MM
Tube Diameter– 34MM
Iluminated– Red, 6 Brightness Settings
Length– 15.0in(380mm)
Weight– 38.1 oz(1080g)
Click Value– 0.1 MRAD | 0.25 MOA
Turrets Functions– ZERO-STOP
Elevation Adj. Range– 33 MRAD | 116 MOA
Windage Adj. Range– 17 MRAD | 60 MOA
FOV– 25FT(7.6m)~4.0FT(1.2m)/100YDS
Exit Pupil– 9.3-1.9MM
Eye Relief– 3.5 in(9.0cm)-3.4 in(8.6cm)
Parallax– 25-∞ YDS
Recoil Rating– .50 BMG
Fog Proof– Nitrogen Purged
Waterproof– IP67
Battery– CR2032
Inside the scope you will find the MRAD reticle, which uses the popular “Christmas tree” stylings. With great detail that allows you to measure and correct for all kinds of downrange eventualities. The reticle is illuminated using the control stacked on top of the parallax turret on the left side of the scope. Only the center 1-MRAD of the reticle illuminates, which I like, as well as the center dot of the reticle that I prefer. The parallax itself is adjustable down to 25 yards, which is handy for those who intend on using this scope that close.
A closer look at the DiscoveryOpt rings
Mounting and Zeroing
Before I even started mounting the scope, I did find a problem. It’s hard to say whether this damage occured before or during shipment but either way it’s not good. Either the packaging foam isn’t enough for a scope this heavy, or it happened prior to shipment. For full transparency, the box showed no signs of damage.
The damage itself became apparent while trying to thread on the sunshade. After an abnormally long effort to try and thread the sunshade onto the objective, I found that the scope bell had been slightly bent (from impact I assume), this out-of-round-ness made it near impossible to align the sunshade properly and engage the threads.
Mainly because I understand that things can happen, and I am hard on equipment, and also because my Saintly Mother didn’t raise any quitters; I chose to correct the issue myself. With a soft plastic hammer, I gave the objective a couple taps back in the right direction against a soft but solid surface. Once the circular geometry was reinstated, I threaded the sunshade on carefully.
I can totally understand why some folks wouldn’t have done this, and would have instead opted to send the scope back for a replacement. I guess I am a little less concerned with cosmetics and such. As long as it works as designed I am ok with making it work. Furthermore, it was quite apparent that the damage was only affecting the shade installation. As the damage didn’t even get close to the objective lens.
After correcting the issue, I decided to mount the scope to a host rifle. For that I chose one of my favorite rifles of all time. A custom Tikka T3 chambered in 25 creedmoor, and paired with a KRG Bravo chassis. You can read more about the rifle itself in the article: Operation Quarterlord.
The included rings that came with the scope looked perfectly good, with four cap-screws and two screws for the foot. I mounted them to the picatinny rail on the rifle, and settled the scope into place to level it and adjust for eye relief.
With that done, I carefully torqued down all the fasteners, keeping an eye on the level and equal closure.
Zeroing
Later, in the field I zeroed the scope to the rifle by first bore-sighting the scope to get close, followed by making a few adjustments. Using the reticle, I measured the distance between where my first shot impacted and my point of aim. With that correction in mind, I turned the turrets a commensurate amount to bring the point of impact and aimpoint together. I fired a couple additional shots to confirm a good zero.
My first trip into the field with the DiscoveryOpt HD Gen II was a visit to one of my favorite deer hunting spots. A place where this rifle and scope combination would be a perfect tool for taking a Mule deer. Ranges varied from as close as 100-yards, and as far as I dared shoot. I ended up shooting a variety of different scenarios out to around 920-yards.
As is typical for me this time of year, much of my shooting involves small white naturally occurring quarts stones. Contrasting brightly against the wet dark mountain soil as snow melts around it. The wet soil is great for spotting misses, and impacts are clear when the puff of white dust comes from the target, or it is obliterated entirely.
Shooting different directions and angles gave plenty of opportunity to test this scope out. Dialing different corrections for different ranges, as well as adjusting focus and parallax for the conditions allowed.
Optical Quality
A Mule deer doe seen through the scope
With big lenses like this, I expected the view to be quite sharp. And while it was certainly serviceable, I found it to have just enough aberration to irritate me. Mainly at the higher power settings like 25x plus, it seemed there was a slight fuzziness of the image. Almost like part of the image was focused and part of it wasn’t.
This phenomenon was only slightly irritating, and it was less noticeable when it wasn’t zoomed in. While I’m sure that scope snobs who are used to high end Japanese and German optics would find it unacceptable, I am less concerned. Mainly because this scope retails for $270, and at that price I think it isn’t as big a deal.
The color and image otherwise seen through the scope are above average at this price point. Like other scopes in this ballpark, it could also do a little better in twilight. But again, using this scope for normal daytime shooting at anything other than maximum power is still fine.
Usability
Using the controls on the HD Gen II were simple and intuitive. The larger turrets are easy to grip, and you can both feel and hear clicks when adjusted. The sweep of the magnification ring is pretty broad since this is a 5-30 power scope. But the added throw lever makes short work of adjusting the zoom.
This combo didn’t leave much squirrel for the dinner table
I did find that the parallax adjustment was a bit touchy. You can focus as close as twenty-five yards, it then goes up to fifty, then one and two hundred. The final increments are 500 and infinity, but there is very little adjustment between even the two-hundred and infinity. This makes the parallax adjustment very short across the range of adjustment where you need it most.
I like the reticle, it has enough subtensions to be very useful without overcrowding the scope making it hard to see. The illumination only lights up the center MRAD, which is a nice touch. A couple other features that are icing on the cake, are the zero-stop, flip caps, and the included scope rings.
Reliability
Testing the values of this scope were easily done with this rifle, and its well known predictability. Measuring the movement of the reticle against the turret values proved to be accurate enough for long-range shooting. Using data from previous engagements gave good accurate hits.
The only thing left to see as far as durability, is how this scope stands up to weather, use and abuse. I intend on giving it a great workout during this spring and summer. So check back later as I will update this story in the future.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Very affordable price point
large objective for good image gathering
10 MRAD Turrets
Zero-stop feature
included accessories (caps, rings, shade, throw lever)
Cons
Heavy construction and bulky size
Very tight parallax adjustment
Optical aberrations (particularly at high power)
the turrets on this scope are fantastic
My Conclusion
All in all, I think the DiscoveryOpt HD Gen II is a good scope. I have certainly had much worse over the years, and paid more money for them as well. Its truly hard to believe you can get a scope like this for so little. While there are some deterring things about the scope, I think they are comepletly subjective to the end user. For some folks the drawbacks I mentioned might not even be a concern, especially considering the price for this scope. While I do like this model, I think I prefer the other DiscoveryOpt scope I have, its only a little more, and worth it in my opinion.
-CBM
If you are looking for great inexpensive riflescopes, click here to see more.
Do you need match ammunition? What is match ammunition? And is that more important than matching ammunition? These are all good questions and today we intend on getting some answers to them. To help you avoid overspending on ammunition as well as getting the results you want out of the ammunition you buy, we’ll dive into what makes for the best ammunition.
Different components create different results
Match Ammunition
Before we get too deep, let make sure we understand what we are talking about. Match ammunition is typically ammunition loaded for precision competitors. It varies some from one manufacturer to another, but essentially it is ammunition made with a high level of consistency. High quality components are often used as well to increase consistency and performance. Things like uniformity and steady ignition patterns are sought after in match ammunition.
Accuracy is simply consistent performance that allows you to anticipate impact loacation
Uniformity and consistency are what makes accurate ammunition, particularly from one lot number to another. Consistency means the next shot is very likely to do what the last shot did, allowing you to anticipate where it will go.
High quality components and the equipment and the manufacturing practices that make consistency possible are often more expensive. This usually translates to match ammunition costing a bit more than other ammunition types.
some components cost more than others, but that doesn’t always translate to better performance in YOUR firearm
Matching Ammunition?
When I say matching ammunition you might wonder what I’m talking about, let me explain. Every rifle is a little different than the next one, even two consecutive rifles off a production line. Due to the tiny intricacies of each firearm and the way it was manufactured, one rifle might have a taste for one ammunition selection over another. Your rifle might like 150 grain bullets and mine might like 165 grain bullets.
testing different ammunition sources until you find the best performing option might actually save you money
Modern manufacturing has greatly reduced inconsistencies from one firearm to the next, but you can still often see this anomaly between firearms. And the higher the price tag for certain firearms often means they are less susceptible to this phenomenon. What that means is; just because your favorite ammunition shot great in one rifle, doesn’t always mean it will shoot good in another.
I have found it key to try many different ammo options with some firearms in order to find one that shoots best. And that might not always be the match selection. I’ve also seen plenty of people buy some super expensive hunting ammo thinking it gives them an advantage. When in fact their rifle doesn’t shoot it well, and they end up having accuracy issues. They might of been better off shooting some cheap Remington Core-Lokt had they checked. And an accurate shot is more important than a specialized one, read more about that topic here.
whether you are hunting or sport shooting, the cheaper option might be just as good or better. Our youngest hunter in the family took this, his first buck shooting handloaded Sierra Match King X bullets from a Browning X-Bolt 2.
Matching ammunition refers to matching the best shooting ammo to your rifle. That might be some quality match grade ammo, or it might be some inexpensive Hornady Whitetail. And once you’ve found what shoots most accurately, you can match those choices to the shooting activity you choose.
The Right Application
Once upon a time, I had a nice little Savage model 10 in 308 Winchester. I used the rifle for many things including hunting varmints in the mountains and deserts of the west. The rifle shot amazing when loaded with 168 Sierra Match Kings, or Federal Gold Medal Match ammunition. Usually half MOA or better was normal for this rifle. But feeding it expensive ammo like that got old quick. As it turns out the rifle also shot Hornady 150 grain Interlock bullets just as well. And after some testing, I found the much cheaper option to be more applicable for shooting ground hogs.
That old Savage and I made some great shots, like this one from 1000 yards
You can exercise the same diligence in your own shooting, regardless of what rifle or cartridge it shoots. You might find a cheap alternative to the expensive one you are used to. And whether you are shooting coyotes or Dall Sheep, we all like spending less money. And spending less allows you to shoot more which should improve your skills and make you a better shooter.
Tuning
Handloaders know about tuning ammunition to best fit the rifle its made for. If you don’t handload, you can still tune your rifle using things such as muzzle devices to alter performance. The whole idea is match your rifle with the best performing ammunition supply, whether that be match ammo or not.
tuning your own ammo is the best way to match your rifle
Long-range shooting often demands the higher quality bullets used in match ammunition. So if you intend on pushing distance limits you might have fewer choices. But if you are simply talking about accuracy inside the typical three to four hundred yards that most people shoot at, your options are much more plentiful.
make sure you pick a good load for the distances you plan on shooting. This 300PRC loaded with Barnes LRX is good for quite a long distance
The Verdict
In the relentless search for the best performance for our hard earned money, don’t forget to check the easy options. Don’t assume that the best ammunition for your rifle is the most expensive stuff. I often mention my guilty pleasure of producing expensive results with cheap equipment, a practice I learned doing exactly this process. You too might find you can get fantastic performance from inexpensive components.
-CBM
top quality equipment like these dies from Redding help make better ammunition
