Category Archives: Optics

Low Power Variability: The Mueller Optics 2.5-10×44 Tac III

April 1, 2026Optics, Product reviewFfp, lpvo, mueller, mueller optics, scope, tac 3, tac IIIcoldboremiracle

Introduction

The Mueller Optics Tac II rifle scope came out to fill a purpose between tactical shooting and everyday hunting. That idea has been revisited now with Mueller’s new 2.5-10×44 Tac III. Today we are taking a look at one of these scopes, to see how it fits into the dual roles. We’ll test the scope on various rifles, and bring you our best informed opinion on it. With that said, lets get into the review of the Mueller Optics 2.5-10×44 Tac III.

Mueller, mueller optics, tac III, 2.5-10, riflescope, scope, ruger, .22lr, ruger precision rimfire,

Mueller optics 2.5-10×44 Tac III

The Tac III riflescope has received so significant upgrades. Starting on the foundation of a 30mm tube, which has become the minimum standard for tactical riflescopes. The larger tube supports a 44mm objective lens, which is a little smaller than many tactical scopes. Perhaps for a lower profile.

Inside the scope you will find a first focal plane reticle, which means the reticle will change size depending on the magnification setting. This has become a conspicuous trait of tactical scopes, as it allows quicker use of the reticle for measuring downrange details. And using these details for on-the-fly corrections.

The capped turrets can be used for zeroing the scope as well as dialing corrections. They are graduated in 1/4 MOA clicks which are very popular with hunters. The fine scale allows for precise corrections. Mueller uses what they call camera grade lenses, for precise images for accurate engagements.

Specifications

Eye Relief	3.25″
Length	13.125″
Weight	17.6 oz.
Tube Size	30mm
Color	Matte Black
Lenses	Fully Multi-Coated
Magnification	2.5 – 10 × power
Objective	44 mm
F.O.V.	36 – 11.4 feet @ 100 yards
Illuminated	Adjustable Brightness
Click Value	1/4 M.O.A.

Mueller, Mueller optics, 2.5-10, tacIII, unboxing, packaging, — fresh out of the box!

Out of the Box

After my initial inspection, finding all the included accessories and such. I decide to mount the scope first off on one of my .22lr rifles, as this would allow plenty of inexpensive shooting to test the functions of the scope.

I would mount the Mueller to my Ruger Precision Rimfire rifle, using a ZRO Delta 30mm Cantilever mount. These two went together nicely with a perfect height for the rifle. Once mounted I spent some time looking through the scope to get a feel for it. The initial clarity and sharpness of the scope was nice. And with it mounted properly I was excited to get outdoors and put the scope to work.

On the Range

With a target setup at 50-yards, I did a quick boresight job on the rifle and scope. And after loading a magazine I fired a few shots to see how close I was. It only took a couple additional adjustments before the little rifle was hitting everything I put the crosshair to. I stretched it out a bit further and I was very impressed with how consistent this combination was. It didn’t take long to figure out corrections for one-hundred, one-fifty and two-hundred yards. There was too much fun to be had. I zeroed the turrets of the Mueller Tac III, to ensure things would stay this predictably fun.

Accuracy

Adjustments of the Mueller Tac III were crisp and consistent. And they matched the values shown on the FFP reticle. The sharpness of the imagery in this scope made for very precise shot placement. I found myself taking tiny white pebbles out of a hillside some 115 yards out. And dialing corrections would make holding dead center an easy option.

Mueller, mueller optics, tac III, 2.5-10, riflescope, scope, FFP, first focal plane, reticle, zoom, illumination, — the reticle as seen at 2.5X and 10X (right), seen at maximum illumination in daylight

I am a huge fan of FFP scopes, and the execution on the Mueller Tac III is fantastic. I prefer MRAD over MOA, perhaps someday they’ll produce that option as well.

Tracking the scope across its full sweep of movement showed a smooth return to where it started. Accurate erector movement made the corrections line up with predictions.

Reliability

So many scopes these days are manufactured in Asia, even though they may have higher quality components from elsewhere. You can’t blame people for being suspicious of product quality coming from such places, though there seems to be a huge improvement recently. So far, I see nothing in the Mueller Tac III that suggests it won’t perform very well. I have drug it all over the hills here, bounced it around on the back of an ATV and it hasn’t lost zero or its great image quality.

Mueller, mueller optics, tac III, 2.5-10, riflescope, scope,turret, elevation, windage, adjustment, — the uncapped turrets of the Mueller Tac III

Quality

Lower magnification optics tend to suffer less from optical aberrations. But adding the FFP option of this scope throws a level of complexity back into its construction. With that said I can say the optical quality of this scope is much nicer than my pictures can show. That said, keep in mind that this scope is priced under $300. For that price I think its quality is at or above its price point.

Value

Looking at similar optics in similar configurations, there isn’t a lot of competition. Mainly its competition comes from low power variable optics (LPVO) that have 24 and 28mm objectives. These aren’t going to have as bright and impressive an image as the Mueller Tac III with its 44mm. And the few options that are also FFP like this one come from other brands mainly unknown and unproven in the US market.

With an MSRP of $299 this scope is neither Temu trash tier, nor is it unreachable for the masses. It offers a great optical performance and FFP reticle without having to spend a lot of money.

Pros and cons

I like this scope quite a bit, it has handsome good looks which goes a long way. The imagery seen through it is even better though. The sharp details are very nice, making this rifle seem even more accurate. It’s a great match for this 22lr, but would also do very well on a centerfire rifle. I usually prefer dialing turrets over holding over, but with this scope being an FFP I am more likely to use its reticle for holding over instead. Especially since it uses MOA versus my preference of MRAD.

Docking a few points from the Mueller Tac III results from few things; First off is the illumination. It is challenging to make an LPVO with FFP and great illumination, and the Tac III shows that. In bright daylight, I found the illumination to be okay. If you are running the scope at low power for fast sighting the illumination would be more helpful if it was brighter. It does have off settings between each brightness setting, which is a plus.

I guess this isn’t exactly marketed as a long-range optic, but it does use some features useful in long-range shooting. The 30mm tube is pretty standard for such shooting, and having a reticle designed for hold-over corrections on longer shots would suggest it could be purposed on at minimum a medium range rifle. I’d prefer it had adjustable parallax as that would make it much better for that purpose. But this feature also has to be weighed against price as well, because adding adjustable parallax would increase the cost.

Mueller, mueller optics, tac III, 2.5-10, riflescope, scope, ruger, .22lr, ruger precision rimfire, Anechoic, suppressor, pipsqueek, anechox, — my **Ruger Precision Rimfire rifle** shot extremely well with the Mueller Tac III and **Anechoic Pipsqueek Suppressor**

My conclusion

With medium range carbines becoming ever more popular, scopes in this range have gone up in demand quite a bit. I find the Mueller Tac III to be a significant improvement over the Tac II, but it does find itself in a flooded market full of other great options as well. I found this scope to be a great companion to my 22, and I also think it would do very well on a medium range carbine or hunting rifle. As competition in this market grows, I expect Mueller Optics will continue to adapt their offerings to customers needs and budgets.

-CBM

Mueller Optics 6-24X50 TacHunter Rifle Scope

March 27, 2026Optics, Product reviewmueller, mueller optics, tachuntercoldboremiracle

Preface

I remember seeing Mueller Optics advertised for years, apparently as far back as 2007 when the company came to market. During all this time, I never took the chance to try one of Mueller’s products. For one reason or another I never got the chance, until now. And today I bring you a review of my first experience with Mueller Optics, with their Mueller Optics 6-24X50 TacHunter Rifle Scope.

Mueller Optics

I mentioned Mueller Optics has been around for nearly twenty-years, but it seems longer than that to me. Either way, the company has long had the mission to bring quality optics to consumers at a price that leaves room for other things.

California based Mueller Optics offers a variety of different scopes, from almost every different size and style. Everything from small low power variable optics (LPVO) up to high magnification long-range rifle scopes like the one we are looking at today.

mueller, mueller optics, tachunter, 6-24x50, scope, riflescope, quattro 15, bolt-action, bolt-action AR, 223, suppressed, yhm fat cat, coletac

The Mueller Optics 6-24X50 TacHunter

Based on its name, I believe the TAC hunter line of scopes is directed towards tactical style shooters and hunters. It fits many of the features that both parties look for in a rifle scope. Built on a 30mm tube with a 50mm objective lens, the TacHunter has the right proportions. The 30mm tube allows for greater internal mechanical travel, making long-range corrections possible. And the large 50mm lens compresses light and imagery together for a crisp image.

Specifications

Eye Relief	4.13 – 3.75″
Length	14.25″
Weight	26.45 oz.
Tube Size	30 mm
Color	Matte Black
Lenses	Fully Multi-Coated
Magnification	6 – 24 × power
Objective	50 mm
F.O.V.	27 – 9 feet @ 100 yards
Parallax	10 Yrds Min
Click Value	1/4 M.O.A. (80″ @ 100yds over-all on both W/E)

When I opened the box I was initially concerned because I heard a rattle inside the scope. Thinking maybe something had broken I investigated, and found it was just the zero-stop ring hadn’t been tight enough. So the problem was short lived and easily remedied. The zero-stop functions by tightening against the turret stem, and it engages a post on the base of the housing.

Further inspection of the scope showed good tension on the turrets and magnification ring. Though there was a tiny touch of a rubbing sensation when adjusting the magnification. The SFP reticle was very sharp and clear. As I looked through the scope, I adjusted the parallax to get a very sharp image of both reticle and downrange.

mueller, mueller optics, tachunter, 6-24x50, scope, riflescope, illumination, battery installation, — installing the CR2023 battery for illumination

Illuminating the reticle is done with a typical twist rheostat next to the parallax knob. There are 11 brightness settings but only one off setting, and the entire reticle lights up (except for the posts).

Matching to a Rifle

I went for a Primary Arms cantilever 30mm scope mount, because I planned on mounting the scope on an AR15 upper. This one is a little different than your typical AR though. The host rifle for this scope would be a hybrid of my Bear Creek Arsenal bolt-action 5.56 upper mated to my Desert Tech Quattro 15 Lower receiver. I mainly did this because it has a good trigger in it, and I’m a sucker for good triggers.

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The bolt-action AR upper has proven to be very accurate for me in the past, so I figured the combination would work great together with the Mueller TacHunter. It would make a nice little varmint rifle anyways. Once mounted and leveled it was ready for the range.

Shooting with the Mueller TacHunter

In the snowy spring mountains, I would do some exploring with the Mueller. It was a bit early for hunting my typical springtime marmots, so I would end up simply shooting at various targets within my range. The big spaces would certainly allow plenty of opportunity to look at things through the Mueller.

mueller, mueller optics, tachunter, 6-24x50, scope, reticle, reticle against a blue cloudy sky,

As I lay on a shooting pad, settled in behind the rifle I began searching for suitable targets. I typically use first focal plane scopes, it’s been a minute since I had used a second focal plane scope. I’d forgotten how pleasantly simple they are, and this one in particular was very clean (if you wan’t to know more about FFP & SFP go read this next). My ability to focus both the image and reticle was impressive, making me really wish I was laying in front of a prairie dog town or something.

Removing parallax with this scopes turret felt very precise. Over the broad magnification range I found it was very easy to find a sweet spot where the fine reticle had sharp contrast over the target. This is a very useful feature when shooting long-range, as many looking at this scope might do. Removing parallax is simply part of long-range shooting, and if you need to learn more about the subject you can go read more about parallax here.

mueller, mueller optics, tachunter, 6-24x50, scope, riflescope, quattro 15, bolt-action, bolt-action AR, 223, — this rifle uses a **Desert Tech Quattro-15** lower and a **Trigger Tech trigger**

Other Adjustments

On top of the Mueller TacHunter, there is an exposed elevation turret. With 1/4 MOA click values, the turret moves 15 MOA per rotation. That is approximately enough to take your average rifle out to about 600 yards. For that reason I like turrets with a touch more elevation per rotation. But the TacHunter redeems itself with a zero-stop. In the old days before zero stops we had to keep track of whatever revolution of the turret was zero for the rifle. This was further complicated by turrets with more rotations. For example if your scope has only two rotations, even if you guess which one you’re on you have a 50/50 chance. Zero-stops brought an end to this madness by making it easy to just turn in the down direction until it stops. And since you the user could set the stop, you could make it 100 yards or 200 yards or whatever you desire.

mueller, mueller optics, tachunter, 6-24x50, scope, riflescope, quattro 15, bolt-action, bolt-action AR, 223, suppressed, yhm fat cat, coletac, over the shoulder shot of shooting ar15

Once you zero the rifle, you can remove the screw that secures the turret using a coin or something similar. Underneath you can set the zero-stop, and then reset the turret at zero before snugging down the screw again.

The windage adjustment is capped, which is not an uncommon practice these days. It is typically used less often than the elevation turret, normally just for zeroing the rifle. Opposite the windage is the elevation control on top of the parallax knob. It’s pretty self explanatory, especially if you are looking through the scope. The hollow posts of the reticle don’t light up with the reticle itself, I like that as it reduces too much light when the reticle is lit. And without illumination, the hollow posts allow you better perspective of the target area.

mueller, mueller optics, tachunter, 6-24x50, scope, riflescope, quattro 15, bolt-action, bolt-action AR, 223, suppressed, yhm fat cat, coletac, shooting a precision AR15 rifle on a snowy mountain with overcast skies, — stunningly clear images seen at 9,000 feet

Tracking in the TacHunter

I measured the tracking of the turrets and reticle to see how they matched up on paper. Modern manufacturing techniques make it much easier to ensure a scope is actually moving the amount it says it does. Additionally, I wanted to make sure it not only moves what it says, but also returns to where it supposed to.

mueller, mueller optics, tachunter, 6-24x50, scope, reticle, reticle, tracking,

In my examination, the Mueller TacHunter exhibited accurate and corresponding movements on both the turrets and the reticle. Measuring a distance with the reticle, and dialing that amount with the turrets would make a corresponding correction. Dialing the scope up and down during various shooting trips would show the reticle return to the same spot.

Pros and Cons

Let’s start out with a couple things I would change about this scope. I do like this second focal plane version, but I am more of a first focal plane kinda guy. So it would be awesome if Mueller would produce an FFP version of this scope. The exact same thing could be said about MOA versus MRAD, I’d like this scope even more if it was MRAD like my other scopes. And unlike making an FFP version of the scope, the cost differential would be minimal.

mueller, mueller optics, tachunter, 6-24x50, scope, riflescope, quattro 15, bolt-action, bolt-action AR, 223, cole tac, yhm fat cat suppressor, — my bolt-action AR15 is a great match for the TacHunter, seen here with a **YHM Fat Cat suppressor** and **Cole-TAC cover**

The illumination might be a little better suited if less of it was illuminated. With the entire reticle being lit up, it can be a little overpowering to your eye in low light conditions where it will be used. I also wish there was more than one “off” position for the illumination.

On the plus side, this scope is very affordable, with nearly every model from Mueller being under $300. I will say that only a little more you can likely get something very comparable or perhaps better.

mueller, mueller optics, tachunter, 6-24x50, scope, riflescope, quattro 15, bolt-action, bolt-action AR, 223, suppressed, yhm fat cat, coletac, walking through snowy woods, — this setup is great for a prowl through the woods

The high quality lenses that Mueller Optics uses in these scopes definitely shows, as the images are very bright and clean. And the sharp focus and parallax adjustments make it very easy to see fantastic images. The reticle is very fine and useful for precise shooting and measuring. I think this scope is going to stay on one of my varmint rifles for sure.

Conclusion

Despite the few things I would change about this scope, I still think it has great use on your precision varmint rifle or something comparable. It gives a fantastic view through the scope with great visual refinement. While its mechanical features might be a touch behind the times compared to the rest of the market, I still find it very useful in my collection. And I look forward to stacking piles of furry little bodies with it later this spring.

-CBM

Check out more scope reviews here

mueller, mueller optics, tachunter, 6-24x50, scope, riflescope, quattro 15, bolt-action, bolt-action AR, 223, cole tac, yhm fat cat suppressor, shooting an AR15 in the snowy rocky mountains,

Vortex Optics Defender CCW Enclosed Solar Micro red dot

March 18, 2026Optics, Product reviewccw, defender, micro, Red dot, rmsc, solar, Vortex, vortex opticswcoldboremiracle

Prologue

Enclosed red dot sights are becoming more and more popular, and I decided recently that I’d jump into them with eyes open. Today we are taking a look at the Vortex Optics Defender CCW enclosed solar micro red dot. Part of the larger Vortex Defender family, this model encloses the emitter and adds a solar power supply all in a micro red dot that drops onto the popular RMSc footprint. We’ll review this sight and give you some feedback on it and how it stands next to its competition.

the Defender CCW was a perfect fit for my Girsan 2311

The Vortex Defender CCW

I’ve had a couple other Vortex Defenders recently, and I quite liked them if I’m honest. So it was with some confidence that I decided to match this new Defender with my latest 2011 style pistol. My Girsan Witness 2311 has an RMSc footprint machined into it’s slide, so I wanted to put a good enclosed sight on the pistol, which led me to the Defender.

Girsan, witness 2311, 9mm, eaa, 2011, vortex, vortex optics, defender CCW, enclosed, red dot, safariland, als holster, — this **Safariland Holster** was a perfect fit with the Defender installed

The Defender CCW Enclosed Solar Micro Red Dot (ESMRD) is a tough built dual-powered sight. It’s large window houses a configurable reticle inside its protected weatherproof housing. This dot is made to fit large weapons down to sub-compact handguns.

Vortex, vortex optics, defender, CCW, red dot, solar, micro, packaging,

Like other Defender dots, this one came with an incredible selection of accessories. A great variety of mounting screws in various sizes, an one-degree angle shim, mounting and adjusting tools. As well as a picatinny mount, and a cute little rubber cover.

Specifications

Mounting Footprint	Shield RMSc
Dot Size	3 MOA Dot / 32 MOA Circle
Dot Color	Bright Red
Magnification	1x
Battery Type	CR2032
Battery Run Time	35,000 hrs. without solar / 150,000 hrs. with solar
Reticle	Multi-Reticle
Eye Relief	Unlimited
Adjustment Graduation	1 MOA
Travel Per Rotation	30 MOA
Max Elevation Adjustment	110 MOA
Max Windage Adjustment	110 MOA
Parallax Setting	Parallax Free
Deck Height	7.2mm
Length	1.59″
Weight	1.30 oz.

Mounting the Defender

After removing the sight from my pistol, I sat down to mount the Defender ESMRD. Using a set of screws that came with it, I did a few test fits to ensure it would be properly secured. I always like to put a touch of blue Loctite on the threads and under the screw-head. Nothing worse than your red dot coming loose while shooting, so I snugged it down nicely with the included tool. I love that Vortex red dots come with basically everything you need to mount them.

Powering up the Defender would require removing the battery cover to remove the battery isolation sticker. After which the reticle lit up and allowed me to give it a rough adjustment before heading to the range.

Range-time and Zeroing

Zeroing the Defender was easy, lining up the reticle with the sights as I torqued it down. After that, with a few shots I made some adjustments with the included tools. In no time the Witness 2311 was hitting my point of aim.

Girsan, witness 2311, 9mm, eaa, 2011, vortex, vortex optics, defender CCW, enclosed, red dot, zeroing, adjustment,

We would shoot quite a bit at an indoor range the first time. Getting a good feel for picking up the reticle and focusing on targets. Following the instructions I cycled through the three reticle configurations, this is done by pressing the + and – button together. You can select between a 3 MOA dot, a 32 MOA circle, or the two together. I am a bit of a circle dot kinda guy so that where it typically stayed.

You can also lock out the buttons to prevent unintended adjustments. Pushing the + button and holding down until the reticle blinks, and easily reversed by doing the same process till it blinks twice.

According to the manufacturer, the Defender Solar Micro will last approximately 35,000 hours on a battery, using the 3 MOA dot with no solar input. That might be the case, but I wasn’t going to find out. As I like the circle dot configuration, and there would certainly be some solar input since I usually shoot in the daylight. But furthermore I was going to engage the auto-shutdown feature that is a must for red dots these days. By holding both buttons down you can engage or disengage this feature.

Optical Performance

While I am not a huge fan of the “mailbox look” , this red dot is a bit larger than other options because it is an enclosed emitter. Its very comparable to other enclosed emitters of the same size, and has a large window. For a micro red dot It certainly felt like a big lens.

Girsan, witness 2311, 9mm, eaa, 2011, vortex, vortex optics, defender CCW, enclosed, red dot,

I did feel like the Defender CCW Solar Micro had less color change when looking through it. And I also really liked how sharp and clean the reticle looked. No parallax made it easy to focus on whatever I wanted to shoot.

Usability

Adjustments and controls of this Defender were easy to understand and remember. Its included tools made it easy to zero the reticle and the included directions explained everything nicely. I like the dual power source, and the battery is easy to change without removing the unit from the host. I also like that they used the CR2023 battery which is more common than the other options typically used in micro sized red dots.

Value

MSRP on this red dot from Vortex’s website shows $400, but as usual you can find this red dot on places like Optics Planet for much less. I have other similar red dots that retail for more that I don’t like as much as this Defender. Even if you broaden the search to other larger red dots of different footprints, I still think this one offers more for less.

Pros and Cons

First off, this thing is handsome. And we can’t pretend that doesn’t matter, it looks like a great quality fit for nice handguns. The controls are easy and comprehensive, external battery mounting and the plethora of included accessories and mounting options make it a slam dunk. Its big clear window makes for quick finding and engaging of targets, and the reticle selection is a big plus. All this for a reasonable price when compared to others.

Girsan, witness 2311, 9mm, eaa, 2011, vortex, vortex optics, defender CCW, enclosed, red dot, reticle,

If there was anything I would change about this red dot, it would probably be a bigger circle option. Nothing wrong with the 32MOA, but I wouldn’t mind like a 50 or 60 MOA circle option too. But of course these are subjective preferences. I also wouldn’t mind if they incorporated a notch on the base to double as a rear sight if needed.

Concluding Thoughts

Every time I get a new Vortex red dot, my inventory of fasteners and tools is enriched. Vortex packs some great added value with their red dots, and that’s a pretty big feather in the cap for this sight. My selection of Defenders continues to grow, and this one is probably my favorite so far. The simple controls and all the options are what seal the deal for me. I am uninterested in red dots moving forward that don’t have auto-shutdown, this and other features make the Defender CCW Solar Micro very adaptable to various applications. I look forward to the bright future and reticle with this combination.

-CBM

GOYOJO GRS 225RF Thermal Riflescope with LRF

February 28, 2026Optics, Product reviewgoyojo, grs225rf, thermal, thermal optics, thermal scopecoldboremiracle

Preface

Our US Sporting Optics market has seen a flood of products over the last decade, to the point it would seem completely saturated. As I wandered through SHOT Show 2026 I was surprised with how many new optic suppliers there are, and they all seem to come from Asia. Today I bring you one of those options in the form of a thermal weapon sight. Our subject today is the GOYOJO GRS225RF Thermal Weapon Sight, a 1-8X digital zoom rifle scope with built-in laser rangefinder.

goyojo optics, goyojo GRS225RF, thermal, thermal scope, lrf, laser range finder, krg, bravo, 10/22, custom 10/22, — for starters, I mounted the scope to a my custom 10/22. This setup uses the KRG Bravo chassis, with a Summit precision CF barrel, supported by an MDT CF bipod

The GOYOJO GRS225RF Thermal

Perhaps it’s because I am old fashioned, but I often feel overwhelmed with thermal optics. There seems to be so many features, specs, and menus it can at times make me feel like the first WW2 vet to use an iphone. That being said, I do love thermal sights, and the covert ability they provide.

goyojo optics, goyojo GRS225RF, thermal, thermal scope, lrf, laser range finder,

As I lifted the GRS scope from its box, I found out quite a bit just by looking at it. There is a large control pad on top of the occular eyepiece, from there you can perform rapid functions like power-up, start video or camera operations, and operate the laser rangefinder (LRF). Where you would normal find zeroing turrets, there are two knobs but not for what you’d expect. Where you’d expect a windage turret is actually a battery compartment to install a secondary CR123 lithium cell. The unit also has an internal battery that can be recharged. On top of the scope where an elevation turret would be, there is a free spinning knob that is used to navigate the menus inside the scope. This is done by turning the knob, and pressing down for select.

Specifications

Optical

Objective Lens: 25mm
Eye Relief: 65mm
Optical Zoom: 3.5X
Digital Zoom: 1X – 8X
Field of View (FOV): 7.0° x 5.3°
Diopter Adjustment: -5 to +5 Diopters
Focus Range: 5m to Infinity
Detection Range: 1300m (1.8m x 0.5m target)
Rangefinder: Only CRS225RF – 905nm Infrared, 1000m ±5m

Infrared

Detector Type: Vanadium Oxide Uncooled Focal Plane Array
Resolution: 256 * 192
Die Size: 12μm
Frame Rate: 50Hz
NETD, mK: <35mK @ 25°C, F/1.0

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Function	Details
Picture in Picture	Yes
Video	Yes
Photo	Yes
Reticles	Yes
Defective Pixel Correction	Yes
RAV & Wi-Fi	Yes
Bluetooth	Only CRS225RF – Yes
Hot Track	Yes
FFC	Yes
Scene Mode	Yes
Shot Activated Recording	Yes
Thermal One-Shot Zero	Yes
OSD	Yes
Intelligent Ballistic Calculation	Only CRS225RF – Yes
Pseudo Color Modes	White Hot / Black Hot / Red Hot / Iron

goyojo optics, goyojo GRS225RF, thermal, thermal scope, lrf, laser range finder, MDRX, WLVRN, desert tech, — a USB-C charge port is located on the right side of the occular housing, a red LED illuminates when charging

Display

Type: OLED
Dimensions: 0.49 Inches
Resolution: 1440 * 1080

Power & Compatibilities

Battery Type:
Build-In Battery: 18650 Lithium BatteryExternal Battery: CR123 Lithium Battery
Battery Capacities:
Build-In Battery: 3.7V, 3700mAh
External Battery: 3.7V, 450mAh
Operating Time: 7.9 Hours (1x 18650, 2x CR123)
Charging Specifications: 5V / 2A
Tube for rings: 2

Physical

Net Weight (Built-in Battery):
CRS225RF: 57300 g / 5760g (Note: Value appears inconsistent in source)
Dimensions (without eyepiece):
CRS225RF: 288 * 81 * 75mm
CRS225RF: 288 * 85 * 75mm
(Note: Model name is repeated, dimensions differ)
Max. Recoil: 800 g/0.4ms
IP Level: IP67
Operating Temperature: -30°C to 50°C (-25°F to 125°F)
Storage Temperature: -40°C to +60°C (-40°F to 140°F)
SD Card: 32GB
Materials: Aluminum-Magnesium Alloy
Warranty: 1 Year

Included in the box was a few extras, like a battery, lens caps, and even a set of rings to mount the scope. Also included was an irritating amount of black fuzz, the box is lined with some kind of felt fuzz, and it covered everything inside the box. A quick blast of air got rid of it. Admittedly it took some time to figure out everything with this scope, as I said there is a lot going on here.

I also had to download the IR-Tracker V app for my phone, this allows you to view the scope display on your phone. As well as other options. Then it was time to mount the scope, in order to make it easy and inexpensive, I mounted the GRS to my custom 10/22. I figured the inexpensive and accurate shooting rifle would allow me to figure out the scope function and features on a budget before moving it to a larger rifle.

goyojo optics, goyojo GRS225RF, thermal, thermal scope, lrf, laser range finder, image — even before mounting the scope, I played around with it in the house (the dog was not amused)

Zeroing Scope

With the scope mounted in the inexpensive rings, I set to zero the scope. This is usually done using a thermal or reflective type target. But I found it very easy to do by simply using the warm impacts of my previous shot to make an adjustment. The zeroing process is very intuitive, you can use the zeroing menu to freeze the screen right after a shot. Before freezing the screen, you put the reticle on your point of aim. Then you simply select the elevation or windage, and adjust the reticle from where it is, to where the last bullet impacted. In very short time, I had the scope zeroed and we were able to make very accurate shots within the range of the .22LR.

After which, I cycled through the menu using the top-knob. And selected a reticle and color that best fit my purposes. Additionally you can turn on a picture-in-picture (PIP) mode, so you can see a closer image of your center crosshair. You can even select where the PIP is located on the display.

Menus and Menus

There is a main menu as well as other sub-menus. All of them are accessed by the top turret, selecting them by pushing down on the turret. The back feature is always an option on each menu to move back to the previous menu. You can select everything from bluetooth and wifi options to connect to your phone, as well as functional options like the color palette shown on the display. Changing the refresh rate and other options for the thermal sensor can also be done this way.

There might be too much to go over when it comes to all the minutiae of sensory details, and technical data. More information if you are looking for specific information can be found on Goyojo’s website.

goyojo optics, goyojo GRS225RF, thermal, thermal scope, lrf, laser range finder, MDRX, WLVRN, desert tech, suppressed, yhm, turbo suppressor,

Heads Up Display

Using the different menus to select the features you want, changes the data displayed on the heads up display (HUD). The HUD gives you all kinds of external data like compass bearing, angle indication and the cant of your rifle. Date and time are handy for the photos and video recorded by the GRS and they are listed as well as available memory storage.

Information on the scope itself is also displayed. Both the internal battery and the extra battery power level are displayed so you can keep an eye on them. The zoom setting is also listed on the HUD, as is the aiming profile. Aiming profiles essentially being a setup for a particular firearm or barrel.

in this video you can see the shots impacting the target berm

Part of the HUD is your reticle, and you can select the reticle under the same menu as zeroing the scope. There are a variety of reticles to choose from, some very simple and others with various subtension points marked. You can also select a reticle color, which is probably better done after selecting a color palette. The differing color palettes show different terrain better or worse, some things show up better on one vs. another.

Video and Photo Features

With the ability to record videos and snapshots, the Goyojo GRS offers some great viewing. You can take snapshots using the main keypad, or record video. Additionally, the GRS has the option for recoil initiated recording. This ensures you get all your hits on video if that’s what you are after.

in this clip, you can see the Range Finder measuring 332 feet, followed by some changes in color palettes as well as a shot from a different rifle hitting the berm

Capturing images using the button is as simple as pressing it to grab a shot, or push and hold to start or stop a recording. When connected to your phone using the app, there are also photo and video controls that can be commanded from your phone. Some of the display features can also be changed from your phone, like digital zoom, color palettes, reticles etc.

When connected to the scope with your phone, you can download the videos and save them or airdrop them to a laptop. Pictures and videos both are accessed in the Document section of the IR-Tracker V application. I did have some troubles getting videos in a format I could edit and use them, but I expect that is more about me not understanding technology than anything.

On the Range

With the rifle zeroed, we set to shooting with the GRS thermal scope. Picking out targets can be a little more challenging with this scope. Depending on ambient temps and conditions like sunshine can make things hard to identify. I often compare thermal images to ultrasound images. When looking at a thermal image you have to understand what you are seeing and what you aren’t, like a photo negative image. Once you understand this, you can better understand what you are seeing.

Obviously if you are looking at a warm animal moving on the display, it is much easier to identify. But picking out things like a box, or rock that mimics the ambient temperature is a little more challenging at times. But once you do get a good understanding, and can see and identify what you are shooting at it becomes much clearer.

goyojo optics, goyojo GRS225RF, thermal, thermal scope, lrf, laser range finder, screen shot, reticle, — Screenshot

Shooting at small rocks in distant dirt was easy, because the rock was warmed by the sun while the soil was cold and wet from the melting snow. Seeing bullet splash in the cold soil was easy to identify misses, while seeing a white flash on the rock would show you clear hits. After a great deal of practice like this, we swapped the scope to another rifle to repeat the process.

Centerfire Use

I decided to mount the GRS225 thermal scope to my Desert Tech MDRX, which I’d configured to a 20-inch .223. This would be perfect for pursuing coyotes, raccoons or any other pest that needed eradication.

I again followed the zeroing procedure, getting a solid zero at one-hundred yards. And practiced shooting at a variety of distances holding over using the reticle.

Pros and Cons

I expect that many of my issues figuring this scope out are more about me than anything. I’ve had the same experience with other thermal scopes as well. One of the main positive things about this optic is its price. Similar optics in the thermal department at Optics Planet go for three to four-hundred dollars more if not three to four-thousand more. Of course, as we have come to know in life, the cheapest option isn’t always the best one. And when you consider this scope comes from a relatively unknown manufacturer (at least in America), that might make it a bit of a concern as well. For some people, the 中国制造 alone is reason enough to avoid it. Preferring something manufactured domestically, which I can totally understand.

Value Proposition

Considering that the thermal scope market is quickly becoming littered with options, this scope has many competitors. As I mentioned earlier though, many of those competitors cost significantly more than this one for similar if not the same basic features. For the MSRP of $760 this seems like a very affordable option. Though I must say the sensitive nature of electro-optics, especially those that run on software can be a little scary. By that I mean; even if this scope costs half the price of others, $760 is a lot of money to lose if the scope simply shuts off for good. Therefore the durability of products like this one are very important. It has worked great for me so far, but time will tell if its is worth the price. Check back here in the future as I will update this as the product ages and is used.

Concluding Thoughts

It can be challenging and a little intimidating to get into some of these new tech items. But we’ll all have to do it at some point. I have been impressed with all the bells and whistles of this scope, and provided its quality hold up, I expect to use it for many years to come. Chasing varmints and predators in the darkness where they hide.

The Goyojo GRS 225 thermal scope is an affordable option with great features that hunters are going to enjoy. I will continue to update this article as my relationship and use of it develops.

-CBM

Reviewing the Nutrek Optics Silvermark ED 1.7-10X40 Riflescope

February 26, 2026Optics, Product review1.7-10x40, enjo sports, lpvo, nutrek, nutrek optics, riflescope, scopecoldboremiracle

Foreword

Recently I have felt like a broken record, introducing ever more new and unheard of rifle scopes. But in the interest of both curiosity and a desire to shoot and share, I am here at it again. Today I bring you another fresh review of a previously unknown to me brand and product. Todays scope is from a company called Nutrek Optics, another obvious import from the far east. And the product we are reviewing today is the Nutrek Optics Silvermark ED 1.7-10X40 Riflescope. A low power variable optic (LPVO) with a non-typical 40mm objective. Unless this is your first time reading, you know I am a sucker for LPVO’s, so I wasted no time to see this one.

The Nutrek Optics Silvermark ED 1.7-10X40 Riflescope

Nutrek is a brand from a company called Enjo Sports, and they have quite the spread under their brand. Making everything from red dots to spotting scopes and everything in between. Like most optics manufacturers, Nutrek has several lines and the Silvermark line is where we are starting for now.

nutrek optics, silvermark, 1.7-10x40, riflescope, — the Nutrek fits nicely on my custom 22, seen here in a **KRG Bravo chassis** and using an **Anechoic suppressor**

The Silvermark 1.7-10 is built on a 30mm tube, which has become the new standard. The relatively compact scope has a 40mm objective, which is bigger than most 1-10 LPVO scopes. It looks like the traditional 3-9×40 hunting rifle scope, but hiding inside is a six power zoom.

nutrek optics, silvermark, 1.7-10x40, riflescope, turrets, adjustment, — the uncapped turrets, very clean and easily read and adjusted, and MRAD for a touch of class

Capped windage and elevation turrets keep them from being inadvertently adjusted. But when caps are removed they are easily finger adjusted 1/10th of MIL per click. There is a parallax adjustment on the left side of the erector housing, and stacked on that is an illuminated reticle rheostat control.

nutrek optics, silvermark, 1.7-10x40, riflescope, parallax, focus, — adjusting the parallax, also note illumination control left

Inside the scope we find the second focal plane reticle, for those wondering that means; the reticle stays the same regardless of magnification setting. If you have more questions about that, go read this when you’re done here. When illuminated, only the very center of the reticle lights up, like a dot. I do like that the reticle has some holdover and windage subtensions you can use for corrections.

the Nutrek’s reticle, note the illuminated center

In the box you’ll find the typical cheesy flip caps to cover the scope lenses, as well as a nice little screw in throw-lever.

Specifications

Nutrek Optics Silvermark ED 1.7-10X40
Magnification Range	1.7-10X (6X)
Tube Diameter	30mm
Reticle Focal Plane	Second Focal Plane
Reticle	Illuminated Glass etched
Click Value	0.1 MRAD
Field of View	73.7 Feet at 100 Yards
Parallax Setting	Side Focus Adjustable
Length	11-Inches
Weight	23.5 Ounces
Battery	CR2023 coin cell

Initial Impressions

As I lifted the scope from the box, it only took a few moments to find out some things I had serious questions about. First of all was the weight, it was impressively heavy for such a small scope. For comparison, I have several large scopes in the 5-25 range that weigh only a few ounces more. That said; I like heavy things, they are usually valuable.

I then turned my attention to the controls, the magnification and parallax were both quite stiff out of the box but quickly became softer after working some lubrication around inside the scope. The illumination knob was also very stiff, so stiff in fact that I had to carefully adjust the brightness trying not to unscrew the battery compartment.

nutrek optics, silvermark, 1.7-10x40, riflescope, KRG, Bravo chassis, throw lever, cattail, installation, — installing the included throw-lever

These concerns were quickly subdued when I lifted the scope to my eye as I peered down the street. I was quite impressed with how good the image was, even at max power. The scope was very bright and clear, I expect this is because of the ED (low dispersion) lenses. Furthermore, adjusting the parallax for various ranges show great focus and parallax removal. Suddenly I was in a hurry to get this scope mounted and on a range.

Mounting and Shooting the Silvermark 1.7-10

My custom 10/22 currently needs a more permanent scope option, so I figured this would be an easy choice. I mounted the scope using a set of Leupold Open Range 30mm Low rings, which made the scope fit so close you’d swear it was touching the base-rail. Not only did it look sharp but it worked great, I screwed in the throw-lever because I still wished the power ring had less resistance. After torquing it all down, I stuck the battery in the scope, and grabbed some ammo.

On the Firing Line

In just a few shots I had the scope and rifle zeroed, a testament to how accurate this little rifle is. It happened so fast that in no time we were blasting every conspicuous point on the range. In a very short time I had figured out the drop holdovers for a hundred yards and further. For the remainder of the morning we kept the little rifle in action.

Since then we’ve made several other trips into the mountains giving the little rifle and scope a work out. Both myself and the kids have had a great time smacking little targets one after another.

Optical Performance

My initial impression of the glass quality hasn’t changed, I still quite like the look through this scope. Shooting the rifle in bright sunny afternoons as well as overcast snowy days gave variety in conditions that make me feel pretty good about this scope.

I love 1-10 LPVO’s, and I suppose I use them differently than most people. This is one of the few LPVO’s that actually has adjustable parallax, which is a big deal for long-range shooting. But who does long-range shooting with a 1-10 you ask? Me, I do, right here. And I quite like having the option of removing parallax from an image. This is a surprising feature for a scope like this, and greatly enhances the optical performance at further distances.

Reliability

I mentioned the controls already, a little stiffer than I’d like. The turrets on the other hand are an absolute joy to function, making easy corrections for zeroing. Both the parallax and mag-ring could use a friction diet in my opinion. And it doesn’t end there, I also seemed to detect a touch of slop in the magnification ring. It feels like the ring turns ever so much before you feel the resistance of the internal zoom. I saw no other flaw as a result, so I suppose no foul inflicted.

I am tempted to mount this scope to a longer range compact rifle. Adding to the recoil impulse will give the scope more of a workout. And using the turrets for corrections at further range will also prove its potential.

Value

At the time of publishing, these optics are only available ordering directly from the manufacturer. And I have heard the MSRP is $529, though it would surprise me if they actually sell for that price on the street.

nutrek optics, silvermark, 1.7-10x40, riflescope, KRG, Bravo chassis,

That price point for this scope is a little steep methinks. I like the scope, but I can come up with other imported Asian scopes that offer more for the same price or less. If this scope showed up in US optics retailers for 200-300 dollars from a well-known manufacturer I think it would be a slam dunk. But without any name behind it, I think it might be a hard sell for that price, especially weighing this much. If it was a little lighter I’d for sure have it on one of my hunting rifles to give it a challenge. As it sits, I’ll probably keep searching for the perfect rifle to add it to.

Final Thoughts

I am not so ignorant to think something is junk just because it comes from China. But I’ve also learned to be skeptical of such things. In the very recent past, I have seen quite a few good products come from overseas. And those things have begun to sway my opinion for the positive. The Nutrek Silvermark scope isn’t perfect, but I still like it more than expected. And depending on what it will cost on the US market it could be a great option for a compact riflescope. With a little refinement, and a diet on both its weight and resistance, this scope would serve many purposes very well. I don’t expect it will be long before I bring you another scope review, but I will continue shooting with this one and update how it goes.

-CBM

Want to read other riflescope reviews? Click here

Vortex Razor HD Gen III 1-10

February 25, 2026Optics, Product review1-10, gen III, lpvo, razor, razor HD, Vortex, vortex opticscoldboremiracle

Introduction

When I first saw the Vortex Razor HD Gen III 1-10, it was in that sexy marketing video you probably saw too. If I remember right, it was mounted on a precision carbine, kind of like a DMR rifle. Thus was born a quest for a perfect little DMR rifle wearing the 1-10 LPVO for a sight. This scope has moved down a chair as the new AMG 1-10 LPVO has recently been released. I’ll get to that one as soon as I can, but for today lets take a look at the Gen 3 version.

The Vortex Razor HD Gen III 1-10

host rifle the Desert Tech WLVRN, under that **Cole-TAC Python cover** is a **YHM Fat Cat suppressor**

Part of the allure for me of the Vortex Razor HD Gen III 1-10 is that its not just a low power variable optic (LPVO). With a maximum power of 10X, this scope can be used for reasonably distant engagements. Shooting even out to a kilometer can be done well with 10X. So having a medium carbine rifle that can engage targets at fifty-yards and as far as a thousand sounds enticing.

The Razor’s 34mm tube gives it a great deal of internal movement as well, making corrective travel of the erector pretty broad. The turrets are capped, but are easily adjusted should you wish to dial corrections for distant shots.

Vortex Optics, Razor HD, Gen 3, gen III, 1-10x24, ffp, lpvo, unboxing, box,

Illumination on the reticle is solely on the circle around the center. This translates to a bright red dot when the scope is at 1X, as much of the reticle detail is to fine to see at that power. But when the scope is zoomed into 10X, there is a great deal of reticle detail. This allows you to use holdover and wind corrections should you wish.

Aside from the scope itself, the Razor comes with a sunshade, battery, tools and manuals. All in a very nice package. Also, this scope came with Vortex’s Switchview throw lever.

Specifications

Magnification	1-10x
Objective Lens Diameter	24 mm
Focal Plane	First Focal Plane
Reticle	EBR-9 BDC (MOA)
Eye Relief	3.6″
Field of View	116.0′ – 11.7′ @100 yds
Turret Style	Capped
Tube Size	34mm
Adjustment Graduation	1/4 MOA
Travel Per Rotation	25 MOA
Max Elevation Adjustment	120 MOA
Max Windage Adjustment	120 MOA
Parallax Setting	150 yds.
Length	10.1″
Weight	21.5 oz

Mounting The Razor

I used a Zro Delta cantilever 34mm mount to install the Razor HD on top of my Desert Tech WLVRN. This allowed perfect eye relief and use of the picatinny sight rail on the receiver. Setting the throw-lever to the right spot was helpful to avoid it colliding with anything on the rifle.

After torquing everything down, opened up the rifle so I could do a little boresight job on it. This was quick and dirty as I knew I could easily correct it at the range.

Vortex Optics, Razor HD, Gen 3, gen III, 1-10x24, ffp, lpvo, desert tech, wlvrn,

On the Range

I’ve shot quite a bit with my WLVRN, so once I got the Razor zeroed it was a simple matter of seeing how everything else matched up. I zeroed the scope at 100-hundred yards on 10X, before shooting a couple groups to confirm.

A couple of my first immediate notations were how clean the image was through this scope. The optical clarity is fantastic, adding some definition to everything I looked at. The Switchview throw-lever was incredibly handy, dare I say a must have. I wish I had it on the 1-6 Razor I recently reviewed. I spent quite a bit of time changing magnification between different targets.

We also did a little bit of long-range shooting out in the desert, I say long-range but it was only with 5.56 55-grain ammo so really I wasn’t shooting much past four or five-hundred yards. It was certainly enough that I needed to make corrections and for that the Razor’s turrets were incredibly handy. I did notice though how much I would have preferred adjustable parallax.

Switching Host Rifles

The Razor HD might be a little much scope for a 22, but I don’t care. I figured it would give additional opportunity and perspective to shoot with the scope. So I mounted it to a Desert Tech Trek 22 rifle, a bullpup clone of the Ruger 10/22 outfitted with an Anechoic Anechox 22 suppressor.

Vortex Optics, Razor HD, Gen 3, gen III, 1-10x24, ffp, lpvo, — for a change, I also mounted the razor to a **Desert Tech Trek 22** (a 10/22 clone) seen here with an **Anechox 22 can**

The rimfire routine gave much opportunity to use the scope at closer distances obviously. The sharp imagery of the Razor HD made picking apart targets quite fun, and the detail of the reticle came in handy for holding corrections at distances you normally wouldn’t.

I found that with the illumination on at 1X the scope was essentially like a red dot. With only the center circle illuminated at 1X the rest of the reticle is practically invisible. But when you zoom into the higher magnification all those details of the EBR-9 reticle become sharp and handy.

Vortex Optics, Razor HD, Gen 3, gen III, 1-10x24, ffp, lpvo,reticle, ebr-9, mrad, — Here you can see the EBR-9 reticle at around 5X and 10X, you can even see Delta Airlines in the background. DISCLAIMER: images through the scope almost always look better than the camera can show.

Optical Performance

I already mentioned the optics on this scope are great. Even as the daylight wain, I was surprised how good the picture was through this scope. The larger lenses and 34mm tube surely have something to do with good light transmission. This came as no surprise really, as Vortex Razors are well known for their quality glass and robust durability. People far harder on them than I and they are still kicking.

Usability

There is very little to mark against this scope when it comes to useability. In fact there is only one thing I would change, and that is adjustable parallax. Maybe I’m the only one who likes engaging far targets with LPVO’s, but it feels like a crime for this scope to not have adjustable parallax. I felt like I could easily engage targets at some pretty significant distances, I even did. But I really like the ability to refine the focus and parallax at those distances.
Other than that, the controls on the Gen III Razor HD are fantastic. The perfect amount of resistance on the control surfaces and the throw lever was the icing on the cake. I like the locking illumination control, preventing unwanted shifting of the knob. And the turrets are of course both classy and compact.

Value

The MSRP for this scope is not for the faint of heart, coming in at $4000.00. Luckily Vortex’s exorbitant prices are greatly tempered by retailers. It can be had at places like Optics Planet for $2190 which is much more reasonable. Which is within a hundred bucks of other great options like the Eotech Vudu 1-10. Obviously how much you want to pay depends on you and your budget, but you often get what you pay for in the optics market.

Vortex Optics, Razor HD, Gen 3, gen III, 1-10x24, ffp, lpvo, turrets, illumination, — both the turrets and illumination control are very precise and high quality

Closing Thoughts

As I expected, the Vortex Optics Razor HD Gen III is a 1-10 that I could run indefinitely. It has outstanding clarity and definition, a great history of robust service, and service from a company that cares for its customers. Little things like an included sunshade are also very nice. All in all the features on this scope make for an excellent weapon sight for anyone looking to to be accurate from close to medium ranges. It would be a great scope for an accurized carbine, or what all the kids call a DMR or RECCE rifle. It fits right into my collection of excellent LPVO options, maybe it will fit into yours?

-CBM

Click here to look at other LPVO options?

Vortex Optics Razor HD Gen II 1-6 LPVO

February 8, 2026Optics, Product review1-6x24, gen II, lpvo, razor, razor HD, Vortex, vortex opticscoldboremiracle

Introduction

If you’ve followed me for very long, you know I have a soft spot for low power variable optics (LPVO). I use them quite a bit, and have dug deep into the subject many times. Part of the allure for me with great LPVO’s is the ability for rapid close engagement with carbine sized rifles. Without giving up the accuracy these same guns can use at greater distances. So, as I continue my quest to play with all the good LPVO’s out there, I bring you today’s subject; the Vortex Optics Razor HD Gen II 1-6 riflescope.

The Vortex Razor HD Gen II 1-6

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock for the last few decades, you know who Vortex O p tics is. The company has become a dominant force in the optics industry, well known for excellent customer service and listening to what shooters want. I guess its fair to say Vortex offers a lot of inexpensive products as well (like I said, they listen to their customers). But in my experience the higher end products like the Razor line are fantastic professional grade optics. So it was with anticipation that I opened the box of the Vortex Razor HD Gen II 1-6.

vortex optics, razor, 1-6x24, lpvo, riflescope,

As is typical with Vortex products, the scope came in nice packaging and included the typical stickers, manual and tools. Because I had it handy, I decide to mount the scope in a 34mm Primary Arms cantilever scope mount for testing. This would allow proper eye relief on a variety of host rifles.

Specifications

Magnification	1-6x
Objective Lens Diameter	24 mm
Focal Plane	Second Focal Plane
Reticle	VMR-2 (MRAD)
Eye Relief	4.0″
Field of View	115.2′ – 20.5′ @ 100 yds
Turret Style	Capped
Tube Size	30mm
Adjustment Graduation	.2 MRAD
Travel Per Rotation	20 MRAD
Max Elevation Adjustment	43 MRAD
Max Windage Adjustment	43 MRAD
Parallax Setting	100 yds.
Length	10.1″
Weight	21.5 oz

My initial handling of the scope was quick. It wasn’t as heavy as I’d expected, like other Razors I’d handled before. The finish and textures were perfect, so I lifted it to my eye to get that first look. As I expected, the Razor has an immaculate image. Sharp detail and contrast is what makes these Razor HD scopes so desirable.

huxwrx, flow, flow 5.56, flow 7.62, huxwrx safety company, ar15, quattro, vortex razor, razor hd, razor 1-6,

Controls

A cursory investigation of the controls felt good, the power ring being easy to adjust quickly between one and six-power. I was slightly surprised that Vortex hadn’t incorporated a throw lever attachment, but they do offer an attachable Switchview throw -lever you can add. The illumination control is also a little fancier than others. The rheostat knob must be pulled out slightly to allow it to turn and ignite the reticle inside. Pulling the knob out also exposes the white background of numeration labels for various power settings.

Vortex optics, razor HD, 1-6, vortex razor, illumination, illuminated reticle, desert tech, MDRX, WLVRN,

The 20 MRAD turrets certainly give plenty of travel should you choose to use them such. Inside the scope, the second focal plane VMR-2 reticle gives some fairly course MRAD subtensions. This is fine in my opinion as it gives you all you’ll likely need for the effective range of a carbine. Whole MRAD marks are shown with only the very center of the reticle illuminated, and the marks are accurate when used at the full six-power.

Vortex optics, razor HD, 1-6, vortex razor, reticle, illumination, VMR-2, vmr2 reticle, — as always, images through the scope are far better than pictures can show

Shooting with the Vortex Razor HD Gen II 1-6

For testing purposes, I used the Razor HD on two different carbines. The first one is my OG Desert Tech MDRX chambered in 308 Winchester, and the other is an AR15 I put together using various parts (read about that here). The Razor made an excellent scope choice for both of these rifles, as they are both accurate enough to take advantage of the scopes range. Shooting these two rifles both on and off the range would give a good feel for how well the Razor HD is for engaging different targets.

Vortex optics, razor HD, 1-6, vortex razor, eye protection, glasses, eye pro, desert tech, MDRX, WLVRN, Huxwrx, flow, 7.62,

It was quick to zero the Razor HD using the turrets for a perfect zero at about 75 yards. From there we switched it up, shooting various different targets at differing ranges.

Optical Clarity

As I mentioned, the Razor HD lenses offer a fantastic viewing experience. Both in the open country of the mountains and on the range I found the image to be above average quality. At 1X the Razor gave a broad field of view, making it very fast for moving between close targets. And zoomed in to 6X it gave more than adequate presentation for making sharp shots at distances well beyond six-hundred yards.

huxwrx, flow, flow 5.56, flow 7.62, huxwrx safety company, ar15, quattro, vortex razor, — my **Quattro-15** AR with the Razor and **Huxwrx Flow 5.56**

The parallax adjustment allowed excellent focus of the reticle against targets, leaving me with a sharp holdover for distance. And the bright dot in the center was fantastic for use like a red dot at low power.

Mechanical Function

I definitely need to get the throw lever for this scope, as I want something to grab onto to switch magnification. I do like the level of resistance on the mag-ring, it is frustrating when they are too stiff to turn quickly. The locking function of the illumination is great to prevent accidental rotation of the knob. Nothing worse than turning on your reticle only to find a dead battery. It’s also easy to keep it in the off-position between two brightness settings so you don’t have to search for the one you want.

The turrets on the Razor HD are capped which makes it easy to not worry about them while maneuvering. Underneath the caps the low-profile turrets are easy to turn with just fingers, and their audible click of .2 MRAD can be both felt and heard. I am used to .1 MRAD clicks, but for a scope like this I get why they went with .2. The courser scale is fast to make adjustments, and scopes like this are less likely to be used in a precision shooting scenario. Where a 1/4 of an inch on target one way or another is not a big deal.

Durability

Vortex Razors have a pretty good history of standing up to abuse, much more abuse in fact than I like to give. I love packing my guns all over these mountains, where the worst abuse they usually get is lots of turret twisting. But a scope like this one I am far less likely to adjust the turrets often. Far more likely it will get slung and rubbed against a pack while hiking, maybe smacked on a rock in a hasty pursuit. I have every confidence this scope is prepared for far harsher abuse than what myself or typical gun owners will sustain. And the famous warranty that Vortex owners love to to tout, is always there for you. A warranty that likely had a large influence on the entire industry to follow.

Pros and Cons

As long as you have the understanding of the scope’s application, I don’t think theres anything wrong with this scope. Or at least anything you can knit-pick on it. I like FFP scopes, but I totally get why this one isn’t, and it works just the way it is.

It has an excellent optical quality, robust construction with great features. There is very little about this scope I would change but for personal preferences and reticle details. All these features do come at some cost however, as none of the Razors come cheap. With a current street price around $1300, the Razor is roughly double many other good LPVO options. I only bring this up because I have several other 1-6 scopes that I quite like that are significantly less.

Vortex optics, razor HD, 1-6, vortex razor, illumination, illuminated reticle, desert tech, MDRX, WLVRN, Huxwrx, flow 7.62, — My Desert Tech MDRX with the Razor and the **Huxwrx Flow 7.62 suppressor**

Final Verdict

I have never picked up a Vortex Razor and thought “this won’t do”. On the contrary I feel like every Vortex Razor I’ve ever used has been great, and at best all I could complain about was a reticle option or cursed MOA turrets or something like that. The Vortex Razor HD 1-6 is another great option for those looking for a quality LPVO. If you are considering dropping some serious money on an LPVO, make sure to at least look at one of these.

-CBM

Check out more LPVO reviews here

Testing the Leupold Mark 5 3.6-18X44

February 3, 2026Optics, Product review3.6-18x44, leupold, leupold optics, mark 5coldboremiracle

Preface

Over many years I have had a variety of different Leupold optics, for a long time I had several of the old Mark 4 scopes. I have always been a fan of Leupold’s brand you could say, so I am excited to bring you a review of one of their more recent scopes. Today’s subject is the Leupold Mark 5 3.6-18X44 riflescope. The Mark 5 line of scopes promises high-quality imagery, with professional grade optics, and built with quality in the USA. Leupold has kept a finger on the pulse of professional and precision shooters alike, so it comes as no surprise to see them often in both arenas of shooting.

leupold optics, leupold, mark 5, mkV, 3.6-18x44, mark 5HD, desert tech, srs Carbon SD, two vets tripod, — shooting the rifle from my **Two Vets** **Carbon Fiber Tripod**

This particular model of the Mark 5 line, is one of two more compact models. The Mark 5 2-10X and 3.6-18X are both smaller objective scopes, with shorter overall lengths. This while retaining all the same Mark 5 long-range features, and with a lighter weight. Making them ideal for smaller precision rifles and tactical carbines.

The Leupold Mark 5 3.6-18X44

I have wanted one of these for some time, I think they would be fantastic on one of my hunting rifles. The Mark 5 low profile turret system offers three revolutions of the 10.5 MIL turret. Locking the turret is done using the Zero-lock feature, this requires pushing the button to release the turret from zero.

Left: here you can see the lock button (depressed) and rotation indicator . Right: you can see the coil that guides the locking pin and rotation indicator

Being built on a 35mm tube is a small but significant difference. It does reduce mounting options but I suppose it might give some travel advantage. The physical dimensions of this scope are impressively compact, and it is also much lighter than similar scopes. This is one of fewer modern scopes I’ve had that don’t feature an illuminated reticle, which likely also keeps the weight down.

The magnification ring also features a removable throw lever, to aid in quickly transitioning from one setting to another. Taking it off is handy for when it interferes with bolt manipulation.

Specifications

Adjustable Parallax	Side Focus
BDC Dial Included	No
Custom Dial System (CDS)	No
Daylight Bright Illumination	No
Elevation Adjustment Type	M5C3
Electronic Reticle Level	No
Illuminated Reticle	No
Locking Dial	Yes
Magnification Type	Variable
Motion Sensor Technology (MST)	No
Nightvision Compatible Illumination	No
Reticle Focal Plane	First Focal Plane
Revolution Indicator	Yes
Reticle	FFP PR-1MIL
Rezero Type	Set Screw
Reticle Type	First Focal Plane
Adjustable Objective	No
Windage Adjustment Type	Capped
Weight (oz)	26
Elevation Adjustment Value per Click	0.1Mil
Elevation Adjustment Range (MOA)	100
Elevation Adjustment Range (MIL)	29
Elevation Adjustment Range (cm @ 100m)	291
Elevation Adjustment Per Revolution	10.5 MIL
Elevation Dial Travel Limit	30MIL
Windage Adjustment Value per Click	0.1Mil
Windage Adjustment Range (MOA)	80
Windage Adjustment Range (MIL)	23
Windage Adjustment Range (cm @ 100m)	233
Windage Adjustment Per Revolution	10 MIL
Magnification Max	18
Magnification Min	3.6
Objective Lens Diameter (mm)	44
Linear FOV Low Mag (ft@100yds)	28.3
Linear FOV High Mag (ft@100yds)	5.8
Angular FOV Low Mag (Degrees)	5.4
Angular FOV High Mag (Degrees)	1.1
Eye Relief Low Mag (in)	3.5
Eye Relief High Mag (in)	3.8
Minimum Parallax-Free Distance (yd)	50

Mounting the Mark 5

Due to the 35mm tube of the Leupold Mark 5, it was necessary to use a 35mm mount. Leupold offers a 35mm mount that works great for this. There are other 35mm ring options, but this was an easy button so that’s the way I went.

leupold optics, leupold, mark 5, mkV, 3.6-18x44, mark 5HD,

With the scope mounted and level, I set to zeroing the rifle. The first host for this scope was the brand new Desert Tech SRS Carbon SD rifle, chambered in 308 Winchester. On the rifle range it was a quick job of adjusting the Leupold to match the rifles point of impact. I was a little thrown off by the witness mark of the windage turret, located higher than the typical centerline of the tube.

I fired several rounds to confirm zero and see how the scope and rifle worked together. During this process I found my first flaw with this scope, I am not a big fan of the Tremor reticles . Maybe I am the flaw, but I just don’t like all the dots and such. Chalk it up to personal preference, but I would have picked a different reticle. Looking at my 100 and 200 yard targets I could easily make out great detail through the sharp image of the Mark 5.

leupold optics, leupold, mark 5, mkV, 3.6-18x44, mark 5HD, tikka, t3x, krg, bravo, — additional testing was done on my custom Tikka 25 Creedmoor

On the Firing Line

I am not a big fan of public ranges, and if you find me there it’s usually more labor than love. So my next trips out with the Leupold Mark 5 were into the frozen Rocky Mountains and the dry winter ranges of the desert. This would give me more opportunity to scour the distant ridges through the scope. Allowing me to evaluate clarity and other qualities.

The bright environment made for excellent target identification. I practiced my typical routine of picking out targets, usually small rocks protruding from the snow. Snow makes a great indicator when the light is just right, sometimes you can even see bullet holes from great distances.

Dialing the elevation turret for various target distances put me in touch with its function pretty quick. I like the locking zero, and the rotation indicator feature lets you know where you’re at in the numbers. The clicks on these turrets are crisp and easy to count. I mentioned my reticle preference, but the Tremor obviously gives plenty of use for holding wind corrections.

Optical Clarity

I have always liked the look through Leupold scopes, and this one was no chump. Great detail and crisp imagery made this scope very useful in this big country. One of the reasons this scope is so appealing is because it is one of few good scopes that are this compact. The 44mm objective keeps this scope low, and its short length and light-weight make it optimal for a sharp-shooting mountain gun. Together with the SRS SD this scope would make an excellent night-vision or thermal combination. Despite the smaller objective and proportions this scope’s HD lenses still gives a great impression of downrange detail. That said I do feel like some of the 50 and 56mm scopes do look better. Its a trade-off.

Controls

I really like mid-range variable scopes, the 3.6-18 power is a very useful range in my opinion. The power ring of the Mark 5 is smooth and fairly easy to turn, I wouldn’t say too easy but it is close. The removable throw-lever is handy if you need it, and removable if you don’t.

I found the optical focus features of this scope to be very helpful as eyes begin to show their age. Both the ocular adjustment, and the parallax turret gave very fine adjustment, making those images pop.

leupold optics, leupold, mark 5, mkV, 3.6-18x44, mark 5HD, desert tech, srs Carbon SD, — my Desert Tech SRS SD rifle also uses an **Area 419 ARCA rail** and **Atlas Bipod**

The curious design of the elevation turret is both effective and functional. The coiled path underneath keeps the rotation indicator accurate, and the scope was always on zero when left there. With a total of 29 MRAD in elevation adjustment, there’s not many shots where you’ll need to hold over with the Tremor reticle. But its nice to have the option if you’re that kind of shooter.

leupold optics, leupold, mark 5, mkV, 3.6-18x44, mark 5HD, turrets — here you can see the unorthodox windage witness mark

The capped windage turret I thought was going to bug me, but it ended up not being an issue at all. I found it really wasn’t worth the risk of having it exposed, and I didn’t need to use it much.

Value

There are a few other competitors scopes that closely mimic the features of this one. Most of them are 30mm tube though, and they are also about half the cost. As a rampant 3-18 power enthusiast I have a variety of them in my collection, and this one is definitely at the top of the price points. That means it has big shoes to fill, and I expect Leupold is up to it.

Having been chosen for the main optical sight for the US Army’s M110 sniper rifle is certainly a feather in their cap. Leupold claims the scope was designed with input from elite shooters, a claim I take at face value since I wasn’t asked…

At the end of the day I feel this scope while expensive can certainly justify its heritage. Military use isn’t necessarily the golden ticket that so many manufacturers portray it to be. But it definitely does mean something, and brings value to both the brand and the scope.

Pros and Cons

As I mentioned already, this scope is very light considering its features. It is also quite compact and optimal for use with other optical tools like clip-on thermals and night-vision. Its sharp imagery and easy to operate controls make it a slam dunk if you want such a scope. I suppose the only downside to this scope is its cost, with a street price around $2300.00 it might be a stretch for some shooters. And if you want illumination which might be necessary if you plan on using it with night-vision it’ll cost you another 350 clams.

Last Words

Few other optics in this category enjoy such heritage. So it should come as no surprise that if you want the top dog in the short and small game, you’re gonna pay for it. Luckily with Leupold you get more than just a good scope, you get the name behind it and the warranty and customer service that comes with it. Scopes like this make me wish I hadn’t sold off all my old Mark IV’s, even if just for the nostalgia.