Vector Optics 1.75-6X32 Ill. mil dot scope

[FMJBT]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vector-Optics-1-75-6x32IR-Riflescope-Turret-Lock-System_W0QQitemZ110329138427QQihZ001QQcategoryZ7307QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

Just got this one in the mail today. After considering quite a few budget scopes for my next build, I eventually decided to go with this one after Ebay gave me a 15% off coupon. Total cost after shipping was just under $100.00. Yeah, I'm a cheap bastard.







My initial impressions:

+It seems like a very solidly built scope. The 30mm monotube is quite heavy despite the compact size.
+The knobs have about the perfect amount of resistance and the clicks are very positive.
+Windage and elevation markings line up perfectly with the clicks with no discernable backlash or slop.
+The locking feature on the knobs also seems to work quite well. When in the locked position, there is absolutely no movement of the knobs at all.
+The mil dot reticle is sized correctly for use at the 6X magnification level. The scope also comes with a conversion chart showing the reticles values at all other levels of magnification. The chart is printed on a clear adhesive label that could be applied to a range card, or rifle if desired.
+The illumination has 11 settings, with 1 being quite dim and 11 being bright enough for use in most outdoor settings. Not sure about bright sunlight yet, as we didn't get any today.....
+The glass seems very clear, but I'll have to wait until I get it to the range to make the final judgement on this.
+At the lowest setting of 1.75X, The scope can be used with both eyes open for close range work
+Eye relief is spec'd at 3.5" to 3.9". At 6X I get a clear picture through the scope from 4" all the way out to about 6". A forward offset mount will likely be needed for this one.

Things I don't really care for but are not that big of a deal:

-Magnification ring is quite stiff to adjust. Hopefully this will get easier with use, although it's not really a bad thing on a mil dot scope.
-Ocular end focus adjustment is just a bit too easy to adjust. This will probably not be an issue once I get a set of Butler Creek scope caps on it.
-Included see-thru scope covers are the cheesy attached-together-via-elastic-chord kind that just about everyone hates. Cant reallt complain given the price of the scope. If nothing else, they could be used as some sort of emergency survival bolas or something.....
-Included rings are junk.

Lastly, and the reason I would only suggest buying this scope at a store or gun show -in person-:

The reticle is canted by about 2 to 3 degrees off of vertical. Probably not too big of a deal at 100-300 yards, but I'd imagine this will throw off some of the longer shots I take out at 600 to 800 yards. Once I get it out to the range I'll see how bad it is, and if it's something I can compensate for. The scope will be going on a Sabre Defense AR upper, so the rapid follow up shots make this less of an issue but it still irritates me.

I'm still accumulating parts for the rifle this is going on, once I get it out to the range I'll post a detailed follow up review.

[FMJBT]

Mounted to Sabre Defense 16" mid length upper assembly. For now I'm borrowing the lower from my other AR, although I will probably build this one up to be similar if not identical. I'll probably end up ditching the Troy 10" fore end at some point. It's nice, but I'd rather have a V-Tac or plain YHM rifle length tube on it.





Even with the long eye relief on this scope, it still mounted up in about the same spot I put all my other scopes. I narrowly avoided having to use a forward offset mount. Once I get a bolt carrier group for the upper I'll take the scope out to the range to get a better idea of how it performs.

[FMJBT]

Can't see the pics though.

How about now?

[OutlawDon]

How about now?

Fixed. Now take her out to the range and let's see how she performs.

[FMJBT]

BCG came in today, so I should be able to get it out to the range this weekend for testing out to about 800 yards if the rifle will push that far. I'll post results here afterwards.

Replaced the tall scope rings with TMS medium-ish height rings. Center height for these is 30mm (1.18"). Installed butler creek scope covers (#18 Eyepiece, #13 Objective) and Sunguard Killflash Anti Reflection Device (#1):

[5968]

And now for the range report!

[FMJBT]

And now for the range report!

Lol

I ended up shooting about 180 rounds with it today, overall I'm very pleased with it. A few more things I noted:

+ Mil Dot calibration at 6X magnification is accurate for both ranging and holdovers.
+ 1/4 moa turrets adjust and track accurately. 8 clicks equals 2" at 100 yards, etc. Passed "box test" with no problems.
+ Held zero throughout the day, although a .223 with a muzzle brake is probably not a very punishing test platform.
+ Resolution is pretty good. Obviously not at the level of Nightforce or U.S. Optics, but comprable to my Bushnell 3200 10X scope.

- Illumination feature is useless in bright sunlight. Don't plan on using it as a red dot sight at low magnification.

Since the reticle is slightly canted in my scope, I had to pick between mounting it with the reticle leveled, or with the knobs level. Since I use the mil dots for holdovers, I opted to level the reticle with the rifle, so the scope body sits slightly tilted in relation to vertical. Once the scope was zeroed, I just used the reticle without making adjustments for elevation and windage. Using this method I was able to get a decent amount of hits on plates set up at 450 and 650 yards. The wind ended up gusting today at 30+ mph for most of the day. I'm sure consistency would improve greatly with better conditions for shooting. Later in the day the sun was also shining at an angle that produced horrible glare on anything with optics. Our next outing will be early in the morning to try for better wind and lighting

I still need to get some more trigger time behind this one, but so far I really like it. It matches the intended purpose of the rifle very well, being a compromise between short and long range performance. It's not stellar at either, but it is quite capable at both. Likewise the rifle is not intended to excel at clearing rooms or precision engagement of targets at 500+ yards, but it is capable of both tasks without too much trouble.

I tried getting a few pics through the scope at the plate set up at 450 yards, but the camera was not cooperating. The pics came out much fuzzier than the actual image through the scope. Here's a pic from alongside the scope, with the target areas at 450 and 650 each covered by a yellow dot:


Glory shot of rifle, sitting atop a vanquished foe (65-ish Lincoln):

[5968]

I am glad to hear that it is working for you. I am glad I didn't have to set your targets up!

[niko454]

Glory shot of rifle, sitting atop a vanquished foe (65-ish Lincoln):

Based on the bodylines, i'd say thats a 64 lincoln. A 64 with watermelon juice/guts on the leather seats.

[FMJBT]

Based on the bodylines, i'd say thats a 64 lincoln. A 64 with watermelon juice/guts on the leather seats.

Not to mention the "pink mist" you got all over the side of my brand new rifle from testing hydroshocks on melons Could have been worse though, for a moment I though someone upwind from me was peeing

[Teletiger7]

so your saying that the reticle in canted? Not in the same line as the knobs?

[FMJBT]

so your saying that the reticle in canted? Not in the same line as the knobs?

Yeah, it's off by about 3 degrees unfortunately. Since I use hold overs for the most part when shooting semi auto's at long range, I set it up with the reticle lined up along the verticle axis of the rifle. The knobs are now leaning slightly to the right, so that adjustments in windage will impart a very slight amount of elevation shift (3 degrees approx). Elevation adjustments now will also impart a minor shift in windage as well.

Having a canted reticle forces you to pick between using holdovers to correct for wind and range, or using adjustments, but not both. Line up the reticle during mounting for holdover shooting, or line up the knobs for dialing in adjustments.

I really do like this scope, but I would hesitate to buy another unless I could physically look through it to verify the reticle is lined up with the adjustment knobs.

[niko454]

was gonna post the video but couldn't figure out how. its a photobucket video.