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Optisan 1-4x24 Mamba |
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SVT_Tactical
MODERATOR Chief Sackscratch Joined: December/17/2009 Location: NorthCackalacky Status: Offline Points: 31233 |
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Posted: August/02/2011 at 20:07 |
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Well I recently picked one of these up for review . It was interesting to say the least especially the combo package that comes with a SWFA SSALT mount (http://opticstalk.com/optisan-14x24-mamba-swfa-salt-combo_topic29046.html). That essentially makes the scope a $100 1-4.... to me worth the risk of trying it out.
It arrived well packaged and from the first glance it looked great. The glass was exceptionally clear and reticle nice and crisp. I had planned before seeing it putting it on my 450 bushmaster. After all I dont' shoot it near as much as any other gun simply because of the cost factor of the shells and I don't have reloading dies for it yet. That meant pulling the SWFA SS 1-4x24 off it and had all intentions of putting it on my 17HMR "trainer". Well i decided that the glass was clear enough that the Mamba would go on there instead at least for the time being.
I mounted the scope on the 17HMR in Burris Zee 30mm Rings on the weaver mounts that the gun came with. They have proven to hold up well. I had not even tested the illumination prior to mounting but once I got it mounted and reticle level I put in the supplied battery and tested the illuminaton. Both the red and green worked good. Bright enough to see in full daylight but still dim enough to use in low light without bleeding. I was liking this.
I pulled the bolt and bore sighted it the best I could for a 17HMR, after all thats a small barrel to try to center something in 50 yds away. I did the best I could and went to put some rounds downrange. I put an empty cardboard box out 50yds. Threw some red dot target stickers on it and got ready. I put the first round about 10"high and 8" right of the target I aimed at. Here is where it gets tricky. The elevation dial isn't marked what direction the turning of the turrets goes. So being the hard headed man I am i just guessed which way it was and shot again.... I guess wrong. Fixing the error i adjusted a couple more times to get the elevation on. The entire time at 50yds I could see my bullet holes in the cardboard box with the scope! Clear little buger. The result of my turning the turrets was a perfect verticle line about 18" from bull to my error correction. I then adjusted for windage which was marked which direction turning it did. That didnt take but a couple adjustments. This is when I discovered a nice surprise, a spare battery in the top of the windage cap. Pretty cool, i like good surprises. (PS I know it says it comes with this but I didn't even see that til I came in and started writing this thread, LOL)
I put a 5 shot group down range pretty quick and got a nice little group maybe .5" - .75" pretty good I thought. Now to see what I could do. I loaded up another clip and got real serious. I wanted to be proud of the group so I took my time controlled breathing, smooth trigger pull, patience. The result was 5 shots that were less than .5 " almost a 1 hole group. The scope works! I turned the illumination on and checked to make sure it had no effect on POI and also tested the POI on different mag powers, no abnormalities were discovered.
Next came a few shots after twisting the turrets. I haven't had a chance to play with shots at a distance yet but I will test the turrets soon to see how the 17HMR will match up for a turret designed for a 223 military round. Time will tell. I did run up and down the entire adjustment range and back to zero and it tracked fine. I didn't not run the windage because its simply not designed for that.
Overall I really like the scope. Its and absolute steal and I think its about the best sub $400 1-4 on the market right now. Considering you get the mount and scope for only $150. I have no ideal how long the sale will last, it been going a while but it well worth the cost.
Edited by SVT_Tactical - August/15/2011 at 07:17 |
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SVT_Tactical
MODERATOR Chief Sackscratch Joined: December/17/2009 Location: NorthCackalacky Status: Offline Points: 31233 |
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From the left
From the right
"Mamba"
Topside!
Elevation Dial
Elevation Dial
Windage Dial
Windage Dial
Extra battery, wahoo!
Red illumination (not sure why I didn't take one with the green on)
Illumination off. I can't get a good through the scope picture but the fine dot does show up when actually viewing through the scope with the eye, it is precise too.
Here is the Target
Here is the 5 shot rapid fire group
This is on 1X at 50yds, It may not have been dead on but its constant enough for me to know it wasn't anything other than me off
Here is the group I put effort into. This was at 50yds and this is 5 shots on a 1"circle dot.
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Kickboxer
MODERATOR Moderator Joined: February/13/2008 Status: Offline Points: 23679 |
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Good review, Graham. Sounds like a real "deal". If it holds up, it's a steal...Has a nice look.
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Opinion,untempered by fact,is ignorance.
There are some who do not fear death... for they are more afraid of not really living |
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SVT_Tactical
MODERATOR Chief Sackscratch Joined: December/17/2009 Location: NorthCackalacky Status: Offline Points: 31233 |
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lumberjack149
Optics Apprentice Joined: December/04/2009 Location: Virginia Status: Offline Points: 110 |
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ive been eyeing this scope for a S&W 15-22 i have and i think your review might have finally put me over the edge. It was between this scope and the Weaver 1-3x20.
Thanks for the review.
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SVT_Tactical
MODERATOR Chief Sackscratch Joined: December/17/2009 Location: NorthCackalacky Status: Offline Points: 31233 |
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You will not be sorry. with the SSALT mount it comes with you will be more than happy. I imagine with the larger circle reticle it would be quick on steel to run through a course of rapid fire.
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topbrass
Optics Apprentice Joined: March/10/2010 Status: Offline Points: 140 |
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Sounds good! Thanks!
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cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
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Good work, Graham.
Nice to see a LOW power variable on a rim fire rifle.
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If at first you don't secede...try..try again.
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Hogwylde
Optics GrassHopper Joined: July/29/2011 Status: Offline Points: 4 |
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I just put this scope and SSALT mount on my M-4 carbine. I intend to use this setup for 3-gun competition. Siting the scope in was a snap. I only had a 100 yard range for initial testing and setup, so I can't verify how accurate that the BDC turret was. I was able to test point of impact from 100 yards back down to 25 feet. About an inch low at 50 and 25 yards, and at 1x point of impact was at the bottom of the circle at 25 feet.
I'll probably get poo poo'd from people for not putting a $700-1200 scope on this rifle for what I want to use it for, but I couldn't justify paying more for a scope than I paid for the rifle just so I can burn thru a bunch of wolf steel case ammo putting little holes in cardboard "zombies".
So far, I love this scope. Two eyes for close up quick shots, 4x zoom for reaching out and touching someone. Definately an improvement over the non-magnified red dot that I was using.
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SVT_Tactical
MODERATOR Chief Sackscratch Joined: December/17/2009 Location: NorthCackalacky Status: Offline Points: 31233 |
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Nice to see another happy customer.....
Don't you think the glass is surprisingly clear for the $$?
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Grant
Optics GrassHopper Joined: December/25/2010 Status: Offline Points: 34 |
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Got mine today.
It is NOT a Japanese scope, it is a scope "Made in China with Japanese technology" Which means "Made in China". Truthfully not real surprised, as few scopes at this price level ($100) are made outside of China.
And going past that, it does seem like a good scope. Feels better than the NCstars and looks/feels comparable to the Leatherwood CMR scope (Both just handling at gunshows, not usage).
I haven't got it mounted yet, but the glass is very clear and turrets seem to click pretty well.
I plan on mounting it on an RPK. I would like to mount it on a gun I use more, and would use more roughly to test it, however the eye relief is too long for use on my regular AK's. I "might" put it on my FAL, but I hate swapping scopes just to test, and I want to put a mil-dot on the FAL.
P.S. Love the SALT mount, as soon as I change the scope on my AR15 that puppy is going on.
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Grant
Optics GrassHopper Joined: December/25/2010 Status: Offline Points: 34 |
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Oops, lost a paragraph in there. (Meant to go in under my comparison to NCstar and Leatherwood)
What the scope reminds me a great deal of, is the Millet DMS. Differant reticle and finer center dot, however dimensions very similar.
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Chris Farris II
TEAM SWFA - Admin MODERATOR Joined: August/13/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3196 |
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Edited by Chris Farris II - August/11/2011 at 13:47 |
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One day your life will flash before your eyes; Make sure it's worth watching.
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Chris Farris II
TEAM SWFA - Admin MODERATOR Joined: August/13/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3196 |
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One day your life will flash before your eyes; Make sure it's worth watching.
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Chris Farris II
TEAM SWFA - Admin MODERATOR Joined: August/13/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3196 |
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For the difference in money I would go with the Optisan and not look back.
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One day your life will flash before your eyes; Make sure it's worth watching.
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SVT_Tactical
MODERATOR Chief Sackscratch Joined: December/17/2009 Location: NorthCackalacky Status: Offline Points: 31233 |
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The Optisan is a real steal/sleeper scope! Edited by SVT_Tactical - August/11/2011 at 14:52 |
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Grant
Optics GrassHopper Joined: December/25/2010 Status: Offline Points: 34 |
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Maybe not.
I looked through it earlier today (impressions in my above post), and test-mounted it onto my AK. Power went out this evening and this corner of the house went dark. Great, perfect opportunity to test out the illuminated center.
You don't notice it in bright daylight, but even get "slightly" cloudy, and the whole scope is shining red/green, that is not only the center dot illuminated, but the entire scope reflects a reddish/greenish haze.
Power setting 1 you don't notice it, Power setting 2 you only notice the haze when it gets really dark. Power setting 3 is noticable at any point except bright sunlight, and power settings 4 and 5 are noticable at all times except in bright noon-esque light.
Scope would be okay, except the dot/circle really ain't an advantage without illumination. Put a ghost of a ring mark on it so I ain't gonna be returning it. Might hang onto it as a non-illuminated scope, Maybe if I get a little more cash saved up I'll trade it in on a XLT 1-4 with Ill. dot.
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hatton mann
Optics Apprentice Joined: March/02/2011 Location: ne Status: Offline Points: 179 |
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I've been thinking about one of these combos.
One question,,,I take it the illumination must be on for the reticle to be visible ?
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SVT_Tactical
MODERATOR Chief Sackscratch Joined: December/17/2009 Location: NorthCackalacky Status: Offline Points: 31233 |
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no the reticle is visable without the illumination. And in a dark situation you would only use it on the lowest section so that you wouldn't get the haze mentioned above. I have now used mine in the fullest sun possible and no issues with seeing the reticle illuminated or non illuminated as well as on a moonless night with the red illumination and green illumination both on 1. Never had an issue.
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Cope6.5/284
Optics Apprentice Joined: February/22/2008 Status: Offline Points: 115 |
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Edited by Cope6.5/284 - August/12/2011 at 10:11 |
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