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IOR valdada 2-12 Spartan |
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mj2936
Optics GrassHopper Joined: August/25/2013 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 11 |
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Posted: November/19/2013 at 08:43 |
Reading some reviews about this scope, not much out there. Basically, this will be going on my scar 17, and I plan on shooting 100 to 600-700yds. I've heard some hesitancy about the bdc knobs (if not set for the particular load and environment it is a crap idea) and some love it, and I'm sure the true answer is somewhere in between. I was wondering if anyone could educate me on this particular scope and bdc knobs for elevation in general. Can you still shoot at distances between the "clicks" (50yd clicks on the spartan), and is shooting different loads going to affect the knobs too much or can you zero it at a particular load and then you're gtg with the normal bdc adjustments after? If not this I was also looking at the 2.5-10 IOR scope.
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Rancid Coolaid
MODERATOR Joined: January/19/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9318 |
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I haven't owned (or used, or touched) the 2-12 Spartan, but have significant experience with the 2.5-10, and might make a recommendation or 2 based on your budget, your rifle, and your first choice in optics.
The spartan (or the one I see listed on SWFA) is second focal plane with an illuminated reticle, and sells for about $1400. First, on IOR: they are "hit-or-miss" with support, sometimes it is quick and purposeful, sometimes not so much. Their glass quality is usually very good, their mechanicals are usually good too (sometimes they release a scope with a major flaw - and major there is an understatement) but they are usually an OK bet. I have owned their 2.5-10 (2 generations of it), the 4.5-14, and the 3-18 (Sniper's Hide edition) and only the 3-18 had technical issues that required shipping it back to Eastern Europe (for about 3 months.) On the 2.5-10, it is a good mag range, but I wouldn't buy that scope with an SFP reticle, that negates much of the value in a drop reticle. Additionally, I wouldn't buy the 2.5-10 (again) in a FFP reticle because my IORs (FFPs) have tunneled badly, making them effectively 4-10 scopes. All that said, the turrets are OK, the new illumination system is quite nice (very dim on the bottom, very bright on the top, easy to adjust), and glass is always IOR's strength. Next, on BDCs: I've used them extensively and eventually move away as the load changes, the environment changes, or the circumstances change. The issue with BDC's is that they are dead nuts for ONLY a very specific set of circumstances, and I have yet to see a non-custom BDC that was right even to 600 yards. Once you start needing to track adjustments to the printed BDC values, you are back to a normal turret and a drop chart - which is what all my rifles are now. That said, there are MANY options in that price range that I would look to first. The SS5-20 is a very good scope for about the same money, and a very reliable company backing it. The reticle is good, illumination does what it should, mechanicals are spot-on (for the 2 I have owned) and the glass is quite good. There are other options as well, depending on specific needs and likes. Lastly, the SCAR 17 is not a precision rifle, don't count on it as such. My personal recommendation, if 600-700 is your max distance, is to spend less on a scope (SS3-9X maybe) and spend the rest on range time and ammo. If you know the platform well, this might not be as important; if you are new to SCARs, I'd spend quality range time with it, even if that means a lesser scope. |
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mj2936
Optics GrassHopper Joined: August/25/2013 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 11 |
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thank you for your input and educating me on the bdc knobs. I did hear the problems with the tunneling and the ffp on the 2-10. I'm just harping on the IOR scopes because I have a good deal I can get on them and I heard for the money their glass is the best money can buy. Otherwise I was also looking at the bushnell 3-12. I already have a 3-15 weaver tactical in ffp for my bolt action so I felt redundant getting a scope with the exact same features. I like the 5-20x a lot except that it is way to big and heavy for the scar, and with one of the good features of the scar 17 being that it is a lighter semi auto 308, I felt a heavier scope would negate some of that mobility and light-weight aspects.
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BeltFed
Optics Retard Joined: February/12/2008 Location: Ky Status: Offline Points: 22287 |
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IOR scopes are heavy, and like RC said BDC reticle and/or turrets are really limited. I have the IOR 1.5-8x26 sfp and I'm very pleased with it. The tunneling at 1.5 to about 2.5 isn't to bad. The BDC reticle is worthless except at 8x. I say this because my IOR has the same reticle and turret option as the Spartan. The glass and illumination is very good IMO, and the horse shoe reticle is fast, but it is a heavy scope, and the Spartan is even heavier and longer.
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Life's concerns should be about the 120lb pack your trying to get to the top of the mountain, and not the rock in your boot.
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
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IOR makes nice scopes with superb optics.
2-12x36 has been around for a while, so whatever issues they could have had, have probably been worked out by now. I am not real big on BDC knobs for the same reasons that have been voiced in this thread already. If you are gong to stick to one load, you should be able to make it work for you, with creative sight-in distances. SCAR 17 is an acceptably accurate rifle from what I hear, but I can't help but think that with a rifle of this type using the reticle for hold over and wind compensation is not a bad option. IOR's MP-8 is not a bad way to go. It is a simple enough reticle. However, I would probably lean toward FFP designs for that, like the 2.5-10x42FFP IOR you mentioned. Something like this could also work well and let you do more with the reticle: The Bushnell 3-12x44 with G2DMR is also a good option. Both of these will not be as good as IOR in terms of optics, so keep that in mind. If I were looking for an IOR scope to put on SCAR 17, I would probably give aclose look to this: ILya
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Rancid Coolaid
MODERATOR Joined: January/19/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9318 |
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Agreed.
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Freedom is something you take.
Respect is something you earn. Equality is something you whine about not being given. |
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mj2936
Optics GrassHopper Joined: August/25/2013 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 11 |
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How is the trident different from the spartan. I see it has bdc elevation knobs...but what is meant by the 0.1mrad adjustment?
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mj2936
Optics GrassHopper Joined: August/25/2013 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 11 |
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and the spartan comes with the mp-8 reticle I believe
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BeltFed
Optics Retard Joined: February/12/2008 Location: Ky Status: Offline Points: 22287 |
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http://www.valdada.com/scopes/tactical-scopes/1-5-8x26-35mm-trident-tactical-ffp-308-bdc-knob-circle-dot-x1-super-bright-reticleThis may give you a little more Info on the Trident mj2936.
It doesn't sound or look like a BDC turret, but I could be wrong. I think it would be a better choice over the Spartan IMHO.
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Life's concerns should be about the 120lb pack your trying to get to the top of the mountain, and not the rock in your boot.
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mj2936
Optics GrassHopper Joined: August/25/2013 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 11 |
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Thank you for all the input. I think I'm between the spartan and a 3-18x FFP valdada. I guess I'm a little hesitant about BDC knobs but as someone accurately pointed out, the scar isn't exactly a precision rig. But for a matter ofr 5 ounces, the 3-18x might be a better route http://www.valdada.com/scopes/tactical-scopes/3-18x42-35mm-ffp-sf-mil-mil-tactical-scope-mp-8-dot-mod-reticle
Any final thoughts and words of advice?
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
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It all depends on how you want to use the rifle. The 3-18x42 is an excellent scope in most ways and I have a LOT of mileage with several different versions of it. However, it is effectively a 4.5-18x42 due to tunneling at low magnification. Hence, the question you should be asking yourself is whether ~4.5x on the low end is sufficient for what you want to do with that rifle.
If you are only ever going to shoot at the range, then a little extra magnification helps and the 3-18x42FFP is a good way to go. However, if you plan to do more with the rifle in terms of going out into the field, positional shooting or anything that requires speed, then the 1.5-8x26FFP is your best bet. Unless you are shooting at very small targets, 8x is plenty to take the rifle out to 700 yards. ILya
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mj2936
Optics GrassHopper Joined: August/25/2013 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 11 |
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thanks ilya. The 1.5-8x is a nice scope. But once again....BDC knobs. Grr. I plan on using it mostly on the bench.
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
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If you are mostly using the rifle from the bench, then most of this argument is superfluous. For bench shooting get something that tops out in the 15x to 18x range.
IOR 3-18x42 is a good option. If you want to save some money, SWFA SS 3-15x42 is a surprisingly competent scope for less than half the price and a little less weight. If you are a comfortable, with SFP scopes, then you should also be looking at this: It is in the same basic price range as the IOR, but weighs a little less and has absolutely world class optics, as good as anything else out there. ILya |
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mj2936
Optics GrassHopper Joined: August/25/2013 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 11 |
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thanks for all the input. I have decided to go with the 3-18x. I couldn't pass up the deal I got. Maybe at some point if I want to participate in 3-gun or something cqb I'll consider upgrading to the 1-10 eliminator or get a trijicon.
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Banshee8
Optics GrassHopper Joined: January/05/2015 Location: Virginia Status: Offline Points: 9 |
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Mj, it's been over a year since your buy. I'm interested in knowing your impressions of the 3-18 and what your experience has been.
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