This is just a preliminary review. Once I mount it on my new rilfe (not yet purchased - 30 days), I will write up an official product review.
Here is the quick skinny.
Because I do not know if it is politically correct on this site to list a Vendor's site, especially where the vendor's site is offering this scope for a seriously discounted price than most all other sites, thus maybe causing other vendors to complain or threaten, I will just state that if you do a very thorough deep search for this scope on the internet, you will find one site that sells the scope for approximately $229.00 less. You can then decide to purchase from that site and wait about 7-9 days while they perform a direct manufacturer to customer shipment or you can find another site that will match this sites scopes price and get it shipped immediately for their in stock product.
I unexpectedly received the "match another site offer" after an innnocent simple question but the site vendor who performed the price match was seriously upset and mad that they had to offer their company's match policy. (I never ever thought of the match offer before the call nor did I ever ask for it at the time of the call.) Anway I have a brand new Minox ZA5 4-20x50 SF with BDC Reticle for $229.00 less than normal cost across the internet. If you want this kind of a deal, you should quickly find the site and call vendors that will match the sites reduced cost. It probably will not last long.
Here are my quick thoughts on the scope in coparison to my Vortex Viper HS 4-16x50 SF BDC scopes.
1. First view at a few magnifications, the Minox optics appear to be brighter than the Viper. Even at maximum magnification of 20, it is still super bright and clear.
2. The magnification power selector on the Minox is 1000% better. I am already happy. My opinion is that this is a serious weak feature on the Viper and actually a design flaw on the Viper.
3. The BDC elevation marks on the Minox are pretty close. I am confused\concerned how these reflect yardage. No documentation at all regarding how they work but compared to any other scope manufacturer's BDC elevation marks, these are very tight?
4. The turrents for both scopes are nice. Soon range time will show and tell performance comparison. The Minox is 1\8" increments compared to the Viper's 1\4" increments. 80 MOA for both windage and elevation. The Viper HS is only 50 MOA but I have not had any issues with the Viper's lower MOA.
5. The eye relief on the Viper is nice. Viper is mounted on a 338winmag and no eye relief issues even at 16 power. The eye relief on the Minox is even better. Minox states 4"+ and I might tend to believe that.
6. The scope is almost 19 oz but the Viper is at 22 oz. I travel up and down mountains and honestly, I guess to me, the scope weights are just not a decision factor for me.
7. The Minox comes with a scope coat and an alan wrench (mine was missing) and that is it. According to sales tech, there are not any know compatible sunshades for the 50mm. The Viper somes with an inexpensive see through lens covers but also a 4" sunshade, and lens cloth. The Vipers box packaging and documentation is significantly better.
So far I am happy with this new Minox.
Once I get this mounted, I will do a complete writeup in the product evaluation section.
338winmag
Here is the quick skinny.
Because I do not know if it is politically correct on this site to list a Vendor's site, especially where the vendor's site is offering this scope for a seriously discounted price than most all other sites, thus maybe causing other vendors to complain or threaten, I will just state that if you do a very thorough deep search for this scope on the internet, you will find one site that sells the scope for approximately $229.00 less. You can then decide to purchase from that site and wait about 7-9 days while they perform a direct manufacturer to customer shipment or you can find another site that will match this sites scopes price and get it shipped immediately for their in stock product.
I unexpectedly received the "match another site offer" after an innnocent simple question but the site vendor who performed the price match was seriously upset and mad that they had to offer their company's match policy. (I never ever thought of the match offer before the call nor did I ever ask for it at the time of the call.) Anway I have a brand new Minox ZA5 4-20x50 SF with BDC Reticle for $229.00 less than normal cost across the internet. If you want this kind of a deal, you should quickly find the site and call vendors that will match the sites reduced cost. It probably will not last long.
Here are my quick thoughts on the scope in coparison to my Vortex Viper HS 4-16x50 SF BDC scopes.
1. First view at a few magnifications, the Minox optics appear to be brighter than the Viper. Even at maximum magnification of 20, it is still super bright and clear.
2. The magnification power selector on the Minox is 1000% better. I am already happy. My opinion is that this is a serious weak feature on the Viper and actually a design flaw on the Viper.
3. The BDC elevation marks on the Minox are pretty close. I am confused\concerned how these reflect yardage. No documentation at all regarding how they work but compared to any other scope manufacturer's BDC elevation marks, these are very tight?
4. The turrents for both scopes are nice. Soon range time will show and tell performance comparison. The Minox is 1\8" increments compared to the Viper's 1\4" increments. 80 MOA for both windage and elevation. The Viper HS is only 50 MOA but I have not had any issues with the Viper's lower MOA.
5. The eye relief on the Viper is nice. Viper is mounted on a 338winmag and no eye relief issues even at 16 power. The eye relief on the Minox is even better. Minox states 4"+ and I might tend to believe that.
6. The scope is almost 19 oz but the Viper is at 22 oz. I travel up and down mountains and honestly, I guess to me, the scope weights are just not a decision factor for me.
7. The Minox comes with a scope coat and an alan wrench (mine was missing) and that is it. According to sales tech, there are not any know compatible sunshades for the 50mm. The Viper somes with an inexpensive see through lens covers but also a 4" sunshade, and lens cloth. The Vipers box packaging and documentation is significantly better.
So far I am happy with this new Minox.
Once I get this mounted, I will do a complete writeup in the product evaluation section.
338winmag
