Hi-lux Across the Course Xtc14x34 Competition Rifle Scope Review

Zeroing a NF Comp SR at 600 yards, cartridge caught in the air. Photograph Credit: Samantha Bonilla

In the fall of 2014 at the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) Western Games in Phoenix, I attended a dinner with Gary Anderson and the CMP staff where the bailiwick of considering eyes for Service Burglarize was discussed.  It was noted the the U.S. military machine had long since transitioned to the common use of optical sights both in the form of not-magnifying 1X eyes and magnifying optics such as the Trijicon ACOG.  Furthermore, the National Burglarize Association (NRA) had been experimenting with optical-grade rifles for across-the-class high-powered rifle competition for a number of years.  Finally it was noted, that there were no currently manufactured optics specifically designed for high-power competition; that the closest optics to this purpose were the 1-4X optics in used for the three-gun action shooting discipline; but that these were optimized for close in work and may or may not bear witness workable for full distance across-the-course use.

From that dinner, a number of us began a journey that, though virtually of 2015, would discover united states approaching manufacturers and experimenting with configurations including, amongst other things, what forward cantilever altitude and height higher up Picatinny track a scope should have. The answer was forrard enough and at the same acme to have approximately the same caput position with respect to the rear discontinuity of an A2 iron sight rifle.  The consensus height afterwards several people experimented with it was 1.300".  I visited with several manufacturers, some at the SHOT Show, some in person, going over my wish list for features; foremost of which, was CMP's insistence on a maximum 4.5X physical magnification limit for the optic.

The request was not well received.  The industry chop-chop pointed out that military machine combat optics were rapidly evolving towards maximum magnifications in the ranges of 6X to 8X power; which I knew, because of the increasing importance of rifle engagement envelopes out to 800m in the mountains of Transitional islamic state of afghanistan.  The days of CQB emphasis for urban warfare in Iraq were done and 4X optics hit a practical limit at effectually 500-600 meters for military use.  A similarly bleak response was received from the sporting optics industry who were quick to point out that the production economies of scale to bring out a dedicated optic at an affordable toll indicate didn't pencil given the relatively small market represented past loftier-power competitors. Information technology was pretty much beg for favors across the board at the fourth dimension adapting existing scopes equally best as could be done.  Somewhen, the effort began to yield response.  This is the story of that from my perspective.

The Pride-Fowler "Peshmerga" Image

Beyond our sport, 2014 also marked the emergence of ISIS in Iraq and the struggle for survival of the Kurds, Yazidis and other non-Sunni Muslims in the face of the Islamic State.  There was a drastic need to defend confronting waves of invaders of the nigh vicious nature.  My friend John Pride ask me what I thought of information technology and I suggested he explore a low cost scope manufactured using a Chinese OEM that could potentially be sold in large numbers under Foreign Military Sales, yeah including jumping through all the ITARS hoops, so the Pesh might have something on their small artillery that could have out suicide vest attackers at decent stand off distances.  I said the requirement is sort of similar to what's evolving for highpower so if you can put together something I can examination I'd be happy to tinker. And then from mix and match parts came a 1-four.5X 1st focal plane telescopic with a reticle taken out of a iv-12X scope and 0.5 moa turrets to play with.  This was the very commencement manufacturer willing to simply attempt something for the heck of it. It had a ballistic compensating reticle that I had to dissever 12 past 4.5 to recompute it's optical holdovers but it worked.  It even had red, green and blue reticle illumination.

At reduced course distances, it was a dream to drive. Turret tracking was consistent just the mismatch of optical powers from mixing pieces made a click worth grow in value per click as height grew.  It still worked of holding off, kind of like an ACOG, simply the windage dial was too rough to move in unison with a rattle battle squad bus calling the wind.  I sadly had to put it aside for total distance shooting.  For a hundred g reduced course gun or on top of a CMP Modern Miilitary burglarize, the matter tin hammer.  Well, it was a prototype build from scrounged parts and I volition always appreciate that John Pride was willing to innovate a test article to assist explore the rule modify so early in the procedure.

The NightForce Comp SR

Arriving just a piddling too close to the 2016 Natonals to really get to know, I think the Nightforce Comp SR is probably the best across-the-course scope going.  Information technology's a fixed power telescopic with reduces optical complication. It'southward based on a higher magnification design base of operations and that gives it 0.25 moa clicks.  That's a big deal in a depression ability optic. And information technology tracks quite linearly across the form equally you punch it. The glass has superb clarity.  So much and then that you accept to remind yourself a lot that looking at the target instead of the reticle is bad mojo.  And the reticle is what makes this scope stand out.  It has a circle-dot middle that harkens back to the infamous "donut of death" of the original Steyr AUG optical sights.  It's a circumvolve in a circle in a circle. Match concentric rings and boom, yous're days as a kid qualifying for NRA modest-bore patches using 513T's with circle sights comes back to y'all.  The second generation NF Comp SR2 makes the fundamental circle smaller and holds a circle of white fifty-fifty tighter to the bull.  Would beloved to try ane.  I can discern the tighter concord that's possible in the SR2's I've looked through  At the moment, I've still only got the original SR; but I love the affair. This is the scope that sits on my "A" gun.  Information technology'll take a lot to displace information technology.

The Konus XTC-thirty

Betwixt 2016 and 2017, the quest to come with an affordable 4X'ish optic with turrets that tracked under heavy dialing use finally began to become important.  Dennis DeMille, who was part of the discussions in 2014, specified, tested and sent back numerous times until the turrets were as shut to bulletproof as possible, what would become the Konus XTC-30. In scopes, pricing is determined by manufacturing lot size more than anything else.  Place a large enough society with the OEM mill and dollars shave off the suggested retail per item.  That'south how a combination of a Creedmoor Sports and CMP guild brought the price on these down.  I came to possess i of these at the end of 2017 Nationals forth with an admonition from one Dennis to some other Dennis to test and mistreat the affair.  I have endeavored to practise so.

The XTC-30 has fewer frills.  It does have illumination but I confess I've never turned it on. The reticle reminds one of a Vortex PST, quite vanilla, but besides purposefully workmanlike at the same fourth dimension. It takes in a lot of calorie-free and on the brightest days in the deserts of the west. It helps to put i of those caps on the front that cuts downwards on incoming low-cal. It's not a problem where it's green. The turrets punch in 1/2 munute clicks.  Simply they practice track.  I box tested this telescopic in a x moa box from cornet to corner twirling knobs mercilessly between each shot.  Firing from a sling, this is high-ability not bench residue people, it performed.  So far, it continues to.  This is the scope that sits on my "B" gun with the older barrel.  I'm confident enough in it that I'd tackle XTC and rattle battle with it.

We are beginning to see more than scopes in this genre appearing from other manufacturers.  This is a very good thing for the sport.

The Weaver G-4

Born in El Paso when competing in high-ability meant using an M1903 Springfield, Yard-1 Garand, or Winchester Model 70, the fixed power 4X Weaver K is not to exist trifled with.  It is in my stance, the prototype model for NRA/CMP reduced course and 200-yard Mod Military Rifle competition.  Take the fixed power simplicity concept of the NF Comp SR to its very basics and you accept a Weaver Yard-iv.  If Modernistic Military Rifle is your game, in my opinion, every dollar you spend by a M-4 is decorative.  You're immune to.  But performance wise, there's no proceeds I can see.

Really! Direct up. I'd still stick a Weaver K-four on a gun and chase for Games Match accomplishment medals with it. They drive really well. Only so once more, would you expect less from a scope meant to perform sitting on top of hunting rifles that kick like elephants? And you can become used ones for about fifty bucks on eBay.  The same ascertainment goes for any number of other new and vintage 1" diameter scopes when it comes to 100-yard and 200-yard matches. Keep information technology simple.

Notation:  Here is where I actually had a bit of a os to option with the rules committee at the CMP.  In 2016, a company named Atomic number 26 Sight Inc. (ISI) offered a custom-shop modification to the Weaver Thousand's to install Micro-Trac turrets in them essentially creating a Weaver T-4 across-the-class optic.  In practise the parts is parts assembly dialed around 1/iii moa per click but it had Micro-Tracs with all the turret repeatability and double springs Weaver T-series eyes are reknown for.  Alas, someone at the CMP declared them illegal.  I thought and then and notwithstanding do believe it was a wrong decision. Refusing to let the custom-store ISI'south stand alongside other custom-shop scopes such as the variations on Leupold tubes that adorn the firing line at Camp Perry seemed rather unfair to me. ISI is a commercial business concern with a proper IRS EIN number no different than any other enterprise that does work in the eyes market; in their case, doing custom and repair piece of work on a number of well respected brands. I thought what they were doing was exactly the kind of industry response we hoped to encourage in the meetings of 2014. I believe the CMP's decision in this case served more to stifle innovation by many brands and delayed the inflow of options from other manufacturers who could have answered the need for affordable eyes sooner. A well-nigh unfortunate episode. The story does accept a happy ending.  The modified Weavers eventually became a itemize product chosen the IST4 offered by ISI and are now certified for utilise in CMP/NRA XTC matches on Service Rifles.

The Vortex PST 1-4x24

This is a a tale of a scope that was dropped past its manufacturer only every bit a new market segment was beginning to activate for it.  I made a special point of stopping by Vortex booth at the 2016 SHOT Show to discuss parallax distance pre-sets for scopes similar this PST.  Information technology was clear from grouping experiments in 2015 that a "highpower competition" version of the Viper one-4X PST with an objective lens parallax pre-set to 200 yards or 300 yards would exist a workable piece of kit.  Information technology became articulate though that Vortex was planning to discontinue the model in favor a more expensive HD line replacement aimed at upscale 3-gun, hunter and armed forces purchasers.

It's too bad.  The little PST was a decently priced optic with practiced overall performance.  You don't demand perfect drinking glass to shoot at bullseyes.  Yous do need an easy to navigate reticle too as decent feeling and repeatable turrets. The Vortex had these. With information technology'due south parallax focused for closer targets found in plinking and iii-gun, it was a telescopic that you had to exist actress careful getting behind ever time particulary at longer distances.  A model with the correct parallax altitude pre-prepare would have solved it and, in my opinion, Vortex missed a change to take an early lead in the service rifle optics arena.

By creating the product void, Vortex opened the door for scopes similar the Leupold Mark AR and the Konus XTC-30 to address emerging demand unfettered.  Their HD line is too expensive and it'south but better to become with the cheaper models.

Update: The Vortex Viper 1-4X PST is apparently back on the market for the time existence as the Vortex Ranger.

The Pride-Fowler 1-6X RR 7.62/5.56

Then virtually that original protype Pride-Fowler from 2015?  It'due south also evolved.  As originally predicted was the trend for martial purpose optics, this turned out to be a one-6X magnification, outset-focal airplane, solid click turrets optic in the vein of a scope you dial combined with an etched ballistic compensation reticle gear up-up for seven.62x51mm 175 gr. and 5.56x45mm 77 gr. ammunition with altitude to target interpretation hacks in keeping with military ACOG and RCO fastest-to-appoint practices.

Information technology also works well as a highpower scope. The reticle is busier than ideal for bullseye shooting but non unworkable.  The turrets and knobs are robust and have solid clicks, something I found out from the Chinese OEM factory are features out of a catalog menu added to the turret.  The travel per rotation of a scope is really a function of the thread pitch of the erector and traverse screws.  It likes my 77gr Sierra Lucifer King load, which it should seeing as it approximates the military Mk262 Mod 0/1 round used in designated marksman rifles. Information technology likes M118-LR out of a 20" AR-10/LR-308 likewise.

Of course, it'south entirely not-compliant with the CMP'southward maximum magnification rule and I'm not presently holding my breath that the CMP will extend the same courtesy it does to optics users in Rimfire Sporter matches of setting the scope to the rule volume maximum magnification and taping an inspection sticker on the telescopic to lock it in for the elapsing.  Nosotros'll see how that goes as more of these 6X to 8X optics become standard issue mil-spec eyes with National Stocks Numbers (NSN's).  For now, I'm perfectly happy to shoot it as a match rifle at club matches to keep gathering data on how this branch of eyes innovation evolves.  The way I look at information technology, in the end, I'm a curious pupil of the gun, not the rulebook.

Scopes I haven't tried.

The Leupolds.

  In that location are several of these ranging from low priced to loftier end.  The chief reason I oasis't explored them is because and so many of my friends accept them on their guns. The reports on them are numerous and, at this point, consistent.  A Leupold in the hands of a skilled competitor tin can win any match. People have offered to lend me ane to run tests on.  Ane of these days I will.

The March.

This is the optic that has adaptable parallax which makes head/heart position less critical to align.  On the pricey side, I've never been able to justify the cost to curiosity equation plenty to requite information technology a go. The matter is, match winners always tend to seem to be driving NightForce or Leupold glass so I'k hard pressed to jump on the wagon.  Don't get me wrong, having shot enough of any/any, PRS and modest-diameter matches, I'm keenly aware of how advantageous it is to have adjustable parallax in high magnification optics.  At iv.5X, non that sold.

Vortex HD's.

I think I'chiliad just happy with that cheaper 1-4x Viper PST that I oasis't chased one of their Big Kahuna models down to compare it.  Also, I don't own any 34mm mounts or rings although I do admit to having drooled over Spuhr rings forever.  Hakan has some of the most interesting nuance innovations built into them.

Hi-Lux XTC 14x34.

 I have a curiosity about this emerging in 2018 scope by and large because it has objective parallax aligning. I've been a fan of this blazon of parallax feature vs. the turret knob type all the manner back to the behemoth Unertl Varmints sitting on POSA bases on top of a Winchester Model seventy.  The fact that it'south an nether $500 suggested retail scope is even meliorate.

The SHOT Testify plethora of scopes.

  These include offerings from Nikon, Sig, etc that one finds walking the flooring every Jan.  Some of them look pretty interesting considering of cost or features.  Many are conspicuously simply going to be expert for reduced form or Games match apply, which is fine, there's a need for that. I'm a huge proponent of encouraging beginners with a sixteen" AR to try high-power at 100 or 200 yards with minimal equipment, including eyes. It's nigh fun and learning. I do scour the SHOT Show and am most great to test any scope models that have potential to work beyond the class at full altitude, including their potential for mid-range, long range and rattle battle apply. These models, outside of the mainstays named above for high-power, tend to exist few and far between on the showroom floor.

The Lesser Line

Here's the learning from tinkering with all these gizmos over the past 3 years.  Basically, the same rule applies to all these pre-set parallax scopes. It's all about the three fundamentals.

one. Sight alignment means putting your head and eye in the same spot behind the optic consistently. Information technology may not be the same spot for each position, only it needs to be consistently the same spot for each position.

2. Focus means the discipline of hyper concentrating on the reticle.  If the last thing yous see is the reticle, it'south in.  If the last thing you lot see is the target, it'll pocket shot.  It's that simple and that dominion applies to every optic.

three. Trigger command. It only works if the gun'southward not moving when it goes off. On the plus side, yous tin come across the wobble that'southward always been there articulate as 24-hour interval at 4X.  Some people are bothered by this initially, it'll pass.

In that location is no magic. Fundamentals. It's still nigh the monkey getting it right.

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Source: http://dennistalksguns.blogspot.com/2018/09/optics-ive-used-for-highpower-very.html

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