GTA
Target Shooting Matches, Discussion & Events => Field Target Gates => Topic started by: Gear_Junkie on January 07, 2018, 01:01:06 PM
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Has anyone used the Falcon 4-18x44 M18+ 30mm Riflescope for Field Target? If so, how is the clarity and ranging?
Thanks!
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Terry Vanpool on the forum has one among his extensive arsenal and is a very good shooter, maybe we can drag him over here to talk about it. I know another guy with the Falcon 10-50 that likes it pretty well.
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Terry Vanpool on the forum has one among his extensive arsenal and is a very good shooter, maybe we can drag him over here to talk about it. I know another guy with the Falcon 10-50 that likes it pretty well.
That would be great! I'm mostly interested in this scopes ranging ability - how it snaps into focus at different ranges, especially between 35 - 55 yards.
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I have the Falcon Menace 5.5-25x50 FFP IR mil/mil scope. I really like it. Clarity is good all the way to 25x and it is rock solid. I little heavy, but built like a tank which I like.
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I have the Falcon Menace 5.5-25x50 FFP IR mil/mil scope. I really like it. Clarity is good all the way to 25x and it is rock solid. I little heavy, but built like a tank which I like.
Keith,
How would you rate the ranging of this scope? Is it precise enough, and does it snap into focus well enough to be used for field target?
Thanks!
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I have the Falcon Menace 5.5-25x50 FFP IR mil/mil scope. I really like it. Clarity is good all the way to 25x and it is rock solid. I little heavy, but built like a tank which I like.
Keith,
How would you rate the ranging of this scope? Is it precise enough, and does it snap into focus well enough to be used for field target?
Thanks!
I don't shoot FT and am small time, but I would rate it fairly high. It does have half mil markings in-between for elevation and windage I know that it's 10 clicks per mil. If I am 1 mil off, I can do 10 clicks and be spot on the crosshairs. It has very large turrets that don't lock down but are resettable and I believe it is geared more towards long range hunting. However, it will focus down to 10 yards with the side wheel. The clicks are very audible and well maintained with no creep. I did put a large Falcon side wheel on it, but it was the wrong match so the numbers are off, but can make my on label. The crosshairs are not cluttered, jut the mil and half mil marks which I like. It is the G20 crosshairs IIRC. It ran around $650 new. I picked it up for half price used.
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I have the Falcon Menace 5.5-25x50 FFP IR mil/mil scope. I really like it. Clarity is good all the way to 25x and it is rock solid. I little heavy, but built like a tank which I like.
Keith,
How would you rate the ranging of this scope? Is it precise enough, and does it snap into focus well enough to be used for field target?
Thanks!
I don't shoot FT and am small time, but I would rate it fairly high. It does have half mil markings in-between for elevation and windage I know that it's 10 clicks per mil. If I am 1 mil off, I can do 10 clicks and be spot on the crosshairs. It has very large turrets that don't lock down and I believe it is geared more towards long range hunting. However, it will focus down to 10 yards with the side wheel. The clicks are very audible and well maintained with no creep. I did put a large Falcon side wheel on it, but it was the wrong match so the numbers are off, but can make my on label. The crosshairs are not cluttered, jut the mil and half mil marks which I like. It is the G20 crosshairs IIRC. It ran around $650 new. I picked it up for half price used.
Thanks for the info Keith. If this scope is geared towards hunting, it more than likely has a wide depth of field and not a thin plane of focus (which is ideal to be able to accurately range a target). As nice as these scopes look, I may look elsewhere. This scope reminds me a lot of the Athlon Argos BTR. I absolutely LOVED everything about that scope EXCEPT the large depth of field. Although this makes it a superb hunting scope, it couldn't accurately range field targets. I ended up returning it.
Thanks again!
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Could be, but everything appears to be in focus in the view regardless of magnification. I use the full 25x on my 1" and 1/4" targets at 50 yards mostly and they are very clear and in focus to my older eyes. I don't like to use any targets bigger than that which helps me stay honed. Good luck on your search. There is a lot to weed through theses days.
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Ok I just found this in the manual for the Falcom M18+ scopes:
Side Parallax Adjustment
- On M18 models this is not to be used as an accurate range-finding method. The optical system is not designed to give a
shallow enough depth of field and the top end magnification is simply not high enough.
I guess I will be looking elsewhere... :-\
Although, I definitely applaud the manufacturer for even mentioning this and being up front about it - GOOD JOB FALCON OPTICS!!!
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Side Parallax Adjustment
- On M18 models this is not to be used as an accurate range-finding method. The optical system is not designed to give a
shallow enough depth of field and the top end magnification is simply not high enough.
This is truly amazing to find such a statement in their literature. If Falcon is based in the UK, then it makes more sense because they're obviously very aware of Field Target there.
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Side Parallax Adjustment
- On M18 models this is not to be used as an accurate range-finding method. The optical system is not designed to give a
shallow enough depth of field and the top end magnification is simply not high enough.
This is truly amazing to find such a statement in their literature. If Falcon is based in the UK, then it makes more sense because they're obviously very aware of Field Target there.
Yes, they are based in the UK.
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I would like to know which one you find and settle on that can range find accurately.
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I would like to know which one you find and settle on that can range find accurately.
Me too!!! ;D
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Side Parallax Adjustment
- On M18 models this is not to be used as an accurate range-finding method. The optical system is not designed to give a
shallow enough depth of field and the top end magnification is simply not high enough.
This is truly amazing to find such a statement in their literature. If Falcon is based in the UK, then it makes more sense because they're obviously very aware of Field Target there.
I thought that was a startling revelation, as well. And contrast it with the manual for the T50, which is branded a FT scope and comes with a pretty big sidewheel for that purpose. The manual is pretty explicit about rangefinding with it.
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I would like to know which one you find and settle on that can range find accurately.
Me too!!! ;D
Kind of off topic, but this is what I have gathered. The best ranging scopes in common use seem to be the Nikko Diamond 10-50 and the Optisan Viper 4-16x50. The Sightron 10-50 is apparently a step down, if still good.
The earlier Bushnell Elite 4200 were supposed to be very good as well, but in an AO package and as hard to find as the Nikko and Optisan.
The Tac Vector Sentinel 10-40 is receiving very good reviews from experienced shooters with exposure to the above and other high-dollar scopes.
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The Tac Vector Sentinel 10-40 is receiving very good reviews from experienced shooters with exposure to the above and other high-dollar scopes.
I looked at some of the Tac Vector scopes which are getting good reviews. Unfortunately, they are not springer rated scopes, so they are off the table for me. :(
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I have not seen anything that said they were or were not springer-rated. The original poster mentioning it, Paul P, had it on a 97.
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I have not seen anything that said they were or were not springer-rated. The original poster mentioning it, Paul P, had it on a 97.
I contacted them via email. The only springer-rated scope they make is the Thanator 1-8x24.
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Ah I see. Well, Paul P and Cameron K are both using them on 97s and so far so good. Pretty sure I am going to take a flier on one.
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Ah I see. Well, Paul P and Cameron K are both using them on 97s and so far so good. Pretty sure I am going to take a flier on one.
Please post what you think. I was about to order the Reaper 6-24x50, until I found out it wasn't springer rated. If I was under 12fpe, I probably wouldn't worry about it, but I'm a hair over 13fpe right now.
Thanks!
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I have 2 M18+ scopes on FT rifles and like them as well as any. Both mine are FFP with .1 mil clicks, one with a mil-dot reticle and one with B20 reticle. These are Chinese scopes and like most scopes in this class they are heavy, about 30 oz. but the glass is better than any other Chinese scopes I have tried. The parallax adjustment has >180° of rotation from 9 yds yo 55 yds which gives good separation on the longer distances. The turret adjustments are crisp/positive and accurate. It has a shallower depth of field than the others which let it snap in and out of focus better than most.
The scopes I have to compare it to are, in order of my preference:
1. Falcon M18+ 4x18 FFP
2. Athlon Helos 6x24 FFP
3. Bushnell Elite 6500 4x16
4. Optisan Mamba Lite 4x16
5. Hawke 4x16 Sidewinder 30
The top three are all very good scopes and will work well for "Hunter" class FT, the Optisan and Hawke I would not recommend.
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I have 2 M18+ scopes on FT rifles and like them as well as any. Both mine are FFP with .1 mil clicks, one with a mil-dot reticle and one with B20 reticle. These are Chinese scopes and like most scopes in this class they are heavy, about 30 oz. but the glass is better than any other Chinese scopes I have tried. The parallax adjustment has >180° of rotation from 9 yds yo 55 yds which gives good separation on the longer distances. The turret adjustments are crisp/positive and accurate. It has a shallower depth of field than the others which let it snap in and out of focus better than most.
The scopes I have to compare it to are, in order of my preference:
1. Falcon M18+ 4x18 FFP
2. Athlon Helos 6x24 FFP
3. Bushnell Elite 6500 4x16
4. Optisan Mamba Lite 4x16
5. Hawke 4x16 Sidewinder 30
The top three are all very good scopes and will work well for "Hunter" class FT, the Optisan and Hawke I would not recommend.
Good info - thanks Terry!
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Ah I see. Well, Paul P and Cameron K are both using them on 97s and so far so good. Pretty sure I am going to take a flier on one.
Please post what you think. I was about to order the Reaper 6-24x50, until I found out it wasn't springer rated. If I was under 12fpe, I probably wouldn't worry about it, but I'm a hair over 13fpe right now.
Thanks!
I'm a spot under 12 myself, so I will keep my fingers crossed. Even though I now shoot Hunter (started in WFTF), I think I am going to get the Sentinel 10-40. I don't think there is much "transitiveness" to a scope brand or even model-line (Sentinel in the case of Tac Vector), that guarantees or even supports an inference that all of them range well. Also, it appears that the different model lines of Tac Vectors have pretty different chassis from one another, so may be qualitatively very different scopes.
Besides, from what I can tell, the 10-40 is definitely longer, but only a couple ounces heavier, than the 4-16x.
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I have 2 M18+ scopes on FT rifles and like them as well as any. Both mine are FFP with .1 mil clicks, one with a mil-dot reticle and one with B20 reticle. These are Chinese scopes and like most scopes in this class they are heavy, about 30 oz. but the glass is better than any other Chinese scopes I have tried. The parallax adjustment has >180° of rotation from 9 yds yo 55 yds which gives good separation on the longer distances. The turret adjustments are crisp/positive and accurate. It has a shallower depth of field than the others which let it snap in and out of focus better than most.
The scopes I have to compare it to are, in order of my preference:
1. Falcon M18+ 4x18 FFP
2. Athlon Helos 6x24 FFP
3. Bushnell Elite 6500 4x16
4. Optisan Mamba Lite 4x16
5. Hawke 4x16 Sidewinder 30
The top three are all very good scopes and will work well for "Hunter" class FT, the Optisan and Hawke I would not recommend.
Terry, what kind of side wheel are you using with your Falcon M18 scopes?
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I use a modified UTG 100mm wheel.
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Thanks Terry, and especially thank you for posting the photo.
Your photo shows that you get pretty darn good separation between the marks for those longer distances. That's encouraging.
:D
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Thanks Terry, and especially thank you for posting the photo.
Your photo shows that you get pretty darn good separation between the marks for those longer distances. That's encouraging.
:D
Yeah it is - especially if it snaps in and out of focus. Jack - I think you should order one so that I can try it out ;D
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Well, in Reply #20 above, Terry does say this about the Falcon M18:
"It has a shallower depth of field than the others which let it snap in and out of focus better than most."
I'm thinking seriously about getting an M18. My current scope, the Athlon Midas BTR 2.5X-15 with the APLR1 reticle is fabulous for bracketing, but not so great for side focus ranging. Since not all match venues use standard sized concrete blocks to anchor the targets, my bracketing dope has limited usefulness. :P
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JKC the Falcons that I have are very good Hunter class FT scopes but at the 16 power we have to use, focus ranging beyond 40 or 45 yards is never going to be as precise as the other classes using 50 to 80 power scopes. I do have an Athlon Helos that I also use.
I guess what I am trying to say is, don't expect any 16 power scope to be significantly better than your Athlon. Continue to hone your bracketing skills for those long targets, that is what I do when possible.
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JKC the Falcons that I have are very good Hunter class FT scopes but at the 16 power we have to use, focus ranging beyond 40 or 45 yards is never going to be as precise as the other classes using 50 to 80 power scopes. I do have an Athlon Helos that I also use.
I guess what I am trying to say is, don't expect any 16 power scope to be significantly better than your Athlon. Continue to hone your bracketing skills for those long targets, that is what I do when possible.
Thanks Terry.
Based on my experience (about 2-1/2 seasons of Hunter Class now), I'm in total agreement with what you stated.
BTW, Athlon has announced two new scopes that look interesting. Probably won't see them until next summer however. https://athlonoptics.com/product-category/rifle-scopes/midas-tac/
Jack
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Terry and Jack,
Does having FFP really help in FT hunter class? I assume you set it at 16X and leave it alone?????
For hunting I get FFP, for paper, metal target punching, I don't get it!
TIA,
-Yogi
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Terry and Jack,
Does having FFP really help in FT hunter class? I assume you set it at 16X and leave it alone?????
For hunting I get FFP, for paper, metal target punching, I don't get it!
TIA,
-Yogi
Yogi the FFP has zero to do with this being my favorite FT scope. It has a shallow depth of field which means it snaps in and out of focus with little movement of the sidewheel and it has about 180° of rotation from 10 yds. to 55 yds. which gives good separation on the wheel. I do like the FFP because I can make a single range card and it will be good for all power settings, unlike SFP scopes that require some math when you change power. The only drawback is the reticule gets too small for me at <8x, but I almost never need it at low power settings.