10 minute read
KIT & GEAR: MAGNIFIED OPTICS
SIGHTING IN
THIS MONTH WE’VE DECIDED TO GET INTO “LONG GUNS” AND OF COURSE A CRUCIAL PART OF THIS SETUP IS CHOOSING THE RIGHT OPTIC TO SIT ON TOP OF YOUR FAVOURED PRECISION RIFLE. WITH THE VAST EXPERIENCE AMONGST SOME OF THE SEASONED MEMBERS OF RED CELL AND THE LEGION FACTORED IN BILL QUITE LITERALLY TAKES A LOOK AT SOME OF HIS FAVOURITE OPTIONS THAT MAY SUIT YOU TOO!
Most airsoft manufacturers now seem to have a solid range of different optics, but the concentration for most of us is usually the more “tactical” style given the engagement distances we normally skirmish and play at. I do like holo and red dot sights (especially the micro RDS that have appeared on the slides of my pistols!), and you might argue that given the realistic shooting range of an airsoft replica this is really all that’s needed. That said, I was running a Vortex Razor HD Gen III 1-10x24 optic on my airsoft DMRs, and I
recently tried using this on my gas ARs, and I’ve been pretty happy with the result so that’s now where it’s found it’s “forever home”; however, this is a “real steel” model and therefore was not a cheap buy!
I usually head to my “go to” supplier for my optics, and that’s NUPROL as these days they have virtually every type of optic you can think of, including the fabulous “retro” models that I’ve used in my ongoing “BLOCKS” builds and even a PKO for my fellow OPFORists! In their range you’ll find that they offer some pretty nifty magnified optics to sit alongside the “CQB” styles though, and my absolute favourite of these is the NP Optics ZR10 1.25-5x26 IR; this is a super-clear optic that boasts some excellent mechanical features not often seen on such an affordable sight as it retails around the UK£110 mark. The windage and elevation dials can be popped and locked into place
to avoid any accidental changes made to your zero. The mount is also included and bolts straight onto the sight tube with twelve bolts in total, so the whole unit becomes rock solid once mounted on your toprail. The illumination is great too thanks to the variable brightness and with three (RGB) colour options, you have a very crisp outlines of the main central dot and outer ring that does not distract from your target be it at 1.25 or the optional 5x max zoom; this excellent sight really works very well and everyone I’ve shown it to thus far has been impressed!
In relation to more “traditional” optics there are three models to choose from. The NP Optics - 4x32 IR, 3-9x40 IR, and 3-9x50 IR so you can really find the ideal airsoft sniper scope that works for you should you wish to take out a target at distance. Thanks to the wide selection of colour and brightness modes on the reticles you can take out your target in any lighting condition be it outdoors or in built up urban environments. The NUPROL scopes all come with 20mm rail mounts and airgun mounts too; they’re very easy to setup, rock solid once fitted and add very minimal weight to your rifle.
GETTING REAL
That said, there is always the question of whether to go for a dedicated optic from one of the “real steel” companies out there, and after speaking to the crew it does appear that VORTEX are still very much the brand of choice for many. When you’re spending good money on a piece of glass you want to know it’s going to be with you for a considerable time, and the fact that Vortex offer their “VIP Warranty” which effectively says they will “repair or replace your Vortex product in the event it becomes damaged or defective at no charge to you. It doesn’t matter how it happened, whose fault it was, or where you purchased it” means that your outlay is well protected, and I know that they honour this even for airsoft use.
As much as I love, and own, their Crossfire Red Dot (which has proved massively durable with outstanding performance!) it’s their magnified optics that really do it for me! The Strike Eagle comes in four different models, with differing magnification levels, but the one I personally love is the 1-6X24 model. The 1x variable optics offer speed and versatility for rifle and carbine users who need
to engage targets from point-blank out to extended ranges. And that’s exactly what you’re going to get with Vortex’s Strike Eagle 1-6 x 24. Take into consideration what it costs to get into this optic, and you may find you can’t afford not to buy it! Whether you’re burning through a 3-Gun Stage, logging some range time, or holding for that elusive target on the skirmish field, the Strike Eagle is up to the task. High-quality, fully multi-coated lenses deliver a clear, crisp sight picture and optimal low-light performance. A true onepower on the low end of its 6x zoom range provides quick target acquisition in close quarters scenarios. Need to engage targets at distance? Crank it up to 6x and let it rip!
Again available in four different guises the Diamondback Tactical 6-24X50 FFP is the darling of the discerning airsoft sniper crowd! The first focal plane reticle, a feature ordinarily reserved for 4-figure-priced optics, allows shooters to use the information-packed EBR-2C reticles for ranging, holdovers or windage corrections on any magnification. Housed inside its durable, one-piece aluminium tube is a 4x optical system delivering excellent edge-to-edge clarity and sharp resolution. Exposed elevation and windage turrets are low profile enough to stay out of the way in packing situations, but offer the quickness, ease and precision of dialling accurate shots at distance. A side adjustable parallax gives shooters peace of mind by removing parallax error from the equation from 10 yards to infinity.
A MATTER OF TASTE
Now of course this is just MY idea of what optics are “bestest for precision airsoft”, but I thought it would be interesting to see what the guys had to say on this matter too, so I asked them what they used, and why, and I was surprised to see answers very similar to my own, even down to the brands chosen! This is what they had to say…
Rob: I went with the TRUGLO TRU-Brite 30 Series 1-6 X 24mm Dual-Color Illuminated Power Ring Duplex MIL-DOT Reticle Gun Scope with Mount, Matte Black, TG8516TL on my ranged AR (real) for scout style use. After playing with it for a few best
months I find it to be the absolute of both worlds for my use. For airsoft I would recommend a scope I’d definitely go for a 1-4 or 1-6x scope of some sort. With that said airsoft distance and parallax adjustment are a massive deal so maybe look into a cheaper air rifle scope with adjustable parallax…
Adjustable parallax allows you to set the focus specifically to just before the target so you can actually see your BBs trajectory and when they hit (or miss) and use it as a poor man’s range finder. Go out and use a specific ranged setup, mark your scope settings to those exact measurements, then you can shoot a tree at distance, see where it hits, and adjust parallax, adjust aim, and when a target goes to take cover at said tree you will be 100% on!
Boycie: For me it depends on the game and role I’m playing. For the games where I’m observing/ spotting I usually use a Vector Forester as it gives me the best of both worlds. On other long guns I prefer my Leupold 3-9x40.
Stewbacca: I prefer to stick to red dots or holosights for the most parts these days, being focused mostly on CQB; however when I break out the long bois I have the Vortex Optics 2-7 x 32 scope atop my PSG-1 which is an excellent piece of glass with MIL-DOTS and obviously the adjustable zoom helps. With the L85 the ruggedised G&G ELCAN replica with 4x optical magnification works very nicely, as does my similar 4x ACOG that floats around my ARs as and when required, and I would tend to argue that 4x is probably an ideal power for use in identification or targeting, and a lot of real steel applications seem to support that.
Miguel: The only scoped sight I use is my old Strike Systems 4x32; it’s really easy to use and has great eye relief. I do tend not to use scoped sights since they steal a bit of attention from the surroundings, but if we are talking about a big field
(like plains) I like to have something that will help me looking further.
Björn: For my Evolution M40 I use a Vortex Crossfire II 4-16×50 that I got from tacticalstore.se, and this is more than enough for airsoft! But that is only for my sniper rifle… sometimes I use 1-4 or a flip x3 for forest games or bigger fields even if it’s a CQBtuned AEG.
Dan: I run a genuine POSP 4x24 with the 1000m SVD reticle on my Real Sword SVD. I’ve had a couple of the replica’s in the past and after having so many issues with them losing zero or having bad soldering on the electrical switch, bendy mounts, gross sticky rubber finishes and various other issues, I ended up just breaking down and buying a legit version. I’ve been using this one on the regular since 2010 and so far it’s been an absolute tank and holds zero perfectly. The reticle is quick and intuitive and the stacked chevron design works amazingly well for hold-overs in airsoft. I’ve been supremely happy with it.
I did score a good deal on a 6x42 PSO a year back, thinking it might have a little wider field of view and maybe I could use the extra magnification... but it actually had the same FOV as the 4x24 and the glass clarity wasn’t as good as my POSP either. So that went in the sell pile…
Bill W-R: One scope that I have always enjoyed using is the same NUPROL ZR10 1.25-5x26 that “the other Bill” also favours. This is probably one of the unsung heroes of the optics world given the price; it has amazing eye relief which is always an issue for a glasses wearer and those that wear goggles or a mask!
So, as always we have both a general consensus as what to look for when it comes to a precision optic both from dedicated airsoft manufacturers and from their “real steel” counterparts. When it comes down to it you can spend an absolute fortune on an airsoft optic, or you can “try before you buy” and decide on which one works best for YOU.
All the optics mentioned here are of stunning quality, offering sharp, precise sighting options and when you decide which is best for the application you desire, and whatever your shooting style, there’s sure to be something that will let you reach out and touch somebody in a thoroughly positive manner! AA
