Focus on versatility
A new Optisan scope impressed Neil Wheatley
A few months ago I received a call from Franc at Hermann’s Sporting Guns asking if I’d be interested in writing a review on a new Optisan scope, the EVX G2. My answer was obviously ‘yes’ as I was aware of this new model but hadn’t yet managed to lay my hands on one (its full title is the EVX G2 6-24×50 F1).
Now this, as you may have guessed from the name, is a First Focal Plane scope, something gaining popularity with Australian shooters. Simply put, FFP has the reticule in the same focal plane as the target image, the most obvious result being the crosshairs will magnify at the same rate as your target when you zoom in or out. Now the advantage of this is your reticle cross-hatches will have the same value in real measurement no matter what the magnification is set at.
For example the centre floating cross used in the F1MRAD24 reticle on the supplied scope is equal to 1 MRAD from top to bottom or, in real measurements, 10cm at 100m. There are obviously other marks to judge elevation and windage on the crosshair with both full MRAD and ½ MRAD sizes to choose from. For target shooters and some sporting shooters this makes allowing for holdover or under easy if you know the ballistics of your cartridge and the distance you’re shooting.
Now while the full name of this scope is quite a mouthful, it’s as easy to operate as any other. The first focal plane advantages quickly become clear in practice and even if you’ve never used one, a short time behind the scope will soon make those advantages apparent. Included in the well-padded box are a clear and easy to understand instruction manual, sun shade, warranty information, an extra elevation turret barrel and some slip-on flip-up covers. The scope has a 30mm tube and while no mounts are supplied, these are available from most retailers to suit your rifle configuration.
Anyone who’s seen my firearms will know my preference for Optisan optics and that’s simply because they continue to impress with their clarity, brightness, tracking and ability to hold zero long-term. Every new model by them should and does have some improvement over previous versions and the EVX G2 is no exception.
Some of the areas that’ve been tweaked include changeable turret barrels, lower height turrets, an easy to use lever on the magnification adjustment (removed by unscrewing if preferred), improved resetting to zero of the dials (using a coin) and ever-present upgrades in clarity and light transmission. Other features include side parallax adjustment (focus), European-style quick focus dioptre and push to lock, raise to adjust turrets.
After fitting the scope to my .223 for range testing, I was pleasantly surprised by the forgiving size of the eye box even at maximum magnification, something I really appreciated. On arriving at a mate’s farm for testing, zeroing and setting up the gear needed to shoot at 100m, one thing became apparent – my spotting scope simply wasn’t required.
At 100m and a good deal further, the EVX was clear enough to see 22-calibre bullet holes on white paper, let alone the high-vis splatter targets I was using. After getting on paper first off by bore sighting, only a few shots were needed to have me dead on zero as the 0.1 MRAD per click adjustments were precise and predictable. With each click moving point of impact 10mm at my 100m distance, it was just a matter of measuring how far I needed to adjust and dial it in accordingly.
With the rifle zeroed and some very tight groups shot, I decided to do a ‘box test’ of the tracking to demonstrate the scope’s ability to adjust reliably and accurately. Firstly I adjusted two clicks to the right so as not to obliterate my aiming mark then 10 clicks up, fired two shots, 10 clicks to the left, two shots, 10 clicks down, two shots and finally 10 clicks to the right and another two shots. Every shot landed exactly as intended with 100mm of movement for every set of 10 clicks. I also tried running the scope up and down through the magnification range with no noticeable change in point of impact, all of which greatly impressed my mate who ordered one himself after seeing those results first-hand.
This scope would be ideal for F-class target shooting, rimfire benchrest or even air-rifle competitions such as field target where ranges are varied between stands. It’s fair to say the scope’s biased towards target shooting of various disciplines, though certainly wouldn’t be out of place in a hunting scenario. It’s not excessively heavy or oversized as some target scopes tend to be and would be an excellent choice for shooters using their rifle for both target and hunting applications.
With an RRP of $899 at time of writing and a 10-year manufacturer’s warranty, the EVX G2F1 is excellent value for money for this type and quality of scope. Thanks to Hermann’s Sporting Guns for the chance to evaluate what is certainly an accurate and versatile optic.