Crank it up
This simple innovation will boost your scope’s capabilities, writes Chris Redlich
Have you ever encountered a product that catches your attention and has you asking: “Why hasn’t this been thought of before?” Well, one that fits this description is the new ScopeX2 Zoom Adapter patented by Sector Optics. Simple by design, it’s an engineered attachment which fits on and over the objective end of a straight tube scope, enabling an increase of two-times magnification to the scope’s fixed or variable range.
If another product like the ScopeX2 is available I certainly wasn’t aware of it and I was super-keen to put this one to the test. The ScopeX2 is available in two sizes ‑ 30m and 34mm ‑ and supplied to me for review by Australian distributor Dolos Tactical was the popular 30mm adapter.
Most straight tube scopes generally have a limited magnification range and field of view (FOV) due to their small objective lens but the ScopeX2 is essentially a state-of-the-art optical upgrade, serving as an add-on larger objective lens which boosts the host scope’s FOV, zoom capabilities and lowlight performance. Furthermore, Sector Optics provides a ScopeX4 (four-times magnification upgrade) adapter in two size variants also for 30mm and 34mm scope tubes.
The ScopeX2 came protected by a cloth drawstring sack and was packaged in a tidy cylindrical box. Plastic caps cover the precious glass lens surfaces and also supplied with the all-important user manual are Allen keys. Adding a touch of patriotic class to this all-American made product is a US 1c coin, required for elevation and windage adjustments.
The ScopeX2 has a 40mm objective lens housed in a shockproof adapter body that’s purged for fog and water resistance. This is solidly made from aircraft-grade aluminium which fits snugly to a 30mm scope tube and at just 227 grams is comparable to the objective bell of most quality scopes housing 40mm lenses.
For fitment to one-inch scope tubes a nylon bush is supplied which slips over the tube, taking up the remaining tolerance down from 30mm. There’s absolutely no need to realign your existing scope’s adjustments though the ScopeX2 must be aligned to your scope and, once done, can be easily removed from the host scope and refitted without resighting.
Field testing the Scope X2 adapter
Thankfully I had two scopes to enable a thorough field test of the Scope X2. The original Sector Optics scope supplied to me for my September 2021 Australian Shooter review of the G1T2 thermal imager has a 30mm straight tube and was my first option as host scope for the X2 adapter. I mounted the G1 scope using 30mm mounts to my Remington 22-250 and sighted it in as per any other scope. Once satisfied I’d achieved zero, the ScopeX2 was slipped over the objective of the G1 and pushed on far as it would go.
The close machine fit was evident, reinforcing my opinion of quality manufacture. A white indicator strip on top of the adapter identifies top dead centre and I aligned it accordingly. The user manual states correct fastening torque of 15in-lb for the 4x 3/32 hex clamp screws though I used the supplied Allen key and tightened the four screws each diagonal at a time until firm. When not using a torque wrench ensure you don’t overtighten screws – finger-tight is sufficient.
Wholly practical by design though perhaps not the best look for your scope, the ScopeX2 lens body, once attached, can be uncrewed from the threaded clamp section of the adapter to allow for re-using the original scope lenses. To align the ScopeX2 to my zeroed G1 scope I simply fired a shot at close range to the target and, not surprisingly, my first sighter was slightly off but within easy adjustment of finding zero. Both elevation and windage graduated marks are calibrated for four inches of adjustment at 100 yards (4 MOA).
Interestingly the adjustment dials have no rotation indicators marked, so by following the host scope’s turret indicators I found they corresponded and before adjusting the dials I loosened the lock screw (on the left of the adapter) with one of the Allen keys. The 1c coin mated perfectly to the windage and elevation adjustment slots and with a couple of tweaks after a few shots the ScopeX2 was perfectly aligned to my rifle and ready for hunting. Satisfied with finding zero I tightened the hex lock screw.
Before too long I was making my way round a hunting property I’d used before with the aid of a spotlight and the Sector Optics T3 thermal monocular (see review on Page XX), my first challenge arising when a cottontail revealed itself and the ScopeX2 didn’t disappoint. Shortly after I spotted a trotting fox quartering away from me at some distance but he couldn’t outrun the 22-250 Rem once I had a good sight picture through the ScopeX2.
Unfortunately the night fell quiet thereafter but to say I was happy with the results would be an understatement. Shooting a predatory redcoat never seems to lose its appeal and at no stage did I feel handicapped by having the ScopeX2 adapter fitted, the sight picture clear in lowlight and G1 reticle precise on target.
Now the ScopeX2 had proved itself on a rifle of varmint pedigree I was keen to see how it faired atop a big gun. As mentioned I had at my disposal two scopes of straight-tube design and the other one worth testing the ScopeX2 on was a Leupold VX-3 1.5-5×20 with one-inch tube, my dilemma being the small Leupold is mounted to a rather heavy-recoiling Ruger No.1 in .375. The rifle is no pussycat and when shooting 300-grain projectiles at close to 2700fps there are no discounts in the recoil department, a perfect way to test whether the ScopeX2 could handle a heavy kicker.
Using the nylon spacer ring for the Leupold’s one-inch tube I slipped on the ScopeX2 and, anticipating a rough ride, tightened the screws with my torque wrench 2lb over the recommended setting. Sadly the ScopeX2 didn’t pass the hard recoil test as after five shots the adapter decided to jettison the host scope and landed beside me on the bench. The adapter’s lenses and internals were fine but the advised clamping strength by Sector Optics will have to be revised. Possibly the nylon spacer arrangement could be to blame but I’ll leave that to the experts.
Summary
All in all I was rapt with the concept of the ScopeX2. The ability to double your straight tube scope magnification and widening the FOV is a novel yet simple design and not without merit. As stated the ScopeX2 clamping strength was unable to handle the recoil of my .375 Ruger and accordingly I wouldn’t recommend it for rifles of a hard-kicking nature.
But I will endorse it for rifles chambered in low to moderate recoiling cartridges such as a .223 Rem, .22-250 Rem or .243 Win. Personal field experience in removing ferals on a night’s spotlighting trip left me impressed by the added flexibility the ScopeX2 gave the G1 on my 22-250 Rem. The sight picture was crystal clear and I could be forgiven for thinking I was using a standard high magnification scope.
The Scope X2 (30mm) adapter as tested retails for an affordable $448.70 at time of writing and, as with all Sector Optics products, is covered by a five-year warranty. Recommended retail prices for the other zoom adapters by Sector Optics are: ScopeX2 (34mm) $463.10; ScopeX4 (30mm) $1162.95 and ScopeX4 (34mm) price on application. All after-sales service is handled by Dolos Tactical, sole Australian distributor of Sector Optics who can be contacted at [email protected]. More at www.dolostactical.com
- Dolos Tactical have generously added an attractive 11 per cent discount, exclusive to SSAA members on presentation of a code available by contacting them.