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New GPO Super Compact MPVO 4-16 x 44i FFP mil shipping late May

357Max

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Minuteman
  • Sep 11, 2019
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    3,545
    Marylandistan
    Dropped at shot without much fanfare, but I think this scope is worthy of discussion.

    Built a new DMRish rifle that is waiting for this. I have one ordered via Cameraland & according to GPO these will be shipping in the next 2 weeks.

    Checks a lot of boxes for me. Pretty high hopes for this one.

    • It's short, really short
    • Hope to add a clip on & rail space shouldn't be a problem
    • German Glass
    • Japan assembled
    • FFP mil
    • 10 mil per rotation locking turrets
    • Zero stop
    • Parallax down to 10y
    • Illuminated reticle
    • 20oz
    Maybe I'm odd, but still like the Valk & built a new one. 18" 7T Special run Proof.
    It will be topped by the Axis of Evil. GPO (German + Jap) & Audere mount (Italy).

    The challenge for this scope will be finding mounts short enough. I know the Audere will fit so I have a 20moa on the way.
    Max mount length for the scope is 4.3"
    1716167724277.png


    I really wanted to run the Tier 1, but it'd be a $350 gamble as to whether or not it fit. Available max supposedly is 4.3" & the Tier 1 is 4.291"
    Will report actual once I have the scope in hand.
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    Reticle is pretty basic mil based.
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    What I was told by GPO is that this scopes Glass is German & all parts are sourced from the German HQ, but it's likley not every component is German.
    Parts are QC'd in Germany and sent to Japan for assembly. The scopes are then returned to Germany for final QC & then shipped from there.

    This is a reasonably priced scope that I'll gladly pay + $100 over an Athlon for. I also like TMR reticles so the basic mil hash is fine with me. Sometimes simpler is better. I've currently got XTR 3 (Both US and Philippines), Leupold MK5 HD, & Steiner T6Xi all 18x on AR's to compare. All are more expensive scopes with + 2 on the top end. I don't expect this to be their equal, but if it's functional I think it'll be a great option. I don't typically dial to min power anyway & if I need close I'll through a dot or irons on it to supliment the bottom end.
     

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    What the heck is double HD glass?

    BS marketing aside it looks interesting:
    -German glass and assembled in Japan
    -Light weight and short
    -Massive FOV
    -Locking windage

    Will be curious to see how the reticle looks in person, can't say I'm thrilled by lack of hashes within the first Mil and the lack of numbers (not even every 5th Mil marked...). But if the reticle isn't stupidly thin this could be an excellent crossover scope.

    EDIT: subtensions show reticle thickness as 0.2mil which must be a mistake, if they meant to say 0.02mil then that is ridiculously thin so I'm guessing isn't correct either.
     
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    What the heck is double HD glass?

    BS marketing aside it looks interesting:
    -German glass and assembled in Japan
    -Light weight and short
    -Massive FOV
    -Locking windage

    Will be curious to see how the reticle looks in person, can't say I'm thrilled by lack of hashes within the first Mil and the lack of numbers (not even every 5th Mil marked...). But if the reticle isn't stupidly thin this could be an excellent crossover scope.

    EDIT: subtensions show reticle thickness as 0.2mil which must be a mistake, if they meant to say 0.02mil then that is ridiculously thin so I'm guessing isn't correct either.
    I'd like to see some actual reticle pictures first. They had some silly skeletonized reticle in this scope at SHOT, so I pointed out that you absolutely can not see it on low power. They were supposed to rectify that. We'll how they actually ship.

    As far as where it is built, all of the recent GPO stuff was assembled in China. I would not expect this one to be any different. The closest it gets to Japan is while flying over it and the only thing likely happening in Germany is QC.

    ILya
     
    I'd like to see some actual reticle pictures first. They had some silly skeletonized reticle in this scope at SHOT, so I pointed out that you absolutely can not see it on low power. They were supposed to rectify that. We'll how they actually ship.

    As far as where it is built, all of the recent GPO stuff was assembled in China. I would not expect this one to be any different. The closest it gets to Japan is while flying over it and the only thing likely happening in Germany is QC.

    ILya
    Looking at the website it doesn't say assembly n Japan so yeah must be like the rest of the GPO scopes.

    Would love to know how a scope company makes a scope with a reticle that is completely invisible at low power, even if it was just for shot show.
    You think at least one person the "design" process had used a scope before and would know it was a bad idea.
     
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    Looking at the website it doesn't say assembly n Japan so yeah must be like the rest of the GPO scopes.

    Would love to know how a scope company makes a scope with a reticle that is completely invisible at low power, even if it was just for shot show.
    You think at least one person the "design" process had used a scope before and would know it was a bad idea.
    It was the Owner (Mike Jenson) that told me they’re assembled in Japan. He did not say everything they sell is, but specifically this Centuri Super Compact.
    I have no reason to assume the owner is lying.
     
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    Well this is interesting. I have been on the fence with GPO for a while, some interesting designs but usually blow it in the reticle department or "made in china" is another detractor, given the price point I would be shocked if this were made in Japan.
     
    I was thinking the same. It looks like it's 2 lenses Laminated. @koshkin is this a common practice in the optics industry?

    View attachment 8421957
    That's just marketing mumbo jumbo written by technically illiterate people to impress the consumer. Since everyone says "HD", they decided "Double HD" sounds better. It does not mean anything.

    Now, they do make nice scopes and the short 4-16x looked pretty nice. Their marketing though is kinda retarded, which puts them on par with most optics companies out there.

    ILya
     
    That's just marketing mumbo jumbo written by technically illiterate people to impress the consumer. Since everyone says "HD", they decided "Double HD" sounds better. It does not mean anything.

    Now, they do make nice scopes and the short 4-16x looked pretty nice. Their marketing though is kinda retarded, which puts them on par with most optics companies out there.

    ILya
    Is a laminated objective lens something that is done typically?? Or are you saying it's a single lens + marketing BS.

    I'm kind of involved with the glass industry, however not for lenses. Laminated lenses seams like it could have interesting potential.

    Bottom line marketing BS aside if this reticle is functional & glass is decent I'll be happy.
     
    Is a laminated objective lens something that is done typically?? Or are you saying it's a single lens + marketing BS.

    I'm kind of involved with the glass industry, however not for lenses. Laminated lenses seams like it could have interesting potential.

    Bottom line marketing BS aside if this reticle is functional & glass is decent I'll be happy.

    Sometimes lenses are bonded together. Sometimes they are airspaced. Both are commonly done. Bonding them together with an index matched adhesive was more common in the past before the advent of how quality AR coatings. The term laminated is not commonly used for these kidns of optical systems which is usually a dead giveaway that either someone is bullshiting or using Google translate for something they got from an OEM.

    ILya
     
    Actually looks kinda rad except GPO kinda sucks. Have not been wildly impressed with the 2 I have used.

    Sweet specs though, surely someone can make a decent quality version of this
     
    To say the company was allegedly created by ex Zeiss staff the marketing sucks.

    The scope looks great though 20oz 4-16X50 should be a great crossover for hunting as well. I hope they get these out in Europe as well. The turret update is welcome as well.
     
    EDIT: subtensions show reticle thickness as 0.2mil which must be a mistake, if they meant to say 0.02mil then that is ridiculously thin so I'm guessing isn't correct either.
    The 5 mil hashes are .8 wide, whole mil hashes are .4 wide, & 1/2 mil hashes are .2 wide. I tried to scale the reticle lines & come up with .08 mil.
     
    Yeah, I'll never understand how companies come so close to giving me exactly what I want and then shit the bed in some critical aspect.

    So far, USO’s TS-12X is about as close to perfect as I’ve seen when it comes to lightweight, compact, low-power FFP optics. I’m learning there are several other options frequently used by the airgun guys, but not sure yet if I’d trust them on anything other than an airgun yet. Vortex’s PST Gen1 2.5-10x32 is alright if you can settle for a dated zero stop shim setup and a longer scope.
     
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    What I don’t get is, how can a FFP optic’s reticle be any use at the lower end of the mag range. If I need to hold off it will be at a distance greater 100/200 even 300 and I’ll be winding my mag up probably to max at 12 power which isn’t a lot so in SFP the graduations will be true. Well that’s my thought process on the subject.
     
    So far, USO’s TS-12X is about as close to perfect as I’ve seen when it comes to lightweight, compact, low-power FFP optics. I’m learning there are several other options frequently used by the airgun guys, but not sure yet if I’d trust them on anything other than an airgun yet. Vortex’s PST Gen1 2.5-10x32 is alright if you can settle for a dated zero stop shim setup and a longer scope.
    Holy crap, I didn't realize that thing was 18.1oz. My man, you are a hero.

    EDIT: I just wish it was illuminated.
     
    What I don’t get is, how can a FFP optic’s reticle be any use at the lower end of the mag range. If I need to hold off it will be at a distance greater 100/200 even 300 and I’ll be winding my mag up probably to max at 12 power which isn’t a lot so in SFP the graduations will be true. Well that’s my thought process on the subject.

    It isn't to use the holds at low power, but rather to quickly line up the center of the reticle with your target for rapid shooting, as opposed to standing there trying to resolve thin lines against a dark target to figure out where the center is.
     
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    Scope finally arrived.

    Short version is I like it & will get another. Not shilling for this, just very happy with it. Great compact MPVO AR scope IMO.

    While at the range I first shot with a MK5 3.6-18, Then a Vortex PST G2 2-10 & I'm pretty fond of those G2 2-10's. Then switched to this GPO last and was loosing light. My first thought was Damn this this blows the PST2 out of the water. Pleasantly surprised.

    This thing does not ship with much fluff in the way of accesories. Scope cloth, scope tool, & a pretty basic see through bungy scope caps. The one thing I'd like to add is a sunshade. Sent a message to GPO to see if they offer one. Also it's a small detail but mine shipped with the battery already installed (QC checked?). The above is an indicator to me there focus was on the important things.
    Edit: GPO got back to me and said they have a 3" sunshade that should fit, but that they'd not actually screwed one on yet. GPO should confirm tomorrow for me. Edit: Part #A353 is a 3" sunshade, fit confirmed & I have one ordered from Cameraland.

    Before heading to the range I adjusted Ocular to my eye. Then played with parallax a bit. They claim down to 10y, it's even less. I can focus crisply enough to read a book at 6y.
    Controls are well laid out & feel better than I expected. Comes with a nice magnification lever installed. Low power it's 90 dgrees to the right & @high power it's exactly 90 degrees to the left. Mag ring is smooth and consistant all the way through & again I have no complaints about the tension. I can tell were I'm at just from lever position. Ocular doesn't lock (that'd be asking a lot of a $550 scope), but it does have graduations so I can tell if it's moved. Push/Pull locking turrets feel better than my Razor LHT. Honestly I wouldn't change a thing with lock tension. Zero stop is simple and works well. I really like the fact you can set it below zero. Just took a guess on the zero stop knowing I had a 20moa mount. That initial guess wound up being .6 mil below my zero & I'll adjust it to be 1 mil below.
    Edit: with a 20 moa mount I've got 17 mil elevation on the dial from 100y zero.
    The elevation turret has a SS button second turn rev indicator just like the MK5. Turret clicks are firm and positive, not mushy, & not loud. I don't notice any play between clicks (again better than my Razor LHT). Alignment is good on both Windage and elevation. Elevation alignment remains good through the second rev. The illumination is controled by reostat with 6 levels labeled no clicks. It is smooth and about same tension as parallax. Brightness is certainly functional.

    Prallax - The dial is pretty close at 100y, but at 500y parallax free is a little past ideal focus. This may have something to do with my required ocular adjustment? I have this same issue with 2 x XTR3's.

    Field of view is great IMO. Avery unscientific test, but I had it next to the Mk5 3.6-18 looking at a centered tree with a tree on either side of the periphery. The GPO @4x has more field of view than the MK5 @3.6x

    Glass - I'm no glass expert. To my eye the Color rendering is very good with crisp contrast. Edge to Edge at 4x is good. I can just see a little distortion at the edges, not lack of focus or clarity. Example objects like a tree at the very edge may appear to change in width a little at the edge but the bark still looks in focus if that makes sense.

    Whatever that's called that causes some Purple hueing. I don't know & I don't think I'm very sensitive to it.

    Reticle - If you look at the pictures in post #1 it's pretty close. What is different is that the bars beyond the 5mil of stadia are solid Black. Also what is not seen in the picture is there is also a solid Black bar starting @20 mil at the bottom. That appears at 11x or below. The illuminated portion is the cross just as shown in the picture. Works very well if looking into dark woods etc. The subtensions I could use at 4x, not that I would, but could. They are sized very well IMO.

    At 500y with low light the steel looked very good. I could clearly see the thin hit indicator hanging just on the edge of the plate. As I've found with many scopes the image looses quality at the very top end. This does loose some, but it's not bad. I backed off at most 1x probably closer to .5x to keep peak clarity.

    Didn't have a lot of time to focus on this at the range. Got zeroed, gas adjusted, & then sent some 80.5 Berger's at 500.



    1728924233370.jpeg
    1728924546960.jpeg
     
    Last edited:
    Scope finally arrived.

    Short version is I like it & will get another. Not shilling for this, just very happy with it. Great compact MPVO AR scope IMO.

    While at the range I first shot with a MK5 3.6-18, Then a Vortex PST G2 2-10 & I'm pretty fond of those G2 2-10's. Then switched to this GPO last and was loosing light. My first thought was Damn this this blows the PST2 out of the water. Pleasantly surprised.

    This thing does not ship with much fluff in the way of accesories. Scope cloth, scope tool, & a pretty basic see through bungy scope caps. The one thing I'd like to add is a sunshade. Sent a message to GPO to see if they offer one. Also it's a small detail but mine shipped with the battery already installed (QC checked?). The above is an indicator to me there focus was on the important things.
    Edit: GPO got back to me and said they have a 3" sunshade that should fit, but that they'd not actually screwed one on yet. GPO should confirm tomorrow for me.

    Before heading to the range I adjusted Ocular to my eye. Then played with parallax a bit. They claim down to 10y, it's even less. I can focus crisply enough to read a book at 6y.
    Controls are well laid out & feel better than I expected. Comes with a nice magnification lever installed. Low power it's 90 dgrees to the right & @high power it's exactly 90 degrees to the left. Mag ring is smooth and consistant all the way through & again I have no complaints about the tension. I can tell were I'm at just from lever position. Ocular doesn't lock (that'd be asking a lot of a $550 scope), but it does have graduations so I can tell if it's moved. Push/Pull locking turrets feel better than my Razor LHT. Honestly I wouldn't change a thing with lock tension. Zero stop is simple and works well. I really like the fact you can set it below zero. Just took a guess on the zero stop knowing I had a 20moa mount. That initial guess wound up being .6 mil below my zero & I'll adjust it to be 1 mil below.
    Edit: with a 20 moa mount I've got 17 mil elevation on the dial from 100y zero.
    The elevation turret has a SS button second turn rev indicator just like the MK5. Turret clicks are firm and positive, not mushy, & not loud. I don't notice any play between clicks (again better than my Razor LHT). Alignment is good on both Windage and elevation. Elevation alignment remains good through the second rev. The illumination is controled by reostat with 6 levels labeled no clicks. It is smooth and about same tension as parallax. Brightness is certainly functional.

    Prallax - The dial is pretty close at 100y, but at 500y parallax free is a little past ideal focus. This may have something to do with my required ocular adjustment? I have this same issue with 2 x XTR3's.

    Field of view is great IMO. Avery unscientific test, but I had it next to the Mk5 3.6-18 looking at a centered tree with a tree on either side of the periphery. The GPO @4x has more field of view than the MK5 @3.6x

    Glass - I'm no glass expert. To my eye the Color rendering is very good with crisp contrast. Edge to Edge at 4x is good. I can just see a little distortion at the edges, not lack of focus or clarity. Example objects like a tree at the very edge may appear to change in width a little at the edge but the bark still looks in focus if that makes sense.

    Whatever that's called that causes some Purple hueing. I don't know & I don't think I'm very sensitive to it.

    Reticle - If you look at the pictures in post #1 it's pretty close. What is different is that the bars beyond the 5mil of stadia are solid Black. Also what is not seen in the picture is there is also a solid Black bar starting @20 mil at the bottom. That appears at 11x or below. The illuminated portion is the cross just as shown in the picture. Works very well if looking into dark woods etc. The subtensions I could use at 4x, not that I would, but could. They are sized very well IMO.

    At 500y with low light the steel looked very good. I could clearly see the thin hit indicator hanging just on the edge of the plate. As I've found with many scopes the image looses quality at the very top end. This does loose some, but it's not bad. I backed off at most 1x probably closer to .5x to keep peak clarity.

    Didn't have a lot of time to focus on this at the range. Got zeroed, gas adjusted, & then sent some 80.5 Berger's at 500.



    View attachment 8524040 View attachment 8524042

    Where did you order the scope from?
     
    Designed and quality control checked in Germany, assembled in China
    Hi Doug this is Charley brown. I just back ordered the Arken EPL4 6x24x50 for my Ruger ART thumbhole stock 22LR. I am hoping to get much better clarity over the low budget Athlon Talos 4x16x40 which I recently purchased from you. I just invested $9000 in my eyes-had cataract surgery and a new long distance lenses implanted. I can see very clearly. I am hoping that the new Arken can let me view the tiny 1/4 inch dots at 25 meters with perfect clarity. My Ruger is very accurate- best 5 shot group yesterday at 25 meters measures .227".
     
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