In my search for a decent 1-8x scope for an AR, I found the Crimson Trace scopes on clearance on MidwayUSA. I debated a while between one of the Series 5s and Bushnell DMR's, as they were basically the same price. I ultimately went with the Bushnell, but still kept watching the scopes. Midway ended up dropping them to $700, so I took a chance on one of the 3-18s.
The scope came in last week, and I have been less than impressed.
First (and most concerning) issue? Turrets aren't firm, and have considerable play/backlash in both directions. Clicks are *sort of* positive, but its far too easy to move them....but the issue with turret "play" is what concerns me the most. Even with both turret knobs completely off, you can physically feel the windage/elevation assemblies move...slop seems to be a good word.
Elevation travel is a total of 20 mil top to bottom, with 10 mil turrets. Crazy thing is, I couldn't find this data anywhere before ordering. It isn't on the CT website, not in the Midway ad, and I never found it searching online.
The reticle, while I prefer the floating center dot, is simply too small. At 3x, its almost completely unusable. I know this is somewhat common with FFP optics, but the odd thing is its still kind of small at 18x...it doesn't completely fill the available lens space. Maybe this is just me nitpicking, but make it a little "larger" and it becomes far more usable at lower powers.
Illumination is not daylight bright, and it isn't even close. If its sunny, or even sort of bright out, the illumination isn't visible.
Parallax adjustment is stiff, but I feel it would get better over time. Mag adjustment feels pretty good, no complaints there.
Eye relief seems to be good, but I haven't mounted it...I will likely be returning it for another Bushnell DMR.
I've compared it a bit with the Bushnell DMR. Optically, I can't tell a lot of difference between the two out to around 150 yards. Granted, I haven't mounted either yet, so I really need to get them to the range to give an honest comparison. I am not sure I'll do that with the CT, as I am so much more impressed with the Bushnell that I will almost certainly be returning the Crimson Trace to swap.
Here are a few pics:
The Crimson Trace includes a decent set of flip up caps, while the Bushnell just includes a set of covers. Both include batteries, but the Bushnell does have a "switchview" style lever for changing magnification and a sun shade.
The Crimson Trace is a fairly compact scope, given the power range and obj size...but the comparison really shows just how compact the Bushnell is.
Here are the turrets:
Once again, I greatly prefer the Bushnell turrets. They are a lot more solid, and the markings are far less cluttered. Both are 10 mil rotations, with the Bushnell offering roughly 30 mil of travel (vs 20 on the CT). The big thing is still the "slop" in the CT turrets. Maybe its a fluke on the scope I have, but they are far from confidence inspiring.
It's difficult to take pics if the reticle, but these should give you an idea.
Here are a couple of the Bushnell at 3x...
..and at 21x.
As you can see, the reticle remains fully usable at both ends of the spectrum.
Here is the CT at 3x...
...and 18x
Regardless, you can see how "small" the Crimson Trace reticle is at 3x. Given that the illumination is not daytime bright, it becomes almost useless. Given how much space is left over in the FOV at 18x, it seems to reason that it could have easily been larger.
The *only* thing I like better about the CT vs the Bushnell is the reticle, I much prefer the floating dot center. Everything else, the Bushnell wins hands down. Its currently only $100 more at MidwayUSA, and in my opinion, a far better option than the Series 5.
The scope came in last week, and I have been less than impressed.
First (and most concerning) issue? Turrets aren't firm, and have considerable play/backlash in both directions. Clicks are *sort of* positive, but its far too easy to move them....but the issue with turret "play" is what concerns me the most. Even with both turret knobs completely off, you can physically feel the windage/elevation assemblies move...slop seems to be a good word.
Elevation travel is a total of 20 mil top to bottom, with 10 mil turrets. Crazy thing is, I couldn't find this data anywhere before ordering. It isn't on the CT website, not in the Midway ad, and I never found it searching online.
The reticle, while I prefer the floating center dot, is simply too small. At 3x, its almost completely unusable. I know this is somewhat common with FFP optics, but the odd thing is its still kind of small at 18x...it doesn't completely fill the available lens space. Maybe this is just me nitpicking, but make it a little "larger" and it becomes far more usable at lower powers.
Illumination is not daylight bright, and it isn't even close. If its sunny, or even sort of bright out, the illumination isn't visible.
Parallax adjustment is stiff, but I feel it would get better over time. Mag adjustment feels pretty good, no complaints there.
Eye relief seems to be good, but I haven't mounted it...I will likely be returning it for another Bushnell DMR.
I've compared it a bit with the Bushnell DMR. Optically, I can't tell a lot of difference between the two out to around 150 yards. Granted, I haven't mounted either yet, so I really need to get them to the range to give an honest comparison. I am not sure I'll do that with the CT, as I am so much more impressed with the Bushnell that I will almost certainly be returning the Crimson Trace to swap.
Here are a few pics:
The Crimson Trace includes a decent set of flip up caps, while the Bushnell just includes a set of covers. Both include batteries, but the Bushnell does have a "switchview" style lever for changing magnification and a sun shade.
The Crimson Trace is a fairly compact scope, given the power range and obj size...but the comparison really shows just how compact the Bushnell is.
Here are the turrets:
Once again, I greatly prefer the Bushnell turrets. They are a lot more solid, and the markings are far less cluttered. Both are 10 mil rotations, with the Bushnell offering roughly 30 mil of travel (vs 20 on the CT). The big thing is still the "slop" in the CT turrets. Maybe its a fluke on the scope I have, but they are far from confidence inspiring.
It's difficult to take pics if the reticle, but these should give you an idea.
Here are a couple of the Bushnell at 3x...
..and at 21x.
As you can see, the reticle remains fully usable at both ends of the spectrum.
Here is the CT at 3x...
...and 18x
Regardless, you can see how "small" the Crimson Trace reticle is at 3x. Given that the illumination is not daytime bright, it becomes almost useless. Given how much space is left over in the FOV at 18x, it seems to reason that it could have easily been larger.
The *only* thing I like better about the CT vs the Bushnell is the reticle, I much prefer the floating dot center. Everything else, the Bushnell wins hands down. Its currently only $100 more at MidwayUSA, and in my opinion, a far better option than the Series 5.
