Rifle Scopes DNT 7-35x56 FFP Riflescopes

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Just got my DNT 7-35.
First impression out of the box are quite positive.
Definitely in the Athlon Ares ETR range.
The elevation turret is a wee bit stiff. Maybe I'll use a different grease.
The windage turret is actually nicer but I wish they would be locking.
Reminds me in some ways to my gen 1 Cronus. I'll have to compare them side by side but it's really good value for the price.
 
Have one coming as well. Curious why you want to compare to your first one....Was something up with the first one?

Nope nothing wrong with it. Just sometimes with lower priced optics there can be differences in different runs so just want to see if there is any or if they are keeping their QC tight. I really like my first one. If I didn’t I wouldn’t have ordered another. Lol 😉
 
I've been 'batin on getting another, as well. Might order one or 2, and toss it on my 6mm ARC so I have a summer scope, and my thermal for it, since it's so much fun to shoot that little bastard. Zero recoil, and it hits hard with those 115's at 2,575 FPS.
 
Nope nothing wrong with it. Just sometimes with lower priced optics there can be differences in different runs so just want to see if there is any or if they are keeping their QC tight. I really like my first one. If I didn’t I wouldn’t have ordered another. Lol 😉
This is what I'm also worried about with most "value" scopes: manufacturing tolerance. Unit to unit variance might fall outside of acceptable bands.
 
I actually just fitted another DNT to and old build i did some years ago..
For curiosity value...
i just got another S&B High Power 5-45...... Myself and some friends compared the DNT to the 5-45, and 6-36 S&B,s.... The DNT while not up to their standard , certainly does itself proud.................... its a credit to the DNT just how good it fairs against these very high dollar optics

 

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This is what I'm also worried about with most "value" scopes: manufacturing tolerance. Unit to unit variance might fall outside of acceptable bands.

I’m not so much worried about it but just interested to see. Even the lower priced scopes are now more consistent than years past.
 
So sounds like people like this scope. It’s sharp with good contrast and withstands many repeated shots of a 50 bmg. It has a nice reticle and seems to track well. 25yd parallax. Plus it’s inexpensive.

So, as far as weaknesses, the DNT 7-35 isn’t great during overcast days, especially 20x+, and it’s even worse in low light.

The Zeiss S3 6-36 is both clearer and better at cutting through mirage.

The DNT comes with cheap turret screws that tend to strip.

It doesn’t have numbers on the parallax knob. Corrected; it does indeed have numbers.

Personally, I wish it had locking turrets (at least a covered windage) but oh well.

What about CA? Seems like some saw some, others didn’t.

Eyebox? People say it’s tight at 30-35x, bit that’s to be expected. What I’m wondering is how does the eyebox compare to other scopes at the same mags?

Flare from backlit targets?

LMK if I missed anything.
 
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So sounds like people like this scope. It’s sharp with good contrast and withstands many repeated shots of a 50 bmg. It has a nice reticle and seems to track well. 25yd parallax. Plus it’s inexpensive.

So, as far as weaknesses, the DNT 7-35 isn’t great during overcast days, especially 20x+, and it’s even worse in low light.

The Zeiss S3 6-36 is both clearer and better at cutting through mirage.

The DNT comes with cheap turret screws that tend to strip.

It doesn’t have numbers on the parallax knob.

Personally, I wish it had locking turrets (at least a covered windage) but oh well.

What about CA? Seems like some saw some, others didn’t.

Eyebox? People say it’s tight at 30-35x, bit that’s to be expected. What I’m wondering is how does the eyebox compare to other scopes at the same mags?

Flare from backlit targets?

LMK if I missed anything.
I should clarify that we haven’t stripped any screws yet but they just feel loose with using the supplied tool like you tighten just a little too much and they will strip. Hasn’t happened yet but have been soft on them.
 
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Received mine today and mounted it. Very impressed with the build quality and the glass seems really good. Gotta shoot with it though....soon I hope. But so far, not disappointed at all.
 
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Just came back from the range.
Shot it side by side with a Leica PRB 5-30 and a Athlon Cronus 4.5-29. Was mounted in a ARC M-BRACE 1.5in
It pains me but there was not much difference glass wise with even the Leica… for 1/3 of the price. Maybe 5-10% at the most. I had no problem identifying and hitting a 3in round plate at 550yards with snow behind and no problem at max magnification, wasn’t dark or hard to get behind. Was shooting a 20lbs 223 so very forgiving rifle but had no issues spotting myself at that distance. Did a little bit of positional shooting at 15x. Very forgiving as well. Center dot is perfect size for shooting tiny groups at 100y. I’ll most likely end up buying more.
Friendship ended with LOW, now DNT is my best friend.
 
Tried to mount my new one in a MPA 1.125” BA mount and it wouldn’t work. The bottom of the turret housing hit so a taller BA mount is needed. Just a little PSA.
 
Just came back from the range.
Shot it side by side with a Leica PRB 5-30 and a Athlon Cronus 4.5-29. Was mounted in a ARC M-BRACE 1.5in
It pains me but there was not much difference glass wise with even the Leica… for 1/3 of the price. Maybe 5-10% at the most. I had no problem identifying and hitting a 3in round plate at 550yards with snow behind and no problem at max magnification, wasn’t dark or hard to get behind. Was shooting a 20lbs 223 so very forgiving rifle but had no issues spotting myself at that distance. Did a little bit of positional shooting at 15x. Very forgiving as well. Center dot is perfect size for shooting tiny groups at 100y. I’ll most likely end up buying more.
Friendship ended with LOW, now DNT is my best friend.
Here in Canukistan the Leica is $4K. Thanks for the side by side comparison.
 
Here in Canukistan the Leica is $4K. Thanks for the side by side comparison.
Yeah and the DNT are very cheap relatively speaking in Canada.

I wonder if it’s because the distributor buys them straight from China in Canadian dollars vs buying a European scope and pay the EUR->USD->CAD conversion plus customs/duties.

Kind of how some Iray thermals are cheaper in Canada.

Mind you the Leica is a nicer scope. Better turrets, shorter body, lighter weight, brighter in low light.
But it’s not 500% better.
And for your prs/steel match/long range 22lr - it’s perfect for what it is.

I wish they’d make a non illuminated version as well, cut another 50$ on the price and reduce a possible failure point. Similar to the Athlon Midas Tac which previously was my favourite budget scope.
 
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Probably going to order a couple more myself. Went out and shot on the 3rd at my gun club. They took the steel down for some reason so I ended up just shooting paper at 200,300, and 600 with the DNT on my winmag and my 308 that wears a 3-18x xtr3i. It was a nasty day. Dark, dreary, overcast, humidity in the air you could cut with a knife. It's been cool, then we got some rain and it's been warming up.

Started out with the winmag/DNT I shot a group at 200. It looked good so I dialed 300 and shot five more. No problems seeing bullets holes at 300 whatsoever. Image was fairly bright and clear all things considered.

On to the 308/XTR3. Straight to 300 yards. When I got behind it I thought my eyes were going bad lol. The image was terrible. Despite my best efforts I just couldn't get it to clean up at all. I couldn't confidently make out hits at 300 on paper. I was pretty disappointed in the Burris.

This was my first time with either of these scopes in really poor conditions. I've shot them both in fading light but clearer conditions and while the Burris wasn't amazing, it was far from the worst.

On to 600. On shoot n c's at 600 with the DNT I was pretty confident I could see all but one hit on my target, and when we pulled targets I was correct. Even spotted my own trace a couple times. I don't think I got over 25x at all that day. My have been close to 30x. I'm not sure.

The XTR is on borrowed time. At 600 it was so muddy looking it was pitiful. After going back and forth between the two, the DNT smokes it hands down. I hate to replace it with a china scope, but for the money right now, the Burris is done for.

I'll probably replace the 4.5-14x Leupold VX3i on my vudoo with a DNT also. That scope/ring combo currently gives me the ability to dial to 400 yards so I've been happy with it. But the DNT beats it in low light as well.

I ran into a guy there that had a couple bushnell match pro's, and he gazed through the DNT just to compare the two because he'd heard of them, but had yet to see one. He was impressed with it as well.
I didn't want to like DNT as much as I do, but it's just hard to beat it for the money.
 
Probably going to order a couple more myself. Went out and shot on the 3rd at my gun club. They took the steel down for some reason so I ended up just shooting paper at 200,300, and 600 with the DNT on my winmag and my 308 that wears a 3-18x xtr3i. It was a nasty day. Dark, dreary, overcast, humidity in the air you could cut with a knife. It's been cool, then we got some rain and it's been warming up.

Started out with the winmag/DNT I shot a group at 200. It looked good so I dialed 300 and shot five more. No problems seeing bullets holes at 300 whatsoever. Image was fairly bright and clear all things considered.

On to the 308/XTR3. Straight to 300 yards. When I got behind it I thought my eyes were going bad lol. The image was terrible. Despite my best efforts I just couldn't get it to clean up at all. I couldn't confidently make out hits at 300 on paper. I was pretty disappointed in the Burris.

This was my first time with either of these scopes in really poor conditions. I've shot them both in fading light but clearer conditions and while the Burris wasn't amazing, it was far from the worst.

On to 600. On shoot n c's at 600 with the DNT I was pretty confident I could see all but one hit on my target, and when we pulled targets I was correct. Even spotted my own trace a couple times. I don't think I got over 25x at all that day. My have been close to 30x. I'm not sure.

The XTR is on borrowed time. At 600 it was so muddy looking it was pitiful. After going back and forth between the two, the DNT smokes it hands down. I hate to replace it with a china scope, but for the money right now, the Burris is done for.

I'll probably replace the 4.5-14x Leupold VX3i on my vudoo with a DNT also. That scope/ring combo currently gives me the ability to dial to 400 yards so I've been happy with it. But the DNT beats it in low light as well.

I ran into a guy there that had a couple bushnell match pro's, and he gazed through the DNT just to compare the two because he'd heard of them, but had yet to see one. He was impressed with it as well.
I didn't want to like DNT as much as I do, but it's just hard to beat it for the money.
Had a similar experience. Now thinking about selling my old Cronus and buying 2 DNTs
 
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@spife7980 Frank was talking about working on something with Doug so we could use it through Doug's website, and not just through the DNT website direct. Since most of us are used to dealing with Doug and know he's a good dude and has great customer service. I was just wondering if they ever got that figured out and went live with it.
 
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It was a non issue, for the guys that use Doug I believe he offers pretty much the same as if you go direct with my code.

There are a bunch of dealers and influencers out there so it was meant to not really interfere with anyone

Use Doug, or Direct w/code, should be close to the same.
 
I’m going to side by side the DNT I just picked up here with my Arken EP5 5-25 gen 1 just to see the difference. But just initially looking through the DNT it sure looks impressive. I’ll side by side it with the NF 7-35 as well

My Arken is good in normal daytime conditions. But it’s absolutely not close to my atacr or ZCO in darker conditions. Which it shouldn’t be for the price. However this scope may give it a run for the money. Just judging by how nice it is even on 35 power
 
I’m going to side by side the DNT I just picked up here with my Arken EP5 5-25 gen 1 just to see the difference. But just initially looking through the DNT it sure looks impressive. I’ll side by side it with the NF 7-35 as well

My Arken is good in normal daytime conditions. But it’s absolutely not close to my atacr or ZCO in darker conditions. Which it shouldn’t be for the price. However this scope may give it a run for the money. Just judging by how nice it is even on 35 power
Post reticle pics. I’m eyeing the 7-35 for a one-day endeavor
 
New DNT came in yesterday, but the weather was shit today (freezing, snow in some parts, rain, winter storm, etc...), so I haven't taken it outside. Everything else seems just as nice on it, as my other one. The turrets actually seem to be a little bit better (firmer), than my first one. Also, the illumination knob was SUPER stiff, but after grabbing it tight and rotating it around a bunch of times, it loosened up, and still has enough stiffness to it, that it shouldn't get bumped and turned on. Which I personally like. The mag ring was stiff, but also loosened up after a few rotations back and forth, and is moving nice and smooth. Overall, these really are nice scopes for the price. I haven't gotten to look through it outside, but inside the house, it looks good. I'll report back after I get to take it outside.
 
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Do these have a zero stop that works with translating turrets so it doesn’t use up a lot of elevation travel?
It has a simple set-screw in the top of the elevation turret that you tighten-down after zero'ing the rifle, then you tighten the set screw on the side of the turret to keep that top one from backing-out, so it holds your zero stop in place. It's the same zero stop as the Arkens. Simple in design, solid wall (not spongy), and nearly idiot-proof. The way it's designed, it doesn't eat up any elevation out of the turret.

Here's a 45 second video on YT that shows you how to adjust the ZS for both Arkens and DNT's.