Rifle Scopes IOR valdada 3.5-18x50 mrad mil/mil

[The Gunner]

Hey I'm new to the forum and haven't figured out all of the way to search it yet but from what it looks like I'll be the first to attempt to Review this Scope! Wish me luck!

At first I was skeptical about buying it because one is not made here in America and my money would be going to Romania but they make a "very good optic they say" so I listened to the hype! Well "they" are right and it's really nice. This thing feels like it could take a beating and looks like it too. At 35oz it's a freaking tank but can't complain to much as its a 3.5-18x50 and a ffp with digital illumination. I got this scope pretty close to sun down our mailing route is dead last so depending on the day I can get mail from 4 to 6! So I was pretty bummed thinking I wouldn't be able to get to look through it until the next day, boy was I wrong even with the fading light I was able to see 300 plus yards easy!

The glass is very clear no distortion or fuzzy ring on the outer edge. The diopter worked like it should so no complaints set it and forget it is what I've been told? The digital illumination is really nice easy to turn on, up and down and off! The turrets are HUGE! They have such a nice feel not as tight as nightforce so easier to turn and not over shoot and just audible enough to make you care, but the feel is what makes it. It truly isn't to loud but you feel the clicks no doubt. The mag adjuster comes with a "cattail" if you can call it that it's not to big but it's enough for some thumb purchase, now it is extremely tight and from what I've read that really never goes away. The reticle is pretty neat it's a mil scope with mil hash marks instead of dots or "footballs". In the center it's a free floated dot also really nice! When the optic is zoomed out to 3.5 the lines are nice but when zoomed all the way in they are pretty thick. Once again I did read that they were notorious for that (I'll live with it).

In the box
1x IOR valdada 3.5-18x50 mrad mil/mil ffp
1x 4" sunshade
Warranty info
Mounting instructions
A letter from the dealer
Reticle break down(nice to have)
1x 2 sided range finding card with mil measurement for establishing range.

I'll be mounting this scope hopefully by end of the week next week. I'm using an ADM recon 20 moa mount. It's going on my Scar 17s. I'll be updating this when I get to the range and learn how to set the zero stop. I didn't go over it because I don't know how to use it, not going to BS ya!

 

[phillip61]

I have the same scope in SFP/MOA. You will love it. The zero stop is pretty easy to set. Once you get your zero just take a allen wrench and back of the screws in the ring and screw the ring all the way down till it stops and tighten the screws back up and you're done. I've had mine a few years (I bought it used) and it has been trouble free. I am not a scope expert, but I think once you get into high end scopes they're all good. The NF guys will tell you to buy NF. The SB guys will tell you to buy SB ect. But you can't go wrong with an IOR. I shoot mine on a custom 308 out to 600yds. The 18X is a overkill at that range but I like seeing the holes in the target.

here is a pic of my rig.

 

[The Gunner]

Thanks, and believe it or not I was going to buy a Nightforce but I was told that the ior valdada had better glass. Can't tell a difference!

 

[FLIGHT762]

I have owned this scope for a couple of years. The glass is great, but the only couple of issue I've had is with the turrets being so big, with the large knurling on the edges, minor bumps to the turrets causes them to move. I've had them move and lose zero a number of times. I'm left handed and when I've bumped the elevation turret reaching over the top of the scope to turn the windage turret with my left hand the bump will move the elevation turret. I've also found just putting the rifle into / out of a rifle case can move the turrets. Another minor issue I've had happen a couple of times was having the turret screws loosen and have to be re tightened. The turret screws are only 2MM allen screws and I didn't want to put too much torque on them to avoid stripping them.

I've e mailed IOR twice about this issues to see if it could be resolved, but received no response from them. I don't know if anyone else has had these issues, maybe others can chime in about this. I do like the glass.

 

[sandwarrior]

As far as scopes go, IOR is pretty good. I've had two and they were trouble free for me. I needed money was the only reason I sold them. They are built like tanks on the outside, but one must remember that they need to be built that way on the inside if they are to last. Being built the heaviest is not necessarily a good measure of a tank. Being built the strongest is. In that regard IOR did have some problems with some of their newer scopes of about 4-5 years ago. That problem has been resolved. However, like all things mechanical, they will still eventually fail like other scopes. Unfortunately, getting service here in the U.S. is a timely process. Most people I know have gotten their scope right, but it has taken time. A few simply gave up on it and felt that if it couldn't be done in the same turnaround time as an American company, it wasn't worth pursuing. With most of them, the attitude remains that it wasn't worth the purchase.

One of the drawbacks to IOR is that they now charge as much if not more than Nightforce, who has an excellent service reputation, and in some cases as much as scopes one tier higher. So, cost-wise, today they are not all that much of a bargain. I purchased mine when they were half the price of a top tier scope back then. At that time I felt they were quite a deal. Several scopes offer the same amenities, and glass, for the same price. And their service has a little bit better/reliable turnaround time.

Added:

IOR has better glass than Nightforce. A definite plus in my mind for IOR.

 

[phillip61]

after reading your post I went and got my rifle and checked it out and either your scope is messed up or mine is. I have to grab my elevation turret like I'm turning a twist off beer cap and turn it (not really quite that hard, but just trying to explain). I can promise you, you can't just bump mine and knock it forward or backward. You have to grab it and turn it.

 

[OptedOut]

Gunner,
I got the same scope 3 1/2 weeks ago.
Did not receive it from the usual suspects here in the states.
Looked into IOR scopes after using IOR 4-28X50 Recon scopes that are on two 338 Lapua and two 50s that are in our armory.
Made a thread here 4 weeks ago when I got home on leave to see if any glaring opinions on IOR came through.
Been able to shoot and hunt with it for 20 days so far...had to spend some full days with my wife and daughters!

Having used and abused most every top tier model scopes over the past 15 years my thoughts are;
This IOR beats out all of them in various ways.
Optical clarity and acuteness is just as great as the very best, throughout it's mag range.
I just love the reticle.
Elev and windage crisp and firm their 'click' not as loud as S&B'ders. I have not experienced any looseness or accidental movement from bumping or dragging.
Mag ring was very firm initially but after going from bottom to top on each outing became nice after a little over a week.
Also I like the way parallax knob pops subjects in and out of focus distance and you don't have to turn it forever.
Illumination works very well, does not bleed or ghost out.

In testing/tracking the scope is right on. Used the 18 inch box/grid method (at 100 yds) and have shot with it out to my 800 meter target.
At this point I'm an IOR convert, hope you enjoy yours.

 

[Shortcut]

This scope is one of the best IOR's ever done. I'm a real sucker for it because of the optics quality combined with really nice, distinct clicks, the zero stop and the S.P.I.X. I don't think it's any weird that it costs as much as a Nightforce. It should cost even more. It's got better optics, broader magnification, better illumination and better clicks. I tested it alongside several NXS and ATAC-R and the IOR beat NF on both resolution, sharpness, backlight and light transmission.
To me it feels quite cheap considerring the quality it delivers. I got the chance of using it and I will strongly recommend it. A big bang for the buck.

 

[binnerscot]

I have this same scope and have nothing but good to say about it, I absolutely love it. The only negative is the little bit of tunneling from 3.5X to about 4. It is a minor nit-pick as I don't typically worry about the low end as much as the high end.

 

[binnerscot]

...after using IOR 4-28X50 Recon scopes that are on two 338 Lapua and two 50s that are in our armory

What did you think of the Recon? I haven't read much about them, but they certainly have my interest.

 

[OptedOut]

What did you think of the Recon? I haven't read much about them, but they certainly have my interest.

For those rifles we (ODA 0121) tried out a USO ER25, S&B 5-25 and the IOR 4-28. The IOR beat the other two out. They've been in use for close to two years now with no troubles or break downs.
In the same time frame we have started using the IOR LON-4x

P.S. I need to give credit where credit is due...we were turned onto the IOR scopes by the USMC Precision Weapons Section guys.

One thing I notices in your first post...we are referencing the 3.5-18 X 50, not the older 3-18 X 42's.

 

[binnerscot]

One thing I notices in your first post...we are referencing the 3.5-18 X 50, not the older 3-18 X 42's.

Thanks for the info. It is interesting to get first hand feedback regarding the Recon scope, in that price range there is a lot of competition.

I corrected my earlier post, I have the 3.5-18x50...just doing a few too many things at once while at work.

 

[OptedOut]

Thanks for the info. It is interesting to get first hand feedback regarding the Recon scope, in that price range there is a lot of competition.

Hope it helped some!

 

[Flyboyzack]

Yeah, I just got the 3.5-18x50, and the glass is incredible!!! It seems well built, and the clicks are precise. I'll take it out to go shooting soon to put it through it's paces. It's a little odd looking (ugly), and the finish scratches a little easy, but other than that, they seem to be good to go.

 

[TxShooter63]

To the gentleman with issues bumping the elevation turret....I suspect you have some issue as I shoot these in professional level tactical matches where we do more stupid stuff to a rifle in one day than most people do in a lifetime. I can not remember my elevation ever being moved accidentally. In all fairness, I am an IOR dealer but regardless, I can't pay pro level entry fees and take a scope into a competition I don't trust because I am a dealer. I was using and loving IOR scopes for a long time before I became a dealer or shot in the PRS. Repairs are handled here in the US and the customer service was what initially sold me on the scopes. Big announcements are coming from IOR in the near future and we are very excited about 2014 and beyond. If you feel like your elevation adjustment is not firm enough let Val know and he will take care of you. Thanks, PM

 

[phillip61]

To the gentleman with issues bumping the elevation turret....I suspect you have some issue as I shoot these in professional level tactical matches where we do more stupid stuff to a rifle in one day than most people do in a lifetime. I can not remember my elevation ever being moved accidentally. In all fairness, I am an IOR dealer but regardless, I can't pay pro level entry fees and take a scope into a competition I don't trust because I am a dealer. I was using and loving IOR scopes for a long time before I became a dealer or shot in the PRS. Repairs are handled here in the US and the customer service was what initially sold me on the scopes. Big announcements are coming from IOR in the near future and we are very excited about 2014 and beyond. If you feel like your elevation adjustment is not firm enough let Val know and he will take care of you. Thanks, PM

I have the 3.5X18X50 SFP/MOA. I bought this used here on the hide. Is there someone I can send this thing to for a cleaning and general check up
? Who is VAL? Is he the man I need to talk to?

 

[OptedOut]

Val is Valentin Leatu here in the states he is THE man at Valdada Optics in Colorado. Phone is 303 979 4578.

Or you can contact IOR direct Acasa | IOR

Adresa: Str. Bucovina nr.4, sector 3, Bucuresti C.P. 030393
Tel: 021/324.42.10 (centrala)
021/324.51.24(vanzari)
Fax: 021/324.45.12
E-mail: [email protected] sau [email protected]

 

[phillip61]

Val is Valentin Leatu here in the states he is THE man at Valdada Optics in Colorado. Phone is 303 979 4578.

Or you can contact IOR direct Acasa | IOR

Adresa: Str. Bucovina nr.4, sector 3, Bucuresti C.P. 030393
Tel: 021/324.42.10 (centrala)
021/324.51.24(vanzari)
Fax: 021/324.45.12
E-mail: [email protected] sau [email protected]

Thanks. The scope is great with no troubles, but I would just like someone to look at it, go over it just for piece of mind. Plus it's winter time now and I don't shot much when it's cold.

 

[TxShooter63]

Since you are in Texas, you can ship it to me and I will inspect it for you. Contact me at [email protected]. I am in the DFW area.

 

[wrongside]

I just bought the 4-28x50 with 40mm tube when I was at the Tulsa gun show. I have only been able to mount it and sight it in at 100 and 200 yards so far, damn work. I am going out tomorrow for some more shooting a 200.I will be able to check it out more on Sunday when we have a shoot where we fire 5 rounds from 2, 3, 4, 5 and 600 yards. This will be the first time I have never used a mil-mil scope and am looking forward to use this new scope. Texasshooter63 if you were at Tulsa I remember you.