I finally received my Falcon Menace 4-14x44 FFP ML16/MIL scope from RWSnydergunsmithing.com and here is a 1st look impression of both the optics and the retailer.
These scopes are hard to come by. Falcon clearly has a pretty good deal (FFP, MIL/MIL, etc) for a low entry price that ought to entice many a new tactical shooters, or those looking for a tactical scope that isn't top of the line. But the company is a mess. Their web site has been inoperable for quite some time, and it seems that these scopes are VERY hard to find. Retailers might get a few, then be out for months. Even if their product s good, it doesn't bode well for their CS being that they are 1) foreign (not restrictive in itself, but makes it expensive for simple things like a phone call), 2) seemingly unavailable on the web. I hope I never have to use their CS, but if I do, I'm not confident that I can get things straight without jumping through all manner of hoops.
That said, RWsnydergunsmithing was absolutely fantastic throughout the transaction. He didn't have any in stock, and contacted me personally before he put them up for sale to the general public so that I could ensure getting one of my choice. He also wrote me personally here on the Hide so that he could tell me he had packaged and sent off the scope. Good stuff.
Upon looking at the box I was a bit perplexed. It has no identifying features anywhere to be found. No model numbers, specs, nada. When I opened the box, I found what I though to be good enough packaging, but not great. I doubt anything would happen to the scope in transit, but something a bit more sturdy than ultra-soft foam would be good. The scope does, however, come in a dandy little velvet bag (probably fake velvet, but nice nonetheless) which is reminiscent of a Crown Royal bag, only black. Nice touch. The flip-up caps don't seem as bad as some might say, but then again only time will tell on that. It has 2 separate sun shades which is nice, though I'm not sure it's necessary.
The instructions are the worst I've seen for a riflescope. Even the Osprey scope I bought from the scheister at the local gun show came with better instructions. What came with the Falcon is a photocopied sheet that is sometimes barely legible, and it provides no real instructions. It assumes that one already is well versed in setting up and mounting a scope which, at this price range, is a dangerous gamble. They need a real instruction booklet, and they need it yesterday. What is provided gave me no insights into the scope or how it works. For instance, rather than explaining <span style="font-style: italic">how</span> to use the reticle focus, it simply says that it must be done with no hints as to how to go about doing it. Poor.
The construction of the unit seems very good. Again, only time and some use will tell, but I feel that this scope is going to be a great coyote scope on my DPMS Sweet 16 coyote rig. The glass seems nice, and the reticle is very similar to my NF MLR reticle which uses hashes rather than dots, and has .5 mil hashes to help with ranging. Good stuff. Knobs seems nie, and clicks seems acceptable, though only getting down and using it will let me know for sure.
Though the scope does have SF, it has no identifying marks to help with range. It has infinity, but no other markings to speak of. Though most simply turn focus until the picture is right, not having any indication of where we are is a bit disappointing and seems odd that it is missing, especially since the "directions" state that there should be something there. The only thing I can imagine is that they don't have any on scopes to be shipped to the US because MIL/MIL scopes would have meters on the SF knob, and we don't think in metric here. Not likely, though possible.
So far the scope looks very nice, though I'm not optimistic that I would get any CS from Falcon in the event I needed it.
These scopes are hard to come by. Falcon clearly has a pretty good deal (FFP, MIL/MIL, etc) for a low entry price that ought to entice many a new tactical shooters, or those looking for a tactical scope that isn't top of the line. But the company is a mess. Their web site has been inoperable for quite some time, and it seems that these scopes are VERY hard to find. Retailers might get a few, then be out for months. Even if their product s good, it doesn't bode well for their CS being that they are 1) foreign (not restrictive in itself, but makes it expensive for simple things like a phone call), 2) seemingly unavailable on the web. I hope I never have to use their CS, but if I do, I'm not confident that I can get things straight without jumping through all manner of hoops.
That said, RWsnydergunsmithing was absolutely fantastic throughout the transaction. He didn't have any in stock, and contacted me personally before he put them up for sale to the general public so that I could ensure getting one of my choice. He also wrote me personally here on the Hide so that he could tell me he had packaged and sent off the scope. Good stuff.
Upon looking at the box I was a bit perplexed. It has no identifying features anywhere to be found. No model numbers, specs, nada. When I opened the box, I found what I though to be good enough packaging, but not great. I doubt anything would happen to the scope in transit, but something a bit more sturdy than ultra-soft foam would be good. The scope does, however, come in a dandy little velvet bag (probably fake velvet, but nice nonetheless) which is reminiscent of a Crown Royal bag, only black. Nice touch. The flip-up caps don't seem as bad as some might say, but then again only time will tell on that. It has 2 separate sun shades which is nice, though I'm not sure it's necessary.
The instructions are the worst I've seen for a riflescope. Even the Osprey scope I bought from the scheister at the local gun show came with better instructions. What came with the Falcon is a photocopied sheet that is sometimes barely legible, and it provides no real instructions. It assumes that one already is well versed in setting up and mounting a scope which, at this price range, is a dangerous gamble. They need a real instruction booklet, and they need it yesterday. What is provided gave me no insights into the scope or how it works. For instance, rather than explaining <span style="font-style: italic">how</span> to use the reticle focus, it simply says that it must be done with no hints as to how to go about doing it. Poor.
The construction of the unit seems very good. Again, only time and some use will tell, but I feel that this scope is going to be a great coyote scope on my DPMS Sweet 16 coyote rig. The glass seems nice, and the reticle is very similar to my NF MLR reticle which uses hashes rather than dots, and has .5 mil hashes to help with ranging. Good stuff. Knobs seems nie, and clicks seems acceptable, though only getting down and using it will let me know for sure.
Though the scope does have SF, it has no identifying marks to help with range. It has infinity, but no other markings to speak of. Though most simply turn focus until the picture is right, not having any indication of where we are is a bit disappointing and seems odd that it is missing, especially since the "directions" state that there should be something there. The only thing I can imagine is that they don't have any on scopes to be shipped to the US because MIL/MIL scopes would have meters on the SF knob, and we don't think in metric here. Not likely, though possible.
So far the scope looks very nice, though I'm not optimistic that I would get any CS from Falcon in the event I needed it.
