Late last year March announced the coming of a brand new scope to the sport optics community, a scope that quite frankly many people were asking for, they wanted a MPVO that could rival the functionality of the 10x erector LPVO’s but offer a high magnification point usable for crossover and tactical applications with an offset RDS. I guess it should come as no surprise that the leader in high erector/short scope designs would be the first to bring such a unique design to the market. Let’s dive in and see how this scope compares to some other models available today.
Why these scopes? Because the March is a 42mm design I wanted to compare with other 42mm designs and there aren’t many in the FFP world. The Nightforce is not an MPVO by definition but serves as the baseline for performance of a standard erector design while the Athlon represents a “budget” line made in China that would definitely fall into the more affordable category vs. the alpha class price of the March. So in some ways this is not a comparison of peers (since there are none to the March as of this writing), but a comparison of extremes. I had considered trying to obtain the new Leupold Mark 5HD 2-10x30 but being a 30mm objective I felt was too far away from 42mm and I do not feel the Leupold reticles are ideal from a true MPVO.
The March 1.5-15 FFP is the first MPVO to offer a 10x magnification ratio (March Genesis 6-60 and 4-40 are also FFP but dedicated ELR scopes not intended for lower power use). To give you an idea of just how small this scope is, here is a shot next to an ATI SAI 6 1-6x24
Ever since the Dark Lord of Optics (the Hide’s own @koshkin) introduced me to the March 3-24x42 over a decade ago, I have been fascinated with March’s shorter and lighter designs vs. most in the industry and the 8x erector ratio was icing on the cake. But with all things optics there are compromises, especially when trying to pack so much scope into a short body design so I chose the Nightforce ATACR 4-16x42 to serve as my baseline as this is a well-known optic within the community – known for its optical/mechanical excellence that when other scopes are compared to it, will give many a good reference of how they stack up, for better or for worse.
Keep in mind this evaluation is based on my own personal observations based on what my eyes “see” when looking through the scope. I pay meticulous attention when setting up my diopters for each scope making sure to fine tune them to my eye. My eyes are very sensitive to CA while some people cannot or have difficulty seeing CA when looking through the same scope. Everyone’s eyes are different, and my observations will undoubtedly be different from others. That being said, I try to be as objective as possible but, like all of us, do have my bias’, though I try my best to inform you of my own personal preferences so you can make judgement calls based on “your own preference”. It should also be noted that I am not paid by anyone to do these reviews, I do have some relationships with dealers and some manufacturers that help out some, but by no means am beholden to any particular manufacturer and those that I do work with are well aware of this.
A special note on Pop/Contrast (what is micro-contrast anyway and why should you care)
Have you ever heard the term “pop”, or “wow” when someone looks through their first alpha scope, someone might say “that image really comes to life” or “there’s so much depth, it almost looks 3D”. These are all terms that relate to the ability of a particular scope to resolve something called micro-contrast. This is a term I’m familiar with from my professional photography days and it used to be that you could only gain this effect in your images by having a really good lens that actually resolved this detail, but these days you can enhance an image taken with an average lens through post processing; however, there is no post processing with riflescopes so it’s left to your eye to do all the processing of the image viewed through the scope which means to get that pop or wow, you have to have an optical formula that transmits that detail. But what is that “detail”, what actually defines that “pop”? This is where micro-contrast comes into play and if you watch some of ILya’s (@koshkin) videos you’ll hear him talking about micro-contrast. All optical/glass systems like riflescopes have this and an ideal description comes from - https://lenspire.zeiss.com/photo/en/article/micro-contrast-and-the-zeiss-pop-by-lloyd-chambers
Mr. Chambers writes: “Preserving the contrast of the subject matter is what makes an image look alive and real. High overall contrast with high micro contrast such as with ZEISS Otus lenses delivers what one might term “pop” or “3D rendering” or “brilliance” or the “bite” of fine details. High overall contrast and high micro contrast deliver a visual impact that is compelling. In low contrast conditions such as overcast skies, shadows at dusk, etc, it becomes even more important for a lens to deliver the maximum contrast, or the image looks even more dull and lifeless. In shade at dusk, I term this the “penetrating power” of a lens.”
This description is for a camera lens; however, the concept applies to riflescopes as well. In good daylight situations it might be very difficult for some to discern micro-contrast between scopes, especially with boring backdrops like steel plates stuck in brown dirt sitting in the bright midday sun; however, as noted above, when you get yourself into low contrast situations the lesser scopes begin to reveal their deficiency’s and when compared side by side you begin to see noticeable differences like being able to “see” into the shadows and discern more detail, is that a steel plate blending into the background or is it just a rock, is that a branch or the tine of that trophy buck or bull, that’s where scopes with better micro-contrast really come to life. In the long range community, you may have heard some say “this scope allowed me to see through mirage”, well no scope actually does that, it’s almost like saying my scope allowed me to see through fog; however, what these users are actually experiencing is scopes with better micro-contrast and while it may not allow them to “see through” mirage, it certainly helps to see more detail which gives that impression.
* Athlon reticle does not extend to the edge of the sight picture throughout the mag range so no numbers were obtainable.
UPDATE 01/16/2024:
For the March 1.5-15x42: I was able to get out and do some more thorough testing with my resolution charts and such this past week and what I found surprised me, the resolution numbers were very close to the scope before I sent it in to March for the reticle upgrade, but what I'm seeing through the scope especially above 8x "appears" very different, the IQ just looks better and even next to the Athlon it looks better throughout. March has shared the following:
The overall ergonomic assessment is based on the features of the scope, how intuitive they are to use, how easy they are to manipulate. Location and function play a factor along with how smooth dials are to turn, etc. The layout of the March is just superb, from the knurling to the large numbers on the turret, the overall size and compact package. The Nightforce ATACR is one of the most well renowned sport optics in the industry and justifiably so, the scope is quality and offers great features like the unique zero lock button, the large turret numbers and hefty diameter is a plus, but if there was an area of critique it would be the rotating ocular that moves with magnification change (frustrating if you like flip caps) and the Digillum push button to change brightness – fix those issues in an ATACR Gen2 (with 6x erector) and we’re back in the game. The Athlon surprised me in how well it is setup and the overall feel, the scope definitely punches above its weight class.
What I’m looking for here is anodizing quality, how each piece interacts which each other, materials used and function as a working whole. Once again I think March edges out the competition, the scope exudes quality and craftsmanship, the turrets are a dream to use and everything is right where you want it to be. As mentioned above the Nightforce ATACR series kind of sets the standards for what a good scope should be, durability is felt at every turn with this scope (even if NF marketing has done a superior job of convincing the public that somehow their scopes are more durable than others), I also really like the nice matte black finish on this scope where many others offer a more “shiny” anodized finished which is the case for both March and Athlon. The Athlon brings up the rear here, but I was honestly surprised at how well I felt this Chinese scope was built and only time will tell if it can hold up to the rigors of daily use.
March 1.5-15x42
The new Shuriken (Ninja star) locking turrets are the real deal, these are Schmidt DT II+ and TT challengers. The scope is amazingly short and ideal for those interested in NV/Thermal clip ons and the scope does exceedingly well from 1.5-8x which is where night hunters will spend the majority of their time. The dual focal plane design is really unique and offers very bright daylight center dot illumination with a FFP design that lends itself to longer range shooting; however, the dots in the tree are unusable even at highest magnification (March has already designed a new reticle with thicker tree dots that will be available soon), but a different illumination dial design for easier manipulation of settings especially if wearing gloves would be welcomed. Finally, March needs to design non-translating turrets, that is - turrets that do not rise and fall as you spin them up or down, almost every manufacture not named Nightforce does that these days, I will likely harp about this issue until the cows come home.
Nightforce ATACR 4-16x42
This is probably one of the most sought after scopes for SPR/DMR style gas gun’s today and for good reason, it is very streamlined with excellent optical quality and mechanical features but it would be nice to get a daytime bright illumination module. Nightforce should invest in better multi-coating to help eliminate flare when the scope is pointed towards the sun, depending on position there can be significant flare and ghosting which shouldn’t be there at this price point, sure you can put on a sunshade or ARD to help eliminate this, but many will not be using that part for most of their shooting. Finally, they need to get rid of that rotating ocular. One final thought, Nightforce already has an NX8 line with an impressive 2.5-20x50 but for many this scope is too big and heavy, I’d like to recommend that NF consider a NX8 1.5-12x42 scope under 25 oz with a derivative of the FC-DMx reticle, that would shake things up a bit for sure.
Athlon Helos BTR Gen2 2-12x42
First off, use shorter names, just writing the above took twice as long as the March
For the price of this scope there is really not much to complain about, it does everything it is expected to do at this price point and then some. I’d also like to see lower profile turrets that are non-translating. Finally, a Japanese Cronus version of this scope would be something that many would pay the additional cost for.
March 1.5-15x42
First and foremost, this is the scope this review was designed for and as such the primary focus was on a viable MPVO design. The March 1.5-15 certainly fits these criteria and does it in one of the shortest and lightest packages available making this scope an ideal candidate for those with a primary goal of night shooting with clip-on NV or Thermals. Aesthetically this scope is an ideal fit for gas gun platforms. But I can also see some within the hunting community being interested in this scope as well and that’s where things get a bit more tricky. If your goal is to have a superb 1.5-8x optic that has the ability to PID at longer distances or have the occasional desire to shoot above 10x then I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised, but if you think because you paid as much for the March as you did for your Swarovski and expect it to perform at 15x the same as your Swaro, well, I think you will be disappointed. * As is clear from my optical testing above, the scope struggles with IQ above 10x so for anyone wanting to spend the majority of their shooting above 10x I would likely recommend another design. So, what are you paying for if you’re not getting the same optical quality as other scopes at this price point with magnification up to 15x? Quite simply you are paying for the shortest, lightest, FFP MPVO scope available that has an incredible 10x magnification range, superb build and mechanical operation – there is nothing else on the market like it.
* UPDATE 01/16/2024: After the reticle swap the March is performing much better above 8x and I would alter my statement above to say that while the 1.5-15x42 is still not going to outperform an alpha class 4-16 or 3-15 scope at top magnification, the refinements March made to my scope definitely put it closer making the March a more viable option to shooters wanting a scope that pushes the extreme of optical engineering. I will shoot a lot more in 2024 with this scope and continue to update on my experience.
Nightforce ATACR 4-16x42
This scope is probably one of the most established and well-known scopes on the market today, its reputation precedes itself and there is not much I can say to add to that. This is a universal scope that is both at home on gas gun platforms, chassis rifles, hunting rigs, you name it. If the magnification fits your needs and you want a 42mm objective, there is really no better scope on the market today that is as versatile across platforms.
Athlon Helos BTR Gen2 2-12x42
Mostly due to the nature of the reticle designs, this scope is truly meant as an MPVO for gas gun rigs as well as those on a budget who would rather put money in their investment accounts than spend it on prime glass. That said, I do think this scope punches above its price with regard to optical and mechanical performance.
EDIT 01/16/2024: After additional testing with the March 1.5-15x42 after getting the DR-TR2B reticle upgrade I can say the scope is performing better with overall IQ, especially above 8x I notice a difference, the resolution has not changed but the overall image is more pleasing and easier for my eye making the experience behind the scope an improvement. I am enjoying this scope a lot more after the reticle change and will be curious my long term thoughts using it more this next year.
EDIT 09/12/2023: I posted this later in the thread but thought it was worth putting here:
The "market" perceives more is better, but this is not always the case, especially when it comes to optics. This is also an exercise in proper expectations - for example, thinking that the cheaper Nightforce NX8 2.5-20x50 is going to perform as good or better than the more expensive ATACR 4-16x42 is a bit unrealistic, but the perception is that the NX8 offers much greater magnification range so it "has to be better", but with high magnification erectors and short bodied scopes (NX8 series) there are compromises to the optical performance that must be made. If you understand those compromises, like finicky eyebox, DOF and parallax and potentially compromised IQ, and are willing to sacrifice those features for the overall benefit of the scope as a whole, I think you will be pretty happy, but if you go into this with the idea that the shorter scope with higher magnification is going to perform better optically vs the "older" design because it is newer then you will likely be disappointed. This is essentially what I tried to explain in my review of the March 1.5-15x42, in no way am I saying this is a "bad" scope, but if your expectation is for it to perform at the same level as other scopes that have a very different design criteria then I'd say your expectations may be askew and because of that your perception will be affected as well. No other manufacturer offers a FFP MPVO with 10x erector, there is nothing else to compare this to because March is the only one with a product like this, there isn't even an 8x erector product to compare to which is why I chose the 2-12, but a 6x erector is much more forgiving in design vs. a 10x erector.
As always, I am human, if you see any errors or issues with my review please let me know, I am always open to constructive criticism.
WHAT IS A MODERN MPVO
This term is relatively new. Most shooters are familiar with LPVO (Low Powered Variable Optic) made popular by 1-4x/1-6x/1-8x and now even 1-10x designs are becoming mainstream but all these optics have one thing in common, they start at 1x and their primary goal is to provide excellent performance characteristics at 1x with the top of the magnification being secondary. But what if the user wants a scope that’s primary goal is top magnification performance vs. bottom? Enter the Mid Range/Tactical Illuminated Reticle Dayscope or MR-TIRD which is not only a mouthful to say but, I don’t know about you, telling people I have a “Mr. Turd” on my rifle just doesn’t quite sound right. Anyway, the beginnings of this category used existing hunting designs in the form of the 3.5–10×40mm Leupold, a 2.5–8×36mm, and even a number of 3–9 designs made their way in as well, but then came 4x erector technology and eventually 3-12’s began to replace 3-9’s and even the venerable Nightforce 2.5-10x42 NXS was highly sought after. But all these scopes seemed to have various limitations in one form or another, either they were SFP designs, MOA only or some other function borrowed from the hunting world so that we never saw huge adoption from this design. Enter the modern Medium Power Variable Optic or MPVO, a scope that should meet the following criteria:- Under 14 inches (preferably under 12 inches) – to work with clip-ons and be more aesthetically pleasing on shorter rifles
- Weigh less than 27 ounces (preferably under 25 ounces) – gas gunners and crossover shooters want to shave weight
- Maximum front objective of 42mm or smaller – to be streamlined and help decrease weight
- At most 2.5x of magnification at the bottom (preferably less) – usability with wide FOV for close and moving targets
- At least 10x magnification at the top (preferably more) – usability for distant shots and PID
- FFP optic – necessary for accurate holds throughout magnification range
- MRAD reticle that is usable at the bottom mag and usable at the top mag – because MRAD is the standard and the scope is used at both ends frequently
- Illumination that is bright enough to be seen during bright sun but also low enough to work with low light and NV gear (preferably with motion activation and auto-shutoff) – illumination may not always be needed, but it can sure help especially in high contrast and shadow situations
THE SCOPES
March FFP 1.5-15x42 - Athlon Helos BTR Gen2 2-12x42 - Nightforce ATACR 4-16x42Why these scopes? Because the March is a 42mm design I wanted to compare with other 42mm designs and there aren’t many in the FFP world. The Nightforce is not an MPVO by definition but serves as the baseline for performance of a standard erector design while the Athlon represents a “budget” line made in China that would definitely fall into the more affordable category vs. the alpha class price of the March. So in some ways this is not a comparison of peers (since there are none to the March as of this writing), but a comparison of extremes. I had considered trying to obtain the new Leupold Mark 5HD 2-10x30 but being a 30mm objective I felt was too far away from 42mm and I do not feel the Leupold reticles are ideal from a true MPVO.
The March 1.5-15 FFP is the first MPVO to offer a 10x magnification ratio (March Genesis 6-60 and 4-40 are also FFP but dedicated ELR scopes not intended for lower power use). To give you an idea of just how small this scope is, here is a shot next to an ATI SAI 6 1-6x24
Ever since the Dark Lord of Optics (the Hide’s own @koshkin) introduced me to the March 3-24x42 over a decade ago, I have been fascinated with March’s shorter and lighter designs vs. most in the industry and the 8x erector ratio was icing on the cake. But with all things optics there are compromises, especially when trying to pack so much scope into a short body design so I chose the Nightforce ATACR 4-16x42 to serve as my baseline as this is a well-known optic within the community – known for its optical/mechanical excellence that when other scopes are compared to it, will give many a good reference of how they stack up, for better or for worse.
Keep in mind this evaluation is based on my own personal observations based on what my eyes “see” when looking through the scope. I pay meticulous attention when setting up my diopters for each scope making sure to fine tune them to my eye. My eyes are very sensitive to CA while some people cannot or have difficulty seeing CA when looking through the same scope. Everyone’s eyes are different, and my observations will undoubtedly be different from others. That being said, I try to be as objective as possible but, like all of us, do have my bias’, though I try my best to inform you of my own personal preferences so you can make judgement calls based on “your own preference”. It should also be noted that I am not paid by anyone to do these reviews, I do have some relationships with dealers and some manufacturers that help out some, but by no means am beholden to any particular manufacturer and those that I do work with are well aware of this.
SPECS
The below specs are provided by the manufacturers which provide a good baseline for what these scopes offer. Highlighted in red is a potential drawback and in green is a potential benefit.TURRETS
This review does not cover the accuracy of each scope but covers the functionality – since any manufacturer is capable of producing a lemon it’s always a good idea to test your scope to ensure its mechanical accuracy.Nightforce ATACR Turrets
The ATACR line of scopes from Nightforce have a pretty good reputation for turret feel and the 4-16x42 with its large diameter 12 mil per rev turrets makes for a very pleasing experience, much better than the somewhat mushy and muted NX8 line from Nightforce. The Zero Stop/Lock button is unique among the ATACR line (and the cause for a lawsuit between NF and Leupold) but well worth it, I really like this feature that locks once you get to your zero and then the quick press of a button will release the turret. The actual clicks themselves are distinct albeit somewhat muted in audible response and there is slight wobble between clicks but the wide spacing make this turret pleasing to use. I like the fact that the elevation turret is somewhat low profile while the windage turret is capped.March FFP 1.5-15x42 Shuriken Lock Turrets
March has aptly named this unique turret locking mechanism “Shuriken” which is the Japanese term for what we would call a Ninja Star and these turrets perform on the same level, each click is very distinct and very audible with no noticeable play, in fact, it is my personal opinion that these turrets rival the Tangent Theta and Schmidt DT II+ design in overall performance – high praise indeed! But there’s more to this new turret than meets the eye, while the top of the turret resembles a ninja star a quick twist of this device reveals that it is an integrated locking mechanism, if you see white it is unlocked and if you see red it is locked and when it is locked nothing moves.Athlon Helos BTR Gen2 Turrets
The Athlon Helos BTR line is one of their budget line of scopes made in China. But to be honest, this scope impressed me both optically and mechanically. The clicks are very distinct and loud but there is slight movement back and forth; however, this did not cause any issue with trying to dial the solution at any time. My only issue with the turret is that it is somewhat tall but not overly so which should not be an issue for most shooters, just wish they would have put larger numbers on all that real estate.Turret Mechanical Assessment criteria (ratings: = (equals) > (greater than) ranked highest to lowest):
Turret Click Spacing Ranking: March 1.5-15 > Nightforce ATACR > Athlon Helos
My rankings for turret click spacing have to do with both the distance between clicks and the resistance between those clicks (what I refer to as “tactile”). This is more or less a personal preference, but my hand feels better with wider spacing and good resistance but not so much that it’s difficult to turn or lends to over/under travel.Turret Click Feel Ranking: March 1.5-15 > Nightforce ATACR > Athlon Helos
This can be very subjective, but I am drawn to more distinct click feel and audible feedback with very little play between marks.Turret Alignment Ranking: March 1.5-15 >= Nightforce ATACR > Athlon Helos
I define turret alignment by the ability for the turret hash marks to fall directly on the indicator mark and not being offset while running the turret out to the extreme and back. Because of the nature of translating designs, they do rise pretty high above the center mark which gives a slight perception you are off mark if your eye is not perfectly centered. I much prefer the non-translating designs that do not rise and fall so preference is given for these designs. All three of these scopes utilize translating (rise and fall) designs.Turret Reset Zero and Zero Stop Ranking: Nightforce ATACR > March 1.5-15 > Athlon Helos
In order to reset zero on the Nightforce scope you have to loosen the side hex bolts on the turret housing, then spin the turret to align zero and re-tighten, this is typical of most long range scopes today. The Athlon offers a top coin/key screw that when removed the outer turret housing slips off and slips back on at zero, then simply re-tighten the top screw. March offers the coin/key adjustable zero stop mechanism that uses pressure; however, some may find an issue as this feature does not always stop below zero at the same spot – depending on how much torque you give it (with your fingers) you may stop short or overtravel from where you intended to set the actual stop. The Nightforce offers variable stop below the lock while the Athlon is fixed to about .6 mil below zero.Total Travel Adjustment (Elevation) Ranking: March 1.5-15 @ 40 mrad > Athlon Helos @ 32 mrad > Nightforce ATACR @ 26 mrad
Pretty self explanatory. There is variation of windage adjustment but as I almost exclusively hold wind with the reticle, this does not play a factor for me and therefore is not evaluated (however, the spec sheet above shows the exact amount for each scope for those who are interested).Turret Locking Mechanism Ranking: March 1.5-15 > Nightforce ATACR > Athlon Helos
The March Shuriken locking mechanism is one of the best I’ve seen as they allow you to turn the locking feature on or off with a mechanical plate separate from the turret housing itself; whereas, the locking mechanism of the Athlon uses a pull up to unlock and push down the turret to lock, this method can “fall” into lock depending on how you spin the turrets as well as causing a potential shift in POA when locking/unlocking. Nightforce offers the lock button which I really like but this only works at zero so isn’t a true lock with regard to hindering the turret from moving after you’ve set it to position.Overall Turret Mechanical Assessment Ranking: March 1.5-15 > Nightforce ATACR > Athlon Helos
A few years ago, Tangent Theta was simply the best of the best with regard to feel and function; however, I would say the S&B DT II+ and now the March Shuriken turret mechanism are encroaching on TT territory. I’d like to reiterate that my rankings are biased towards features, feel and functionality that I prefer so please keep this in mind – where I prefer more distinct sounding clicks you may prefer more muted clicks and would therefore rank other scopes in almost the opposite order in which I have.MECHANICAL ASSESSMENT OF MOVING PARTS
Besides the turrets you have other moving parts on a scope: the magnification ring, the parallax adjustment and an illumination module, which all require some type of adjustment. Sometimes manufacturers make the resistance too hard or too light. These parts are evaluated based on “resistance” which allows them to turn freely with two fingers, but not so loose that they could get bumped out of position accidentally. In addition, if resistance is so high that turning a dial would cause POA to shift - this would be considered a negative. Also keep in mind there may be QC/QA issues, these are samples of one and I have seen variance with different scopes at different times so while the scope in my review may have an issue (or not) it doesn’t necessarily mean you will observe the same.Mag Ring, Parallax, Diopter and Illumination Mechanical Assessment criteria (ratings: = (equals) > (greater than) ranked highest to lowest):
Magnification Ring Movement Ranking: Athlon Helos > Nightforce ATACR >= March 1.5-15
The ideal magnification ring resistance (IMHO) is one that can easily be turned with two fingers – not so hard to turn as it may now affect your POA and not so light that a brush of your hand (or light bump into a barricade, branch, etc.) is going to change the setting. The Athlon was the nice surprise here offering what I’d consider the ideal mag ring resistance. The Nightforce and March weren’t far behind but required more effort to twist; however, I do not see an issue with POA change which is good.Parallax knob Movement Ranking: March 1.5-15 > Nightforce ATACR > Athlon Helos
The parallax on the March has the ideal resistance IMHO while the parallax adjustment on the ATACR was pretty light and adjustment on the Athlon was tighter than both but not bad enough that there would be POA shift when adjusting.Parallax Forgiveness: March 1.5-15 > Nightforce ATACR > Athlon Helos
What exactly is parallax “forgiveness”? I define this as how finicky it is to adjust the parallax dial in order to get parallax properly set for the distance to target from the scope, keep in mind the primary function of the “side focus” is to focus the scope at various ranges, but that dial will also set parallax. In a perfect world, when a scope is properly focused it should also be parallax free but this is not always the case and if you find that you get “in focus” sight pictures but parallax is “off” then you might try fine tuning the diopter slightly to see if that helps settle down parallax (or even improve IQ). Both the March and the Athlon showed excellent forgiveness while the ATACR was very good but required slightly more adjustment for closer targets.Diopter Adjustment Rankings: March 1.5-15 > Athlon Helos > Nightforce ATACR
The ATACR offers more of a traditional diopter adjustment that takes quite a few turns to adjust making it more difficult to find the ideal position for your eye. The March and Athlon offer a “fast focus” diopter allowing for quick adjustments, March and Nightforce offer a lock ring to help against slippage but it’s wise to use some kind of semi-permanent marker to mark the ideal setting for your eye. If you have not seen my PSA on setting up your diopter, it is attached, so you can look at the process to better set your diopter for your eyes (if you are used to the blank wall or blue sky method only you may be missing out on maximum performance of your scope).Illumination Dial Features and Performance Rankings: Athlon Helos > March 1.5-15 >= Nightforce ATACR
The Nightforce and March both feature a push button on/off method off the side focus dial; however, to adjust the Nightforce you have to keep pressing the button and it’s hard to know if you’re going up or down in brightness, but when you reach either the lowest or highest setting the reticle will flash and the next press will begin to go in the opposite direction; the NF is unique in that it can adjust between red and green illumination (part of the Digillum package) which can be switched by a long press of the side button, a slightly shorter press of the button will turn the illumination off. The March has a 6 setting dial off the side focus but it is situated in such a way that makes it somewhat hard to twist especially if you’re wearing gloves, for this reason I rank the March and Nightforce pretty close but give a slight edge to March as the ATACR push button adjustment is just not ideal IMO. One other feature to point out is that the March and Nightforce have an auto shutoff feature after 1 hour of use, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve forgotten to shutoff illumination only to find during my next shoot I have a dead battery, for this reason I carry a bunch of Duracell CR2032 batteries in my range bag so I wish all manufacturers would adopt some kind of illumination auto shutoff. The Athlon has my preferred method of adjustment with a ring on the outer dial of the side focus with on/off settings as you move throughout the range. My preference here is convenience over function which is what drives my rankings.Illumination Daylight Bright, Coverage and Bleed: March 1.5-15 > Athlon Helos > Nightforce ATACR
This particular March 1.5-15 has the dual focal plane reticle design which offers an SFP reticle which consists of a thick horizontal and vertical stadia lines which support a very bright fiber dot in the center, the scope also features a FFP reticle which offers the mrad spaced hash marks and tree. The Athlon comes up second brightest with easy daylight bright illumination across the entire FFP reticle; however, I did notice some slight bleed on the highest setting but it is not distracting. The Illumination on the NF ATACR is not daylight bright (oddly enough the Digillum on the NX8 is much brighter and it would be nice to see NF update the illumination modules in their ATACR series scopes), the whole FFP reticle lights up.Overall Mag Ring, Parallax, Diopter and Illumination Mechanical Assessment Rankings: March 1.5-15 > Athlon Helos >= Nightforce ATACR
When including everything above, I feel the March takes the blue ribbon here, part of the reason you pay the price for alpha class is superb mechanical performance and this is where I feel March delivers. Deciding between the Nightforce ATACR and Athlon is a more difficult decision as the ATACR also has a refined feel to it; however, this review is focused primarily on an MPVO type role and I feel the Athlon offers ever so slightly better functionality for that.OPTICAL QUALITY
I’m going to reiterate what I’ve written in past reviews as a reminder: One of the most difficult areas to assess with any manufacturer is the quality of glass they use in a given scope model, or rather, how the image looks to the shooters eye when viewing the sight picture through the scope. Traditionally when it comes to optics: one generally “gets what they pay for” and hence the higher end optics tend to have the higher end prices; however, with new design technologies we have seen some scopes punch above their weight class. It is impossible to take images through the scope to show the quality of the image to the shooters eye, this is because any image capturing device (e.g. camera) also has its own lens system which introduces its own optical aberrations and if the system is better aligned on one scope verses another it may throw off performance or rather the appearance thereof; therefore, you will not see any through the scope images (outside of showing the reticle) because I do not want to skew opinion based on IQ of one image over another. So, for this evaluation I took meticulous notes based on my naked eye observations under as best controlled conditions I could get outdoors. Scopes were tested at multiple magnification points: 2x, 4x, 6x, 10x, 12x, and 15x and a weighted average was obtained for the ratings below (I did not include 1.5x for the March and average for ATACR was between 4x-15x). Finally, I have separated out my evaluations on Pop and Edge to Edge sharpness with two separate criteria – close range using a test target and long range (> 500 yards), the reason being is that close range allows me to evaluate how well the scope can resolve a resolution target, contrast targets and color chart with as minimal effects from atmospherics while the long range testing gives more “real world” results – example, at close range edge to edge sharpness may look fairly poor when looking at letters, numbers and lines, at distance this effect may be diminished or appear less intrusive.Optical Assessment criteria (rating: lower numbers are worse and higher numbers are best):
Pop (Combination of Color, Contrast and Clarity) on resolution chart
Pop is the ability for the image to really stand out and come alive. This is the overall impression your brain receives when first looking through the scope for any given magnification, keep in mind that some scopes have a better “sweet spot” than others, this sweet spot or the Goldilocks zone is where a scope performs best within its magnification range.Pop (Combination of Color, Contrast and Clarity) at distance >500y
How well does the overall image look when viewing objects at distance.A special note on Pop/Contrast (what is micro-contrast anyway and why should you care)
Have you ever heard the term “pop”, or “wow” when someone looks through their first alpha scope, someone might say “that image really comes to life” or “there’s so much depth, it almost looks 3D”. These are all terms that relate to the ability of a particular scope to resolve something called micro-contrast. This is a term I’m familiar with from my professional photography days and it used to be that you could only gain this effect in your images by having a really good lens that actually resolved this detail, but these days you can enhance an image taken with an average lens through post processing; however, there is no post processing with riflescopes so it’s left to your eye to do all the processing of the image viewed through the scope which means to get that pop or wow, you have to have an optical formula that transmits that detail. But what is that “detail”, what actually defines that “pop”? This is where micro-contrast comes into play and if you watch some of ILya’s (@koshkin) videos you’ll hear him talking about micro-contrast. All optical/glass systems like riflescopes have this and an ideal description comes from - https://lenspire.zeiss.com/photo/en/article/micro-contrast-and-the-zeiss-pop-by-lloyd-chambers
Mr. Chambers writes: “Preserving the contrast of the subject matter is what makes an image look alive and real. High overall contrast with high micro contrast such as with ZEISS Otus lenses delivers what one might term “pop” or “3D rendering” or “brilliance” or the “bite” of fine details. High overall contrast and high micro contrast deliver a visual impact that is compelling. In low contrast conditions such as overcast skies, shadows at dusk, etc, it becomes even more important for a lens to deliver the maximum contrast, or the image looks even more dull and lifeless. In shade at dusk, I term this the “penetrating power” of a lens.”
This description is for a camera lens; however, the concept applies to riflescopes as well. In good daylight situations it might be very difficult for some to discern micro-contrast between scopes, especially with boring backdrops like steel plates stuck in brown dirt sitting in the bright midday sun; however, as noted above, when you get yourself into low contrast situations the lesser scopes begin to reveal their deficiency’s and when compared side by side you begin to see noticeable differences like being able to “see” into the shadows and discern more detail, is that a steel plate blending into the background or is it just a rock, is that a branch or the tine of that trophy buck or bull, that’s where scopes with better micro-contrast really come to life. In the long range community, you may have heard some say “this scope allowed me to see through mirage”, well no scope actually does that, it’s almost like saying my scope allowed me to see through fog; however, what these users are actually experiencing is scopes with better micro-contrast and while it may not allow them to “see through” mirage, it certainly helps to see more detail which gives that impression.
Contrast (High)
My high contrast target has very bright white paper with very black lines, the numbers represent the smallest value I was able to discern.Contrast (Low)
My low contrast target has a gray background with darker gray lines, the numbers represent the smallest value I was able to discern.Chromatic Aberration (CA) Center
A hotly debated topic – CA, which is typically seen at the edges between high and low contrast objects in what is termed as fringing and usually comes in a band of color along the green/yellow and magenta/purple spectrum, some are greatly annoyed by this optical anomaly while others insist they cannot see it, one thing to know is it has little to do with your ability to hit a target, but can affect the clarity of the target (especially in lower light situations). I tested for both center CA and edge CA. One other area is CA sensitivity with lateral movement off the center of the scope, you can quickly induce CA in these situations which are often rectified by proper cheekweld/eye placement behind the center of the scope.Chromatic Aberration (CA) Periphery/Edge
Many scopes may have really good performance in the center of the image, but quickly fall apart as you move toward the edge of the image, better scopes will offer similar CA performance across all areas of the sight picture.Color Accuracy
If you’ve ever heard the term “it’s all in the eye of the beholder” that in large part describes the experience of color for each of us. It seems our eyes have different sensitivity to different parts of the spectrum and while I tend to prefer “warmer” images and am somewhat put off by “cooler” ones, others see colors differently. For some reason, most Japanese manufactured optics tend to be on the cooler side while many European optics tend to be more neutral to warm. For this reason I have always gravitated towards European optics; however, I am happy to say that March optics in general (not just this scope) have a color contrast that is much more in alignment with their European counterparts; likewise, the Vortex G3 and Nightforce ATACR have a neutral to slightly warm look that I like indicating the Japanese glass is finally catching on with what the European mfr’s have known for a while.Resolution (Center)
This is different from my line resolution testing, this is how “sharp” the image appears, I’m looking for details and the scopes ability to resolve those details.Resolution (Edge)
Same thing as center resolution but now I’m focusing my eye at the extreme edge of the sight picture and determining if there is any image degradation that occurs toward the edges. A scope can have very sharp center resolution but poor edge sharpness and it will give the user the impression that the overall IQ is not very good.Resolution (Edge) at distance >500y
I added in this test because I was beginning to notice that some scopes did not perform so well in the close testing but seemed to do better at distance, maybe it’s because I’m not using the edge of the scope as my POA but instead using it to pick up my target within the FOV, I still prefer a scope that has superb edge to edge sharpness, but found that some scopes did not bother me as much as I thought they would at distance even though they may show more distortion (at the periphery) than I prefer at closer distances, but outside of LPVO and some MPVO scopes, close distances are likely to not be a major issue with a scope designed for long distance.Resolution (at max. Elevation)
I set all scopes to 12x and dialed the elevation until it stopped at the top of the travel. This represents using your scope to the very limits of its usable travel. Obviously, some scopes have greater travel than others so keep that in mind. I also did not re-adjust parallax as I feel this is yet another area that takes time which could cause you to miss your game or lose time during competition, the idea here being “dial and shoot”, not “dial, fiddle, shoot”. You may disagree with my reasoning which is why I wanted to clarify my process.Eyebox Forgiveness
I have seen varied definitions of eyebox in the community, so to be clear, here is my definition which will help you understand what I am looking for – put simply, eyebox is the ability to be able to quickly obtain a clear sight picture when getting behind a scope. Yes, there is some relationship with exit pupil and eye relief, but there is more than that going on that allows a scope to have a forgiving eyebox. One thing to note with all these scopes, as magnification increases so does the finickyness of the eyebox.Depth of Field (DOF) Forgiveness
DOF forgiveness is the ability to have both near objects as well as far away objects appear “in focus” in your sight picture. An example would be to set your parallax at 500 yards and you notice that both an object at 200 yards as well as one at 1000 yards look relatively in focus. Something to keep in mind is that some scopes may have perfect focus but parallax is off and vice versa, if this happens to you try fine tuning your diopter a bit more, if still wonky send it back to the manufacturer and ask them to calibrate.Parallax Forgiveness
Similar to DOF forgiveness, you set your parallax at 500 yards and notice a target at 200 yards is parallax free, and a target at 1000 yards is also parallax free. If parallax is well controlled at 1000 yards, but I transition to 200 yards and notice a lot of movement then this would get a lower number value.Focus Forgiveness
How much, or rather how little, do you have to play with the side focus in order to get an object in focus as you change magnification. If I’m constantly having to adjust side focus to try and get the image “just right” that is not a good thing (for dynamic shooting sports and hunting) and so this situation would receive a lower number value.Mirage (effect)
This is another one of those terms that requires a definition. Mirage occurs because light bends to move through warmer, less dense air, this “bending” of light is the effect we see when our target appears to dance or wobble in the distance, we know the target is stationary but as the heat waves rise from the ground, the light is bent and gives the perception that the image is distorted. What I am looking for here is the ability of the scope to tame or limit the effect of mirage, within the community this is often referred to as “cutting through mirage” and some scopes handle this situation better than others. Keep in mind that my results were based on what I saw on the particular day I was testing; however, different atmospheric conditions can either decrease or increase the effect of mirage by quite a large margin.Optical quality Test Results (higher numbers are better)
RESULTS
(To reiterate from above: Scopes were tested at multiple magnification points: 2x, 4x, 6x, 10x, 12x, and 15x and a weighted average was obtained for the ratings below (I did not include 1.5x for the March and average for ATACR was between 4x-15x).) Note: Testing at comparable magnifications is difficult because manufacturers markings aren’t always accurate and if you have to set between markings there’s an even greater chance magnification will be slightly off between scopes. It is pretty clear that the hands down winner from a purely optical standpoint is the ATACR; however, this should not really come as a surprise to those who know optics, the ATACR is a traditional (long) scope with only 4x magnification while the Athlon is shorter with 6x and the March shorter still with 10x erector. For those who’ve followed my reviews and posts over the years you know that I’ve tried to explain that while building shorter scopes with high erector ratios may be convenient and/or aesthetically pleasing, there are optical compromises that are made which is evident in the numbers above. This is a clear case of “you cannot have your cake and eat it too” and if you thought that, because you paid a lot more for the March, that it should perform on par with the less expensive scopes then someone should shove a little of that cake in your face like a surprised bride at her wedding. Seriously though, this is more about expectations which I’ll expound upon at the end of the review.Field of View (FOV) in mrad
We can look at most manufacturers specs and see that scope X offers XX feet at bottom magnification and XX feet at top magnification at 100 yards. This is great for knowing the extremes of your scopes magnification range, but what about in between, the results are not always linear. Some scopes have pretty poor performance at the bottom but end up doing much better than other scopes at the top (NF ATACR scopes are notorious for this). I should note that the diopter can have an effect on how much (or how little) FOV is seen; therefore, the results for each shooter with different eye corrections may yield slightly different values. My measurements here are from setting up each scope for my eye and then looking at the edge of the periphery where it meets the reticle to determine how much mrad of the reticle can be seen at a given magnification. Measurements were taken using the magnification indicator listed on the magnification ring and are prone to error due to mfr tolerance as well as my own ability to set perfectly. As such, take these values as a “general” rule, not as a hard fast rule - YMMV.| Mag | March 1.5-15 | Nightforce ATACR | Athlon Helos* |
| 4x | NA | NA | NA |
| 6x | NA | NA | NA |
| 10x | 17.8 mrad | 16.5 mrad | NA |
| 12x | 14.8 mrad | 14.5 mrad | NA |
| 15x | 11.6 mrad | 11.7 mrad | NA |
Low Light Evaluation
I set all scopes to 12x to allow for a smaller exit pupil that will give my eyes a challenge in the failing light. From about 20 minutes after sunset, I begin testing both scopes side by side as the evening becomes darker and darker. These results are very subjective as the older I get the more my low light acuity has decreased. You may have very different results depending on your age and how good your eyes are. Keep in mind that you can always decrease your magnification to increase the exit pupil size to help in low light situations.Resolution Line Chart (LPI)
It’s one thing for me to look through a scope and judge resolution based on a 1-10 ranking, but it’s quite another to look at line/resolution chart and determine how many lines I’m able to resolve at a given magnification, my resolution testing above is a good “first impression” but the resolution chart does not lie and provides a more quantitative result (but still based on my own eye). For most results you’ll see a range – it is hard to resolve exact values with your eye and I would try to narrow it down as best I could but sometimes eye strain, perfect alignment, etc. would get in the way.Other factors:
Sight Picture (HD)
- March 1.5-15: Good FOV but edge distortion takes away from overall experience
- Nightforce ATACR 4-16: Thick outer periphery but clean image overall
- Athlon Helos BTR Gen2 2-12: Really pleasing overall sight picture
Image/Reticle shift with magnification change
- March 1.5-15: None perceived
- Nightforce ATACR 4-16: None perceived
- Athlon Helos BTR Gen2 2-12: None perceived
Focus Shift with magnification change (requiring parallax adjustment for best image)
- March 1.5-15: None perceived
- Nightforce ATACR 4-16: None perceived
- Athlon Helos BTR Gen2 2-12: None perceived
Tunneling
- March 1.5-15: None perceived
- Nightforce ATACR 4-16: None perceived
- Athlon Helos BTR Gen2 2-12: None perceived
Flare/Halation (direct sun on objective at 12x)*
- March 1.5-15: None perceived
- Nightforce ATACR 4-16: Slight whiteout
- Athlon Helos BTR Gen2 2-12: Slight with minor eyebox misalignment
Overall Optical Assessment Results: Nightforce ATACR > Athlon Helos > March 1.5-15
Optically the Nightforce ATACR crushed it in these tests, but I knew going in this would likely be the case. As I mentioned above, the ATACR represents the more traditional design – it is a longer scope with the old standard 4x magnification/erector ratio. The March and Athlon represent newer designs that somewhat push the limits of optical performance in order to meet a different design criterion and as such their optical performance suffers as a result. Athlon took a bit more conservative approach and made their MPVO a bit longer which offers more opportunity for better optical performance which it delivers upon surprisingly well for its price point; however, if Athlon were to make a Cronus 2-12x42 with Japanese glass it might very well become one of the hottest MPVO’s on the market. March took an aggressive approach by offering the shortest scope on the market today (with a magnification up to 15x), not only that, they gave it an LPVO like 10x magnification/erector ratio which further stresses the optical design, but kudos to March for pushing the limits and giving many shooters what they had been asking for even if there are some compromises involved – simply put, there is no other scope on the market like the March so if you’re looking for something very unique and set your expectations appropriately I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.UPDATE 01/16/2024:
For the March 1.5-15x42: I was able to get out and do some more thorough testing with my resolution charts and such this past week and what I found surprised me, the resolution numbers were very close to the scope before I sent it in to March for the reticle upgrade, but what I'm seeing through the scope especially above 8x "appears" very different, the IQ just looks better and even next to the Athlon it looks better throughout. March has shared the following:
Well I'm a believer, whatever they did has had a positive effect because my eyes like it much more than the previous experience with the original reticle. Maybe the adjustments to match the the reticle did the trick, but either way I am having a much better time with my 1.5-15 than previously and glad I opted for the reticle swap. I really love this Dual Focal Plane reticle and the daylight bright center dot, I'll be playing a lot more with this scope this year...
ERGONOMICS
Overall Ergonomic Assessment Results: March 1.5-15 > Nightforce ATACR >= Athlon HelosThe overall ergonomic assessment is based on the features of the scope, how intuitive they are to use, how easy they are to manipulate. Location and function play a factor along with how smooth dials are to turn, etc. The layout of the March is just superb, from the knurling to the large numbers on the turret, the overall size and compact package. The Nightforce ATACR is one of the most well renowned sport optics in the industry and justifiably so, the scope is quality and offers great features like the unique zero lock button, the large turret numbers and hefty diameter is a plus, but if there was an area of critique it would be the rotating ocular that moves with magnification change (frustrating if you like flip caps) and the Digillum push button to change brightness – fix those issues in an ATACR Gen2 (with 6x erector) and we’re back in the game. The Athlon surprised me in how well it is setup and the overall feel, the scope definitely punches above its weight class.
FIT & FINISH
Overall Fit & Finish Assessment Results: March 1.5-15 > Nightforce ATACR > Athlon HelosWhat I’m looking for here is anodizing quality, how each piece interacts which each other, materials used and function as a working whole. Once again I think March edges out the competition, the scope exudes quality and craftsmanship, the turrets are a dream to use and everything is right where you want it to be. As mentioned above the Nightforce ATACR series kind of sets the standards for what a good scope should be, durability is felt at every turn with this scope (even if NF marketing has done a superior job of convincing the public that somehow their scopes are more durable than others), I also really like the nice matte black finish on this scope where many others offer a more “shiny” anodized finished which is the case for both March and Athlon. The Athlon brings up the rear here, but I was honestly surprised at how well I felt this Chinese scope was built and only time will tell if it can hold up to the rigors of daily use.
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
The new Shuriken (Ninja star) locking turrets are the real deal, these are Schmidt DT II+ and TT challengers. The scope is amazingly short and ideal for those interested in NV/Thermal clip ons and the scope does exceedingly well from 1.5-8x which is where night hunters will spend the majority of their time. The dual focal plane design is really unique and offers very bright daylight center dot illumination with a FFP design that lends itself to longer range shooting; however, the dots in the tree are unusable even at highest magnification (March has already designed a new reticle with thicker tree dots that will be available soon), but a different illumination dial design for easier manipulation of settings especially if wearing gloves would be welcomed. Finally, March needs to design non-translating turrets, that is - turrets that do not rise and fall as you spin them up or down, almost every manufacture not named Nightforce does that these days, I will likely harp about this issue until the cows come home.
Nightforce ATACR 4-16x42
This is probably one of the most sought after scopes for SPR/DMR style gas gun’s today and for good reason, it is very streamlined with excellent optical quality and mechanical features but it would be nice to get a daytime bright illumination module. Nightforce should invest in better multi-coating to help eliminate flare when the scope is pointed towards the sun, depending on position there can be significant flare and ghosting which shouldn’t be there at this price point, sure you can put on a sunshade or ARD to help eliminate this, but many will not be using that part for most of their shooting. Finally, they need to get rid of that rotating ocular. One final thought, Nightforce already has an NX8 line with an impressive 2.5-20x50 but for many this scope is too big and heavy, I’d like to recommend that NF consider a NX8 1.5-12x42 scope under 25 oz with a derivative of the FC-DMx reticle, that would shake things up a bit for sure.
Athlon Helos BTR Gen2 2-12x42
First off, use shorter names, just writing the above took twice as long as the March
For the price of this scope there is really not much to complain about, it does everything it is expected to do at this price point and then some. I’d also like to see lower profile turrets that are non-translating. Finally, a Japanese Cronus version of this scope would be something that many would pay the additional cost for.WHO IS IT FOR
This is a new category for my reviews and allows me to draw some personal conclusions based on why I chose certain scopes to review and what I think was the design intent as well as who might benefit the most from the designs. Keep in mind this takes into account my own bias and not everything (or anything) I say here may be a conclusion that you would draw.March 1.5-15x42
First and foremost, this is the scope this review was designed for and as such the primary focus was on a viable MPVO design. The March 1.5-15 certainly fits these criteria and does it in one of the shortest and lightest packages available making this scope an ideal candidate for those with a primary goal of night shooting with clip-on NV or Thermals. Aesthetically this scope is an ideal fit for gas gun platforms. But I can also see some within the hunting community being interested in this scope as well and that’s where things get a bit more tricky. If your goal is to have a superb 1.5-8x optic that has the ability to PID at longer distances or have the occasional desire to shoot above 10x then I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised, but if you think because you paid as much for the March as you did for your Swarovski and expect it to perform at 15x the same as your Swaro, well, I think you will be disappointed. * As is clear from my optical testing above, the scope struggles with IQ above 10x so for anyone wanting to spend the majority of their shooting above 10x I would likely recommend another design. So, what are you paying for if you’re not getting the same optical quality as other scopes at this price point with magnification up to 15x? Quite simply you are paying for the shortest, lightest, FFP MPVO scope available that has an incredible 10x magnification range, superb build and mechanical operation – there is nothing else on the market like it.
* UPDATE 01/16/2024: After the reticle swap the March is performing much better above 8x and I would alter my statement above to say that while the 1.5-15x42 is still not going to outperform an alpha class 4-16 or 3-15 scope at top magnification, the refinements March made to my scope definitely put it closer making the March a more viable option to shooters wanting a scope that pushes the extreme of optical engineering. I will shoot a lot more in 2024 with this scope and continue to update on my experience.
Nightforce ATACR 4-16x42
This scope is probably one of the most established and well-known scopes on the market today, its reputation precedes itself and there is not much I can say to add to that. This is a universal scope that is both at home on gas gun platforms, chassis rifles, hunting rigs, you name it. If the magnification fits your needs and you want a 42mm objective, there is really no better scope on the market today that is as versatile across platforms.
Athlon Helos BTR Gen2 2-12x42
Mostly due to the nature of the reticle designs, this scope is truly meant as an MPVO for gas gun rigs as well as those on a budget who would rather put money in their investment accounts than spend it on prime glass. That said, I do think this scope punches above its price with regard to optical and mechanical performance.
FINAL THOUGHTS
In the end, my hope and goal are to give you enough information that can help you make a decision on which optic might be best for you. While the March 1.5-15 isn’t going to be replacing everyone’s Tangent Theta TT315M scopes, it does offer a unique design that is unrivaled in the marketplace today and those who set the proper expectations will likely be quite happy with everything this scope can do, but doing so much will also be a detriment that I’m sure many will disqualify it for and that is where some of the more traditional designs will come into play. I applaud March for taking on an entirely new design and pushing the limits of optical engineering and look forward to seeing how this will affect the MPVO market moving forward – will more manufacturers take note and finally give the MPVO market a shot with their own designs? Looks like ZCO is testing this out in the European market and maybe TT, Schmidt and Vortex might get involved. A couple manufacturers are using an OEM for a new 2.5-15x44 design; however, these scopes struggle with being a bit overweight or not offering mrad reticle/turrets, but maybe Zeiss LRP S3 will put there own spin on this design and come up with something viable for the FFP mrad crowd. The modern MPVO market is probably one of the most ignored markets from sport optics manufacturers but I think this will change in the coming years and we can thank March and Athlon and a few others for leading the way.EDIT 01/16/2024: After additional testing with the March 1.5-15x42 after getting the DR-TR2B reticle upgrade I can say the scope is performing better with overall IQ, especially above 8x I notice a difference, the resolution has not changed but the overall image is more pleasing and easier for my eye making the experience behind the scope an improvement. I am enjoying this scope a lot more after the reticle change and will be curious my long term thoughts using it more this next year.
EDIT 09/12/2023: I posted this later in the thread but thought it was worth putting here:
The "market" perceives more is better, but this is not always the case, especially when it comes to optics. This is also an exercise in proper expectations - for example, thinking that the cheaper Nightforce NX8 2.5-20x50 is going to perform as good or better than the more expensive ATACR 4-16x42 is a bit unrealistic, but the perception is that the NX8 offers much greater magnification range so it "has to be better", but with high magnification erectors and short bodied scopes (NX8 series) there are compromises to the optical performance that must be made. If you understand those compromises, like finicky eyebox, DOF and parallax and potentially compromised IQ, and are willing to sacrifice those features for the overall benefit of the scope as a whole, I think you will be pretty happy, but if you go into this with the idea that the shorter scope with higher magnification is going to perform better optically vs the "older" design because it is newer then you will likely be disappointed. This is essentially what I tried to explain in my review of the March 1.5-15x42, in no way am I saying this is a "bad" scope, but if your expectation is for it to perform at the same level as other scopes that have a very different design criteria then I'd say your expectations may be askew and because of that your perception will be affected as well. No other manufacturer offers a FFP MPVO with 10x erector, there is nothing else to compare this to because March is the only one with a product like this, there isn't even an 8x erector product to compare to which is why I chose the 2-12, but a 6x erector is much more forgiving in design vs. a 10x erector.
As always, I am human, if you see any errors or issues with my review please let me know, I am always open to constructive criticism.
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) in 420 and 624 and am pleasantly surprised how well I like them so far. They definitely punch above their class, even at their retail price. I paid $400 and $560 respectively and got $80 in OpticsPlanet bucks on the latter. 
Having a supportive wife is crucial to success 
