The first post I ever put up on Sniper's Hide was an inquiry regarding the quality of the Millett TRS1. The response to that post was tantamount to a digital pummeling wherein I was admonished to utilize the search feature since my question had reportedly been asked and answered many times.
Upon recovering from my trip to the virtual woodshed, I did as I was told and my various searches generally revealed three basic opinions:
1. It's a Chi-com piece of crap and I wouldn't put one on my kid's super-soaker.
2. I had one, but I got rid of it and bought a ________.
3. I've got one and it's a descent scope for the price.
When it came to reviews that really examined the performance and features of these scopes, I found precisely one; and it was on another site. Even that review was somewhat sparse on the info pertaining to the scope's performance (although it did a pretty good job of outlining its features). Moreover, the scope reviewed there was one of the older 1/8 MOA models manufactured before Millett was purchased by Bushnell.
So, in an effort to determine the quality of these scopes (or lack thereof), I purchased one and mounted it to an AR platform that I use operationally as an LE Sniper (relax, I won't be deploying with it until/unless I'm certain I can trust it). The rifle itself is capable of holding 1/2 MOA, and my plan is to evaluate the scope to ascertain whether it is capable of delivering the level of performance I feel is necessary in a precision rifle optic. I should emphasize here, that this evaluation is for use as an optic on an LE Sniper's system. Unlike our military counterparts, LE Snipers do not jump out of airplanes, we are rarely if ever in close proximety to an explosion, and we don't typically have to spend days inching our way into position while dragging our rifle in tow. Thus, you will not see a video of me dropping my rifle off a building; smashing it into a fence post, or beating on the scope with another scope.
None of the above should be taken as any kind of suggestion that an LE Sniper's system can afford to be fragile. My equipment and I have spent our share of time swimming in swamp water; fighting though gawd-awful brush; and bouncing around in the back of a SWAT vehicle. I'm just clarifying the fact that our equipment is not subjected to the same extremes as those deployed by our military brothers. The TRS1 will be subjected to what I would call "normal" conditions for an LE system (if the word normal can ever be applied to anything related to Snipers). Also I should mention that the maximum effective range for this system will be set at 300 yards. It's not that I can't shoot farther than that, or that my marksmanship skills are so deficient as to render me incapable of a shot beyond that range. It is simply the fact that I am unlikely to ever be authorized by an incident commander to take a shot beyond that distance. This post will likely be the first installment of a multi-part test. Feel free to hit me with any questions you may have.
Thus it begins:
The TRS1 is a big beefy scope. Big enough, in fact, that it adds significantly to the size and weight of the system. I'm hoping that the size and weight translate into rugged durability, but time will tell. The particular scope I acquired is the ATACS camo model. The camo appears to be a simple "dip" job, and I'm not sure how well it will survive the brush I have to fight my way through on some of my operations. Both the power ring and the paralax knob turned fairly easily, although the power ring could have been a bit lighter. The reticle is Millett's "Mil-Dot Bar", and it is calibrated to be accurate at 10X. As far as the optic quality of the TRS1 goes, I did not note any of the"milky" fade that I've seen referenced by other users at the higher powers. From my back deck, I could easily view a house approximately 1200 yards away with enough clarity to determine the color of shirt and hat being worn by the guy mowing his yard. That seems clear enough for my purposes. The windage and elevation turrets are graduated in 1/4 MOA clicks, and that is where I encountered my first problem. The first TRS1 I received was found to be defective. The elevation turret felt extremely gritty through approximately half its rotation. It was, therefore, quickly returned to Millett/Bushnell (Yes, I paid the 10 bucks for the return). That original scope was promptly replaced with a new one. The elevation turret on the replacement scope was much improved over the first. There was no gritty feeling noted. The clicks are fairly distinct and they are both tactile and audible. Occasionally (about one in every 10 or so) is a bit mushy, so you have to pay attention to what you are doing when you change your dope.
Today I made it to the range for an initial zero with the TRS1. Ammunition was 77 gr. FGMM. It took 5 rounds to zero the scope, and then I shot my first 3 shot group at a face target. The result was just over half MOA CTC (5/8"), and nicely centered between the eyes of the target. I also checked the calibration of the mil scale on the reticle and confirmed that it is, indeed, correct at 10X. As my time was limited today (I actually had to stop at one point and go handle a domestic!), I didn't shoot a box test, or do any additionaly testing. In the coming days I'll attend to those matters and report my findings. I'll also be taking this system to our our Sniper Team's training session next Friday to see how it performs there. Thus far, despite the rocky beginning with the first scope being returned, the TRS1 seems to be acquiting itself pretty well. But, as I said earlier, time will tell.
HRF
Upon recovering from my trip to the virtual woodshed, I did as I was told and my various searches generally revealed three basic opinions:
1. It's a Chi-com piece of crap and I wouldn't put one on my kid's super-soaker.
2. I had one, but I got rid of it and bought a ________.
3. I've got one and it's a descent scope for the price.
When it came to reviews that really examined the performance and features of these scopes, I found precisely one; and it was on another site. Even that review was somewhat sparse on the info pertaining to the scope's performance (although it did a pretty good job of outlining its features). Moreover, the scope reviewed there was one of the older 1/8 MOA models manufactured before Millett was purchased by Bushnell.
So, in an effort to determine the quality of these scopes (or lack thereof), I purchased one and mounted it to an AR platform that I use operationally as an LE Sniper (relax, I won't be deploying with it until/unless I'm certain I can trust it). The rifle itself is capable of holding 1/2 MOA, and my plan is to evaluate the scope to ascertain whether it is capable of delivering the level of performance I feel is necessary in a precision rifle optic. I should emphasize here, that this evaluation is for use as an optic on an LE Sniper's system. Unlike our military counterparts, LE Snipers do not jump out of airplanes, we are rarely if ever in close proximety to an explosion, and we don't typically have to spend days inching our way into position while dragging our rifle in tow. Thus, you will not see a video of me dropping my rifle off a building; smashing it into a fence post, or beating on the scope with another scope.
None of the above should be taken as any kind of suggestion that an LE Sniper's system can afford to be fragile. My equipment and I have spent our share of time swimming in swamp water; fighting though gawd-awful brush; and bouncing around in the back of a SWAT vehicle. I'm just clarifying the fact that our equipment is not subjected to the same extremes as those deployed by our military brothers. The TRS1 will be subjected to what I would call "normal" conditions for an LE system (if the word normal can ever be applied to anything related to Snipers). Also I should mention that the maximum effective range for this system will be set at 300 yards. It's not that I can't shoot farther than that, or that my marksmanship skills are so deficient as to render me incapable of a shot beyond that range. It is simply the fact that I am unlikely to ever be authorized by an incident commander to take a shot beyond that distance. This post will likely be the first installment of a multi-part test. Feel free to hit me with any questions you may have.
Thus it begins:
The TRS1 is a big beefy scope. Big enough, in fact, that it adds significantly to the size and weight of the system. I'm hoping that the size and weight translate into rugged durability, but time will tell. The particular scope I acquired is the ATACS camo model. The camo appears to be a simple "dip" job, and I'm not sure how well it will survive the brush I have to fight my way through on some of my operations. Both the power ring and the paralax knob turned fairly easily, although the power ring could have been a bit lighter. The reticle is Millett's "Mil-Dot Bar", and it is calibrated to be accurate at 10X. As far as the optic quality of the TRS1 goes, I did not note any of the"milky" fade that I've seen referenced by other users at the higher powers. From my back deck, I could easily view a house approximately 1200 yards away with enough clarity to determine the color of shirt and hat being worn by the guy mowing his yard. That seems clear enough for my purposes. The windage and elevation turrets are graduated in 1/4 MOA clicks, and that is where I encountered my first problem. The first TRS1 I received was found to be defective. The elevation turret felt extremely gritty through approximately half its rotation. It was, therefore, quickly returned to Millett/Bushnell (Yes, I paid the 10 bucks for the return). That original scope was promptly replaced with a new one. The elevation turret on the replacement scope was much improved over the first. There was no gritty feeling noted. The clicks are fairly distinct and they are both tactile and audible. Occasionally (about one in every 10 or so) is a bit mushy, so you have to pay attention to what you are doing when you change your dope.
Today I made it to the range for an initial zero with the TRS1. Ammunition was 77 gr. FGMM. It took 5 rounds to zero the scope, and then I shot my first 3 shot group at a face target. The result was just over half MOA CTC (5/8"), and nicely centered between the eyes of the target. I also checked the calibration of the mil scale on the reticle and confirmed that it is, indeed, correct at 10X. As my time was limited today (I actually had to stop at one point and go handle a domestic!), I didn't shoot a box test, or do any additionaly testing. In the coming days I'll attend to those matters and report my findings. I'll also be taking this system to our our Sniper Team's training session next Friday to see how it performs there. Thus far, despite the rocky beginning with the first scope being returned, the TRS1 seems to be acquiting itself pretty well. But, as I said earlier, time will tell.
HRF
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