Re: Falcon Optics 5.5-25x56 Menace Review
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Romeyo</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Hey Folks!
I'm currently having a hard time deciding which falcon scope to buy. I read some reviews here an in other forums but the more I read about them the harder it gets for me to make a decision.
I have been told the Menace 4-14x44 FFP would be the way to go since it's a single tube design, front focal plane and good optics with higher light transmission than Falcon's previous scopes. However, I am looking in a scope with more objective diameter and magnification range to have a bright, contrasty image an better spotting capabilities. One thing I really do not worry about is size and weight. However, this review said that the 5.5-25x56 was somehow milkier than previous falcon scopes? So where's the point in getting a huge 56mm objective when the image might be as good as on the 4-14x44 FFP after all? I mean, when having that half inch more diameter (which causes a lot more light transmission), I would expect the image on 25x to be at least as good as on 14x on the 4-14x44FFP. But that seems to be not the case?
Eye relief would be no problem since I'll mount that scope on a .22lr.
Proper sight alignment also bothers me a litte. I got a Countersniper 3-25x56 thats also sensitive on that, especially on higher magnifications, so I'm used to it but I would be happier if it was not that sensitive.
I also thought of getting the Menace 4-18x56 Illuminated what might be a compromise of those both scopes. Hopefully with bright and clear images but not that much of magnification.
However, it's no FFP design but got a illuminated reticle instead.
I'm not sure if a FFP design would be that important for me, both designs got their pros and cons...
What I'm primarily looking for is the best possible image and magnification (however high magnification gets useless when image quality is poor) in that price range in a tactical package ("target turrets", side parallax) with MIL turrets.
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Romeyo,
This is easy for me to answer, buy the Falcon scope that meets your shooting needs. If you need moderately high magnification the 5.5-25x50/56 FFP will be a great addition to your ..22LR rifle. By the same token the 4-14x44FFP is a great scope too. Both of these are highly featured and there is nothing else on the market available with the same features for less than $1,200. Sure the glass is not going to match that $1,200 Leupold but guess what, the very few Leupold FFP scopes available are not made with mil/mil adjustments/reticules. If you want a FFP scope with a good solid adjustment system and milrad adjusters and a matching reticule the Falcon scopes are the only game in town.
I've got a GenIII IOR 3-18x42FFP SH edition scope (which has glass that is about 98% of an S&B or USO, checked them all side by side) and the glass is clearly much better than my prototype Falcon 5.5-25x56FFP. But the Falcon with glass that is maybe 85% of the IOR's glass cost much less than a third of the IOR scope and has all of operating features of the IOR. At this price level I don't think you will find a better FFP scope in terms of optical performance and/or features.
I've got the prototype 5.5-25x56FFP sitting in some Seekins rings clamped to an EGW 20MOA base screwed into a 10/22T. The 5.5-25x56FFP scope is very repeatable, I can reliably dial from 25 yards to 250 yards with a perfectly repeatable dial at all ranges. I'm only limited to a 250yard dail due to the 10/22's inherent barrel droop issues. But I expect to have a new barrel blank screwed into the 10/22's receiver in a few months which will take care of the barrel droop and allow me to dial out past 400 yards or so.
Let me leave you with this, buy the features you want in a scope with the magnification you want for the shooting task of your rifle. For the money if a FFP with big tactical knobs (w/milrad adjusters) matching milrad reticule and large light gathering capability are what you need the Falcon scopes are literally the only game in town for under $1,200.
HTH!
