I received my US Optics SR 8c 1-8 scope about a week ago. Like any kid that gets to play with the toys that we do, I did not wait to have it in rings much less mounted on a rifle before I started playing with it. First impressions, once I ripped the scope out of the box in amazement, this thing is BIG measuring 11 5/8” long. Using this scope on an AR with only a picatiny rail on the upper and nothing on the hand guard will require a mount that is built for this purpose. I used the Alamo 4 Star MX4-30mm. Next is the all-important second focal plane dot. I went with the blue for personal preference – on my pistols I have green fiber since I do not seem to pick red up as quickly – YES it is bright. Do not see how close you can get to the setting sun before the dot disappears as it hurts and it will make you blink a lot. The dot is of the 4 MOA variety and will stay illuminated through all the magnification levels. Through all magnification levels the dot stays centered in the middle of the center crosshair of the first focal plane reticle and does not get blurry or become distorted. Magnification, this is ONE POWER. When I placed this optic on one power and kept both eyes open while looking at a vertical bar I could perceive no magnification or image distortion. Changing magnification…….this range is huge and it takes about three turns. Using a throw lever – I use the Breakaway NC1 and have come to like them – you are able to utilize all levels of magnification with ease. Elevation and windage turrets are small and protected by screw over caps, keeping the height and width profile down which is very nice. The elevation knob allows for 9.6 mils of rotation in one turn in .2 mil increments, and windage is also in .2 mil increments. At first when I ordered this I was hesitant to get a scope that you could only input .2 mil corrections, but once I got to the range to zero the scope this hesitancy went away.
The Sunday after I received this was the local 3 Gun Match that a friend and I put on at Phoenix Rod and Gun Club the fourth Sunday of every month, so I immediately mounted this up on my POF P308 and sighted it in with the plan of setting up some stages to put the scope through its paces. We usually set up our matches for a mix of intermediate length steel ranging from 150 to 325 using a couple of different shooting positions for a rifle only portion, and for the multigun rifle stage we usually do a more accuracy based with target transition stage. For this match we kept to our usual for the rifle only stage, and for the multigun rifle stage we went with walls requiring you to work both sides and a window to engage all targets allowing multiple target engagements from each position. For the rifle only portion I elected to run the stage at four power with the dot turned on to see if it would be a distraction and cause me to over focus on my hold, or if it would let me pick up the reticle on the target quicker so that I could call my shot and move to the next target. With the dot on, I was able to easily pick up my reticle and the target transitions felt smooth and comfortable. For the multigun rifle stage I went with one power and the dot on, and this is where this unit shines. While moving towards the wall and the fault line, I was easily able to begin mounting the rifle while keeping both eyes open. By the time I hit my shooting area, I was on target and ready to engage. Transitions felt good and target acquisition was positive. With the bright early morning Phoenix sun engaging brown USPSA targets positioned between barrels with dirt behind them, the dot was bright and clear.
At 1x on USPSA target in the bright Arizona sun
At 4x with illumination on
Setup as tested
The Sunday after I received this was the local 3 Gun Match that a friend and I put on at Phoenix Rod and Gun Club the fourth Sunday of every month, so I immediately mounted this up on my POF P308 and sighted it in with the plan of setting up some stages to put the scope through its paces. We usually set up our matches for a mix of intermediate length steel ranging from 150 to 325 using a couple of different shooting positions for a rifle only portion, and for the multigun rifle stage we usually do a more accuracy based with target transition stage. For this match we kept to our usual for the rifle only stage, and for the multigun rifle stage we went with walls requiring you to work both sides and a window to engage all targets allowing multiple target engagements from each position. For the rifle only portion I elected to run the stage at four power with the dot turned on to see if it would be a distraction and cause me to over focus on my hold, or if it would let me pick up the reticle on the target quicker so that I could call my shot and move to the next target. With the dot on, I was able to easily pick up my reticle and the target transitions felt smooth and comfortable. For the multigun rifle stage I went with one power and the dot on, and this is where this unit shines. While moving towards the wall and the fault line, I was easily able to begin mounting the rifle while keeping both eyes open. By the time I hit my shooting area, I was on target and ready to engage. Transitions felt good and target acquisition was positive. With the bright early morning Phoenix sun engaging brown USPSA targets positioned between barrels with dirt behind them, the dot was bright and clear.
At 1x on USPSA target in the bright Arizona sun
At 4x with illumination on
Setup as tested
