Anthony from United States, IN Public Profile

This spotting scope is useful for many tasks that a binocular would be used for because of it's relatively low magnification, but it has suffienct magnification to be used at a 100 yard (max) range.. One can hold it in hand and make out things. I actually use it to monitor cows in a pasture. I can identify each one by their features, but I can't read tags when they are far out. It is sufficient to just see 22 caliber bullet holes in cheap NRA-style target paper or in printer paper, but barely, at 100 yards. It is extremely compact and is as easy to hold as a binoculars. The focus on it is stiff but does work. Overall, it seems to be decently well made. So far, the waterproof claim is true. I've used it in the rain, and while it is next to useless with actual rain on the lenses, it didn't fog or seem to suffer any ill effects once it dried.

The bad things about this scope: the brightness (or % light transmission) just doesn't impress. While it does what I want it to do, it is somewhat difficult to see things because everything through it is somewhat dim.

And the tripod is a joke. It DOES actually work if you are delicate with it. It holds it well enough at the range, but it could be much better. The threads on the scope work with better tripods, so it isn't the end of the world. The nice thing about the tripod is that it does fit in the provided case with the scope.

In the end, if this scope was a bit brighter and came with a strudy yet as compact tripod, I would pay a whol

This is a kind of scope that I feel deserves much more attention than it is given. Why? Because it is extremely compact, rugged, and useful while still being affordable. It also has unique applications where it is well suited.

I have this scope mounted on a Mossberg 464 (30-30 WCF) using Weaver Grand Slam medium steel rings and Warne two-piece Weaver-style bases. A very solid all steel system. This type of lever action rifle poses a few challenges to mounting scopes. One is that it is hard to mount a scope low enough to get a good cheek weld and not interfere with the rear sight, the hammer, or ejecting brass. Scopes with large optical lenses will interfere with the rear sight, and scopes with large ocular lenses (many variable power or high-magnification scopes) will interfere with the hammer. This FX-II Ultralight, however, fits this rifle perfectly.

I use this rifle for deer hunting in Southern Indiana. Forests here tend to be dense, and while the hunter can sometimes take long shots (out to 200 yards or so), more often than not deer will be encountered at very short ranges under 50 feet. With any magnification much beyond 4x, at these ranges, the field of view will be so narrow that it can be disorienting. These encounters can be so sudden that there is hardly time to make a good shot let alone mess around trying to adjust scope magnification. I have a 1-4x Leopold VX-I which is shaped similarly, and I leave it on 3x for this reason. 2.5x, surprisingly, offers careful o

These bases are perfect weaver-style bases for the Mossberg 464. They fit perfectly, are as trim as can be, and have a locking groove down the middle. They come with quality torx cap screws. And they are all steel, as all scope mounts and bases should be. I only wish such excellent bases were made in leupold dual dovetail style. I prefer the less bulky look of the leupold style, however, it may be impossible to get it this low in that style.