Great value, but not perfect - Mueller Optics 2-7x32mm All-Purpose Variable AO Rifle Scope

If you are looking for a 2-7x scope, particularly with an adjustable objective (AO), suitable for a .22 you'll quickly find some very cheap options, and then some very expensive options. In the middle, perhaps on the low end, is this 2-7x32 AO APV by Mueller. I'm not new to this. I've spent $30 on a scope and I've spent $1200 on a scope. I get it, and for about $120 I didn't expect a whole lot. So what's the verdict?

Overall construction is quite good. The objective bell ring moves and focuses flawlessly. Has very solid stops as well. The power ring is equally smooth and has good stops. The tube seems solid as is the finish. I could do without the shiny "APV" on the side turret cap but a quick dash of flat black solved that problem.The reticle is very good. Simple and not cluttered. I am a big fan of duplex so while I normally detest BDC and the like, the two hash marks don't bother me at all, and could actually prove useful. Optical clarity seems more than adequate. It doesn't look like a $400 Leupold but that's not what you are paying for. For the .22 that it rides on it is fine.

Two things are *almost* deal-breakers for me. First is the adjustment turrets. Clicks are audible and tactile but they feel plastic-y and a little mushy. Coming from Nikon and Vortex where turrets are solid, this trait of the Mueller is hard to stomach. The only saving grace is that once it's dialed in, it's dialed in. I won't be cranking on the turrets after zero. And zero only took about 10 shots.

Finally, the ocular adjustment is a real head-scratcher for me. The eyesight in my dominant eye isn't perfect so I always have to crank the ocular as far in as it will go on any scope to get the reticle to focus. On the Mueller, the reticle is in focus (which is great!) no matter WHAT I do with the ocular! In or out, doesn't appear one bit different. Which is ok, but odd. Also odd, if you rotate the ocular counterclockwise without the lock ring it gets wobbly, and the crosshairs appear to move (even though they aren't really). With the lock ring everything is good but it's a little unnerving to see this. I have read that other, high-$$ scopes with ocular locking rings somestimes do the same. But for someone who takes pride in high-quality equipment, knowing that I can make my crosshairs appear to move at-will is a little concerning.

So far I've shot about 100 rounds with the APV. It's holding zero perfectly and the AO feature is awesome on a .22 working at close range. I'm admittedly a little spoiled on high-end glass so I'm trying to extend some grace to Mueller on the turrets and the ocular adjustment. For the money, there's a lot of value here. The bar for the Mueller is set pretty high as I am in love with the Savage MkII FV-SR that it sits on, and I'm not going to let it live there if it's sketchy, but so far so goo.