Good out to at least 650 yards - Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8x24mm Rifle Scope

First let me say that I have Macular Degeneration so my eyes are bad and I'm not going to notice any optic imperfections. I purchased the Strike Eagle 1-8x to put on my Smith and Wesson M&P 15 Sport 2. I also purchased a Monstrum offset mount.

I received the scope the day before I was heading to a weekend Cowboy shoot so I barely had time to get it mounted and leveled. The next evening we went to the long range bay and I picked a spot out about 100 yards to sight in my scope. Once I was reasonably well sighted in I started on the 300 yard target. I could not see any of the targets I was shooting at with the naked eye so I was guided to the spot and I would scan using the SE until I found the target (gong). Three shouts later I hit the gong and moved on to the 475 yd target. Again, using the BDC-2 reticle as a guide I adjusted my holdover and within a couple of shots was clanging at 475. On to the 575 yard gong and the same thing, a couple of shots with onlookers letting me know where I was hitting and I was on the gong.

The last group was as 650 yards. I had the Strike Eagle set to 8x throughout all of this and with my bad eyes I could only see a few of the bigger targets. There were some 6" and 4" gongs that I couldn't see but if I was able to see a target at 650 I was able to hit it.

I have not used the Strike Eagle at anything less than 6x which is the magnification I used to sight it in at so I can't comment on the 1x performance but if the Strike Eagle 1-8x can get me on target at 650 yards with a .223 using cheap plinking ammo my bad eyesight then the optics have to be reasonably good to achieve that.

Next step is to chrono some ammo and get my ballistics calculator app set up for this scope.

I am very happy with the purchase.