When I am evaluating equipment, I do it to find what will work best for me, and I am not afraid to run through a lot of options to find a superior product. That is how I came across the Meopta Optika6 line of scopes. I have handled the 2.5-15x44, the 3-18x50, and the 3-18x56; these are right around that zoom range I have been looking for to go on my Remington 700 .243 and my Franchi Momentum Elite in 6.5CM. These magnification ranges have enough low end for closer action as well as the higher magnification I like to use for studying things before settling in to shoot (usually around 7-11x). I did look at some 4ish-27ish scope for that Creedmoor given that it carries 1,000 pounds of force to over 650 yards. I usually like to mix things up and have never bought two of the same riflescope, but these are so good, I bought two at once so I could put the same thing on both guns.
The Competitors
These are the rifle scopes that I also considered before settling on the Meopta and why I didn’t choose them. There are many good options in this price tier (say $500-$1000) and I did not try them all. For example, Element Optics is getting rave reviews and I imagine would have been a contender. My point is if you don’t see something here, I just didn’t get around to trying it, it is not due to any experience that exempted it from the list.
Vortex HS 4-16 – a fine scope with simple, straightforward controls and a clean duplex. I didn’t like the lack of illumination; I usually hunt in twilight and since having tried illumination I doubt I will go back. Also, the scope just didn’t seem that bright and crisp, and this is even considering that it was on a very deep discount. I couldn’t imagine paying MSRP for this and being happy given the competition at that price point. The Meopta blew it out of the water and considering that all of the HS line have the same glass, I imagine the story would be the same across these models (i.e., the HS-T).
Burris Veracity – these list for close to $1k and the glass quality goes a long way to justifying the cost. I didn’t like that there are only two reticle options and, again, no illumination. I also had the model with the tall "target" elevation turret (capped) and that baby is REALLY tall. With the lower profile M.A.D. knobs you get around this but still no illumination—and this is their flagship hunting scope. Both reticles available have some BDC and they just didn’t match what I shoot. I can run the ballistics on my round and memorize the subtension distances, but if I am going to do that I might as well remember my DOPE and just dial; then I won’t have to deal with a cluttered view. The glass was good but the marriage of the features to the use needs some improvement. The wide range of options is in the Meopta line offers a superior selection.
Leupold – well, they just don’t have the models that give me my features in stock. I worked on product evaluation for over a month and not one of the contenders became available. The VX3HD has a couple of 30mm models that have what I want, but for the full enchilada I really need to go to the VX5HD which generally trends at 2 or 3 times the price of the others on this list. I feel confident in saying that the Meopta is every bit as good as my VX3HD and I would venture to guess that it could compete with the 5’s as well.
Vortex PST Gen II 5-25 – I already own one (on my .22) and love it. In this case the reticle is more than I need for hunting, and the turrets are exposed but don’t lock. The non-locking piece is compounded by the fact that they are fairly easy to spin. There are great deals out there on these right now and the glass is really nice, though it is a little bit of a dated model. I only bring this one up because I REALLY like the glass, and the glass on my PST Gen II 1-6 LPVO, and the Meopta feels slightly better optically.
Burris RT – Decent glass, but a step down from the Veracity and when I saw the made in China sticker, I sent it back. However, it would get you started in long range shooting and the price is less than the Veractiy and less than the Vortex on a good sale, just not in the same league as the Optika6.
Burris Signature HD – This would be for the 6.5 as they have a reticle with CM DOPE built in that match up to the 143 grain ELD at 2700 just right. This is also a great price point for FFP. However, this scope is also made in China. I will post a video review, but unless it really wows me it is likely headed back based on the MIC alone.
Why I like the Meopta
For me, glass quality is the utmost important factor in choosing a scope. I will look for the best quality glass, then find a few that are dancing around the feature set I want and pick from there. There are some hard and fast rules I follow. I will not buy a subtended reticle in SFP, it just loses too much utility. Generally, I want a duplex and a good dial system or a SCR type reticle and turrets that won’t spin too freely. On my hunting rifles I prefer a reticle that is uncluttered, then will zero to MPBR and memorize additional dials for added distance. I don’t mind a capped turret; if I am taking a shot beyond MPBR on a .243 or a 6.5 that means I am past 300ish yards and will have time to remove the cap and dial. Illumination is important to me; I hunt a lot and dawn and dusk, or at night with a pig light. When it is dark, and you are looking under a pig light, it is easy to lose the reticle in the shadows and illumination takes care of this. I have scopes that are 1-6 and scopes that are 5-25; I try to get what is appropriate for my intended use. For example, my lever gun has the Leupold 2.5-8 and I use it for brush and out to about 200. Meopta Optika6 checked all these boxes: excellent glass, wide reticle selection, illumination, and sensible turret selection.
Zoom Range
For these guns I wanted something that could get me a decent field of view for near targets, but could get me pretty far out there, too. On low power the field is 33' at 100 yards, then narrows to 5.8' on 18x. I think the 3-18 really does a good job of covering the range and for most of my applications might be a wee bit more than I need (2.5-15 would have worked, too), which is fine with me. Meopta makes these scopes in whatever flavor you want; there are ample selections.
Reticle
I went with the 4c, which is basically a standard duplex minus the thick post at the top. I like this because it makes for an uncluttered view, but again, they have a bunch (maybe 6ish or 8ish) reticle choices, so you are likely to find something you like. They now offer the DichroTech reticle which provides an illuminated reticle with contrast without the need for a battery. This reticle somehow reacts to different light waves to provide the “light,” this offers the obvious advantage of not requiring batteries but allows shooters to always be ready, eliminating the need to reach over and turn the illumination dial before getting on target, and avoiding any issues with washout.
Build Quality
The scope tips the scales around 30 oz., this keeps my total weight under 10 lbs. for the rig which is my rule of thumb. This is for an all-around hunting set-up that I use in a blind, spot and stalk, and out in West Texas in the Davis/Glass Mountains. If I were going on an elk hunt on the Western Slope and had to pack it in for days I might lower this number, but for my uses 10 lbs. is comfortable and the Meopta gets me there when paired with a 7.5-pound gun. The build quality is excellent, turrets offer clean positive clicks, parallax/illumination/zoom knobs are all smooth and give me no issues. The matte black is well executed and a nice break from some of the glossier offerings on the market. Overall, just a well-made scope with a solid warranty that should last and work for years.
Optical Quality
While the other features are nice, this is where the Optika6 line really shines. It was crisper, brighter, and offered better resolution at higher magnification than every other scope I looked though. Again, for me, this is and will always be the trump card. I don’t care what features you give me if you connect it all to bad glass it is for naught. This scope punches well above its price point and if you are in the market for new glass of any magnification, I would strongly suggest you pick up an Optika6 and look though it before you buy something else.
Manufacture
Some of Meopta’s offerings (the "premium" scopes) are made 100% in the Czech Republic, the Optika6 line is assembled there, and major components are made in house. Some elements are imported from Asian countries. My understanding is that they get some parts from the Philippines and don’t import from China. I was not able to verify this with Meopta, as they cited via email from their HQ that for strategic purposes they are unable to disclose what countries they do business with. Frankly, I don’t know where else you could buy an illumination circuit board and battery if not from China. I am content with the notion that most of the product and ALL of the glass/internals are closely controlled by the QA/QC team at Meopta with limited or no reliance on Chinese parts. In 2021 Guns Magazine visited Meopta’s factory and met with sales executive Surujh Roopnarine who said, “Almost all the work on Meopta products happen right here.” Guns went on, “Meopta doesn’t make plastic or rubber parts. It outsources only “universal” hardware: small screws, pins and washers.” (https://gunsmagazine.com/gear/meopta-optics/)
Meopta was sold in the spring (2023) to a private equity firm. I hope they maintain their trajectory and respect their lineage under this new regime as it is not uncommon for priorities to shift toward profit over quality once PE gets involved.
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