JaiGuruDeva
15-07-2003, 10:31 AM
As promised, a small preview on the AGS scope. Haven't had the time to try it out on the range yet, so these are just my introductory impressions with the scope.
The scope arrived yesterday, took only 2 days for the package to cross the north sea. I ordered my scope from B.A.R, but JSR and uttings stock them aswell (uttings even have the new IR model, lit 30/30 reticle)
The scope was well packaged and padded, so it survived the passage completely unscathed.
I felt a bit anal this day, so I decided to meticulously open the box and take pics of every step as I went on :)<!--graemlin::D-->
1. The box. Looks rather nice for such a cheap scope!
http://hem.bredband.net/b101012/agsbox1.jpg
2. Take the cover off, and... voila! A nice oversized lens/cleaning cloth, appropriately marked "AGS", of course. Impressive.
http://hem.bredband.net/b101012/agsbox2.jpg
3. Off with the cloth. Underneath, a fully padded scope-like shape wrapped in plastic... The tension hightens :)<!--graemlin::D-->
http://hem.bredband.net/b101012/agsbox3.jpg
4. Releive the mysterious shape from its cellulose vessel, and...
http://hem.bredband.net/b101012/agsbox4.jpg
5. ...rip the plastic off! Yee-haw!
http://hem.bredband.net/b101012/ags1.jpg
6. Not bad. Compact, nice matte finish, sturdily built.
http://hem.bredband.net/b101012/ags2.jpg
I love macro photography, and I spied something interesting on the front objective housing. Handily proves that, in fact, the scopes are set @ 35 yds directly from the factory.
http://hem.bredband.net/b101012/agsmacro.jpg
The mildots are spaced a bit further from each other than we are used to. This has to do with the scope's maximum power being 9x, and the mil-dot scale is meant to be used with 10 power, thus differently spaced mildots (and more of em'!). A corrected mil-dot chart for airgun-sized quarry is included in the manual! A nice touch, indeed.
http://hem.bredband.net/b101012/xhairs.jpg
My first impressions of the optics, etc...
As far as I can see, the optics seem very sharp, even at 9 power. Comparing to the hawke 4-14x50, although unfairly set at 14 power, which I have fresh in memory, the AGS beats it on clarity and crispness by a fair margin.
At first, I thought the AGS experienced some fisheye distortion on higher mags, but that had to do with me looking at objects several hundred yards away, it was only the 35 yd parallax that tricked me. In distances below 50-60 yds, there seem to be no distortions at all. Good sharpness and clarity through the whole mag range, no chromatic abberation to speak of.
Of course, these are my primary conclusions after looking through the scope in daylight, under problem-free circumstances. It still has to prove itself on the range/in the woods. Anyway, for a £75 scope, things seem good so far.
The scope tube is milled from a solid bar of aluminium, e.g. no joints that weaken the construction. The lenses are, according to the manual, multicoated on both sides. As this is hard to prove without opening the scope up, I'll have to rely on twilight performance studies etc, to prove that, later on.
The scope is overall very sturdily built, the zoom/ocular assembly has some serious meat to it. The finish is matte, with a satin feel to it. Fully adequate.
The adjustment turrets are made out of brass, which looks rather strange. The turrets feel solid, but are a bit tough and gritty, you almost must apply a bit of brute force to turn them properly. Audible clicks.
The mag adjust ring was a bit stiff at the beginning, but after a few turns it softened up, and now has a nice viscous feel to it.
Overall, this scope seems to be a good choice, especially with regard to the low price tag (£75).
Nice optics, a very compact design (just under 12"), already parallaxed @ 35 yards, and (presumably?) spring air gun rated for at least 12 fpe guns.
As long as it zeroes properly and holds its zero, I'm going to be very satisifed with this scope.
A couple of more pics of the scope, but with links to spare the dial-up users:
Comparision between a standard-lenght 4x32 (tasco) and the AGS:
http://hem.bredband.net/b101012/jemfor.jpg
A few pics of the AGS mounted on my Falcon fn-12:
http://hem.bredband.net/b101012/falcags1.jpg
http://hem.bredband.net/b101012/falcags2.jpg
http://hem.bredband.net/b101012/falcags3.jpg
http://hem.bredband.net/b101012/falcags4.jpg
/ David
[This message was edited by JGD on 15 July, 2003 at 13:44.]
The scope arrived yesterday, took only 2 days for the package to cross the north sea. I ordered my scope from B.A.R, but JSR and uttings stock them aswell (uttings even have the new IR model, lit 30/30 reticle)
The scope was well packaged and padded, so it survived the passage completely unscathed.
I felt a bit anal this day, so I decided to meticulously open the box and take pics of every step as I went on :)<!--graemlin::D-->
1. The box. Looks rather nice for such a cheap scope!
http://hem.bredband.net/b101012/agsbox1.jpg
2. Take the cover off, and... voila! A nice oversized lens/cleaning cloth, appropriately marked "AGS", of course. Impressive.
http://hem.bredband.net/b101012/agsbox2.jpg
3. Off with the cloth. Underneath, a fully padded scope-like shape wrapped in plastic... The tension hightens :)<!--graemlin::D-->
http://hem.bredband.net/b101012/agsbox3.jpg
4. Releive the mysterious shape from its cellulose vessel, and...
http://hem.bredband.net/b101012/agsbox4.jpg
5. ...rip the plastic off! Yee-haw!
http://hem.bredband.net/b101012/ags1.jpg
6. Not bad. Compact, nice matte finish, sturdily built.
http://hem.bredband.net/b101012/ags2.jpg
I love macro photography, and I spied something interesting on the front objective housing. Handily proves that, in fact, the scopes are set @ 35 yds directly from the factory.
http://hem.bredband.net/b101012/agsmacro.jpg
The mildots are spaced a bit further from each other than we are used to. This has to do with the scope's maximum power being 9x, and the mil-dot scale is meant to be used with 10 power, thus differently spaced mildots (and more of em'!). A corrected mil-dot chart for airgun-sized quarry is included in the manual! A nice touch, indeed.
http://hem.bredband.net/b101012/xhairs.jpg
My first impressions of the optics, etc...
As far as I can see, the optics seem very sharp, even at 9 power. Comparing to the hawke 4-14x50, although unfairly set at 14 power, which I have fresh in memory, the AGS beats it on clarity and crispness by a fair margin.
At first, I thought the AGS experienced some fisheye distortion on higher mags, but that had to do with me looking at objects several hundred yards away, it was only the 35 yd parallax that tricked me. In distances below 50-60 yds, there seem to be no distortions at all. Good sharpness and clarity through the whole mag range, no chromatic abberation to speak of.
Of course, these are my primary conclusions after looking through the scope in daylight, under problem-free circumstances. It still has to prove itself on the range/in the woods. Anyway, for a £75 scope, things seem good so far.
The scope tube is milled from a solid bar of aluminium, e.g. no joints that weaken the construction. The lenses are, according to the manual, multicoated on both sides. As this is hard to prove without opening the scope up, I'll have to rely on twilight performance studies etc, to prove that, later on.
The scope is overall very sturdily built, the zoom/ocular assembly has some serious meat to it. The finish is matte, with a satin feel to it. Fully adequate.
The adjustment turrets are made out of brass, which looks rather strange. The turrets feel solid, but are a bit tough and gritty, you almost must apply a bit of brute force to turn them properly. Audible clicks.
The mag adjust ring was a bit stiff at the beginning, but after a few turns it softened up, and now has a nice viscous feel to it.
Overall, this scope seems to be a good choice, especially with regard to the low price tag (£75).
Nice optics, a very compact design (just under 12"), already parallaxed @ 35 yards, and (presumably?) spring air gun rated for at least 12 fpe guns.
As long as it zeroes properly and holds its zero, I'm going to be very satisifed with this scope.
A couple of more pics of the scope, but with links to spare the dial-up users:
Comparision between a standard-lenght 4x32 (tasco) and the AGS:
http://hem.bredband.net/b101012/jemfor.jpg
A few pics of the AGS mounted on my Falcon fn-12:
http://hem.bredband.net/b101012/falcags1.jpg
http://hem.bredband.net/b101012/falcags2.jpg
http://hem.bredband.net/b101012/falcags3.jpg
http://hem.bredband.net/b101012/falcags4.jpg
/ David
[This message was edited by JGD on 15 July, 2003 at 13:44.]