falcon Menace 4.5-18x56 Metric MP20

[joffy]

i've been looking at one of these scopes hows yours going ?

[Scott in CO]

Great review flims! I wonder if you could comment on the glass quality for us? Light transmission and clarity? Have any other well known scopes you could compare for us? I like all of the features these scopes offer, but my eyes are bad and I must have decent glass. I'll say I have spent the money on a MTC viper 3-12 in the past, and while I loved all the features, I was a bit disappointed with the glass itself... I do hope the falcon line might be a step up, as I've got high hopes for some of their higher magnification models...

Thanks,

Scott in CO

[flims]

the glass on the falcon is quite good especially when i consider the other features on the scope plus glass and for the current price, i would go for the menace for sure for anything like air, rimmy or smaller caliber rifles. they are good and when i compare the optics of my leupold MK4 and my menace the difference is not that pronounced but i havent been looking through them at twilight or something so thats not a very accurate answer however some time ago i found a thread and i had copied it with some interesting photos. this was from snipershide forum.
i found one here in switzerland mounted on a 300win Mag and it was riding that bore very well, held well and owner was also pleased. looking at the archives i had a review saved of some rough times that the menace went through while being tested by various users.

this one is from snipers hide but since i couldnt find the link so im pasting it myself here. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A while back I did a review for the 4.5-18x56. I was impressed but noted a few changes that needed to be made. I recently was able to acquire a 4-14x44 FFP model to evaluate. My summary is that the 4-14x44 is a better optic in terms of costruction and reticule design. But this isn't a comparison between the 4.5-18x56 and the 4-14x44. It is instead a comparison between the 4-14x44 and my Leupold 3.5-10x40mm M3.
1http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL888.../337246764.jpg
2 http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL888.../337246761.jpg
So first I started with a box test. The test was done at 100 yards, and again later at 200 yards to make sure the tracking was good to go, and they both passed. I confirmed the Mil spacing on each optic using a 36" scale at 100 yards, they both read correctly. So from there I tested optical resolution at 25 yards using this chart:
3http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL888.../337246760.jpg
4http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL888.../337246759.jpg
5http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL888.../337246758.jpg
6http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL888.../337246755.jpg
7http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL888.../337246753.jpg
Here is what I noted:

Falcon 4-14x44mm @ 4x = 8
Leupold 3.5-10x40 @ 4x = 9

Falcon 4-14x44mm @ 10x = 11
Leupold 3.5-10x40 @ 10x = 12

Optically they are quite similar in resolution. Next I conducted athe same test in low light conditions:

18:15 CDT (40 minutes past sunset)
Sunset: 17:36 CDT
Civil Twilight: 18:06
Conditions: Clear 79.0 F
Range: 25 yards

Falcon 4-14x44mm @ 10x = 7 and 3 triangle
Leupold Mark 4 3.5-10x40mm LR/T @ 10x = 7 and 4 triangle

I froze the scopes at 0°F for two days and took them out in 100°F heat to warm them back up
8http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL888.../337246752.jpg
Both had frost form on the outside of the lenses, they performed like nothing had happened once the frost melted. I also left them in my truck all day reaching 152°F, no problems but don't forget the oven mitt when retreiving them like I did . WOW they're hot.

Next I submerged them in the tub for 5 minutes at 68°F.
9http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL888.../337246751.jpg
Both passed. Overall, I really like the new 4-14x44 far more than the older 4.5-18x56. The reticule is improved over the skeletonized SLR of the previous Menace. Adjustments are still a bit mushy but repeatable and audible/tactile. Improvements? Still like to see an illuminated reticule and them adopt a solid reticule for their MP16 Miliridian models. But so far this $380 scope has challenged my $1000+ Leupold quite well.
10
http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL888.../337246747.jpg

[C3PO_1]

Wow -- what an amazing review!

[Steve83]

...thanks very much on helping me make up my mind on a new scope

[flims]

you're welcome mate, im glad that it helped you out, let me know how you find it and post some pics, did you buy the same model?

[flims]

it had been about 4 months since i last touched my menace and while i was here enjoying some rest i decided to take it out for a spin. i had a friend who wanted to see how the rifle performed and placed a plate at 120m since he had heard about its potential. he didnt give me time to recheck my zero so i filled up to 200bar, ran the turret 6.3Mils and 1.2Mils left windage for the 5mile/hour wind and sent the first one down range, connected right away, a grin on my face and sent down another 3 averaging a group of 3" at 120m. ive done better but the Menace performed as it did in Summer in the scorching heat. after that i ranged the closest rock at 35m, rezeroed the turret till it stopped turning since i now installed the Zero Stop, sent another one down range and the rock went flying.
zerostop installed. http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL888.../345751066.jpg
these two were shot with the same wind dope but we had an increase in wind by about 2mile/hour and it resulted in hits to the right, very constant in windage and i cannot complain about the elevation, less that 10ft/s spread on those shots.
http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL888.../345849010.jpg
http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL888.../345849011.jpg
http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL888.../345849012.jpg

we then ranged a 100m 4" rock, dialed in the neccessary elevation and windage and we got a hit at 5 oclock about 1.5" from POA.

to complete it we ranged another at 140m sent two shots at the plate, one was slightly low and right about 2.5" from Aiming mark, corrected and the next shot was 1" from POA.

last group we shot at a stone ranged 70m away, we shot 6 and resulted in a 2" group. the newcomer was surprised especially when he found out he had even hit a cigarette packet at 120m on his 4th shot. my infinity again performed flawlessly and the Menace takes 60% of the Merit. it gives me a satisfaction and a sense of trust in it.