Falcon Menace 4-14x44 FFP MP

[Pod]

Finally managed to get my hands on one of these after a very long wait!

I was advised by Falcon that there were some issues with most of the scopes in the delivery but there were enough good ones to meet a few orders - including mine I bought it via Geoffrey at Nightvision Supplies and he advised me that the one earmarked for me had an obvious blemish in the finish. He sent me a picture of the problem and I decided to go for it anyway.

The scope was delivered and on first inspection I was stunned at the quality of the optics - better than their previous offerings but not quite Lightstream standards. Nice and bright and crystal clear. The revised MP20 ret is absolutely superb - it looks like a crucifix floating in the scope, with lots of relevant aim points. Controls felt nice and positive although the zoom ring was stiff - but nice and smooth.

Biggest concern was that the scope supplied is a metric version - its click value is 1cm at 100m and I was concerned that this would be too coarse to get a spot on zero. I also noted how short the mounting areas are on the scope and had concerns that I would not be able to get the eye-relief right.

I mounted the scope on my Air Wolf (replacing a Falcon Menace 10x) using Sportsmatch elevation adjustable mounts. I had no problems getting the eye relief right. When mounted the first obvious problem was that the mag wouldn't fit! There is a large protruding plug on the underside of the scope - presumably where the gas is squirted in. I swapped the pin over on the mag and it fits fine from the other side.

Took the rifle out to zero it. At 15 yards the first shots were going about 8 inches low and slightly off to the right. After less than 10 shots it was near enough. Another magazine at 30 yards had it grouping lovely and zeroed as well as could be expected considering the wind.

I reduced the mag and noticed that there was an obvious shadow/shape whatever its called (!) at the bottom the view. I've only ever seen this on one scope before and knew that it is the erector tube intruding into the view. I was a tad annoyed!

I twiddled the elevation turret and realised that it was very near the top of its adjustment and as I have adjustable mounts.... I centred the turret - which removed the shadow, and zeroed again but using the mounts. All is now spot on. View is crystal clear on all mags and the annoying intruding shape has gone.

I only did all this yesterday so apologies if this review lacks further info and substance!

So in summary:
Good points - glass, reticle, controls, price.
Bad points - finish (although I was fully aware), erector tube intrudes into view if near the extremes of adjustment.

I'll update this thread in a few weeks when it has had some use.

[BarryB]

Shot with mine last Sun at the SIHFT at Horsham for the first time, scored 53. I have bad eyes, and the FFP allows variable mag and parallax adjustment without affecting mill dot settings. This allowed me to set the depth of field exactly as I required. My scope has the MP20 ret.
I have a Daystate MK3 and had no problems with erector tube intruding into the view. My mounts were standard medium Sportsmatch.

[flims]

if you have the MP20 in First focal plain you really have the best of both worlds. wheni purchased mine the ffp version was not yet available and went with the 4.5-18 but always use it on the 10x since its calibrated so. Dont worry about the metric, you did the right thing, now you have a reticle and a turret that MATCH each other so say you hit 2Mils left or 5Mils low, you can either hold off which in your case since you have FFP reticle you can do at any magnification, but if you are after more precise work, you can simply Dial in exactly 5Mils(50)

the magnification ring is stiff but smooth as you said and being stiff reassures me that it does not get knocked out of the 10x calibration which i find a plus point. my 35meter zero is exactly at the center of the tube so i did not encounter that problem and i still have 11.5Mils of elevation which is equivalent to 40MOA elevational travel which is good.

since the adjustments are a tad larger than 1/4MOA, one turn on the turret will take you out further than other scopes will and you will probably find it useful to know that with one turn of the turret, you can gain more distance.can you post some pics?

[Pod]

Used it a few times now and to be honest I am a little disappointed and struggling with it

The field of view seems quite narrow and the sight picture is framed with a thick rim - its more like the older Falcon Merlin series than the other Menace models I have tried (my personal preference is for a wide field of view with a narrow rim as I find it helps check that my eye is in the same position every time).

The scope suffers with white-out when shooting in poor light but towards light - dusk towards a setting sun is the perfect example. I have found that I can still get a perfect sight picture by moving my head but it induces parallax error. I have fitted the sunshade to see if this helps but haven't been able to try it yet.

Otherwise the scope is performing well - it holds zero and responds to any click adjustment exactly as expected and the revised MP20 reticule is great.

Will persist and see if I can get used to it.


EDIT: Had another fiddle this evening. I have now moved the scope back about 1/2" which has improved the sight picture quite a bit. Seems at odds with my previous experience with scopes - but if it works....

[dbc-65]

Hello Paul,
Another week on, hows the new scope preforming now.

ATB
Dave

[Pod]

Hi Dave,

Getting used to it . Reducing the eye relief has helped quite a bit.

Still love the MP20 reticule and the FFP is as useful as it always is.

I really do need to get it to the club and try it at extended ranges and match the reticule lines to distances. I have also changed pellet so I need to learn the past 40 yards trajectory a bit better.

All in all I am pretty pleased with it but not delighted