Hi, reading a criticism of the Tasco VAR2.5-10x42AO-M true mil dot varmint/target scope in a review. Which is designed for cartridge rifle use up to and beyond 200 yds, and air gun use.
Decided me to make comment,as I recently acquired a hardly used one of these, for use on a new HW95K, .177 (barrel weighted 109cm model-not the newer silenced carbine, which is 114cm long). It has amazing clarity both day and night, works down to 5 yds, using the Y setting. Or estimating a 5 yd point it works virtually through out the range. The ocular is the locking type, but I prefer this method. The zoom ring is separate, well marked and nice to operate.
Range finding objective is precise, the mil dot system is excellent, zeroing at 30yds,(100yds for cartridge rifles) in theory with use of mil dots at 10 power allows hold over @ 10yds per mil dot, so the 5 mil dots below centre line go 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 yards. Hold under, the first two mil dots above centre line give 20 and 10 yds, and yes I have checked this on open range, up to 80 yds.
The scope is the US version, but made in China, its longish at 14 inches, needs a rear reach foreword mount on some dovetails to achieve correct eye relief, but you can get away with a recoil stop on some rails.
Main criticisms, The elastic connected eye covers are 'crud', AO range marking although extensive and accurate in both imperial and metric is not very visible unless you have A1 vision, but I fixed this quickly by liberally applying Tippex, allowing a few seconds then wiping away to leave all settings more distinct, when dry, I line marked the 20, 30, 50 and 80 yd points with more Tippex for easy and rapid setting, so far no probs. It is possible these setting would not work as well with a .22 cal at sub 12 FPE. But I have not tested this scope on my .22 yet, and I may not bother as it does fine with its present NIKKO STIRLING platinum 3-9x40AO-WA scope of an earlier vintage(not from China).
There are more permanent alterative methods, of range/distance marking but this works fine for me. You do need to clean off carefully, advantage of Tippex is it can be cleaned out of grooves using a wood cocktail stick, these are also useful to line mark with.