MTC Mamba Lite 3-12x44 SCB

[kwiky]

I ordered this on friday after much searching the internet to find a shop with them in stock, nowhere had them so i cantacted MTC and they let me order direct, they called me back to save my phonebill and i even had a little chat with Gary while sammi was trying to take her wellies off, very nice people indeed.

first impressions are good, it was extremly well packages with foam to protect it, on opening the box i was greated by the usual MTC foam packing to hold the scope tight and prevent any damage in transit. it has cirular bits that fit over the scope and then fit tightly in the box, it would take more than a normal drop to damage it.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j9...y/DSCF3912.jpg

The Mamba lite is a no nonsense version of the normal mamba so it doesnt include a few things that you get with that model, or the viper, no sunshade, no batteries for the ir and no mounts.
you get the usual handbook, instructions and a leaflet explain the SCB reticle aswell as a cleaning cloth for the lenses, it also hads flip up covers and the tools to fit these.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j9...y/DSCF3913.jpg

The scope its self looks very classy in the usual MTC way, it has a matt black finish and if anything, i'd say the low profile turrets and the 25mm tube give it a sleaker, smarter look than that of the viper and the lack of the rear Illuminated reticle control (the mamba lite doesnt have any illumination) gives the same look over the standard mamba. if you want a beefy looking sniper scope, this isnt the one for you. the white numbering on the sidewheel PA and zoom ring just add to the quality look of the scope, on the sidewheel itself is a mamba lite logo which i also like.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j9...y/DSCF3914.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j9...y/DSCF3915.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j9...y/DSCF3917.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j9...y/DSCF3919.jpg

Looking through the scope i was immediatly struck by just how good the lenses are, its every bit as good as i remember the viper being for both brightness and clarity, which isnt that much of a suprise really, the mamba lite uses the same lenses. the zoom ring is perfectly smooth right out of the box and the same can be said for the PA. One thing im very pleased to report is that the range markers on the sidewheel actually match up to real world ranges, the 25 yard marker is bang on 25 yards, 50 yards is equally as accurate. my viper was always a few yards out so this was a pleasant suprise.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j9...y/DSCF3920.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j9...y/DSCF3922.jpg
200 yard house, 3x zoom

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j9...y/DSCF3924.jpg
same house 12x zoom

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j9...y/DSCF3926.jpg
25 yard car 3x zoom

i fitted it to the gun and im pleased with the look, what is important is how it performs in the field and i'll update this thread as soon as ive been out with it.

pics of it on the gun.....

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j9...y/DSCF3930.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j9...y/DSCF3931.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j9...y/DSCF3933.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j9...y/DSCF3934.jpg

the service i got from MTC was second to none, i'd recommend dealing with them to anyone

kwiky

[markyboy]

Very nice review Mr kwiky, cant wait for the field test


mark

[mark410]

Hi mate,
Don't suppose you've tried NV addon with this scope have you?

Mark.

[richywilk]

I have been waiting for someone to post a review about this scope as I want a light scope over a 30mm one for a heavy springer, looking forward to your update.

[markyboy]

Hi mate,
Don't suppose you've tried NV addon with this scope have you?

Mark.

hes just gone out ratting mate, so he will update when he gets back home


mark

[kwiky]

well i had it out for a few hours last night, what a great scope, its very light, compared to the viper i used to have you dont know its on the gun, i dont know if that has something to do with the lack of huge turrets sticking out fooling me into thinking its lighter than it really is or what, but it doesnt slow the handling of the gun down at all,

i used it with my yukon nvmt nv add on and it pretty much doubled the range i could see compared to the nikko sterling i had on before, these lenses are seriously good, in the past i was limited to around 50 yards but with the mamaba i could see rabbits at a tad over 100 yards. its like i bought a whole new nightvision unit.

the depth of feild seems very good aswell, usually with nv you have to constantly adjust the PA to get a clear image and anything outside of that even by a few yards is a blur, not so with the mamba, i found i could set it to 10 yards and see very clearly from 5 to 15 yards without any need to adjust the sidewheel which is a real bonus for ratting.


its night time performance has far exceeded my expectations, now for the daytime.....

im off out now to give it a thorough testing to see how it scores in daylight use. i'll update the thread when i return.

[Hellequin]

This latest MTC scope sounds like another cracker. I was considering the new 2.5-10x50 (30mm tube) Mamba for my HW80 but to be honest this might be a better option in view of the lighter weight.

Are they going to be available with the 4a ret?

[kwiky]

i enquired about the 4a when i was thinking of buying the scope and from what i gathered they are SCB only but im not sure about any future plans...

[Hellequin]

i enquired about the 4a when i was thinking of buying the scope and from what i gathered they are SCB only but im not sure about any future plans...

Cheers Kwiky, I thought that might be the case. I still like the SCB ret so wouldn't rule it out though, especially as this version seems to work well with NV add-on which the IR Mamba isn't as well suited to.

Good review anyway mate.

[kwiky]

right, another quick update,

ive been out today for a wander round my shoot to check on the scope daytime performance, its similar to its night time performance in that it is just a super clear sight picture, picking out detail on very distant objects is easy and the thin SCB ret makes aiming very precise as it doesnt obsure your target like some thicker reticles often do,
i havent experienced any of the 'whiting out' you sometimes hear mentioned with the vipers even when i was actively trying to get it to, looking into the light, away from the light, moving my head around, nothing made it happen.

the sight picture is a very natural colour which i find helps me to correlate what im seeing with just my eyes, to what im seeing when i raise the rifle and look through the scope, often if you see a tiny bit of movement that is partially obscured by bushes or branches and the scope you look through shows a different shade it can be somewhat confusing and hard to know exactly where you should be looking, any time wasted trying to figure that out could cost you the kill so that ranks pretty high on my list of priorities for a good hunting scope.

i'll end my review by saying overall im very happy with my purchase, everything on the scope works as it should, all moving parts do their job very smoothly, the zoom and PA rings seem to glide round with no hint of stiffness or any grinding. the turrets turn smoothly with positive clicks so its easy to know exactly how much adjustment your making.

if your a no nonsense sort of hunter who can live without target turrets and illumited reticles and the added weight they bring but what very bright optics and a good build quality without having to remortgage your house then this could be the scope for you.

kwiky

[Hellequin]

Well i have always had the MTC range as my main scopes and still have 2, one on my wolf the other on my S10 Bull Barrel but i have to say i have never used the illuminated reticule and have always hated the high Turrets! and didn't really like the 30mm tube (why did I buy them) you may well ask! they are great scopes for the money and have never let me down! but they have always been on the heavy side, but have always been a good scope.
That was until I read this review and it has given me all that i wanted! a Great review, from someone who can be trusted to be independant, about a scope that answers all my questions
1. heavy = No!
2. High turrets = No!
3. 30mm tube = No!

Bought one on the strength of this brilliant and very comprehensive review = YES!
Thanks Mr Kwiky
And i got mine for £134 posted from Optics Wharehouse

Is that the 3-12x44 or 4-16x50 model mate? I will be buying one of these on payday next week but would be interested to hear what the closest focus range is on the respective models, and what the FOV is like on the lowest mag?

I currently have a Tasco Titan on my HW80 and with mag of 1.5-6x it's brilliant for close up work but I'm struggling with pinpoint accuracy over 30 yards. Ideally I'd like something which still has a decent wide FOV (I know 3x won't give the same as the Titan on its lowest setting but I can cope with that) for close stuff but a bit more mag too for longer range squirrels, and bright optics are paramount. This Mamba sounds perfect being lighter than the 30mm tube version, so your views on my above question would be appreciated.

Cheers
Paul

[mark410]

cracking review mate.

regards

Mark.

[richywilk]

I hope they have them at the shooting show this month, on this review I
tink Ill have one,thanks again.



You should be on commission

[markyboy]

Well after reading Mr kwiky's review i have sold my mtc viper and i am going to order the mtc mamba lite 4-16x50 version ,
I have never used the target turrets or the ir either so this scope sounds like the ideal for me and my cobra merlin nv.

exellent review, another thumbs up for the new MTC mamba lite


atb, mark

[kwiky]

wow thanks for the comments lads, im sure you'll be more than happy with your purchases, i know i am anyway and i really cant see how you wouldnt be.


hellequin, i'll have a look and see what the minim focus distance is tomorrow and report back, i was smacking rats last night with it at about 7 yards but that was with the NV fitted, ive yet to try it so close with just the scope.