MTC Viper Connect 3-12X32

[Hurricane]

The distortion around the edge of FOV is very noticable, almost a kalidascope effect but this is outside of the FOV of 'normal' scope, so whilst at first it might seem a little disapointing you soon realise it doesn't matter as you will still see things at edge of FOV that you wouldn't with 'normal' scope.

[kwiky]

The distortion around the edge of FOV is very noticable, almost a kalidascope effect but this is outside of the FOV of 'normal' scope, so whilst at first it might seem a little disapointing you soon realise it doesn't matter as you will still see things at edge of FOV that you wouldn't with 'normal' scope.

Mine is certainly not that bad. Barely noticable really. That's why I thought it was more likely a peripheral vision thing.

[Parabuteo]

Nice review Phil, I could'nt get photo bucket to work so I did'nt do any piccies with my copy of war and peace

Actually, I have to wonder what the hell happened to the second part of Phil Prices review in AGW? This scope has a hell of a lot of potential.

To be honest, I dont really notice the blurr round the edges.

I have 2 of these, a 40mm prototype and a new 32mm unit. I have yet to use the 32mm unit as the rifle it will be living on currently has Nv living on board...sadly there is very little about so it is not getting much time out

What is more noticeable, and may cause concern until you think about it is this.

If you use one off of a bipod you will (oddly enough) be much closer to the deck.

The foreground will be blurred to the bottom band of the image, and the far ground may appear more blurred at the top...wierd until you get used to it.

I have to say that I had a connect 1 for a long time (actually I bloody well regret selling it now, it would have been sensible to keep it) and they were good in some circumstances (longer ranges and squirrelling).

This new Connect has all the advantages of the 01 and none of the disadvantages.

It weighs sod all, it has side focus (almost down to silly close ranges...great for ratting then) has a nice adjustable eye piece (As Phil says, gives extra stability) and the AMD ret is cracking.

The scope is so fast on aim it is silly, and yet it performs better (IMHO) with the AMD out to 50+ than most other rets I have tried (including the SCB) as it is fine enough to be slightly more precise.

A major change against the old Connect is that with this one, if you are sensible, it si far more conventional in eye relief (it has some) so you will be able to use it with some small bore rifles, some well behaved spring guns, and I believe Baz has tried a .223 (although spectacle wearers may come unstuck here, the new eyepiece is better for them too).

I love the way you can adjust it instantly to suit the position...try it at dusk...amazing!!

I reckon with the new crop of LED torches it will be a cracking little lamping scope.

MTC have also got the IR smack on. It can be set so as not to burn the retina!! and the simple centre cross illumination works well and covers most sensible bases for a 35yd zero with .177 for hunting sub12.

I wont be putting these on my spring guns, the mamba lites are fine, and I dont hunt with them, but my main 2 hunting rigs are staying connected

[Hurricane]

I don't know why it should perform particly well with a torch, it is not as good as a Taipan in low light.

[Parabuteo]

I don't know why it should perform particly well with a torch, it is not as good as a Taipan in low light.

I cannot comment against the Taipan as I have not used one, but then that being the case, why would I know that it does not work as well....but then the OP was reviewing a Viper Connect...or not?

The point I was making (having used the earlier Connect for lamping against standard scopes available at the time, and the current prototype in very low light) is that many folks drop the mag on their scopes for lamping or low light in order to allow quicker aquisition and an optimal exit pupil, but then you loose detail.

This is not required with the connect as it has such a wide fov.

My own experience with the prototype Viper connect and the earlier 01 was that they work down to very low light levels at mags that would not have been viable on most conventional scopes in this price range.

Rat shooting also requires you to be quick on target, so with a low power lamp, and a connect, you should have a good little package that should be less spooky to the quarry.

Does the Taipan focus down as close as the Connect? If not another plus.

The Taipan is by all accounts a very good scope, but it aint a connect, which is what is on review here.

There is also the plus that the combined weight of a connect, and a much smaller lamp, will go a long way to making a rifle handle better by being less top heavy..or not?

The Viper Connect is not there as a Taipan killer, it is a scope (and potentially a system) in it's own class.

[Amac]

I have been following this post with interest chaps. Does the "Connect" really behave very differently from anything currently available? I must admit to being intrigued by this new introduction into the already excellent MTC stable. I may even nip up to see Lloyd at BAR to check one out for myself. It certainly sounds different to anything else knocking about at present and worthy of serious consideration. Didnt Sportsmatch say that they would produce some bespoke mounts for this scope?

Andy

[Parabuteo]

I have been following this post with interest chaps. Does the "Connect" really behave very differently from anything currently available? I must admit to being intrigued by this new introduction into the already excellent MTC stable. I may even nip up to see Lloyd at BAR to check one out for myself. It certainly sounds different to anything else knocking about at present and worthy of serious consideration. Didnt Sportsmatch say that they would produce some bespoke mounts for this scope?

Andy

Hi Andy,

From my point of view, yes, it is.

If you like the MTC scopes, then this wont disappoint.

I think the thing is that yes, you may well say that a 6-24x56 in whatever flavour is maybee better for long range shooting, and a 4x24 may seem better for squirrelling or ratting, but in the connect, you have all the advantages of the above (albeit 12x mag) in one scope.

As I understand it sports match have been making a mount, but a good quality pair for single mounts fitted together will do as good a job, although I am not sure where that leaves you as regards scope mounted lamps as the sports match unit does take this into account.

The only real issue re mounting is getting used to the eye position.

Now, back in the day of the original connect 01, this had some real bearing. It was quite high and really needed an ajustable cheek piece, and the eye relief was quite uncompromising.

The little (and it is small...but chunky, it is the patterdale of scopes, compact and tough) Viper connect really only shares the low light, fast aquisition, and wide FOV with the original, and none of the disadvantages.

They eye relief is as you like it within reason.

Gary and Sammy have been very clever in fitting an extendable, rubber coated eyepiece (often seen on modern bins) that extends, but is locked in place as it is on a cam, so it rotates to extend and retract.

To this you can add, if you wish, and optional bellows eyepiece.

The thing is, with the tube wound in, the scope works more or less conventionally, you could shoot a springer happilly with it, and as I said earlier, Baz has used .223, but I think he warned against glasses wearers trying this.

Wind the tube out and it rests on your brow, and this really helps stabilise the rifle in any position.

As Phil says, if you use NV it will feel pretty normal, but even if you dont, you will soon get used to it.

Of interest to me is that there was some mention of a possible front end NV add on later down the line, which if it works out will be the dogs as you really will them have a 1 scope does all.

The thing is that it will do the job of a much larger, heavier scope very well, while being potentially much lower in the mounts (depending on the rifle...but even then it's objective is only 32mm) and lighter, so it does not affect the handling in the way a large scope can make a bipod or rest more or a necessity for some.

It is a bloody good squirrelling scope too. I use a Connect 01 for several seasons, and have used the new one (prototype) for several runs out and it is significantly better than what was already pretty handy.

Side (very close minimum) focus, easy zoom, AMD ret (the dogs) one touch retina friendly () IR...ideal.

It may be marmite, but not in anyway as much as the old 01 used to be.

I think most would be able to shoot well with it, even if they did'nt like it mucth.

[Amac]

Thanks Para! You have just persuaded me to try one so its off to Blackpool for me tomorrow. I will fit the scope to my Airwolf and let you know what I think when I have had a chance to use it and hopefully get used to it.
Cheers,
Andy