I am looking to upgrade some of my optics. More specifically, I am looking for new scopes to mount on a Howa 1500 300 Win Mag and a Remington 700 SPS Varmint 223. Since these are solely hunting rifles and I am getting married in April, (no more single money) I am not looking to drop a huge bundle. From what I can tell they seem to be decent made scopes for the money (less than $300).
Their test scope had a couple minor issues but seemed to function reliably which makes me think it would be fine for use on a hunting rifle that will only see occasional long range shots a game and a few steel plates. Does anybody have any experience with this line that they could share? Thanks.
In 2009 I was looking to put together a precision rifle. I was waffling back and forth between bolt and semi. Long story short I ended up buying/building one of each. My bolt gun got a Nightforce NXS because the rifle I mounted it on could shoot groups that I felt deserved excellent glass.
I wasn’t ready to buy two Nightforces at the time but still needed an optic for the semi and wasn’t patient enough to wait the time it would take for me to feel comfortable buying another NXS. So I tried one of these TRS-1s. My advice to you is to look elsewhere. Either buy a lightly used Leupold or something similar. My opinion is that $300 is way cheaper than $1500, but it’s still a lot of money to put into an optic that isn’t going to give you the results you are looking for. That’s what the Millet is going to be for you.
Now those of you who have Millets that just love them, feel free to jump in here and tell why I’m wrong, but the fact is that if you shop around a bit you can get a much better scope for similar money. I just think you’re going to be disappointed. Especially if its primary purpose is going to be for hunting. You don’t need the tactical aspects of the TRS for that anyway unless you’re planning on taking some spectacularly long shots.
Thanks for the reply. A Nightforce would be wonderful and might be an option but like I said, my “single guy” bank account has been dried up. What was it that you didn’t like about the Millett? Did you have any of the problems snipercentral.com experienced?
You may be right about not NEEDING the tactical aspects of the scope but I have taken an interest in shooting at some longer distances and would love to be able to confidently take shots at deer and coyotes out to 600 or so. These are some of the reasons I was looking for an optic in this category.
Do you have any suggestions of where I should look to find a lightly used Leupold or something similar?
Edit: What did you think of the "Mil-DotBar reticle?
Would you mind telling why the millet isnt good? Ive been looking at them to put on my 700 chambered in 30-06. I heard something about the illuminated reticle bleeding out. What is wrong wit the scope? Thank you
Here are my thoughts on MY Millet TRS. Admittedly I own only one and everyone can get a lemon.
Light gathering: Fine at low magnifications, gets very dark at higher mags. Now I’m not expecting it to compare to my Nightforce or Leupold scopes, but higher mags look like I’m looking through a glass filled with slightly muddy water.
Field of view: Again, fine at low mags, tunnel vision at high magnification unless I have my eyebrow practically touching the optic. This is not conducive to keeping my number of eyebrow stitches down when firing my rifle. Accurate and precise long range shooting requires you be able to get a full edge to edge view with the same cheek weld and eye relief you use for all magnifications. Not going to happen with this scope.
Can’t comment on the illuminated reticle other than to say that it has one as I really have never had need to use it. I don’t hunt with this rifle and scope combo or shoot it in low light situations.
Numbers one and two are enough to make me unable to recommend this scope. Now I know of people that really like them, I just can’t imagine they are saying that if their scopes are as bad as mine unless they just haven’t ever looked through good glass before. And I’m not an optic snob, BTW. I wish the Millet worked well. It simply doesn’t.
Well I thank you sir for giving me an honest opinion. It just goes to show i guess just becuse a scope is over 3 bills doesnt necesarily make it a good scope! lol Thank you again for your reply and opinion. I appreciate your time!
Thank you for the information jaydoc1. I appreciate your honest opinion as well. I have been about one mouse click away from ordering one of these scopes on numerous occasions but your information is about to steer me in another direction. In your opinion, is there a decent optic out there worth having in this price range, with comparable features?
Just out of curiosity, what did you think of the MilDot-Bar reticle?
I bought a TRS-1 through the mail and sent it back the day after I received it. Very poorly made in my opinion.
After sending it back I picked up a Burris 3-9x TAC30 and have been very happy with it. They now make it in a 1-4x version and I am thinking seriously about getting one.
What was it that you didn’t like about the Millett? Did you have any of the problems