The Meostar made by Meopta USA
With 3gun matches gaining
popularity, weapon and optic manufactures are constantly coming out
with new products to help the competitors shoot better. For a few
years, the weapons themselves have pretty much been tweaked to
perfection. Using match grade barrels, free floated forearms, and 2
stage triggers, these AR-15 rifles are getting just as accurate as bolt
action rifles. These rifles are more than accurate enough to hit
targets at 500 yards, even with 16 inch or shorter barrels, and match
directors are taking note of this. The Colorado Multi-Gun Practical
Rifle Team Challenge, for example, has you shooting practical sized
targets out to 500 yards -- practical targets being Larue sniper
targets, MGM poppers, or other 1-2 MOA targets, instead of the common
IPSC targets.
This brings us to the need for new optics with increased range capabilities
for AR-15 type rifles. When you start talking about optics for AR-15
rifles, I believe that you have to first separate the optics into 3
classes. Close range reflex-type sights such as the Aimpoint, Eotech,
and Dr Optic, which off no magnification. Medium range variable-power
optics such as the Meopta Meostar R1, Schmidt & Bender Short-dot,
Leupold CQT scope, and Trijicon ACOG. The last group being traditional
variable rifles scopes such as the Leupold MK4, Schmidt & Bender
PMII, and Nightforce NXS scopes. While all of these scopes have advantages
and disadvantages, I feel that the medium range scopes offer the best
all-around performance for a 3 gun competitor looking to be able to
shoot whatever the match director dreams up.
The Meostar, made by Meopta USA, is what we are looking at today. It is
a low power, variable, reflex scope that fits very well on an AR-15.
The Meostar's 1-4x22 power provides enough magnification to engage targets
out to the effective range of the AR-15, while still maintaining its
ability to quickly engage close range targets. The Meostar is also equipped
with an illuminated K-Dot reticle to help the shooter get on target
even quicker. The illuminated reticle is also helpful in low light environments.
The illumination has 7 levels of intensity, and is also visible in full
sunlight, an area where other scopes in it class fall short. Its overall
length is 11.5 inches, with a 22mm objective pupil, 30mm tube and weighs
in at 18.7 oz. It has click values of 1.5cm per click at 100 meters,
with 80cm total adjustment for elevation and windage. The Meostar is
powered by either a 3V CR 2032 ( reduced run time ), or a CR2354 with
up to 80hrs of runtime on the highest power setting. With the extended
eye relief required to use this scope , I mounted the Meostar in a Larue
SPR-E mount. If you are mounting this on an AR-15, you will be required
to use a mounting system that moves the scope out over the barrelnut
to to provide enough eye relief to use it. The real selling point of
this scope is its price, in comparison to its competition. Coming in
around $750, this scope is $100 cheaper than the Leupold 1-5.5x20 Mark
4, and $1500 cheaper than the Schmidt & Bender.
My initial assessment of the scope was favorable. Its built with quality
glass from the Czech Republic, and it is very clear. The thing I really
like about the scope is the clarity of the glass. I was able to look
through the afore mentioned Leupold, and I observed the glass to be much
brighter and clearer throughout the entire magnification range of the
scope. There is no “tint” to the glass, as I have observed in the
S&B Short Dot.
In conclusion, I think this scope is a very good option for shooters wanting
a variable power illuminated scope for 3gun competitions. It has proved
useful to me, and I think that this class of optics is best suited for
3gun matches, and also lends itself very useful is tactical applications.
Its fast enough for CQB environments, but it gives the shooter the added
confidence of 4X magnification, should the target be at distance. There
isn't anything better than confidence when it comes to hitting your
target.
Pros
- Cost. Its cheaper than its competitors
- Value. Despite being a third of the price of the Schmidt & Bender, I feel that it does 90% of what the the Schmidt & Bender does.
- Functionality. Simple controls, and easy to use
- Clarity. The glass is clearer than the Leupold and ACOG, in my opinion.
Cons
- Battery life. 80Hrs of battery life is WEAK! I expected it to much higher.
- Sunshade. The scope has a “built in” 3.75 inch sunshade. I feel that this could be reduced to a shorter length and still be functional, but at the same time, make the scope smaller.
- Focus Control. I would also like to see the focus knob on the side of the scope instead of the eyepiece. Its almost impossible to adjust the focus while staying on target.
The author would like to thank Zak Smith for his input and consultation on this article.
http://demigod.org/
http://www.meopta.cz/index.php?id=130&lang=en
Tim P.