The optics world has skilled a surge of producers during the last decade, and the site visitors has fostered an evolution in high quality and pricing that advantages the firearms group. The times of spending top-tier cash or ending up with an optic that offers you eye fatigue after 5 minutes are just about within the rearview mirror, with price range optics stepping up, in lots of cases, to reply the calls for of shooters and rivals with out having to max out bank cards and take out a second mortgage.
From a gun author’s standpoint, the decrease finish of the worth spectrum has stepped up product design, options, glass, and high quality management to shut the hole, an effort I attempt to not take without any consideration. Excessive-tier optics producers have additionally seen the pattern, persevering with to develop flagship merchandise at costs that can offend most of our important others whereas supplementing them with high quality lower-tier product traces to compete with rising manufacturers.
Whereas I don’t dispute the adage about “no free lunch,” it appears the sacrifices required of customers on the lookout for a greater deal on gear have diminished considerably. However what in case you didn’t should sacrifice efficiency, characteristic units, or the children’ tuition? Unimaginable, you say? Perhaps not anymore, as I’ve not too long ago skilled whereas reviewing the German Precision Optics (GPO) GPOTAC 8X 1-8x24i.
Let me begin by saying the GPOTAC 8X 1-8x24i is just not a cheap optic with an MSRP of $1989.99, however what I’ve seen to this point locations it in a class of LPVOs that deliver main worth to its value level.
Who’s GPO USA?
GPO USA is an American optics producer specializing in premium riflescopes, binoculars, recognizing scopes, and rangefinders. Based mostly in Midlothian, Virginia, the corporate was based in 2016 and is operated by CEO Michael Jensen. Jensen is an trade veteran with intensive expertise, having been the president of Zeiss for 5 years previous to GPO and having held earlier management roles at Remington, Swarovski, and Kahles.
I spoke at size with Jensen, who works hand in hand with German-based GPO GmbH to design and engineer optics with a top quality management course of he describes that meets and exceeds among the most rigorous requirements I’m conscious of. Each optic produced is inspected by hand and function-tested one after the other, with batch testing being a comfort that GPO doesn’t partake in. As an alternative, the corporate appears extra targeted on the comfort of its prospects, not wanting them ever to wish to make use of their Spectacular Lifetime Guarantee, which I’ll contact on later.
Jensen tells me that GPO USA is dedicated not solely to the improved optical expertise of out of doors lovers but additionally to safeguarding the standard of its international provide chain. Its contracts solely allow fee if supplies are precisely to specification, eliminating defects and waste earlier than passing the financial savings and peace of thoughts on to its prospects. GPO USA goals to supply a premium product with higher options at related costs or related high quality merchandise at higher costs, and publicly helps organizations that shield conservation and the Second Modification.
Unboxing…
Unboxing the GPO GPOTAC 8X 1-8x24i is a simple expertise. With my inside little one on full show, I rushed previous the elegant packaging to seek out the optic adorned in a kind of clear lens bikinis I’d somewhat flip right into a slingshot, a microfiber cleansing fabric, and an instruction booklet. Right here’s the place I’m going to record the one negatives I bumped into throughout the evaluation, and as you could discover, I’m nitpicking in order to not appear in any other case biased in what I’ll spoiler warn you proper now could be going to result in a glowing endorsement.
I can’t fathom why any producer bothers with these bikini-style lens covers, even with clear lenses on each ends. No one desires to look by extraordinarily good glass, which I guarantee you this GPO optic has in abundance, with one in every of these items filtering the picture. Moreover, you may’t function the properly outsized turrets and illumination dial with out these items getting in the way in which. Why don’t we conform to dispense with this nonsense and embody a becoming set of entrance and rear flip-up lens caps as an alternative?
My final gripe for this evaluation will lead me to say extra constructive than adverse, a superb downside to have in case you’re an optics producer. The GPOTAC 8X 1-8x24i doesn’t embody a throw lever, per se, however as an alternative has a nub that protrudes simply shy of a quarter-inch above the properly knurled magnification ring. Quickly after noticing this, nevertheless, I found simply how easy that magnification ring is, making me rethink whether or not or not I wanted any further assist. Quick ahead a number of months, and I can inform you that I’ve been inserting my help hand on high of the scope and rotating the magnification ring with a single finger on the nub, and 0 points. I’m undecided how GPO discovered the precise mixture of smoothness and stress to stop undesirable adjustments to your setting whereas making the rotation so buttery and easy. Properly performed.
The mount…
The GPO GPOTAC 8X 1-8x24i contains a 34mm predominant tube, which contributes to most of the traits I discover so enticing on this optic, from its brightness and adjustment capability to its spectacular discipline of view. I knew I’d should abuse it on the FN SCAR 17, and no mount in my guide is a greater host for that mission than an American Protection Manufacturing (ADM) AD-Delta, tailored by SOCOM particularly for the FN SCAR program. Particular due to ADM for offering the mount and making the selection simple.
Construct High quality…
I can’t converse to heavy abuse both through unnatural means or a fight setting, however my first impression of the GPOTAC 8X 1-8x24i was that the optic feels strong and tank-like. I’m undoubtedly not one to child my gear, nevertheless, because the on a regular basis routine right here on the ranch tends to suss out weaknesses with out the necessity to drop issues off the roof or set them on hearth, particularly when mounted to the SCAR. I’ll prevent lots of hassle and maintain this part quick by saying the GPOTAC 8X 1-8x24i survived all of the off-road pasture plundering, banging on different gear, common clumsiness, and chunky 7.62mm bolt service biking I might throw at it over three months.
Reticle and 0…
The GPOTAC 8X 1-8x24i is a primary focal aircraft optic with GPO’s HSi reticle. Whereas I don’t discover first focal aircraft optics needed within the typical LPVO magnification vary, they actually don’t damage if the reticle is properly designed. With a primary focal aircraft optic, the reticle will increase in measurement as you zoom in on the picture. The comfort of that is that your subtensions stay correct for holdovers all through the magnification vary, whereas the inconvenience, apart from the upper price to fabricate, is that the reticle should be properly thought out to be helpful at 1x with out being overly cluttered at 8x.
GPO accomplishes this by the straightforward but intuitive HSi reticle design. I couldn’t discover a picture of the reticle that I believed was an ideal illustration at 1x and 8x, and for the lifetime of me, I couldn’t take a good picture of it with my iPhone, so I turned to Photoshop to make a comparability.
As you may see, at 1x, the horseshoe and heart dot act like a conventional albeit considerably smaller “circle of loss of life” crimson dot reticle when illuminated. With out illumination, the black reticle stands out sufficient to see the distinction below most daylight situations. This view is obvious, uncluttered, and precisely what you’d need for high-speed close-up engagements.
Zoom to 8x, and now you’ve further data within the type of a MIL reticle in half MIL increments, excellent for holdovers and calculating vary estimations with out being overtly distracting. It’s value mentioning that the middle dot could be very tremendous. Which means that even at 8x, the GPOTAC 8X 1-8x24i aiming level is exact, indicative of that reticle forethought I discussed earlier.
Zeroing the GPOTAC 8X 1-8x24i is fast and simple, whether or not you’re like me and use Level Clean Vary (PBR) or choose to standardize at 100 meters. Shoot your finest 3-shot group, discover the middle, make your changes, and ensure your last zero. If you’re finished, merely reset the turret zero by unscrewing the middle caps on the elevation and windage dials, gently elevate every dial off the optic, rotate the turret so the zero traces up on the acceptable marking, then decrease the dials again onto the scope and tighten down the middle caps to safe them.
Turrets…
Whereas LPVOs are usually used for quicker engagement at quick to medium distances that favor holdovers versus dialing firing options, I choose tactical turrets like these on the GPOTAC 8X 1-8x24i over capped turrets. My reasoning is straightforward, as I exploit the PBR technique to zero my rifles for a combat-effective 8-inch goal zone. This will get me to roughly 300 yards utilizing my heart aiming level with zero trouble. Nevertheless, taking the time to report load knowledge and develop a ballistic chart, particularly for .308 Winchester, which is efficient at significantly longer ranges, means that you can dial in settings for longer and extra exact work.
GPO makes use of a locking turret design on the GPOTAC 8X 1-8x24i to stop unintended bumps from throwing off your settings whereas carrying or transporting your rifle. The mechanism is straightforward and works nice. Pull outwards on the elevation or windage dial to unlock it and regulate your firing resolution. Push the dials again inwards to lock the turrets in place. Dial increments are set to 1/tenth MILS, which equals one centimeter per click on at 100 meters.
Being a long-range shooter, I are usually important of turret really feel, on the lookout for tactile changes that I can dial at the hours of darkness if want be. The GPOTAC 8X 1-8x24i did properly right here additionally, with clicks that had been simple to depend out at the hours of darkness, audibly, and by really feel. This makes the tactical turrets that rather more helpful and never merely for present, so long as they monitor precisely, which I confirmed utilizing a regular field check.
Illumination…
The crimson illumination on the GPOTAC 8X 1-8x24i is sort of brilliant. I gained’t examine it to crimson dot brightness that glows nuclear like an Aimpoint, however I might see the illumination successfully even throughout daylight. Nevertheless, what’s new to me is the iCONTROL system, which contains a stepless dial that adjusts illumination step by step alongside the sleek throw somewhat than step-by-step increments. The iCONTROL system additionally options auto-off performance that saves battery life by shutting down illumination after three hours.
On the rifle…
Mounted to my FN SCAR 17, I had lots of room to play with eye reduction, as there was loads of room there to enrich the very forgiving eyebox, even at 8x magnification. Perceive, nevertheless, that in case you mount the GPOTAC 8X 1-8x24i to an AR-15 or every other non-monolithic platform, you’ll need a cantilever mount, in any other case, you’ll find yourself pushing the optic ahead sufficient for the mount to bridge the receiver and Handguard, which isn’t perfect since any flex within the Handguard will impact your zero.
The elevation, windage, and illumination dials are giant and have aggressive knurling for higher grip and management when making adjustments to settings, much like the magnification ring. The general ergonomics of the GPOTAC 8X 1-8x24i depart so little to need that I’m undecided I’d change or add something.
Optical High quality
Let’s face it. That is what most have been ready for, which is why I saved it for final. I’ll begin with the truth that I’ve needed to double and triple-check my findings as a result of the GPOTAC 8X 1-8x24i is so good on this class that I had to make sure. I’ve spent an unknown variety of cumulative hours behind this optic looking for a chink in its armor. It’s really getting a bit of irritating.
Edge-to-edge readability is excellent. If there’s any falloff, it’s imperceptible to my eye, as is the presence of any distortion. It is a sample I discover constant all through the zoom vary. At 1x, the picture is flat, with a large discipline of view, and it stays this fashion throughout to 8x. Brightness is extra of the identical, as I couldn’t understand any change, even at most magnification. I discovered the sharpness of the picture particularly spectacular for a hard and fast parallax optic.
The optical coating additionally did its job, with solely the faintest trace of chromatic aberration below a harshly backlit horizon, glorious flare resistance, and memorable gentle transmission even at daybreak and nightfall.
Conclusion
As I sit right here checking off each field, I notice I’m comfy evaluating the standard right here to well-known heavy hitters just like the Leupold Mark 5HD and Nightforce ATACR sequence, and to be trustworthy, this wasn’t what I had anticipated from an optics firm that was not already on my radar. The evaluation went so properly that I’ve began to have a look at a couple of extra GPO optics with future initiatives in thoughts, and can be reviewing the corporate’s CENTURI 4-16x44i FFP Tremendous Compact rifle scope subsequent.
So, who is that this optic meant for? Clearly, you’ve a wholesome price range and have developed a style for higher-end optics, and certain finer issues on the whole. Nevertheless, you continue to recognize an organization that provides a stage of worth and accessibility that makes these items simpler to acquire. You additionally recognize an organization that stands behind its merchandise to the extent that it presents what GPO refers to as its Spectacular Lifetime Guarantee. The settlement is totally transferable while not having to register your product, fill out a guaranty card, or present proof of buy. GPO guarantees to restore or change your optic at no expense to the proprietor, irrespective of how lengthy you’ve owned it.
There you’ve it. The GPO GPOTAC 8X 1-8x24i is a sturdy, feature-packed LPVO constructed like a high-end optical tank. At this level, I believe it goes with out saying that GPO USA has made me a believer, and I like to recommend the GPOTAC 8X 1-8x24i to anybody on the lookout for a reliable and optically magnificent LPVO with nice worth from an organization that stands behind its merchandise.
For extra data on GPO’s complete line of optics and equipment, please go to gpo-usa.com.
The place To Purchase
