Lynx’s new LX3s looking good!
Lynx did it again with their latest offering of riflescopes.
Lynx Optics South Africa, with Michael Rogers at the helm, is one company that listens to its customers and regularly introduces new riflescopes or upgrades existing models. Earlier this year Lynx introduced three new LX3-models; two of which cater for the hunting market and one that will warm the hearts of those taking part in tactical shooting competitions.
THE SCOPES
The two hunting scopes are a 3-12x56 and a 2.5-15x50, both fitted with the SA Hunters’ reticle of which the centre-cross can illuminate. The other scope
» the illuminated centre-cross quite handy.
With the set parallax (at 150m) I found the scope slightly blurry at ranges between 75 and 100m when the magnification is turned up to 12x. At ranges closer than 75 you need to turn the magnification down because the scope blurs too much at its highest setting. Beyond 200m the sight picture was also ever so slightly blurry but not enough to bother or hamper accurate shooting.
The 3-12x56 has a total windage and elevation adjustment range of 60MOA. Click value is ¼MOA at 100 yards or 7.2mm at 100m. I did a box test and a socalled “tall test” (vertical adjustment only) with all three the scopes and found the adjustments to be precise and repeatable.
GOOD CLARITY
After returning from Verkykerskop I also tested the two 2.515x50 models on the shooting range out to a distance of 300m. I was again impressed with the clarity of the scopes, the generous amount of eye relief and the wide field of view. I must say that I prefer the 2.5-15x models to the 3-12x56. I also particularly enjoyed the very positive and audible clicks of the Tactical model’s turrets. Like the 3-12x56, the 2.5-15x50 has the standard capped, “hunter-style turrets” with a pop-up zero mark facility. The 2.5-15x50 Tactical has a zero stop function on the elevation adjustment. The instruction booklet accompanying the scope tells exactly how to make it work.
The two 2.5-15x models have a total reticle adjustment range of 35MOA, the Hunter sports ¼MOA clicks and the Tactical 0.1 Mil clicks (one click moves the point of aim 1cm at 100m). Some will probably find 0.1 Mil adjustments too coarse for their liking for competition shooting but to me they are fine.
Scopes with 2.5-15x magnification are quite versatile because you can use them for close-range work in dense bush and for target shooting out to, say 450m or more. The SA Hunters’ reticle is bold enough to see well in bad light or even when the background is a little busy in dense bush (or you can use the crosshair’s illuminator function) and is fine enough for many target shooting applications too. This reticle has become my favourite – I wish I could fit it to all my scopes.
On the range the scopes worked to perfection and, as mentioned before, their adjustments were precise and repeatable. I just wish Lynx would fit turrets that sport more positive clicks (like the Tactical’s) on all their scopes. To me the standard turrets’ clicks are a little too soft. On the other hand, the parallax focus rings turns a little too difficult for some people’s liking. I do not mind though because as a walk and stalk hunter, I carry my rifles a lot more than I shoot them. With the rifle and often the scope rubbing against your shoulder or back for many kilometres, it is easy to accidentally adjust the parallax if the wheel turns too easily. It has happened to me with a number of scope brands.
THE RF-TACTICAL RETICLE
Now, let’s look at the RF-Tactical reticle. As mentioned, it has a floating centre-dot and circle (the latter has a diameter of 10cm at 100m) while the reticle’s “legs” have hash marks with the graduations marked in 1 Mil and 0.5 Mils increments (10cm and 5cm). The set of range bars/ranging scale (inset at the bottom of the sight picture) is calibrated to range the 50cm, 33cm and 25m high tactical targets used in various popular tactical rifle and pistol shooting disciplines. The 50cm target can be ranged from 200m to 1 200m in 100m increments and the 33cm and 25cm high targets from 200m to 600m. In a pinch you can also use the scale to range gongs and even game animals but the scale of the range bars is not ideal for that. Remember that the range bars are calibrated to work at maximum magnification.
Although some might find the tactical crosshair a bit busy, I quite like it and the floating dot is just perfect for my eyes. For precision shooting it works better for me than a standardtype crosshair. I have also found that the green illumination works better for my eyes than red. If I ever need to cull animals at night again I would definitely prefer a green illuminated floating dot. With my eye problems I think a modified SA Hunter reticle sporting floating dots instead of the standard hash marks will be just perfect (one can dream).
GOOD VALUE
I am really impressed with the latest Lynx LX3 riflescopes. I think they offer extremely good value for money and what’s more, Lynx’s back-up service is excellent. We at SA JAGTER/ HUNTER are certainly very happy to recommend them.
By the time you read this the new Lynx LX3s will be available at dealers nationwide. * The suggested retail price for 3-12x56 Hunter is R9 995 and R12 141 for the 2.5-15x50 Hunter. Due to its more complex reticle and the target-type turrets the price of the 2.5-15x50 RFTactical is R12 398. Prices may differ from dealer to dealer, so shop around.