optics
A New
Meopta
and Two
New Reticle
Options
Meopta is switching to rifle scopes
with a broad magnification range.
The first member of this family,
the MeoStar R2, is a scope for
hunting fast-moving game, with
an illuminated reticle, 1-6x24, and
a very good value, fully in line with
the manufacturer’s philosophy.
A NEW RIFLE SCOPE FOR FASTMOVING GAME, WITH A 6X ZOOM
All the manufacturers of hunting scopes, in
particular those of telescopic sights, have
been gradually coming up with scopes with
a magnification of five or six times. Most
recently, the Czech manufacturer Meopta
entered this unavoidable market segment.
As the name suggests, the MeoStar R2 takes
over some properties of the Meostar R1,
which was used as the basis of its design.
It would be rather simplifying to say that
it is just one rifle scope because in fact you
can choose between two illuminated reticle
options, i.e. between two kinds of optics:
a conventional 4C and a K-Dot, which
consists of three fine lines which do not meet
in the middle and the central red dot.
This new rifle scope then offers
a magnification of six times. It is a 1-6x24,
i.e. a scope with the magnification range
of 1 to 6 and an objective of 24 mm. The
other models of the MeoStar line-up, i.e.
2.5-15x56, 2-12x50, and 1.7-10x42, will
receive this six-time magnification in 2014
or a little later. It is a well-thought-out series
which should appeal to both the fans of the
brand and those who are yet to become one.
Meopta promotes precision: up to the
magnification of four times, the ring also
features the half values of the magnification;
after four, only whole numbers follow. A larger
magnification. The ring in fact contains no
less than nine details per half-turn. It is a lot;
there is too much information, especially for
the lower magnification steps, but I personally
prefer more information to too little of it.
A half-turn of the magnification ring takes us
from the lowest to the highest magnification,
still representing the current standard.
Selecting the reticle
For our test we had available the first two
pieces imported to our country, each with
a different reticle type. In both cases, the
reticle is illuminated using the turret on the
left, which is oversized and contains a scale
of 0 to 8. Between two illumination levels
- there is an intermediate position in which
Connaissance de la Chasse (The Art of Hunting) - No. 452 - December 2013
the illuminated reticle can be switched off. On
one of the scopes, unfortunately, this device
is shifted by one half-step. Despite this error,
which is rather normal for a pre-production
piece, this is a well-proven system and it
must be emphasised that the scope is one of
the nicest and most useful ones around. If
you wish to turn the reticle off you do need
to turn the turret all the way. The same goes
for switching the reticle on. The cursor is
thus close to the illumination level you have
previously selected, which is again a nice
feature which will prevent you from having
to go through three or four levels to find the
right one. On the other hand, the sight does
not have the automatic reticle shut-down
feature.
Both reticles have a conventional central point
and it is only this point that is illuminated.
Offering two reticle types is a smart move.
The 4C model is intended for versatile hunters
who will use the rifle scope in daytime to zoom
in on and focus the image to fire at longer
distances. The K-Dot is a reticle suitable for
optics
adding a “2” after an established name.
This will lead some to believe that the
difference of 300 euro against the R1
- i.e. over 33% more - does not justify
getting the R2. However, this line of
reasoning would be wrong because the
scope is indeed new and offers high
performance even though its FOV does
not reach 40m, which is an argument
that would favour its competitors.
Drawing a simple comparison with its
predecessors, this new scope is indeed
cost-effective. It offers a high level of
optical performance at a low price,
in particular for a scope with XXL
magnification. For this price you can get
only the Bushnell Elite 6500, 1-6.5 x24
and the Electrovisée III, 1-6x24, which
are cheaper - ranging between 900 and
1000 euros - but the R2 is a notch higher.
All other rifle scopes of this category
are 300 to 1000 euros more expensive.
We can say that Meopta rifle scopes get
better with each season, maintaining
a very good quality/price ratio.
1-4x24 offered 36m.
The distance separating your eye
from the sight is 90mm. On the basis
of our testing we believe that it is
around 95mm, which is a rather good
value. Talking about figures, you should
know that this optical device carries
a warranty of 30 years, which is very rare
these days as the warranty commonly
provided is 10 years.
Éra Meo!
Connaissance de la Chasse (The Art of Hunting) - No. 452 - December 2013
DATA SHEET
Manufacturer: Meopta
Model: MeoStar R2
Weapon type: rifle scope with
a large magnification range
Designation: 1-6x24
Length: 29.5 cm
Weight: 500 g
Eye relief: 90 mm
Dioptric compensation: ±3
Impact per click at 100 m:
1.5 cm
Light transmittance: 95 %
Reticle: 4C or K-Dot, neither
changes with zoom
Tube diameter: 30 mm
FOV at 100 m: 37 m
Price: 1,299 €
OUR OPINION
Pros
for fast-moving game and instinctive
shooting. It makes target acquisition
easier, functioning almost as a red
dot, mainly in the 1x magnification
mode when you can shoot with both
eyes open to use the maximum field
of view. This is probably the way
to use this sight best because the FOV
is not its main strength, unfortunately.
It is essentially true that a modern rifle
scope should have a large field of view.
Here it is between 37m and 100m,
which is certainly a lot but similar
values have been offered by scopes
with a magnification of four times.
The best sights on the market with
the magnification of 5x or 6x reach
or exceed 42m, and many are in the
range of 39 and 40m. In this case
a larger field of view was expected,
in particular since the MeoStar R1
Laurent Bedu
Cons
The various adjustment rings have
a number steps for settings, which is
something we should not complain about.
Similar to other manufacturers,
including those from Austria and
Germany, Meopta has decided
to innovate the brand. In comparison
with the predecessors of this scope, the
changes must be taken seriously because
they include, for example, better light
transmittance (of 95%), a new finish
preventing the misting of the lenses
of the objective and ocular and
protecting the scope from wet
conditions, grease traces and dust,
and a new finish protecting the lenses
from scratching. Nevertheless, was it
really necessary to name these MeoLux,
MeoDrop, and MeoShield? This
particularly applies to the adjustment
knobs, which use a new mechanical
system to provide the shooter better
alignment accuracy, which system is
called... MeoClick. And the dioptric
correction ring carries no other name
but MeoQuick!
While the FOV was a bit of
a disappointment, the R2 is promising
in terms of optical performance. The
representation of colours is precise.
Progressing from the centre to the
edges of the image, the lines do not
get distorted, there is no vignetting
or sharpness deterioration. In these
terms, the scope does a very good
job. The common flaw of scopes with
a large magnification range is often but not always - the higher difficulty
of alignment. The system must be
perfectly accommodated to the optics
to avoid any shadows or obscured
areas. This requires a perfect fit. The
R2 is an exception in this respect; it is
comfortable and easy to use without
the need for a perfect fit. What shall
we think about the MeoStar R2 1-6x24
for EUR 1,299, which is 300 euro more
than for the R1 1-4x22 RD? Of course,
it offers a large magnification range,
adding the magnification of five and six
times. But is that all? No. This optical
device is new, brighter, sharper, more
advanced and mechanically better
than what we saw in its predecessor.
The marketing department of Meopta
should have definitely found a different
name for the product instead of just
• Quality/price ratio
• Alignment adjustment
• Illumination intermediate know
positions
• 30-year warranty
• Optical quality
• Does not switch off the
• Previously used name
• Shifted increments on one reticle automatically
of the tested models