High Resolution Long Range Rifle Scope SHOTAC 3.5-25X56 - Perfect for Hunting, Tactical Shooting & Precision Target Practice

This is a fantastic long-range scope. I was looking for the scope with 24x magnification to practice some long-range shooting at 200+ ft targets at our local outdoor shooting range. Everything I wanted and needed from a 24x scope I got with this SHOTAC long range scope, and it even goes beyond what I need, giving me a zoom range from 3.5x to 25x!First impression. Right out of the box it feels premium and top-quality. Excellent materials, fit, and finish. The adjustment knobs are crisp and provide clear feedback. The box includes everything you need to get started - 30mm scope rings, mounting and adjustment tools, flip-up covers, and coin batteries for illumination. Everything comes safely packaged in pre-cut foam. Note that on the scope it's stated that it's designed in the USA but made in China and you'll find a US quality inspection certification, meaning it's not getting drop-shipped from China. My first impression was very positive, it looks and feels like a solid product.Setup. Installation is straightforward and simple if you know what you are doing. I did not use the included rings but rather my own 30mm one-piece QD scope rings with extended offset. Just make sure not to over-tighten the scope rings' screws and always use a torque limiting screwdriver, keep the torque below 25 in-lb, I personally prefer 20 in-lb and it always holds up just fine.Operation. The scope turrets are beefy, as they should be for such a large scope. They are affixed by hex-head screws and it's easy to grab them and rotate with your fingers. Both elevation and windage turrets work smoothly with positive tactile feedback and clear audio clicks. Numbers and markings on the turrets are large and easy to read. The scope also features zero-reset turrets, which are similar to high-end Vortex L-Tec Zero Stop system and is a must feature for long range scopes. The quality of the glass is superb, the image at 25x magnification is truly clear, the contrast and color are excellent, distortions are minimal, just a small warping around the edges. Parallax adjustment is necessary for these long-range scopes and helps a lot with high magnification and on this scope, it can be adjusted from 20 to infinity. The scope also features long eye relief from 110mm (at 3.5x) - 89mm (at 25x), which is perfect if you wear prescription glasses. Unfortunately, there is not a scope hood (or shade) included, which would be very nice to have on sunny California days. The included front and rear lens caps fit perfectly on the scope tube and are spring loaded, you just need to push the notch on the cap with a finger and pop up. The reticle is laser etched and crisp, illumination has 10 levels and suitable for any conditions from full dusk till dawn. The illumination knob with battery compartment is located on the eyepiece itself with 45 degrees offset to minimize FOV obstruction. Magnification ring is located as usual on the eyepiece and is operating smoothly, but I still recommend getting a small ring with a lever (aka throw lever) for zoom adjustments. The instructions also state that it is waterproof and impact resistant.The scope features an interesting combination of Mil-Dot and BDC reticle that closely resembles Vortex BDC reticle. Bullet Drop Compensating (BDC) reticles are essentially a series of reference points along the vertical axis of a reticle that relate to the bullet's flight path. The calculated trajectory is derived from the bullet type, muzzle velocity and typical environmental conditions. A built-in ranging feature provides everything the shooter needs to engage a distant target without having to do any complex calculations. This is why BDC reticles have been used for decades in tactical and sporting rifle scopes where you need to get hits on targets quickly. Great choice for a long-range scope!*** TL;DR ***Yes, I hands down recommend this scope, 10/10. With a lifetime warranty and all the same features found in top-brand scopes like Vortex or Sig Sauer, this scope is an easy choice for you. It's an excellent long-range scope that will serve you well in the right setup. It's solidly built, and the optics are excellent. Solid 5 stars.+++ Pros +++1) Crystal clear glass with minimal distortion.2) Excellent fit and finish.3) First focal plane.4) Eye relief 3.82-3.3”.5) Parallax adjustment 10-inf.6) Has zero stop system.7) Mil-Dot + BDC reticle.8) 1-10 levels of reticle illumination.9) Mounting rings included.10) Bubble level included.11) Lens covers included.--- Cons ---None so far.This is a quality optic with some great features but does have some QC issues. When I ordered this, I placed a separate order for some scope rings, thinking they were not included, but to my surprise the scope rings are included in the box. This is a Second Focal Plane style scope, that is, the reticle does not appear to change at all with changes to magnification (it stays the same size as the image around it grows or shrinks), so you need to make sure you are scaling it appropriately with the reticle marks for the distance you are choosing based on the magnification you set.I have a similar scope from UTG that is similarly priced, so I have a reference for some comparison. Out of the box this scope is solid with some heft, it weighs just over 36 ounces, a full 2.3 pounds! The locking turrets that lock by depressing the knurled ring around each one is a really nice feature, as no tools are required to lock and unlock your settings, and it is quick to do. The dials and knobs are smooth without any grainy feeling. The glass is clear and the reticle sharp. Adjustments are easy to make, and the focus works well throughout all levels of magnification.There were four cons that I encountered, which relate to potential QC issues, for which I deducted one star total (a quarter star for each con).- First, the eye relief could be better. Not only do you have to have your eye at a precise distance from the scope to get a good sight picture, but if your eyeline wavers even slightly from dead-center, there is a good bit of distortion around the perimeter of the sight circle… I’d bet Hoplopfheil would have a few words about that.- Second, the instructions are lacking. They are very generic and not made specifically for this scope. It’s the kind of instructions whereas it says, “If you have this type of scope, then do this, but if it is instead this other type of scope, then do that.” There was no mention of the battery compartment or illumination in the instructions.- Third, the battery goes into the turret that has the brand name stamped onto the cover. The cover on my scope was cross-threaded and could not be removed by hand. I needed to use both a pliers on the cover, and a rubber oil filter wrench on the turret to hold it still, to get the cover removed without damaging the scope. I managed to mangle the cover plate, but fortunately the scope is undamaged, and the threads are undamaged. Also, fortunately, they provided a replacement cover plate in the box; Hmmm, I wonder why that is?- Lastly, once I got the battery installed and the new cover plate in place, I checked the illumination. Unlike my UTG that illuminates the entire reticle, this just provides a red dot in the center of the reticle, that can be adjusted for intensity. My dot is more like a slightly blurry line, so really it is not much of a useful feature. It would have been better to have made a fully illuminated reticle if they went through all the trouble to install an adjustable illumination feature, especially at this price-point.Despite the cons, once I had it working properly, the sight held zero throughout my testing on my Rem-700, and the large objective lens allows for a lot of light to enter the scope, so it works well in low light situations. In order to make sure I adhere to Amazon’s Community Posting Guidelines so that this review is not flagged, I do not have any pictures of it mounted on my rifle.As a gun writer, I own and have used scopes of every level. From generic air rifle scopes to Zeiss and Schmidt & Bender.This one was sent to me for evaluation. I am here to tell you that this scope really surprised me... in a good way.Everything on this scope works exactly as it should. This is not a wannabe scope... this is exactly what it should be.I liked this one so much that I am trying it next on one of those big 50s that you can't own in California.It's not an indestructible beast like the military puts on those things, but we don't all need that grade nor can we all afford that cost.Overall, this is a great scope and I am very happy with it and with it's performance. For the money, this a is a quality scope and a great bargain.Definitely Recommended AAA+++Edit: I should mention that I upgraded the rings from the ones that came with it to a set of TPS aluminum 35mm rings when I moved it to the 50.Let's face it, scope rings are like tires on a sports car. You don't put cheap tires on a Ferrari and you don't put cheap scope rings on a weapon you expect to perform well.Oh, I also replaced the branded battery cover with the sterile one that was included in the box. Without a brand name on it everyone thought it was a high end scope. Buy it, you'll like it.This scope is powerful and sturdy. I love the clarity of the glass. This is the kind of scope a person could use to shoot flies off a horses butt at 1000 yards.