PRODUCT REVIEW

Mark Precision Optics

The SWAT 8-32x50 Tactical Rifle Scope

In summary, the 8-32 x 50mm Mark Precision Optics SWAT scope is a high-quality, precision scope that is arguably one of the best value scopes in its class. Big praise, however, the scope is worthy of people's attention and it is worth trying products from this recent market entrant. Here is what Champ's David B had to say when reviewing the product.

Getting Started - Fitting the Scope

I decided to teach an old dog new tricks and fit the SWAT Tactical scope from Mark to my tack-driving old Omark 44 Rifle. One of my favourites, this reliable old rifle is something I have been interested in using for fly-shooting and long-range plains hunting but have never had the right optic attached. The SWAT scope from Mark looked like a suitably deadly piece of kit and I was eager to get it fitted to my rifle.

Step 1 - Clearing the Decks

I removed my old scope that had seen me through much hunting and many victories. After reluctantly casting the old piece of kit aside, I fitted the rings I received with the scope to the Weaver mounts on my Omark 44 rifle.

Step 2 - Mounting the SWAT Scope

Fitting the scope and bore sighting was easy. The rings that were included with the scope included a non-compressable base ribbon for friction so the position of the scope and eye-relief would not move as I methodically tightened the dual-bolted sides of the rings. It is this sort of attention to detail that makes me feel this company are innovators who will win confidence in shooters and a mainstream place in the Australian firearms and optics market.

Step 3 - Bore SIghting

Bore sighting this scope was pretty straightforward. Being careful to evenly tighten the ring bolts, the view through the bore and the scope was pretty consistent. With some minor adjustments, I was ready for the range.

At the Rifle Range - Zeroing

No scope review would be complete without a trip to my local Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (SSAA) to put the optic through its paces on the rifle range.

Not to mention that I had to undertake the arduous task of zeroing the rifle. I set myself the challenge of doing it with 20 projectiles and within 1 hour. Success.

I set myself up using only a front Caldwell shooting rest and a US Marine technique using your hand instead of a sandbag at the rear of the rifle. With targets at 50m to sight and 200m, I was ready to test this deadly looking piece of kit out. I was not disappointed, my old tack-driving Omark 44 was opened up to new possibilities.

At 50m and 8x magnification, my rig was overkill. As you can see, I had a few sighters, which made me make adjustments to compensate for a cross-wind which has caused some tumbling. Then got into the business of proving this rifle could tack-drive as it usually does, but with the new scope.

Done. After some minor adjustments to move the point of impact to the left, I was happy the rifle was firing low at this range, due to bullet drop.

At 200m I had gusty winds come through and had to make some windage adjustments. I had a couple of shockers that aren't on paper. As you can see from the 50m target, the bias was slightly to the left due to me over-compensating for a cross-wind. With distance, this was exacerbated at the greater range.

After getting a tight 2-shot group, I moved the point of impact to the right and moved things up a bit where I got that strange-looking 2-shot group. The range officer and I agreed the bullet may have tumbled to cause this pattern from a gust of wind. I moved things right and made windage compensations and back down again. That is where I got a nice group of 3 shots.

The rifle and scope combination works with a 3-shot, 1/2 inch group at 200m, from the benchrest position.

Market Comparison

The SWAT scope provides an excellent visual quality and I find it to be an outstanding scope for target shooting and long range or plains shooting. I feel the value for money of this product is second to none in its class on open market. Trying to find a tactical scope from another company for less than $300 is next to impossible. With Mark, it is not only possible but the quality of the product is comparable to the more expensive brand names. I would watch this brand as it has a bright future here in Australia. For early adopters, you can get a SWAT scope from Mark that, in terms of its peers, is great value for money.

A More Compact Tactical

Mark's SWAT scope is long comparative to standard rifle scopes at 410mm, however, is more compact than more well-known brands in the same "Tactical" class. Despite being long, parallax error seemed quite tolerable at 20x and above magnification.

Some long-range scopes can be a bit flighty with your eye's slightest movement causing you to lose the image in the eye-piece. I did not find this with the SWAT; acceptably sensitive at long ranges (20x +) but not flighty.

Scope Features

Illuminated Reticle - The illuminated reticle seems to improve night vision. Its light intensity is variable and can be adjusted on a knob at top of the scope. This sort of feature, and the quality of the optics have thoroughly impressed me when it comes to low-light or night shooting.

Sharp and Crisp Past from 8x to 20x and beyond - The eye-lense picture is crisp from centre to edges. I was very impressed with the field of vision and the crispness of what I could see. Using a little hand-eye coordination, I snapped these shots at 8x and 32 x magnification.

8 x magnification - This tree is over 300m away. With crispness like this, you will be choosing which vein in the deer's neck you want to shoot.

32x magnification - The side of a local mountain over 5kms away. While I couldn't get a perfect photo, I could see individual gum leaves swaying in the wind and that ocassional glint coming off them in the sun. Impressive at that range.

Tactical Controls - The features of the scope make it worthy of a professional sharpshooter. With dials for quick X and Y axis adjustment and a range setting feature, you are quickly able to adapt the distance to compensate for bullet rise and fall, for wind and adjust the magnification to suit the distance or detail required. I used these features with success at the rifle range.

Specifications

Summary

"The Mark SWAT tactical scope is a nice complement to my prized Omark .308 rifle. It has taught me that a tack-driving rifle and a tactical riflescope such as the SWAT from Mark Precision Optics makes a deadly and accurate combination, worthy of a professional sharpshooter. I look forward to using it to compete and taking it on many hunting adventures and upcoming Fly Shoots with my local SSAA."

David B - Editor

Champ Magazine