Quoted:
Below is a recent review of our new FSO 1-10x.
The actual writer works in a sensitive LE position and gave us permission to post his review, as long as we did not reveal his identity or the specific agency's name.

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****** I always appreciate it when someone takes the time to review our 1.1 -10x30 FSO.
I would like to make some comments on this review.

EV

My background
With over a decade of law enforcement experience, both local and federal, I have utilized wide verity of optics.  Throughout the years I have had the privilege to attend a wide verity of shooting courses and trainings from local, to state, to DOD.   I am also curing the lead firearms instructor and sniper on my team.  My primary experience with low magnification variable powered optics range from cheaper optics to primarily the Trijicon Accupoint 1.5-6 power, EO-Tech Vudu 1-6 power and the Vortex Razor Gen II 1-6 power. In last few years we have trained with some of the top tier operators and instructors in the United States.

All that being said the trend has been leading heavily towards short to medium range variable powered optics.

First impressions

Body and function
My out of the box initial impressions of the optic were that it seemed solid, good finish. The number one thing that caught my eye and I really liked was the throw lever.  Its size, shape, and texture made adjusting the magnification very easy. It’s the most solid enhanced throw lever out of any of the low magnification variable powered optics that I have seen or handled.  The turret caps spin off nicely revealing sturdy turrets that have a nice solid click adjustments. The illumination knob is also well done with the off position in between each level of illumination.

Extras
It comes with decent flip up scope caps witch is nice. Also the added bonus of the scope’s sun shroud and the anti-reflective lens cap is very nice.

Glass
The glass is clear and sharp, especially at distance compared to other scopes in the same price point.  The 1.1 magnification was very slight but noticeable compared to a true 1 power. It is also misleading when on the scope it is labeled 1-10 power when it should be labeled 1.1-10
power.

******The tester had one of the early production or a prototype scope.  Current production scopes are labeled 1.1-10.

Reticle

ON ONE POWER
At one power, I really liked the circle dot feel of the reticle much like the EO-Tech circle of death.  I feel like it works well for CQC and close target work. However, the inverted horseshoe seemed just a little too thick.  I like that it is there because it definitely catches the eye and directs you to the very center of the reticle. When aiming at something at 100 yards or so on one power, it was nice that I could still see the finest dot inside the horseshoe, it reminded me of turning the illumination very low on a 1MOA dot of an EO-Tech for zeroing.  I felt like I could really get a pinpoint shot, even more so than the fine crosshairs in a Vortex Razor or the 2MOA dot in an Aimpoint.  I also liked when the entire reticle was illuminated - it almost seemed sort of like the triangle in a Accupoint or the chevron of an ACOG.  What I did not like was how the horseshoe blocked a large amount around the target making it difficult, if there was a busy target down range, i.e. multiple people very close or in a hostage scenario or even just a paper target with multiple dots. I feel either more space around the center dot and the horseshoe or possibly a slightly thinner lined horseshoe may help with this.

*******This is a very valid point about the thickness of the horseshoe (HS). The dimensions of the horseshoe's thickness was a comprise. My number one priority for the HS was speed at CQB distances. The HS is big enough to be fast but small enough to be precise. Head shots at typical room distances are relatively easy. Also I wanted the HS to show up well out doors at low power with no illumination even in brush and low light environments. The thickness adds to the performance of the HS in this role. We tested reticles with a thinner HS and also a mesh
(see thru) HS. They were more difficult to pickup under the same environment.
 Also the the dimensions of the HS are critical to its performance as a range finder on heads and shoulders.

The drawbacks are as the tester noted.

ON TEN POWER  
First off, I have to say that it is awesome to see a 1-10 power optic, it is the first that I have seen and handled.  Second, I love that it is a first focal plane scope.  The way the reticle morphs from what seemed to be a circle dot when not illuminated on one power to a Christmas tree like reticle with elevation and windage hold dots. This mimics my favorite long distance reticle which is the Horus H59 in my long distance scopes.  At ten power the horseshoe is very thick and does obscure some of the down range sight picture.  Also unlike the H59 reticle the GRSC FSO reticle is not based off of MRADS. The BDC reticle is designed to be used with the 5.56 round and is supposed to be user friendly with this round. It appears to be set up for a 50 yard zero adhering that the round strikes at the same place at 50 yards and at 200 yards and slightly high at 100 yards, due to the arc of the bullet. Then a circle dot is the hold for 300 yards and the lines below for each additional 100 yards. I like that every other line is labeled with a number at the end of horizontal line for quick referencing. One of the issues with BDC reticles vs MRADS or MOA is that if you are shooting at distance, your spotter could have difficulty giving you corrections if he is looking through a scope that does not have the same BDC in it.

*******The reticle is designed to be zeroed at 100 yds NOT 50 yds. This would have given better results at longer distances.

1000 Round Review
The reticle is a little busy, but the BDC is super easy to use and almost fool proof after practicing with it. However, I was running into an issue past 300 yards - the lines did not correspond with my impacts.  I was utilizing a 16” barrel and 62 grain Federal ammo. I was hitting low past 300 yards, which threw off the remaining BDC lines. I like the added ranging circles set at 10 inches for the range reference. Especially with the average human male’s head being roughly 10 inches from chin to top of the head. The thickness of the horseshoe cone is a little concerning to me, as it can obscure objects surrounding the target down range that could be causal, such as in hostage or multiple target situation. Creeping the outer diameter of the cone/horseshoe and make it about half as thick I think would help with it obstructing, and it would still be thick enough to pick up quickly for CQC snap shot situations. I really like the size of the dots, as they allow for very precise shots with pinpoint accuracy. I like the numbering at the edges as a quick reference to keep you from getting “lost in the sauce”.  I’m confused by the thicker dots at 7, 8, and 9.  I’d leave them the same size as the rest. The walking man and running man notches are a nice reference. Learning the wind hold references (regarding the dashes or “clicks”, and the gaps or “half clicks”) is a little difficult at first, as I am used to referencing MRADs in the .10 measurement.  I’m sure after time and practice with a spotter, the lingo could be figured out, but I would rather see mil dots in the .25 or .5 range just to simplify the calls. Especially if my spotter is using a spotting scope with mil dots.

******The aiming dots on the center line from 7-12 hundred yards are 10" at the given distance. This allows you to quickly compare the aiming dot to the size of a head at longer ranges. Some may think that a 10" aiming dot is way to big a aiming point at those distances. Please remember what this reticle was made for (combat) and the type of rifles/ammo that it was designed to be used with. Try keeping your shots into 10" at 700 yards and beyond with these type rifles and ammo.

Also this scope was intended to be issued to every man on a fire team, therefore your spotter (fire team member) would be calling your corrections using the same scope and reticle, or he could make the follow up shot for you.

Final Conclusion
I like the construction and glass. The throw lever, 1.1-10x magnification, first focal plane, sharpness of the reticle, and clarity of the glass were very nice. I would include an instruction manual on how to use the BDC and possibly make some of the dots smaller and horseshoe thinner to make it a little less busy. Maybe even just illuminate the horseshoe and middle dot instead of the entire reticle to help with the busyness of the reticle, especially for CQC purposes. Just having basically a dot illuminated would help with speed of point shooting at CQC distances.  Also, a true 1 power verses the 1.1 power is nice so you don’t get the distortion when doing CQC with both eyes open.   Overall I give the optic a B+.

******The instruction manual is on line in the form of videos on our website at grscinc.com

We have made hits on long range targets in low light conditions many times. Hits that would not be possible without having the whole reticle illumined.

I totally agree that a true 1x would be great. Maybe in the future someone will pull it off, but for now IMO at 1.1x in the CQB environment  this thing works very well.

*****I would like to give a big thanks to the tester for his evaluation and look forward to more hands on evaluations.

***** FYI I will have the 1.1-10 FSO at the gun show this weekend in Prescott Az.

Hope to see some of you there.

Thanks

Ed Verdugo

Quoted:
Is the buy one get one free deal still going?

Also, how does the BDC correspond to 6.5?