Elcan Specter OS 3x

AR Sponsor:

Posted: 10/10/2016 3:13:29 PM EDT

With Midway lowering the clearance price again (now $618 shipped), I'm thinking about buying one. Can't find much about them though, which is a bit worrying considering how long they have been out. Are these gtg?

This is going on my Noveske 14.5" which currently sports a PA micro. I'm tired of shooting with the red dot, and would prefer a bit of magnification. I'm also considering a Vortex Strikefire, but once I add a Larue mount the price is in the same ballpark as the Elcan. The Spitfire 3x would be the budget option, if I choose to go that route.

Posted: 10/11/2016 11:36:22 AM EDT

[#1]

I bought one at $700. Thought it was a great deal. These will still be under warranty, though mine was old. I posted about it a week or so ago. Someone had a nice link to a better review than mine.

Posted: 10/11/2016 11:37:37 AM EDT

[#2]

Forgot to add: while the eye relief is greater than an ACOG 4x32, there isn't enough room behind the base for a BUIS. At least for me.

Posted: 10/11/2016 2:08:00 PM EDT

[#3]

Quote History

Quoted:
Forgot to add: while the eye relief is greater than an ACOG 4x32, there isn't enough room behind the base for a BUIS. At least for me.

View Quote

That would be a negative for me since my carbine has a fixed front sight. Not that I would worry about the Elcan failing, but the fixed front sight would be kind of silly without a rear sight. That means that I'd have to cut the sight down and get a new hand guard = more money. Then again, I'd like a longer hand guard anyways, and could probably recover money by selling the Centurion on the EE...

Posted: 10/11/2016 7:24:47 PM EDT

[#4]

This is only the 20th time this question have been asked.....

read it up here: http://www.gunsandtech.com/gun-optics/tyan/elcan-specter-os-3x-optical-gunsight/

Posted: 10/12/2016 1:40:20 AM EDT

[#5]

I have one of these, the marksman model. Eyebox is a little narrow but the field of view is incredibly wide compared to my 3x30 and 3x24 acogs. Fits perfectly over a Magpul buis. It is heavy, about 1.1 pounds versus 9.4 and 8.6 ounces of my acogs. To my eyes clarity is as good as Trijicon's glass, contrast a touch better but color is a hair tinted compared to the acogs. Well worth the $612 they currently sell for on Midwayusa.

Posted: 10/12/2016 9:20:29 AM EDT

[#6]

Is the illuminated reticle daylight visible? I have read conflicting reports on this. It would be a deal breaker to me if it is not.

Posted: 10/12/2016 9:43:07 AM EDT

[#7]

Quote History

Quoted:

Is the illuminated reticle daylight visible? I have read conflicting reports on this. It would be a deal breaker to me if it is not.

View Quote

It's not supposed to be a red dot sight, it's just a scope that has an illuminated reticle that is best used for low light conditions. With that said yes the reticle lights up bright enough to see in daylight but just barely. See post further down for pictures of the lighted reticle.

The reticle has a nice thicker portion that makes it easy to see in heavy brush. Some reticles disappear in these conditions

Posted: 10/12/2016 11:43:09 AM EDT

[#8]

Thanks. I have discovered that due to my strong cross-eye dominance, I can get away with using a magnified optic as a red dot. Makes no difference to my eyes whether it is 1x, 3x, 6x, or completely covered; it all looks the same to me when I shoot with both eyes open. This means that I can use a fixed power scope and instantly switch from 1x to magnified simply by closing my dominant eye. There is a bit of a POI shift, but not enough to make a difference for close in shooting.

Posted: 10/12/2016 10:43:00 PM EDT

[#9]

I bought one at $700 and another at the lower price. I thought it was a nice deal even at $700.

Here are some pics of the lighted reticle

When I have it on the highest setting and point to the sunny sky there is barely a hint of red. Pointed at anything terrestrial I can see the red pretty well though not as bright as a proper RDS.

Posted: 10/14/2016 7:36:42 PM EDT

[#10]

FYI price has now dropped even more. Now $568.75 with free shipping. Shows 24 left.

Edit: All gone. Only a few "blemished" models which are customer returns for $586.25.

Posted: 10/14/2016 7:54:28 PM EDT

[#11]

Well shit, I just got mine in today and paid $612.50. They had it to me in 2 days with free shipping. Guess I'll email and ask if I can get an adjustment. If not oh well.

Quick thoughts, tight eyebox, on an AR the mount doesn't do it any favors by not getting it over a BUIS. I'm mounting on a X95 so that's not a concern for me. Glass is great, I haven't removed the killflash but I think I will to see if that brightens it up a bit. Illumination not daylight bright but close, excellent as the light fades,. I REALLY like the reticle but thats personal preference.If its as rugged as I expect it to be since its an Elcan, I think it's a great buy.

Mine came with a CR123 battery that expired in 2013, tells you how long they've been boxed up.

Posted: 10/14/2016 8:58:30 PM EDT

[#12]

I'm not sure what BUIS some people are using but you'll see it fits over a Magpul BUIS with lots of room to spare.

However the Magpul sight length prevents the Elcan mount to fit back another notch. This is something particular to the Magpul sight and lots of people have shaved the front edge to give more clearance for various other mount designs.

Anything as flat as a Magpul, like the KAC or ARMS 40L should work perfectly under the Elcan.

I'm still debating what I'm going to put this scope on. It really is optimal for a Bullpup or maybe an AR that has 45° offset sight where you can put the rear offset sight in front of the scope mount (like on the XS sights) Actually that battery tube would probably make it hard to see offset sights.

Posted: 10/14/2016 9:08:39 PM EDT

[#13]

Quote History

Quoted:
FYI price has now dropped even more. Now $568.75 with free shipping. Shows 24 left.

View Quote

Thank you sir. Just bought it. I've been on the fence about this one for a week. I'm glad that I am a procrastinator when it comes to spending money.

Posted: 10/15/2016 5:07:19 PM EDT

[#14]

I ordered one this morning, only had 5 left. This will be going onto a cz bren 805.

Posted: 10/15/2016 5:51:06 PM EDT

[#15]

Are those reticle pictures from the one that you got from Midway? Midway shows the 5.56 ballistic drop reticle (which is the one that I want).

Posted: 10/15/2016 6:30:35 PM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:

Are those reticle pictures from the one that you got from Midway? Midway shows the 5.56 ballistic drop reticle (which is the one that I want).

View Quote

Yes in my first post I mentioned I got the "marksman" model which has the finger adjustable turrets and mildot reticle. Midway had these too but sold out.

Posted: 10/15/2016 6:44:33 PM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:

That would be a negative for me since my carbine has a fixed front sight. Not that I would worry about the Elcan failing, but the fixed front sight would be kind of silly without a rear sight. That means that I'd have to cut the sight down and get a new hand guard = more money. Then again, I'd like a longer hand guard anyways, and could probably recover money by selling the Centurion on the EE...

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Forgot to add: while the eye relief is greater than an ACOG 4x32, there isn't enough room behind the base for a BUIS. At least for me.

That would be a negative for me since my carbine has a fixed front sight. Not that I would worry about the Elcan failing, but the fixed front sight would be kind of silly without a rear sight. That means that I'd have to cut the sight down and get a new hand guard = more money. Then again, I'd like a longer hand guard anyways, and could probably recover money by selling the Centurion on the EE...

You can do work with just a front sight.

Posted: 10/21/2016 4:04:11 PM EDT

[#18]

Got mine from Midway yesterday. I haven't had much time to play with it, but so far I'm happy with the purchase. The eye relief seems a bit short and the eye box a little tight, but I haven't mounted it yet so that might change/improve.

What is everyone zeroing these at? The instructions say 100M, but the reticle seems to be designed for a 200M zero.

Posted: 10/22/2016 5:36:23 AM EDT

[#19]

Put mine on my Tavor, love it so far!

Posted: 10/22/2016 12:03:10 PM EDT

[#20]

Edit: sold out.

It now shows three "blemished" models for $525 free shipping. The picture shows they are the marksman model with the exposed turrets and mildot reticle.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/675878/elcan-specteros-rifle-scope-3x-ballistic-turret-illuminated-556-raf-reticle-with-picatinny-mount-matte-blemished

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Elcan Specter OS 3x

AR-15 » Optics, Mounts, and Sights

AR Sponsor:

Warning

Confirm Action

About AR15.COM

Stay Connected

Newsletter

Contact Us