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Posted: 8/22/2005 5:35:38 AM EDT
So I am at the gunshow the other day and see a scope that looked like a S&B 1-4x20 Short Dot style scope. As I get closer I see its a 1-4x22 Meopta Artemis 3100. Never really looked at Meopta scopes before.
Its about the same size and weight as the S&B, the optical quality is about the same as a Leupold VariX-III. Illumination is one for every other click like the S&B. It has no NV settings however so it only goes up to 7 levels. Reticle is a large dot with 3 hashes at 3, 6, and 9. Illumination is quite bright red for the type of illumination its using. You can see its fully red during the day but not quite up to Aimpoint/Eotech levels. Battery life is 80 hours, about the same as the S&B Short Dot. Its got a matte finish and seemed very well executed. Here is a pic.  And the reticle.  The reticle is in the second focal plane, adjustments are 1/4 MOA with caps. This is a set to 50m and forget type of scope for use out to 200 meters or so. Its in the same class as a Leupold CQT. It weighs about the same as the Leupold CQT, is as clear as the CQT, takes a Larue mount, is as repeatable from reports I have read, has a lifetime warranty, etc just like the CQT. However it has a better reticle in both execution and color and is 4X instead of 3X max. The scope is long but looking at it its several inches of built in sunshade. The objective lens is stuffed WAY back in the scope. Oh and the 1X setting worked perfectly to about 6 feet then you get the thing where the closeness of the objective relative to the weak eye makes things appear off like with any 1X scope. Seemed like it would be way better than the CQT for its use and for the money. What am I missing? There are ZERO Meopta discussions on this board. I am just wondering if there is something I dont know about them. |
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Posted: 8/22/2005 6:20:16 AM EDT
[#1]
This is the first I have heard of the company.
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Posted: 8/22/2005 6:24:06 AM EDT
[#2]
Mike at ABS barrels likes Meopta, and he recommended them to me a couple of months ago when I was looking for a scope.
I think they seem to be great optics, and are somewhat more affordable than some of the "big name" euro scopes. Probably, it is the "brand name" that is working against them more than anything else, because people will feel more comfortable in buying the stuff they have heard alot about. It's tough to break in from the outside, unless there is something so good that it cannot be ignored. Even if the product is just as good, or better than a big brand name, it has to overcome the "familiarity factor" of the more well known product, before people will really start to buy in any numbers. Ultimately, I ordered a US Optics ST-10 for my gun. That was over 2 months ago, and I still haven't received it yet. I thought that the wait would be worth the good ratio of price to performance. Eventually I'll get it. I hope it lives up to the comments that others have made about it, which influenced me to buy it. Sometimes companies have to sell at lower prices just to break into the market. It can easily happen that a top quality scope or other item can be bought for much less than the well-known stuff because of these market factors. If you are a knowledgeable buyer, and can sort out the "wheat from the chaff" you can sometimes get great performance for the money from companies like this. |
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Posted: 8/22/2005 7:17:05 AM EDT
[#3]
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Posted: 8/22/2005 7:24:25 AM EDT
[#4]
$$$$
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Posted: 8/22/2005 7:42:22 AM EDT
[#5]
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Posted: 8/22/2005 7:44:13 AM EDT
[#6]
Tag?!?!? TAG?!?!?  You're one of the best optics people on the boards and all you have is TAG?!?!? 
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Posted: 8/22/2005 7:52:32 AM EDT
[#7]
www.riflescopes.com/departments/344/rifle_scopes/meopta_rifle_scopes.htm
SWFA has them listed for sale. I noticed the ad before, but don't know anything about them. |
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Posted: 8/22/2005 8:00:14 AM EDT
[#8]
There are two versions. Meostar and Artemis 3100 RD. I think the Meostar might have better coatings? Might have target style turrets? I dont know really. I have seen both for sale at just under $700. Its not a good of glass as S&B nor is the reticle as bright, nor does it have the BDC on top, nor mildots. It is however $1300 less expensive. It appears to top the CQT completely. I was quite impressed with it but the old guy who was the dealer for them seemed perturbed I did not want to buy right away since I did not know about the company. I guess he gets that a lot. Even SWFA has these on their website. I figured I was just late to the game on this one. On the SWFA webpage above yo uwill notice the 1.5-5X scope is a lot shorter than the 1-4X but the 1-4X has the objective in the same place. The additional length in front is all sunshade.
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Posted: 8/22/2005 8:26:45 AM EDT
[#9]
I've seen the Meopta scopes at SWFA, but at those prices, it was definitley the fear of the unknow kinda thing. I have a hard enought time spending that kind of $$ on "brand" names.
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Posted: 8/22/2005 10:39:33 AM EDT
[#10]
Got to know the Meopta line of scopes a few years back at my previous employment.
Im my opinion, they have the best price/quality factor in the market. Excellent glass for the money that you pay for them. The above scope is the K Dot, a very good scope again.. Several of my team mates own Meopta scopes and they are pleased with their choices. |
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Posted: 8/22/2005 11:44:52 AM EDT
[#11]
hey i seen this at the same show
 caught my eye as well.i have seen this line of scopes in magazine ads and on swfa but for the price i would not have tried it for the sake of knowing. also seeing it at the funshow this weekend along with the price tag i probably would just add a little more and just get a compact acog or even a full size acog |
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Posted: 8/22/2005 11:58:42 AM EDT
[#12]
An ACOG in no way offers what a 1-4X scope offers. I have run compact ACOGs, TA31 and TA11 on my rifle for months at a time and none allow me to accutately shoot indoors, with speed, in the dark with a flashlight. The illuminated KDot was in a box and not on display. The one that was out was a different version, shorter and unilluminated. I think this scope is more usefull than a TA31 and it costs less too. I am just concerned with reliability but its sounding like these are highly regarded in Europe and we just have not "discovered" them here yet. I also wonder if the reticle will be bright enough outside. I could only point it out the glass doors and the ourside and check to see if the reticle turned black which it did not. Not being able to carryit outside and have my pupils dialate makes real assesment impossible. If I get my new upper finished and the Meuler optic is not available I will buy this thing, unless I have enough to purchase a S&B short dot which wont be till January at the earliest. Someone needs to buy one of these and post a report on it. If I were considering a CQT this thing would be a no brainer. |
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Posted: 8/22/2005 3:49:23 PM EDT
[#13]
I've got an Artemis 3200 3x9x40(42??) --30mm tube on a Browning .30-06----SWEET!!!!!
Got it for a song---dealer originally had it marked for $499---I picked it up for $249---they were slow movers because nobody ever heard of the name before---not because of quality issues. I basically got Zeiss quality at a low end Burris price. Made in the Czech(sp??) Republic The Artemis model series is basically the model line they made before the ones they are selling at SWFA now. |
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Posted: 8/22/2005 3:58:03 PM EDT
[#14]
Really? It has been mentioned in the 2 "Book of the AR-15" rags done by G&A. These too, have caught my eye but I also wonder about the brightness. I wonder what type of batteries they use...? On SWFA, it does not mention any of these being illuminated (or did I miss it), so for those in the know, how can you tell? |
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Posted: 8/22/2005 5:36:54 PM EDT
[#15]
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Posted: 8/22/2005 10:06:08 PM EDT
[#16]
Meopta is not really big here in US, but they are quite well known in european optics business like lenses, microscope and binocular.
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Posted: 8/23/2005 12:23:59 AM EDT
[#17]
David Fortier has a good write up for AR optics in the latest Book of the AR-15 from Gun&Ammo. He compares a lot of these 1-~4rus scopes including the Meopta Meostar R1 1.5-5x20mm. The key takes I got is its huge FOV 81-23.7ft and short eye relief 3.1 inch.
HTH |
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Posted: 8/23/2005 11:15:37 AM EDT
[#18]
I checked out a Meopta illuminated low power variable (I guess it was the 1.5-5) a few weeks back at a shoot and I liked it a heckuva lot.
Clarity was, IMHO, better than Leupold and the illumination was nice and bright. By no means was it S&B bright, but it was pretty bright. IIRC they are just a tad lighter than the S&B, and I thought it would be a really good deal for $700. The K-Dot reticle was cool, but I prefer the FFP CQB reticle in the PMII. I don't know about long-term durability, as the owner of the rifle had just purchased the optic, but it looked to be well built. One thing that can't be overlooked is that the optic is more AR friendly than most other intermediate powered variables out there... I think it is a nice alternative to the Horus Talon (which I still haven't had a chance to check out), the Accupoint, and the Aimpoint 3x Mag... After using a Short Dot, I feel it is really in a different league. I think it might just be worth pinching every penny possible to get one. If you are LE or MIL you can find them for a more reasonable price. |
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Posted: 8/23/2005 11:43:03 AM EDT
[#19]
Capt, was the dot bright enough to be easily seen during bright daytime?
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Posted: 8/23/2005 12:47:33 PM EDT
[#20]
Interesting scopes, what size is the center dot on the K-Dot reticle?
Also does anyone have pics and specs on the FFP CQB reticle that CapnCrunch was talking about? |
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Posted: 8/23/2005 2:26:51 PM EDT
[#21]
If their 1.1-4x22 scopes as as good as their HA70 spotting scope I own, you should be very happy.
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Posted: 8/23/2005 3:05:06 PM EDT
[#22]
It was pretty bright, but as DevL said, not Aimpoint or EOTech bright. I didn't have any problem picking it up in daylight, but I wish it were a tad brighter. As is, it was still noticably brighter than my 1.5-5 VXIII, but not as bright as the S&B Short Dot.
Yojimbo, that reticle is on the S&B Short Dot. I think it's the best available reticle design for an intermediate optic. AFAIK, only Schmidt and Bender offers it. You can find it on their site under the PM series of optics. I'd link to a pic, but with dialup and on a slow computer it'd take me forever to find it. BTW, your avatar kicks serious ass. |
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Posted: 8/23/2005 8:01:01 PM EDT
[#23]
Who has LE pricing lower than $2000? Thats the lowest I can find and its a regular price. No LE price from that vendor (from this site). |
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Posted: 8/24/2005 7:31:40 AM EDT
[#24]
Check your IM.
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Posted: 8/26/2005 9:58:05 AM EDT
[#25]
Tag.
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Posted: 8/28/2005 10:17:48 AM EDT
[#26]
Bump for any more info.
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Posted: 8/28/2005 11:00:30 AM EDT
[#27]
Are you thinking about buying one General Tso? I think the real issue here is that nobody on this forum owns one to vouch for this specific scope. I have looked over the various internet discussion boards and have found guys with Sig551 (in other countries) running the Meopta 1-4X and love the thing. I have not been able to locate a price lower than $1900 for a S&B Short Dot with LE discount and $2000 for regular purchase. I wont be buying a scope untill January or so it looks like anyway. If I cant afford the S&B I will purchase this Meopta scope and give a full report. The only thing I have found negative was SWFA mentioning that these are EXCELLENT scopes BUT the customer service if you have a problem is a pain in the ass. You need to make sure if you buy one you have a dealer that will take care of you and not just forward you to the Meopta customer service people.
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Posted: 8/28/2005 11:05:23 AM EDT
[#28]
Well, personally I'm leaning towards the Accupoint TR21 in this particular niche. If I heard more good things about it, I'd definitely give it a look. However, I'm also trying to get some more info for the imtermediate range optics comparison site I put together. If you happen come across a link to some of the feedback, let me know.
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Posted: 8/28/2005 11:13:41 AM EDT
[#29]
Here is a pic on a 552.
 March 10th issue of Shotgun News had a comparison of various scope for the AR and Meopta was in it. If you can locate that article let me know. Also I have been trying to talk to as many owners as possible and almost all of them are in Europe. They all think the glass is equal or better than Leupold VariX-III and I agree. It quite possibly could be better but is at least as good. The lack of a true 1X puts the Trijicon Accupoint out of contention for me. Its simply not usable as a dot sight and wont work with a flashlight for indor night time use. The more I learn about this scope the more I am thinking I dont really NEED a S&B for $1200-1300 more. My only hesitation is whether the SFP reticle on the Meopta has a shift in zero. That and the comparisons to IOR do not inspire confidence in me. Also I have learned the Meostar line has target adjustable turrets and a new fully multi coated lens set up so you want that and not the 3100 series. |
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Posted: 8/28/2005 5:23:13 PM EDT
[#30]
Meopta are very popular among shooters in Europe.
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Posted: 9/23/2005 9:37:53 PM EDT
[#31]
I have on on the way, I'll get a review up after I play with it
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Posted: 9/24/2005 12:16:25 PM EDT
[#32]
.......And I was so close to getting an Accupoint. I'm going to have to look into the Meostar. It might do everything I need. I know I don't need an S&B for what I do.
I'll be anxious to hear from Rampart178 after he's had a chance to us it. Tag. |
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Posted: 9/24/2005 1:33:22 PM EDT
[#33]
Just remember that a review is worthless without pics!
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Posted: 9/25/2005 4:30:12 AM EDT
[#34]
I have never heard of them eithere. Is this one a 1" or a 30mm tube. Is it a true 1x?
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Posted: 9/25/2005 6:48:34 AM EDT
[#35]
30mm tube and true 1X power.
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Posted: 9/25/2005 7:06:37 AM EDT
[#36]
DevL I was looking at these on thrusday and sent off an email asking about a couple o things, including what the actual magnification is, when I hearback, i'll post.
One thing I think would be cool is if they cut that damn sunshade down and made the scope shorter. The way you describe it it sounds like it could be done. It would be nice to see a shorter 1-4 optic. |
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Posted: 9/25/2005 9:48:02 AM EDT
[#37]
Tag.
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Posted: 9/26/2005 9:44:00 PM EDT
[#38]
Don't worry DevL, I'll have pics aplenty! Just to add some excitement to this, I'll be putting the Meopta up against a Leupold MR/T M2. Both should be at my door by the end of this week
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Posted: 9/27/2005 5:02:38 AM EDT
[#39]
tagged for future developments. |
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Posted: 9/27/2005 8:21:38 AM EDT
[#40]
called new york and talked to customer service for some info. had a hard time understanding the fella, he suggested buying the meostar r1 1-4 bec the artemis 3100 is being fazed out. he stated the meostar line is their top of the line, updated version. he really did not have to much more to say than they are really nice? maybe he needs to attend the dale carnagae class?
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Posted: 9/27/2005 12:29:48 PM EDT
[#41]
Meopta sounds like a disease of the eye.
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Posted: 9/27/2005 4:25:28 PM EDT
[#42]
mleaky sounds like a disease of the urethra. |
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Posted: 9/28/2005 2:59:00 PM EDT
[#43]
So I'll bite, which Meopta scope has:
1. mil-dot illuminated reticle 2. at least 3-9 magnification 3. at least 40mm objective lens 4. at least 3.5 inches of eye relief? and lastly where to buy? Their site is not very informative for prospective buyers. Maybe that's why they're not well known? They don't promote themselves very well. |
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Posted: 9/28/2005 3:19:51 PM EDT
[#44]
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Posted: 9/28/2005 4:54:17 PM EDT
[#45]
Taggage.
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Posted: 9/28/2005 8:14:28 PM EDT
[#46]
I think I'm gonna have to be the first to buy one of these..... CQT is tempting but only with new reticle (for me) BUT these scopes are NOT under the military section of meopta's sight, it's under the hunting or sports or whatever it is. From what I understand, the loopy's can take a hit or two.
so torn. I'm picking up the rifle I need this scope for Friday and will decide then. so torn. |
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Posted: 9/28/2005 10:19:38 PM EDT
[#47]
My Leupold MR/T arrived today and it's mounted in a Larue SPR ready to go. The Meopta Meostar should be arriving tomorrow along with another Larue SPR mount. Hopefully the "brown guy" gets here early enough for me to get some range time before work.
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Posted: 9/28/2005 11:15:53 PM EDT
[#48]
Tag.
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Posted: 9/28/2005 11:50:14 PM EDT
[#49]
tag
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Posted: 9/29/2005 12:46:09 AM EDT
[#50]
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