Meopta’s new MeoSport R 3-15X50 scope.
This report covers:
- MeoSport R 3-15X50 RD SFP
- The scope
- Adjusting the reticle
- Metrification
- Illuminated reticle
- Comes with 2-piece rings
- How clear and sharp?
- Avenger
- Best of all
- Summary
Rarely does something line up for me so I can report on it right after I have seen it. Today is one such rare day.
Remember the scope I told you about on Day One of the 2022 SHOT Show? It’s the MeoSport R 3-15X50 RD SFP. Here is what I told you just four weeks ago.
MeoSport R 3-15X50 RD SFP
“This is an entry-level scope for those who want a Meopta but don’t want to pay great big bucks. Unfortunately they can’t just give it away, either. So it’s priced at a retail of $450. It has a 30mm tube for a bright image. But here is the deal. It isn’t just the scope, it also comes with the mounts. And the mounts are kinda special.”
The scope
The scope was delivered to me last Saturday and I have been planning this report ever since. The MeoSport R 3-15X50 RD SFP is a variable power rifle scope that magnifies the image up to five times — that’s the 3-15. The scope tube is 30mm for good light transmission and the MeoBright lens coating gives you superior performance in low light.
SFP stands for second focal plane, which means it is like most other scopes on the market today and you don’t have to worry about the size of the reticle lines changing at different power settings.
The parallax adjustment that many consider to be the final focus on their scope is a knob on the left side. Of course you should first focus the eyepiece so the reticle appears sharp before doing anything else.
The label on the box tells you a lot, and shows you the reticle in the scope.
The scope adjusts for parallax from 10 yards to infinity — making it a scope suitable for airguns. The reticle adjusts one centimeter (0.394-inches) for each click at 100 meters.
Adjusting the reticle
The reticle is a 4C. You can see what it looks like on the box label above. The center dot is all that illuminates.
The turret knobs are locked in place and do not move until you raise them. Then they click smoothly. If you want to reset either scope knob you can unscrew the center with a coin and lift the knob above the clicks. That allows you to reset your starting point wherever you like.
The elevation knob is down and locked.
With the adjustment knob pulled up the elevation can be adjusted.
Metrification
The reticle adjustment knob adjusts the reticle by one centimeter at 100 meters for each click. But the parallax adjusts in yards. That’s for American field target, where the distances in matches start at 10 yards. In World Field Target the minimum distance to targets is 10 meters, which is 11 yards. This sport is evolving toward metrification to unify all competition.
Illuminated reticle
The R in the name stands for an illuminated red dot reticle. There are 11 levels of illumination and I find that in daylight I need to set the reticle to 9 through 11 to see the dot in the center. That dot is all that lights up — much like the Optika5 and Optica6 illuminated scopes I have tested for you.
Comes with 2-piece rings
I showed you this scope in my SHOT Show report and here it is for us to test. The bottom of the scope has a line in the center of the tube and the front scope ring (or at least the ring I have designated as the front ring). The line is on one side of one ring, only and I will designate that as the front of the front ring.
The scope has a line at the bottom center of the scope tube.
One scope ring has a corresponding line on one side at the bottom center of the ring. I will designate this as the front side of the front ring.
When you mount the scope aline the line of the bottom of the scope tube with the line on the ring and the scope is level!
How clear and sharp?
The scope’s clarity and sharpness really need to be evaluated with special test equipment. I can’t look through a scope with my 74-year-old eyes and tell you much of anything. As far as I can see when the scope is hand-held, the image is sharp and clear. I need to mount it on a rifle to judge any further. And that is my plan, which is why I’m writing this report today.
Avenger
The next time you see this scope it will be mounted on the.25-caliber Air Venturi Avenger Bullpup rifle I’m testing. That’s why the arrival of this scope is so fortuitous. Guess what’s coming tomorrow ?
Best of all
I told you the best news when we first saw this scope last month at the SHOT Show. It’s priced at $450, which puts it into an affordable class for those wanting a great scope. It helps you keep the overall cost down for a first-class rig.
And when I saw this scope that first day at SHOT I walked it over to the Pyramyd AIR booth so they could see it with me. Given the retail price and features it offers I have no doubt they will stock it.
Summary
This MeoSport line of scopes is brand new and we are looking at their first offering. They are proud of it and given what I have seen so far they have a right to be. We shall see more in the Avenger accuracy test.
BB,
So the rheostat controlling the brightness of the red dot is located on the left side right next to the knob that adjusts parallax? What does the RD stand for in MeoSport R 3-15X50 RD SFP? You mentioned the R in the name stands for an illuminated red dot reticle and SFP is for the Second Focal Plane. Could there be a G where the dot is green?
Siraniko
Siraniko,
No, the dot is only red. I will ask what the RG stands for.
BB
Siraniko,
Okay, I heard from Meopta. The first R after the MeoSport stands for Riflescope and the second RD stands for Red Dot.
BB
BB,
Thanks for clearing that up!
Siraniko
You just had to mention Avenger and get me into the conversation..
I have a question about the reticle.
Why only have 4 dots for holdover, and 6 or 8 dots above the aim point?
I hold over a lot more dots than I hold under…
Ian..
Thanks BB!
I’m looking for a scope which is exactly in this category. This may be a very interesting tool!
I never considered illumination as a factor to buy a scope until I had one NikkoStirling with this option. I found it very usefull. I’m not sure if it is better to have only the dot illuminated without bottom-left-right dots. I would like to see it all illuminated. But – never seen it live, it migh have sense though.
We talked already about this lines to level the scope – I wonder if it brings more confusion at the end 🙂 I’m interested about your report when installing the scope.
tomek,
Tomorrow.
BB
WOW! Great, can’t wait for it!
Well, they are heading in the right direction for me. The power of the scope, the size of it and the price is coming down. I am holding out for UTG to offer their BugBuster line with etched glass reticles. This would be awesome with an etched glass reticle.
/product/utg-3-12×32-ao-bug-buster-rifle-scope-mil-dot-reticle-1-3-moa-1-tube?a=7972
Anybody have a 4x or 6x BugBuster they would not mind sending to a new home?
Oooops!
Avenger
…Air Venturi Avenger Bullpen (pup) rifle I’m testing.
PS: Just so you know, I am officially jealous of you folks with indoor ranges available.
RR,
I corrected that before publishing yesterday. And just now when I corrected it, WordPress still changed it back.
WordPress must be coded by a baseball fan. 😉
BB
B.B.
I hope you get to tell us about all the Meopta scopes! They seem great, now only if this current model had 16X as the maximum, it would be great at FT Hunter class. Why would a company make a 15 X scope for a 16 X competition?
-Y
Yogi,
You must remember, these guys know nothing of field target beyond what I have told them. The 15 is a result of five times magnification — from 3 power.
Their world is firearms and military optics. They are just learning about airguns. I thought the level line was a bright idea.
BB
I agree the level line is a bright idea. Help PB’s as much as airguns.
Tom, please educate them!!!!
-Y
BB-
Well sir, I’ve held off a couple days admitting this. Sad fact is, either my wretched ways have come home to roost, or it was just simply my turn in the barrel. I just checked and the durn thing’s still sitting in the gun room. It followed me home from Saturday’s auction. A Ballard #5 Pacific. Not on my radar. Heck, I didn’t even have the set turned on. Son wanted to check out the auction and I said I’d ride along. Loads of full and half-stock muzzleloaders. Some dandy Vincents. Highlight was a 1939 dated Cecil Brooks heavy barrel target rifle, gavel price of $12,500 ( plus fees and sales tax). There were a couple things I thought I was interested in but they went high. By then we were getting close to the Ballard and my son wanted to see it sell. He is working on a Ballard action project gun. Internet starting bid and I raised the bid once… and got it!
Typical #5 in 38-55. Ring lever and double set trigger that is so light I’m not sure I can feel it properly (neuropathy from a decades old neck injury). Has a ‘creative’ poured nose cap and a cracked butt stock that I’m hoping I can heal. Hope to get shooting soon. Wish me luck!
Paco,
Oh, you lucky dog! A Ballard #5 Pacific! With double set triggers, no less.
I think you’re going to like it! 😉
BB
And a sling swivel on the lower wiping rod pipe. I assumed it was added later, but my son came across a period photo in one of Venturino’s books showing a #5 with a sling on the lower pipe. As everyone says- ‘If only they could talk’.
How about a guest blog about it and your future work on it.
I have no idea what it is, tell me more…
-Y
pacoinohio,
Looked it up. It’s a beautiful gun. Hopefully you can heal the cracked buttstock and shoot it.
Siraniko
Well, I see CPA has replacement stocks, if all else fails. I’d rather retain the original if possible. It’s a nice straight line crack, but ooolllllddddd. Have to see if the surfaces clean up.
And then there is the issue of finding brass…..
Paco,
You said it was a .38-55? I have a bunch of new Starline brass I’d give you.
Email me at blogger@pyramydair.com, and give me your address.
BB
pacoinohio,
“I’m not sure I can feel it properly (neuropathy from a decades old neck injury).” I have a 3M Scotch Brite pad (sandpaper was the Old School material of choice) that i use to Wake Up my palms and especially my fingertips. You just rub you fingers/hands on the pad before you shoot and during a session to increase the nerve sensitivity; give it a try.
It works for swimming (feeling the water) and when kayaking for paddle feel also!
shootski
Shootski-
Thank you for the reminder. I’ve used sandpaper many times in the past. It is an effective way to increase ‘feel’. My neuropathy has advanced a bit far. I keep wondering why I have blood spots on my work pieces, not realizing I’ve nicked a digit.
But this trigger, though…… The rear ‘set’ trigger snicks into position with the barest of movement. The front ‘firing’ trigger releases at less than two ounces, I’m guessing (battery died on the Lyman gauge). Too light for me. I like to think and then fire the gun. Not fire and then try to get my brain pan unit to catch up.
Paco,
The front trigger doesn’t have to be set. It will fire the rifle with a heavier pull.
BB
BB-
Yes, I know. But not use the set trigger? That would be like the pretty girl consents to going to the dance with you, and you don’t dance with her! The Marlin company put a lot of effort into this trigger 135 years ago. And to not use it as intended? I just don’t know…..
Paco,
That trigger was intended to be used both ways. The set feature is for when the target is distant.
BB