Optisan CP 3-12X32P with the MIL-MH10X Reticle

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lbc_PSI

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Apr 17, 2018
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Well let me say that this has been a fairly complicated hunt. Given the size of the airgun market, you'd think that finding a quality compact scope would simple. The choices that are truely compact are limited to inexpensive, OK quality and uber-expensive, high end above what is required for the average airgunner. My definition of compact happens to be something under 11".

An additional requirement for me was that the scope had to be Second Focal Plane(SFP). I know the trend is First Focal Plane(FFP) and with FFP the hold off marks are spaced correctly regardless of power, but there's no value to something when it cannot be used. FFP works great at higher power, but when you adjust power to 3X, an FFP reticle usually shrinks into a jumble of unreadable mish-mash. SFP for close range airgunning just makes sense. Plus, with SFP, if you do need to use a mil hold-off, you can just dial to 10X, or whatever power the scope is mil calibrated for, and then use the info from ChairGun or StreLok. Chances are if you need a hold-off, it's going to be at a distance that reqires more magnification anyway.

Enter the Optisan CP 3-12X32P and CP 10X32P with the MIL-MH10X Reticle. Wow! Really compact, light, great reticle, glass, and decent warranty! What's not to like. At 9.52" OAL without sun shade and only 17oz, the CP 3-12x32 is the real deal for any compact bullpup or backpack gun.

This is a link to the CP specs..
http://www.optisanoptics.eu/apex/Global/en_US/04002/web_product_detail

I initially ran across these on a couple of European websites, but could never find a US retailer that carried them. They always had everything else Optisan, but for some reason the Compacts were a European thing. Jeff at Trenier Outdoors was one of the retailers I contacted via e-mail and he told me that he didn't have them either. Sigh. I was just about order one from an English retailer with the best price and then I got a follow-up e-mail from Jeff saying they had just gotten some in. This was a no-brainer..order from Europe with goofy euro conversions, shipping costs, and ship times..or go with a US retailer. I immediately placed my order with Trenier Outdoors and patiently waited.

A huge shout out to Jeff. He didn't have what I needed, but he went the extra mile to find it and get it in stock. To top it off, he contacted me when he had scopes in hand. Who does that these days? Needless to say, I'll be checking at Trenier first for products I need in the future. As far as I know, Jeff is the only US retailer that has these.

Given the time of year (just after Thanksgiving) I expected the wait to be longer, but was pleasantly surprised when it was in my grubby paws in just eleven days..from placing the order to UPS at the doorstep. Shipped double boxed and with the very impressive Optisan packaging.

img-CP3-12 in Box.1607619634.JPG


This is my first Optisan product so I wasn't sure what to expect.

The scope the CP is replacing is a "buget compact". You'll recognize the brand from the picture.

img-CP3-12 Compared to BB.1607619657.JPG


While it served its purpose, it had a number of annoying features. Preface the complaints about the budget detractions with it not being a current model, so things I'm complaining about could have been fixed in newer versions. Mushy clicks on the turrets..was that a click or not? A super critical eye box that made shooting in low light super frustrating. If head placement was not perfect, the sight picture would have areas of "black-out", and in super-low light you couldn't tell if what you were looking at was the dark target area or an off-center look through the scope. You'd end up twitching your head around like a nervous squirrel trying to find "the spot". AO front paralax focus that made it impossible to use flip-up lens covers. No space between bell and turret to mount a bubble-level. The list goes on, but that's why it's being replaced with the CP. :)

img-CP3-12 in Tipton.1607619747.JPG


Initial CP impressions. Fit and finish are excellent. The turrets are not "tactical" in nature..no visible mil marks unless you remove the turret caps. This is to be expected, as it is a compact scope. The tactile feel of the clicks is good. Clean clicks that you can feel and hear. It comes with a sunshade and flip-up lens covers. The scope finish which is a nice flat matte that is not reflective or shiny; which is slightly different from the sun shade anodizing. With sun shade, the OAL is just 12". Comes with an owners manual, reticle chart, and warranty card (10 year limited). The power change and parallax wheel turn firmly and feel solid. The power change wheel looks to have a spot that a lever can be screwed in (?). Setting the paralax to infinity and looking at a distant hill the sight picture is clear to the edge. The reticle is distinct and stands out against all backgrounds without being lit.

img-CP3-12 on Leshiy on Carpet.1607619775.JPG


For me, a scope also has to have the correct scale to fit the gun. It can't look out of place like the tires on a monster truck.

The Optisan CP 3-12X32P is a "GoldiLocks Scope"..not too big..not too small...just right!




 
Have you had either of the SFP 3-12x44 scopes from Discovery or Tac Vector? I'd be interested how the eye box and glass compares to the Optisan.
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Yes. I had the Discovery SFP 3-12×44. It was a decent scope for the price, but the lens covers were pretty cheap and the reticle Mil spacing was not marked so you needed to count for hold-overs. I did like the turrets, though. For me, the eye box and glass are better on the CP. I did a low light test last night..just LED solar garden light..and could make out leaves on the grass at 18yds and could make out the reticle without it being lighted (IR).

The Tac Vector had oddly spaced Mil hash marks ..wider at 5, 9, 13..so that was problematic for me, as I already had a Vortex with spacing on the "5s".
 
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Thanks for posting this. I ordered one myself to try on my Leshiy 2. I am using the USO 3x12 compact now but I’m only using 6 to 12 power as I can’t see the crosshairs below 6 power on the first focal scope. I also tried to order from European stores but had difficulty running my credit card so I have been waiting for a US dealer to pick this up. This scope got good reviews overseas with one common complaint that the smaller objective reduces the light gathering ability but I don’t think I will mind for what I’ll be using it for.
 
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lbc_PSI, 😊


I appreciate your review of the scope! 👍🏼


And your praise for Jeff at Trenier Outdoors. Isn't it great that there are people and companies like that...?! 👍🏼😊



🔶 I have a few comments, and I want to be sure that they are understood correctly: We all have our preferences, and you declared yours. Some of them I do not quite understand, or see them differently, and that's why I'm commenting.



🔶 In any case, I'm putting this scope on my Short Scope Specs Table, and that's a pretty restrictive list. Thanks for bringing this scope to our attention with your review!! 👍🏼😊



🔶FFP — solution to the problem of not seeing the crosshairs at low magnification


FFP works great at higher power, but when you adjust power to 3X, an FFP reticle usually shrinks into a jumble of unreadable mish-mash. SFP for close range airgunning just makes sense.
Click to expand...



I agree that the crosshairs of an FFP reticle are hard to see at the low magnifications.

➔ However, if you use an FFP reticle that has thick ouside posts these will guide your eyes instantly toward where the crosshairs meet and you can easily make the shot.

The other options is to use the reticle illumination (if available).





🔶For holdovers, SFP requires you to dial to the magnification that reticle has been calibrated for.


With SFP, if you do need to use a mil hold-off, you can just dial to 10X, or whatever power the scope is mil calibrated for, and then use the info from ChairGun or Strelok.
Click to expand...



I guess, just as the FFP reticle is not really usable for holdovers at low magnification (it's very small) —

so the SPF reticle is also not readily usable at low magnifications for holdovers — really not at any magnification except for one! — because SFP holdovers are only correct at the one magnification that the reticle has been calibrated for (in this case, 10x).

Or you need to carry/ memorize a trajectory table for each magnification....





🔶 When hunting/ plinking, using the reticle for holdoffs is usually only necessary for longer ranges — so reticle hash lines that are too small in an FFP are not really a problem



Chances are if you need a hold-off, it's going to be at a distance that reqires more magnification anyway.
Click to expand...



Excellent observation! 👍🏼 Agreed.

For hunting all but the lowest powered airguns have a long enough point blank range so that holdovers won't be necessary at close ranges.

And so, for holdovers at the farther ranges the FFP scope will be adjusted to a larger magnification — which means that now the holdover hash lines are larger and easy to see and to use.... 😊







🔶 The logic of capped turrets of SFP scopes — escapes me

The turrets are not "tactical" in nature... no visible mil marks unless you remove the turret caps. This is to be expected, as it is a compact scope. 
The tactile feel of the clicks is good. Clean clicks that you can feel and hear.
Click to expand...



🔸It seems that you think that compact scopes should have capped turrets. I guess, I don't quite understand that reason.... 🤔

🔸If a manufacturer puts caps on a scope it seems like they are saying: "These turrets are not made for dialing elevation. Zero your scope with the turrets, put the cap on, and leave it on!"

So, if the turrets click nicely really is not the point.



🔸What should be a point is that FFP scopes are much more appropriate for using holdovers than SFP scopes (for the reasons you explained clearly in the OP) — and so...:

If an FFP scope has capped turrets at least the holdovers are easy to do. Good. ✔️

BUT: SFP scopes are complicated for holdovers, and therefore SFP scopes should have exposed turrets to quickly adjust the elevation....







🔶 Mabye I'm misunderstanding SFP vs. FFP..... but FFP doesn't seem as negative as from the OP. 🤔



In any case, lbc_PSI, the scope you reviewed gets on my Short Scope Specs List. Thanks again! 👍🏼 😊



Matthias




 
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Matthias,

>>The logic of capped turrets of SFP scopes — escapes me. It seems that you think that compact scopes should have capped turrets. I guess, I don't quite understand that reason….
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Sorry about that. Sometimes I write something and know exactly what I mean, but it's not clear to others. What was meant was the the CP does not have Tactical Style turrets with exposed mil click marks. The CP has the mil click marks; they're just covered by the caps.

For the compact, short-to-mid range, hunting airgun application, it's more a "form follows function" thing. The tactical turrets and the ability to click to a specific distance seems like a feature I wouldn't use much. Don't get me wrong, if the CP had tactical turrets it would be great. But to me, that just seems like having a 4x4 truck to go to the grocery store in Los Angeles...you might use the 4 wheel drive when it snows once every 50 years. ;-)

If I need to make a shot at the outer range ability for my Leshiy, I'll dial to 10x and use hold-offs. It's only going to take 2-3 mil hash marks when the shots are under 75yds and I've zeroed for ~40yds.

>>I agree that the crosshairs of an FFP reticle are hard to see at the low magnifications. However, if you use an FFP reticle that has thick ouside posts these will guide your eyes instantly toward where the crosshairs meet and you can easily make the shot. The other options is to use the reticle illumination (if available).
Click to expand...

Yes, the eye will naturally try to "center" targets given references. Archery sights that have circles for the aim point use this principle. Not sure on how precise that would be for smallish targets, though. The IR reticles are great during daylight hours where the normal black reticle disappears into the target background or surroundings. In really very-low light situations, the lighted reticles, as in the BB scope above, tend become the eye's focal point and wash everything out in the target plane, rendering them useless. If only scope manufacturers would light just the center "." or "+", a lighted reticle would be much more functional. There are only a few scopes with center dot illumination and no compact scope that have this feature..at least that I've found.

>>so the SPF reticle is also not readily usable at low magnifications for holdovers — really not at any magnification except for one! — because SFP holdovers are only correct at the one magnification that the reticle has been calibrated for (in this case, 10x). Or you need to carry/ memorize a trajectory table for each magnification….
Click to expand...

Yes, agree..for the most part. Regardless of whether a scope is FFP or SFP, you still need to know what ranges the mil marks correspond to. As you point out, the difference is that with FFP the mil mark hold-offs work at any magnification..with the caveat that they are visible..and SFP works at one. On a 6x-24x FFP scope, the mil hold-offs might be usable starting around 9x or 10x and greater. The reticle is just not thick enough to make out at the lower end of the magnification unless sky is your target backdrop.

I look at a scope as a tool for a specific application. Purpose based. For an airgun like my Leshiy, where 90% of shots will be under 50yds, I don't need a FFP scope that tends to blur the reticle at low powers, or is 6x-25x, weighs 2lbs, is 15" OAL, and has tactical turrets. But for my R5 .30, where shots are 75-150yds, that same FFP scope is my goto choice. :)

/Larry
 
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Larry, 😊

I appreciate your response and talking through some of the things I mentioned. This helps me understand your preferences better, and makes it clearer for others as well, I imagine.





What I'm learning lately (through our interchange and a couple other posts) is how important the power of the gun is (in combination with the weight and BC of the projectile) — 

for the point blank range (PBR), which is important — 

for scope features that facilitate holdovers/elevation dialing — or NOT....



✔️ Your Leshiy has plenty of power.

However, my compact scope lives on a PP700, and my PBR is only 11—33y — so, yeah, I do need to dial my further out shots frequently, because after 33y my 14.0 grain pellet drops down pretty quickly.... 😟



Thanks again for your detailed response, Larry!! 😊

Matthias






 
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If I need to make a shot at the outer range ability for my Leshiy, I'll dial to 10x and use hold-offs. It's only going to take 2-3 mil hash marks when the shots are under 75yds and I've zeroed for ~40yds.
Click to expand...

I'd like to continue this discussion a bit. I'm still new to all this and trying to wrap my head around a lot of things. If you'd prefer this discussion take place somewhere else just let me know.

I'm not sure what caliber and power levels you shoot your Leshiy at, but with a zero of 40 yards wouldn't you need some hold under at closer distances where 10x might be too much?

So far my approach is to use something close to Chairgun's Optimal Zero and a conservative kill zone so I know that I will only need hold over at longer distances that a SFP reticle is calibrated for. The only time I would need hold over is for extremely close distances but that's rarely an issue.
 
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My Leshiy is set up to shoot H&N Field and Target 20gr @860fps using a 350mm bbl

Near Zero is 20yds and Far Zero is 43yds. Distances from 15 to 47 yards are +/- ~0.4”..so a hit window about the size of a penny..or within +/- half a mil.

At 14yds the hold is the same as 60yds +1 mil. So at ~50yds is where I go to 10x and use the mil marks and Chairgun.

 
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I saw this scope at the 2019 ShotShow and forgot about. That's cool it can be bought here in the USA. 

It's appealing to me as well with a great compact form factor. I have to admit that I'm a FFP guy for most of my shooting but i definitely like SFP for this kind of scope. It's when I just want to pull the rifle up and take a point blank shot while easily being able to pick up the reticle on 3x or 4x, BUT have the option to use holds at 10x where mils are correct for longer shots that aren't top of back on squirrels, etc. Then 12x for when I want to use highest magnification and dial the dope.

Like that it had 10 mil knobs and .1 mil clicks too.

Does this scope have revolution indicator lines under the turret? I saw that it does have zero reset turrets.


 
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I was comparing this scope to the Hawke Airmax 3-12x40 compact to put on my new PRod carbine. I like the Optisan for the lower turrets, lighter weight, illumination is not a big deal as I still have good eyes and if the glass is good enough you can see the reticle in low light. Just wondering how the glass compares up and that there are more companies that carry the Hawke than the Optisan. I would go with cameralandny for the hawke and trenier for the optisan. just ordered some UTG pro rings in 30mm so kind of stuck with a 30mm scope unless I use ring spacers.

Also noticing the Discovery VT-3 3-12x44 SFP compact scope has similar features at about a $100 cheaper and about the same weight as optisan.


 
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