I recently sold my Atacr 5-25x56 & wanted to replace it with a higher magnification, high end scope. I wanted a SFP scope, although I normally prefer FFP mil/mil scopes because my boys and I shoot at small targets at long range often. I don’t need ranging capabilities of a FFP when air gun hunting because we use a rangefinder. I also much prefer a thin reticle at distances past 100yds. The Delta Stryker, the Nightforce NX8, March and Sightron made my short list. I quickly got rid of the March because it was way to expensive for me, even though that’s what I wanted. I also eliminated the Sightron because I missed the sales and wasn’t willing to pay $1200+ for a Sightron. I ended up buying the Delta Stryker 5-50x56.
Although the glass quality, design/alignment, coatings and construction which affect the scope’s light gathering capabilities, contrast, clarity, sharpness and color rendition are very important to me, so are many other things including, adjustment range, reticle design, tracking, zero stop, durability and warranty which often get overlooked. I am not a scope snob by any means, I have lots of scopes, ranging from cheap to very expensive but I do prefer quality optics if I can afford them at the time. I’ve been lucky in that many of the guys at the club give me the opportunity to try their optics, many times side by side, out to 1000yds and under every condition imaginable. I’ve compared them all...Kahles, S&B, March, Vortex, Tangent Theta, Leopold, IOR, Valdada, Nightforce, Hensoldt, Steiner and even the Tract, Element & Arken that are hyped lately. I do shoot my air gun far more than any other gun I own and at long distances. Because this air gun gets used 3-4 times a week, I want quality glass on it. To me, it’s perfect logic to use a high end scope on the air gun I use most frequently rather than on my Elk or some other hunting rifle that may only get pulled out of the safe a few times a year.
I got this scope, the Delta Stryker 5-50x56 SFP with the DLS-1 reticle, at the end of January but wanted to use it a couple dozen times, under varying conditions, at different ranges, and at different targets before I really posted what I thought of the scope. It only took a couple of trips before I knew this scope was a winner. Now though, after using it a couple dozen times, I can elaborate a little more accurately.
Delta Optical is based in Poland and the scopes are made in Japan. Delta has made a name for themselves over the past 3-4 years because they are a super great buy for the money, even at the cost of $1525. It’s that good! The Stryker comes with flip up caps, bikini covers sun shade and a removable throw lever. This scope is a target scope, designed for target shooting, more specifically, F-Class. It is not a tactical scope, even though it has tactical turrets. Because the magnification range is 5-50, I think it can be used for a lot of different purposes though. The scope’s ED glass is amazing, color, contrast, definition, brightness are all super with no distortion or aberration. It stays sharp and focuses clearly to somewhere around 47x before losing perfect clarity/focus. I used an optical calibration/focus target at 50, 75, 100, 135 and 165yds to test. The tracking is flawless, the turrets feel and sound is exceptional too. They are quiet clicks but you can hear them. The scope has a fast focus eye piece and it’s smooth! The turrets are lockable and also have a simple zero stop system. The reticle I got was the DLS-1 MIL(@40x) reticle in the SFP. The turrets are marked with 1/20mil clicks and 100 clicks(5mil) per revolution. The numbers are large and easy to see and there is a revolution indicator. It is illuminated but because just the small center dot is illuminated, I wouldn’t call it daylight usable, even though it’s bright. The reticle is simple and easy to use, I really like it although I would prefer if they had small numbers at 2, 4, 6, 8 mil for quicker acquisition. Parallax goes from 10 yards to infinity. The eye relief is between 9-12cm which is plenty, especially for an air gun. The Stryker weighs in at 35oz. It’s very heavy but I weigh 230lbs and have never considered the difference between 1 pound or less when choosing a scope. Just doesn’t matter one bit to me although I know it will to some of you. lol The scope is 15.75 inches long and has a 34mm tube. The adjustment range is 100moa elevation and 50moa windage. The warranty on this scope is 10 years. I know some of you will say “what, only ten years?” If you’ve quality optics, or any optics for that matter, you’ll know that with rifle scopes, problems usually show them selves early on. I can’t ever remember owning a scope that had problems show themselves after 10 years. If the warranty is something that worries you, you’ll have to consider it. I really don’t know what else to add other than the scope looks super, the glass, turrets and reticle are all phenomenal and the scope works flawlessly. I’ve kept this scope on 40x for the majority of my shooting although I did crank it up to 50x for testing. Very clear all the way to 50x but not perfect, it does lose a bit of clarity at between 47x-50x or so. It was hard to tell. The light gathering capabilities after dark were terrific. Although I’ve only had this scope for 3 weeks and used it a couple dozen times, I have fallen in love with it. I recommended it to a friend here on the forum who bought one and also loves it...Maybe he’ll chime in with his thoughts. I’m probably forgetting something so if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. Before purchasing this scope, I watched and read plenty of reviews. The one thing that I kept hearing, over and over was that this scope gives you the best bang for the buck and has many features, glass quality/construction/coatings as much higher priced scopes. Dark Lord of Optics and Joe (Cyclops) are two of the best scope reviewers on line and helped talk me into this scope. I’m glad they did. I absolutely love it!!!
Sorry this post is so long, I didn’t mean it to be, I tend to ramble! Have a great afternoon.
Stoti
Here are the specs from Delta Optical:
Serie: Stryker HD
Magnification [x]:5 – 50
Objective diameter [mm]:56
Reticle
LS-1, DLS-2, DLS-3
Illuminated reticle: Yes
Angular field of view [degrees]:4.04 – 0.41
Linear field of view at 1000m [m]:7.1 – 0.7
Exit pupil [mm]:7.2 – 1.1
Eye relief [mm]:89-100
Water resistance:0.3kg/cm2
Weight [g]:1 100
Length [mm]:363
One click:0.05 MIL
Max. elevation / windage adjustment range :100 / 50 MOA
Tube:34 mm (1 piece)
Parallax Adjustment: Side focus (10 m - ∞)
Reticle position: Second focal plane(SFP)
Functional temperature range [°C]:-20 — +71
Nitrogen filling: Yes
Remarks: ZeroLock
ReticleLS-1, DLS-2, DLS-3
Although the glass quality, design/alignment, coatings and construction which affect the scope’s light gathering capabilities, contrast, clarity, sharpness and color rendition are very important to me, so are many other things including, adjustment range, reticle design, tracking, zero stop, durability and warranty which often get overlooked. I am not a scope snob by any means, I have lots of scopes, ranging from cheap to very expensive but I do prefer quality optics if I can afford them at the time. I’ve been lucky in that many of the guys at the club give me the opportunity to try their optics, many times side by side, out to 1000yds and under every condition imaginable. I’ve compared them all...Kahles, S&B, March, Vortex, Tangent Theta, Leopold, IOR, Valdada, Nightforce, Hensoldt, Steiner and even the Tract, Element & Arken that are hyped lately. I do shoot my air gun far more than any other gun I own and at long distances. Because this air gun gets used 3-4 times a week, I want quality glass on it. To me, it’s perfect logic to use a high end scope on the air gun I use most frequently rather than on my Elk or some other hunting rifle that may only get pulled out of the safe a few times a year.
I got this scope, the Delta Stryker 5-50x56 SFP with the DLS-1 reticle, at the end of January but wanted to use it a couple dozen times, under varying conditions, at different ranges, and at different targets before I really posted what I thought of the scope. It only took a couple of trips before I knew this scope was a winner. Now though, after using it a couple dozen times, I can elaborate a little more accurately.
Delta Optical is based in Poland and the scopes are made in Japan. Delta has made a name for themselves over the past 3-4 years because they are a super great buy for the money, even at the cost of $1525. It’s that good! The Stryker comes with flip up caps, bikini covers sun shade and a removable throw lever. This scope is a target scope, designed for target shooting, more specifically, F-Class. It is not a tactical scope, even though it has tactical turrets. Because the magnification range is 5-50, I think it can be used for a lot of different purposes though. The scope’s ED glass is amazing, color, contrast, definition, brightness are all super with no distortion or aberration. It stays sharp and focuses clearly to somewhere around 47x before losing perfect clarity/focus. I used an optical calibration/focus target at 50, 75, 100, 135 and 165yds to test. The tracking is flawless, the turrets feel and sound is exceptional too. They are quiet clicks but you can hear them. The scope has a fast focus eye piece and it’s smooth! The turrets are lockable and also have a simple zero stop system. The reticle I got was the DLS-1 MIL(@40x) reticle in the SFP. The turrets are marked with 1/20mil clicks and 100 clicks(5mil) per revolution. The numbers are large and easy to see and there is a revolution indicator. It is illuminated but because just the small center dot is illuminated, I wouldn’t call it daylight usable, even though it’s bright. The reticle is simple and easy to use, I really like it although I would prefer if they had small numbers at 2, 4, 6, 8 mil for quicker acquisition. Parallax goes from 10 yards to infinity. The eye relief is between 9-12cm which is plenty, especially for an air gun. The Stryker weighs in at 35oz. It’s very heavy but I weigh 230lbs and have never considered the difference between 1 pound or less when choosing a scope. Just doesn’t matter one bit to me although I know it will to some of you. lol The scope is 15.75 inches long and has a 34mm tube. The adjustment range is 100moa elevation and 50moa windage. The warranty on this scope is 10 years. I know some of you will say “what, only ten years?” If you’ve quality optics, or any optics for that matter, you’ll know that with rifle scopes, problems usually show them selves early on. I can’t ever remember owning a scope that had problems show themselves after 10 years. If the warranty is something that worries you, you’ll have to consider it. I really don’t know what else to add other than the scope looks super, the glass, turrets and reticle are all phenomenal and the scope works flawlessly. I’ve kept this scope on 40x for the majority of my shooting although I did crank it up to 50x for testing. Very clear all the way to 50x but not perfect, it does lose a bit of clarity at between 47x-50x or so. It was hard to tell. The light gathering capabilities after dark were terrific. Although I’ve only had this scope for 3 weeks and used it a couple dozen times, I have fallen in love with it. I recommended it to a friend here on the forum who bought one and also loves it...Maybe he’ll chime in with his thoughts. I’m probably forgetting something so if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. Before purchasing this scope, I watched and read plenty of reviews. The one thing that I kept hearing, over and over was that this scope gives you the best bang for the buck and has many features, glass quality/construction/coatings as much higher priced scopes. Dark Lord of Optics and Joe (Cyclops) are two of the best scope reviewers on line and helped talk me into this scope. I’m glad they did. I absolutely love it!!!
Sorry this post is so long, I didn’t mean it to be, I tend to ramble! Have a great afternoon.
Stoti
Here are the specs from Delta Optical:
Serie: Stryker HD
Magnification [x]:5 – 50
Objective diameter [mm]:56
Reticle
LS-1, DLS-2, DLS-3Illuminated reticle: Yes
Angular field of view [degrees]:4.04 – 0.41
Linear field of view at 1000m [m]:7.1 – 0.7
Exit pupil [mm]:7.2 – 1.1
Eye relief [mm]:89-100
Water resistance:0.3kg/cm2
Weight [g]:1 100
Length [mm]:363
One click:0.05 MIL
Max. elevation / windage adjustment range :100 / 50 MOA
Tube:34 mm (1 piece)
Parallax Adjustment: Side focus (10 m - ∞)
Reticle position: Second focal plane(SFP)
Functional temperature range [°C]:-20 — +71
Nitrogen filling: Yes
Remarks: ZeroLock
Reticle
LS-1, DLS-2, DLS-3
