Dialing in a Meuller 8.5-25x today

[tammons]

Had this MkII 22lr rifle for years.
Action is in a Boyds Pro Varmint Rifle Stock for now.
The eye box of the Meuller at 8.5x to maybe 15x is fine, but at 25x it's so tight it is hard to stay centered.
And I thought it was not holding zero.
I was considering returning it and upgrading to a Vortex Viper 5-25x when I shot this 5 shot group at 85 yards with some old Wolf Target ammo I had sitting around.

9737

[tammons]

Now this scope is not holding zero or really bad mirage this afternoon.
It was very hot.
However, I have never seen mirage move a group this much at 85 yards.
Will try it again tomorrow morning when it's cool and see where the POI is.

[tammons]

Today's group.
Yesterday afternoon's problem was mirage.
But I cant believe mirage could move the image over an inch in 85 yards.

Anyway, these look pretty good.
At least #4 looks good.
25 shots total. Wolf Target ammo mag fed.
MkII in a Boyds stock topped with a Meuller 8.5-25x at 85 yards
2 warm up groups of 5.
Shot 11 was a flier.
Otherwise groups 3 and 4 look good.
I adjusted zero between groups 3 and 4.
Group 5 got away from me somehow. Probably operator error.
Dots are 1"

9738

[61Knuckle]

Looks like a good start. I've got a few Mueller Target scopes, 40x and 8~32x, and I'm fairly satisfied with them. Don't have a lot of time on the 8~32, but no complaints. My results with the Muellers have been quite adequate for my use.
Keep shooting and good luck.

[tammons]

Actually I returned it, and then tried the Mueller 40x, returned it too. And I tried a Sightron 36x.

After reading many positive reviews, I bought an Arken Optics EP5 5-25X56EP5 5-25x.
I caught a MOA model on sale on Amazon for $399 and snagged it.

I owned a Nightforce 12-42x scope years ago, and I would say this scope is close to the same clarity and build from what I can remember.

Very clear optics. The glass is made in Japan.

There are quite a few reviews if you are interested.

The only negative so far is it is heavy.

[61Knuckle]

Optics can be a very personal choice, I've tried quite a few and still have a dozen or so mounted on various firearms.
I've not tried Arken glass, I generally prefer fixed power, high mag scopes and most of my shooting is with specialty pistols from a rest. I have used their one piece mounts and like them, well made and reasonably priced. My Mueller 40x have decent glass, not Zeiss by any means, but useable. Also, I'm not going to mount a high dollar scope on a pistol that can easily have an 'accident' like happened to my Tasco(Japan) 36x. It still works great on a Contender, but the fall dinged the front so the shade is now permanently mounted.
Stay safe and keep shooting.