Scope test: Optisan EVE 4-16 x 44 Pi

The editor looks at a great all-round model from Optisan

Despite their finger friendly size, the adjusters live under proper screw-on caps

credit: Archant

I’m constantly surprised at the number of people who will pay top dollar for a high-end, pre-charged pneumatic rifle ,and then fit a cheap scope to save money. I just don’t understand it. If you’ve bought a flagship Air Arms, BSA, Weihrauch or Daystate you need a scope that can match their performance and build quality. At £300 pounds, some people might consider this Optisan EVE 4-16 x 44 Pi to be at the top end of the airgun scope market, but compared to £1500 for a rifle, it still seems relatively affordable and allows the gun to show its worth.

This model sits in the middle of the range and offers a specification that makes great sense to me. The range of magnification covers any airgun hunting situation you could think of, and the 44mm objective lens is easily big enough. When you go to a larger lens than this, you add weight, cost and suffer the need to use very high mounts, and they can compromise handling. You also increase the likelihood of significant parallax error, which can cause infuriating missed shots that we find hard to explain.

Classic design

At 780 grammes this is no lightweight, but it’s not excessively heavy, either, when you consider that it offers finger-friendly windage and elevation adjusters, an illuminated reticle, and flip-up lens covers included in the asking price. These are high quality, appearing substantially built, and they allow the covers to lock flat against the body, putting them out of the way and in less danger from being snapped off. I like low-profile adjuster drums and the ones used here are just right for my needs, being big enough to move with a gloved hand, yet nicely tucked away under screw-on metal caps.

In a world where reticles are becoming more fantastically complicated by the day, I was pleased to see the MH-10 fitted here. It’s plain to see that it’s based on the classic mil-dot design and has intermediate hash marks added for greater precision. It also has windage dots below the central mark that increase their offset as your hold-over goes up. It’s also illuminated with a good range of brightness adjustability. Best of all, the reticle is bold enough to be seen clearly in difficult light conditions

This scope makes great sense to me and would be a great choice for anybody looking for good-quality optics to match a high-quality rifle. Everything works in the field just as it should, and it’s a modestly proportioned package that delivers big performance.

Specification

Manufacturer: Optisan

Importer: Optics Warehouse

Web: opticswarehouse.co.uk

Tel: 01803 611895

Model: EVE 4-16 x 44Pi

Length: 380mm

Weight: 730g

Body tube: 30mm

Recticle: Mil-MH10 Second focal plane

RRP: £301.00 includes lens covers, screw-in sunshade extension

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