MTC Optics riflescope reviews

When it comes to airgun optics, there’s no shortage of choice — but figuring out which scope actually earns its place in your kitbag is another matter entirely. I took the quintet of scopes in the MTC riflescopes range out into the field and put them to work in real-world conditions. This wasn’t about comparing technical specifications or marketing claims — it was about how each scope actually performed where it counts. So, let’s get on with it…

MTC Viper Connect

It was a calm Saturday morning at Camelots, around 9am, and I decided to head straight over to the HFT course to put the MTC Viper Connect 4-16×32 (shown right) through its paces. I’ve heard a lot about this scope, mainly its ultra short eye relief and panoramic field of view, but I wanted to see how it held up in a proper HFT setting, not just from a bench.

The first thing that stood out was the build quality. It’s compact, but feels solid. It’s not overly heavy, but definitely sturdy enough to take a few knocks. I’d already zeroed the scope the day before in the garden at 30 yards, so it was just a case of heading out onto the course and seeing how it performed under more realistic conditions. The glass is clean and sharp, and the AMD2 reticle is well thought out. It’s uncluttered, but with enough reference points to make holdover adjustments feel instinctive. It’s also quick to read, which matters when you’re moving from lane to lane and trying to judge range on the fly. Parallax adjustment is smooth, and the turrets give clear, tactile clicks. No complaints there.

The eye relief takes some getting used to. You’ve got to get in close, closer than most scopes with your eye almost touching the lens, but once you’re in that sweetspot, the field of view is exceptional. On the HFT course, this made a real difference, especially when spotting targets tucked into dark corners or partially obscured by foliage. It gave me a better sense of my surroundings, and I didn’t feel boxed in by the sight picture.

Through the mid-range targets, its performance was spot on. I was getting tight groups and felt confident shifting between distances without constantly second guessing my holdovers. It tracked well and held zero throughout. The ultra-wide field of view felt more like shooting with a red dot sight, but with the accuracy and clarity of a proper scope, ideal for the kind of close-in, unpredictable shots you get on a woodland HFT course.

By the end of the round, I was impressed. It won’t suit everyone. The eye relief alone might put a few people off, but if you can work with it, the Viper Connect offers some serious advantages. It’s earned its spot for my future HFT sessions, that’s for sure.

SWAT Prismatic 10×30 ATOM

I decided that I would give the SWAT Prismatic (shown below) a proper go on the HFT course as well. I’ve used plenty of scopes over the years, but this one stands out straight away. Its compact, tough and nothing like the usual long tubes we’re all used to seeing on the line. It looks different and it shoots differently, too.

Despite being a fixed 10x magnification, the clarity through the glass is excellent. The field of view is surprisingly wide for such a short unit, and the image is sharp from edge to edge. It’s easy to forget how small the scope actually is when you’re on the gun, because it doesn’t feel like you’re giving anything up. If anything, the size actually helps you, being only 123mm long and weighing 300g. The rifle feels more balanced and a bit less front-heavy, which is noticeable when you’re kneeling or taking shots from what you consider to be an awkward position.

The SCB2 reticle is illuminated and etched, with a central aim point that stands out cleanly against any background. There’s no fuss or clutter, just what you need to make precise shots. The eye relief is generous, and target acquisition feels quick and natural. There’s hunting for the right spot, which helps when you’re moving between lanes and don’t want to be adjusting your head position every time.

Out on the course, it performed really well. The parallax is factory set around 10 metres, and that worked nicely for everything from the close-range reducers to the longer stuff out past 40 yards. I was able to place shots exactly where I wanted, and I didn’t feel like the fixed magnification held me back at all. The glass quality and simplicity of the setup made it easy to just get on with shooting.

Turrets were solid and precise during zeroing, but I didn’t need to touch them after that. The scope held zero throughout and gave me confidence at every target.
By the end of the round, I had no complaints. The SWAT Prismatic might not look like a traditional HFT scope, but it ticks all the boxes where it matters. Clear, consistent and compact. It’s one of those bits of kit that just works without getting in the way.

Copperhead 4-16×44

I took the Copperhead 4-16x44F2 down to the range at Camelots to see how it stacked up. This one felt a bit off from the start. It’s heavy, bulky and not the easiest thing to get along with once mounted.

The weight is the first thing that stands out. As soon as it was on the rifle, the whole setup felt front-heavy and awkward. On the bench it wasn’t the end of the world, but it’s not something I’d want to carry around all day. Even adjusting for position, it just didn’t sit comfortably as the scope was too far forward on the dovetail, I had to really lean forward to focus in. It’s the kind of scope that feels like it’s a task to focus in on and in the way rather than working with you.

Looks-wise, it’s not my favourite, either. It’s quite clunky, with oversized turrets and a large footprint that makes it look and feel overbuilt. It lacks the refined design you usually get from MTC and gives off more of a prototype feel than a polished bit of kit.

To be fair, the optical performance isn’t bad. The glass is decent and the 4-16x zoom range offers enough flexibility for most target work. I kept it around the 10x mark for most of the session and was able to get some solid groups out to 45 yards. The reticle is functional, with enough reference points to be useful, and the parallax adjustment worked well. The turrets gave clear clicks and held zero, so in terms of basic performance it did the job.

But nothing about it stood out other than the copper ring around the lens on the end of the scope. It felt like using a scope that was trying to tick boxes without really thinking about the shooter’s experience. The bulk, the weight and the overall handling took away more than the optics gave back.

In the end, it did the job on paper, but it’s not a scope I’d choose for regular hunting use or on the HFT course. Speaking solely for myself, it was hard to see where this would sit in the market. You might have a different experience, and plenty have. For me, there are better-balanced, more refined options out there for range work, especially if you’re after something that feels like part of the rifle, rather than just bolted onto it.

Mamba Lite 4-16×42

I was keen to see how this handled in the field, so headed out for a squirrel hunt in woodland with the MTC Mamba Lite 4-16x42mm (shown above right) fitted to my Airmaks Katran. I’ve always liked a clean, straightforward scope when hunting and this one looked promising. No excess bulk, decent magnification range, and a 42mm objective that strikes a very nice balance between light gathering and keeping things compact.

The first thing I noticed once it was mounted was how well it balanced the rifle. It’s light enough that it didn’t mess with the handling, even when moving through thicker cover. That makes a big difference when you’re stopping and starting, scanning branches, and shifting position every few minutes. I had it set to around 6x for most of the session, which felt just right for woodland ranges.

The glass is clear, no question about that. The image stays crisp through the zoom range and the reticle is uncluttered with enough aim points from the SCB2 reticle to make quick holdover adjustments. I wasn’t fiddling around trying to make sense of it — it was intuitive and fast. That’s exactly what you want when a squirrel appears suddenly and doesn’t give you long to think.

The first shot of the morning was a clean one. Around 25 yards up in the fork of an old oak tree. The squirrel froze, I settled the crosshair just above the eye line, and the shot landed perfectly. The scope gave me a sharp, steady picture with no tunnel effect or distractions around the edges.

As the day went on I took a few more, all within that 20- to 35-yard range. I didn’t have to touch the turrets once after zeroing. The scope held perfectly, parallax stayed sharp, and the eye relief was forgiving enough to keep me steady even when shooting from awkward angles or leaning against a tree.

By the time I packed up, I was properly impressed. The Mamba Lite just works. It’s not flashy, it’s not overcomplicated, and it doesn’t get in your way. For woodland shooting, especially on squirrels, it feels right at home. Lightweight, reliable and clear. That’s all I need.

King Cobra 4-16x50F2

It was one of those clear, still mornings where everything felt right for a day out in the field to take on some pigeons. The birds had been active the past few days, so I packed light, filled the flask and set off with the King Cobra 4-16x50F2 mounted and ready on my Daystate Huntsman Revere. I’d zeroed it the evening before out to 30 yards, but this was about giving it a proper test out where it matters in the field.

The first thing you notice is the clarity. That 50mm objective really pulls in the light, and the image through the glass is crisp across the whole zoom range. I kept it around 6x most of the morning, but having the flexibility to crank it up for longer shots is always a bonus. The AMD2 reticle sits in the second focal plane, so the aim points stay fixed no matter the magnification. Exactly what I want when shooting at varying distances.

I set myself up in a natural hide just inside the edge of a small wood. There was plenty of movement overhead, and it didn’t take long before a pigeon dropped in and landed about 40 yards out. The scope tracked it easily. The field of view was wide enough to follow through the trees without losing it, and the reticle gave me a clean reference point. Quick, steady squeeze, and it was a solid hit.

Throughout the day I had a few more opportunities. Nothing rushed, just steady shooting. The turrets had nice, positive clicks when I needed them, and the side parallax was smooth and accurate. There was no glare or fogging, even with the sun shifting position. The scope held its zero perfectly, and despite its size, it didn’t feel overly bulky or get in the way when moving from spot to spot.

By the session’s end, I’d taken several clean shots at varying ranges. The scope performed well across the board. It’s sharp, reliable, and built to handle real hunting conditions. It didn’t just look the part, it backed it up with consistent results.