Meopta’s new trio of MeoPro riflescopes are compact versions of the company’s top-shelf Artemis and Meostar series. Advanced ion- assisted multi-coated lenses transmit an industry-leading 99.8 percent per lens surface coatings to provide a crystal clear view.
For several decades the best scope sights were justifiably expensive. This was particularly true where European scopes were concerned, because of their superiority with regards to the lenses and coatings and the mechanical preciseness of their adjustments as well as their construction. Today, after technology has grown exponentially in the optic zone, manufacturers have come up with many innovative solutions to improve riflescopes. Computer designed scopes have elevated to new levels of performance. Not only are they brighter and sharper, but accompanied by a significant lowering of prices. In the past to get this kind of brightness you had to pay dearly for it. But a high price tag is no longer the sole indicator of the optical quality of a scope. Although largely unappreciated Meopta Meostar riflescopes have long been an exceptional value, offering a level of performance way out of proportion to their price tag. Now, Meopta is offering its new economical MeoPro line about half the price of what its premium Meostar line costs! In terms of value, this is unprecedented where European scopes are concerned!
Early Meopta had a line of scopes with one-inch tubes that were very popular, but for some unknown reason they dropped them in favour of 30mm models designed for the European market. But while Aussie hunters like the optical clarity and mechanical quality of Meopta scopes, they do not like the features that seemed better suited to European guns and the Continental style of hunting, such as large 56mm objectives, thick 30mm diameter tubes, and reticles with fat outer bars and thick centrewires.
Aussie hunters have always shown a preference for American- style scopes which are lighter and smaller, with reticles that are general rather than special purpose. No matter whether it is an economy or top-of-the-line model , the overwhelming choice for a light sporter is a 3-9×40 with a duplex reticle. This popular combination of features is entirely adequate for the stalking rifle to be used at short, medium or long range and certainly adequate for normal varmint-predator work.
Meopta chose to emulate the example of Zeiss who brought out their Conquest range and developed a line of scopes whose features and price range are more in keeping with the established tastes of Aussie hunters. Designated as MeoPro, this line is limited to a 3-9x42mm, 4-12x50mm and 6-18x50mm, all equipped with the Z-Plex II reticle which is similar to the classic duplex.
I received a 3-9×42 and a 6-18x50mm from Winchester Australia for evaluation. Each Meopta is assembled on a one-piece aluminium alloy body with anodized matte black finish. To reduce glare, the finish is applied to the interior components as well. The MeoPro’s lenses are manufactured in compliance with German environmental standards to be as lead and arsenic-free. Like the MeoStar the Meopros have the MeoShield exterior lens coating which exceeds military spec MIL-C675 for severe abrasion resistance which affords protection even in the harshest of environments. Additionally, the scopes are O-ring sealed and nitrogen-purged to proof the scope against the entry of moisture and fogging.
All of the lenses for MeoPro scopes are multi-coated with Meopta’s proprietary MeoBrite 550 ion-assisted anti-reflection lens coating, which yields increased contrast and an industry leading light transmission of 99.8 percent per lens surface.This allows the 4-12x and 6-18 MeoPros to match the light transmitting ability of many 56mm scopes.
It would be more realistic to list the total amount of light a scope transmits instead of how much each lens surface transmits. If each multi-coated lens in a scope transmits 99.8 percent of available light, a 6 lens scope will transmit 94 percent, while a 10 lens scope will transmit only 90 percent. Variables and adjustable-objective scopes have more lenses. I have no idea of how many lenses there are in the MeoPro scopes, but from a practical point-of-view even if it has 10 lenses the MeoPro is going to transmit almost 98 percent of available light. Tested from 20 minutes before dark ‘till full darkness, it proved to be a lot brighter than a good many other scopes I’ve tested.
Other efforts to enhance optical clarity include an innovative mechanical erector system which delivers smooth, precise magnification adjustment with no change in point of impact throughout the entire range. The MeoQuick fast-focus eyepiece allows you to instantly adjust the scope’s +2/-3 diopter setting to accommodate your eyesight, keeping both the target image and reticle in razor sharp focus. And both scopes held their focus as I ran them up and down the magnification range. Many don’t! Eye relief is 95.25mm – adequate even for heavy recoiling magnum rifles.
The MeoTrack II posi-click system adjusts windage and elevation in precise 1/4-minute increments with superior tracking capabilities and exceptional shot after shot repeatability. The preciseness of windage and elevation adjustments were confirmed by shooting the square. Each three shot group printed inside the one inch aiming point and the way the last group overlapped the first group at 100yds. indicated both scope’s were tracking perfectly. This is rare enough in hunting scopes to be noteworthy.
The MeoPro’s second plane reticle is etched on glass. Subtension is fixed, and reticle doesn’t increase in size as the power is increased. The 3-9x’s 42mm eyepiece offers a 36.3 feet field of view at 3x and 12.1 at 9x. Exit pupil dimensions are 14mm at the lowest setting and 4.6mm at the scope’s highest magnification. Parallax is fixed at 100 yds. A generous 70 inches of windage and elevation adjustment is provided.
With an overall length of 12.4 inches and a one-inch diameter tube, the scope presents no mounting problems with most rifles and mounts. However, one should take notice of the rubber buffered eyepiece which is 76mm long (focused for my eye) with a diameter of 44mm. When mounting it on my Mauser .30-06 it required high rings for the Leupold Q/R mount in order to clear the bolt handle. At just 16oz (454 grams), the 3-9×42 MeoPro is relatively light for a full-size hunting scope
The 6-18x50mm MeoPro is just a bit more of a good thing, but just as with any high-range variable, the field shrinks to 18.3 yds on 6x and 6.1 yds on 18x and weight is increased to 19.4oz (556 grams). Length is 15.4 inches. Also whereas the 3-9x42mm and 4- 12x50mm have low adjustment turrets, the 6-18x50mm has high target-type turrets which are capped and operate with a tactile and audible “click.” A parallax adjustment knob on the left side of the centre turret allows parallax adjustment from 50yds to infinity. Most shooters will find this turret-mounted parallax adjustment much more convenient than turning the objective bell housing. The magnification ring is wide and grooved with a finger pad. A 180 degree turn is required between the highest and lowest power settings on both scopes.
For range testing I mounted the 6-18x50mm on my Model 70 .270 WSM. With its 50mm objective lens, the scope has a twilight factor of between 17.32 (6x) and 30 (18x). After testing my sample on various objects in heavy shade and dusk I was much impressed by the scope’s ability to clearly and sharply distinguish light and dark objects.
Meopta MeopPro riflescopes with second plane reticles are second to none. It used to be that a high price tag was an indicator of optical quality inside a scope. But times, they are achangin’! For my kind of hunting, I’m happy to pay around $500 for a hunting scope since I rarely find anything more expensive to be worth the extra money.
In the age of growing objectives and overweight tubes, Meopta is downsizing a bit, and the 3-9×42 MeoPro with one-inch tube adds up to a compact, low-profile scope that mounts low over the receiver. Meopta’s superior glass and lens coatings deliver excellent low-light performance, and eye relief is long enough to accommodate magnum and large calibre rifles.
I predict that the Meopta MeoPro line will become a hit with Aussie hunters because they deliver top performance at modest prices. Target images are just as sharp and bright as their high resolution rivals, the more costly 30mm Meostars. No longer does the discerning rifleman have to fork out from $1000 to $2000 and more for superior European optics. These days a more affordable option exists.
This article was first published in Sporting Shooter, May 2012
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