Field Testing the Meopta 3-15x44 Optika5 Riflescope

By Mary & Dr. Jim Clary. There are lots of good riflescopes on the market these days. The Asians have literally flooded the market with them; however, our preference still rests with either American-made or European-made scopes because of their superior glass. With that bit of bias out of the way, the question now is how to truly test a new scope for functionality. The answer for us was simple... give it to our daughter, a 29-year old archaeologist who has been hunting since she was a teenager and a girl who set an NRA record in 1,000 yard competition at Whittington Center, New Mexico in 2007.... and who killed a running 5x5 bull elk with her muzzleloader last year at 175 yards. Yep, she will put the scope through “the ringer” and if there are any problems, she will find them.

However, we are getting ahead of ourselves (call it parental pride). We received the Optika5 just five day before Susannah's current hunt. As such, Jim had to really hustle to get it mounted and sighted in on her CVA Accura rifle. To simplify the entire process, he used the Real Avid Level Right™ Pro system to ensure the reticle was not canted. Then came the “painful” part... zeroing in the rifle at 100 yards.

Jim can no longer shoot left-handed due to his defibrillator, so he had to shoot right-handed off a rest. He is a bit old for the kind of repetitive punishment that a 50 caliber inflicts on the range, but he is stubborn as a mule and sneaked out (without my knowledge). After three hours, he came home, complaining of the pain, but with great pride he showed me the target.... three perfect rounds at 100 yards. I didn't ask how many rounds it took him to get it dialed in, but he told me anyway.... somewhere between 15 and 20. Jim is a perfectionist and won't accept a “just OK target”, he wants it to be as perfect as the scope and gun can make it.

Jim determined that the click adjustments on the scope were solid and reliable. He remarked that he could feel each ¼ “ click. And the parallax correction knob (marked at intervals from 10 yards to infinity) allowed him to precisely focus, first at 25 yards and then at 100 yards. Those features alone sold Jim on the scope. The windage and elevation adjustment range of 60 MOA is more than adequate for sighting in or for field adjustments for long range shots.

But, how will our daughter like it on the hunt? We had to wait for the end of her elk hunt to get the report. And no, she didn't get an elk this time. In fact, they didn't even see any bulls as the hunt was cut short by an early blizzard. That being said, we asked her about the scope.

She remarked that the clarity of the scope matched her $1,000 target scope, from edge to edge. There was no distortion. The reticle remained sharp and clear at all magnifications. It is mounted in the second-focal plane so it does not change apparent size as the magnification is changed.


Susannah also liked the large zoom ring that easily turned when wearing gloves. That was also true for the side parallax adjustment knob. She considered these features critical for cold weather hunting.

And finally, she wanted to know if she could have this scope, as it put her others to shame. For now, that question is unanswered, as I have not had an opportunity to use it.... AND, if I like it (as she does), she will just have to buy a second one.

The detailed specifications for the Optika5 are:
Magnification: 3 - 15x
Objective Lens: 44 mm
Main Tube Size: 25.4 mm
Eye Relief: 3.6 inches
Field of View: 37.2-7.9 feet/100 yards
Focal Plane Position: 2
Dioptic Compensation: -2 / 2 D
Daylight Transmission: 91%
Impact per Click: 0.25 MOA
Windage and Elevation Adjustment Range: 60 MOA
Parallax Correction: 10 yards to infinity
Length: 13.6 inches
Weight: 21.7 ounces
MSRP: $399

And before we forget, all Meopta scopes come with their proprietary lens coatings which are anti-abrasion and anti-reflective. If that wasn't enough, they have a third coating which is hydrophobic which repels rain, dust and grease. How many other scopes can claim that?

The Optika5 line is available in 2-10x42 Rimfire, 2-10x42, 3-15x44, 4-20x44, 4-20x50 and 4-20x50 RD. And like all Meopta optics purchased in the United States, they are backed by Meopta’s Lifetime Transferrable Warranty.