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Let me start by clearing my conscience. I have an addiction, of sorts, but it’s not what you’re thinking (unless you’re thinking about Hoosier breaded tenderloins… I might admit to a weakness where they’re concerned…)
Actually, I was thinking about low-power, variable-optic scopes (LPVOs). Where I live and hunt, 150 yards is about it in terms of deer habitat and hunting range. To be sure, the last deer I took was with a Bear Creek Arsenal 7.62×39 AR at a measured 149 yards. The only other deer I can recall measuring a distance for was a doe I got with an open-sighted Ruger Blackhawk .45 Colt at 104 yards. That was a long shot for a six-gun.
So, I don’t need 24-power scopes designed to shoot the gnuts off a gnat at 400 yards. It just doesn’t happen around here. Eight to ten power or so is usually plenty.
I saw an ad for Griffin Armament in Watertown, Wisconsin. This company was founded in 2005 by two combat veterans, Austin and Evan Green. They make all sorts of products for shooters, from optics to suppressors – they specialize in suppressors. I think, instead of me trying to describe the many different suppressors they manufacture, you would be better off going here and seeing for yourself. They make many different lines for different guns and purposes.
I got in touch with them, and they kindly agreed to send us some items to review. Please stay tuned for future reviews of their suppressors and related products (I am currently navigating the bureaucratic weeds regarding those suppressors).
This review will cover their 1-8×24 LPVO. Let me say up front that I’ve had a fair amount of experience with that type of scope, and it has become my favorite glass to hunt with around here, for reasons mentioned above. Let’s get into it.
About This Scope
The company makes three magnified optics. There are two LPVOs and a prism scope. The overview is here. (They also make iron sights for the AR… I’ll get into those later.)
We have a 1-8×24 model before us today… You can see it here.
Here are some points to consider about this scope:
Features:
- Red or Green Illumination Available (I have the green version)
- Glass-Etched ICO™/MIL Reticle
- 11 Brightness Settings
- 24mm Objective Diameter
- 1/10th MIL Adjustment Increment (please note that this is not an MOA scope)
- 30mm Tube Diameter
- Perpetual Lifetime Warranty™ (2 Years on Electronics)
Specifications:
- Length: 11.0″
- Tube Diameter: 30mm
- Knob Width: 2.5″
- Weight: 19.0 oz
- Magnification: 1-8x
- FOV: 23° – 2.9° | 41m – 5m | 122ft – 15ft
- Max Elev. Adjustment: 29MIL
- Max Windage Adjustment: 29MIL
- Dioptric Fast Adjust: ±2 Diopters
- Parallax Setting: Fixed @ 150yds
- Eye Relief: 100mm (3.94in)
- MSRP: $489.95
Here’s a quote from the above-linked web page about this optic:
The Griffin 1-8x ICO™ FFP LPVO is a quality LPVO at a budget price. The 1-8x magnification range makes transitioning from close to medium-long range a breeze. The minimal-parallax, clear sight picture of the Griffin LPVO, combined with 11 brightness settings, makes target acquisition fast and natural in a variety of lighting conditions, from bright sunny days to dark cloudy nights. The fully-housed aluminum sight body provides a robust frame to protect the optic from drops, dings, and bumps. Hardcoated with black Type 3 Anodized finish resists scuffs and abrasions to keep your sight looking its best amidst the toughest conditions. The Griffin LPVO is ready for use right out of the box and includes flip-up scope caps, Griffin microfiber cloth, and a CR2032 battery.
The Ideal Carbine Optic™ (ICO™) reticle is a custom-designed, glass-etched, MIL/BDC reticle with ranging features and windage holds for standard-sized targets. First Focal Plane allows ranging of targets at any magnification level. The reticle allows for rapid targeting under a variety of ranges and conditions with several common cartridges.
I have to admit that this scope punches well above its price point. I’ve reviewed some pretty fancy glass, and this scope did everything it was supposed to and did it well. Even though it was designed to grace the top of an AR’s receiver, I had no issues mounting it on my Ruger American Scout .308… I did have to remove the rifle’s rear open sight, but that’s no big deal.
Let’s look at a few photos I took at my shooting bench. I took these after putting some Black Hills 150-grain .308 through it.
Here’s the ICO reticle. Remember, this scope uses MIL markings, not MOA:
More below on that.
There are 11 levels of reticle illumination. Also, remember that this is a first-focal-plane scope (FFP)… the reticle grows in size with the magnification. At 1x, it’s barely visible, so I’ll keep it dialed up most of the time.
Note the steel mounting screws below. Each ring has six screws, unlike most scopes, which use at most two on each side. Three go in on top, and the other three, on the bottom, on the other side. That way, the holding force is equal, with screws pulling from both the top and the bottom.
This was new to me. Once you have the scope set in the rings, it isn’t going to move. Another nice touch is that you only need one wrench for both the scope rings and the Pic rail mounting screws.
‘MIL vs MOA Explained
In a nutshell, MIL refers to radians. One mil (1/1000th of a radian) equals about 3.6 inches at 100 yards… one-thousandth of 360 degrees.
MOA means minute of angle, and equals one inch at 100 yards. It is more precise than the MIL system. MIL is based on the metric system, while MOA is based on degrees (1/60th of a degree).
The adjustment measurements differ between the two. MOA scope markings typically move the point of impact ¼ inch at 100 yards, while MIL markings move it 3.6 inches. One MIL is about 3.44 times larger than one MOA.
In terms of reticle differences, MIL reticles tend to be a bit cleaner and faster for hold-overs, while MOA markings can look cluttered due to the more precise markings.
Why would you choose MIL over MOA? Long-range shooting. MIL shines when you are shooting long range, and it helps if you are used to thinking in meters. Typically, the MIL system is used by military shooters and most of the rest of the world.
Choose MOA if you need precise adjustments, such as for benchrest shooting or shooting at smaller targets. It is common among hunters here in the U.S., where we tend to measure things in yards.
That’s it. Just make sure that your reticle matches the correct system. Don’t try to use MOA turret markings with a MIL scope.
Do You Need This Scope?
If you are looking for an illuminated-reticle low-power scope for close-to-mid range hunting and are familiar with the MIL system, then I say yes. For a full list price of under $500, you can get a well-made scope with a reticle that “grows” in size as you zoom in.
The FFP nature of this scope makes it easy to see your holdover markings at magnification. Plus, the mounting system is first-rate and holds the scope securely. Lastly, something as insignificant as lens covers is included, and they are the flip-up variety, not the removable, elastic things that are a pain to deal with in the field.
I like this scope, and it pairs well with my Ruger Scout. You might want to try it on your AR, or whatever you have that needs an LPVO scope.
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