Thanks for these serious reviews. I don't get it- there's a lot of anecdotal "it's crappy" comments out there, but every time a reputable channel actually seriously tests Monstrum systems, the result proves performance is right there with anything else in its class. I topped off an AR pistol with the 1.5x blackbird prism, it's excellent.
100% But I get it. We're all a little dubious of anything this cheap being good considering a comparable Vortex or Athlon scope costs more than a grand or two. Hope you subscribed.
That's good to know. We were thinking about getting one for our pa10 which currently has a sig buck master 3-12 and it's just not getting it done for us
Hope you enjoy it! Check in after you've had a chance to test it yourself and let me know if I'm accurate. Remember, my opinion is based on a sample of 1. Hope you subscribed.
I’m a new viewer, this being my 2nd review made by you, and I enjoy your content. I have a Falcon by Tacticon which also came as a similar package, yet less sophisticated reticle. I have not done much testing yet, but for $100, it more than meets the objective of close range work with a basic mil-dot reticle. I may also try one of their red dots that have a solar panel on them to recharge battery. As a tactical minded prepper, I think about e.m.p. signals wiping out my electronics, and as a result, find myself studying LPVO’s more than ever, whereby a red dot and all fully electronic devices being vulnerable to suddenly being worthless, whereby a laser etched reticle isn’t going anywhere. Sometimes simple and traditional offers more than state of the art technology which has restrictions in extreme temperatures and other vulnerabilities mentioned. A lot to think about in the times we are living in. Stay safe and be well. Thanks again for the quality reviews.
Thanks! Hope you subscribed. Tacticon is a new company. They appear to be rebranding from OEMs similar to the brands CVLife, MidTen, EZshot (brands I've also tested). You make a good point of LPVO's still working without illumination.
I like monstrum product's. I've got 2 of their banshee lpvo's, a 1-10 and a 1-8. Have one of their cheap 3x9 scopes on my son's little 22. And their raven 5x prism i think it is. All of them are worth the asking price in my opinion. Eventually I'll replace my 1-10 with the new Arken EP8 when they are a little more readily available. Thanks for the video.
Great review. I bought this and feel alot like you about the illumination. The clarity for 10x is impressive for the price point. Very happy with my purchase. Holds zero perfect so far, although I am not abusing it, I'm just shooting prone and standing with my 308 AR. Let's see the torture test.
@Tavis15ify it's held up well! I just broke in some 308 drums and mags. I have well over 800 rounds on this scope ..I have a video up where I get a range warning ⚠️ 😜 check the Armory Playlist. I'll be installing a scope switch with this scope soon, And I'll have that on the 308 for a while.
Love the review, glad i subscribed. I have the spectre 1x10 on a build and plan on getting this one for a Ar10 build. They also have a fiber option know and im keeping my eye on there fiber banshee 1x6 for a future ar build.
I really love the new Hornet. 6-24x50 FFP and very bright HD glass and a typical christmas tree style reticle. Very, very nice on my 6.5 Grendel. For $169, difficult to beat.
I'm finding all 1-10x I've tried (this included) have unforgiving eye boxes. Even some 2,000 high end ones. I'm starting to favor 1-6x LPVOs because they have slightly better eyeboxes.
@@Moondog2A I was thinking about maybe putting this on a 5.56 AR but that illumination at 1x and eye box sounds like a no go. It could still be pretty nice on a pcp air rifle or .22lr for squirrels or rats, where it's nice to have a wide field of view then zoom in on a small target.
@@supergreatairgunreviews I Feel like LPVO’s do better as Second Focal Plane optics from my experience. At 1x most of the First Focal Planes I’ve used even NightForce, I have trouble seeing the reticle well.
I picked one up from Monstrum. It's still in the mail and should be here soon. Thought I would give it a try to see how good it is. Ya know, when you watch reviews of really expensive optics, you still hear the same complaints as you do about the cheap ones. So why not.
Enjoyed the video and considering purchasing one. I would like to see the torture tests because the first plane scope I really liked, particularly the reticle, did not pass one, by two different people on youtube. I still might go that direction hoping I get a good one just because I like their reticle that much better.
First hand experience. Watched a nice video comparing this budget LPVO to a $2000 dollar one. Obviously it has some shortcomings in comparison, but if you dont have the budget for the $2k one, this one absolutely delivers 80~90% of what a normal gun user is trying to get out of their LPVO. It just WORKS. Popped it on my brothers .243 and with just quick zeroing we, as newer shooters, were hitting 1~2 MOA at 200. The one we ordered came with the ring mount as well so that just added to the value. Just get it.
@@Moondog2A 200 yds, and that is just as much the rifle as the scope i know, but being able to get it set up and hitting like that, and quickly, was really nice. Like I said, the scope has insane cost/value ratio for a normal person. And that was the main point of my anecdotal evidence.
Thank you i shot 120 rds in my 223 wylde using match ammo this panzer held up very well... ill let you know after 1000rds its a great budget optic if anyone wants to know
Very pleased with my Panzer. Only one issue. The battery has died after one week. The illumination does not seem to shut off at the off position between red and green.
I really want to like this scope. I put it on top of ruger sr762 and shot it this weekend. Reticle started rotating clockwise. Starting my warranty process today
I had a 2-7x Monstrum Tactical and had to return it multiple times because it wouldn't hold zero on a Ruger 10/22. I finally had to scrap the idea of using it on a rifle and gave it to my grandson who uses it as a spotting scope for air rifle matches. Got a Hawke scope, and that works well. No illuminator, tho.
Interesting, mine arrived the other day, there is no play on the adjustments and the illumination appeared brighter on a white surface in daylight , there was a bit of overcast but pretty visible . Could have been it was a beta / early release of the scope but if that was the case it's Monstrum's fault for not providing you a production version
as an owner of this optic, I can say I've had good and bad experiences. the good: 10x zoom, FFP, clarity of glass, Customer support The bad: internals began to rotate after shooting roughly 200 rounds of .223, had to pay to ship it back to Monstrum. overall, the customer support responds quickly. Depending on hours, you could have a response the same day! (quickest response I had was 30 minutes from when the email was sent). After shipping the defective optic, they sent a brand new replacement. Now I have to put it to the test and see how many rounds can go through it before breaking again. Hopefully, it does not break at all🤞
Chinese glass has come a long way, indeed. The problem for this optic is that the Blackhound 1-8 for $220 (when on sale) exists, and the Arken ep8 for $300 (when on sale) also exists. Both have solid glass and better FFP reticles, IMO.
@MoondogIndustries I haven't personally put hands the EP8, but the 8x does look... gimmicky. The Blackhound reticle is brilliant all the way through it's range, but the illumination leaves quite a bit to be desired.
Definitely isn’t their first ffp scope they’ve had 1-3x 1-4x and 1-6x ffp scopes for a while now but this is the best reticle and their first 1-10x in ffp. I actually have an old 4-16x monstrum that’s a ffp reticle too and I bought that 4-5 years ago. Actually a nice scope for $149 I paid for back then. I have their 2-10x sfp with the bdc-b1 reticle I believe. I can’t keep up they have like 3 different bdc reticles now. The one I have has the bdc and the windage moa hashmarks too center dot in a segmented circle. So far seems like a really nice scope for $89 came with a nice mount throw lever scope caps and an extra battery
You are right, the lens has a warm tone or filter. By the way Moondog, how do you make the focus ring turn smoother? can i just add multi-purpose oil? I noticed the Banshee didn't have any chromatic abberation compared to this FFP lens.. plus the SFP is cheaper by a $20. In your opinion does the SFP have a better lens than the FFP?
Would you say that it is better than the swampfox arrowhead 1-10 or the PA nova? Obviously apples to oranges. How stiff is the throw lever? PST/Nova stiff or K16I/K18I light? Those mounts are my go-to, even on optics that go for over a grand. Specifically the 7075 version. Have yet to see an issue with them and see no reason to buy another MI, ADM, etc when I have yet to see a failure with it.
I haven't compared the Swampfox so can't say. But the PA Nova is brighter than either but it's a SFP and only a 1-6 so it's hard to compare to the Panzer. The throw is stiff (PA stiff), but what can you expect for that price?
So basically its a fantastic first attempt! Monstrum really tries their best to offer bang for buck, but the real test is field function and longevity/durability. I had a 1-4 lvpo from them years back. And while it was genuinely excellent, the crosshairs broke despite babying the system. And it was only a .223 system. Im not complaining, but i did move on to a different manufacturer. Just my .02
I’ve had this optic for less than a month and have about 60 rounds through it and the crosshairs are tilted to the right about 15-20° and yes I leveled the scope and torqued everything. I’m sending it back and getting another one and hoping I don’t have this issue again
You should send it back. If a scope fails to hold zero, I found out in about 2 mags or less. So far that's not happened for me with a Monstrum scope but that doesn't mean it can't happen.
I want one reallllyy bad but i am worried about the reticle being too small in close range plinking like barbasol cans or chicken noodle cans say 20 to 35 yards if i can’t see the cross hair on 1 power those would be real tough shots for me 😊
Yeah I got this a couple months ago and And it was only worth what I paid for it. I was hoping to get a better value And performance and recipe From it but even though I'm keeping it I didn't. I wish I kept looking
Just got mine. Can you please explain what the "diopter" actually does on this scope? Mine literally just threads on and off but what is supposed to be adjusting? It's basically a threaded cap with no function or purpose? Thanks in advance.
The diopter focuses your reticle so that it should look as sharply in focus as your background. To some degree it also helps bring your background in focus. You need dial it to the best balance between the two. Hope you subscribe.
I agree with you. A 1st focal plane feature on an LPVO doesn't make a lot of sense to me as the whole reason for these scopes is to be able to shoot quickly at very close range and then also have ability to shoot out to a few hundred yards on a higher power. The 1st focal plane feature makes the reticle tiny on 1X making it very difficult to aqurire quickly, At long range the reticle gets larger and thicker but that is where we normally want a finer reticle that wouldn't cover as much target area allowing a more precise shot. While a 1st focal plane scope is good for range finding as you can range find at any power chosen, IMO it's not the reticle you want in an LPVO
I'm still struggling to find just who is really using a FFP LPVO? Some LEO guys say they like the option of taking precision shots in a hostage situation but how often does that happen?
@MoondogIndustries super vision is a super power. I want to be able to see even further then I can shoot. Nic3 to have something like this, but it needs a scope switch so you can actually activate the zoom on the fly IMO. That's what I'm looking into now for mine
So, I just got the Panzer about a week ago and the first thing I noticed was that the elevation turret markings were backwards. I see on your video the same thing on the scope your reviewing, but you don't say anything about it. I call ed Monstrum and they are sending me the ,"correctly marked," turret. I should have it by this Saturday. Seeing that the scope in your video has the same problem, I have to ask if this is bad QC or this is what Monstrum intended? I can't believe that they would manufacture a scope that is 180 degrees from every other company, including Monstrum.
I just thought that was their choice in direction. I have some Athlons and a Hawk scope that are the same orientation from low to high numbers as this Panzer. But my Vortex and SIG numbers go the opposite. And I have a Discovery and an Arken scope that has increasing numbers in both directions. So there really is no "backward". As long as you know which goes up and which goes down it's the same whether you go +5 or -5 clicks?
@@Moondog2A I have been shooting long range competition for years and I can tell you that counterclockwise is always up on elevation and number just as counterclockwise on windage is always right. Even the other Monstrum scopes are that way. Everything I own, from Monstrum to Vortex to Sig, all the same.
Can u explain something to me? I just bought one and the turret is incorrect, how come u didnt notice it this? When u turn up on the turret, the 2 should be where the 28 is at on the left side and ending on the 28 on the right side? Snapped shot already so take ur best shot
Yes, but u could of called them out on it and it would have been changed by now after all these months. Just wandering y u did not mention it to ur viewers?
A Monstrum Banshee (~$130) would be a good option if you don't have a good eyes anymore like many of us. amzn.to/3SjlB8d But if you want lighter weight, consider a red dot if your eyesight is good. Hope you subscribed.
@@mobilegamersunite That's an excellent assessment. I still prefer the PA ACSS reticle above all but their prices are rising to the same tier as Athlon which is just a step below Vortex.
BTW, I'd recommend a 1-6x Banshee for hunting at 100yrds. It has a better eyebox than the 1-10x and you honestly don't really need 10x to take down anything smaller than a squirrel at 100yrds.@@tedshickell7315
Monstrum seems to be the only budget company worth a damn. When you were looking at the top of that hill, just before you mover the scope, I could just make out a person moving in and out of view.
Yeah, I could see the hikers. I didn't mention it in the video because RU-vid censors might think I'm advocating aiming at hikers. Hope you subscribed.
I have to ask, as someone who wants to get his first decent combat quality optic. Would you recommend this or would you recommend a 1-6 from monstrum or should i just wait, save up and get an ACOG??
The best military-grade optic I've tried are the SIG Romeo6T and the Nightforce ATACR but you'll have to save up over 2k dollars for those. Get a usable optic you can afford now and save up for a better one later. I'm not confident there won't be some sort of chaos after this year's "election".
@@Moondog2A I'm going to get a banshee 1-10x24. Cheap fast and works beautifully well. Quite frankly, I think you're right and there's going to be more than just chaos. We may be staring at the face of near all out war. I pray I'm wrong.. but my gut instincts usually don't lie to me. Godspeed and stay safe out there warrior.
@@Moondog2A I'm more of a ffp person myself I'd rather have the proper. Targeting through magnification then having to estimate my distance when it gets down to it ffp is easier to understand everything
I wanted to like it. I have 2 different monstrum scopes and they are both great. I cant believe how many people like this scope. The turrets are sloppy, the reticle is difficult to see and the lighted dot is very dim. Thats too many issues for me even if it ½ the money.
So i played with nv behind this. Whatever. I can use it effectively out to beyond my pig range. My old lease the ocasional hog. 500 yr shots. My current 150 heavy brush . 75 yrs to feeder lots of hogs. Loads of fun it works great at hunting. To many people think to long too hard . i could find a lot of fault with this Eyebox is important . But i wont be standing and andvancing fireing at a paper target. I think the consideration of not thowing ones self to prone as soon as return fire .. or in the case of most modern u.s involvment... Wait till your shot ... call for back up request permission to engage then walk upright firing? Ill buy the 1x6 next
@@Moondog2A yeah these new lpvo line looks nice but I just got a banshee 1-8 then they came out with these but still a descent lpvo and gonna see how long term it will hold up on my 300 blackout build
Terrible customer service from Monstrum, I reach to them about a scope I bought straight from them new, not open box, when at the range the adjusters screws came lose, & lost a screw, still have no reply months after. Today I reach to them again when I received a notification from them because I'm signed up for it about a scope on sale for $39.99, when I click on "see offer" it shows $179.99 (I even took a screenshot) no explanation why, still waiting on reply.....
Wow.... they have the NEW 1-6 Panzer on sale right now for $120 but that 1x power seems HORRIBLE and sort of useless even in high illumination.... I'm on the fence about checking out even at tgat price..... wanted to put this on my Mini30.
"Panther" is "panther" in German. "Panzer" means "armor". A quick Google translate will confirm. This is why the Nazi's built both the Panzer series of tanks and Panther series of tanks.
Nein. Panther = Panther im deutsch Panzer literally is the word for chainmail or platemail in german.There were both the Panzer series and also a Panther WW2 tanks the Wermacht.
You may want to look up the word "panther" in a German dictionary. Next look up the word "panzer" in German. They're not the same word. This is why the Wermacht built both the Panzer and the Panther tanks in WWII at the same time.
Moondog is correct; Panzer is the shortened version of Panzerkampfwagen, or armored combat/fighting car (or vehicle). Panther in German is just….. Panther.
Honestly all 10x LPVOs seem to have pretty unforgiving eyeboxes. That's why I prefer 1-6x LPVOs. But this is about average. It's better than the Riton but a bit worse than the Vortex; both of which are way more expensive.