Category Archives: Shooting Sports

Firearms and shooting sports

Shooting Sports

CVLife Eagle Blaze 5-25×56 FFP

Before I knew anything about high power scopes, I purchased a CVLife 6-24×50 AOR scope for my AR15 and happily used it at 100 yard targets. It was basic, out-dated, but cheap, and surprisingly reliable. “Walmart” quality is where I’d position their scopes, but recently they’ve attempted to bring themselves up to the level of “Target” or “Sheels”.

The Eagle Blaze is CVLife’s most ambitious attempt to date to put out a true long-range optic. The scope has 5-25x magnification range, a usable first focal plane (FFP) Christmas tree reticle, a zero stop, and using Japanese ED glass. On paper this looks like a legitimate PRS-style scope with an eyebrow raising $299 street price.

To achieve this low price, there must be compromises. The turrets are user resetable with a coin, come with a zero-stop ring lock, and have audible and tactile positive clicks. But they have a flaw. Unless the turret top is insanely cinched down, the turret will turn lose after locking down losing, rendering its push-to-lock feature useless.

In my testing I found that twisting free a “locked” turret does not move the reticle. It essentially makes the turret free floating. You are better off leaving the turret in the up-position at all times, otherwise your numbers will not sync to your zero.

Optically, the ED glass did reduce chromatic aberration. But in low light (in a shaded target cove), the scope lost a lot of detail and contrast. While this is a liability to hunters who need the ability to take game after sunset, the Eagle Blaze is a surprisingly good scope in broad daylight.

CVLife continues to improve the quality and features of their long-range optics line. This scope fumbled the execution but the play was solid. I look forward to a correction and improvement soon.

BUY

EagleBlaze 5-25×56 FFP Rifle Scope: https://bit.ly/3EHVhQG

15% discount code: UNBWS5AV

Amazon https://amzn.to/4kxDxHX

RESOLUTION

Group -1 / Element 3

SPECS

EAGLE BLAZE FFP

Magnification: 5x-25x

Objective: 56mm

Tube: 34mm

FOV: 26.2′-5.24’@100 yds

Eye Relief: 3.6”

Wind Adj: 160 MOA

Elev Adj: 160 MOA

Click Value: 1/4 MOA

Parallax: 30 yrds – Infinity

Length: 14.6″

Weight :32 oz

Shooting Sports

RPR Ammo Test: Fiocchi Range Dynamics vs CCI Standard

https://youtu.be/PYx6Z7e28iQ

Founded in 1876 in Lecco, Italy, Fiocchi is one of the oldest ammo brands in the world. Range Dynamics (RD) is their everyday ammo line intended for training and target practice. Their 22LR cartridge is loaded at the Fiocchi USA plant in Ozark, Missouri.

Testing both in my factory Ruger Precision Rimfire Rifle (RPR), Range Dynamics zero’d out quite easily. RD grouped quite well, but not as tightly as CCI Standard.

BUY

Discovery Optics LHD

Discovery Optics website use 10% Off code Moondog: https://www.discoveryopt.com/DISCOVERYOPT-LHD-8-32X56SFIR-FFP-Z-optics-Scopes.html

Amazon 10% discount code: Moondog832 https://amzn.to/3Ck6nu2

RESULTS

CCI Standard Velocity V
Avg. Group Size: 1.52″
Average: 1.45 MOA
Mean Radius: .49″ / 0.46 MOA

Fiocchi Range Dynamics
Avg. Group Size: 2.07″
Average: 1.97 MOA
Mean Radius: .76″ /.73 MOA

Shooting Sports

SHOT 2025 Monstrum Tactical

Monstrum Tactical makes some of the most underrated budget scopes available. Many cost less than $300. But they are one of the most innovative optics companies in the industrial design of their scopes.

At last year’s SHOT Show they showcased their Archangel concept LPVO which looked like a prop out of Mass Effect or HALO. Due to positive interest and comments to my booth visit video, Monstrum pushed forward with changes to create an affordable producible Archangel 1-6x and 1-10x LPVO for this year’s show.

This year, the concept LPVO was the Terminator, with a crazy large sun shade that makes it look like a prop out of Star Trek. Like the Archangel, if there is enough popular support of this design, Monstrum will create a production model for next year’s show.

BUY

Monstrum Tactical https://monstrumtactical.com/archangel-1-6×24-first-focal-plane-lpvo-series/

Shooting Sports

CVLife WolfCovert X M01

Micro-reflex sights with reticles that can be changed between dots and circles are rare. Rarer still are compact red dots that fit on a compact pistol. CVLIfe’s WolfCover X M01 has that rare compact MRD with a changeable reticle that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.

The M01 compact MRD has built-in fiber optic rear sights that are a bit too high to use with factory sights but can be used with raised front sights. The box comes with an MOS adapter plate and a Picatinny adapter. The CVLife was a bit small for my slide, so I opted to test it with the Glock EOM RMSc adapter plate.

I ran 50 rounds through my pistol and the M01 held zero. The 32MOA circle looked just a tad smaller than the 32MOA circle on my OSight and I found myself wanting a bit more visual separation between the 2MOA dot and the sunburst circle. I hope CVLife offers a 40MOA or 60MOA circle option in the future.

One other minor nitpick was that the white paint they used to fill in the logo and lettering was a bit sloppy and smeared in places. This is not unusual for a budget product as compromises have to be made and corners have to be cut to lower production costs. If it’s just the paint job, I can live with that.

BUY

Amazon https://amzn.to/438fZmM

40% Discount Code: 3MISAEYJ  

SPECS

Objective Window: 22mm x 16mm

Reticle: 2 MOA dot / 32 MOA circle

Footprint Type: ‎RMSc

Length: 1.81″

Width: 1.06″

Height: 1.02″

Weight: 0.77 oz

Click: 1 MOA

Waterproof: IPX-7

Battery: CR1632

Battery Life: 50,000 hrs

Warranty: ‎3 years

Shooting Sports

Telson Toxin 3-18×50

Telson is a new optics company out of Texas that I’d never heard of prior to making this video. A fellow Pewtuber asked if I’d be interested in reviewing a premium, mid-range scope with Japanse ED glass. A few days later, I got a box sent to me from @GunTotinMinnosotan

The plain white sample box is not the retail version and I can’t confirm what sort of accessories a consumer will receive such as lens caps, throw levers, etc. My sample was the actual production version, albeit with scope rings attached (which may not be present in the retail version either).

Physically the scope reminded me of a Leupold Mk5 or a US Optics. It had a unique diamond-weave design motif in the contact surfaces of the turrets and rings. It came with a removable throw lever with a diamond-shaped design. The rings turned smoothly and the turrets were crisp, audible, and tactile positive.

The elevation turret has a zero-stop which is engaged by lowering the turret onto an internal pin. The turret has a pop-up indicator when the turret is turned past its second revolution. This indicator is actuated by the zero-stop pin under the turret and does not function when the zero-stop is deactivated. Neither the windage or the elevation are locking.

The image through the glass is impressive owing to its quality ED glass. Bright, clear, and color-accurate with minimal chromatic aberration. I liked its thin clean Christmas tree reticle with a small floating central dot. The only disappointing aspect I found was its tight eyebox.

I had one other disappointment: I had to return the Toxin. I handed this scope back to Telson at SHOT Show so that they could display it at their booth. But they did give me something back in return: a coupon code to share with my readers to get 6% off buying one for yourself.

BUY

Telson use code: moondog6 for a discount https://telsonoptics.com/shop/toxin-3-18×50-ir-ffp/?ref=sfojkzqu

RESOLUTION

Group -1 / Element 3

SPECS

Magnification: 3-18
Objective Lens Diameter: 50mm Apochromatic lens
Tube Size: 30 mm
Reticle Type: Glass Etched PH2
Illumination: 6 w/ On-Off
Glass Type: Extra Low Dispersion
Light Trans: 99.8% Per Surface
Turret Style: 2-Turn W/ Indicator and zero stop
Turret Rotation: CCW
Adjustment Graduation: 1/10MIL / 1/4MOA
Parallax Setting: 15Yrds – Infinity
Max Elevation Adjustment: 39MIL / 125MOA
Max Windage Adjustment: 39MIL / 125MOA
Travel Per Rotation: 10MIL / 25MOA
Available Turret Elevation 19.5mil / 49MOA
Field of View at 100 Yards: 35ft-6.2ft
Eye Relief: 87mm / 3.4”
Exit Pupil: 7.5mm – 2.9mm
Length:13 11/16”
Weight:30.4 oz.
Battery: CR2032

Shooting Sports

SHOT 2025 Telson Optics

Telson is a new Premium Optics company based in Texas. I had never heard of them prior to testing their Toxin 3-18×50 scope. I met their founders (Canadian precision shooters) for the first time at this year’s SHOT Show.

Their scopes are all over a $1000 but have features usually found on scopes that cost many times more. Telson scopes feature high end Japanese glass, practical design features and quality construction. I was also impressed by the thought they put into the quality of their mounts and accessories.

Only time will tell if Telson succeeds in the crowded and competative PRS optics market but the quality of their products, design, and marketing are on target and all center X.

Shooting Sports

Vortex Strike Eagle 5-25×56

https://youtu.be/QM3_zJPiCiE

The Vortex Strike Eagle 5-25×56 is one of the top-rated long-range scopes under $1000 (MSRP over $1250 but with a street price of around $700) when it first came out a few years ago. Vortex took many of the features found in their top-tier Razor HD and created a virtually identical-looking scope for a 1/3 of the price. But is it a “Budget Razor” or a “cheap knockoff”?

The Strike Eagle shares a nearly identical-looking external design to the Razor, save for the Razor’s MilSpec FDE/Burnt Bronze finish. But on closer inspection, there are some differences. The illumination knob does not lock and the elevation and windage turrets don’t feel as crisp or precise as the more expensive Razor. While the controls are lackluster, its glass is not.

Looking through the scope, I was treated to Vortex’s glass. The image was bright, sharp, color accurate and high contrast. At the range, I did notice some chromatic abortion at high magnification, but not as pronounced as seen in the video footage. The Strike Eagle is able to resolve fine details to a degree I usually see in much more expensive scopes.

The Strike Eagle is not cheap. With the arrival to the market of brands such as Arken and Discovery Optics, its performance has been matched or even exceeded to some degree by budget High-Performance scopes. The Strike Eagle is still Vortex’s best glass for long-range under $1000.

BUY

Vortex Strike Eagle on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4gA4Ejq

RESOLUTION

Group -1 / Element 6

SPECS

Magnification 5-25x
Objective Lens: 56 mm
Tube Diameter: 34 mm
Focal Plane: First
Reticle: EBR-7C (MOA)
Illumination: red
Eye Relief: 3.7″
FOV @ 100 Yards: 24.0-5.2
Parallax: 15 yrds-Infinity
Elevation Adj: 110 MOA
Windage Adj: 78 MOA
Per Click: 1/4 MOA
Per Rotation: 25 MOA
Length: 14.6 in
Weight: 30.4 oz

Shooting Sports

TMI 250219

Aura https://aura.com/moondog

EARLYBIRD Clue: logo

THIS WEEK

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Moondog Reviews

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NAME THE BRAND CLUE

This company was founded by an animator named Walt. Who’s first full-length movie was Snow White, earning the first Oscar fo an Animated Film.

THUMBNAIL THIS

DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE

CONTESTS

NAME THE BRAND CLUE:

This animated film company created a world wide chain of amusement parks including the Magic Kingdom in Anaheim California, Epcon Center in Orlando FL, and eponymous parks in Paris, Hong Kong, Tokyo Japan, and Shanghai China.

HASHTAG DRAWING #Disney

KY Flood GoFundMe
https://gofund.me/5d33bd14

I’m helping fundraising for these folks who lost their homes due to flooding in Eastern KY. https://youtu.be/b4rxTX82JSU?si=SIgFcgFdxdlq0KWc

SHOT SHOW Bag Logo CONTEST

SHOT2025 Logo Contest
Multixel Travel Charger Contest

Next Livestream Wed Feb 26

Shooting Sports

Discovery ED-PRS Gen2 5-25×56 MOA

It’s deja vua all over again. It felt like I had just reviewed the ED-PRS Gen2 5-25×56 about a year ago. This scope had some slight changes to the turret and improvements to the clarity and sharpness of the glass. Discovery asked me to review a new ED-PRS Gen2 5-25×56 in MOA, but this scope has even more changes than just the reticle.

The size and weight of this scope remain the same at about 4 lbs and over 16″ long; over 19″ with the sun shade attached. Discovery changed the turrets which no longer have silvered screw-in tops. The new version has black tops that have indents so that they can be unscrewed with your fingers allowing the turrets to be zero-set without tools. The previous Gen 2 had a shorter windage turret held in with 3 set screws. Discovery changed the windage turret which now has the same tool-less turret as the elevation.

Discovery also changed the design of the throw lever. Instead of a screw-in post, the new throw lever has a more robust flattened shape with a broader base that connects to the magnification ring. The lever is now held in place with two torx screws.

Discovery scopes come with a ludicrous amount of accessories. But with this and future ED-PRS scopes, they’ve removed the scope rings. Too many customers complained about the high-hight scope rings they included previously and asked for exchanges or returns, so Discovery chose to remove the free rings from the package. This is why we can’t have nice things.

The new Gen 2 retains and possibly improves the quality of the Japanese ED glass. This scope appears slightly sharper and clearer than my old Gen 2 MIL version. Unfortunately, it still has the same unforgiving eyebox. And another important feature that hasn’t changed: the price. This new scope is still about $350, which keeps the ED-PRS the best value in its class.

BUY

Get 10% Off with 525Moondog

Amazon https://amzn.to/42QjQop

Discovery Optics https://discoveryopt.com/ED-PRS-GEN2-5-25X56SFIR-FFP-Z-Optics-Scope.html

In Canada you can order one from https://www.CDNprecision.com

RESOLUTION

Group -1 / Element 6

SPECS

Magnification: 5-25X

Objective Lens: 56mm

Tube Diameter: 34mm

Reticle: First Focal Plane

Max Elev Adj: 122 MOA

Max Wind Adj: 60 MOA

FOV: 24.6 ft – 4.9 ft @ 100YDS

Exit Pupil: 11.2 – 2.2 mm

Eye Relief: 3.4 in -3.3 in

Click Value: 1/4 MOA

Length: 16.34in (415mm)

Weight: 44.3oz (1255g)