Tag Archives: Discovery Optics

Shooting Sports

Discovery Optics HD 2-12×24

I finally got my hands on the long-sold-out Discovery Optics HD 2-12×24 MPVO. Unlike an LPVO, an MPVO’s low end starts at 2x or 3x, and is better optimized for long-range shooting, with features such as an adjustable parallax focus. MPVOs fill a niche between LPVOs and heavier full-sized 3-9x, 3-12, or 4-16x scopes.

The HD 2-12x looks like an LPVO but weighs only 16.6 oz and is just over 9″. It has locking turrets, that have crisp, audible turret clicks. Its illuminated reticle is unfortunately only twilight bright. Optically, the glass is clear with minimal chromatic aberrations. It gets dim at 12x, losing contrast with a milky cast unless your eye is exactly centered in its tight eyebox. It’s unusable indoors only in 2x.

The HD would be a better tactical scope if it had a horseshoe center reticle like their ED-AR, with brighter illumination. Despite these shortcomings, its lightweight compact size and sub $200 price tag make it a good scope for the price.

BUY

Discovery Optics website: https://discoveryopt.com/collections/hd-optics-hunting-long-range-scopes-with-mpvo-multi-purpose-design/products/hd-2-12x24sfir-ffp-mil-diameter-30mm-short-optics-scope
10% discount code: Moondog  

Amazon https://amzn.to/4agO0TP

SPECS

HD SFIR FFP

Magnification: 2-12x

Objective: 24mm

Tube: 30mm

Eye Relief: 3.5-3.2″

Exit Pupil: 12.2-2.0mm

FOV: 9.3 ft @ 100 yrds

Click value: 0.1 MIL

Total Elev Adj: 33.8 MIL

Total Wind Adj: 33.8 MIL

Length 8.5″

Weight: 16.6 oz

Battery: CR2032

Shooting Sports

Discovery Optics Precision Height Adjustable Scope Rings

Scope rings that allow you to adjust their height above the rifle base are nothing new. These rings allow users to mount a scope with a large bell on a variety of rifles without having to change the rings to accommodate different clearances. But many suffer from design flaws that cause them to shift and lose zero over time.

Discovery Optics has brought its high-quality design and construction to adjustable rings. Their 30mm rings are made of aircraft-grade 6061 aluminium, which come pre-lapped. Furthermore, the adapter shims that allow the mounting of 1″ tubes (25.4mm) are made of aluminum, not plastic. Both the rings and shims are pre-lapped to create a smooth surface and provide the maximum contact footprint with a scope tube.

The rings feature locking teeth that prevent the rings from dropping and two locking screws that make it impossible for the rings to shift from their locking position. Each ring feature 6 locking Torx screws and are thoughtfully printed with the mounting sequence and inch-pounds of screw pressure to apply to each set of screws,

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Amazon 10% discount code :MOONDOG2A
https://amzn.to/3STCxBo 

Discovery Optics website 10% discount code: Moondog
https://discoveryopt.com/ 

Shooting Sports

Strike Eagle vs ED-PRS

The Strike Eagle 5-25×56 is Vortex’s best long-range scope under $1000 (with a street price of around $700-$800). Optical technology has advanced as fast as prices have dropped. New “budget” scopes now offer higher optical quality and performance. One of the best examples is Discovery Optics’ ED-PRS which sells for half the price of the Strike Eagle.

The ED-PRS ships with more accessories than the Vortex. My model is the first edition Gen2. The newest version of the Gen 2 has updated tool-less turrets and does not ship with scope rings. The ED-PRS has tall oversized turrets which are easier-to-read numbering. The ED-PRS turrets had more precise feeling clicks and a wider range of adjustment. Both scopes appeared to be well constructed but the ED-PRS is almost a full pound heavier and certainly appears more chunky.

Both scopes offer bright and clear imagery that is very similar in quality. The Strike Eagle has a brighter and higher contrast image but with slightly more chromatic aberration at high power. The Strike Eagle also offers a more forgiving eye box.

Both scopes showed good color rendition at the gun range and the ability to see details in low light at 25x. Because of the Vortex higher contrast glass, the Strike Eagle seems a bit sharper but both scopes can resolve the same level of detail in the US Airforce reference chart.

Long-range shooters will be well served with either scope for their similar optical performance. But for conscious shooters, the Discovery Optics ED-PRS is the clear winner.

BUY

ED-PRS on Amazon:

https://amzn.to/4dqSKYf (10% discount code: MOONDOG525)

https://discoveryopt.com (10% discount code: Moondog)

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

RESOLUTION

ED-PRS: Group -1 / Element 6

Strike Eagle: Group -1 / Element 6

SPECS

STRIKE EAGLEED-PRS
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		Magnification: 5-25x
Objective Lens: 56 mm
Tube Diameter: 34mm
Focal Plane: First
Reticle: SFIR MRAD
Illumination: red
Eye Relief: 3.3-3.4 in
FOV @ 100 Yards: 25.3-5.06 ft
Parallax: 25 yrds-Infinity
Elevation Adj: 36MRAD (124 MOA)
Windage Ad: 17MRAD (58 MOA)
Per Click: 0.1MRAD
Per Rotation: 10 MRAD
Length: 415mm (16.34in)
Weight: 1255g (44.3oz)

Shooting Sports

Discovery XED 6-36×56

Last year, Discovery impressed me with the ED-PRS Gen2 5-25×56 scope with its high-quality glass, features, and street price under $500. They told me they were working on a 6-36x version but had delayed production until they were satisfied with the results. The wait is finally over with the XED 6-36×56 with a street price of just under $700.

This scope is share many of the features of the new ED-PRS Gen2 MOA like its new throw lever design and its tool-free turret screw tops. The XED is slightly longer and heavier overall with a noticeably wider parallax dial than the ED-PRS. The biggest change is the XED’s 35mm tube which allows a wider range of adjustments.

The XED utilizes Japanese ED glass for excellent optical clarity and brightness while minimizing chromatic aberration. Most high power scopes have tight eyeboxes, the XED is unforgiving at 36x. Tight eyebox aside, for those that require a bit more magnification than the ED-PRS 5-25x, the XED is tough to beat.

BUY

Discovery Optics website: https://discoveryopt.com/zh/products/xed-6-36x56sfir-ffp-mrad-moa-zero-stop-diameter-35mm-optics-scopes
10% discount code: Moondog  

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4iiqadn
10% discount code: MoondogX636

CLARITY

Group 0 / Element 1

SPECS

Magnification: 6-36X
Objective: 56mm
Reticle Position: First Focal Plane
Max Elevation adjust range: 120 MOA
Max Windage adjust range: 62 MOA
FOV: 19.5 FT(5.9 m)-3.1 FT(0.9 m) @ 100YDS
Exit Pupil: 9.51-1.54 mm
Eye Relief: 3.7 in (9.5cm)
Click Value: 1/4 MOA
Focus Range: 40 yards-infinity
Tube diameter: 35mm
Length: 16.7 in (425mm)
Weight: 45.2 oz (1287g)

Shooting Sports

Discovery Scope Bubble Level

It’s hard to believe, but you can improve your long range accuracy for less than $20 by simply attaching a spirit bubble level to your scope. Discovery Optics makes such an accessory. It’s a spirit level mounted in a metal ring which you can clamp onto your scope tube to you can read the angle and levelness of your scope and rifle setup.

If your scope is not 100% directly above your rifle bore, which can happen as you press your cheek to your stock or simply adjusting your shooting position, or when setting up a hasty shooting position, this can create a slight canted angle either to the right or left of center. This will in turn can make your shot land ever so slightly to the right or left of your aim point. By assuring your scope is level to your bore with a spirit level, you can avoid this simple mistake.

This scope level is made of aircraft grade 6061 aluminum alloy with an easy-to-read bubble bead in the spirit tube. It comes with two ring adapters allowing the bubble level to be mounted on either 1″ (25.4mm), 30mm, or 34mm scope tubes. It is probably the best $20 you’ll spend on your scope set up.

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10% discount code Moondog7075

Amazon https://amzn.to/3D8MfvD

Discovery Optics website https://discoveryopt.com/ 

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)

Shooting Sports

CPRPC Falling Plates 1.18.25

Last October, I competed in an NRA Falling Plates match at the Coyote Point Rifle and Pistol Club. I had a really good run through the match until the last rounds when I missed a string of plates. For most of that match, I was able to use my new ED-AR LPVO at 1x due to its clarity. But in the last stage, I increased the magnification to 3x and wasn’t used to the reticle change on this first focal plane (FFP) optic and that made me panic a bit and rush through my round. I choked and ended up blowing my tie for the lead.

Three months later, I’ve had more experience with this scope. I took the same rifle and scope to the January 18, 2025 match to see if I could redeem myself. This time there were 20 contestants. This year, we added a 5th stage to the matches, ending at a distance of 50 yards, which makes a magnified optic almost necessary to aim at 6″ plates.

We start from a distance of 30 yards with a 10-second time limit to shoot down 6 steel plates, limited to 6 rounds of ammo. Each shooter gets 2 attempts per stage. After all competitors have shot, the stage position moves back 5 yards and the time limit is increased by 1 second.

I did well through the first 3 rounds only missing 1 plate out of 18. But moving out to 40 yards, the plates were harder for everybody to hit. I moved my magnification up from 1x to 2x and then to 3x. I still prefer a SFP for an LPVO in action shooting. But unlike my previous attempt, I had a few months of range practice getting used to this scope.

I honestly did not think I did that well. So I was frankly surprised that I came in 4th place but only 3 points behind the 1st place shooter. If I’d only slowed down on hit 3 or 4 more plates, I could have won it. Maybe next time.


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The 10% discount code: MoondogED18

Amazon affiliate: https://amzn.to/4g3PMKg

Discovery Optics: https://discoveryopt.com/DISCOVERYOPT-ED-AR-1-8X24IR-FFP-Optics-Scopes.html

Shooting Sports

SHOT 2025 Discovery Optics ED-PRS MOA

Discovery Optics is known for making high-quality shooting optics for ridiculously affordable prices. I’ve reviewed a number of their scopes over the last two years. Discovery Optics attended SHOT show for the very first time this year. At their booth, they showed off a brand new version of their flagship ED-PRS scope.

The ED-PRS is a Chinese-made scope that uses Japanese ED glass and is designed for PRS shooters. Almost all of Discovery Optics’ tactical and competition scopes are built with MIL reticles and turrets. But many American hunters and long-range shooters, prefer MOA measurements for their finer level of adjustment. Discovery listened to user feedback have released the 5-25×56 ED-PRS in MOA.

At their booth, I got my first-hand look at the new ED-PRS MOA and met fellow YouTube reviewer GunTotinMN who was working for Discovery as their presenter for SHOT 2025.

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Get 10% Off using code: Moondog
Discovery Optics https://www.discoveryopt.com/ED-PRS-GEN2-5-25X56SFIR-FFP-Z-Optics-Scope.html

Gadgets, Shooting Sports

SHOT2025 Discovery Optics Thermal

Discovery Optics is known for making high-quality optics for ridiculously affordable prices. But what I discovered at their SHOT Show 2025 booth was something even more surprising than a new scope, it was a prototype of a budget thermal scanner.

It was closer to a pre-production model than a rough prototype. The body was milled aluminium and the controls and displays were well thought out. The unit was about the size of an EOTech holographic sight. It has a QD Picatinny base that mates with an included handle.

Its primary use is as a handheld thermal scanning camera to look for living creatures such as game or search-and-rescue. Because of its base, it could be mounted onto a rifle rail and has been recoil-rated to .308 and higher. There was a high-resolution and a cheaper low-resolution version.

DISCOVERY OPTICS https://www.discoveryopt.com

Shooting Sports

Discovery ED-PRS GenII 4-20×52

They say “Less is More” that could certainly be said of the ED-PRS GenII 4-20×52 scope. Earlier this year, I reviewed Discovery Optics new GenII revision of their ED-PRS 5-25×56 scope. The GenII EP-PRS boasted improved optical clarity by using Japanese ED glass. So, why would they make a 20x scope when they already offered a 25x? And why would you want to buy one?

The 20x version appears nearly identical to the 25x. In terms of performance, the 20x has a 4x magnification factor which means in theory it should provide slightly a sharper and brighter image when set to the same power numbers as the 25x. In my testing, the differences were too subtle for me to see. But what I could clearly see is that the 20x is slightly shorter, slightly lighter, and slightly cheaper than the 25x.

Moreover, most hunters and target shooters don’t typically shoot a 5-25x scope at its maximum 25x; preferring a setting of about 12x or 16x to improve clarity and brightness. A 20x scope is able to be used at 12-18x. Let me again remind you that the 20x is slightly shorter, slightly lighter, and slightly cheaper than the 25x. It all starts to make more practical sense.

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Discovery website (get 10% off with CODE: moondog): https://discoveryopt.com/ED-PRS-4-20X52SFIR-FFP-Optics-Scope.html

or
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ZxHRP8

RESOLUION

Group: -1
Element: 5

SPECS

Objective Lens: 52 mm

Magnification: 4-20x

Tube Diameter: 34 mm

Max Elev Adj: 32 MRAD

Max Wind Adj: 17 MRAD

Adj/Click : 0.1MRAD

Exit Pupil: 2.6 – 13.3 mm

Field of View,: 6.1-30.6 ft @ 100 yds

Eye Relief: 3.3 in

Weight: 39.3 oz

Length: 14.8 in

Lens: Japanese ED Glass