When it comes to $150 budget optics, I’ve learned to temper my expectations. So when the TechHunters 3-12×44 medium power variable optic (MPVO) showed up on my doorstep, I was surprised. The scope feels surprisingly solid and its externals look well made.
It is a budget MPVO so it does have a tight eyebox, and at low power the view exhibits notable pincushion distortion. Chromatic aberration is present but actually less than entry-level offerings from big-name brands. Overall clarity and edge-to-edge sharpness were surprisingly good for a budget scope.
Brightness is adequate for dawn and dusk shooting, though the 44mm objective obviously limits light-gathering compared to a 50mm 18x bell. Color rendition is good for a non—ED glass scope.
Techhunters opted for a first focal plane (FFP) MIL reticle with a horseshoe center and floating dot. It features a minimal tree with wind hold-over dots. The entire high-power reticle is illuminated . The downside? The stadia around the horseshoe make for a blurry aimpoint at 3x. This is my only hesitation to considering this MPVO a cross-over scope for hunting.
This MPVO has the versatility to be considered a The 3-12x range bridges the gap between close-range hunting and mid-distance target work. At 3x, it’s fast enough for woods hunting; at 12x, it gives you enough magnification to identify targets and make ethical shots out to reasonable distances. It’s not an ELR optic, and it’s not pretending to be.
Is it perfect? No. The illumination makes the aimpoint blurry, the turrets could be crisper, and the eyebox is unforgiving. But the Z4 is about the price of a Vortex Crossfire 3-12×44 while offering a FFP reticle and features of the more expensive Diamondback.
SHOP
Amazon https://link.amazon/B0eY6p7fm
RESOLUTION
Group -2 / Element 6
SPECS
Z4
Magnification: 3-12x
Objective: 44mm
Tube: 30mm
Parallax Focus : 25 yrds-Infinity
FOV: 41.9-10 ft. @ 100 yrds
Eye Relief: 3.3″
Click Value: 0.1 MRAD
Elev Adj: 25 MRAD
Wind Adj: 25 MRAD
Length: 12.7″
Weight: 24.4″
Battery: CR2032