Courtesy Trennier Outdoors
Highlighting the Viper Pro Series is the new “Smart Range Turret”. For those shooters that like to click the elevation knob rather than using the reticle for hold off, this is a new system that alleviates a few problems that can arise from turning the elevation knob.
For starters, there’s a window in the elevation dial showing a tape of MOA markings. The turret itself has a 3:1 gear ratio with the tape. So if you’ve ever had to spin the elevation turret around more than a full revolution, then you’ve probably also experienced forgetting to turn the turret back more than one turn to get back to zero. This 3:1 gear ratio and tape is going to elliminate that problem.
More amazing yet, you can make your own custom tape and replace the stock one. So if you’re an experienced “clicker” or a new shooter wanting to move from hold-offs to clicking and always being able to use the center cross-hair, the MTC Viper Pro is a great choice.
In addition to the elevation window, at the bottom of the turret is a convenient sliding lever allowing you to lock the turret, click the turret or free spin the turret. Free spin removes the clicks and the noise and makes for some fast elevation adjustments.
Once you’ve sighted in, you can reset your zero on both the turret click marks as well as the tape using the included wrench. Coincidentally, this is also the first step you should you do when adding your own custom tape. Using the small allen wrench (included) one first loosens the three set screws around the top of the turret as shown in the next image.
The set screws do not need to be completely removed and actually, the photo above, was taken to show the set screw, not how far it needs to be removed. After loosening the three set screws the turret cap can be removed.
After the turret cap is removed, one can now see the complextity in developing and manufacturing a 3:1 gear ratio turret. Impressive. The first inclination now to get to the tape is to grab the center brass spindle and that would be incorrect. Simply lift out the collar with tape from the outside edges. It should be noted, these parts are lightly greased as you will see from a few following pictures. Be careful not to wipe off to much of the grease and have a paper towel handy to clean your finger tips.
It should be noted the elevation adjustments between the MTC Viper Pro 3-18×50 and the 5-30×50 are slighty different.
The 5-30×50 scope will have a 30 MOA tape (one full turn of the elevation turret is 10 MOA, remember the 3:1 gear ratio) with a maximum adjustment of 42 MOA.
The MTC Viper Pro 3-18 will have 42 MOA tape (One full turn of the turret is 14 MOA) with a maximum adjustment of 73 MOA.
The differences in elevation adjustments are do to magnification and physics and I do appreciate that MTC has worked out every possible way to get the maximum out of the adjustments rather than compromising by putting in smaller glass and smaller parts.
After all has been removed, simply return collar with the tape (making sure it is properly aligned with the gears) and turret while aligning your new zero and tighten the set screws. Be sure not to over tighten or strip the screws as they are small and very little force is needed for proper operation.
While the turret is disassembled, it is at this time (if you choose) to attach your own custom tape. The options are endless and whether your putting pen to paper or using your favorite graphics software and printer…it’s time to get creative and make this scope work for you.
If your wanting to create your own unique tape, templates can be download by visiting the MTC Optics website at http://mtcoptics.com/range-tape-calculator/
With so much going on in such a small space and to keep this scope compact, MTC developed another “new to the market” development. A magnifying glass in the rear flip open lens cover.
Having dealt with flip open covers in the past you will know that most are adjustable so the shooter can alter the cover to open on varying angles. MTC Optics went a step further. The lens covers lock in place with an outer secondary lock nut. Why this matters is because after locking the cover in place, the outer flip open cap can still be rotated to take full advantage of the magnifier.
A flip up of the rear cover shows elevation adjustments and a small rotation to the left shows side focus range to target. The cover’s rotation is held in place under a slight friction fit.
The side focus on the 3-18×50 will range from infinity all the way down to 10 yards and rather than lining up the side focus yardage to a small dot, the numbers show next to a small cut out. I believe this may help some when fine tuning distance at closer targets.
The side focus on the 5-30×50 will also range from infinity all the way down to 10 yards. It should be noted with the higher magnification the pre-printed yardage numbers to target have been left off. To get the most of the higher magnification your going to want to mark off your own distances on a larger side focus wheel.
As with most side focus scopes, consistency is key when using as a range finder. We like starting at the lowest range and rotating the side focus toward the longer ranges , clockwise. What ever you preference is (starting at infinity or starting at 10 yards) it should the same for each target. Ranging in one direction one time and the opposite direction the next can lead to slightly different results.
Outside the side focus dial is the illumination control for the reticle. This is a push button control, 3 steps in red. Holding the button in will either turn the reticle off or on and only the center cross hair will light up.
Opposite the side focus is the windage turret. Resetting the windage to zero is accomplished the same way as the elevation turret (using the included wrench and 3 set screws). The windage control does not have a tape or 3:1 gear system as it’s not required, but it does have the side lever switch to lock the turret into place once windage has been set.
Another unique feature to the MTC Optics Pro series lens covers is how they seal to keep dirt away from the lenses. Rather than using plastic catches, springs or small pins (all of which wear over time) MTC chose to magnetize the cover to keep them closed. They also have a 3 position lock to keep them open, so no more problems with lens covers inadvertently closing at the wrong time and in the 90 degree position it can act as a small sunshade as well.
The MTC Optics Viper Pro Series is offered in two magnifications. Those being a 3-18×50 and a 5-30×50. The magnification is shown in a small cut away window and the dial itself has a large raised tab making it easy to operate with or without gloves on.
Rearward of the magnification is the Fast Focus Control or otherwise known as the Diopter Adjustment. This gets set once to bring the MTC SCB2 reticle into sharp focus. Since everyone’s eye sight is slightly different, each shooter may have a slightly different adjustment than the next shooter.
Rearward of the magnification is the Fast Focus Control or otherwise known as the Diopter Adjustment. This gets set once to bring the MTC SCB2 reticle into sharp focus. Since everyone’s eye sight is slightly different, each shooter may have a slightly different adjustment than the next shooter.
