Tactedge 4X32 Mini CQB TS Mil-Dot Scope

Comment: First off let me say it's a 4X scope for under $50. Realise your going to get what you pay for. Now for my review, I definatly like this scope. It's mounted on a S&W M&P AR15-22, it's a .22 so I didn't feel spending more on my optics than I did for the gun was a smart idea. The 4X power is perfect for a .22, it will draw in a 3" target nicely at 100 yards & the mil-dots are fairly acurate (if you know how to use them properly) for the drop at distance. I found that at 50 yards this scope is dead on keeping a 25 round clip to around 1.5" pattern. The only thing I needed additionally for this to work on my M&P (with the Magpul folding BIUS) was the NC-Star quick release for the picitinny. I bought two of them, one for this scope & one for my 1X quick aquisition red dot sight. That way I can use any of the sight/scope combos i want and didnt spend more than $160 for everything (2 mounts, red dot sight & this scope). If your planning on using this for hunting or serious competition targes shooting there are better choices. But for practice on my .22 version of the AR, this works great!

Comment: This is a well crafted tactical scope when put on an AK47 etc.. The lenses appear to be high quality with no distortion, the cross hairs coupled with the black/red/green color choices make target acquisition easy. It isn't the best for close-up target acquisition on the move, but eye/scope coordination makes it acceptable. It locks on the rail easily and after 500 rounds, it had not loosened nor lost its original settings. 1/4" clicks make windage/elevation adjustment a little more precise, but that also makes it more cumbersome than 1/2" clicks on larger scopes. Overall, this is a well made scope for the price.

Comment: Mounted on an RRA AR-15.

I purchased the "Tactedge 4x32 Mini CQB TS Mil-Dot Scope" mainly for kicks, thinking it would hold me over until I receive my Nikon Prostaff. It arrived fast, I opened it and noticed that it was pretty decent quality right off the bat. The fit and finish is good, the pop up lens-cover is nice, the extra battery (2 in total) is nice, the lens cleaning cloth is a joke (rough pool table cloth), and the optics are crisp and are quite decent on the stock setting. The light gathering does well, nothing super astonishing, but good none the less. It will work for any daytime shooting and even shooting into the early evening if you have good eyes.

Now for the cons.

1) This probably doesn't come as a shock to anyone, but this is not "CQB"... if you think you can use this for fast acquisition and clear a room of targets, think again. It has a permanent magnification and you need a full second to align your eye with the reticle. Not close quarters and definitely not fast acquisition.

2) The eye relief spec on this advertisement says "3.5 inches"... lies, all lies. 2" at best, and even that is stretching it. Why does this matter?.. because that fact such a low amount of eye-relief, your eye has to be within 2" of the end... And to mount this on an average rifle (AR or not), you have to mount it far to the rear (FAR to the rear). Think of it... the scope is 7-1/2" long, the rear mounting ring is somewhere around 1-1/2" from the rear... add 2" for eye relief... and you get a very awkward and uncomfortable recipe.
Speaking in numbers, your mounting rail has to extend to within (roughly) 3 and 1/2 inches of your eye for this scope to work comfortably.

3) Again, this is a fixed magnification scope. No real adjustments.

Long story short, it looks real funny on an AR-15. It's extended so far to the back that it hangs over some of my collapsible stock, and without a doubt you won't be using that charging-handle without reaching under the eyepiece. Being a "mini" scope, the front of the scope doesn't even really clear the forward end of the Upper Receiver (being mounted where it is, comfortably). At best, it may sit flush with the front of the Receiver.

Also, these are low profile rings. Anyone with a flat-top and a fixed A2 front sight will have to get a riser. The magnification does not "see through" the post. Infact, while looking through the scope without a riser, you can see the normal image but it's somewhat fuzzy and dark'ish. So before you blame the optic on being cloudy, use a riser. Oddly enough, using a riser makes it look even funnier.

In closing, FWIW I use my AR-15 with stock fully extended, so this may compound the prob. For less than half a bill, this is still a steal. Structurally sound enough for .223, but for anyone who cares about practicality (charging handle accessibility, eye relief, not altering your usual head placement by extending your neck) and the overall look of your rifle, I'd stick with either a traditional scope for magnification, or a Bushnell Tactical Elite type of optic for quick acquisition. Why recommend an ACOG knockoff? Lets face it, if you're reading this review and considering this product, you probably don't have a grand to burn on a Trijicon.

Good scope, built well enough to withstand .223 or below, but impractical on a real AR due to eye relief and subsequent mounting "workarounds".

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Edited on 2/1/2010

I was going to return this item, but instead I mounted it on a Sig 522 and it works great. For those who don't know, the Sig 522 is one of the newest .22 cal assault rifle (semi-auto). While I am confident this scope could handle .223 just fine, the below is my final conclusion on why this scope works on the Sig 522, and not the AR-15.

AR-15 deal breakers:
1) Charging handle accessibility is horrible.
2) Mounting rail does not extend back far enough on a flat-top.
3) Riser needed if you have A2 front post sights.

Sig 522 pros:
1) Charging handle on the side of the rifle, no issues like an AR-15.
2) Mounting rail extends slightly further back than a flat-top AR-15.
3) Sig 522 has no front post, no riser needed for a clear view.

In addition, this is a sharp looking scope when mounted on the right rifle. Brings the already aggressive look of a Sig 522 up a notch.

Comment: Well, I purchased this scope based on all the good reviews it has received. I also took in account some of the negatives. The scope was exactly how pictured with a bonus of the two lens covers it came with and 2 batteries for the illumination. I just put it on my Smith & Wesson M&P AR15 22lr and it looks awesome. Only thing is that you do have to be 2" in order to see through the scope clearly so you'll have to push the scope as close to the back as possible which hinders the charging handle. Trying to find a work around though. Any suggestions please email at poolshark45@yahoo.com thanks. Other thank that can't wait to take it out and see how it really functions during the firing process.

Comment: This is a good little cheap scope. Decent construction, decent glass. Comes with 2 batteries. The only downside is that the rings are not that tall. Had to go out and get taller rings for the AR, keep this in mind if you are going to use on an AR flat top. Other than that it is a good scope for the money.