Thread: Vixen scope review

Following on from this thread: https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....dation-105098/

I took good advice from @Shearer and bought a Vixen V-1 4-16x44 Side Focus BDC from Reloaders. Price was $549 plus $12 delivery. A fair bit cheaper than competitors. The scope was for my CZ452 .22LR.

Manufacturer details:

• BDC Reticle, 2nd Focal Plane
• 1" Single-Piece Main tube
• 1/4 MOA Impact Point Correction
• 36 MOA Windage/Elevation Adjustments
• Capped Windage/Elevation Turrets
• Aluminium Alloy Housing
• Fully Multi-Coated Lenses
• Precision-Aligned Optical System
• Water and Fogproof
• Made in Japan

First impressions were good. Scope is well built. Markings aren't quite as bright as a Leupold, but adequate. It came with some pretty cheap looking clear lens covers.

On to the zeroing. Started at 25 metres. Dials did exactly what they were supposed to do. They click, but could definitely be more positive. There is an AO dial on the left side and a focus ring on the eye piece. The focus ring doesn't lock, but I don't see this as a big issue.





Once zeroed, did a 5 shot group off a bipod. Target was 1cm. I know the rifle shoots well and the scope matched it.



Moved it up to 50 metres and all good. This was the first group I shot at this distance.



My young son had a go and managed to hit a rabbit head size gong every time off the bipod. He doesn't do a lot of shooting and is right handed, left eye dominant I think, but it worked for him. Thanks again to @veitnamcam for the gong.



Image was clear in bright sunlight at lower magnifications, but less so at 16x. Eye relief and field of view could also have been better, but it was usable. I had the same issue with a Leupold VX-3i 4.5-14x40, so it must be a feature with mid-range scope at higher magnifications or my eyes.

Once the zeroing was done, I was keen to try out the BDC reticle. I've never set up a BDC scope before and didn't really know where to start, so just went for it, taking aim at the gong from shooting sticks. I got lucky and the 2nd and 3rd marks down corresponded to 75 and 100 metres. I was hitting the gong at 100 metres every time which is the furthest I've shot .22LR consistently.



Overall, a decent scope for the money. Some minor complaints, but it was a good choice.

100m hits are doing well. Please tell me the reticle picture has half of it erased for your text though.
A dilemma I currently have with my 223 is having a 3-9x scope on it and trying to shoot wallabies at 300m. Can't really afford anything atm but I look at all the 3-15 and 3-18x scopes and think how many more shots I could take.

Originally Posted by RUMPY

100m hits are doing well. Please tell me the reticle picture has half of it erased for your text though.
A dilemma I currently have with my 223 is having a 3-9x scope on it and trying to shoot wallabies at 300m. Can't really afford anything atm but I look at all the 3-15 and 3-18x scopes and think how many more shots I could take.

I picked up one these scopes off the forum to go on my 223 and I'm really happy with it. Quick sight in then shooting rabbits at 160m no prob. Need another range day to test out the bdc.

Originally Posted by RUMPY

Please tell me the reticle picture has half of it erased for your text though.

Yes, just a diagram for reference.

Originally Posted by RUMPY

A dilemma I currently have with my 223 is having a 3-9x scope on it and trying to shoot wallabies at 300m. Can't really afford anything atm but I look at all the 3-15 and 3-18x scopes and think how many more shots I could take.

Some people say that you don't need a high magnification and that may be true, but I like it in some circumstances. 16x certainly made shooting those 1cm targets easier than the previous 9x scope I had on the rifle.

Originally Posted by RUMPY

100m hits are doing well. Please tell me the reticle picture has half of it erased for your text though.
A dilemma I currently have with my 223 is having a 3-9x scope on it and trying to shoot wallabies at 300m. Can't really afford anything atm but I look at all the 3-15 and 3-18x scopes and think how many more shots I could take.

If it's a simple duplex you can use the thick part of the cross hair as a drop mark. You just have to find out what range works, but BDC reticles really are your friends.

I'm in same boat as @RUMPY eyesight is not as good as it used to be but can't afford to upgrade from 3x9 on both rifles. Ah well just have to get closer.

I have the same scope on my EM-332 and agree that it is a solid choice for the price.

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

If it's a simple duplex you can use the thick part of the cross hair as a drop mark. You just have to find out what range works, but BDC reticles really are your friends.

Yeah I was doing this last time out with @Micky Duck. Managed to hit one at 300m by using the top of the thick post.

What length did you chop the barrel off on the CZ 452...looks to be about 12"?
What make is the rimfire suppressor?

Originally Posted by Hermitage

What length did you chop the barrel off on the CZ 452...looks to be about 12"?
What make is the rimfire suppressor?

Good questions. Chopped to 15". It's an over-barrel rimfire suppressor. A rare and expensive beast. Made by Hardy.