Tasco's Varmint / Tactical Riflescope
by Jeff Quinn

photography by Jeff Quinn & Boge Quinn

 

Recently, I have had the opportunity to work with a new variation of Tasco's target scope called the Varmint / Tactical. The scope is much like Tasco's other excellent target scopes, with the exception of the reticle. The new scope features a true Mil-Dot range finding reticle. Contrary to popular belief, the "Mil" in Mil-Dot does not stand for "Military", even though the reticle was developed for the U.S. Marine Corp snipers in the late 1970s. "Mil" is short for milliradian, a unit of measure. The radian system is a measure of rotation, much like degrees. Instead of using degrees, minutes, and seconds, the Mil-Dot reticle uses milliradian to find the distance to a target of known size.

For most practical purposes, all we need to remember is that the distance between the dots, on center, subtends 36 inches (one yard) at 1000 yards, or 3.6 inches at 100 yards. If you know, for instance, that an average man is six feet (two yards) tall, and covers the distance of two dots, he is 1000 yards away. If he covers four dots, he is 500 yards away. It is easier to understand with the Mil-Dot reticle drawing included at bottom right.

Another very practical use of the Mil-Dot reticle in the Varmint / Tactical scope is to use the lower dots on the vertical reticle as aiming points for extended yardage. By knowing the distance to the target, a shooter can use the lower dots as reference points to hold over to allow for the falling trajectory of the bullet.

With the target turrets provided on the Varmint / Tactical scope, a shooter can also easily rotate the elevation knob to compensate for bullet drop at long range. The adjustment knobs on the scope are precisely repeatable and easily zeroed to a particular rifle.

While testing the optics and features of the Varmint / Tactical riflescope, I compared it to another scope that I was using at the time. The other scope is a very well known American-made variable target scope costing approximately six times what the Tasco sells for. To my surprise and regret, the optical clarity of the Tasco was much better than that of the other scope for which I had paid dearly just a few months ago. Also, the other scope does not feature the Mil-Dot reticle of the Tasco, and the power adjustment ring of the Tasco is much smoother and easier to rotate. The Tasco comes with better scope covers. Both scopes have adjustable objective lenses of 42mm diameter, but the Tasco has the ability to focus much closer than the more expensive scope. Finally, the power of the Tasco Varmint / Tactical scope is adjustable from 6 to 24 power, while the expensive scope adjusts from 6 to 18 power. In every comparison between the two scopes, the Tasco came out on top. This is not to knock the other scope; it is a very good riflescope. The Tasco is just better, and costs much less. I wish that I had seen the Tasco before buying the other scope.

Another feature of the Tasco is their lifetime warranty to be shockproof, fog proof, and waterproof.  The Varmint / Tactical has a smooth matte black finish and fully-coated lenses throughout the scope.

Check out the Tasco Varmint / Tactical 6 to 24 power scope online at www.tascosales.com.

You can order the scope at  www.midwayusa.com for less than 100 bucks. That is a great price for a great scope.

Jeff Quinn

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Click the pictures to see a larger version.

 

Tasco's Varmint / Tactical riflescope, shown here mounted on a Savage .22-250 varmint rifle, easily optimizes the accuracy capability of varmint cartridges such as the .22-250.

 

 

The Tasco Varmint / Tactical features precise, repeatable, finger-adjustable target knobs. The scope exhibits consistent quality of manufacture and ingenious design throughout.

 

 

The Mil-Dot reticle is quick and easy to pick up, plus it functions as a practical range-finder. The Mil-Dot principle is further explained below.

 

 

Author considers the Tasco Varmint / Tactical scope to be an excellent scope at an excellent price. He suggests that you carefully compare quality and features before spending more money for an inferior scope.

 

 

This table offers further explanation of the Mil-Dot principle.