Steiner T5XI 1-5x24 Rapid Dot 3TR 7.62 Riflescope 5102

Background: This is the optic I went to after I finally gave up on finding a solid, lightweight optic for my Beretta ARX. So, keep in mind that I was "forced" into the variable power optics because I couldn't find what I wanted in any other configuration. I wanted to find an optic that would provide solid, optimized CQB performance while delivering the precision I wanted out to 500m. My emphasis is heavily on the CQB performance of any optic, and I view magnification as more of an identification aid rather than a marksmanship aid. I have astigmatism that prevents me from making really good use of red dot and holographic options, so having a proper optic with diopter adjustments became critical. I shoot accurately with iron sights, so a variable power scope, for me, is about expanding capabilities, not improving marksmanship. What I Like:* Great look and feel. Fits in very well with the ARX and has a sleek, low drag sort of profile, while still feeling very sturdy.* Illumination is every bit as good as competitors with great brightness and clarity.* Great bit of extra accessories with the caps and the throw lever included.* Nice of them to include two batteries.* Nice, simple, straightforward documentation that's relevant to the optic at hand, instead of being excessively generic.* My biggest surprise bonus was that the reticle isn't the straight crosshair reticle as depicted on the product page. It has the same hold overs and windage stadia, but it's a tapered crosshair which makes it *much* nicer than I thought for easy acquisition and keeping track of where you are, despite being so minimalist. I've really very pleased with the reticle now. Nothing complicated to get in the way, but everything I need to get the job done.* The 1× is as good as Steiner advertises. Very clear, great edge clarity, true 1× without funny business. The 1× is every bit as good as I hoped it would be, and it's very easy to get behind, so I'm happy there.* The 5× is sharp and while I'm not terribly attached to magnification, it seems like a good power choice and certainly makes some observation and the like easier.* The turret adjustments feel good.* Auto shut-off on the illumination that you can turn on and off, which is quite nice.What I didn't like:* The optic is relatively long, so if you want to mount lots of things in front of the optic on limited rail space, this isn't your best choice.* The turret caps on this thing were devilishly tight, to the point that I had to use pliers and padding to rotate them off. Something must have frozen or stuck during shipping or the like, because they were very very tight. After working them on and off a little bit, they unstuck themselves and now they can be worked by hand, but that first time was truly troublesome.Overall:Steiner has a winner on their hands here. The optics are the real selling point of this, and you'd be hard pressed to find a better alternative optically at this price point. The weight and ergonomics are all good for a variable power, and the reticle is hands down one of the best reticles I have seen on a tactical CQB scope. If you want something functional, sleek, and minimal without loss of functionality, this is the way to go. It avoids useless feature creep and focuses on what I consider most valuable, the optical experience. It's definitely a bargain. This is an optic that gets out of your way and lets you get the job done.

I looked at Vortex, Nightforce, Leupold, & Steiner. Steiner was hands down winner.

This is the first scope I have purchased at this price point and what a difference. It really is super clear and the lighted reticle is great. I am an older novice shooter and I can highly recommend this scope if you have issues with your eyes.