Huskemaw Tactical 5-30X56 Riflescope Review
Upon receiving and installing my custom RFBC dual interlocking turrets for the 190 grain VLD's set for my altitude and temperature, I verified my 100 yard zero prior to validating the turret at a further distance. Unfortunately, I was cramped for time and only set out a single target at exactly 700 yards. I initially started going through my procedure of inputting my data into a ballistic program but realized the RFBC turret already had my data. I dialed directly to the "7" indicating 700 yards and then checked the windage correction which indicated I needed 3.5 MOA of correction for a full value 10 mph wind. As luck would have it, the wind on that day was 7 mph gusting to 10 mph. I held off firing until I felt a gust of wind come through, then held center elevation but 3.5 MOA into the wind. My first round impacted the 7.9 inch steel target at 700 yards! Things don't get much easier than that.
My next batch of testing immediately followed the data validation at 700 yards. I came back to my 100 yard zero and verified point of impact, and as a further check on return to zero. I removed the scope rings from the base, snugged the clamp back down on the ring, then threw the scope overhand as hard as I could out to the open field. The scope landed on its side and tumbled a short distance before coming to a rest. Thus began my impact resistance and ability to hold zero test. The scope traveled 26 yards to the impact location and 30 yards total before coming to a stop. The scope had a minor rub mark showing bare aluminum on the objective end of the scope as well as other dirt and debris in various places. I retrieved the scope then remounted it, and fired two more rounds at the same point of aim as used prior to throwing the scope. Impact of the bullets was in the same exact spot. I repeated this test a second time with identical results. The scope is built to take some abuse! I expected some sort of shift in point of impact, but there was absolutely no shift during this test that I could detect.
Thrown 30 yards.
Remounted to verify POI.
Design observations
While analyzing this scope for a couple months, I found several things I appreciate about the scope and a few other design aspects I would like to see changed to make this optic even better. First, the good things.
Optically, the Huskemaw Tactical 5-30X56 is very good. I found the optics to be sufficiently bright, clear, and crisp with good contrast and resolution. There was a bit of CA present in the scope, more than I would like to see given the price point, but not enough to dissuade me from purchasing this optic. The RFBC dual interlocking turrets are very nice, one of the best ballistic compensating turrets currently available especially given the engraved windage correction. This makes LR shooting a lot easier so long as the turret matches the given conditions. Who doesn't enjoy making things easier? The elevation and windage turrets don't utilize tiny set screws around the perimeter to hold them in place, but a single screw on the end of the turret that can be removed or tightened with a coin. Again, simplicity. I also appreciate having yardage indication on the parallax turret as this gives me a solid reference point to get to a parallax free setting the fastest. After testing for impact resistance, I'm happy that this scope is built to take some abuse and keep on working. Given that the reticle is in the second focal plane, I also like having the magnification numbering at a slight angle so I can easily see them without having to come completely out of shooting position.
There are some things that I would like to see Huskemaw implement for future revisions to make this optic even better. I ended up resetting my zero a few different times during this evaluation and noticed that the click lines didn't always line up with the reference point when reinstalling the turrets. This can lead to confusion when lines don't exactly coincide where they should. The direction indication arrows for adjusting up or down are engraved on the scope tube itself, instead of higher up on the adjustment housing. I am familiar enough with optics, but a new shooter may need to see those indications to make sure he is turning the turret in the correct direction. Having those arrows on the scope tube itself makes them impossible to see from shooting position, so moving them up higher would fix this minor issue. Also, given this is a "tactical" scope, I would like to see the bright stainless set screw on the windage turret anodized black along with L and R lettering next to the numbering around the windage turret. Again, this will alleviate confusion. This is a non-issue, however, if the windage cap will be left on the scope once a zero is established. The reticle worked well during my testing, but the current trend in tactical optics is with a mil based scope and FFP reticles that are illuminated. There are numerous advantages with the mil system so I'm not going to list out my perceptions, but building a mil adjustment turrets and corresponding mil reticle in the FFP would be hugely beneficial given this scope is "tactical." Finally, having some manner of resetting the parallax turret so the yardage indications coincide with a given distance would be helpful if an end user found the parallax to be off from what it should be.
There are more criticisms than positives, but I am also being quite picky. Huskemaw has a very solid first offering in the high magnification realm and I'd like to see them make this product even better. Their current patents with the RFBC and dual interlocking turrets is highly innovative and has practical benefits. There are obviously good things going on with Huskemaw.
Ammunition tested
I was graciously supplied with The Best of the West 300 Winchester Magnum 180 grain Accubond and 190 grain VLD ammunition. The bottom line up front is that both of these ammunition loadings turned in impressive results.
The 180 grain Accubond ammunition was utilized for initial zeroing, accuracy check out to 300 yards, and return to zero. At 100 yards, this ammunition produced a sub ½ MOA three round group. When I tested it out to 300 yards, I was pleased to see a three round group that was just slightly over ½ MOA. Interestingly enough, my total group size after five separate checks on return to zero at 100 yards, was also just over ½ MOA. For a hunting style bullet, this is exceptional ammunition and one that I can wholeheartedly recommend for the 300 WM.
Fortunately, I was supplied with two boxes of the 190 grain VLD ammunition to complete the remainder of the optic evaluation with. Again, I found this ammunition to be exceptional. This ammunition was utilized to gather data for the custom RFBC turret and for all other testing to verify accuracy of the RFBC at distance. At 100 yards, the 190 grain VLD produced a group of slightly over ¼ MOA for three rounds. When I tested this ammunition at 300 yards however, three more rounds came in at slightly under ¼ MOA. When tested for accuracy and to gather RFBC data, this ammunition produced a sub ½ MOA three round group at 770 yards in field conditions with a decent wind blowing. Accuracy like that doesn't come along very often, especially not in factory loaded ammunition. My personal endorsement doesn't get any better than stating that if I am in a crunch and can't load ammunition myself, I'll be purchasing the 190 grain VLD from The Best of the West!
Nicholas Gebhardt has been an active hunter primarily pursuing mule deer, antelope, coyotes and prairie dogs since he was old enough to legally hunt. Nicholas is a precision rifle competitor and uses the knowledge he gains from competition shooting to aid in his ethical taking of game in the field under most any condition. He enjoys custom rifles and is usually in some form or another of either planning or building the next one. Nicholas earned his B.S. in Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana and is a Captain in the Montana National Guard.
My next batch of testing immediately followed the data validation at 700 yards. I came back to my 100 yard zero and verified point of impact, and as a further check on return to zero. I removed the scope rings from the base, snugged the clamp back down on the ring, then threw the scope overhand as hard as I could out to the open field. The scope landed on its side and tumbled a short distance before coming to a rest. Thus began my impact resistance and ability to hold zero test. The scope traveled 26 yards to the impact location and 30 yards total before coming to a stop. The scope had a minor rub mark showing bare aluminum on the objective end of the scope as well as other dirt and debris in various places. I retrieved the scope then remounted it, and fired two more rounds at the same point of aim as used prior to throwing the scope. Impact of the bullets was in the same exact spot. I repeated this test a second time with identical results. The scope is built to take some abuse! I expected some sort of shift in point of impact, but there was absolutely no shift during this test that I could detect.
Thrown 30 yards.
Remounted to verify POI.
Design observations
While analyzing this scope for a couple months, I found several things I appreciate about the scope and a few other design aspects I would like to see changed to make this optic even better. First, the good things.
Optically, the Huskemaw Tactical 5-30X56 is very good. I found the optics to be sufficiently bright, clear, and crisp with good contrast and resolution. There was a bit of CA present in the scope, more than I would like to see given the price point, but not enough to dissuade me from purchasing this optic. The RFBC dual interlocking turrets are very nice, one of the best ballistic compensating turrets currently available especially given the engraved windage correction. This makes LR shooting a lot easier so long as the turret matches the given conditions. Who doesn't enjoy making things easier? The elevation and windage turrets don't utilize tiny set screws around the perimeter to hold them in place, but a single screw on the end of the turret that can be removed or tightened with a coin. Again, simplicity. I also appreciate having yardage indication on the parallax turret as this gives me a solid reference point to get to a parallax free setting the fastest. After testing for impact resistance, I'm happy that this scope is built to take some abuse and keep on working. Given that the reticle is in the second focal plane, I also like having the magnification numbering at a slight angle so I can easily see them without having to come completely out of shooting position.
There are some things that I would like to see Huskemaw implement for future revisions to make this optic even better. I ended up resetting my zero a few different times during this evaluation and noticed that the click lines didn't always line up with the reference point when reinstalling the turrets. This can lead to confusion when lines don't exactly coincide where they should. The direction indication arrows for adjusting up or down are engraved on the scope tube itself, instead of higher up on the adjustment housing. I am familiar enough with optics, but a new shooter may need to see those indications to make sure he is turning the turret in the correct direction. Having those arrows on the scope tube itself makes them impossible to see from shooting position, so moving them up higher would fix this minor issue. Also, given this is a "tactical" scope, I would like to see the bright stainless set screw on the windage turret anodized black along with L and R lettering next to the numbering around the windage turret. Again, this will alleviate confusion. This is a non-issue, however, if the windage cap will be left on the scope once a zero is established. The reticle worked well during my testing, but the current trend in tactical optics is with a mil based scope and FFP reticles that are illuminated. There are numerous advantages with the mil system so I'm not going to list out my perceptions, but building a mil adjustment turrets and corresponding mil reticle in the FFP would be hugely beneficial given this scope is "tactical." Finally, having some manner of resetting the parallax turret so the yardage indications coincide with a given distance would be helpful if an end user found the parallax to be off from what it should be.
There are more criticisms than positives, but I am also being quite picky. Huskemaw has a very solid first offering in the high magnification realm and I'd like to see them make this product even better. Their current patents with the RFBC and dual interlocking turrets is highly innovative and has practical benefits. There are obviously good things going on with Huskemaw.
Ammunition tested
I was graciously supplied with The Best of the West 300 Winchester Magnum 180 grain Accubond and 190 grain VLD ammunition. The bottom line up front is that both of these ammunition loadings turned in impressive results.
The 180 grain Accubond ammunition was utilized for initial zeroing, accuracy check out to 300 yards, and return to zero. At 100 yards, this ammunition produced a sub ½ MOA three round group. When I tested it out to 300 yards, I was pleased to see a three round group that was just slightly over ½ MOA. Interestingly enough, my total group size after five separate checks on return to zero at 100 yards, was also just over ½ MOA. For a hunting style bullet, this is exceptional ammunition and one that I can wholeheartedly recommend for the 300 WM.
Fortunately, I was supplied with two boxes of the 190 grain VLD ammunition to complete the remainder of the optic evaluation with. Again, I found this ammunition to be exceptional. This ammunition was utilized to gather data for the custom RFBC turret and for all other testing to verify accuracy of the RFBC at distance. At 100 yards, the 190 grain VLD produced a group of slightly over ¼ MOA for three rounds. When I tested this ammunition at 300 yards however, three more rounds came in at slightly under ¼ MOA. When tested for accuracy and to gather RFBC data, this ammunition produced a sub ½ MOA three round group at 770 yards in field conditions with a decent wind blowing. Accuracy like that doesn't come along very often, especially not in factory loaded ammunition. My personal endorsement doesn't get any better than stating that if I am in a crunch and can't load ammunition myself, I'll be purchasing the 190 grain VLD from The Best of the West!
Nicholas Gebhardt has been an active hunter primarily pursuing mule deer, antelope, coyotes and prairie dogs since he was old enough to legally hunt. Nicholas is a precision rifle competitor and uses the knowledge he gains from competition shooting to aid in his ethical taking of game in the field under most any condition. He enjoys custom rifles and is usually in some form or another of either planning or building the next one. Nicholas earned his B.S. in Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana and is a Captain in the Montana National Guard.
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