Tube Set Nikon
Monarch Riflescope Nikon 8-32x50 ED SF BDC Monarch
The test was carried out on the Monarch Riflescope 8-32x50ED SF with BDC reticule that is top of the range in Nikon's Monarch range, coming in the shops at around $700 - $800 against a list price of $980. You might be able to get it cheaper than $700 but I haven't found it.
It sure looks good, and it was clear as a bell right down to the x32 zoom. However, anybody that is considering buying a good riflescope will want some background information on the company manufacturing it, so let's begin by having a look at Nikon and their riflescope pedigree. This riflescope must be reliable at all times, irrespective of conditions, so how does Nikon figure in the riflescope market.
Nikon are famous for its optical products, and just about everybody has seen or used a Nikon Camera. Nikon have been trying to make their stamp on the hunting and target shooting business over the past few years, and they now have a whole range of optical products suitable for hunting including binoculars, spotting scopes, range finders and now these marvelous riflescopes that are designed especially for the high-end hunting market. So, the Monarch riflescope is the result of dedicated research and development, and didn't just happen overnight.
The riflescope range offered by Nikon is the Prostaff, the Buckmaster and the Monarch, in that order. The Prostaff are the entry level products, intended predominantly for amateurs seeking a telescopic sight for their rifle, but not wanting to pay too much. However, they are good quality, and you get a lot for what you pay. It's a pity that the quality of the other two ranges does not increase proportionate to their price, but that would likely be impossible to achieve.
Although the Prostaff range is a good quality scope for basic use, Buckmasters offer more choice in range, magnification and objective options, and the light transmission of the Nikon Buckmaster range is also better than that of the Prostaff. Although these three properties are significant ones for a riflescope, the price increase from the Prostaff is pretty high to be justified by just these, irrespective of their importance. And then we come to the Monarch, and it is that on which we will focus (sorry!).
This is Nikons best, beating the other two hands down in all features. One problem with the Monarch is that there are too many models: they are split into a large range of different products, and it isn't a simple thing for people to understand which would be best for them. For example, you can choose from the Monarch original UCC 3-9x40, the African, the Gold, the X series or just the plain Monarch, which I shall refer to as the standard. So how do these differ?
It would take too long a review to explain the differences between all the Monarch models, so I shall stick to the standard 17" long Monarch Riflescope 8-32x50ED SF with BDC which is excellent for serious hunters.
Magnification
The entire range offers the 1" main tube that Americans prefer, and 4x magnification range. The starting power options start at 2 and increase to a total of 7 possible starting points to 8, thru 2.5, 3, 4, 5 and 6. With these magnification ranges come the objectives: 2-8x32; 2.5-10x42; 3-12x42; 4-16x42; 4-16x50; 5-20x44; 6-24x50; 8-32x50. With various other options, you can purchase 24 different scopes in the standard Monarch range.
Our review is for the last in that list, the Monarch 8-32x50ED, the ED meaning Extra-Dispersion glass that provides better sharpness and color correction than normal, especially at high power settings of 20x or more. Our scope also had a BDC - bullet drop correction - reticule, compensating for bullet drop over the distances specified by the reticule. We tested the Nikon Model #8480 which is at the very top of the Nikon Monarch riflescope series.
Eye Relief
Anybody familiar with Nikon Monarch scopes will know about the Eye Box technology that offers four inches of eye relief and 4x power magnification. That refers to the fact that when you aim, you can keep your eye 4" away from the eyepiece of the scope - This allows a least 4" of recoil before your eyebrow receives a bang from the eyepiece. During the test the 4" was fine at 32x power, but you could move your eye farther back at lower power settings, but not for much more than an inch. The Nikon Monarch 8-32x50ED riflescope is of higher quality than many of the variable power scopes where the eye relief is very variable as the magnification power changes. It is better to be fairly constant so you can get used to a certain stance in shooting - you do not want to have to switch the power settings of a variable power riflescope too much.
Optical Properties
The Monarch 8-32x50ED was particularly clear and bright, even for the 50 objective lens. I have already explained what the ED glass is, and it makes a significant difference to the clarity, especially at the higher powers. Apparently this ED glass has been used on Nikon's telephoto lenses as standard, and has been applied to the Monarch riflescope - but as far as I know, only to the 8-32x50. It also provides very good color compensation.
Nikon offer a coating on their lenses that they call the 'Ultra Clear Coat'(UCC) that is claimed to boost light transmission to 95% as compared to the standard 90% of the Prostaff range. This really is excellent, particularly in low light conditions.
In the Monarch model we tested, the SF stood for Side Focus, basically a side parallax adjustment. This works as normal, only it has a locking device whereby you pull out a locking ring to free the adjustment, make your adjustment, and then push the ring in to lock it in place. The adjustment then can't be moved by accident. Precise parallax adjustments are available at ranges from 50 yards to infinity by means of 1/8 MOA clicks. The same 1/8 MOA adjustment is available on the accessory target-style windage and elevation adjustment knobs and caps.
Bullet Drop Compensation
Nikon's Monarch BDC models offer BDC reticules which possess four circles on the bottom half of the vertical reticule axis, corresponding to 200, 300, 400 and 500 yard holdovers for standard cartridges. With the higher velocity magnum cartridges, with muzzle speeds of around 300 feet per second, they are each 100 yards higher.
Simply target using the appropriate circle for the appropriate range and cartridge type. This is a basic BDC system that works OK, but needs a bit of experience and skill to use with proper accuracy. BDC is not a standard feature on Nikon riflescopes, but it will fit each model so if you want it added you should specify.
Unexpected Extras
The model we tested came with a couple of useful accessories: two flip-up lens covers and a sunshade. That way you will find it almost impossible for your Lens Caps to go missing. Apparently they are only available with this scope model, although they can be ordered as after sales accessories from Nikon for lower priced models such as the Prostaff and Buckmaster range.
Conclusions
This is a good riflescope with some very useful features. The standard price for this Nikon riflescope is maybe a bit excessive, although you don't have to pay that because it is available online at around $200 lower so, taking that into consideration, it is a very well priced riflescope for what it offers and how it performs. These extra features are certainly worthwhile having, the glass being of exceptional clarity with very good color properties and the locking ring that maintains the side parallax setting even with a hard knock is a definite bonus.
Perhaps the 32 power magnification is a bit high for this scope, unless you have a rest or bipod when using it, and the 20 MOA internal adjustment is perhaps not quite enough for longer distances. Nevertheless, for its intended use it is a magnificent riflescope and you will have to look far and wide to get better value for money (at the online price) than the Nikon Monarch 8-32x50ED SF BDC.
About the Author
You can find more about
Nikon Monarch Riflescopes
on Mikhail's website WebYShopswhich also offers information on other brands of optical products for amateur and professional hunters including the
Nikon Monarch ED 8-32x50 ED SF Riflescope
.
Nikon D90 + Kenko Extension Tube test
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