Trijicon Huron 3x9x40 Drop Eval

[RWT]

Trijicon Huron 3x9x40 Drop Eval
My review of the Trijicon Huron 3x9x40 1” SFP

This scope was purchased new by me from Optics Planet late last year while on sale. The reticle is a BDC style duplex, SFP. I am shooting on my land off a bench to a target 107 yards away.



The scope was mounted following recommended RS procedure. Everything was degreased with acetone and blue Loctite on a Ruger Rimfire 22 WMR for the past 3 months. No paint pen. The scope held zero as I worked to improve the Ruger’s group size trying various ammo, trigger springs and bedded the action. This appears to be a 2 MOA gun forever. It will kill the critters I want at that distance so I’ll let it be. Short story long, a buddy needed cash so I bought this from him. Might be the last time I do that as he swore it drove tacks. Apparently he uses very large tacks.

I shot three 2” 10 shot groups with it today so I am confident the scope is in working order. I then pulled the S&B from the Bergara and moved the Trij over. I did not locktite the ring bases, however, I did have my fatwrench with me so I can verify that before and after the test the ring base bolts were torqued to 65” lbs. (there was old locktite from the previous set up still on the bolts.)



The rifle is a bone stock Bergara Ridge SP 6.5 Creed, Warne rail and rings. Rail is 380 epoxied to the action. Triggered adjusted to avg 2.2 lbs based on my scale. TBAC 7 for the suppressor. Suppressor stayed on for the entirety of the test. I am shooting off bags on a homemade bench. Weather is hot and humid no wind, 85 degrees and sweat dripping humidity.



The media is costal and prairie grass on a ½” gym mat that is at least 12 years old and been in my garage in front of the bench. Cows didn’t eat enough and the grass did not grow enough since last week’s testing to matter. Drops were conducted from knee and waist high. I am 6’0.




Starting group with this rifle was 1.69” using Winchester 125 OT Range ammo. This is consistent with this ammo and rifle set up for the last 300 rounds. (could someone tell me why it tends to string horizontally?)


The “C” shot is to confirm based on the 10 shot cone and it hit exactly where the last shot left off. The target is a 2” sticker. The first left side #1, 18” drop appears to be in the cone, but barley. The #2, 18” top drop showed a significant shift up and to the left. The #3, 18” right side drop showed a clear movement to the right. IMO all 3 shots are out of the cone. I then moved to the single 36” drops. The #4, 36” left side demonstrated a 5” shift down and to the left. The #5, 36” top drop showed a slight shift up and finally the #6, 36” right side drop showed another 2” shift to the right. Total group size increased from 1.69 to 5.18.



At this point I stopped shooting as the scope is clearly out of the cone from 6 drops. I then rechecked the ring base torque to confirm the 65” lbs. I considered this a total failure to hold zero. I will test it again in the coming weeks, but odds are this will stay on the 22 WMR until I can fins a reliable replacment.

I am searching for a scope that is for the set and forget crowd which happens to be all of my shooting/hunting friends. Requirements are – sub $600, non-dialing turrets, simple reticle, reliably holds zero, shots under 300 yrds and still in production. Form’s test procedures provide a repeatable method to use as a baseline for a shooting system I can leverage and document. If I can provide them proof my recommendations eliminates/reduces some variables then maybe I won’t be roped into the annual Donkey Disco. This happens opening weekend when one of the Fudd’s pulls his rifle out from under the bed and says “It was on last year”, as five of us wander in the pasture with flashlights looking for a blood trail.

I have a few more scopes to test in this category. I am hopeful for the Burris FF as it appears to still be in production and an older model passed Forms’ eval. I am also waiting on a sale for the Maven RS2 2.5x10x38. Suggestions are appreciated. If a scope passes my RFT then I’ll send it to Form for a proper evaluation.

 

[Bluumoon]

Appreciate all the work! I might suggest testing the rifle system w a known scope and see if passes. My first run w all drop test approved equipment still showed a shift. User error on my end. Need to proof the system before making conclusions on the scope if that makes sense.

 

[Bluumoon]

Props for being willing to do the test!

 

[Dioni A]

You've got a lot of other variables going on. Have you proved the rifle with a different scope?

 

[ScreamingPotato]

Man this isn't what I wanted to read today. I just "upgraded" Leupolds on my primary deer rifle and wife's all around rifles with two of these Hurons. Nothing scientific but I've only shot mine twice now, second range trip it was 8" low at 100 yards but shooting quarter sized groups. I didn't really remember much from original sight-in day so I just adjusted up and hoped something else had changed, but now I'm worried. Still lots of shooting to go before I conclude anything though.

Also LOL at very large tacks!

 

[ScreamingPotato]

Off topic, but OP, what are those flip-up caps you've got on there?

 

[ChrisAU]

Off topic, but OP, what are those flip-up caps you've got on there?

That would appear to be a Butler Creek

 

[Formidilosus]

Trijicon Huron 3x9x40 Drop Eval
My review of the Trijicon Huron 3x9x40 1” SFP

This scope was purchased new by me from Optics Planet late last year while on sale. The reticle is a BDC style duplex, SFP. I am shooting on my land off a bench to a target 107 yards away.


View attachment 740669
The scope was mounted following recommended RS procedure. Everything was degreased with acetone and blue Loctite on a Ruger Rimfire 22 WMR for the past 3 months. No paint pen. The scope held zero as I worked to improve the Ruger’s group size trying various ammo, trigger springs and bedded the action. This appears to be a 2 MOA gun forever. It will kill the critters I want at that distance so I’ll let it be. Short story long, a buddy needed cash so I bought this from him. Might be the last time I do that as he swore it drove tacks. Apparently he uses very large tacks.

I shot three 2” 10 shot groups with it today so I am confident the scope is in working order. I then pulled the S&B from the Bergara and moved the Trij over. I did not locktite the ring bases, however, I did have my fatwrench with me so I can verify that before and after the test the ring base bolts were torqued to 65” lbs. (there was old locktite from the previous set up still on the bolts.)

View attachment 740671

The rifle is a bone stock Bergara Ridge SP 6.5 Creed, Warne rail and rings. Rail is 380 epoxied to the action. Triggered adjusted to avg 2.2 lbs based on my scale. TBAC 7 for the suppressor. Suppressor stayed on for the entirety of the test. I am shooting off bags on a homemade bench. Weather is hot and humid no wind, 85 degrees and sweat dripping humidity.

View attachment 740672

The media is costal and prairie grass on a ½” gym mat that is at least 12 years old and been in my garage in front of the bench. Cows didn’t eat enough and the grass did not grow enough since last week’s testing to matter. Drops were conducted from knee and waist high. I am 6’0.


View attachment 740673View attachment 740674View attachment 740675

Starting group with this rifle was 1.69” using Winchester 125 OT Range ammo. This is consistent with this ammo and rifle set up for the last 300 rounds. (could someone tell me why it tends to string horizontally?)

View attachment 740677
The “C” shot is to confirm based on the 10 shot cone and it hit exactly where the last shot left off. The target is a 2” sticker. The first left side #1, 18” drop appears to be in the cone, but barley. The #2, 18” top drop showed a significant shift up and to the left. The #3, 18” right side drop showed a clear movement to the right. IMO all 3 shots are out of the cone. I then moved to the single 36” drops. The #4, 36” left side demonstrated a 5” shift down and to the left. The #5, 36” top drop showed a slight shift up and finally the #6, 36” right side drop showed another 2” shift to the right. Total group size increased from 1.69 to 5.18.

View attachment 740678View attachment 740679

At this point I stopped shooting as the scope is clearly out of the cone from 6 drops. I then rechecked the ring base torque to confirm the 65” lbs. I considered this a total failure to hold zero. I will test it again in the coming weeks, but odds are this will stay on the 22 WMR until I can fins a reliable replacment.

I am searching for a scope that is for the set and forget crowd which happens to be all of my shooting/hunting friends. Requirements are – sub $600, non-dialing turrets, simple reticle, reliably holds zero, shots under 300 yrds and still in production. Form’s test procedures provide a repeatable method to use as a baseline for a shooting system I can leverage and document. If I can provide them proof my recommendations eliminates/reduces some variables then maybe I won’t be roped into the annual Donkey Disco. This happens opening weekend when one of the Fudd’s pulls his rifle out from under the bed and says “It was on last year”, as five of us wander in the pasture with flashlights looking for a blood trail.

I have a few more scopes to test in this category. I am hopeful for the Burris FF as it appears to still be in production and an older model passed Forms’ eval. I am also waiting on a sale for the Maven RS2 2.5x10x38. Suggestions are appreciated. If a scope passes my RFT then I’ll send it to Form for a proper evaluation.

I appreciate you doing these, however I can all but guarantee that a large portion of shifts are coming from the Ruger itself. Most rifles shift when dropped, and Ruger Americans are some of the worst.

 

[RWT]

Replying from the phone so I’ll figure out how to quote specifically later.

This one was tested with the Bergara SP which has previously tested the Maven RS1 and S&B fixed 6. I had the Trij mounted in the Ruger, shot 3 groups of 10’playing with 22WMR ammo to see what it liked. I then moved it over to the Bergara for the drop test.

I would not trust that ruger to pass a single drop.

 

[Formidilosus]

Replying from the phone so I’ll figure out how to quote specifically later.

This one was tested with the Bergara SP which has previously tested the Maven RS1 and S&B fixed 6. I had the Trij mounted in the Ruger, shot 3 groups of 10’playing with 22WMR ammo to see what it liked. I then moved it over to the Bergara for the drop test.

I would not trust that ruger to pass a single drop.

I was reading off my phone in the vehicle- I did not catch that.

As an overall set, you have quite a few variables that absolutely can affect shifts. None of this is meant negative, just as an FYI-

1). Rifle isn’t permanently bonded into stock
2). Bases aren’t bonded to action
3). Suppressor- they can and sometimes do shift with impacts

And overall, not having a proof scope to swap before and after to be positive the rifle system isn’t shifting.

 

[BLJ]

I appreciate you doing these, however I can all but guarantee that a large portion of shifts are coming from the Ruger itself. Most rifles shift when dropped, and Ruger Americans are some of the worst.

What about the Ruger Americans causes them to shift?

Have you dropped a lot of them with scopes, rings and bases that have been verified on other rifles?

 

[Formidilosus]

What about the Ruger Americans causes them to shift?

Stock fitment. Almost all rifles will shift and can shift when dropped, especially with the ridiculously low torque that manufacturers specify/ for instance at the 30 or 35in-lbs torque that Tikka specs, the action shifts from 36” drops pretty consistently. When tightened to 55-65in-lbs most no longer shift, though it seems about 10-30% can still have a .1 mil shift at times. Bedding the lug and tang stops it.

 

[BLJ]

I go to 60 inch pounds in factory stocks with my RA’s. How would I measure the barreled action shifting in the stock so I could eliminate it from the equation?

 

[RWT]

The test rifle is not bonded to the stock or bedded. That is an area that will be corrected this fall. My goal is to get as close to “factory” with off the shelf components as I can. I am very curious how a factory stocked Tikka would fare in the drop eval as mine is not pillar bedded or glass bedded. I”ll likely test it as it also wears a RS1.2. I will have to remove the suppressor as it is a pencil barrel.

If I can get as close to factory set up as possible and still have a reasonable idea a scope passed the drop test, even if it is just the single 36”, then I’ll send the scopes to Ryan for official testing.
Forms system is built for it, mine is not. I am working to weed out the immediate failure for the scopes I set the criteria on above. This also means I’ll retest a scope that fails, just to rule out other variables as you can see I have a tendency to pull a shot now and then.

I figure I am learning something in every test. For instance my first drop test with the RS1 and this same rifle had my group stay the same size, but the entire group shifted. Then I bonded the rail to the action. My groups and drop test groups both tightened up. IMO this is step in the process anyone could perform for the price of a tube of epoxy. I am now adding this step to all my rifles and recommending it to any of my friends.

I cringed a lot during the S&B test as that set up bounced much more than the RS1. This could be because I left the suppressor on for that test. I am uncertain. I would still like to understand the horizontal stringing. Lots to learn and figure out. So I’ll keep bouncing them until I run out scopes.

 

[Formidilosus]

The test rifle is not bonded to the stock or bedded. That is an area that will be corrected this fall. My goal is to get as close to “factory” with off the shelf components as I can. I am very curious how a factory stocked Tikka would fare in the drop eval as mine is not pillar bedded or glass bedded. I”ll likely test it as it also wears a RS1.2. I will have to remove the suppressor as it is a pencil barrel.

If I can get as close to factory set up as possible and still have a reasonable idea a scope passed the drop test, even if it is just the single 36”, then I’ll send the scopes to Ryan for official testing.
Forms system is built for it, mine is not. I am working to weed out the immediate failure for the scopes I set the criteria on above. This also means I’ll retest a scope that fails, just to rule out other variables as you can see I have a tendency to pull a shot now and then.

I figure I am learning something in every test. For instance my first drop test with the RS1 and this same rifle had my group stay the same size, but the entire group shifted. Then I bonded the rail to the action. My groups and drop test groups both tightened up. IMO this is step in the process anyone could perform for the price of a tube of epoxy. I am now adding this step to all my rifles and recommending it to any of my friends.

I cringed a lot during the S&B test as that set up bounced much more than the RS1. This could be because I left the suppressor on for that test. I am uncertain. I would still like to understand the horizontal stringing. Lots to learn and figure out. So I’ll keep bouncing them until I run out scopes.

Good job on all. Ultimately what I hoped to achieve was to get people trying and experimenting their own equipment. I picked up your RS1 (and Mark 4 HD) from Ryan today and will shoot this week.


I have dropped a bunch of factory Tikka’s- most were fine with proof scopes and food mounts, but a few had small shifts (.3 mil or so). Bedding the tang and lug stopped it in all so far. I have dropped quite a bit with multiple T3’s in the RokStok- no shift from them. With good stocks you should be able to hard/tight bed the action and get good stability.

 

[Formidilosus]

I go to 60 inch pounds in factory stocks with my RA’s. How would I measure the barreled action shifting in the stock so I could eliminate it from the equation?

Process of elimination- start with a proof scope, usually NF NXS, permanently bond the rail to the action (Loctite 380 has been working fantastically), use good pic rings, then start dropping. With those things taken care of, I t’ll come down action movement in the stock or barrel movement in the action.

 

[Macegl]

I had wondered about the Huron, thanks for testing. I appreciate everyone who is willing to do these, I learn a lot about the different variables affecting shooting systems reading through these threads. And am slowly becoming a more proficient shooter as time and funds allow.

Really excited for Form to test the Mark 4hd and the rs 1.

 

[Machingeaneer]

I must say this is disappointing. For most of my stand hunting for whitetails this is likely a non-issue but may not be the budget zero retention setup I was hoping for. Once I get one of my other rifles set up, I would like to drop my Tikka/sportsmatch/Huron combo for myself.

Perhaps the 30mm tube version would fare better?

 

[RWT]

I’ll retest in a few weeks. If it holds on the single 36’s I’ll send it in. So far the only sub $750 scopes that have “Passed” and are attainable are the Credo 3x9 and maybe a Burris FF 3x9 (older model and unknown availability since the manufacturer may have changed). I believe we need to test a SWFA 10x. I have one and may add it to the mix. I just do not care for the large exposed turrets on the SWFA’s.

 

[Formidilosus]

I’ll retest in a few weeks. If it holds on the single 36’s I’ll send it in. So far the only sub $750 scopes that have “Passed” and are attainable are the Credo 3x9 and maybe a Burris FF 3x9 (older model and unknown availability since the manufacturer may have changed). I believe we need to test a SWFA 10x. I have one and may add it to the mix. I just do not care for the large exposed turrets on the SWFA’s.

Lots SWFA’s have been through the drop eval. Unless a turret is bent, they hold zero fine. The turret can bend however, which may cause up to a .3 to .4 mil shift- usually bending the turret back resets it