ZeroTech Trace 3-18x50mm FFP Field Evaluation

Status
Not open for further replies.

Formidilosus

Not A Moderator
Shoot2HuntU
Joined
Oct 22, 2014
Messages
11,876
This is a field evaluation of the ZT Trace 3-18x50mm FFP scope. This scope was sent to Ryan Avery for an evaluation by ZeroTech.


The scope: 27.9oz. It is a Chinese manufactured scope.
1753469342615.jpeg


Turrets:

Elevation turret is exposed with a zero stop, and revolution indicators. Windage is capped, not revolution indicated.

Elevation:
1753469435501.jpeg


Windage:
1753469478498.jpeg



Reticle: Is a common .5 mil per hash mark reticle with center dot and a faint “tree”. The 4x bold outer posts are 7 mils from center.

3x
1753469549836.jpeg


18x:
1753469566795.jpeg


Illuminated 3x:
1753469931625.jpeg


18x:
1753469946861.jpeg


It also comes with the second best scope caps I’ve seen (Leupold Alumina are the best)
1753470000531.jpeg

1753470014031.jpeg



Con’t….
 
Drop Evaluation RTZ and “Tracking”:


For an explanation see- Scope Field Eval Explanation and Standards


The “test” consists of three 18” drops on a mat- one left/right/top with a shot to check zero after each drop. Then the exact same thing repeated from 36”. Then three drops on all three sides for nine drops on the last part- 15 drops total. This is not “abuse”. The 18” drops are a joke really. The 36” start showing something. And when a scope make/model consistently goes through the whole thing without losing zero, and makes it through the high round count portion, failures in actual use are almost unheard of.

This one was conducted on semi-packed snow, with a 1/2 padded shooting mat on top.

The rings were degreased and installed with 65 in-lbs on base screws, and 20-lbs on ring cap screws.



Ammunition used was Winchester 175gr M118LR. The 20 round proof group with this ammo was 1.4 MOA.


Zeroing:


Boresighted then fired 3 rounds. Adjusted then went to left dot and fired the remaining 7. Elevation moved, windage did not. Adjusted right .4 mils and first 5 on the right dot. Again, windage barely moved.
IMG_9307.jpeg


Took scope off and remounted. Fired 3 shots at right dot. Adjusted and went to the dot in the head. 3 shots- this time it moved appropriately.

IMG_9308.jpeg




Drop evaluation:


1753470557533.jpeg


It shifted on every shot.

Post drops this is where it ended up-
1753470602036.jpeg


Adjusted-
1753470626612.jpeg


One more adjustment-
1753470648258.jpeg



At this point the initial eval was stopped as there was no point in spending more ammo. It was left as the 4 shots to see if it held zero while riding in the truck seat.

3 days later and 50’ish miles.
1753471243601.jpeg


Further shooting confirmed that it dropped out of the cone.



Conclusion:

ZeroTech wanted to know how their various scopes do with drops and impacts, and good on them for that. Unfortunately this scope does not do well with impacts, and seems to suffer from erector binding with rings. The reticle is one of the better hunting mil FFP reticles, and if they would have brought the thick outer posts to within 4 mils of center and make them a touch thicker- they would probably have the best on the market. Their scope caps should be standard with scopes.

This last part doesn’t matter being that the scope wasn’t reliable, but this scope is the best feeling and highest “quality”
Chinese scope I have seen- at first I thought it was a Japanese LOW scope. I am not a fan of Chinese scopes, but was hoping this one worked.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top