Camp, Hunt or Shoot

It’s not often that a company comes along and introduces a quality product that’s both innovative and reasonably priced - but the team at Pride Fowler have done exactly that.

Pride Fowler are not new to the optic world either – they’ve been designing scopes and reticles and collaborating with other major optics manufacturers like Carl Zeiss on various projects for years. In fact, Pride Fowler deigned the series of Rapid Z reticles found in both the conquest and Victory line of Zeiss rifle scopes.

This article will give a brief overview of the Pride Fowler Rapid Reticle 3-9x32 optic (RR-17HMR 3-9x32) especially calibrated for the .17 HMR and the 17 grain ammunition averaging 2550 fps most commonly available for it. Pride Fowler also makes a model calibrated for regular .22 LR.

When I heard about these scopes, I knew I had to get one. It arrived in a solidly constructed box branded PFI Rapid reticle, with the optic marked “made in Japan”. It’s pretty common knowledge in the optics world that the highest quality optics originate from either Europe or Japan so that was a good sign from the very start.

The scope feels very solidly built and the magnification ring is firm to turn but not overly so. The clicks on the turrets where both positive and audible, with less “mushiness” than I’ve felt on some scopes retailing at 3 times the price!

The scope is especially designed to be used with a rim fire rifle chambered for the .17 HMR cartridge and as specified in the instructions that ship with the optic, its reticle is calibrated for the common 17 grain loading that averages 2550 feet per second.

The scope’s reticle is in the front focal plain (or FFP) as opposed to the second focal plain (SFP). For those unsure of the distinction, a FFP reticle will “grow and shrink” as the magnification is adjusted up or down. An SFP reticle will stay the same size on whatever magnification power you set the scope.

The main advantage of an FFP optic is that the reticle subtends correctly regardless of the power you have your magnification ring set to. A SFP scope will only subtend correctly on one setting, generally the highest magnification setting available to the scope. For example if a reticle in a 5.5-22x56 SFP scope has a series of one moa hash marks horizontally and vertically situated from the centre cross hair, and it’s designed to subtend correctly at 22x magnification, at 11x magnification those one moa hash marks will now subtend two moa. If this same scope where of FFP design at 11x the hash marks would still correlate to one moa.

Personally I’m used to shooting with FFP scopes and consider this a major advantage for the practical utilisation of this ballistic reticle in the Pride Fowler scope, with no overshooting your target if using the 200 yard bar on a lower magnification than 9x. I also do not find it a disadvantage at all on 3x with the reticle being small, as usually you’ll be shooting game close in, so the whole reticle will subtend into a small area of your chosen quarry anyway.

Below is an illustration of the reticle and you zero your rifle to the centre or top cross hair at exactly 100 yards. The series of lines below correlate to 50 yard incremental increases in range with dots between that breaking the range down into 25 yard increments through to 300 yards. The dots on the outer edges of the 50 yard lines are calibrated for wind holds up to 10 miles per hour. 

Having a closer look at the scope you start to get an idea of the quality of it. Another nice feature is that the turrets are resettable to zero. After zeroing your scope, you loosen the three set screws on the turret with the allen key supplied and lift the turret up and line up the “0” on the turret with the small gold dot and retighten the set screws.

The scope was a breeze to sight in and I initially used a bore sigher after mounting the scope on my Zastava CZ99 Precision rimfire  .17 HMR in a pair of Warne rings. This got me on the board at 50 paces. I set the target back to a verified 100 yards and fired the first shot, and then adjusted it, noticing that it tracked consistently as I made alterations. I didn’t bother conducting a full box tracking test for this optic given the optics purpose and range, but for the adjustments I was required to make, it tracked predictability and with no abnormality. 

I find the optic is clear and sharp and resolves well. It would easily compare to other optics I own that are twice the price. I found that I had no trouble seeing the small bull at 100 yards despite the fact it only has 9x magnification.

After zeroing my new scope on the little Zastava, I set out to test the scope on the local rabbit infestation and I can say that the reticle worked a charm. The rabbit below for example, was ranged at 181 yards and I used the stadia that corresponds to 175 yards, and placed it on this rabbit’s chest allowing an ever so light deviation to the left for the left to right breeze. I squeezed off the shot and the new scope had scored its first rabbit.

In conclusion, this scope is excellent value for money and a punch well above its weight.  It really does optimise the performance of the .17 HMR cartridge and deliver great performance in the field. In conjunction with a quality rangefinder, Australian shooters will find that this scope harnesses the full potential of their .17 HMR rifle. It’s available for order right now at Camp-Hunt-Shoot.com, one of Australia’s leading suppliers of camping, hunting and shooting accessories.

You can find it by clicking the link below:

http://www.camp-hunt-shoot.com/categories4-hunting-shooting-camping/scopes-pride-fowler-rimfire-scopes--1.htm

Specifications

• 3-9x32mm with fast focus eye piece

• Nitrogen filled one piece one inch diameter 6061 T6 aluminium tube with matte black anodized finish

• Shock, fog, and water proof multi-coated lenses

• First focal plane reticle to allow for accurate shooting throughout power range without manual adjustment

• Fast-focus eye piece

• Positive ¼ MOA windage and elevation clicks on the low profile target type knobs with reset to zero feature.

• Weight (oz.): 13.4

• Length (inch): 11.2

• Eye Relief (mm): 88.90 @ 3x 73.66 @ 9x

• Eye Relief (inch): 3.50 @ 3x 2.90 @ 9x

• Field of View (feet@100 yds): 30.60 @ 3x 21.00 @ 9x

• Exit Pupil Diameter (mm): 10.70 @ 3x 3.60 @ 9x

• Temperature Operating Range: 70C to -17C

....The Shooter.