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Well, I got my Elcan a few days ago. Through a friend of mine I was able to buy one at a pretty good price as far as they go. This particular unit was considered a factory 'defects' only because it wasn't anodized as per SOCOM's specs. It's more 'brown' than 'bronze-brown', but since I don't care about whether it matches my shoes and nail polish color it was fine with me. There have been a batch released here recently and I've spotted their prices in the 1500 to 1600 range. Elcan has been letting them out of their hands to nonspecific dealers in the $1300 range. I suspect that Elcan wanted to cut loose a few to John Q since they have a military contract to fill, but that is strictly my speculation. I'm sure either way, they ain't losing any money.
My first thought upon seeing it was, "dang, it's big". And it's heavy too. Weighs in at 1.3 lbs. It does look like it will take abuse but it appears to have a lot more attached to it compared to other combat optics.
First off, it does come with it's own QD mount. They are ARMS throw levers. I only have had experience with ARMS recently pointed out and noticing on my own ARMS scope mounts that they are 2 piece units, one part aluminum and the other steel held together in a dovetail groove and secured with a roll pin. Eventually these start to wobble.
At least the Specter DR isn't a 2-piece setup like that. It is for the most part a single piece mount. But all scope adjustments are external. I understand in order to accommodate the dual magnification, 1X and 4X 'prism', the reticle was etched onto the glass and adjustments are made on the outside. The dual mag range lever mechanism is also on the outside of the housing and under the scope.
My take on that, it makes it a good dirt/snow/mud trap. I don't care for that. But I already knew that before I bought it. I don't plan of trudging it through the ground. I'm sure by the time if it were to come to that the last thing I will worry about is, "how is my scope doing?".
The power switch/battery compartment is on the left side of the scope. I've read some reports how this "occludes" view when using it CQB style. My answer to that, get used to it. It isn't that bad unless your eyes are 1/4 inch appart, then you have worse things to worry about like finding a date. I poked around corners using the 1X both eyes open and it's noticeable but not an issue, and I'm not the Hunchback of ND either.
The weight. Adding 1.3 lbs to an already heavy barrel XCR makes it, well heavier. The XCR weighs as much as an M16 so work more on your puny arms or deal with it. To be honest, I've become accustomed to carrying around an M4. It's not exactly easy going 'heavier' after getting used to that. I do have to still hump Da hills, and these aren't 'friendly' hills. Jagged and loose rock, spiny cactus's, that sort of 'not friendly'. Try tooling around in that and decided which carbine would you rather hump?
There is a reason these things sell for over $1800 MSRP (I wouldn't spend that much for any scope. $1300 was the most I would).
First off, my experiences with scopes have been ACOG's, EOTechs (now issued BP) M2 and M3 AP, and few other vari-X styles. For the most part I've always been the 'iron sight' type of guy. ACOG's are a great combat scope...in daylight conditions, outdoors, with some range in between you and your target. EOTech's and Aimpoints are great combat optics for close range, 200 and under. When I think CQB I think 'indoors'. And IMO the best optics to use 'indoors' are no optics, irons all the way. Maybe it's just the way I trained all my life, but that's the way I see it. Everytime I've done a building search or have had to point my gun at someone indoors has always been with sights. Now that we use combat lights attached to weapons the thing I like to do is to shoot close range with the combat light and reference light beam as an aiming point. No pressure switch except for maybe the tail cap. Reason being I'd hate to squeeze off a shot 'accidentally' simply by what is called 'sympathetic reaction'. That is during a high stress/risk enviroment when you experience symptoms typically encountered, while you grasp with your non-gun hand such as a pressure switch on a vertical fore grip, or trying to grab a bad guy, you will have a tendency to grasp with your gun hand in a sympathetic fashion. This is not good when you have your finger in the trigger. Using sights on a lit up subject/target silhouettes the sights and are much more clear and you will maintain a better field of view specially in an enclosed environment. I feel that combat optics in a CQB environment makes the shooter's eyes focus in more on "Da Dot" than on the bad guy(s) and surroundings. Optics are great for target aquisition w/o having to line up your sights but I feel they do have limitations in enclosed areas except for maybe an airplane hanger or other large open buildings.
Combat scopes like the Acog's do one thing, combat optics like the AP and EOTechs do the other. I prefer optics on my go to gun over a scope being that if I had to use it, most likely it will be under 50 yards. I can adapt if I need to use it indoors or reference a lightbeam. The Acog is completely worthless w/o some light source available.
I know most who read this don't have to get BG holed up inside of your local trailer parks, mountain caves, brushy areas, but you do use your guns for self defense, to include inside your house, out in your back yards (for you country folk in da country side, not suburbia). Enough about that, back to the Specter.
At my first impression the Elcan does both, what a combat optic and scope, do pretty darn well. But I will continue later..... and it's all good from here.
My first thought upon seeing it was, "dang, it's big". And it's heavy too. Weighs in at 1.3 lbs. It does look like it will take abuse but it appears to have a lot more attached to it compared to other combat optics.
First off, it does come with it's own QD mount. They are ARMS throw levers. I only have had experience with ARMS recently pointed out and noticing on my own ARMS scope mounts that they are 2 piece units, one part aluminum and the other steel held together in a dovetail groove and secured with a roll pin. Eventually these start to wobble.
At least the Specter DR isn't a 2-piece setup like that. It is for the most part a single piece mount. But all scope adjustments are external. I understand in order to accommodate the dual magnification, 1X and 4X 'prism', the reticle was etched onto the glass and adjustments are made on the outside. The dual mag range lever mechanism is also on the outside of the housing and under the scope.
My take on that, it makes it a good dirt/snow/mud trap. I don't care for that. But I already knew that before I bought it. I don't plan of trudging it through the ground. I'm sure by the time if it were to come to that the last thing I will worry about is, "how is my scope doing?".
The power switch/battery compartment is on the left side of the scope. I've read some reports how this "occludes" view when using it CQB style. My answer to that, get used to it. It isn't that bad unless your eyes are 1/4 inch appart, then you have worse things to worry about like finding a date. I poked around corners using the 1X both eyes open and it's noticeable but not an issue, and I'm not the Hunchback of ND either.
The weight. Adding 1.3 lbs to an already heavy barrel XCR makes it, well heavier. The XCR weighs as much as an M16 so work more on your puny arms or deal with it. To be honest, I've become accustomed to carrying around an M4. It's not exactly easy going 'heavier' after getting used to that. I do have to still hump Da hills, and these aren't 'friendly' hills. Jagged and loose rock, spiny cactus's, that sort of 'not friendly'. Try tooling around in that and decided which carbine would you rather hump?
There is a reason these things sell for over $1800 MSRP (I wouldn't spend that much for any scope. $1300 was the most I would).
First off, my experiences with scopes have been ACOG's, EOTechs (now issued BP) M2 and M3 AP, and few other vari-X styles. For the most part I've always been the 'iron sight' type of guy. ACOG's are a great combat scope...in daylight conditions, outdoors, with some range in between you and your target. EOTech's and Aimpoints are great combat optics for close range, 200 and under. When I think CQB I think 'indoors'. And IMO the best optics to use 'indoors' are no optics, irons all the way. Maybe it's just the way I trained all my life, but that's the way I see it. Everytime I've done a building search or have had to point my gun at someone indoors has always been with sights. Now that we use combat lights attached to weapons the thing I like to do is to shoot close range with the combat light and reference light beam as an aiming point. No pressure switch except for maybe the tail cap. Reason being I'd hate to squeeze off a shot 'accidentally' simply by what is called 'sympathetic reaction'. That is during a high stress/risk enviroment when you experience symptoms typically encountered, while you grasp with your non-gun hand such as a pressure switch on a vertical fore grip, or trying to grab a bad guy, you will have a tendency to grasp with your gun hand in a sympathetic fashion. This is not good when you have your finger in the trigger. Using sights on a lit up subject/target silhouettes the sights and are much more clear and you will maintain a better field of view specially in an enclosed environment. I feel that combat optics in a CQB environment makes the shooter's eyes focus in more on "Da Dot" than on the bad guy(s) and surroundings. Optics are great for target aquisition w/o having to line up your sights but I feel they do have limitations in enclosed areas except for maybe an airplane hanger or other large open buildings.
Combat scopes like the Acog's do one thing, combat optics like the AP and EOTechs do the other. I prefer optics on my go to gun over a scope being that if I had to use it, most likely it will be under 50 yards. I can adapt if I need to use it indoors or reference a lightbeam. The Acog is completely worthless w/o some light source available.
I know most who read this don't have to get BG holed up inside of your local trailer parks, mountain caves, brushy areas, but you do use your guns for self defense, to include inside your house, out in your back yards (for you country folk in da country side, not suburbia). Enough about that, back to the Specter.
At my first impression the Elcan does both, what a combat optic and scope, do pretty darn well. But I will continue later..... and it's all good from here.
