March Scopes F 1-8x24

Not so long ago, a 1.5-6x24 compact variable scope was seen as the biggest magnification in its class, but these days the possibilities have improved vastly with the introduction of wider zoom ranges! This increase in useable magnification allows scopes to cover more than one base; my Swarovski Z6i 1.7-10x42 is a great example that allows me to shoot boar at 25/50 yards on x1.7, and then push out to x10 for 300/400 yard use with everything in-between! This trend has also started appearing in more tacticallyorientated glass and a great example here is the March F 1 – 8 x24 FFP from their Tactical range - a design to warm the cockles of any black rifle shooter’s heart!

TACTICAL TIM

The designation offers a x1 – 8 zoom range with a 24mm objective in first focal plane (FFP). The advantage is that no matter what magnification you select, your aimpoints in relation to the reticule do not change! So no wasting time thinking what your drop value is at any setting. The down side is the reticule gets smaller/larger as you dial down and up, but I would say that March seems to have got the perspective right for all powers. Control-wise, this is a real Tactical Tim, as we shall see.

Starting at the rear, we have a lock ring focus system; slower than a fast focus but stronger and more secure. The magnification ring is aggressively slotted, with a raised blade for easier movement, operation is firm but smooth. The 30mm body tube shows a large saddle with a combined parallax drum and rheostat on the left. Turrets are medium height and wide, again with aggressive lugs for easy dialling; the build is completed by decent, flip-up lens covers. Weight is 22.6oz and length 10.5”, the non-illuminated version shaves 2.85oz of that, so either way, not that big or heavy!

 

1/10TH MIL CLICKS

Click values are 0.1-Mil-radian, with 10-Mil per turn in both planes, March says you get 56 Mil full movement but I counted six full rotations giving a generous 60 Mil-radian in both planes. In old money that’s 216” @ 100 yards; not too bad! Turret markings differ slightly, as do features; Elevation goes from 0 to 9 Mil with 0.1 sub-divisions and the fixed section has horizontal stadia to show where you are. Windage is split with a central 0 and 5 Mils either way, with all numbers being preceded by R (right) or L (left) to show direction, something I have always found most practical! The saddle too is marked with directional arrows UP and R, I have found it can be all too easy to get confused in the heat of a competition when dialling under pressure, so every little aid memoir helps!

Zero Stop seems to be a feature that we all like on our tactical/precision scopes these days and the March does not disappoint! It’s quite the most practical method too; no removing turrets and winding set screws or packing in shims, instead there’s a slot head disc on the top of the elevation drum, which is marked O-SET. The process goes like this: back off the central screw until it’s flush with the top of the turret (unlocked). Zero in the normal fashion, then, once sorted, back out the three grub screws in the rim and free wheel the turret to set 0 on the line on the saddle and re-tighten. Now wind in the (O-SET) screw until it stops and you have set the stop point, so even if you get lost in elevation you can quickly get back to your base position.

 

FMC-2

The 1-8x24 offers two similar reticule options (both glass-etched) – FMC-1 and FMC-2. You get three thick outer bars at 3, 6 & 9 o’clock and a fine cross coming down from 12 o’clock, which has 1 Mil hash marks. The centre cross shows a 6 Mil circle. Variations are: FMC-2, which has an outer 25 Mil circle too and at x1 the whole reticule floats in the view. FMC-1 has no outer circle and the reticule goes right to the edge. The March website has all the various subtensions.

Illumination (red) is controlled by a rubber button inset into the Parallax drum and offers four positions – low, medium, med/high and high. You just keep pressing to cycle up through the levels, then a fifth push turns it off. March offers the option of standard or low illumination modules. Quality is excellent; crisp with no flaring out, even at maximum and it shows up well even in bright light, in both FMC-1 and 2 only the circle/circles are lit.

My tester had the FMC-2 reticule, which I found very useful, at x1 the larger outer circle acts as a positioner for quick and more instinctive shooting. Equally knowing the two rings are 6 and 25 Mil respectively will help for ranging and the 1 Mil hash marks are good for both measurement and also hold over. The maximum mag of x8 will allow you to push out the range too, so don’t just assume this is a shorter range optic. Glass quality is excellent with ‘high end, extra-low dispersion (ED) lenses. The FFP Tactical range also offers 3-24x42, 3-243x52 and 5-40x56 options.

PRICE: £1751.80

CONTACT:
March Scopes UK,
+ 44 (0) 1293 606901
www.marchscopes.co.uk
www.marchscopes.com