Discovery VT-R 3-12x42 AOE

It’s long been a source of amazement just how many bargains are now available in the scope market, and with construction in the Far East helping slash labour costs, the RRPs sometimes have us double taking. On test here is surely one of the best bargains available, and at £69.99 including a set of ring mounts, a sunshade, and even a set of half decent flip-up lens covers, this latest Discovery VT- R 3-12X42 AOE really is a cause for a sharp intake of breath.

Discovery?

So, who exactly are Discovery? Well, whilst they are a relatively new brand, which started in 2014, what gives them added credence is the fact that they are apparently manufactured in a factory founded by an ex-designer of Vortex. Distinctive blue trim makes their models instantly recognisable, but this new VT-R looks set to make a name for itself on merit alone.

With variable magnification from 3 - 12x, it’s a good all round spec, and with that medium sized 42mm objective, this model has potential use for Hunter Field Target (HFT) too, as well as hunting duties. Push/pull lockable and resettable target turrets, an illuminated HMD reticle, and ¼ MOA click values, all help the cause. So, let’s get straight in and see how it looks for the money, or lack of it!

Set-up

On opening the protective box, this model instantly gave me a retro flashback, since that front parallax collar features ribs and a rather Kassnar-esque look overall. That’s not a bad thing, and unlike Field Target (FT) where twisting the focus during a match, with the gun in the shoulder, now lends itself to a side wheel, general duties, or HFT, where we aren’t allowed to touch the scope for the duration of the shoot, has no such requirement. So, having front parallax correction, or a side focus, really makes no odds.

This model is built around a one inch body tube, which is fine by me, although a minor irritation comes with the included mounts featuring a sticky cushion pad inside. These are often more trouble than they are worth and a bugger to remove; but maybe this isn’t the time to whinge at such detail. Just how ungrateful am I at this crazy, all-in price?

It’s long been a source of amazement just how many bargains are now available in the scope market, and with construction in the Far East helping slash labour costs, the RRPs sometimes have us double taking. On test here is surely one of the best bargains available, and at £69.99 including a set of ring mounts, a sunshade, and even a set of half decent flip-up lens covers, this latest Discovery VT- R 3-12X42 AOE really is a cause for a sharp intake of breath.

Discovery?

So, who exactly are Discovery? Well, whilst they are a relatively new brand, which started in 2014, what gives them added credence is the fact that they are apparently manufactured in a factory founded by an ex-designer of Vortex. Distinctive blue trim makes their models instantly recognisable, but this new VT-R looks set to make a name for itself on merit alone.

With variable magnification from 3 - 12x, it’s a good all round spec, and with that medium sized 42mm objective, this model has potential use for Hunter Field Target (HFT) too, as well as hunting duties. Push/pull lockable and resettable target turrets, an illuminated HMD reticle, and ¼ MOA click values, all help the cause. So, let’s get straight in and see how it looks for the money, or lack of it!

Set-up

On opening the protective box, this model instantly gave me a retro flashback, since that front parallax collar features ribs and a rather Kassnar-esque look overall. That’s not a bad thing, and unlike Field Target (FT) where twisting the focus during a match, with the gun in the shoulder, now lends itself to a side wheel, general duties, or HFT, where we aren’t allowed to touch the scope for the duration of the shoot, has no such requirement. So, having front parallax correction, or a side focus, really makes no odds.

This model is built around a one inch body tube, which is fine by me, although a minor irritation comes with the included mounts featuring a sticky cushion pad inside. These are often more trouble than they are worth and a bugger to remove; but maybe this isn’t the time to whinge at such detail. Just how ungrateful am I at this crazy, all-in price?

The target turrets can be reset to show 0-position once the mechanism is zeroed; simply by slackening the retaining screw and swivelling the drum cover round. Click values are ¼ MOA, and are impressively positive, as well as being clearly marked up. It’s also refreshing that the turrets, whilst a tactical-type spec, are almost low profile, with no unnecessary width to play havoc in a hard case.

Evaluation

With my zero set, I ran the standard grid check to verify the turret movement could re-track and come back to the initial zero point (shooting the box) and all worked fine. Both the parallax ring, and the magnification collar at the rear, moved with perfect resistance, suggesting they wouldn’t easily move out of adjustment accidentally. Looking to the reticle, this model comes fitted with the HMD (Half Mil-Dot design, and with thick outer lines, and that finer central area, it’s difficult to lose the picture in foliage or up a tree for example. Red or green, five-stage illumination is here too, so for those extra dark sessions, this VT-R should be a bonus.

I set the magnification to 9x, and then when I viewed a 15mm kill zone (the worst we find ourselves up against in HFT), at 25 yards, each division (with a Half Mil Dot value), would perfectly bracket the kill. Handy for sure, and with the front parallax set to around 27 yards, I found image quality extremely good; vibrant and crisp to the edge, with no distortion. That said, every distance from 25 through to 45 looked clear, so the business of waiting until a target blurs at distance to gauge the range, like some competitors do in HFT, is seemingly of little use here.

As for the internal specification, this model is quoted as having the VCF Optical system with full, multi green coated lenses, along with Discovery TES (torus erector support) technology, bringing durability and reliability and high resistance to recoil. That’s the marketing blurb, but let me just say, it all just feels solid, well made, and nicely presented, and not a little confusing, given that extraordinary RRP!

Recommended

This Discovery comes with all the usual standard guarantees- being nitrogen-filled, water, shock and fog proof; and with a current retail price of £69.99 including a set of mounts, reasonable quality flip up lens caps, and a screw on sunshade, this scope really is astonishingly good value for money. Especially when there’s also the Discovery Lifetime Warranty to take into consideration. How it is done for the money I have no idea, but it’s hard to see a better bargain currently doing the rounds.