Konus Optics

Konus is not a new name as it has been toyed with by a few UK importers, but it now has a new home with the unlikely named Evergreen Optics. Founded in 1979 in Verona, Italy - Konus Optics have had their ups and downs but now offer a diverse and large range of optical products that incudes rifle scopes.

These range from the introductory level models, the more featured Pro series, the higher spec’d Pro Plus and the tactical leanings of the Pro-M30 series. As I was to discover Konus scopes offers some unique features I’ve not seen on any other brand. I have two example son test – the KONUSPRO-M30 1.5 – 6 X 44 and the KONUSPRO-PLUS 6 – 24 X 50AO. All models feature one-piece aluminium b bodies and are water, proof and fog proof, nitrogen-purged and come with sunshades and/or flip-up lens covers and cleaning cloth.

Glass-Etched

Both testers use a variant of the same design, glass-etched reticule set in the 2nd Focal plane, you have the option of Mil-Dot too. They share dual colour (red & blue) rheostat positioned on the left of the saddle, which sensibly it only illuminates the centre dot and gives five levels of brightness.

First up – the M30 1.5 – 6 X 44, which shows a tactical-type build. From the rear you have the old lock ring focus on the lengthy eye bell. The turrets look a bit Leupold M1s with the wall at the base and tall, un-capped drums. However, they are lockable by means of a bar at the top which only needs ¼ of a turn anti-clockwise to release and reverse to secure. Click values are ½ MOA, with 48-clicks per turn (24”) and six full rotations (148”), which seems massive to me, so no problem on any type of rifle. You can also get ¼ MOA turrets too.

Optical quality looks good with fully coated lenses and a bright/clean sight picture that’s sharp right up to the edge. Different and useful for certain needs is the fact it incorporates a level bubble you can see when the scope is up to the eye. In certain conditions it’s hard to make out, but once you become aware of it – it does work, though is far more target-orientated.

Pro-Plus

Next the Pro-Plus 6 – 24 X 44 AO is certainly a more traditional build, with its 1” body tube, smoother styling throughout and adjustable objective lens housing and capped turrets. Click values are 1/8” MOA, with 60 clicks per turn (7.5”) and six full rotations for windage (45”) and 11 (82.5”) for elevation, again no problems setting zero. Illumination is as the M30 with blue and red options, but the reticule is a 30/30 (Dual-X) type.

The adjustable objective is marked in yards and meters Range marked for imperial and metric (white for yards, bronze for meters). Increments are 15, 20, 30, 50, 75, 100, 200 yards, and ?. Again a sight picture to rival anything in the same price bracket and the scopes are obviously well built and soundly featured.

This is just the tip of the iceberg as there’s a lot on offer and the brand is just starting to filter through to the end users.

• Contact: Evergreen Optics, 01588 620259/01588 620717 www.rifle-scopes.org.uk, www.airguns online.co.uk, www.konus.com

• For: Look good with some nice features

• Against: Nothing that has not really been done before

• Verdict: Any new scopes is worth a look as it could be good