Element Optics Nexus Gen 2

Although not identical in specification, the Element Nexus sits second on the Element optics optical ladder, above the Helix and Titan, but below the Theos. In the first-generation format, the Nexus was a very reliable scope, and it offered a good optical package to shoot out to longer distances. The latest Gen 2 has arrived with a 4-25x magnification range coupled to a first focal plane reticle. It is available in MRAD or MOA variants, with two reticle options for each.

Examination

The Gen 2 arrives in a well-padded box with additional goodies. The scope shows a very deep grey/black hue to the hard anodising on its 30mm main tube and the 59mm outer diameter of the objective lens bell. The lens within shows a 50mm diameter for a solid compromise of weight and size over ultimate light entry capability. The scope is still more suited to long-range daylight shooting than low-light use.

The central saddle supports an upper elevation turret with exposed markings and delightfully well-defined 0.1 MRAD clicks (1cm@100m). Incidentally, the scope is also available in MOA with ¼” clicks. There are a very logical 100 clicks per rotation, equivalent to 10 milliradians, and the knurled turret is easy to grip and dial, measuring 39mm in diameter and standing 25mm tall. Once the scope is zeroed, you can remove the knurled turret cap without tools, then lift it off and reposition it to indicate ‘0’ at your chosen range. There is also a zero stop and innovative rotation indicator. This small lever flicks left/right exposing ‘1’ or ‘2’ as you enter the second rotation. This is visual and tactile, which I think is beneficial.

The right-side windage dial is capped and offers the same click values. Another feature from Element I really like is that if you choose to leave the cap off, they supply a slim metal collar you can fit over the exposed threads, effectively converting the scope to a dialling, exposed turret optic.
Parallax control is sited opposite and runs from 10m to infinity, allowing the scope to be used on airguns without optical compromise. The dial rotates smoothly with no discernible perception of internal motion from the lens packages controlling the image, bringing it into focus and negating visible parallax error.

Element has chosen a push button in the centre of the parallax dial to initiate reticle illumination. A short hold turns it on, and subsequent presses vary the intensity through 10 stages. A CR2032 battery is supplied and fits under the capped dial without tools.

The scope on test was fitted with the APR-2D MRAD reticle. This has a lower Christmas tree of 0.2, 0.5, and full MIL holdover markings for windage and elevation. Being in the first focal plane, these hold their value through the entire magnification range.

There’s more

The magnification control dial is heavily segmented for grip and an optional throw lever is included. The zoom collar meets solid stops at either end of the magnification range without worrisome sponginess from the inner mechanics. Similarly, it’s smooth and silent in use.

The rearmost ocular lens body shows a 43.8mm diameter and is parallel in profile, making accessory addition simple. The rubberised fast-focus eyepiece is 43.1mm, so won’t interfere either. This rotates to compensate for your individual eyesight correction and although not specified in the manual, I had no problem correcting for my own -1 dioptre requirements, with additional range for those with greater optical needs.

There is 50mm of free tube space in front of the saddle and 57mm behind it. This is plenty of space for scope rings and provides the flexibility to control position for the scope’s specified 77 to 92mm of eye relief. On paper, this looks quite broad, but in fairness, you don’t notice the movement at all because it’s not overly long for most rifle types and sizes. It’s certainly accommodating, allowing for a decent amount of head movement due to positional strain or recoil motion. This allows you to retain a view of the target, which is a key factor when spotting your own bullet trace and impact splash.

An 80mm sunshade is included, as well as a neoprene cover, lens cloth, and a 35mm threaded aperture ring. This can be added either to the objective body or the sunshade if desired. Although the image through the scope is about 95% crisp right out to the edges, Element offers this aperture as they feel it improves image quality at the centre of the lens. So, if ultimate image brightness is not your goal, adding it is suggested to improve contrast by minimising chromatic aberration. Lengthening the depth of field with a smaller aperture is a simple optical fact but I didn’t find aberration notably problematic without the aperture, although I certainly appreciated the sunshade on some very bright summer/autumn days. I used the scope a lot on a .17HMR, and with notoriously small bullet holes and impact splashes to try and see, I was very pleased with the Nexus Gen 2 in this regard. Finally, the scope tracked reliably when dialling for longer ranges.

Conclusion

I thought the image quality of the Gen 1 was very good for its price point and specification. The improvements on the Gen 2, which has different optical specifications anyway, are more difficult to appreciate, but there is noticeably more refinement in the mechanics, with subtle tactile improvements to clicks, the zero stop, and the endpoints of adjustment controls. Also, the Nexus has Element’s Platinum warranty, assuring any buyer of its durability. One last point, when I took it rabbiting, I was quite impressed by the low-light capability of this target-oriented scope.