Geco 4-12x50i

There are now more makes of rifle scope on the market than ever, with most of them being made in places like China and the quality is usually OK but they are all very ‘samey’, getting lighter and more high-tech all the time. It is therefore refreshing to come across a good solid scope which is a bit different. Geco scopes are based in Germany and they appear to have sourced a ‘better than average’ product, which carries a bit of heft and strength and is more basic and workmanlike than most.

Geco Optics

The Geco brand of optics can be traced back to the 1930s and they have maintained a high level of quality in their products, as their range of rifle scopes has increased to include a scope for every application. The rifle scopes are marketed in three different classes, the base level ‘Geco’, mid-range ‘Geco Gold’ and top of the range ‘Geco Black’. Prices across the range are very competitive and represent excellent value for money. The build quality is very good, and the scopes are truly robust and will stand up well to use out in the field.

Geco 4-12x50i

This scope is from the top end of the base level range and it carries some great features. With a 1-inch tube and 50mm objective lens, it will fit common mounts and guns and works well in low light conditions.

The wide magnification range makes it suitable for a number of uses but it is very much aimed at hunting applications. There is no parallax adjustment, with the scope being set to 100-metres, but there is dioptre adjustment, to allow the user to set a sharp reticle image. The magnification ring moves very smoothly with a knurled surface and an upstand at the indictor position making it very easy to adjust in all conditions.

Windage and elevation turrets are under good quality screw caps and are adjustable with fingers rather than a screwdriver or coin, making adjustments out in the field much quicker and easier. The adjustment per click on the turrets is ¼ MOA; so, at 100-metres, the point of impact is shifted only ¼ of an inch. This scope has a No. 4 reticle with an illuminated dot in the middle and the dot intensity is fully adjustable across eight levels of illumination. The red dot remains very crisp across the full range of settings, with no flare-out and it also has an auto shut off, to preserve battery life. Another great feature is a low battery warning on the red dot, which flashes three times when the remaining battery life reaches 15%; this isn’t something you would expect on a scope at this price.

In the field

The image quality is fantastic and much better than one might expect at this price. The reticle is very clear and the red dot stays sharp and clear. The scope isn’t light, so adds a bit of weight to the gun, but when you operate the scope you really feel the ‘mechanical quality’ and appreciate that the weight is fully justified. It is possible to continue to use the scope as the light starts to go, with the red dot performing well right into dusk. When you zoom in on targets, the image at full magnification is top quality and crisp over the full area of view.

Conclusion

This is a real workhorse of a scope, built to be used in all sorts of environment and functioning like a much more expensive product. The scope carries a 5-year guarantee and, with RUAG Ammotec having a base in the UK, the product is well supported. The price represents the build quality and solid mechanical robustness of the scope, with nothing spent on unnecessary whistles and bells. This is a scope that should last a long time and is certainly a good investment.