Maven RS 3.2, 5-30x50

Maven optics first appeared at the British Shooting Show in February, and this RS 3.2 is the first unit that has arrived for review. These Japanese-made optics immediately exhibit deluxe external characteristics, with extremely neat and fine pitch knurling on the adjustment dials and turrets, alongside slick, dark grey hard anodising that doesn’t collect skin dust from your hands and fingers.

The specs

The 5-30 uses a 6x erector tube to magnify the image through its zoom range. The reticle is in the first focal plane (FFP), and with a 50mm objective and 30mm main tube, it retains modest dimensions and overall weight for the specifications on offer.

The centre saddle shows a capped windage dial to the right side, with 30 clicks (3 MRAD) left or right of the zero position. The elevation dial on top offers 60 clicks (6 MRAD) of adjustment per rotation and shows a rotation indicator to display the location within the 23 MRAD adjustment range. Both dials have very subtle screw caps, that when released, allow you to lift off the outer dial and replace it to mark your zeroed positions. The cap is incredibly well concealed within the knurling, and I didn’t even notice it was there at first. With the elevation dial removed, you can also access the zero stop dial that rotates into position and tightens in place. The knurled grip and clicks are tactile and positive, without any likely overrun.

The left-hand side parallax dial is engraved from ‘20’ to infinity, and the specifications say yards. Regardless, a clear image is easily available without undesirable backlash and there is no audible or tactile perception of any mechanical motion within.

The zoom collar is easily gripped and shows a small, raised wing with a marker arrow on it to point to the relevant magnification setting. A fast-focus ocular lens at the very rear of the parallel ocular body offers +/-3 dioptre to adjust everything to your own eyesight, allowing the reticle to appear in sharp definition. You won’t have a problem fitting any kind of rear add-on optical accessories, either.

The FFP SHR-MIL reticle shows MRAD etchings to read corrections, aim-offs, and to measure targets. The Maven is also available with an equivalent MOA reticle and the corresponding turrets. These offer 0.25 MOA clicks with 80 and 50 minutes of travel for elevation and windage respectively. The reticle is uncluttered and offers windage bars out to 5 MRAD. A 10 MRAD elevation holdover bar is visible on the 6 o’clock axis.

Optics

On a scope with relatively modest looks and almost hidden mechanical benefits, it’s all going to be about the optics themselves, and Maven doesn’t disappoint. They use Extra Low Dispersion (ED) glass and claim that 90% of the available light from the 50mm lens is transmitted to the eye. All the lens elements are fully multi-coated, with assurances of phase correction, excellent colour fidelity, and an “exceptionally clear, bright, high contrast image”.

The tube is nitrogen purged to avoid condensation issues and is fully waterproof. The scope boasts a submersion rating of 3m, which is reassuring from a rain perspective, or if you dowse it in a stream. Maven also offers a lifetime warranty and a stretch neoprene cover that protects the glassware and turret externals.

The image quality is as expected on a scope at this price point. It is clear and bright, shows a forgiving exit pupil, and offers a sharp focus of both reticle and field of view, without any untoward eyestrain. The colour balance seemed fairly natural to my eyes and the contrast was reasonably distinct in the greens. The field of view is clear from edge to edge, with a crisp junction at the black edge circumference. I had no problematic issues with chromatic aberration or flare when facing a low sun approaching the horizon, and at a higher magnification, the reticle produces a fine aim point with a floating centre dot.

Without illumination, it’s difficult to see the aim point on disruptive backgrounds with little contrast, so you need to zoom in somewhat just to bring the reticle into prominence. Different scopes suit different people, but an illuminated red dot in the centre would allow a hunter in poor light to see the reticle.

As a target-oriented daylight scope, or perhaps a long-range varminter, the mechanics pass the tracking test and offer accurate adjustments at multiple distances. The 30x magnification brings those small targets into clear view and the parallax locks them into focus as well.

Conclusion

The Maven is a well-made scope that offers excellent image quality and subtle, yet very functional, mechanical capability as well. It’s a shame there is no illumination but not everyone wants it, and it appears the money saved by not fitting it, has been spent on the glass and deeper mechanics instead. So many scopes these days have ‘all the bells and whistles’ for show, but when you get to the real image, they are lacking. It is here where the Maven still delivers on what I would characterise as a daytime, long-range varminting scope, or extended-range hunter on larger centrefires, perhaps.