Tangent Theta 525 – Best scope on the market?
I've heard the phrase multiple times, "Buy once, cry once." And every time I do, I continue to ignore the advice and try out the lower-cost item first. While some may balk at picking up a $6K scope, if you are an active shooter at any level, the Tangent Theta is by far the best investment anyone can make.
To start with, the glass is perfect. I've read multiple posts or articles regarding the optical quality of other scopes, but I guarantee the glass does not compare to the Tangent Theta. Are you shooting paper and trying to see your bullet impacts at 500 yards? Is that deer at 1500yards a mule or a white-tail? Yep, no problem to both. The clarity is insane regardless of light. The parallax is also ridiculously forgiving. I recently shot a PRS match ranging from 200-1000, and I didn't touch the parallax once.
The fit and finish of the Tangent Theta 525 are also a step above the rest. When you hold a Tangent Theta, it feels like a finely crafted piece of art. It has a good heft to the scope, but it isn't unwieldy.
The tool-less re-zero is a thing of beauty, and I still cannot believe how easy it is to use. When I first read about it, I thought it could be pretty gimmicky and wondered why it would be on such a high-end scope. It is far from a gimmick, and after you use it, you will wonder why other scope manufacturers haven't gone to something so simple to use.
The absolute perfection of the scope is the turrets. I never thought I would dream about dialling a scope, but once you use the turrets, you will look forward to every time you get to use them. Each click's tactility and audible feedback make them a dream to use.
I admit I have not had a great deal of time around top-tier scopes, but I have had enough time behind quite a few to compare them.
- Nightforce ATACR is a great scope, but the turrets and glass are not in the same league. The parallax adjustment does adjust down further than the Tangent Theta, and I currently have one mounted on my rimfire rife.
- Zero Compromise is another excellent scope but no comparison on the glass or turrets
- Vortex Razor Gen 2 is an unbelievable scope for the money but does not compare on glass quality, build quality or turrets.
- IOR Valdada Crusader – Optically as close are you will get to the Tangent Theta, but build quality is nowhere near the same.
Are any of the above a bad scope? Absolutely not. Once you look through any of them, you will realize a massive difference between your Vortex Viper mounted on your hunting rig and any of these scopes. The clarity and precision that any of these scopes will bring to your game are night and day. Still, anyone that says they are "Close to a Tangent Theta." or "You won't see a major difference between "insert scope name here" and the extra dollars you'll spend on a Tangent Theta." are trying to make themselves feel better about the choices they have made in life.
The Tangent Theta is worth every dime and, so far, is the best scope on the market.
