New scope for my Tikka t3x superlight- Maven RS.2?

I'm looking for some opinions on the Maven RS.2 rifle scope. I'm leaning heavily towards giving this one a try. I am also considering the Leupold VX3i in a 2.5-8x36 , I have one on my coyote hunting rifle and really like it. These are really the only two options that I like at this point so what do you folks think.

Things I like:
Low magnification with wide FOV - for close thick timber shots
Light Weight
Smaller form to match the Superlite
Enough magnification for up to 500 yards
Quality glass
Simple reticle's - prefer to dial than to hold over but won't do much of that.

LoonWulf said:

You might have to be the guinea pig on that Maven lol. I haven't heard anything about them yet,

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Feeling very much like the guinea pig on this one, so I ordered it last night. I spoke with and have emailed back and forth with the co owner who is also the sales pres. and he has me convinced to try it. Kind of cool when you call and one of the owners answers the phone. They have a 30 day satisfaction guarantee so if I don’t like it I can return it so long as it hasn’t been mounted. We shall see?

Well, I went ahead and ordered the Maven RS.2 with a duplex reticle. But unfortunately what I got was the SHR reticle. On the box there are 3 different labels that specify the reticle, two of the three say SHR and one that's on top of the other two says Duplex? Go figure, anyway what actually was shipped to me was the SHR which I do not like hold over reticles.


Maven1 by Cornivorus, on Flickr

Maven4 by Cornivorus, on Flickr

Here is a pic thru the scope set on 10x and just me holding my phone cam up to the eye piece. As far as BDC type reticles go this one is better than most for me and I almost could make myself like it. The biggest problem for me was the fact that the lines and cross hair center section were very difficult to see in low light.

Maven3 by Cornivorus, on Flickr

Here it is again set on 2x. I really wanted to like this scope in part because of the way this just looked like it belonged on the Tikka T3x superlite. The Matte gray highlights matched perfectly with the stainless matte barrel finish. Optics are very good, field of view on paper bests my Leupold's in both the VX3 2.5-8x36 as well as the VX3i 3.5-10x40, but in practice I felt like the 2.5-8 was wider than the Maven on any given common power setting. I tested all three of these scopes right up until dark looking at the fire hydrant and the far tree line, trying to see when the reticles would disappear. Early on the SHR of the Maven was getting difficult to see with the dark tree line back ground. Where as the duplex and windplex of the Leupolds were still very visible.

Maven2 by Cornivorus, on Flickr

As darkness came, I found that the ability to resolve the red on the fire hydrant failed about the same time for both the VX3i and the Maven, with the VX3 losing its clarity slighty before the other two. It was interesting that the optics clarity of the Maven during good day light was obviously better than the VX3's but as light faded they became very much equal to my eyes. Overall, I felt the Maven was great, but some features that I'm looking for were better with the 2.5-8x36. Like less critical eye relief, field of view, cds dial, scope covers being the main ones. Since I got the reticle I did not order, I will be sending this one back.

Next up: I ordered a Tract Toric 2-10x42 so I can see what these are all about. I can’t wait to see how this one stacks up to the Maven.

This is the one I ordered
https://www.tractoptics.com/products/riflescopes/toric-2-10x42-t-plex

rayatphonix said:

Somehow I’d never heard of Maven. Reviews seem very positive. I’ve got a Tract Toric 3-15, and am very interested to read your comparison. Please keep us on the loop.

Maven and Tract’s marketing seem similar as both bypass the traditional middleman. Makes sense in today’s internet world IMO. Whether the cost savings are significant in a competitive market remains a question.

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I was the same way about Tract. Never heard of them until this recent quest to find a new scope. I do like their marketing in that I feel you do get more quality for your dollar with this format, at least in theory, but I felt it was true with the Maven. From all I can find about the Tract Toric, I’m excited to see it and my hopes are high!

I will put a review up here once I get it. I know my frustration with both of these scopes is the fact that there is little info, first hand real use info to be found. I’ve literally wasted hours searching for first hand experience with them, just not much there.

Hookeye said:

You are a brave man to venture so.

I'm not brave, have wimped out on the new Burris overseas stuff.
Bought reg old boring Leupold designs.
But being of that sort, did get two new Leupold Freedom optics.

That IMHO do not quite live up to the name.

This then has opened my eyes to exploring other brands.

Looking forward to your review

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Idk about brave, more like a glutton for punishment ! I have tried a few other brands in the past, namely Burris, Bushnell, Vortex & Sightron, now add Maven as well. Every time I judge them against my plain old boring Leupolds and so far I keep going back to Leupold. They may be plain & boring but they have most of the attributes I look for in a scope. I guess I’m plain and boring too?

I’ve posted a quick review of the Tract optic in this forum for anyone interested.