Editor's introduction: Our writer is currently a Special Forces Warrant officer assigned to an Airborne Special Forces group. He has been in the US Military for almost 20 years. 11 of which have been in Special Forces (1st Group) and 3 of which were with the 82nd Airborne Division. Over the last 6 years his area of specialization has been sniping, including functioning as a sniper instructor. He has extensive experience in both conventional sniper operations and special operations sniping, including sniper operations in support of specialized operations (counter sniper, urban sniping, etc.). It is quite possible even probable that you will be seeing more from Michael Haugen in the pages of our upcoming issues... since he has made quite a favorable impression here with his two maiden-voyage submissions.
Sniper. The word conjures up images of camouflaged individuals sliding through the jungle, death from the shadows, shots from seemingly impossible distance. To precision rifle aficionados. The name also brings to mind names like McMillan, ROBAR, H&S Precision and HK. However, when the subject of optics are discussed another list of names comes to mind. Companies like Leupold, Schmidt & Bender, Kahles and Swarovski. Now there is one more name that should come to mind when thinking of snipers and sniper equipment, that name is Super Sniper.
Tasco has been making optics for use on firearms for a number of years. Until recently they have only produced good quality, low priced glass for hunting rifles and for the most part have dominated the market. Several years ago Tasco decided to try their hand at making high-end optics for benchrest and varmint hunters. The result is their "World Class" series, which has gained popularity among both types of shooters.
Recently, Tasco introduced a new line of scopes called "Super Sniper" which consist of 4 models: the 10x42M, 10x42, 16x42, and 20x42. However due to the huge departure from their normal line, this new series of optics have not enjoyed the popularity among sniper aficionados that most of the other companies do. This is primarily due to the fact that most of the knowledgeable people in the market are very picky about what they put on their rifles and are very quick to discount anything that they feel may be substandard. Then of course there is the reputation factor. Most shooters in this market would not want to get caught with anything other than a Leupold or another big name ($1000.00 +) scope on their rifle.
Despite the reputation factor and instead bowing more to the "financial" factor I purchased one of the Super Sniper scopes for use on one of my Remington M700s. The first thing that I noticed was the quality of the glass. Having used virtually every grade of optics on the market, I know what good glass should look like. The clarity of the Super Sniper is outstanding. The reticle (mil dot duplex) is very crisp and clean, which is a definite indication of precision ground multi-coated lenses. The scope features target-type turrets for both elevation and windage with a focus adjustment knob located on the left side of the body. Speaking of the body, it features a 30mm one-piece tube (aluminum), a 42mm objective and is nitrogen filled to prevent fogging.
After mounting the scope to my rifle via Leupold Ultra rings on top of a steel one-piece base I took it to the range to zero it and put it through its preliminary paces. The scope features approximately 124 minutes of angle (MOA) of both elevation and windage : that is more than adequate for a .308. After zeroing at 200 meters I conducted a "tracking" test. I came down 2 MOA and fired a round, then right 2 MOA and fired a round, up 4 MOA and fired a round, left 4 MOA and fired a round, down 4 MOA and fired a round, right 2 MOA and fired a round, and finally up 2 MOA and fired a round. All of this firing is using the same point of aim, the center. The result should resemble a box, which it did. All adjustments are 1/4 MOA (1/4" at 100 yards) and are both audible and tactile. There is no doubt when you make an adjustment, you can see it and hear it. One complete turn of the turret equals 15 MOA and each line on the vertical barrel represents 15 MOA. At the rear of the scope is the parallax adjustment to adjust for varied eyesight differences. Once it is set for a shooter, this adjustment usually remains set for as long as that individual is shooting. The rear of the scope (or ocular end) has a fluted barrel which, on first sight, everyone wants to try and turn; however this does not turn. The parallax adjustment ring itself is at the very rear of the scope on the 10x42, 16x42 and 20x42. The "M" model has a side focus parallax adjustment that is a third knob opposite the windage adjustment.
Unfortunately, my scope did not come with any type of documentation. In fact, it came in a plain white box with a very small sticker on the side of the box that said "Super Sniper SS10X42M". Being curious by nature, I called Tasco and after some explaining and waiting on hold I finally spoke to the project manager. I inquired first what prompted Tasco to make this line of optics, to which he replied that they were approached by the US Military and asked to design a scope that met the current Mil-Spec (M3A) for possible adoption as a replacement. If you remember back awhile it seems that Leupold was considering canceling the contract for the M3A and the Military was looking for a replacement. He told me that the scope did in fact have precision ground multi-coated lenses and an etched reticle. He also told me that the "M" designation on my scope stood for Marine and was designed for use by waterborne forces. It features the objective lens mounted very close to the end of the scope to facilitate quick cleaning upon exiting the water. This has been changed as the lens being so close to the end caused un-due damage to the glass and worked as a signal mirror. All current production SS scopes have a built in sun-shade and recessed objective lens.
Continued use of the scope has only served to prove just how good it really is. I have a Leupold M1 16x mounted on my .300 Win. Mag. and, although this is an excellent scope to me at least the Super Sniper has proved to be just as good at half the price. A friend of mine purchased the 10x42, which is the ground forces model and features a built in sun-shade. This scope also has the parallax focus knob at the rear of the scope similar to the B&L Tactical. Everyone that I have shown this scope to has been impressed as I am.
The cost of quality optics have sky rocketed in the past several years. Where quality is demanded it seems that the price of quality increases even when the technology does not. The Super Sniper scopes offer quality optics for an affordable price. In fact, one of these scopes mounted on top of a Savage 110FP would give you a more than capable sniper system for under a $1000.
Super Sniper has proved that quality optics don't necessarily have to cost more than the rifle it will be mounted on. My advice is to buy one (or more) fast before the market gets wind of this outstanding value. This scope definitely has the potential to be King in the world of 7.62mm sniper rifles. Get one while you can!
Michael Haugen