S_S_2015_05_

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

■ Name: Leica Magnus 1.5-1- x 42 (BDC)

■ Body tube: 30mm

■ FOV: 4.1/26m @ 100 m

■ Exit pupil: 12.4-42mm

■ Click values: 1cm @ 100m

■ Clicks per turn: 100

■ Rotations: 2.75

■ Length: 317mm

■ Weight: 620 grams

■ Illumination: Y

■ External lens Aquas Dura (water repellent)

coatings:

■ Price: £2150, Non BDC £1800

83

SCOPE TEST | FIREARMS

The Leica Magnus offers a range of
hunting scopes that utilise a x6.7
zoom range; on test the 1.5-10x42
with BDC turret

BDC turret showing

unlocked symbol and

vision slot for dialling

Windage drum detail note

the locked (padlock) logo

on the BDC turret

BDC drum

removed showing

stop in pin inside

BDC = ASV
However I had the BDC version which is a
little different. The elevation turret is
lockable by a rotary collar with closed and
open padlock symbols indicating the status.
The drum above has an observation window
where you can see the moving dial as you
rotate it against a fi xed reference stadia. Like
both the Zeiss and Swarovski BDC systems
the Magnus only offers slightly less than a
single turn of correction once zeroed, well in
this case 93 cms. This is done to give a
‘zero stop’ position and is achieved by a
fi xed stop pin in the base of the turret that
contacts another in the roof of the moving
upper drum.
If your zero requires you to adjust more
than a single turn then the turret has to be
removed – two Allan grub screws in the rim
are unscrewed (Allan key supplied) and it’s
lifted up and over the fi xed stop pin to gain
another rotation. Leica does not explain this
very well, though alludes to the fact that it’s
possible to run out of elevation, as it is with
any other scope of this type. Their solution is
to fi t angled mounts; all well and good if they
are available for your rifl e, which with more
specialised makes might not be the case!

NICE JOB

I fi tted the Magnus to my Blaser R8

Professional Success chambered in 270

Winchester and did not have any problems

with running out of elevation. I’m not a big

fan of BDC turrets on hunting scopes

preferring to use eyeball holdover; but when

the range is near maximum and providing you

have zeroed correctly they do allow time for a

more considered shot! On that point the

turret movement is fi rm and easy to count so

dialling in is not an issue.

For the BDC model Leica uses the simple

Leica-Plex pretty much a Dual-X type with only

the centre dot illuminated, other options are

also available given the model. Something I

thought a bit cheeky was the Direct Dial

Rings, which will replace the standard 1cm @

100m notation elevation ring. It’s very similar

to what Zeiss does with their ASV turret

where you can go onto their ballistic

resource, load in your data and be told what

ring is best suited for various ranges. I

wonder who thought of that fi rst?

NO FREE LUNCH

Leica sensibly offers a similar facility, but as

I always say you cannot trust this data 100%

as it’s reliant on external factors like barrel

length and ammo manufacture. If you want

to use the BDC then once you have got the

data go out and shoot it out to your

maximum range and note the actual fall of

shot!

In use no complaints, the 1.5-10 x 42

is not too big or bulky and offers a

versatile magnifi cation range. Once set up

the BDC/ASV system is an asset for

longer range hunting. Also and when

compared to its opposition the price is

around £200 less for this version and

sub- £2000 for the standard (non-ASV)

version. As an owner of the top European

scope brands I really like the Magnus and

would say take a look!