by use of the side parallax
adjustment and the focusing
eyepiece. Using these controls
in conjunction allowed the
observer to first improve the
view of the target itself and
then focus - essentially lighten
or darken - the observed
reticle within the field of view.
The first thing you'll notice
when you handle this scope is
its size. It's not exactly
monstrous as some other
brands are in this
magnification range. It weighs
680 grams, has an overall
length of 348mm and a width
of 600mm at the turrets. As a
rule a larger 30mm main tube
allows room for more travel of
the erector tube suspended
inside it, which means greater
adjustment range. But the S7
has 60 MoA of elevation and
windage which is the same as
the models with one-inch
tubes. A large adjustment
range is not a big deal in a
varmint scope with BDC
reticle. If the scope was
intended for long range target
shooting it would probably
have 90 MoA elevation. One
thing's for sure, however, its
field of 6.8ft at 15x is wide
enough to enable the sniper to
easily pick up small targets at
long range.
The hunter of varmints and
predators generally taken from
a steady shooting position can
use a good deal of
magnification in his scope - if
the scope has the definition to
go along with it. No one can
shoot any better than he can
see, and if the scope is
mounted on a rifle that shoots
flat enough and has enough
accuracy to warrant it.
Snipers and match
competitors use target turrets
allowing them to dial for
holdover. This is the preferred
method. Hunters don't
particularly care for tall target
turrets and might use hash
marks exclusively.
For average hunters, shots
are normally taken at 300yd.
or less. As a rule they sight-in
at say, 2-1/2in. above the bull
at 100yd. thinking this will
result in an approximate zero
of 200- 250yd. or so. In the
majority of cases the hunter
doesn't have access to a firing
range longer than 100yd. and
relies upon this method. This
gives impetus to the
continuing design of BDC
reticles with incremental
hashmark holdover systems.
Styrka's SH-BDC reticle is
designed for hunting game at
ranges from 100 to 600 yd. and
can be adapted to most
centrefire calibres. The reticle,
positioned in the second focal
plane has five horizontal
holdover bars for elevation and
the lowest three have vertical
hash marks spaced to allow for
a 12 mph cross wind. A Styrka
Ballistic Calculator is
available for use in
conjunction with the BDCwhich can provide you with
holdover figures but the online
software is more precise. It
can configure the scope's
reticle to fit any cartridge's
ballistic path and determine
what power on a variable
scope best suits his cartridge's
ballistic path to match the
hashmarks on the reticles
vertical crosswire. The reticles
are designed for varmints, big
game and long range. The
software allows the shooter to
determine what power on a
variable scope best fits the
cartridge's ballistic path to
match the reticles vertical
crosswire.Overall there is a lot to like
about Styrka riflescopes.
Because the line includes
economical models from
4x32 and 2-7x through to a
high grade 2.5-15x50, and
scopes are available with
either the Plex, BDC or
Mil-Dot reticles some of
which are illuminated, there
is probably a model to suit
most shooter's needs.
Styrka riflescopes are rapidly
gaining a reputation for
durability and reliability and
the most surprising thing about
them is an etched reticle that
ensures subtension is always
accurate and that there will be
no recoil-induced problems
like cracking or breaking. The
zero stop is a convenient
feature that allows the hunter
to be confident they're back to
their zero, even if twisting the
knob in a hurry. Testing a range
of optics from Styrka has
proved both illuminating and
educational. My summation is:
Styrka is a good honest
product, not the cheapest, but
one priced to give a hunter the
best value for his money.56 | SPORTING SHOOTER _ MAY 2018
A Styrka
Ballistic
Calculator is
available to
use with the
BDC.”
TEST
REPORT6
These four St yrka scopes are all
variables designed for American
hunters - 2-7x32, 3-9x4 0, 4-12 x50
and 2.5-15x50.