Meopta Optika 6 Review: Is It a Good Rifle Scope for You?

Meopta is a Czech-based optics manufacturing company starting to break into the US market.

The first offering of their effort is the Optika6 line of rifle scopes suited for various purposes.

In this review, I’ll be reviewing the Optike6 5-30x56mm, which I think is more suited for long-range precision target shooting. 

Overview of the Meopta Optika6 5-30x56mm

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Specifications:

• Magnification range: 5x – 30x
• Objective lens diameter: 56 mm
• Length: 15.55 in
• Weight: 36.7 oz
• Tube diameter: 34 mm
• Field of view at 100 yards: 24.6 – 3.6 ft
• Maximum windage adjustment: 110 MOA
• Maximum elevation adjustment: 110 MOA
• Parallax adjustment: 25 yds to infinity

The Optika6 series is an entire series of scopes created by Meopta with input from their US employees.

All scopes in the Optika6 series are made with aircraft-grade aluminum and high-quality glass.

Additionally, they all have the option for MRAD and MOA turrets and come in either the first or second focal plane.

The Optike6 5-30×56 mm is part of the first focal plane series.

My experience with long-range shooting has been great with this scope, thanks to its high magnification and first focal plane reticle!

What to Consider Before Buying Rifle Scopes

Scopes aren’t cheap.

It would be sheer recklessness to throw money away on scopes that don’t work.

What should you look at to ensure that you’re getting a good product? I’ll break down the basics for you here.

#1 Construction

One of the first things I check (and you should, too) when buying scopes is what kind of material the scope’s made from.

Is it made of aluminum, polymer, or cheap plastic?

The kind of material it’s made of determines how long you’ll be able to use it.

After all, a cheap, flimsy hunting scope will give up quickly, no matter how good its other feature is.

It’s uncommon for me to choose a scope that’s not made of aircraft-grade aluminum, as it is the most common material for high-quality scopes.

It hasn’t let me down before!

If airlines can trust that aluminum to carry hundreds of people and luggage up in the air, I can trust it to withstand the rough environment and demands of shooting.

#2 Magnification

Magnification refers to how much scopes can multiply how big the image is compared to what is seen by the naked eye.

So, for instance, scopes with 3x power could make a target appear 3x bigger than it normally is.

The kind and amount of power you need depend on the shooting you intend to do:

If you plan to stay in just one place or use your scope for target shooting, you’ll be fine with FIXED magnification scopes.

If you prefer hunting, moving prey, or shooting from various distances, I’d recommend looking at VARIABLE magnification scopes.

When choosing zoom range, a general rule of thumb is that you will need MORE power for a LONGER distance.

As such, a mid-range target won’t require high power, but a buck over 500 yards away will.

#3 Parallax Adjustments

Parallax refers to the visual distortion in lenses that can make objects appear further, closer, or in a different location as you magnify in and out.

If you are getting a rifle scope for long-range shooting, ensure it has the parallax adjustment option.

Otherwise, you may have a bad time as you fail to hit any of your marks during target shooting.

Not checking for parallax was a mistake I made that resulted in poor accuracy in my shots. I say it will help you start strong if a scope has this feature.

#4 Windage and Elevation

Windage and elevation refer to how you can adjust scopes for external factors:

• Windage adjustment helps compensate for any horizontal deviance in the bullet’s trajectory due to wind.
• Elevation adjustment helps compensate for any vertical deviance in the trajectory due to, you guessed it, elevation.

In my experience, these little adjustments can MAKE or BREAK your shot!

When shopping for scopes, be sure to pay close attention to how steady the windage turret and elevation turret is for adjusting.

You want knobs that have audible clicks and that do not come loose. They also shouldn’t be too stiff that it becomes a hassle to use them at all.

#5 Reticle

The reticle is the mechanism that helps you land a mark on your target.

There are many reticles with different purposes, from simple dots to crosshairs to the more complicated Christmas tree reticle.

The kind of reticle you choose depends on what you’re comfortable with.

In my case, a Duplex reticle works well for any scenario. It’s simple and easy to use, and you don’t have to worry about any complicated designs.

#6 Optics

How clear are your lenses? This is an important thing I think about whenever I buy optics.

A cloudy lens is useless, regardless of the features.

For best results, look for fully multi-coated lenses to reduce glare and aid in light transmission.

In my experience, my images have always been movie-like, thanks to this type of coating. If you want images like that, don’t skip out on the optics.

#7 Brightness

Brightness refers to the illumination of the reticle.

This directly impacts how well you can see your target mark against your environment:

• An illumination that is TOO LOW will not be visible in daylight and will make it difficult to shoot successfully.
• An illumination that is TOO HIGH will be too painful for your eyes and can blend in with bright daylight.

The best way around it is to find scopes with multiple brightness settings. 

Many options allow you to play around with what setting works best for you. It is also more ADAPTABLE to the time of day you are shooting at!

#8 Eye Box and Eye Relief

The eye box is the amount of space wherein you can see a clear image from the lens.

Eye relief, on the other hand, refers to the amount of distance between the shooter and the scope from where you can see the image but still avoid recoil.

The eye box represents eye relief distance, combined with exit pupil size.

You should look for a LARGE eye box and wide-enough eye relief for firearms with high recoil.

My eyebrow got hit by rifle recoil once, and it was not fun. I learned the hard way that it is something you cannot ignore. 

However, if you use a handgun or lower recoil weapon, you don’t need that big of an eye box or eye relief.

#9 Value for Money

How much is the scope? How much are you willing to pay? Are you going to be shooting a lot?

It is important to buy a hunting scope within your budget that works well, but also performs well.

Cheap scopes will end up costing you MORE in repairs and replacements than a one-time payment for slightly pricier scopes with good quality.

Not to mention, this poor quality will also reflect in the accuracy of your shots!

You don’t have to splurge on the highest-end brand to have a good shooting session.

You just have to look at the cost compared to the features on the scope to determine if it’s worth it.

I’ve been able to save even MORE money by choosing affordable but high-quality scopes over super cheap and super expensive ones.

It’s the BEST deal you can get!

About Meopta

I’ve never heard of Meopta before, but I was surprised to see some of their products in stores and online retailers.

So what is Meopta?

Meopta is an optics manufacturer from the Czech Republic known for being the largest European OEM manufacturer to date.

Their products are used by respected and established brands such as Trijicon and Zuis.

So why don’t you hear about them?

 Meopta is a Soviet manufacturer that has been mostly hidden from the Western market until the cessation of the Warsaw Pact.

As such, they have mostly struggled to break into the Western market, especially regarding marketing.

However, Meopta acquired a US-based optical company in recent years, which put them more in touch with what the US shooters look for.

Meopta Optika6 Review

This is a relatively new hunting scope on the market. I understand that there may still be a few kinks that need to be ironed out here and there.

However, I found these issues to be minor at best. Overall, it works pretty well!

Overall Rating: 3.9 out of 5 Stars

Construction – 4/5

This scope is built out of tough, aircraft-grade aluminum in an even flat black finish. It immediately scored plus points from me in that department.

Just like all the other riflescopes in the Optika6 series, it has a blue ring surrounding the objective.

I wasn’t a fan of this, so I just painted over it. It didn’t change the scope’s performance.

Magnification – 5/5

This is probably my FAVORITE thing about the Meopta Optika6 5-30x56mm.

It has a power range of up to 30x, which is difficult to find even on some really pricey hunting scopes, making it a capable 1000-yard riflescope.

With a zoom range like this, you are assured of precise shots even from a longer distance.

1000-yard-shooting came SUPER EASY with this magnification. To me, it almost felt as if my target was only a few feet away!

The magnification ring itself is large and rubber-coated, with tapped threads through which you can attach a throw lever.

Windage and Elevation Adjustment – 3.5/5

It has large, easy-to-use turrets available in either MOA or MIL.

The MOA turrets allow for precise adjustments of 0.25 MOA per click, while the MIL option adjusts at 0.1 MIL per click. 

These turrets are coated in rubber to eliminate slippage and offer extra protection. 

The zero-stop system on the turrets is quite straightforward. You just need to raise the turrets and let go to return to zero.

I found this zero-reset system useful whenever I lost track of my adjustments.

However, there was one thing that confused me about the turrets on this hunting scope: Its locking mechanism. 

Interestingly enough, there is no locking feature on the windage turret. 

However, the elevation knob contains a locking mechanism to prevent accidental adjustments.

It can be difficult to turn the turret on its own, so I’m not quite sure why this locking mechanism is necessary.

Parallax Adjustments – 5/5

This hunting scope offers a parallax knob similar to the provided elevation knob and windage knob.

Like with most scopes with variable power, I find it essential to adjust parallax for longer distances, especially when using the highest setting.

Thankfully, it offers parallax adjustment for 25 yards to infinity, so full points for that!

Reticle – 5/5

The Optik6 line has different reticles for its different sniper scopes. Each of these different BDC reticles serves a different shooting purpose.

The 5-30×56 belongs to the FFP (first focal plane) lineup of the Optika6 series, meaning that its reticles grow with the zoom setting. 

It has the following different reticle options:

• Plex reticle
• Generic BDC reticles with dichroic elements
• .308 drop reticle
• ILya’s MRAD RD

I’ll talk a bit more about ILya’s MRAD RD, which was meant for the Meopta Optika6 series.

This reticle consists of a floating dot surrounded by crosshairs, resulting in a design similar to a Christmas tree. 

The hash marks that run along the windage and elevation lines represent intervals of .2 MRAD and .5 MRAD.

This kind of reticle was tricky and distracting to me at first as I wasn’t used to it. 

However, once you get the hang of it, you’ll see that this is a helpful system that allows quick shooting.

It also assists in the learning curve as you get a solid idea of what to correct and how much.

It has no distracting vertical line in the center, so shooting in low light is easier.

You can be assured that the measurements you see in your optics while shooting is accurate.

If you aren’t used to Ilya’s MRAD RD, that shouldn’t be a dealbreaker. I suggest going for the different reticles available on this optic.

Optics – 4/5

As expected from a top European optic manufacturer, I found the optical performance of the Optika6 to be exceptionally clear and bright.

Meopta’s MeoBright lens coating provides up to 91% light transmission per lens surface.

Additionally, Meopta made sure that chromatic aberrations were minimized with ED glass.

However, one big issue I had with this optic is that it has an issue with stray light. The view can be quite hazy when it gets hit by direct light at any angle.

Shooting can be difficult as the light can also make things look out of focus. At worst, your target may be hidden in a bloom of light.

I managed to avoid this by getting a sunshade for the optic. Unfortunately, I had to pick it up separately.

You should buy a sunshade separately to enjoy this under certain light conditions.

Once paired with a sunshade, you’ll see that this has some of the best glass you’ll ever find on a hunting rifle scope.

Brightness – 3.75/5

The Meopta Optika6 5-30×56 has 6 illumination levels that can be adjusted with a simple switch on the left side of its body.

However, only the absolute center dot of the crosshairs is illuminated. Additionally, this optic just isn’t very bright at all.

I had to set it to maximum brightness to use the center point for shooting during the day.

When I was using it in low light conditions, it was just about average for shooting.

While the dot isn’t as bright as red dot sights, it helps supply contrast against busy backgrounds.

Eyebox and Eye Relief – 2/5

This gives shooters an eye relief of 3.94 inches, just above the average eye relief for scopes.

However, I have to say that the Meopta Optika6 has a terrible eyebox.

While it is functional on its own, it gives the illusion of roominess while being the exact opposite.

It is absolutely tiny.

Value for Money – 3/5

These optics are not cheap.

Shooters will definitely feel quality in the sturdy construction and clear glass of this hunting scope. 

That being said, it could do with some improvement.

If there were anything I’d add, it would be a sunshade. A simple sunshade could offset the main problems of the Meopta Optika6 5-30×56.

It’s quite disappointing that, for its price, it doesn’t come with a sunshade.

Included Accessories

The Meopta Optika6 5-30×56 comes in a blue cardboard box.

Inside the box, shooters will find the following with the Meopta Optika6 5-30×56:

• Manual
• Rubber scope bra
• Lens cloth
• CR2032 battery
• Detachable throw lever
• Hex wrench
• Screws 
• Stickers

This sounds fine, but while reading it, I didn’t find the manual to be very useful.

While it does have some information about the Meopta Optika6 5-30×56, it barely has any directions for use.

However, the little directions that it does have are difficult to understand for US shooters.

Meopta Optika6 Alternatives

If you can’t find a Meopta Optika6 5-30×56 near you, here are some other scopes for your consideration.

1. Brownells MPO 5-25×56

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The Brownells MPO 5-25×56 is a great alternative to the Optika6 5-30x56mm.

Like the Optika6 5-30×56 mm, it is also specialized for long-range shooting. 

The two scopes also have the same objective lens diameter.

They both have the same zero-stop systems and return to zero features.

However, one notable difference I’ve found between these two optics is that the Brownells MPO has a more limited range compared to the Optika6.

While the Optika6 has a magnification range of 5x to 30x the power of the naked human eye, the Brownells MPO can only go up to 25x power.

2. Athlon ARES BTR 4.5-27×50

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The Athlon ARES BTR 4.5-27×50 is a good alternative for the Optika6 5-30×56 if you want to step down a price class. 

While the two optics are similar in durability and purpose, there are some key differences.

One difference I immediately noted is that the ARES BTR doesn’t have the magnification range of the Optika6.

While the Optika6 has a power range of 5-30x, the ARES BTR only magnifies from 4.5-27x.

Additionally, it also has a smaller objective lens, with a 50mm diameter, compared to the Optika6’s 56 mm diameter. 

It also does not have the option of both MRAD and MOA, which the Optika6 has.

While it does not live up to the Optika6 5-30×56 in all aspects, I still think it’s a good enough alternative for its price point.

3. Steiner P4Xi 4-16×56

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If you have the extra cash and want to go up a price point, you can look to the Steiner P4Xi 4-16x56mm. 

While Steiner is known for its binoculars used widely by the US military, they also produce excellent rifle optics.

The P4Xi 4-16x56mm is in Steiner’s mid-range tactical scope line. 

Like the Optika6 5-30x56mm, the P4Xi boasts a 56 mm objective lens made of European quality glass.

Unlike the Optika6, however, the P4Xi has a lesser power range, going up to a maximum of only 16x as opposed to the Optika6’s 30x.

While it lacks in this aspect, I say it compensates by ironing out the other kinks that have yet to be fixed by Meopta.

For instance, it has better optical quality without hazing and a bigger eye box.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where Are Meopta Optika Scopes Made?

All parts of Meopta Optika scopes are manufactured in the Czech Republic.

However, they are assembled in the US.

Where Is Meopta Scope Glass Made?

Almost all glass used in Meopta scopes is made in the Czech Republic.

Does Meopta Make Zeiss Scopes?

Meopta has collaborated with Zeiss to manufacture the Zeiss Conquest scope line.

Are Meopta Scopes Waterproof?

Yes!

Meopta rifle scopes are waterproof, fog-proof, snow-proof and shockproof, thanks to their super strong and durable aluminum-grade body

Final Verdict: Are Meopta Optika 6 Scopes Good Scopes?

I still think it’s got a lot to improve on, such as the effect of direct sunlight that causes hazy vision and lack of focus.

However, I can understand since this is their first line to make it into the US.

The Meopta Optikag 5-30×56 has many features and advantages, some of which have been made purely for American shooters.

These features include the zero stop system, locking elevation knob, and included throw lever.

It is also one of the few optics with multiple reticles that shoot both MOA and MIL adjustments.

As far as scopes for beginners go, other options will do you better. I’ll be looking forward to what new improvements and products come from this line!