March Scopes made their name with some of the best glass in the business, while custom-building each scope by hand to order in Japan for the most demanding target shooter. Along the way, March got noticed, and has expanded into more tactical scopes as well, and the Tactical FX model 4.5-28x52mm Wide Angle Ultra Short scope is a major player in the precision and tactical shooting world.
The March brand of high-end riflescopes and reticles are designed for tactical, precision shooting and target shooting. The March family of riflescopes is produced by Deon Optical Design, a Japan-based optics manufacturer that excels in the production of high-quality rifle scopes by the use of a combination of traditional and modern manufacturing techniques. The company has been in business for a little over 15 years, but has since established a solid position in the world of professional rifle scopes and reticles.
The March FX series of scopes feature First Focal Plane, 6x to 8x zoom factor and a wide angle eyepiece, extra-low dispersion glass lenses, multi-coated optics, parallax adjustment from 9.1m to infinity, zeroing elevation turrets, 34mm tube and argon filled waterproofing and antifogging, with world-class engineering and production that March has become famous for. The FX Wide Angle ultra short scopes were designed to eliminate optical aberration without compromise, utilizing high-end extra-low dispersion (ED) lenses.
This March FX Tactical Scope was developed with practical precision shooting competitors in mind, but ease of use and compact configuration make it equally at home on nearly any shooting platform. The ultra short design features a 12.5" short length and light weight at 29.8oz and fast-focus wide angle eyepiece with he diopter adjustment mechanism has been improved, so the shooter can adjust the eyepiece to your eye faster than ever before.
Temperature Anti-Drift Lens System
In the latest optical systems, a new lens material has been developed to accommodate changes in environmental temperature by altering the refractive index of the lenses. This new lens material has been adopted to create a more stable lens system that naturally adapts to changes in temperature to maintain focus and clarity over a wide range of conditions.
Turret Dials
0.1mil click style, with 10 mil turret revolution and zero-set on the elevation turret. Tactical exposed elevation turret and capped windage turret is standard
Wide Angle Eyepiece
25 Degree Wide Angle Eyepiece will enhance FOV throughout the 6.2 magnification range. Compared with our standard scopes with 20 degree, this is wider by 25%.
Super ED lens
By incorporating Super ED lenses (High Master lens system), we are able to reduce the chromatic aberration.
March cleverly leveraged their reputation in F-Class and 10x erector designs to carve out a new offering for First Focal Plane (FFP) shooters. This initiative eventually evolved into the 3-24x42 design and subsequently expanded into the 3-24x52 design.
Unlike its peers, the March riflescope enters the scene at just below 25 ounces and just above 13 inches. It's more portable and lightweight than its competitors. In fact, it's the most compact and lightest FFP optic in the market while offering a leading 8x erector for scopes of this dimension.
However, every good thing has a catch. The downside of a compact design with such an impressive erector is that the eye-box and Depth of Field tend to be less accommodating, particularly when compared to scopes with elongated body designs. Furthermore, achieving flawless focus/parallax with the parallax control requires thorough and precise adjustment.
With the surging trend of Precision Rifle Series (PRS) and National Rifle League (NRL) sports in the United States, a multitude of scope manufacturers are on a mission to devise the perfect design that will captivate their audience.
March, arguably the best Japanese riflescope manufacturer currently, produces glass quality that rivals the European alpha class market. Nonetheless, their determination to constantly push the envelope of optical design, coupled with limited promotional opportunities in the U.S., have stymied their overall market penetration.
In PRS/NRL championship rounds, spotting a Second Focal Plane (SFP) scope is as rare as finding a hay in a needle stack. Most serious marksmen swiftly realize the merits of leveraging the magnification range, toning down when dealing with harsh mirage. They prefer a reticle that is efficient across the magnification range and permits wind hold and, in specific scenarios, elevation hold. The turrets must be clear and precise to swiftly spin your solution.
The March 4.5-28x52 Riflescope, therefore, emerges as a promising entrant. It emulates the success of the 5-25x56 design initiated by Schmidt & Bender — a preferred choice since the birth of dynamic shooting sports. Besides the alpha class glass offering exceptional resolution and edge-to-edge clarity, the March Riflescope in 4.5-28x is a contender for precision and competitive shooters to consider. With the March 4.5-28x52 riflescope, the company is demonstrating that it's up to this challenge. The scope combines impressive specifications, a compact design, and the ability to perform in a variety of shooting conditions.
Beyond the exceptional resolution and edge-to-edge clarity offered by its alpha class glass, the March Riflescope also excels in the critical areas of Depth Of Field (DOF) and eyebox flexibility.
Much like the popular "traditional" design employed by Schmidt & Bender, the March 4.5-28x52 riflescope incorporates a forgiving DOF and parallax. It also boasts a generous eyebox, a feature particularly valued in the challenging world of dynamic shooting sports.
Dynamic shooting sports, such as PRS, often involve positions that make achieving perfect alignment behind the scope a tricky endeavor. The forgiving eyebox of the March 4.5-28x52 riflescope allows shooters to take accurate shots even in these challenging positions.
1. What makes the March 4.5-28x52 riflescope unique?
2. What are some benefits of the March 4.5-28x52 riflescope's design?
3. What are the challenges of using the March 4.5-28x52 riflescope?
4. How does the March 4.5-28x52 riflescope compare to other scopes in the market?
5. Is the March 4.5-28x52 riflescope suitable for PRS/NRL championship matches?
The FML-TR1 Reticle provide a good balance between a clean mRAD reticle and hold-overs of a Hourus-like Christmas Tree reticle.
for a review, see Sniper's Hide review of the March FX Tactical 4.5-28 scope compared to Tangent Theta 5-56
photos courtesy of March Scopes and Frank Galli, Sniper's Hide
