For those of you that need the very “best of the best” when it comes to long range optics for precision rifles, a new Canadian firm named Tangent Theta is now in production, and is showcasing its three new scopes at the 2015 SHOT Show. From the looks of what I saw, Tangent Theta’s products are well-poised to provide strong competition for the current industry leaders such as Schmidt & Bender, etc…
Tangent Theta’s business model is “to manufacture a series of rifle telescopes for professional marksmen that will be beyond reproach in all manners of design, utility and service performance.” Emphasis on design is not only to use the highest quality German glass available, but also to create rugged scopes that are capable of extreme environmental conditions. Testing includes water emersion down to 2.5 atmospheres (roughly 73 feet) and impact testing to failure at 17,000 G’s.
The President of the new Halifax, Nova Scotia based firm, Andrew Webber, explained to me that in 2013, he and his partners purchased the physical assets and intellectual property of the now defunct Premier Reticles firm. He was careful to explain that these new scopes are different designs than the old Premier Scopes, but Tangent Theta is using all of Premier’s testing and design related equipment.
The flagship model is the Model TT525P, which is a first-focal-plane 5-25×56 scope. This scope features a 34-mm main tube, a 56-mm objective lens, and Mil / Mil capability. It also features a patented “tool-less Re-zero”™ feature for returning the elevation and windage turrets to your selected zero. The illuminated reticle has 11 brightness adjustments, which I am told has nothing to do with the film Spinal Tap. The TT525P has an MSRP of $4,200.00
The next scope in the line up is the Model TT315P, which is a 3-15×50 scope that retails for $3,800.00. It is a smaller version of the TT325P, which features the same 34mm main tube but has a 50mm front objective.
Rounding out the new line-up is Model TT315M, which is designed for Police and security marksmen. It takes many of the features of its sister scope, the TT315P, and fits it in a more lightweight and affordable package ($2,800). The smaller 30mm main tube result in less elevation and windage adjustment range, but there is certainly still enough adjustment range for typical law enforcement missions.
All three scopes come with Tenebraex lens covers and an Anti-reflection device (“ARD”).
One very clever feature built into all three TT scopes is the two small windows which visually indicate to the shooter whether the elevation turret is set to its first or second rotation. the scope covers its full range with only two rotations.
The TT315P and TT325P scopes also feature a tactile indicator which lets the operator know that the elevation turret is on its second revolution. This button, shown in the photo below in it’s extended position, automatically retracts when the reticle is turned back to the first rotation.
Obviously, just pawing these scopes at SHOT Show is not going to lead to many firm conclusions about quality, etc. Nonetheless, my initial impressions are highly favorable. The glass looked very bright and sharp, and turret adjustments feel incredibly sharp and precise, and the designs are remarkably compact given their optical range. We are hoping to get a T&E sample of the TT325P for in-depth testing and evaluation later this spring / early summer.