Maven RS.1 2.5-15X44mm Review – Modern Hunting Glass

The Maven is a toolbox that can make almost any shot possible. RS.1 2.5-15X44mm upgrades the modern hunter’s game.Hunters–particularly those from the wide-open Western lands–have gone through an evolution over the past decade or so. Some pretty incredible things are happening at the margins of game-getting are due to optics and rifles that are both affordable and accurate. Maven Outdoors is one of the players that quietly established itself in the rarefied world of precision hunting. The Lander, Wyo. optics company has been a fixture in the niche since its inception nearly a decade ago. It’s easy to see why once you have it in your hands and mounted on a rifle. Maven is a great choice for hunting glass. The RS.1 2.5-15X44mm SR-W scope proved to be a great hunting optic on the range and in the sage forests of Western Colorado. It’s solid glass at an affordable price. However, it is not too expensive for most hunters. Maven decided to sell its goods directly through its website and not rely on large-box stores. Savings were achieved by cutting out the middlemen. This hits the mark for a wide swath of shooters and hunters and is sweetened by the ability to customize your scope.Admittedly, most of the customization features are superficial–adjustment ring color, turret color, etc. It’s nice to have a scope that feels like it belongs on a favorite rifle. RS.1 GlassTop-end glass is the heart of any scope that’s worth its weight in venison. The Maven RS.1 2.5-15X44mm’s Japanese-manufactured glass does not disappoint in this end.A large concern in any hunting scope is its light-gathering ability, given most shots are taken in the dim hours of dawn and dusk. Without a scope to capture sharp images, a critter that blends in with its environment can make for a difficult shot. The scope was large enough to produce sharp images in low light conditions. It had a 44mm objective with a generous 43.6mm eyepiece. The scope’s extra-low dispersion glass (ED) glass, which was fully coated, enhanced the quality of the images delivered. We’ll simply mention that the RS.12.5-15X44mm produced images as sharp and clear as if it was 50 yards away. This was even possible in the low light conditions of a cloudy day. SHR-W Reticle. Duplex reticles may have disappeared, but hunters have embraced the advantages of more elaborate crosshairs. Technology is so advanced that it’s hard to believe there are still people who think they can guess what the future holds. The RS.1 2.5-15X44mm comes with two MOA reticle options: the MOA-2 or SHR-W. Both are etched on the first focal plan. I chose the latter. The reticle features 1-MOA wind adjustment hashes and bullet-drop compensation hashes at 5- and 10-MOA increments. The muzzle velocity of the load was 2,600 fps. This gave me near-dead-nuts holds at 300-450, 700, and 700 yards with my BDC. It’s as clean as a whistle and provides a clear view that hunters love. It was also an FFP reticle so its measurements were accurate regardless of the magnification. Both made the scope easy to use and quick. After zeroing the scope, I tested and retested its tracking ability out to 500 yards. The scope adjusted the elevation to match the range perfectly, which was enough proof that it could be dialed in for my limit. It’s quite different in the field. The turrets control an excellent set of erectors with dead-nuts tracking. However, capped-like most hunting scopes-and a bit on the small side, it’s a stretch to employ them in more harried hunting circumstancesPresenting an issue–one common to all hunting scopes–are the turret caps.I’ll dial all day long, given the opportunity, but getting to the turrets in a practical fashion when there is a limited window for a shot is a tall task to say the least. The turrets can be a little tricky to handle with gloves. No. It is important to remember this if you are a keen photographer and want to dial your shots. The RS.1 2.5-15X44mm scope is a good size for hunters. It measures 30mm. The scope’s small details, such as the aggressive knurling of the turret caps or magnification rings, are appreciated. This makes it easier to use in the often wet and hectic conditions of the field. I doubt the scope would have gotten up to the task of bouncing off a Poderosa or chunk of granite if I had. The loner, who was persecuted by a coyote, was pacing a high-desert hillside. He was not trotting but wanted to be done with the insolent canine. The window between setting the RS.1 crosshairs and watching a buck disappear over a knoll was very narrow. This was my first BDC hash. I placed it just behind his scapula, and hit the sweet spot. I can only say that the scope worked as expected at the range. I placed it just behind his scapula and hit the sweet spot. This dissatisfaction faded with time, and I began to appreciate the entire system Maven offers in the RS.1. Hunting is full of wildcards, and no two shots are the same. A quiet morning may allow a hunter to reach the turrets, make the right clicks, and place a bullet in the vitals. Some days, hunting with a coyote and a buck at your heels can give you the chance to get to the turrets, make the right number of clicks, and put a bullet in the vitals. Parting ShotMost hunters hunt close in, even in big country. The average deer is taken at 100 yards. The Maven RS.1 2.5-15X44mm may be too big for most hunters. I was fortunate to see a lot of West Colorado deer during my hunt, but only two were bucks. Without a scope, I might have been left with nothing if my rifle had not been able to rely on. There’s also the matter of trophies. Mine was not. You want to be able to take care of him when he does come around.