By Mike Schoby
“How far can you see with this scope?”
Don’t laugh. It was a question I received all too often while working a retail gun counter. It always left me scratching my head, wondering how to answer while not making the cash-holding rube look like an idiot in front of his buddies.
The ridiculous question popped into my mind when I first unboxed the Trijicon Tenmile HX 5-25 x 50. “I’ll bet a counter jockey somewhere has been asked, ‘can it shoot ten miles?’ I thought and chuckled.
Dumb jokes aside, the 5-25 is one of six models in the Tenmile line: 3-18 x 44, 4-24 x 50, 4.5-30 x 56, 5-25 x 50, 5-50 x 56 and 6-24 x 50. Depending upon the model it can be had in a first or second focal plane version. Built for the long-range shooter and hunter it boasts many features…even if hitting a target at ten miles isn’t one of them.
For starters, unlike some delicate range queens, the Tenmile is ruggedly built, while at the same time not unduly heavy at 25.6 ounces. I wouldn’t put it on an ultralight rifle, but it is right at home on a typical long-range rifle. For open country hunting with a rifle that has the balls to go the distance, I like the 5-25, but for many hunters the 3-18 may be a more versatile option.
Doing an exterior walkaround of the scope, I liked what I saw. The ocular focal adjustment doesn’t require a locking ring, but is a tight tension fit like a binocular. The power adjuster ring has a removable stud that serves as a throw lever and can be positioned in two spots or removed entirely. Adjusting the magnification through its range of motion was smooth with the right amount of tension. The parallax adjustment knob is dual functioning; serving both as the parallax focus as well as the control for the 10-position illumination dial with half position shut off stops in between. Fueled by a standard CR 2032 battery it illuminates the whole reticle, not just the center.
The top elevation turret is unique. To begin with the turret cap itself features toolless removal and a zero stop. However, to set the zero stop it does need a tiny hex tool (provided). The advantage here is if you take a trip to the range to sight in the rifle and forget your tiny hex tool (that is seldom in anyone’s kit) you can pull the cap, zero the rifle and replace the cap. Then set it to zero at home. Some other scope designs require a wrench to remove the cap (with the tiny hex wrench) to get past the zero stop—which often happens at the range while the rifle is still a foot high, necessitating a trip back home. Final cool touch—Trijicon works with Kenton Industries and you can get a custom cut dial for your specific load/rifle/data.
The scope features other things you would expect from a scope of the class: Trijicon’s military standard construction and testing, fully multicoated glass which appears to have great light transmission, clarity and true color brightness and large 30 and 34mm main tubes (depending upon model) for increased internal adjustment range.
To test the Tenmile, I took it down to Texas—wide open broken country a few hours northwest of Dallas. Buddies had been there before and raved—all natural deer, no fences, wild-ass brothers who operated the place and from what I heard the ranch was full of huge bucks standing way out in ag fields waiting to be shot by a hunter with the right long range set up.
It only took one day upon arrival to realize it was all true.
I set up in the middle of the day overlooking a field with shot opportunities out past 800 yards. It was well before that critical witching hour when I caught movement close at hand. A doe came trotting up the dusty creek bed less than 50 yards in front of me. Behind her I could see the tops of chocolate tines bobbing up through the brush.
I readied the rifle and the buck emerged. Through the glass he looked incredibly sharp and the image was shockingly bright. That is what 3 o’clock on a clear afternoon at 75 yards will do for you. I didn’t need to dial or hold over or allow for wind or even turn on the illuminated reticle. I simply put the center of the crosshairs on the center of his chest and pulled the trigger, killing him deader than true love.
While I didn’t need any of the features of the Tenmile scope on this hunt, (or the Hornady 6.5PRC ammo or the Mossberg tack driving rifle) I was glad I had them. Had the same buck walked out at 500 yards at last light, I am confident he would be just as dead.
Pro: feature packed, solid internal adjustments, made by a company you can trust.
Cons: I could only see 9.5 miles.
Editor’s note: Charlie and Pat took a Tenmile with them to Africa and Pat put it to work to kill a Kudu that charged him the day before. Watch more on that trip here.
