I understand the new 405 comes with the DLX Twilight scope in place of the Tact-Zone scope. According to the Excal site the Twilight is calibrated for bows shooting 300-400fpf while the Tact-Zone is calibrated for 275-410fps. Was the Twilight scope chosen for the Matrix 405 because it has NOT encounter the focus issues many owners have complained/questioned with the newly introduced Tact-Zone?
IMHO the Tact-Zone scope is the perfect compliment to the Matrix series bows because of it's size & weight. Was the Twilight chosen for the new Matrix 405 because of it's trouble free reputation in spite of the fact the scope is supposedly not advertised for bows exceeding 400fps?
As you can guess I have had issues with the Tact-Zone scope in the field. When I contacted customer service they stated they were "unaware" of any issues with the Tact-Zone scope. I guess they do not frequent the forums!
I was hoping the focus issues would be corrected for 2014 but it appears the decision was made to simply go with a different scope rather than correct the inherent problem with the Tact-Zone. Does anyone know if the 2014 Tact-Zone scope has been tweeked to correct its problems? I ended up going with a TenPoint Rangmaster scope for my 380 to stay with the compact size & and remedy the focus issue...... now my Tact-Zone is just sitting in the cabinet.
I'm curious about the specific focus issue you had with your Tactzone.Would it not focus with the focus ring or was it an eye relief issue?Was it DOA or develop over time?
Ibex SMF-S5-TactZone-BE Zombies/blazers
Wasp Jak Knife,Drone.
Vixenmaster string.
Tim50 wrote: I ended up going with a TenPoint Rangmaster scope for my 380 to stay with the compact size & and remedy the focus issue...... now my Tact-Zone is just sitting in the cabinet.
I dislike and have my Tenpoint scope sitting on a shelf . I went with a Hawke on my Tenpoint. To each their own I suppose.
Fred T wrote:I'm curious about the specific focus issue you had with your Tactzone.Would it not focus with the focus ring or was it an eye relief issue?Was it DOA or develop over time?
It was more of an eye relief, eye placement issue. IMO the scopes eye placement is very unforgiving. From the bench on bags this is a great scope. Not so much in actual hunting situations.
wheelie wrote:I dislike and have my Tenpoint scope sitting on a shelf . I went with a Hawke on my Tenpoint. To each their own I suppose.
I really like the Tack-Zone scope size & weight IMO it fits the Matrix bow to a T! I am somewhat surprised Excal chose to go with the larger Twilight scope & not the Tack-Zone on the 405.
Tim50 wrote:
It was more of an eye relief, eye placement issue. IMO the scopes eye placement is very unforgiving. From the bench on bags this is a great scope. Not so much in actual hunting situations.
Ah Ok.I have read of others having the same issue but I have not found it to be a problem with mine.I get a good clear sight picture as soon as I shoulder the bow.I really like the scope.
Ibex SMF-S5-TactZone-BE Zombies/blazers
Wasp Jak Knife,Drone.
Vixenmaster string.
Tim50 wrote:
It was more of an eye relief, eye placement issue. IMO the scopes eye placement is very unforgiving. From the bench on bags this is a great scope. Not so much in actual hunting situations.
Ah Ok.I have read of others having the same issue but I have not found it to be a problem with mine.I get a good clear sight picture as soon as I shoulder the bow.I really like the scope.
I have seen this issue on more than my bow. I find it interesting that the new Matrix 405 went to a different scope rather than the Tack-Zone. The Tack-Zone is calibrated to handle the 405fps while the scope Excal chose to put into the 405 package supposedly tops out at 400fps.
Matrix Mega is their "top of the line" crossbow and the DLX is their "top of the line" scope. If I had to take a guess, that is why.
If they didn't put their "best" scope on their "best" crossbow, I'm sure we would be asking a different "why?"
With all of that being my conjecture, I am quite happy with my Tact Zone. For crossbow distances, it gets the job done and I have no complaints about eye relief. I've certainly seen worse in certain "premium" scopes at high magnification.
I bought a New 380 last week and wasn't pleased at all with my tact zone so Im in the process of upgrading to a crossbones from danny . My old varizone was 10x as clear as my new tact ! I loved the size,lighted reticles but couldn't get past the critical eye position and blurred edges . For you guys that got lucky and got a good tact im envious !!!
James : 1 - 19-20 Know this , My beloved Brothers : Let every person be quick to hear , slow to speak , slow to anger , for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God .
lovelight wrote:Matrix Mega is their "top of the line" crossbow and the DLX is their "top of the line" scope. If I had to take a guess, that is why.
If they didn't put their "best" scope on their "best" crossbow, I'm sure we would be asking a different "why?"
Well then the question is wasn't the 380 their top of the line bow last year? Why didn't IT get the Twilight? The buzz around the "NEW" Tact-Zone was that it was the perfect compliment to the Matrix bow. Which I agree with up to a point! The focus problem has been an on going issue ( ask Danny Miller) and I was hoping for a solution to the problem for 2014. Excal has know of this issue on many scopes, apparently not all, but enough that when they introduced their new top of the line bow they chose not to put the latest scope that was designed for the Matrix. As I have stated I love the size of the Tack-Zone it jusr does not work for many hunters & when I approached Excal's company Customer Service I was told there was no known issues with the Tack-Zone. YET Danny Miller is VERY aware of this problem. Where is the disconnect here?
I know some of you guys like the tactzone but you are in the minority by a fair margin. Clarity and low light its one of the worst scopes I've ever seen. The twilight will be a much better offering. I'm getting mine bare bow but I think those getting a scope will like the twilight better.
I got my M380 at the end of November and the tact zone was defective out of the box. The rear bell was free spinning. I got a replacement and the illuminated reticles
don't work properly. I was just going to live with it but now the scope has strangely gone 'dark'. Then it turns bright again. ???? For me, that's the writing on the wall. Let someone else support China's economy and near slave labor. I ordered a leupold vx-r and will upgrade the tact for a crossbones which will be my spare until I buy a second Xbow.
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