Cabela’s
Customer Satisfaction: 8.5/10
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When it comes to hunting, fishing, and camping gear, Cabela’s is one of the biggest names out there.
If you’re in the market for a new rifle scope, you’ve likely come across the Cabela’s Covenant AR 1-8×24.
This scope has been making waves in the shooting community, but is it worth the investment?
In this comprehensive review, we’ll delve into its key features, compare it with other popular scopes, and give you all the information you need to make an informed decision.
Cabela’s Covenant AR 1-8×24 Rifle Scope: A Comprehensive Review
The Covenant 1-8×24 is a variable power scope with a 24mm objective lens. It features a 30mm tube, fully multi-coated lenses, a cantilever mount, flip-up scope caps, and an illuminated reticle. The 1-8x magnification range makes it well-suited for close to mid-range shooting.
Pros
- Affordable Price – For under $200, there aren’t many variable 1-6x optics on the market. The price makes this scope really attractive if you’re building a budget AR-15.
- Decent Eye Relief – Thanks to the forward cantilever mount, you can mount this optic farther forward on your AR while still getting enough eye relief. This is great for fast shooting positions.
- Illuminated Reticle – Having an illuminated reticle is a big plus, especially for low light use. There are 11 brightness settings controlled by a side knob.
- Fairly Accurate – Out of the box, this scope was almost perfectly zeroed on my AR. Just a few clicks and it was dialed in. The clicks also track accurately for holdover and windage adjustments.
Cons
- Limited Light Transmission – With a 30mm objective lens, light transmission is limited compared to larger objective sizes. The image is noticeably darker than higher end glass.
- Mediocre Glass Clarity – Don’t expect crystal clear, high-contrast images from a $200 optic. The glass is passable but a step below premium offerings.
- Reticle Design – The intersecting horizontal and vertical bars of the reticle are visually cluttered. A simple duplex or dot would be easier to use at speed.
- Turret Design – The turrets only have arrows to indicate direction, not actual elevation/windage markings. And the adjustments are half MOA per click rather than a full MOA.
Key Features
Cantilever Mount
One of the standout features of the Cabela’s Covenant AR scope is its cantilever mount. This allows for forward mounting on an AR receiver, providing better eye relief and shooting posture. The six screws that hold the scope onto the mount ensure stability and durability.
Magnification Throw Lever
The scope comes equipped with a magnification throw lever, allowing for quick changes in magnification. This is particularly useful in dynamic shooting scenarios where targets can appear at varying distances.
Comparison with Other Scopes
When compared to the Bushnell Air Optics 1-4x scope, the Cabela’s Covenant AR scope offers better features at a more affordable price. The cantilever mount and magnification throw lever give it an edge, making it a more versatile option for both long-range and close-range targets.
Conclusion
For a budget-friendly jack-of-all-trades optic, the Cabela’s Covenant AR scope gets the job done. While the glass and features can’t compare to premium brands, it’s really hard to beat the value. Just don’t expect perfection at this price point. For casual range use and practical accuracy, it’s definitely worth a look.
Shopping at Cabela’s
There are some clear advantages that a specialty retailer like Cabela’s offers compared to general sporting goods stores.
One of the biggest pros of Cabela’s is the huge selection of merchandise available both online and in stores. They offer every major brand name like Shimano, Yeti, Under Armour, and Leupold. But they also stock a ton of specialty niche gear and apparel you won’t readily find at other retailers.
No matter what your sport from fly fishing to hunting big game out West to weekend family camping, Cabela’s has all the best gear to outfit your adventure. If you need a specialized item like a new bow sight or overnight duck hunting kayak, Cabela’s almost certainly has it in stock.
The wide selection also makes it easy to compare similar items across brands to make sure you get the right features and fit.
For specialty niche gear or high-end technical equipment, Cabela’s selection and expertise makes it a great choice.
Cabela’s shines when you need specialty items matching specific features. But for one-size-fits-all general merchandise, it’s overkill.