Rob Martin and the Kalinka Optics PPO 5-20x50 F Military Series Rifle Scope w/ Illuminated Reticle.

A previous marine marksman, Rob Martin currently builds custom rifles for hunting tours he conducts in Africa (www.maasafaris.com). Rob is an expert marksman and previous US competition champion. Rob provided this commentary and these pictures having paid full price for the Kalinka Optics PPO 5-20x50 F Military Series Rifle Scope w/ Illuminated Reticle and received no compensation of any type.

Trip: African hunting trip in the Kalahari Desert, the world's second oldest desert, in April 2003 for big cats as well as some larger, record book class antelope. The client is a South African taxidermist, not a pro shooter.

Setup: The rifle that the PPO is used with is a client's .338 Lapua that I built. We chose the PPO over a similar Zeiss that was over 3 times the money, I did not "settle" for a cheaper scope, but as the PPO is the same one on the current issue .51 cal Russian long range rifle, then it fits our needs. The rings that we ended up using were set up for 64mm objective lenses (ultra high) not for the objective bell, but for the large spring housing on the bottom of the center block. The grind is excellent, and they are definitely the best thing you have going. Don't loose the IR. It's a good system, if a little bulky and antiquated (newer just isn't better in some cases!).

Here are a few pics of some of the animals I took. The blue wildebeest is less than 1 1/2 inches under all time world record. It is currently #8 all time, but will probably dry to #15 or so (Editor’s note: dried to #13, listed in Rowland Ward’s Records of Big Game.). The springhare (rabbit) was taken at over 200 meters at late dusk using the illuminated reticle. Without the illuminated reticle I would have never seen him, caught his eye reflection. The shot was 1/2"below the ear!