CVLIFE 1.5-5 x 32 Crossbow Scope Review - illuminated FPS scope
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- Опубліковано 5 жов 2024
- Last year CVLIFE asked me to review their 1.5-5x32 crossbow scope. They sent me their first version of the scope and asked me to go over it and give them feedback which I did. Since then they have made some changes and have two different variations of this crossbow scope listed on Amazon.
I did run into a few issues with this initial scope, to which my understanding is these issues have been addressed in the current models. Having said that, even with the issues I ran into, this scope is still on my crossbow today and I have taken 3 deer with this scope.
Scope with 50 yd center - amzn.to/3xzC8wI
Scope with 20 yd center - amzn.to/3TYKANC
This video and description may contain affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases which means that if you click on one of the products links, I'll receive a small commission.
Hey man, just saying thanks for the video. Product documentation is better than I've seen in some cases but still leaves some things to be desired. One additional note (with the models that are shipping now from Amazon) is that the cap covers need to be removed in order to adjust the ocular focus ring. Once I figured that out I was able to get a much clearer view of the yardage lines, etc. I still don't quite grasp why the magnification is tied to the FPS but I will follow your advice and mess with the FPS ring until I'm on at 20, after having adjusted windage and elevation at 50. Thanks again for the video.
Martin
Oh yea I probably should have mentioned that about the ocular focus ring.
I'll try to explain the magnification to FPS thing. So right off the bat, it's a physics equation. When an arrow leaves the crossbow it has a certain mass to it and it is leaving at a certain rate of speed (fps). Let's say two arrows have the same mass. One arrow leaves the crossbow at 450fps and one leaves at 350fps. The slower arrow is going to have more drop to it than the faster arrow. Therefore the difference between crosshairs that are set at 20 yards and at 30 yards will need to be different for those two crossbows, the crosshairs will need to spaced a little further apart between the 20 yard and the 30 yard crosshair than on the faster arrow.
Likewise, as we extend out to further distances the gap gets bigger, and the gap is always bigger on the slower arrow because it is dropping at a quicker rate than the faster arrow at the same distances. I could be wrong on this but I think the issue is that gravity exorts a force over time. The slower arrow has had more time for gravity to pull it down versus the faster arrow, simply because the faster arrow gets to the 20 yard mark faster than the slower arrow. I hope that makes sense.
So this is why a scope manufacturer on the lower end has a fixed reticle scope on their crossbows. That scope has been setup with fixed crosshairs to account for the recommended size factory bolt with a 100 grain head shooting out of that specific crossbow. If you moved that fixed reticle scope to a faster crossbow or slower crossbow, it will no longer be accurate past the mark it was sighted in for.
So if an aftermarket company wants to build a scope with fixed reticles they have to design it for a certain size arrow, and certain speed crossbow. It only works if you are really close to what the design has called for and so that is a huge problem, especially when people want to shoot longer distances. You can't just pop that fixed reticle scope crossbow and expect the crosshairs to line up properly at the different distances.
Ok so now this is how the magnification piece comes in to play. The center of the scope is always constant, zoomed in or zoomed out, the center of the scope and what it is pointing at NEVER changes.
But as you zoom in or out everything else changes. So let's say, you are looking at a target that has 5 round 1" circles spaced vertically on top of each other. If you put the center of that crossbow scope (whether the center is 20 or 50), in the center of the middle circle and zoom in and out, that center dot will always stay on the center of the center circle. However, as you zoom in and out, the other circles are going to get bigger or smaller. As they get smaller, their centers get closer to the center point of the crossbow, and as they get bigger, their centers get farther away from the center point of the crossbow. Now think in terms of depending on the size of the arrow and the speed the crossbow shoots it out, you either need more space between yardage pins or less space between yardage pins. That my friend is how the zoom is tied to the FPS and how the scope works. If you can get the center sighted in and then use the zoom to sight in your next pin, you have now defined the appropriate gaps needed for the speed and weight of your specific arrow and the rest of the yardage pins should then line up.
That's kind of rough but I hope that kind of explains. It is a lot to wrap your mind around!
I got one of these scopes on your recommendation. It’s mounted and sighted but still need to work more with it. I was also skeptical of the taller mounts but they are working out good on my K.I. Vital X. Hunt planned in October so we will see how it goes. Thanks for the tutorial and the input.
Excellent. One big thing about these illuminated reticles. Make sure you turn them off when you are done. I turn it on very dim first thing in the morning, and is gets brighter out, I turn them brighter until I don't need them anymore, say after the first 30 mins of light or so. I do the opposite in the evening. But I forget so often to turn them off. It is easy to forget and then you got dead batteries. The batteries will last a good long time if you just remember to turn it off when finished. Good luck in October!
@@BooneDownSouth yes sir will do my best to remember to turn it off
Good review. I’ve just bought the K/I Vital X and it comes with their factory scope, non-illuminated. Like you shooting regular compound i can still do but takes to much to draw should an animal come close. So I opted to go crossbow, but these older eyes need the extra help with lighted cross hairs. Sounds like this might be the way to go for now. Thanks for the review.
Yea the illuminated scope makes all the difference in the world for that first 30 mins and last 30 mins of light. You can adjust the brightness as the light changes which is really nice. When it is at its darkest I have it on the dimmest setting and then as the sun starts coming up and things are starting to get a little brighter, I will keep adjusting the brightness higher until I don't need it any more and then do the same in reverse for the last half hour. In the video, the deer I shot with the lighted nock - I would not have been able to make that shot without the illumination.
Great review. Thanks for sharing
Thanks Mark!
Great honest review 👍😁
God Bless Y’all 🙏😇❤️🇺🇸
I appreciate the comments!
Great review and I am considering this. However, my scope that came with my xbow is 4x32. So, if I dial in at say around 375fps and end up at 3x (or 350 at 2.5x), that seems like I am losing a lot of magnification. Is it worth it? Am I over thinking this?
So I guess it depends on your reason for changing scopes. If you can shoot out to 50 yards accurately with your current scope and it has lighted reticles, the only reason to move is if you just want to sight in farther. The zoom is not really huge thing though to be honest - especially at those ranges.
Here is the thing about crossbow scopes. Normally when you buy a crossbow with a fixed scope, that scope matches the recommended arrow size and weight for that crossbow and the hash marks on that scope match the trajectory. So once you sight in for 20 yards the rest of the hash marks should be dead on. If you buy an aftermarket fixed crossbow scope, then you run the risk of the hash marks not lining up. A high risk in fact. In fact I was just recently testing a new fixed scope out and the hash marks were so far off what was needed the scope was unusable with my crossbow.
Because of that problem, the after market scopes now gravitated to the zoom style speed range scopes. That way the hash marks adjust to fit your crossbow.
The biggest reason for me to switch out was for lighted reticles. They are a huge game changer. And if you switch out, you are most likely going to want a zoome style scope that will adjust to your crossbow.
By the way, there are two models of this scope. One with a zero at 50 which is what I tested, and one with a zero at 20, which is what I would prefer. The one at 20 will be quicker and easier to sight in.
Hope that helps!
@@BooneDownSouth Thanks, that is EXTREMELY helpful. I don't have lighted reticles and that is the main reason for looking. I was also thinking the zero at 20 would be better, since most of my deer are usually shot 20 to 40 yds from my blind. I have been researching this for weeks, so your video and your reply to my question has finally cleared it up for me. Thanks again!!!
@@erickrjohn Awesome! Glad I could help.
are there other scopes with similar radicals. I like the 50 yard idea. I need the radicals to be bold. l have a hawk factory but don't like the fine line radicals
@@randyking1925 I don't know of any specifically. Does your scope have lighted reticles? The illumination might not help at all during the bright part of the day but just wondering.
I've had 2 of these scopes and neither one worked worth a darn. I ordered a killer instinct lumix speedring from Walmart for $90. I'll give it a go.
So there are several models of the CVLife scope. Was your model a speed zoom or fixed reticle? Also what didn't work with yours. I hunted with this one al last season and took a few deer with it, and already started this season using it. Mine has been solid so interested in knowing what didn't work with yours. Thanks!
@BooneDownSouth it's the speed dial and both dials haven't worked properly for me. When I shoot low and lower the speed, it doesn't even move. I'm glad yours works, but I just had bad luck.
@@T-ROY_69 That is too bad. I know their instructions were backwards when it came to sighting it in, but they definitely moved the point of impact. Hope the Killer Instinct works well for you!
I have this scope working on getting it sighted in it's dead on at twenty but i didn't move the speed ring to match the bow speed before i zeroed it i have the 50 center model is it that big of a deal with the speed ring does it need to be sighted at twenty at my manufacturer speed rating or is it basically just user preference this will be my first xbow season I've hunted with compund bows exclusively for 30 yrs allot of animals but this scope definitely has some messed up info for sighting it in it's ass backwards
So unless they changed the directions, the directions are wrong. So here is the deal. You shoot in at 20 yards just to put you on the mark and get your windage correct. Then forget everything you did and sight it in at 50 yards. Once you have the 50 yards sighted in by adjusting your scope turrets, cap the turrets and don't touch them again. Now at this point your 20 yard pin will be off again.
This time use the speed zoom ring to get the 20 yard on target. The direction said to go one way if it was low and I found it to be opposite of what they said. Regardless, use the speed zoom going in either direction until you get the 20 yard pin lined up. Once you have this done, your 50 will still be on and now your 20 will be on. This should be enough alignment to have everything out to 70 or 80 yards dialed in at that point.
@@BooneDownSouth thanks for the info I kind of figured it was gonna work something like that with 50 on center you sight on center it can't be off or move under magnification if you will even though these scopes work more on a FOV position it would seem
@@jasonsanders49 Yea I would prefer the 20 to be at center honestly and they make a model like that, but this one has been working flawlessly and I have it dialed in so need for me to change.
hey buddy I have the same scope where 50 yrds is center I meed help sighting in
So this is what you need to do. Sight in at 20 yards using the regular scope adjustments just to get the windage correct. Then once that is done, sight in at 50 yards using your scope adjustment. Yes that will totally mess up what you did at 20 yards but don't worry. They key is getting 50 yards dead on. Once 50 yards is dead on, do not make any more adjustments with the normal yardage adjustments on the scope.
Now go back to 20 yards, but instead of using the normal windage and yardage adjustments on your scope, you are going to use the speed adjustment or "zoom" ring. Adjust in one direction and if that takes you further away, make your adjustment in the other direction. You will figure it out in a couple of shots. But keep making the adjustments on the speed ring until your 20 is on.
During this whole process, your 50 will always be on because it is the center of the scope and the center never changes as you change zoom on the speed ring. Once you have the 20 yards set with this method, you should be good to go. I ended up shooting mine out to 80 yards with this method.
Would this be the same as the Cabela’s name brand crossbow scope? Rebranded?
So I don't know for sure, but there are a lot of scopes that are very similar to this one. It is very possible that there are slight differences but all coming out of the same factory. This particular model, has the 50 yard marker at the center of the scope, most models have 20 yards at the center. The Cabela's model has 20 yards at the center. CVLIFE has just shipped me the 20 yard version to test out so I will be looking at that soon. This particular model with the 50 yard marker in the center is still being used on my main crossbow. It has proven to be very solid. I took 3 deer with it last season. I think the one that matches closest is the Cabela's Intensity that is $119, but it will actually be more like the other CVLIFE model that is being shipped to me currently.
Thanks, yah that’s the Cabela’s scope I was eyeing. I just bought my first xbow, a Centerpoint sniper elite 385, and all the reviews say the xbow is great but the scope that comes with it is trash. I was just looking at an affordable upgrade right off the bat. I was thinking the intensity or the vortex crossfire.
@@jasondeering8841 honestly I think a lot of these scopes are so similar. Get one that is illuminated cause it makes all the difference.