IWA 18 - High Tech Aiming with Revic PMR 428 (4.5-28x56)

Determining relevant environmental data is essential, especially for a rifle shot beyond 500 meters. The US manufacturer Revic integrates a small weather station into its riflescopes for this purpose. Leif Richter and Henning Hoffmann from the magazine "Waffenkultur" took a detailed look at this technology before IWA 2018:

The Revic PMR 428 was one of the significant novelties at IWA 2017. The first units reached the European market at the beginning of 2018. The special feature of the Revic is the integrated weather station and ballistic calculator. The shooter or observer no longer needs to work externally with a Kestrel. The scope itself takes all measurements. The processing of the measured data is also automatic. This feature of the Revic PMR 428 is likely unique worldwide. At least among the market-ready and currently available riflescopes.

Technical data

Manufacturer: Revic Optics, Wyoming, USA

Model: PMR428 (4.5-28x56)

Reticle: in 1st BE

Length: 36.5 cm

Main Tube: 34 mm

Max. Elevation Adjustment: 75 MOA

Parallax Adjustment: from 50 m

Weight (w/o mounting): 1,330 g

Eye relief: 82 to 85 mm

Click adjustments: ¼ MOA

Rotation direction: ccw

Power source: AAA battery

Recommended selling price: 2,900 euros

Structure

The scope is delivered in the 4.5-28x56 dimension. The main tube diameter is 34 mm. The eye relief ranges from 85 mm with the lowest to 82 mm with the highest magnification. The Revic 428 is 36.5 cm long and weighs 1.3 kg without mounting. Parallax adjustment is possible from 50 yards.

The Revic PMR428 is designed in the 4.5-28x56 dimension.

The rifle scope body cannot deny its origin in terms of shape and color. Revic uses the bodies of the proven Razor HD series from US manufacturer Vortex.

The battery compartment for the AAA battery also serves as a robust grip resistance for adjusting the magnification.

The ocular end houses the battery compartment for an AAA battery, which also provides the shooter with a robust grip resistance for adjusting the magnification.

MOA or MRAD?

The question of the unit of measurement does not arise initially. The first models that crossed the pond are all in MOA. According to the German contact at Waffen-Holthaus, the availability of the more useful MRAD scaling is not expected until summer 2018 at the earliest.

The Turrets

The parallax adjustment is located on the left side. This turret also activates the head-up display in the reticle.

All programming is done via the parallax turret. The menu navigation is intuitive.

The ballistic calculator can be programmed intuitively using the buttons. The wind speed can also be entered via these buttons if necessary.

The elevation turret covers 30 MOA per revolution. In total, there is an adjustment range of 75 MOA for elevation. Each click corresponds to ¼ MOA.

The windage turret also works with ¼ MOA clicks. There are 14 MOA available in both left and right directions.

The Reticle

The reticle is scaled in MOA. The user will need to be patient until the mil version is available in mid-year. The reticle itself is naturally illuminated. The onboard computer allows the selection of colors: green, red, white, magenta, cyan, yellow, and blue (worth it just for that).

Currently, only MOA versions are available.

An HUD (head-up display) is installed in the upper part of the eyepiece, showing the most important values. It displays the selected profile from the weapon and ammunition, cardinal direction, battery capacity, previously entered wind direction and strength, the value for wind correction including spin drift, distance to the target, barometric pressure, level, and temperature. Wind direction and strength can be easily adjusted using the buttons on the parallax turret. The calculated wind correction can be compensated for by the shooter either using the windage turret or by shifting the point of aim with the reticle.

Onboard Computer

To capture the correct basic data for the ballistic calculator, a free app for iOS and Android can be downloaded. In this app, a profile with all the frame data is created and then synchronized via Bluetooth with the riflescope. In combination with the sensors for air pressure, temperature, inclination, cardinal direction, and the captured frame data for the bullet and weapon in the riflescope, a ballistic solution is calculated and displayed to the shooter in real time.

The head-up display shows all important values: the selected profile from the weapon and ammunition, cardinal direction, battery capacity, previously entered wind direction and strength, the value for wind correction including spin drift, distance to the target, barometric pressure, level, and temperature.

The actual distance to the target must be measured with a separate device or alternatively estimated.

By turning the elevation turret, a distance is displayed in the HUD where, considering all entered and measured data, the point of impact lies. The point of aim and point of impact coincide at the specified distance. Unlike other solutions available on the market, the point of aim does not shift in the shooter's target image, but remains constant in the center of the reticle. This allows for the use of mounts with different inclinations.

CONCLUSION: The Revic PMR 428 indeed has a lot of potential for innovation and could significantly change the riflescope market. If the electronics fail or no power source is available, the shooter still has a fully functional sight optic with this riflescope. A long-term test of the mil/mil version will be conducted once available in Europe in "Waffenkultur."

REVIC at IWA 2018: Hall 7, Booth 7-234

WAFFEN HOLTHAUS online: www.waffen-holthaus.de/

REVIC online: www.revicoptics.com