REVIEW: AABB Elcan Specter DR 1x - 4x

Now it's time: after the moderately good Dummy Elcan Specter DR from EBB, which was nothing more than a four-time magnifier, a functional copy of SU-230/PVS has now been released. This scope functions like the real Specter DR, it is a red dot sight without magnification, but can be switched to four-time magnification. The Chinese manufacturer AABB has brought this functional copy of the Specter DR to the market. SPARTANAT takes a look at what this optic can really do. (Click on images to enlarge.)

What we saw at first glance, we liked very much: this Specter DR from AABB has an appealing color scheme and is well executed. In the image, the round battery compartment is visible at the front. Between the mount and scope is the adjustment lever, with which you can switch between simple (rear position) and four-time magnification (front position). The raised inscription is missing on the battery compartment cap, which is visible on the original. The rear dial is the elevation adjustment, whose lock was also copied, but does not work. Attention to detail: the elevation and windage adjustments were both greased upon delivery.

From the back right, the Specter DR looks just as good. At the bottom edge, you can see the screws from the ARMS mount, which closes excellently and fits like a glove on a PTW upper. Here in the image, it is currently mounted on a WE M4 GBBR converted to MK18 Mod1.

The top of the Specter DR: We are responsible for the broken back-up sight (BUS) at the back. An unguarded opening of the mounts at a height of over one meter was answered with a free fall and rewarded with a breakage of the brittle plastic material from which the BUS is cast. What is missing on the Specter DR is a serial number, which should be located on the top edge of the left square bulge. Also missing are the two holes on either side of the flat surface, where the mount for a Docter Sight would be screwed on if a red dot sight is desired as a back-up for short distances. Otherwise, the iron sights are intended for close combat as quick sights.

The underside reveals no secrets. The ARMS mounts are - as mentioned - very well executed, but without markings on the levers.

And this is how it works: hold the device on the body, place your thumb on the lever set to 1x (top left). Push it down (top right) and then slide the lever forward, over the latch that holds it in its rear position (bottom left). When it reaches the front, the lever simply snaps into place and the Specter DR is now set to four-time magnification.

View through the optic: The reticle (left) corresponds to that of the original. Ours was slightly crooked, a few millimeters off. In the two images next to it, we see the function: once set to viewing mode (right) and then with four-time magnification (center). At such a close distance, it results in a slightly blurry image. In the wild with a wide view, the optic is sharp. The original is supposed to have the eyes about seven centimeters away from the lens. The copy does not achieve this: Three to a maximum of four centimeters away and you can use the Specter DR. This is not bad for a cheap copy of a very expensive optic.

The illumination is also very impressive: According to the description, it should have six levels of red and six levels of green. Fortunately, we did not see any green on ours. The red dot is located right in the center of the reticle and glows very subtly. During the initial inspection in daylight, we thought there were only three levels of red brightness. It wasn't until night that we discovered all six levels. There is also a mode where the entire reticle is illuminated in red. This is not convincing, because then the entire tube glows red inside. But the dot itself is really excellent.

CONCLUSION: The wait for a functional Specter DR has paid off. AABB has done a good job and produced a colorfully and technically very attractive copy of this SOPMOD Block 2 optic: You can switch from 1x to 4x; the quality of the reticle is also OK, especially when you consider that this replica of an original optic costs about a tenth of the price you pay for the real SU-230/PVS. A device of the early Generation II was copied. Four things are missing for perfectionists: The inscription on the battery compartment, a serial number, ARMS markings on the levers for the mount and the holes for the screws if you want to mount a Docter Sight with a special base. A Docter kit would be a dream addition to the optic.

We are genuinely excited about this Specter DR. This is the best replica of an optic that we have ever held in our hands. We are usually fans of real optics, but the Specter DR from Ernst Leitz Canada (ELCAN) costs around $2,000 in real life. That is a bit too expensive for us. AABB is an alternative: For those who like Block 2, even though we have not yet subjected the functionality of this Specter DR to long-term testing, you can go for it. It's hard to beat what AABB has done.

The Elan Specter DR 1x - 4x is currently available from various retailers at quite different prices between $270 (without shipping) and $250 (with shipping). We expect the price to settle a bit. At Toy Soldier, the AABB Specter DR is available at a good price.

For comparison: a real EOTech 553 next to the AABB Specter DR. The replica optic doesn't need to hide in the slightest.

The article was illustrated with images from Airsoft Society.