TG8515CLC Crossbow Scope

Model: TG8515CLC Cost: $230 - $250

I wanted to try an adjustable scope to compensate for the speed of my Phantom and can’t imagine a better choice than TRUGLO’s TG8515CL. I ended up setting the scope differently than the standard way the manufacturer suggests, but the flexibility of the scope allowed me to get what I believe are excellent results.

First Impressions:
This is one beautiful scope and it is a dramatic complement to the look of my TenPoint Phantom (both are REALTREE APG). The fit and finish is excellent. The optics are clear and bright and the illuminated reticle lines are a great feature. The extras (flip-up amber lens covers, lens cleaning cloth and Weaver style rings) are nice additions. The function of the dials is smooth. Good packaging and clear instructions.

Specs:
•    Illuminated glass etched trajectory compensating reticle with five brightness settings in two colors.
•    Fully multi-coated lenses
•    Waterproof/fog-proof
•    Shock resistant
•    Body tube made of aircraft aluminum
•    Eye Relief (in): 4.5 – 3.4
•    Weight (oz): 17.6
•    Length (in): 10.7
Features:
•    Custom trajectory compensating reticle takes the guess work out of hitting targets from 20-50 yards. Reticle is easily calibrated to work with crossbows shooting hunting weight arrows at speeds from 225-375+ fps.
•    See-thru/flip-up lens caps included, optical quality/all weather
•    Rubber eye-guard
•    Non-shifting point of impact
•    Fingertip windage and elevation adjustment under screw down caps
•    Realtree APG camo, or scratch resistant matte finish
•    Includes Weaver-style rings
•    Lifetime Limited Warranty

Installation and use:
The scope was easy to install.  The clearance of the front objective housing and rear eyepiece is pretty tight on the TenPoint scope rail but it did fit without any modifications. I first installed and adjusted the scope as recommended by TRUGLO and it functioned perfectly as advertised. In order to get the lines to match standard distances (20, 30, 40 & 50 yards), the magnification needed to be set to 4.4X.  My preference though is to have less magnification for hunting purposes. At 15 yards (not uncommon hunting range for me), all you see is brown hair and then you need to determine what part of the deer you are looking at. I have worked with that in the past when I was using a Simmons 4X crossbow scope, but it can introduce delay with shots. Most will probably like the higher magnification, it's just a personal prefrence thing and the adjustability allowed me to get what I wanted also.

I decided to adjust the magnification to roughly half of that and found that at 2.4X, the lines calibrated nicely to 20, 40, 60 and 80 yards. I can see the whole deer at 20 yards and can shoot the top line for anything between 10 – 25 yards. The second line is right on at 40 yards and this held true for 60 as well. The bottom line hit about 3” low at 80 yards. A precise 30 yard shot is easy when splitting the first two elevation lines and with this bow at that yardage, we are only talking about 2” of height variance anyways.  I needed to shim the back of the scope rail in order to center the 20 yard (top) line in the reticle. With the TenPoint rail, that was very easy. Horton would be easy as well. I do not know how easily this is done with other brands. The result is a scope set to my preferred hunting magnification that has lines indexed at known round number distances.

I have had this scope on my Phantom since early November and put it through its paces in all types of weather including some shock treatments (quick hot to cold and dropped bow) and it is still performing perfectly with no adjustments needed meeting the advertised specs of (Waterproof, fog-proof and shock resistant). The extra time and experiance with the scope help me validate my review, but the truth in my delay is that I was fully conviced that one of the included photos would be of a giant buck. It hasn't happened thus far, but I'm keeping the faith.
 
What I liked:
•    Quality design, manufacture and finish
•    Excellent light gathering at dawn and dusk
•    Adjustable feature to align reticle lines with standard known distances
•    Waterproof and fog-proof
•    Lighted reticle in green and red
•    Finger adjustable windage and elevation dials (no coin or screwdriver needed)

What I didn’t like:
•    Too much consideration for slow crossbows (higher magnification for faster bows)
•    Imported (Made in China) – P.S. Leupold is the only American made scope I know of so this is the same con for nearly every scope.

Conclusion:
I highly recommend this scope for anyone wanting to put premium adjustable optics atop their crossbow. The scope is designed specifically for crossbows and is adaptable for bows of various speeds. Even the Striker could use this scope if it were configured like I did mine at "half magnification".