Hands-On: Millett LRS 6-25×56 Review

Betty and Ray Millett founded Millett Industries in the mid-1970s as a maker of injection-molded metal gun parts. Tom Millett, the son of Betty and Ray, joined the company in the late 1970s. In 1999, Tom Millett introduced red dot sights and later rifle scope optics to the company.

After Tom’s untimely death in 2005, the Millett family sold the company to Bushnell. Bushnell continues to make Millett mounts, sights, and other shooting items as part of the Bushnell line products; however, Bushnell discontinued the Millett scope line.

I mounted a Millett 6-25x56mm LRS on a 6.5 Creedmoor chassis rifle some years ago. After a couple of years of use, I replaced it with a higher-end optic. The reasons will become clear as you read on, and we’ll point you to some good alternatives.

In A Hurry? Millett 6-25x56mm LRS Quick Specs:

Our Review Of Millett 6-25 x 56mm LRS:

The Millett 6-25 x 56mm LRS Tactical Riflescope Brought Upper-End Features to a Value Priced Entry Level Optic

The Millett scope, like many other entry-level scopes, is sourced from and manufactured in China. The cost savings associated with this business model allowed Millett to incorporate many features for the money. However, there are also compromises involved that can crop up in performance as well.

QC measures require constant attention. “Knock off,” unbranded, plain box versions can and do appear on “alternative” websites. Unscrupulous practices from some so-called “quality” vendors routinely affect product performance and the brand reputation of otherwise good scope manufacturers. Did some Millett products suffer from these issues? Some say yes.

The design features of the scope are impressive. The main tube is a one-piece “over-sized” 35mm high-strength aluminum enclosure. It has a massive 140 MOA of internal adjustment thanks to the extra room inside. It comes with 35mm rings (thankfully) and flip-up scope caps. Lenses are fully multi-coated, and the scope is inert gas purged.

The Millett Mil DOT BAR reticle is a straight-forward MIL hash mark affair with subtensions out to 5 MIL in all quadrants. The turrets are ¼ MOA per click. How does it stack up? Let’s get to it.

Optics

Below 18x magnification, the image through the Millett is good but not great. Bigger lenses in the 35mm tube make for a lot of light transmission. The brightness is there, but the color rendition and sharpness are somewhat lacking.

Different colors refract through glass at different angles. Multi-coating, when done right, corrects the color diffusion through the glass giving sharp focus, crisp image detail, and good overall color rendition.

Multi-coating lenses may be the most problematic QC element in scope making. The Millet suffers in this area. For a quick look through or the occasional shot on target, the image brightness may mask this deficiency, but a closer look reveals a mediocre image.

Above 18x magnification, the Millett drops off even more in the sharpness and clarity department. At 25x, you can expect a useable image but not much more.

Turrets

The turrets are tall. I never had any problems due to turret bumps or hang-ups, but they are tall enough to get whacked. They have 16 MOA per turn in ¼ MOA increments. The turrets are more crisp and tactile in the middle of their range but become tighter to turn and mushy at their limits. This is a confusing feel when making rapid elevation or windage adjustments.

Build

The Millet 6-24x56mm weighs in at over 2 pounds. Rated for 50 BMG recoil, it’s big and looks like a tank could run over it without damage. Mine held up-well generally, but there were minor issues with the focus over time.

The focus started out pretty firm but loosened up over time. It never got to the point that it would not hold position, but I dislike controls that are not consistent and predictable. It seemed to me that the focus became more critical as time went on, especially at higher magnifications.

Ergonomics

All of the controls fall easily to hand. The knobs are well designed and easy to use with gloves on. The eyepiece is not a fast focus type. It has a fine thread adjustment and must be locked into position.

Eye relief is 3-3.5 inches with a nominal eyebox. I notice some minor POI parallax movement of the crosshairs even when focused. Good cheek weld and precise eye alignment are a must with this scope.

This scope has MOA turrets and a MIL DOT reticle. Mixed unit scopes are common. 1/4 MOA clicks are a finer adjustment than .1 MOA clicks. Some folks are OK with mixed units, but I’ve come to prefer matching turret/reticle units over time. This and the lacking optics are the main reasons I swapped out this scope.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Lots of features for a reasonable price
• 35mm tube makes for a bright image
• Convenient Side Focus
• It comes with rings and caps

Cons:

• Image is less than for a 35mm tube scope
• Turrets are tall and not uniform in response
• Parallax adjustment became touchy to focus over time
• Limited support, discontinued

Ratings By The Numbers

Usability: 3.5/5

The Millett loses marks for inconsistent turrets and difficulty focusing.

Optical Performance: 3.5/5

The Millett 6-25x56mm LRS disappoints for a scope with a 35mm tube. The brightness of the scope makes it useful throughout its range of magnification.

Mechanical Design & Construction: 3.5/5

It has a good mechanical design but with mediocre quality and execution.

Value: 4/5

In the sub $400 price point category, the Millett 6-25x56mm LRS gives many features for the money. In the mid to long-range scope category, it was a reasonable entry-level scope.

Warranty & Support (unknown)

Warranty and support by Bushnell.

Final Score: 3.5/5

For less than $400, the Millett 6-25x56mm LRS is a good optic for not much money. A lot of shooters bought this scope to step into the long-range shooting arena. Most got their money’s worth.

Some Alternatives To Consider:

1. Bushnell Engage Match Pro 6-24x50 Riflescope

Bushnell Engage (Match Pro) 6-24x50mm Riflescope is a Great Entry Level Long Range Scope

Bushnell discontinued the Millett line of scopes, but they also re-engineered, improved, and updated their own riflescope lines. Bushnell’s lines now include the well-known Banner and Banner 2, Prime, Trophy, Engage, Nitro, Forge, Match Pro, and Elite Tactical. Our pick comes from the Engage (Match Pro) line. 

The Match Pro 6-24x50mm is a MIL version of the Engage scope and comes in at about $400. This model is an excellent equivalent to the Millett.

Features:

• First Focal Plane Deploy MIL dot reticle means that holdovers are always accurate no matter what magnification you're on.
• Parallax from 10m to infinity to engage even the closest targets.
• .1 MIL click Turrets 10 MIL per wrap makes for fast, accurate adjustments
• 18 MIL internal windage & elevation allow for a 25-yard zero on a 30MOA base and long-range elevations.
• Deploy MIL Dot etched glass reticle with elevation & windage hash marks. Holdover up to 15 MIL elevation, 10 MIL windage.
• Large, locking turrets with tactile, positive clicks. Positive lock turrets stay put to prevent accidental movement.

Bushnell precision ground glass and ultrawideband multi-coated lenses always give increased light transmission, color, and contrast while reducing unwanted flaring. The Bushnell proprietary EXO Barrier keeps dust, water, and fog off the glass for an all-weather, all-condition shooting solution.

If you are about to jump into long-range shooting at the range, at a PRS match, or in the field, the Bushnell Engage (Match Pro) 6-24x50mm Riflescope is a great place to start.

2. Athlon Argos BTR 6-24x50mm

Athlon Optics opened its doors in 2014, established in Olathe, Kansas as an importer of sport optics, including spotting scopes, binoculars, red dots, and rangefinders. Their prime focus from the start has been to design optics with high-end features and then source those products from reliable, quality vendors at reasonable prices.

This scope comes with the Athlon APMR FFP MIL DOT reticle. The reticle is glass etched and illuminated for use in any light condition. I cautioned about the scope’s modest eye relief and narrow eyebox, but it’s a great alternative pick for disciplined shooters.

Read my review at Athlon BTR Review for more information on this capable alternative to the Millett 6-25x56mm.

Related Guides

• Millett 4-16×50mm Riflescope

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