Hands-On: Millett Scope Review – 4-16×50mm Riflescope

Here is a quick look at the Millet scopes history, 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.

Some of you may have read my previous hands-on review of the Millett 6-25x56mm LRS-1 rifle scope. There were areas where I was less than complimentary about that optic. It was a hands-on review of a scope that didn’t quite live up to expectations. 

You can always trust me to be honest in my reviews because I call them as I see them. The Millett 4-16x50 TRS-1 Tactical Rifle Scope is a different animal, and this review may surprise you. Read on to find out why I think that this model is a much better offering. Along the way, we’ll steer you to some good alternatives to this discontinued model.

In A Hurry? Millett 4-16x50mm TRS-1 Quick Specs:

Some Alternatives To Consider:

1. Burris 4-16x50 Fullfield IV Riflescope

Don Burris left Redfield in 1971 and started the Burris Company. The company started with rings and sights but soon moved into optics. Since then, Burris has garnered a reputation as a first-class scope maker.

Burris 4-16x50mm Fullfield IV Quick Specs:

Fullfield IV riflescopes feature nitrogen-filled, one-piece aircraft aluminum main tubes and are waterproof, shockproof, and fog proof. Burris designed the 4-16x50 to reach out for shots on long-range targets. It has a second focal plane reticle. 

There are three reticles to choose from; the E3 illuminated, Long Range MOA illuminated, and new Burris exclusive 6.5 CM™ reticles designed for 6.5 Creedmoor ballistics. Side parallax adjustment from 10 yards to infinity allows for crisp views at any range. New designed sleek turret knobs allow easy finger adjustments.

Burris offers the Fullfield IV models with premium multi-coated lenses for edge-to-edge clarity and outstanding low-light performance. The Burris scopes in our gun cabinet have proven to be rugged and reliable in all weather conditions. I expect this model will have the same durability.

The Long Range MOA reticle has .2 MOA hash marks to 20 MOA in all quadrants for precise holdovers. The Fullfield IV models have an improved erector design for accurate return to zero and positive, tactile click adjustments.

Bottom line, the Burris 4-16x50 Fullfield IV Rifle Scope is a straight-up, hold-off-and-shoot rifle scope with outstanding clarity and crisp image. For about $350 street price, it’s an excellent workhorse scope for the money. Click below to take advantage of this great scope from Burris.

2. BARSKA 4-16x50mm Benchmark Riflescope

Barska is a worldwide sport optics company that has been in the sports optics industry since 1994. Located in Pomona, Southern California, Barska delivers rifle scopes to the US market manufactured in China under Barska’s supervision. Barska scopes generally receive good reviews for scopes at entry-level price points. I chose this scope to compare apples-to-apples with the China-made Millett TRS-1 scope and the Philippines-made Burris.

BARSKA 4-16x50mm Benchmark Quick Specs:

The BARSKA 4-16x50mm Benchmark Long Range First Focal Plane Mil-Dot Rifle Scope is a good pick for those who want an affordable FFP scope in the 4-16x range. The Benchmark scopes represent Barska’s mid-level line. I had an opportunity to examine this scope at a North Texas warehouse distributor, including viewing a USAF 1951 optical resolution chart at over 100 yds.

The results were pleasing. The scope is bright and clear throughout the magnification range, with only the slightest edge distortion at maximum 16x. The reticle is crisp and focuses readily with the fast-focus eyepiece. 

The image sharpness is good, and the color rendition is good as well. While this scope will in no way compete with higher-end optics, it will provide the shooter with satisfactory optical performance for mid to long-range shooting.

The Barska features fully multi-coated lenses, a single-piece aircraft-grade 30mm main tube, lockable ring turrets, and side focus. Inert gas purged, o-ring sealed enclosure ensures waterproof, fogproof, shockproof operation. The scope comes with sunshade and lens caps.

The reticle has 5 MIL dot marks in the four quadrants. For most shooters, 5 MIL will get you beyond 700 yards with a .308. That’s good enough for the antelope that I shoot at.

The Turrets are a bit high, but they were positive and easy to adjust without overshooting. If you want to exercise the FFP option on a mid to long-range multi-purpose scope, the Barska 4-16x50mm Benchmark might be the scope for you. For about $350, it is hard to beat. Check out the Barska 4-16x50mm Benchmark on the links below.

Millett 4-16x50mm TRS-1 Tactical Riflescope

The Millett 4-16x50mm TRS-1 Tactical Rifle Scope Shines in Some Areas Where The 6-25x56mm Fell Short

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.

In my review of the 6-25x56mm LRS, I pointed out some of the problems associated with overseas sourcing and how they may have affected my particular 6-25x56 scope. However, my experience and many other reviews treat the 4-16x50mm TRS-1 scope very well.

My Millet 4-16x50mm was mounted on a Remington 700 BDL in 30-06 caliber. It performed well until I replaced it with a higher-end optic.

Millett designed The 4-16x50mm TRS-1 with law enforcement, target shooters, hunters, and varmint shooters in mind. Millett Tactical Series scopes feature crisp ¼ MOA windage and elevation locking adjustment turrets. The side focus knob tracks well with the indicated yardage and operates smoothly. 

The Mil-Dot Bar model has green illuminated green crosshairs with ten brightness settings for any lighting condition. Heavy-duty 30mm aluminum tube is nitrogen-filled to be fogproof, waterproof, and shockproof. The scope includes flip-up lens caps and sunshade.

The Millett Mil DOT BAR reticle is a straightforward MIL hash mark affair with subtensions out to 5 MIL in all quadrants. The turrets are 1/8 MOA per click. How does it stack up? Let’s get to it.

OPTICS

The Millett has a bright image throughout the 4-16 magnification range. Color rendition and sharpness are not on par with higher-end scopes in this magnification range, but the Millett holds its own against the other review alternatives.

The image maintains edge-to-edge clarity right up to 16x. The eyebox shrinks at higher magnification, but the image was distortion-free nonetheless. It is a subjective and challenging task to measure optical quality with the human eye. I tend to use the “poor, good, better, best” scale. I judge the Millett 4-16x50mm in the upper range of “good” optics.

Sighting in the scope was easy to do. The crosshairs tracked true to the ¼ MOA adjustments and return to zero were precise. Once zeroed, the scope maintained POI through multiple shooting sessions for load development.

The turrets are tall, but they have locking rings to prevent unintentional movement. The Millett is the only scope that I know of that has this feature. The knurled lock ring is located below the turret scale. A turn clockwise locks each knob, and they will not move, a handy feature indeed.

The 1/4MOA turrets are audible and positive and make for precise windage and elevation adjustments. Some may find the turrets a bit stiff to turn, but I prefer them with a bit of resistance. I have stated that I do not care for “mixed” units on a scope as with MOA turrets and a MIL reticle. Some folks are OK with it, but it’s just my personal preference.

Build And Ergonomics

The Millett is mid-weight in its class at 25.7 oz. It’s plenty hefty enough, and this model suffered no failures of any kind on the 30-06. The consensus is that this line of scopes is generally reliable with the occasional user affected by QC issues. The focus knob is firm but not stiff and tracks well with distance.

The eyepiece is a fast focus type that quickly brings the reticle into sharp focus. The ten-position green reticle illuminator comes readily to hand and is easy to turn. Reticle illumination is very bright at maximum setting and is visible in bright sunlight.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Lots of features for a reasonable price
• 30mm tube makes for a bright distortion-free image
• Large easy to use Side Focus
• It comes with rings and caps

Cons:

Ratings By The Numbers

Usability: 4/5

The Millett gets high marks for control response and turret locks.

Optical Performance: 4/5

The Millett 4-16x50mm TRS-1 gives a bright image with a 30mm tube. The scope remains distortion-free throughout its range of magnification.

Mechanical Design & Construction 4/5

It has a good mechanical design with above-average quality and execution.

Value: 4/5

In the sub $400 price point category, the Millett 4-16x50mm TRS-1 gives many features for the money. In the mid to long-range scope category, it is a good choice for an entry-level scope.

Warranty & Support (unknown)

Warranty and support by Bushnell.

Final Score 4/5

For less than $400, the Millett 4-16x50mm TRS is a good optic for not much money. A lot of shooters bought this scope to step into the mid to long-range shooting arena. This scope deserves a 4 / 5 rating because of its value for the dollar. If you can,t come by one of these on the used market, check out our affiliate links for one of the great alternatives on the market today.

Reference:

Featured Image Civilian Tactical Unit