After reviewing the Maven RS.5 that is more suitable towards hunting than PRS matches, I had to get my hands on the Maven RS.4.
Spoiler alert: I love it.
What makes it better for competition use? Let’s talk about it.
As a general rule, match scopes should have high magnification, great glass, big tubes, and FFP reticles. With 5-30x magnification, Japanese glass, 34mm tube, and CFR-MIL reticle, the Maven RS.4 checks off the boxes and tops the competition in value.
There are some great things about it, a drawback or two, and some things that I could do without, but it’s great to see multiple features.
One thing I’m absolutely sure of – the Maven scope has “some of the clearest glass I’ve ever seen in my entire career – perfection!”
Quick Overview...
What We Like: Extra-low dispersion glass
What We Don’t Like: Side focus markings
Best Uses: Long-Range Hunting, Mid to Long-Range, AR-15/AR-10, Light to Heavy Caliber Rifles, Competition Shooting, Precision Shooting, FFP Reticle, Illumination, Customization
- Magnification: 5-30x
- Objective Diameter: 56mm
- Coatings: FMC
- FOV: 23.3-3.9 ft/100 yds
- Eye Relief: @5x: 78-92mm/@30x: 86-92mm
- Adjustments: 0.25 MOA/0.1 MIL
- Dimensions: 12.79” (L)/35.4 oz
Our Verdict: Overall, the Maven RS.4 5-30x56 will leave a lasting impression on the buyer with its FFP reticle, crystal clear ED glass, and its small build package for all that it offers. It’s a fantastic scope that can bring more to competition use at a reasonable price point.
Who is the Maven RS4 5-30X56 FFP Best Suited to?
There are specific features of the Maven RS.4 that makes it more appropriate for competition shooting rather than as a hunting scope. Its 5-30x56 specifications and FFP reticle could be suited to Western, or deer stand hunting styles, but may be too heavy for hiking across the plains with.
Even so, it’s awesome for long-range, PRS matches, and precision shooting. I’m a big fan of its size because it’s still smaller and lighter than alternatives. Speaking of alternatives, I compare some to its price point.
It’s not unreasonable to pay asking price for the RS.4 when you consider some Nightforce alternatives that start at $3000, the Burris XTR II at a similar price point, and the high-end, Chinese-made Athlon Ares that’s great but can’t touch the Maven in quality and value. See where I’m going with this?
By no means is the Maven scope a cheap optic. It has Japanese glass, is made in Japan, and has undergone fantastic quality control. That’s what you get for your money.
How Does the Maven RS.4 5-30X56 FFP Perform?
Click the play symbol on the video above to watch the full video review!
The Maven RS.4 FFP is a purpose-built scope with ED glass, is fully waterproof, available with MOA or MIL-based reticles, and has dual illumination. It performs exactly as expected as it tracks excellently, it’s a great size for what it offers, and it’s easy to use.
I get into what I love about it below but there are some features that you could personally go either way on.
The RS.4 has dual illumination: red and green with four levels of brightness and incremental “off” positions. For you hunters or precision shooters that use illumination, it’s there. There are no specs on the CR2032 battery life, but the reticle is glass-etched and visible as I found out during testing. Big bonus there.
I like the big turrets, and it has some harsh knurling but is awesome for when you’re using gloves. Both the elevation and windage turrets are exposed, but they don’t lock, and I prefer capped windage for a set-it-and-forget-it setup.
You have that same knurling across the board including at the power ring. No accidental movement is going to happen there, and its clarity throughout the entire 5-30x magnification range is impressive.
Now here’s what I’m a big fan of.
Features & Benefits
Extra-Low Dispersion Glass
It’s difficult not to talk about its Japanese glass because it’s the best I’ve ever seen. It’s exceptionally clear and sharp out to max 30x magnification. The large 56mm objective lens brings great color transmission. It’s not dull and is exactly as you’d be seeing with your eyes – perhaps even better.
This would be due to the extra-low dispersion (ED) elements and Japanese glass. Who knows what other secrets Maven has to their glass processing methods, but it works.
In PRS matches, you’re usually sitting in the 14-18x range, and you need that high-quality clarity needed from a 30-35x scope. The Maven RS.4 does it for me.
CFR-MIL Reticle
You can choose from two MOA or two MIL reticles all in the first focal plane (FFP) when you order the RS.4. I tested out the CFR-MIL reticle, and it’s efficient, clear, and fantastic. It’s easy to see clear crosshairs at 6x magnification, and it doesn’t convolute the field of view when it’s cranked up.
You can hold for both windage and elevation, and it’s very appropriate for PRS use. The FFP reticle is a major benefit here, and it’s why I will choose it over the RS.5 every day.
It can be illuminated in either red or green, but that’s neither here nor there for me as I don’t personally use it. There are many who do, maybe yourself included, so you’ll like the dual color option with the convenience of incremental “off” positions between the intensity settings.
Excellent Tactile Turrets
I’m a big fan of the huge turrets. They’re both exposed and that’s fine, but I prefer capped windage. It’s not a deal breaker because the big knobs are a big win, and even though they don’t lock, there’s more to like about them than dislike.
You can set the zero stop rather easily. Maven includes the Allen key to get this done. Instructions are in the manual, and it’s fairly straightforward.
The turrets themselves are not mushy or obnoxiously loud. You can hear how tactile they are as I test them out by rotating both turrets over video. They track precisely and I have zero issues there.
I love the crispness of the clicks and that I can easily see, read, and use them from position.
Combined with the CFR-MIL reticle and the 34mm tube that gives 35 MIL elevation and 14.6 MIL windage adjustments, you can make long-range precision shots out to 1000 yards or more. I mention this because with 30mm tubes, you’ll run out.
Build Quality
The Maven RS.4 scope is Japanese made with Japanese glass and Japanese materials assembled in Japan. You can tell the difference. It has good, quality feel in the hand, and as for size, it’s a pretty small package for what it really is.
You get a bigger tube for more adjustment range, a huge objective lens for greater light transmission, and the scope is nitrogen-purged and watertight to a 3m depth.
On top of all that, you can customize the aesthetic appeal of the scope by choosing a base color and anodized color for the bezels from the Maven-provided palette options. You can also add an engraving for minimal cost.
Limitations
Side Focus Markings
With long-range applications in mind with this long-range scope, it’s almost counterproductive to provide so many reference markings under 100 yards. You have a wide range that starts at 15 yards which will work for many other types of shooters.
For me, it could start at 25 yards with more hundred-yard markings versus all the 10s under the 100-yard setting. This would give it more practical application for long-range use.
Just my opinion as it is also my opinion that there isn’t much to gripe about. For my long-range purposes, it’s not a deal breaker because the parallax control itself is easy to use and spot on.
Popular Questions
The Maven RS.4 scope is covered under Maven’s unconditional lifetime warranty. You do not need to be the original owner or provide proof of purchase. If it says Maven on it, they’ll take care of it.
The Maven RS.4 5-30x56 scope has a glass-etched reticle regardless of the type (MOA or MIL). All reticles on the RS.4 are in the first focal plane. If you use illumination or if the battery dies, you will have a visible, black reticle that will not fail you.
The Maven RS.4 and RS.5 scopes may be in the same series, but they are quite different. The primary differences of note include the larger specs and the FFP reticle in the RS.4.
The RS.5 is slightly longer in length but has a 30mm tube, lower magnification, less adjustment travel, and SFP reticle.
The Maven RS.4 scope comes with a single accessory, the Maven-branded neoprene scope cover. No caps are included as they must be purchased separately.
Conclusion
The Maven RS.4 5-30X56 FFP scope has tremendous value.
You can opt for cheaper scopes, but they won’t hold a candle to the RS.4. It’s worth the extra cost to get a product that’s on par with other high-end alternatives.
While you may find some aspects that are great for hunting, I’m more of a precision shooter and it fits my needs. I would say it has more than what I would use on a daily basis.
Overall, this is one scope that I don’t want to let go. Love it!
Further Reading
