We are slowly emerging out of lockdown here in Wales. The weather is still fresh, windy, and prone to hail with the odd sunny spell. Getting out to the range feels strange after so many months, but during that time, plans for improving my Ruger M77 .22LR were underway. Only outdoor ranges are open as of today, with guidance still in play.
Related Article – scope Features when Shooting at Phoenix Rifle Club
A previous article covered the Element Titan 5-25×56 FFP for the Ruger Precision in 6.5 Creedmoor, its application, the glass, and its warranty. You might want to check it out if you haven’t already.
Meet Element Optics
Element Optics spun off from FX Airguns, a top-end air rifle company in Sweden. The brand has three scope lines: Helix (SFP and FFP), Titan (FFP), and Nexus (FFP). Each is positioned in a different tier, aiming for the features and operational simplicity that shooters actually want.
The Titan rivals the Nexus on a couple of features. It has a higher top-end magnification of 25x versus 20x, and more vertical turret travel thanks to its 34mm tube versus 30mm. That gives shooters options without any drop in quality. The line-up isn’t complicated either, which makes it easier to choose based on your needs. Go for a busier reticle for long range or bench use, or a cleaner one for hunters. The turrets use stainless steel internals for longevity, repeatability, and tactile feel. It’s refreshing to see a company focused on what shooters actually require.
First Impressions of the Helix
Element Optics is a recent company that puts a great emphasis on precision and quality. After all, a rifle scope is a precision instrument above all else. If you can’t see it and dial to it, you can’t shoot it, and the Element team clearly understands this. Translating that philosophy into product can be challenging, especially in a crowded market.
So how does the entry-level scope measure up? The Helix comes in Second Focal Plane (SFP) with a 6-24×50 spec. It brings in a few features I would previously have expected only on a centre-fire rifle scope. There are plenty of reviews of this scope on YouTube already. So this is a first impression from the field rather than a full technical review. The existing reviews are largely positive, but first-hand observations count for just as much.
Side by Side With My Current Scope
My current scope, a Top Notch 3.5-10×42, has covered turrets and is zeroed at 50m. It handles a day of plinking at the target board well. The goal here was to tighten the groups. It has a bell-mounted parallax, decent eye relief, and a good field of view. A good friend got me this scope. He got me two of them, and another sits on my Ruger 10/22. I’ve been happy with the setup, so I brought the Helix along for a side-by-side comparison.
It was a night-and-day contrast. At 10x magnification, the Helix stood out, with glass coatings giving a warm picture, as if there were no lenses between my eye and the target.
The reticle was also less cluttered at the point of aim. The Element Helix has an uncluttered dot, where my current scope’s cross and circle obscure part of the target bull. I also realised that sub-tensions had been missing from my life all along. Being able to measure corrections properly makes a real difference. That’s made even better by exposed tactical turrets that repeat reliably and include a zero stop.
Top Notch Scope:
Element Helix SFP:
Where This Scope Fits
This scope would do well on my .223, and even my .308. The idea that glass is the bigger investment in a rifle setup is shifting. Next, I’ll be comparing it to the Vortex Viper PST Gen 1 SFP 6-24×50, which sits on my .308, where the only real difference is illumination, a feature I hardly ever use anyway.
This scope comes in at £335.00 plus shipping, which breaks the mould on features, function, quality, warranty, and price. It’s recoil-tested to a 50 GMG, which is arguably more than my .22LR needs. Then again, maybe it’s time to change my expectations. I could take that Ruger M77 to new distances, dialling it in the way I would a centre-fire rifle.
Why It Matters
The Element Helix SFP brings higher-end features, quality, and warranty to a much lower price point. That makes it a scope you could keep for life on the rifle of your choice. The scope industry has shifted a lot in the past 18 months, with many companies now competing hard in the low-to-mid price bands. Thanks to reviewers like Mike Cornelison, Cyclops, and others on YouTube, it’s easier to sort what’s good from what’s merely average.
Element Optics is vocal about its philosophy, but it also backs that up with active customer service and real engagement with the shooter community. It shows in the experience. If Element keeps up this level of commitment, they’ll give Vortex and others like them something to worry about. It’s great to see shooters making equipment that’s genuinely dialled into our needs. Great stuff that works, backed by a team that stands behind it.
Related Reading: For more on choosing the right scope, see our guide to scope features at Phoenix Rifle Club. Also check out our guides to long-range target scopes and MOA vs MRAD scope adjustments.
