Jacob MurphyWith so many brands making high-end optics, we wouldn’t be surprised if you haven’t heard of Maven before. It’s a company that debuted with their first optics back in 2014, initially creating some fairly flashy spotting scopes and binoculars. Fast forward to 2018, and they created their first riflescope – the Maven RS.1.
The scope comes in with variable magnification, from 2.5x to 15x, a 30mm tube, and it costs a pretty penny. Even though that’s very far from a low number, it’s Maven’s claim that it actually works much better than scopes that cost a lot more. Is there any truth to that claim? Or is it just another overpriced scope? Let’s find out.
Starting off with the outside – unboxing and build quality
The box is a simple affair, and inside it is the scope in all its glory. It’s packed well, and it won’t get damaged by transport. Inside the box is also an instructional pamphlet and a neoprene cover. The cover feels really well, especially for something you get inside the box. It’s meant to go on the scope when it’s mounted to the rifle and keeps it protected when not in use.
Moving on to the build itself, the scope is extremely well built. It’s sleek and robust, with a clean, anodized finish. There are logos and markings, but they’re subtle enough for it to still look like a premium product. It’s a 30mm tube, so you’ll be able to easily find rings for mounting it to your rifle.
You get IPX7 ingress protection rating, which means that you’ll be able to submerge the scope up to 3 meters. We see no reason to do this, but it should give you a sense of security if you happen to get caught out in the rain. Has also been nitrogen purged and completely sealed, so no internal fogging issues with it either.
While we’re on the outside, let’s talk adjustments for a minute. The scope gives you 70 MOA in windage and 100 MOA in elevation adjustments, which is a very large range. The ¼ minute clicks are actually audible and tactile, yet move with incredible smoothness and precision. The only potential complaint here is that you’ll need to get used to it to not move through a few clicks at a time.
The side focus knob gives you focus and parallax connection, starting at 10 yards and going all the way to infinity. There are also very clear markings for some common distances, to make things easier. The focus knob is smooth and fluid, yet has just enough resistance so you don’t move it accidentally.
Moving on to the optics and numbers
When you’re discussing optics, you could describe a scope’s quality as the quality of the internal components and the quality of the assembly. When we’re discussing the Maven RS.1, both are incredibly good. Maven’s high-end optics are made by Kamakura. Kamakura is one of Japan’s optical manufacturing giants, and they’re certainly in the top 10 in the world. To make things even better, the RS.1 riflescope is one of the few products that are completely finished in Japan. This, by itself, is a guarantee for incredible quality.
All glass that’s used in the RS.1 is very expensive extra-low dispersion (ED) glass. Aside from Zeiss’ fluoride glass, this is the best there is. With fully multi-coated lenses, Maven claims a light transmission of 89%, which is impressive. The optical quality of the RS.1 is simply unparalleled, especially at that price point.
Let’s talk about numbers for a moment. The Maven RS.1, as its name suggests, has a magnification range that starts at 2.5x and ends at 15x. This is a very versatile range, as it lets you choose between 41.7 feet and 7 feet field of view at 2.5x and 15x, respectively, at 100 yards. Whether you want a wide field of view, or you want to get really close to your target, you can do both with excellent optical clarity.
The scope comes with an MOA reticle, a duplex reticle that has basic windage markings, as well as three additional distance yardage markers that let you do holdovers. It’s in the first focal plane, which means that the holdover markings will remain accurate, regardless of where you are in the magnification range. The best thing about it? The reticle is actually glass etched. This makes it virtually indestructible, as it will never fade away. The only downside with it is that it’s not illuminated.
How does it perform?
We did boast the RS.1’s build quality and choice of materials, but how does it fare in the field? The first thing that we’re happy to report is that all the adjustments – from the windage and elevation to the focus, are really easy to work with, smooth and precise.
The second thing, one that’s much more important, is that the scope doesn’t move when firing, at all. Once you have it zeroed in, it stays like that. Even scopes that cost a few times more have issues with this, but not the Maven.
The optical and real-life performance is on par with some of its competitors from the likes of Meopta and Swarovski, but it only costs a fraction of the price.
Wrapping things up – is the Maven RS.1 worth it?
There’s no denying that the RS.1 is expensive. First-time scope buyers will seldom be in the mood to spend this much, but experienced hunters won’t mind. However, even though it costs as much as it does, the Maven is worth a lot more. If you’re looking at different options, have a look at our best list here.
Everything from the design and build quality, to the glass used inside, screams premium. To add to that, the consistency and optical performance only make it better. If you’re one of those people who can afford it, yes, it is absolutely worth it.
