Monstrum Blackbird G3 3X Prism Scope with Shake Awake | DX1 Reticle

Great dot, and first time I've ever used a self-magnified dot to boot! Prior to this I've always used a separate dot and magnifier. Having all-in-one is the most functional aspect of this red dot! I was pleasantly surprised by the eye relief it had and the crispness of the reticle! Photos will never do it justice.After an easy and pain free installation, I was zeroed in 5 minutes. I didn't have enough time at the range to really get into the reliable distances it was hitting at, but I was doing 30-35yrd shots with ease in the A-zone. But I was using a rest and methodically placing shots. I am really surprised by how much I liked it, and how quickly I was able to get my sight picture and dot on target on follow-up shots.

As mentioned by others, scope is robust, minimalist, ACOG'ish. El/wind. caps with adjustment tool and printed directions built in are a nice touch. "Shake awake" works as it should and reticle is plenty bright when lit and etched black when not turned on. Glass is clear and diopter focus is great for us with astigmatism. Held zero on a long range session this morning mounted on 556 AR. Here's the complaint and reason for a star deduction. DX1 reticle is NOT 2moa as advertised. Dot covers at LEAST 4 inches at 100yds. That's a big difference for shooting or hunting at 100yds let alone 200. I REALLY dig the scope but might have passed if I knew I'd be looking at an 8 inch dot at 200yds! Don't know how I'm the first to mention this. It's a huge dealbreaker repeated falsely on Monstrum's website as well as on Amazon.

Scope looks nice, eye relief could be better. Focuses well, but I did not receive the circle reticle. The box the sight came with clearly said it was the circle reticle while looking through the scopeni got the square reticle. Not only that but the reticlenis crooked and at an angle and when looked through in the day light there are many random black specs throughout the picture.

I am not a rick man and I have purchased many Monstrum products. Without exception, they have held zero and provided me with a good shooting experience.This has an illuminated reticle. I am not a glass expert but I find its glass clear and easy to see through.I tested it out on the range by putting it on my home defense weapon and it was great to use. I put my red dot back on though as a 3x magnifier for living room distance was a bit much. But this is going on my next rifle for midrange.It feels solid, if anything Monstrum is a bit heavy normally. It adjusts well and holds zero on a 5.56. Not much kick there but it does shake a bit. I like this. My first prism.

This review is for the monstrum Blackbird .....When I unboxed it and looked through the sight there was a bunch of little black dots inside possibly maybe even bubbles in the glass..... At any rate I did not even mount it onto the gun it will be going back tomorrow.

Monstrum Blackbird G3 3X Prism Scope with Shake Awake | DX1 Reticle.This is a basic prism scope, with 3X magnification. It is about 4" long, and weighs about 12 oz. It comes with a battery installed, as well as an extra battery, a small Torx wrench for the mounting bolts, two extra mounting bolts, a cleaning cloth, and a small instruction booklet.The etched reticle does not need batteries to work, it is always visible, but with battery installed it can be illuminated at eleven graduated brightness settings (or turned off). Although, there is very little difference in the levels. They all appear very similar. It seems to have five levels of brightness, but with 10 setting on the knob, so brightness stays the same level for two clicks turning the knob. The product description and instruction manual state that this scope has both red and green illumination (with five levels of brightness each) , but the product I received only has red.Also, the item I received is not the same as shown in some of the product description photos, they show a two-piece riser that would allow height adjusting by removing one layer, the item I received has a one piece riser.The turret caps have little flat blades built in to use as adjustment tools to adjust windage and elevation settings.There is a diopter adjustment ring on the eyepiece, it allows you to focus the reticle to your individual eye.The eye relief distance seems to be about 2.25 inches.The mounting base seems odd, it has a long cantilevered base, but the two mounting bolts are crowded together at one end. It would have been better engineering to spread them apart, I think. It does have recoil lugs to engage the slots of a picatinny rail.My biggest peeve: The reticle glass I received has tiny specks on it, I count seven or more, they look like little paint flecks (possibly over-spray?) or metal shavings. They do not move or shake loose. They are inside the unit, not something that can be cleaned off the lens. For the price, I would expect better quality control and inspection.I am mounting this on an AR Five-Seven rifle, which has a smaller picatinny rail section than a typical AR-style upper receiver. So the compact size of this Blackbird prism fits well. I am pairing it with a Monstrum 2X Flip-to-Side Forward Magnifier, also available on Amazon. They work well together, giving me the option of 5X magnification when needed.Other than the specks on the glass, the lack of illumination intensity levels, the red-only illumination, and the discrepancies in the product description, I like it. But, all those things should NOT BE AN ISSUE. Yeah, looking at you, Monstrum..Rating: 3.4 stars, rounding to 3.

Mounted on an AR style rifle for hunting hogs and deer here in FL and it's great. Just enough magnification but not too much because the average shot is 30-40 yards. The multiple brightness of the reticle is nice and it holds zero well. Seems heavy but I guess that means you don't have to worry about banging it around.