Last spring at a Montana 3-gun match, I watched two squad mates running nearly identical setups – one with a Strike Eagle, the other with an MTAC. By day’s end, the Strike Eagle shooter had edged ahead, but not for the reasons you’d expect. The deciding factor wasn’t glass quality or reticle design – it was that extra 2x of magnification on a 400-yard bonus target that separated their scores. That’s when I realized these scopes serve different masters.
I’ve been running both LPVOs hard for two years now – the Strike Eagle 1-6x on my competition carbine and the MTAC 1-4x on Sarah’s coyote gun. After thousands of rounds, multiple competitions, and enough predator hunts to know these scopes inside out, I can tell you exactly where each excels and where they fall short. The $400 price difference (when MTAC is at MSRP) tells only part of the story.
Your best survival tool is the six inches between your ears, but choosing the right glass for your application sure helps when targets appear at varying distances. Let’s break down what actually matters between these popular LPVOs.
Quick Reality Check
| Feature | Strike Eagle 1-6x | MTAC 1-4x |
| Street Price | $350-400 | $450-800 (varies wildly) |
| Weight | 17.6 oz | 15.5 oz |
| Length | 10.5″ | 12.2″ |
| Magnification | 1-6x | 1-4x |
| Eye Relief | 3.5″ | 3.5-4″ |
| Battery Life | 150 hrs (max) | 5,000 hrs |
| Reticle | AR-BDC3 | Ballistic CQ |
| Illumination | 11 settings | 10 settings |
| True 1x | Yes | Yes |
| Origin | China | Philippines |
Glass Quality – The $400 Question
Strike Eagle Clarity
Let’s address the elephant: yes, there’s a slight warm tint to the Strike Eagle glass. In bright sunlight, barely noticeable. Against white steel targets, it’s there. Does it matter? Not once in two years of competition has that tint cost me a target.
Edge clarity at 6x gets soft – maybe 80% of the image is tack sharp, with the outer 20% showing some distortion. For precision work, I keep targets centered. For scanning, it’s a non-issue. This is Chinese glass meeting a price point, and honestly, it overdelivers.
Low light performance is adequate. Last week, I was identifying coyotes at 200 yards thirty minutes after sunset. Not night vision territory, but workable for legal shooting hours.
MTAC Glass Reality
The MTAC glass is cleaner – no tint, better edge-to-edge clarity. Philippine manufacturing shows here. Colors are true, which matters more than you’d think when trying to spot game against varied backgrounds.
At 4x, the entire image stays sharp. No edge distortion, no chromatic aberration worth mentioning. But here’s the thing – it only goes to 4x. That pristine clarity doesn’t help when you need more magnification.
Low light performance is marginally better than the Strike Eagle, but we’re talking 5-10 minutes of extra shooting light. Neither scope is a low-light champion with that 24mm objective.
Reticle Comparison – Different Tools
Strike Eagle AR-BDC3
- The updated Strike Eagle 1-8×24 is defined by speed and versatility. A true 1x on the low end adapts to a wide range of scenarios, letting users engage from close to extended ranges
- The magnification ring has been updated and now includes a thread-in throw lever, and the magnification indicators can now be seen without coming off the scope.
The AR-BDC3 is busy but functional. That 16.625 MOA horseshoe grabs your eye instantly at 1x – perfect for close targets. The 1 MOA center dot stays precise enough for distance work.
BDC hash marks are calibrated for 5.56 out to 650 yards. In practice, they’re close enough with my 16″ barrel and 55-grain loads. The manual includes data for different loads, but honestly, I’ve memorized my holds through repetition.
Illumination is daylight bright at max setting. The center horseshoe and dot illuminate, making it pop against any background. Battery drain is real though – 150 hours at max brightness means changing batteries monthly during competition season.
MTAC Ballistic CQ
Simpler, cleaner design. The circle-dot reticle feels less cluttered, faster to acquire. The surrounding dots provide holdovers to 600 yards, though they’re optimized for 5.56 from a 16″ barrel.
Here’s the killer feature: this reticle works WITHOUT illumination. Black reticle against any background, no battery needed. During a match where my battery died (my fault), I finished the stage no problem.
Illumination when on is good, not great. Adequate for overcast days but washes out in bright sun at max setting. The 5,000-hour battery life means I change it annually whether needed or not.
Magnification – The Game Changer
Strike Eagle’s 6x Advantage
That extra 2x matters more than specs suggest. At local matches, steel targets at 300-400 yards are common. At 4x, they’re visible but small. At 6x, I can see impacts clearly, spot misses, and make corrections.
Last month, coyote hunting with both scopes side-by-side proved it again. At 6x, I could identify individual animals in a pack at 300 yards. At 4x through the MTAC, they were fuzzy dog-shapes.
The 1x is truly flat – both eyes open, no fisheye, natural sight picture. Transition from 1x to 6x takes about 1.5 seconds with the included throw lever.
MTAC’s 4x Limitation
Four power used to be enough. For 3-gun stages inside 200 yards, it still is. But matches are pushing distance now, and 4x feels inadequate beyond 300.
The 1x is equally flat and true. The shorter magnification range means faster adjustments – 1x to 4x in under a second. Less to think about, quicker decisions.
For dedicated CQB or home defense, 4x is plenty. For competition or hunting where distance varies, I want more.
Durability and Build Quality
Strike Eagle Toughness
Two years of hard use:
- 5,000+ rounds of 5.56
- Dropped twice (once from truck bed)
- Caught in thunderstorm
- Temperature range: -20°F to 105°F
- Used as improvised hammer (once, emergency)
Still tracks true, still holds zero. The finish shows wear – anodizing worn smooth where I grip it, some scratches from barricades. But mechanically perfect.
The nitrogen purging works. No internal fogging despite Montana temperature swings. The scope spent a night at -15°F, then came inside to 70°F – no fog.
MTAC Build Quality
Lighter by 2 ounces, feels more refined. The adjustments are smoother, the magnification ring turns easier. This feels like higher-grade manufacturing.
Sarah’s MTAC has seen:
- 3,000+ rounds
- Multiple hunting trips
- Scout jumping on the rifle case
- One unfortunate creek dunking
Zero evidence of problems. The Philippine assembly quality shows – tighter tolerances, smoother operation. But also more expensive when at full retail.
The length difference (12.2″ vs 10.5″) matters on shorter rails. The MTAC needs more rail space, potentially limiting backup sight placement.
Controls and Adjustments
Strike Eagle Operation
Capped turrets keep things simple. Half-MOA clicks are positive and audible. The reset-to-zero feature works after loosening set screws – handy for different loads.
The illumination control is stiff initially but breaks in. Eleven settings provide good range, though I use three primarily: off, medium (5), and bright (9).
Magnification ring was sticky new, now smooth after break-in. The throw lever threads in solidly. Position it at 3 o’clock for support-hand manipulation.
MTAC Interface
Similar capped turrets, similar half-MOA adjustments. The caps are better designed – captive o-rings mean they won’t fall off and disappear (lost two Strike Eagle caps before upgrading).
Illumination control is different – alternate positions are off. So it goes: off-1-off-2-off-3, etc. Faster to turn completely off, but more positions to cycle through.
Magnification adjustment is butter smooth from day one. No throw lever included or available – finger groove must suffice. Works, but slower than levered adjustment.
Real-World Applications
Where Strike Eagle Excels
3-Gun Competition: The 6x magnification wins matches. Period. When everyone’s shooting similar skill levels, equipment advantages matter.
General Purpose Carbine: True 1x for home defense, 6x for property surveillance. One scope covers most needs.
Budget DMR Setup: Stretch it to 500 yards with good ammo. Not ideal, but workable for designated marksman role.
My Strike Eagle lives on my primary competition rifle. It’s been through eight major matches, countless practice sessions. Never failed, always performed.
Where MTAC Shines
Lightweight Hunting Rifle: Two ounces matters after miles of stalking. The 4x is enough for most hunting shots.
CQB Focused Carbine: If you’ll never shoot past 200 yards, the MTAC is cleaner, simpler, lighter.
Backup/Truck Gun: The battery life means it’s always ready. Quality construction handles neglect.
Sarah’s MTAC-equipped carbine is our grab-and-go predator gun. Light, handy, always ready.
The Price Problem
Strike Eagle Value
Street price $350-400 everywhere. Consistent availability. Vortex warranty means lifetime replacement for any reason. The value proposition is unbeatable.
Include mount costs ($50-150) and you’re still under $550 for a complete setup. That’s remarkable for a true 1-6x LPVO.
MTAC Pricing Chaos
MSRP near $800 is insane. Nobody should pay that. Street prices vary wildly – I’ve seen $450 from dealers clearing inventory, but also $750 from others.
At $450, it’s competitive. At $800, buy a Steiner or Trijicon instead. The inconsistent pricing makes recommendation difficult.
Burris warranty is good but not Vortex-level. They’ll fix defects but won’t replace your scope if you destroy it through stupidity (Vortex will).
Direct Comparison Results
3-Gun Match Performance
Ran both at recent match:
- Stage 1 (CQB): Both performed equally
- Stage 2 (Mixed distance): Strike Eagle’s 6x helped with 300-yard targets
- Stage 3 (Precision): Strike Eagle won with better target ID at distance
- Stage 4 (Speed): MTAC’s lighter weight felt better through course
Overall: Strike Eagle advantage for competition
Hunting Results
Coyote calling setups:
- MTAC: Faster handling, lighter carry
- Strike Eagle: Better positive ID at distance
- Both: Adequate for shots inside 300 yards
- Edge: Strike Eagle for longer shots
The Bottom Line
After two years running both, the Strike Eagle wins for most users. The 6x magnification advantage, consistent pricing, and bombproof warranty make it the practical choice. Unless you find an MTAC at deep discount or specifically need the lighter weight, the Strike Eagle delivers more capability per dollar.
Get the Strike Eagle if:
- You shoot competitively
- Distances vary widely
- Budget matters
- You want maximum versatility
- Warranty coverage is important
Get the MTAC if:
- You find it under $500
- Weight is critical
- You never need more than 4x
- Battery life matters most
- You prefer simpler reticles
Both are quality optics that will serve you well. Neither will embarrass you at the range or let you down in the field. The Strike Eagle just offers more capability at a better price point.
Practice makes permanent, so practice it right. Either scope will perform if you do your part. The wilderness doesn’t care about your glass – it cares whether you can deliver rounds on target.
Recommended Accessories
For Both:
- Quality Mount: Aero Precision or American Defense
- Throw Lever: MK Machining if not included
- Lens Caps: Butler Creek or Vortex Defender
- Spare Batteries: Buy in bulk online
Final Thoughts
The LPVO market has exploded with options. These two represent different approaches – Strike Eagle maximizing features at a price point, MTAC emphasizing quality in a simpler package. Both work.
Your mission drives your equipment needs. Be honest about what you’ll actually do versus what you imagine doing. Most shooters need less magnification than they think but benefit from more than they expect.
Choose based on real requirements and budget. Then train until operation becomes instinctive. Equipment doesn’t make the shooter – trigger time does.
Want to maximize your LPVO performance? Check out my guides on BDC reticle usage, finding your optimal zero distance, and transitioning between magnification levels quickly.
About Flint: After 8 years as an Army Ranger and 15+ years competing in 3-gun matches, I’ve run every LPVO from basic to boutique. When not competing or teaching, you’ll find me testing optics with Scout and River, always seeking the intersection of performance and value.