So we have gone down the Optics rabbit hole with what i'd like to think is close to a perfect Production class optic. The new Telson Target Master 5-25x56 IR FFP (A bunch of letters right?) is pretty darn close to perfect with all of the features and capabilities this scope brings to the table. 

First off it's a 34mm main tube so it's going to be compatible with all of the current bases that everyone is running.  MPA (Fits), MDT (Fits), Area 419 (Fits), Spuhr (Fits), Hawkins Precision (Fits), and so on.  It doesn't have any external dimples like say an Arken does that precludes you from using low mounts or that interferes with Pic rail items like a send it or crush it or SG Pulse or anything so it's very useful in there are no obstructions under the scope dials.  It has a 56 mm objective lens that brings in tons of light.  It also includes a sunshade at no extra cost (looking right at you Leupold and your sunshadeless Mk 4HD that you have no info on your page on where to acquire a shade).  It includes front and rear lens caps as well.  Although these don't lay flat so they may be of limited use for you tac guys.  Check out some Tenebraex or One Hundred Concepts if you are looking for some heavy duty caps that may lay flat.  I just take mine off (caps) when I get ready to start a stage.  

Did someone ask for locking turrets like the big boys?  Yes both Elevation and windage turrets are locking with the old pop up push down style like on the Vortex Razors.  Pretty darn good feature and the list price is about 1/4 of what a Vortex Razor MSRP is.  So there's that.  The turrets are very smooth with their clicks as well.  Love the feel of the clicks.  Also the main elevation drum has 10 mil turrets which is ideal for making rapid changes while on a stage and being able to actually see the numbers.  Also never fear because both Kenton industries and IDTS make turret tapes for all you guys and girls out there that like to use dry erase markers or who just like to be able to see the numbers more clearly.  I know I do.  Yes an MKM precision magnifier works well on these scopes as well.  

These scopes are in Mils so you will be speaking the same language as everyone else on the range on any given Saturday.  Yes I am aware that 1/4 inch adjustments are slightly smaller than 1/3 inch adjustments (1/10th mil is approximately .36" adjustment) but I have yet to see a single target downrange that was ever just 1/4 moa or 1/10th mil.  So the point of your super fine adjustment with moa is completely lost when you look at your turret and it has upwards of 180 little dashes in a tiny little circumference of a standard turret.  So if you are 20 rounds in 20 minutes with 2 sighters go ahead, but the rest of the practical world needs 10 mil (Max 15 mil) turrets because we only have 105 seconds for 10 rounds.  Kudos to Telson for understanding the assignment.

First Focal Plane is basically the only way if you want to be able to use mils for corrections at various different magnifications.  Telson has that.  Japanese ED glass, got it.  No chinese glass in these scopes.  Easy to set Zero stops?  Got it.  Once you have your zero acquired it's as simple as pulling the cap, swinging the collar under the cap clockwise (it has actual directions printed on the underside) and dropping the turret back onto zero and tightening down.  Their tutorial for setting zero stop is a whopping 1:34, haha.

Multi turn pop up rotation indicator?  Got it.  Just like the big boys.  Illuminated reticle? Got it, with a shake awake feature as well.  Great usable reticle? Also have it.  The FAR2 reticle is great.  Tree style with windage at 1 mil elevation out to 2 mils left and right.  At only 2 mils elevation it has windage out to 3 mils left and right.  Need some hold over or hold under and need wind?  We got you covered.  Also the center dot on the reticle is .04 mils so very usable and easy to see around it too.  Last but not least the field of view is great.  If you are tracking movers for speed, you have a full 10 mils left and right to do your estimations on at 20X.  That right there is worth the price of admission.  

With a MAP price of just under $1150 this thing kicks the following to the curb: Leupold Mk 4HD, Mk 5HD, Athlon Cronus BTR Gen2, Tract Toric, The Strike Eagles, The Vipers, The Razors too (but those don't meet production class)The Burris', the Bushnells, Zeiss LRP, Trijicons, Apex Rival and RivalX, Nightforce NX8's and Nxs, and oh my that list got long quick.  I'd say the only real contender in Production scopes is gonna be the Nightforce NX6.  Thats the only one that may have all the features, durability and glass but it will be at or above $2k So you can almost get 2 Target Masters for the same price.  Same with the Zeiss LRP S3 in 4-25.  You are gaining nothing at double the price other than a tighter eye box.  The 6-36 model may be kind of a different animal for ELR, but still it's a stretch, and it's at the absolute ragged edge of pricing for Production class at $2499 retail.  

You say what about the big boys? Zero Compromise, Kahles, Tangent Theta, Swarovski, Schmidt & Bender, March's and Nightforce ATACR? Not a single one of those scopes is even close to production class pricing.  Cap of $2500 retail, not a chance.  ZCO did say 2 years ago at SHOT that they were looking to build a production class scope but it hasn't materialized yet. Or ever probably.  ATACR is $3500 on a good day, and Kahles is $4k plus, and dopn't even think about a Tangent or big Zco unless you are trading in a car or you get a 50% off from a comp prize table.  And Vortex with their lunacy of extreme MSRP pricing?  They think they are JC Penney.  Sadly no one in their right mind should ever pay retail for those scopes.  They are good scopes with good people behind them but they are NOT $5k scopes like MSRP would lead you to believe.  They are $2300-2500 scopes, which is what most people pay (Vortex gives discounts to about half of their customers, LOL).  So Mil, LE, 1st responder, industry pro etc. discounts good.  Ridiculously high priced MSRP, bad! It's like the people that went and bought a Raptor at 15k over sticker.  WHY, WHY, WHY.  

So in closing, Production class is $3000 and under for a rifle manufacturer that meets the production class standard of at least 50 rifles and MSRP of $3k and under.  An optic that's MSRP of $2500 and under.  If you are looking for a great PRS, NRL scope and wanna save a few bucks on a great scope with great glass, then Telson Target Master 5-25x56 IR FFP is your go to.  If you wanna be on the top end of pricing but you may have the utmost in durability requirements as a need then The Nightforce NX6 would be my next choice.