Element Helix Gen 2 Tracks Like A Champ

A $549 first focal plane scope that dials clean, returns to zero, and lets the APR-2D reticle do real precision work. Glass is budget tier, tracking is not.

First Look: A $549 FFP That Surprised Me

When I was given the Element Helix Gen 2 to test, I didn’t know what to expect. I hadn’t heard of the scope before, but a quick Google search revealed that it could be purchased for $549.00.

I tend to lean towards the motto of buy nice or buy twice when it comes to glass. So, I was skeptical at how good this rifle scope could be, and while it can’t replace or compete with a more expensive scope at all distances, I was pleasantly surprised by just how good it was for the price point.

Unboxing: Loads Of Accessories In A Real Box

I can honestly say that I have never been impressed by a scope box before, but I was by the Element Optics box. The box and packaging are fantastic. The entire box is lined with foam, featuring cutouts for not only the scope but also all the accessories that come with it. Perhaps the reason Element Optics did this was so that buyers of their products could easily keep track of all the accessories that are included with their purchase. The Helix comes with a bikini scope cover, flip-up covers, allen’s, thread protector, diopter insert, sunshade, power selector lever, certificate of inspection, sticker, and a lens cloth. The scope itself is a First Focal Plane with the APR-2D MRAD reticle. The Helix has a 30mm tube with a 50mm objective; power range is 6×24.

Glass Check: What You See For $549

The Helix is not going to be able to compete with scopes with a higher price tag when it comes to glass. This is to be expected, glass is expensive in optics, and you get what you pay for. At a thousand yards, you’ll struggle to be able to shoot rock chucks or animals that blend in with their environment with the Helix, but a large white steel plate would be feasible. The Helix is on par with other rifle scopes in its price range as far as the glass quality goes, but it’s ahead of the curve in other categories. If you want a crystal clear viewing experience at all ranges, you’ll have to spend more money.

Focus And Eye Relief: Easy Clarity

The Helix has a lot of range when it comes to focus. I have a synthetic lens in my right eye, and I find that some scopes don’t have enough focus for me to see through them clearly. This was not an issue with the Helix, I was able to bring it into crystal clear focus. The eye relief and field of view are what I would consider moderate.

APR-2D MRAD Reticle: Fast Holds, Precise Groups

I was testing a new gun when I received the Helix so I threw it on and headed out to shoot paper at 100 yards. Over the years, I have learned that not all reticles are created equal when it comes to precision shooting. My first impressions were good, it was very easy to shoot precise groups at 100 yards with the reticle. It has a floating dot, which has become my favorite for precision shooting.

The APR-2D MRAD is a holdover reticle, and although it is in MILS, is still busier than others I have shot. An example of this would be the PR2 reticle from Leupold. But I found myself getting accustomed to it the more I shot it. Element has a great user’s guide for the reticle, and it’s easy to follow and shoot once you know what you’re looking at. It has triangles that mark the reticle at half mil increments, a feature I came to really enjoy given its simplicity.

For my eye, I have a hard time reading the numbers in the reticle on low power against a backdrop that isn’t clear blue sky, say against a sea of trees. I need the scope to be on around 12 power or higher if I am going to shoot using holdovers so that I can read the numbers on the reticle. Overall, I quite enjoy the reticle, it’s very precise, and is on par with reticles that are found on scopes with higher price tags.

Turrets And Tracking: True Clicks, Clean Return To Zero

The turrets on the Helix may not be as smooth as others on the market that cost more, but they do track flawlessly, which is very impressive for a scope of this price point. I have a Tikka T1x in .22 LR that I love to shoot with. It had a Vortex Diamond Back with a first focal plane MOA reticle on it. I knew after zeroing my test rifle with the Element that I wanted the Helix on the T1X. The Vortex Diamond Back is near the same price category as the Helix at $450.00, however, the Diamond Back is nowhere near the scope as the Helix. I won’t get into all the ways the Helix outperforms the Diamond Back, but the biggest reason is the tracking.

The Helix is the exact opposite; its turret system tracks true and comes back to zero every time. I verified this while shooting paper on several different rifles. Its clicks also line up exactly with the numbers that are on the turret, there’s no second guessing what number you’re on, they’re perfectly centered in the indicator. It also has a good zero stop, a feature that the Diamond Back doesn’t possess.

I used the Helix to shoot Urasian Doves recently with the T1X. I found a pair of the invasive species sitting on a fence wire at 230 yards. My SIG Kilo 10K’s called for 9 mils of elevation, too much to hold in the reticle. I dialed, shot and missed, the dust told me that my zero wind hold should have been correct. I ranged again, knowing that I would have to literally hit the bird with the laser if I wanted to actually hit it. 230 yards with a 9 mil hold again. I then got a better rest with the rifle using my binos and bino harness and sent another bullet, impact. The Urasian plopped dead on the ground, its partner flew towards me and landed in a tree. This time the 10K’s called for 4.5 mils of elevation. I dialed the scope back down to zero, used the reticle for the elevation, and scored a first-round hit at 160 yards.

While this is not the most precise way to measure whether or not a scope has turrets that track as they should, as well as accurate holdover points, it’s definitely the most fun. I was so impressed by this scope that I began researching it, and found another review done by Gavin at Ultimate Reloader on YouTube. In his review, he tests the scope’s tracking features using a state-of-the-art system. Here is the link if you’re interested in watching it.

The scope has a capped horizontal turret, which I prefer. However, the Helix comes with a thread protector if you decide you want to run it with an exposed horizontal turret. This is a great feature.

Travel And Holdover: How Far You Can Go

I never pay much attention to how much travel scope manufacturers claim to have, as it is usually not what I find when I purchase the scope. For what it’s worth, when the Helix is mounted on top of a 15 MOA rail (roughly 4.36 MILS) I was able to get 12 MILS worth of elevation out of the dial. On 24x, I could shoot 7 MILS of holdover in the reticle, on 20X, 9 MILS of holdover, on 16X, 11 MILS of holdover, and so on and so on. At full power of 24X, I can hold 19 MILS of elevation with the Helix. Good enough to get my standard velocity .22 LR rounds out to around 350 yards, depending on environmental factors. Obviously, you could shoot further than this on lower power, say 400 yards on 16X. This is good for a 30mm scope.

Parallax: Down To 10 Yards And Easy To Tune

The parallax system on the helix is more impressive than the Vortex Diamond Back that I currently own. The Helix parallax adjustment goes all the way down to 10 yards, which could be important if you plan on shooting objects at that short of a distance. But more importantly, it’s easier for me to bring the reticle and target into focus on the Helix than it is on the Diamond Back.

My Takeaway: Rimfire And Airgun Killer Value

While I would not use the Element Helix Gen 2 for my long-range centerfire rifles, someone else definitely could and would be happy with it. Where I think the Helix shines is for the rimfire and airgun shooting crowd that wants a very precise optic that won’t break the bank. I personally know shooters who have put high end Leupold and NightForce scopes on their rimfires and airguns. I would have no problem competing against them using the Helix given the rimfire’s handicap on range. Out to those distances, it is clear enough to shoot precisely, and its precision tracking is going to hang with the best of them. I am very thankful that Element Optics made the Helix at this price range. I think it checks a lot of boxes for a lot of shooters. Here is a link to Element Optics if you want to check them out for yourselves.

Element Helix Gen 2 Specifications

Pros And Cons: The Quick Hit

• Pros: Tracks true and returns to zero, floating dot reticle is precise, generous focus range, zero stop included, thoughtful accessory kit, parallax to 10 yards, strong rimfire and airgun value.
• Cons: Glass sits in its price tier, turret feel not as refined as higher-priced optics, reticle numbers harder to read on low power against busy backgrounds.

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