Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
The Maztech X4-FCS overlays a live, digital reticle with real-time ballistic holds inside your LPVO. We ran it with and without the X4-LRF to see how far this $3,495 fire control mount can stretch hits.
Meet the X4-FCS: LPVO HUD With Real-Time Holds
The Maztech X4-FCS or Fire Control System is probably the most ambitious optics accessory to hit the market in recent years. Rather than being just a mount, it acts as a full fire control system for your preferred LPVO. By combining onboard environmental sensors with ballistic data, the X4-FCS overlays a real-time digital reticle inside your scope. The result is an aiming solution that adapts to your rifle, ammunition, and conditions on the fly.
Maztech designed the X4-FCS to integrate seamlessly with most 30mm LPVOs. At $3,495, this is not a casual purchase, and pairing it with one of Maztech’s laser rangefinders unlocks its full potential. Even so, the concept is groundbreaking and pushes rifle technology into new territory.
Table of contents
- How It Works: Sensors, Solver, Instant Dope
- In Use: Weight, Controls, Brightness, Custom HUD
- Performance: Inside 300 It’s Marginal, Past That It Shines
- Practical Notes: Mounting, Ecosystem, Backup Ranging
- Who It’s For: Civilians, Night Hunters, Military
- Final Thoughts: Cutting-Edge, Pricey, Surprisingly Capable
How It Works: Sensors, Solver, Instant Dope
The X4-FCS houses an Applied Ballistics solver and sensors for temperature, pressure, humidity, pitch, roll, and heading. By entering your rifle and ammunition data, the system calculates a ballistic solution and projects a compensated aiming reticle into your optic. It also shows your real-time heading and cant, depending on what you choose to have displayed.
Zeroing is handled like any traditional scope. Once the optic is zeroed, you move the digital overlay to match your crosshair position. From there, the system provides precise holdover and windage information.
The onboard display is daylight-readable and highly adjustable. I found the menus and controls intuitive enough that I hardly needed the manual. The button layout works well from behind the rifle, and the rotary knob gives positive clicks for navigating menus and settings. While the included manual is short and sweet, the full 100-page version is available online for those who want to deep dive into every aspect of this system.
In Use: Weight, Controls, Brightness, Custom HUD
Running the X4-FCS with a Trijicon Credo 1-6 FFP mounted in the 1.93 inch model, I appreciated how little bulk the system added. At 22.6 ounces with batteries, it brings some weight but doesn’t feel cumbersome on the rifle. Button placement is ergonomic for right-handed shooters.
One of the coolest features is how customizable the display is. Users can move and resize icons, tailoring the sight picture to preference. Even without a paired LRF, I quickly dialed distances from a handheld rangefinder and let the system generate real-time holdover data. The overlay works cleanly up to about 55 MILs of elevation before running off the display. Beyond that, the system still provides the MIL or MOA values for elevation and windage, though it no longer shows the hold visually in the glass. For fun, I entered a max range of 5,500 yards with a 55-grain 5.56 profile, and the software kicked back 40,754.20 MILs of elevation. Not a realistic shot, but it shows the solver’s capability.
Brightness is another area Maztech got right. The display cuts through glare on bright days with reflective backdrops, yet it dims low enough for night use with a thermal clip-on.
Ergonomics are solid overall, with well-placed buttons and a rotary knob that delivers crisp tactile feedback. The only downside is the power button, which can be bumped accidentally and turn the unit on, draining the battery if you do not notice. Battery performance itself is strong. The system runs on two rechargeable USB-C 18650s or four CR123s, with a claimed runtime of a year at 10 hours per week. That equates to 520 hours. It also has shake awake and auto off to preserve battery and wake instantly when needed.
Performance: Inside 300 It’s Marginal, Past That It Shines
In practice, the X4-FCS feels like a real force multiplier, especially for shooters without deep ballistic knowledge. After a few minutes of entering rifle and ammo data, the system generated holds that let me push a 16-inch 5.56 well past its comfort zone. At 1,400 yards, cheap bulk ammo kept us from ringing steel, but the FCS walked us close enough to prove the concept.
Within 300 yards, the advantage is limited. With a standard 50/200-yard zero, a 5.56 stays inside a six-inch vital zone, making the digital overlay more novelty than necessity. Past that, the X4-FCS comes into its own. It eliminates guesswork, bypasses BDC limitations, and provides precise solutions tailored to any rifle and ammunition combination where traditional etched reticles fall short.
Pairing with an LPVO does create limitations. LPVOs are fast from close to midrange but are not ideal for spotting or engaging tiny targets at distance. In testing with the Credo 1-6 FFP, the system worked well, but I could barely see my steel silhouette past 1,000 yards. Still, the FCS put me close at 1,400 yards while bulk ammo danced around the target.
It can feel like the scope is now the limiting factor, which speaks to the strength of the onboard ballistics. This system gives shooters the ability to make good shots in the 300-800 yard band. Paired with 6mm ARC or a large-frame gas gun, bullets become more capable at extended distance. It is not a replacement for a precision rifle. It is a tool that extends the usability of standard rifle systems.
Practical Notes: Mounting, Ecosystem, Backup Ranging
Maztech includes plenty of thoughtful details. The torque specs for the rings and base are engraved on the housing, so there is no manual hunting during mounting. The accessory kit includes two rechargeable batteries, USB-C cables, and a Bluetooth dongle. Maztech told me the dongle is for future use with the upcoming PC app if a PC lacks Bluetooth, and it also acts as a failsafe if app stores ever pull the companion app. Accessories such as remotes, diving board mounts, and the LRF expand the system further.
Maztech clearly intends the FCS to be the hub of a modular ecosystem. On its own it is powerful, but pairing it with a Maztech laser rangefinder unlocks full potential. The X4-LRF comes in 2K and 15K versions, ranging reflective targets to 2,000 or 15,000 meters and priced between $2,195 and $4,995. A short FCS-to-LRF cable ties them together. Once linked, the system provides exact ranges with precise holds updated in real time. A slick perk is how the FCS accounts for rifle cant. Even when the rifle is rotated, the digital reticle stays level to the horizon so your hold remains correct.
When the X4-LRF is connected to the FCS, I hit the range button and in less than a second the system applies an exact ballistic hold using live environmental data. Without the LRF, I can manually dial an estimated distance or input the range from a handheld rangefinder.
There are also backup ranging features that keep the system useful without the LRF. An auto-adjusting BDC mode provides holds at 400, 500, 600, 700, and 800 yards, adapting to current environmental data and the selected rifle and ammo profile. The FCS also offers a static man-size ranging reticle and an adaptive digital ranging reticle to bracket a target and estimate distance.
Who It’s For: Civilians, Night Hunters, Military
At $3,495 for the FCS alone, plus another $2,195 to $4,995 for a matching LRF, this setup is a hard sell for most civilian shooters. Within 300 yards, it does not add much value. For hunting, I do not see myself using this for big game. It is neat for coyote hunting with a thermal clip-on because dialing elevation after dark is tricky. Having my holdover shown in the display is helpful. It also held zero great. I kept this rifle in the back of a side-by-side and drove over 30 miles on very rocky trails. While the X4-FCS rubbed a hole through the tool bag, it never lost zero.
Where I see the X4-FCS excelling is in military applications. The ability to project a ballistic solution into a soldier’s optic, combined with a ruggedized housing and modular accessories, could be a real force multiplier. It makes long-range shots accessible to shooters with minimal ballistic knowledge, allowing effective engagement at distances far beyond a standard etched reticle.
READ MORE: Vortex Crossfire Green and Red Dot Optics Review
Final Thoughts: Cutting-Edge, Pricey, Surprisingly Capable
The Maztech X4-FCS represents a big step forward in fire control tech. It is not cheap, and for many shooters it will not replace traditional optics or dope cards. But as a working product, it delivers. The system provided accurate holds and adapted to conditions in real time.
For target shooters who want to experiment with cutting-edge gear, it is an impressive tool. For military use, it could be a game changer. Personally, I do not plan to purchase the FCS, but the companion LRF units show real promise on my bolt guns.
Maztech is pushing boundaries, and the X4-FCS is a glimpse of what rifle technology will look like soon.
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Maztech X4-FCS Specifications
| Model | Maztech X4-FCS Fire Control System |
|---|---|
| Type | LPVO mount with integrated HUD and ballistic solver |
| LPVO Compatibility | Most 30mm LPVOs |
| Mount Height | 1.93 inch model tested |
| Weight | 22.6 ounces with batteries |
| Power | Two USB-C rechargeable 18650 or four CR123 |
| Runtime | Approximately 520 hours at 10 hours per week |
| Notable Features | Daylight-readable display, shake awake, auto off, torque specs engraved, customizable HUD |
| MSRP | $3,495 (FCS only) |
Pros and Cons After Real Range Time
- Pros: Real-time holds inside your glass, highly configurable HUD, strong battery life, works even without LRF, rugged enough to keep zero after rough travel.
- Cons: High price, LPVO limits spotting at very long range, power button can be bumped on, marginal benefit inside 300 yards.
Related Reads from GunsAmerica Digest
- Maztech X4-LRF Review
- Maztech’s Crazy New Optoelectronics
- Cutting-Edge Tech: Maztech’s Ballistic Rangefinder</
Mitchell Graf is a dedicated hunter, competitive shooter, and firearms enthusiast. As a former instructor and president of Oklahoma State’s Practical Shooting Team, he has a strong foundation in marksmanship and competition shooting. These days, he spends as much time as possible chasing pigs and coyotes with night vision and thermal optics.
When he’s not in the field or on the range, Mitchell works as a full-time Mechanical Engineer in the Aerospace and Defense industry and manages a part-time farming operation. Whether he’s behind a rifle, designing parts, or working the land, his drive for precision and performance remains the same.
Experience:
– Mechanical Engineer – Full-time professional in the Aerospace/Defense industry.
– Competitive Shooter & Instructor – Former President and Instructor of Oklahoma State’s Practical Shooting Team.
– Night Vision & Thermal Hunter – Passionate about night time predator and hog hunting.
– Part-Time Farmer – Working to provide for my family, and raise food for this great nation.
I would never have use for equipment like this but I gotta tell you… I want one anyway lol. This is just some seriously cool shit! My old eyes would certainly have trouble seeing a target at 1000 yards to cause me to bring my weapon up in the first place, but talk about your all-time bitchin toys.