Scopes

During the 2018 NRA Show in Dallas, Texas, Leupold announced six new models of their VX-Freedom line of scopes.  Here’s a quick rundown on why you should care:
The VX- Freedom line is replacing both the VX-1 and VX-2 line of scopes.
Leupold has figured out how to streamline the manufacturing process and you are essentially getting

SIG has come out swinging in the hunting optics arena this year, with the introduction of the all-new BDX line. The Ballistic Data Exchange, or BDX, is a family of range finders and scopes that work together for fast and accurate shots. Once paired, the rangefinder beams data to the scope, showing a holdover dot for a fail-safe firing solution. The illuminated dot in the scope is bright and unmistakable, and also features SIG’s anti-cant illumination dots on the left and right edges of the scope.

  In one of the most exciting stories of the year, at least for us long range nerds, Bushnell has launched the new XRS II. Bushnell has been one of my favorite optics brands, mostly because of bang for the buck. They have a tremendous reputation for durability, at a price that won’t break the [...]

Steiner has long been a leader in military optics and more recently has been establishing a presence in the U.S. civilian market. We had an opportunity to test several models this summer, and the clarity of glass and quality was outstanding. New for SHOT Show 2018, Steiner announced the M6Xi.

At range day, we got a chance to catch up with Night Force Optics, who had the new 1×8 riflescopes on hand. Night Force has been very quiet on the 1x front, for a very long time. This year, however, they have come back strong.

Leupold comes out of the gate this year with a new family of scopes, the Mark 5 models. All of these models will feature 5X zoom capability, starting with a 5×25 and 3.16×16. These scopes were designed with shooter optic interaction as the focal point. SPECS:  Weight: 30 oz. Linear FOV (ft/100 yd) Low — 20.5 Linear [...]

Burris Signature rings are available in both hunting (Signature) and tactical (XTR Signature) models. The awesome thing about them is that they are able to precisely compensate for misaligned bases, or, to set your scope up with built-in cant (the XTR’s are capable of 0 to 40 moa), for long-range shooting.

The Diamondback promises big performance in a small package, but did Vortex deliver on this economical spotting scope? Hunting the spacious prairie of South Dakota often mean that the game you’re after can be miles away. Because of that, good glass is a necessity to see if the pursuit is worth the effort of closing the distance. In these situations, a spotting scope shines when your binoculars have reached the end of their rope. I used the Vortex Diamondback 20x60x60 for a season’s worth of tags in the Rushmore State, chasing whitetails in the southeast, waterfowl in the northeast, mulies in the northwest, and elk in the southwest. It quickly became a favorite piece of gear that made an appearance on every hunt.

This calls for a celebration. NightForce may have just unveiled the holy grail of Illuminated Low Power Variable (ILPV) optics with its new 1-8X ATACR. The military and 3-Gun competitors have been searching for the perfect low power illuminated scope for the last 20 years.