Optics/Sights

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.

Earlier this week, I got one of the new SIG LIMA320 frame modules in. And it is everything I thought it would be.

When you’re planning a hunting trip there are few very important considerations — what gun are you going to take? What does the weather look like? How much will the tags cost? Equally as important as what firearm you’re going to take is what binos will you take? For a mid-range 8X binos, the Vortex Viper HD 8×42 are hard to beat.

When the cost of a precision rifle can reach into the thousands of dollars it tends to be a little less practical, and unnecessary, to spend as much on the scope as you spent on the rifle. Starting out though, when you’re on a budget, finding a suitable optic for precision rifle competition that won’t break the bank isn’t easy. However, Burris is making the search easier with their XTR II line of scopes that are tailor-made for the beginning shooter at a price that some will find very easy to swallow. 

Long range shooting is a discipline that requires quality gear. Typically the equipment needed for long range shooting is expensive. Now and then a company will offer a piece of kit that is well made and moderately priced. One such product that I have tested extensively over the course of this year is the Bushnell Legend T-Series Tactical Spotting Scope.

Earlier this year I noticed a Facebook ad for American Technology Network’s (ATN) new X-Sight II HD digital rifle scope. As firearm-related ads are wont to do, it called my name until I finally decided to check it out.

When it comes to long-range competition, the automatic assumption is that you need a riflescope that’s equal or greater in cost to most people’s house payment in order to compete. While you can certainly go that route, there’s also a lot to be said about budget-friendly glass that’s still more than qualified to take on the benchmark 1,000-yard shot. A case in point is Nikon’s new Black X1000, a scope engineered from the ground up to tackle the precision rifle game.

This is probably not a surprise to any of my regular readers, but I am a bit of an optics snob. I played sniper professionally for most of my military career, and that left a distinct mark when it comes to glass. According to the data, Vortex was the glass of choice for an astounding 73 percent of those in the top 15 slots in PRS 2015. Enter the Vortex Razor HD Gen II.

I am a hater of Weaver style bases, and I will make no apologies. If I could wave my magic wand and make one firearms accessory disappear, it would be anything with a Weaver slot. Why so hateful? Glad you asked.