The view through the Liberty Optic

No SHOT Show for Liberty Optics this year

2012-01-16T18:21:00.000-07:00

Hiders,

For the first time since I started in 2003, I will be forsaking the SHOT Show this year. The decision is mostly economic, as the show costs me about $2K+ every year plus the lost business not working like I normally would. While the SHOT Show report is an important part of what we do for you, with our impending storefront, it is imperative we save and invest every dollar we can to make it a success. The money spent at the show will buy a lot of schwag.

I will rely on Ilya Koshkin to keep me apprised of any "must see" new optics. Ilya and I agree more often than not on what good glass is

The good news is that while everyone will be at the show this week, I will be here working, ready to serve. I will be in the office all day Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and Friday late afternoon. So if you need something, don't hesitate to call, PM, or email.

Thanks!!

Scott

A new forum for you to check out

2011-11-21T10:42:00.002-07:00

Folks,

I understand there are a plethora of shooting/pro-RKBA/survival/patriotic forums out there in cyberland, but I want to share one with you that I think will be of interest to many, especially any that are visiting my blog.

Run by our friend "Orkan", the site is Primal Rights, www.primalrights.com

Covering a wide array of shooting, survival, political, social and religious topics, what's refreshing about Primal Rights is it's raw, unfiltered, and "eyes wide open" style and content. It's not slicked down or stripped of anything controversial for the sake of legal or political expediency or CYA. Warning: the language may be offensive for some, but this is a style issue, not a content issue.

Best of all, Orkan is a gun nut and does excellent reviews on guns and gear, knows how to use the stuff he talks about and explains it well for the masses.

At any rate, I encourage you to check these guys out and let me know what you think.

Scott

Just in time for the holidays, new IOR scopes

2011-11-19T08:04:00.002-07:00

Folks,

Incoming:

4-16x50 FFP MRAD with X1 reticle (added to website under New Products)

1-10x26 FFP MRAD, these had arrived in a small batch already but they quickly sold out. I personally have not laid my hands on them yet. More arriving soon. Price is $2699

3.5-18x50 SFP

I'll get specs and pics up of the 1-10x ASAP

Scott

NEW IOR scopes raise the bar

2011-07-07T23:35:00.010-06:00

Friends,

One thing that has been a consistent about Val Leatu at IOR-Valdada is his dogged pursuit of innovation and his commitment of continuous improvement and product refinement that is unmatched in the industry. Given these axioms, Val presents a couple of new serious tactical scopes that raise the bar yet again in the FFP scope market.

Both feature new reticles, based on the proven MP-8 dot SH-A5 pattern, that are functional from the lowest to the highest magnification range for all typs of shooting requirements.

1) 6-24x556 FFP MOA/MOA: The 6-24 x 56 is a FFP/MOA model with about 68-70 MOA of reticle travel in it with 1/4 clicks. The exterior is IDENTICAL to the FFP/MIL version that has been in inventory the last several months. Check out the pics and the new MOA-X reticle!!

The specs are as follows....

Center dot .250 moa
Heavy bar thickness 1.5 moa
Horizontal intervals 2.0 moa
Vertical intervals below center dot 1.0 moa
Vertical intervals above center dot 2.0 moa
Shortest line height/width 1.25 moa
Medium line height/width 2.5 moa
Longest line height/width 5.0 moa

We can email a PDF file of the reticle to anyone interested, just ask!

The new scope is $1995 delivered...

The other ground-breaking scope is the 3-18x42 FFP illuminated, taking the super successful 3-18x42 FFP SH (Sniper's Hide) edition to a whole 'nother level, with "center dot only" ilumination, 22 mils of travel, dead nuts tracking, a sleek lower profile, a secondary impact indicator, the NEW SH-X1 (Sniper's Hide 2011) reticle, and 100% reliability of the IOR Gen 4 scopes, make this highly anticipated scope a winner!!

Here are the reticle specs:

CENTER DOT .1 MILRAD
SPACE BETWEEN EACH HASH .5 MILRAD
SPACE AT ENDS OF HORIZONTAL LINES .25 MILRAD
THICKNESS OF HEAVY BARS .5 MILRAD
THICKNESS OF THIN LINES .1 MILRAD

Price of this new scope is $1895 delivered, and both scopes, as with all IOR 35mm tube scopes, comes with the rings included for free.

Upcoming, 4-16x50 FFP with 30mm tube, 1-10x with 35mm tube, and 12-52x56 with 40mm tube!!

Thanks for stopping by.

Scott

We have moved: New Contact Info

2011-07-02T09:05:00.002-06:00

Friends,

What has to have been my worst week of customer service "ever" can be accounted for by the fact we have moved our base of operations about 120 miles away. This move was completed in the last week. After three awesome years in Kalispell, we have relocated to the Thompson Falls area. This was a move with the long view in mind, and will give us outstanding commercial real estate opportunities upon which to build and grow our business.

Effective immediately, our new contact info is:

Liberty Optics
PO Box 175
Thompson Falls MT 59873

Phone: 406-827-6543
My new cell number: 406-291-8250

Same email, same web addy

We'll be unpacking and setting up this weekend and be ready for full go on Tuesday, July 5th

Thanks for your patience and have an awesome 4th of July holiday.

Scott

We no longer sell Premier Reticles riflescopes

2011-05-06T22:28:00.002-06:00

Folks

We've gotten inquiries as to why we don't have Premier scopes on our website anymore. Here's why.

Problem:

As of April 29, Armament Technology Inc (ATI) suspended our Dealer Account and we were no longer able to purchase the Premier Heritage line of riflescopes. The suspension letter, signed by E.J. (Ted) Milner, Vice President of ATI and CC’d to Chris Thomas, President of Premier Reticles Ltd, reads in part:

“Dear Mr. Berish,

It has been presented to us that your company has been offering Premier Reticles ‘Heritage’ Tactical riflescopes directly to consumers at pricing significantly below Minimum Advertised Price (MAP).

This behavior seriously undermines the value of the product in the eyes of the market and is particularly disruptive and damaging to the market distribution structure of Dealer and Stocking Dealer pricing.......

Please therefore be advised that your Dealer Account with Armament Technology Incorporated, sole Master Distributor for the Premier ‘Heritage’ Tactical line of products, is hereby immediately suspended.....”

This came as a complete surprise, as we have been extra careful in not putting any Hide member discount pricing in writing, either via email or PM. All deals were made strictly over the telephone, presumably in full compliance with MAP policy as commonly interpreted as industry standard practice.

The pretext for this suspension was that a customer at the Premier Reticles booth at the recent NRA show unveiled a scope with an invoice from us that “shocked and embarrassed” Premier Reticles staff and another Premier Reticles dealer at the show. The offending invoice was then sent to ATI and upon obtaining it Ted Milner said everyone got “mad as f**k” there and shortly thereafter the hammer came down. This was on the same day the suspension letter was dated, April 29.

Fortunately, Ted Milner volunteered the name of the offending customer, and a little internet searching revealed the contact info for same. The gentleman is identified as the President of G.B. Stumpp & Associates, Terry L. Dean. From their website, http://www.gbstumpp.com/

“G.B. Stumpp & Associates, Inc. is a leading manufacturer's representative for the outdoor market, including hunting, fishing, camping and marine products.

The firm aggressively markets products for ATI, Badger, Fobus, FoodSaver, Ithaca Gun, Lyman Products, Mag-Lite, PARA, Pachmayr, Pentax and VXI.

G.B. Stumpp & Associates is a carefully chosen group of electronic and sporting goods sales professionals, united under one business philosophy and committed to the success of the products they represent.

Each member of the sales force is a self-starter, armed with the integrity, experience and knowledge of territory that helps guarantee sales success.”

The address on the website matched the shipping address on our files, so we got our man. I remembered Mr. Dean, as I initially quoted him a full MAP price and he pressed the issue asking if “there was any additional discounts available for Hide members”. So we took care of him, and I specifically told him not to post that price anywhere, haha the joke’s on me.

So, I called Mr. Dean on his cell phone, and to his credit after introducing myself and explaining the problem, he stayed on the line long enough to have this conversation with me:

Me: “Terry, why would you take a scope and invoice from us and get it in the hands of Armament Technology?

TD: “Because I work for Premier”

Me: “What? What are you doing for Premier?”

TD: ”Checking MAP pricing on their dealers”

Me: “So you set me up??”

TD: “Yes”

Me: “OK. Let me ask you a question...ATI claims that they obtained a copy of the invoice today “hot off the press”. When did you turn in the invoice?”

TD: “About a month ago”

Our conversation ended shortly thereafter.

Afterward, I called Chris Thomas from Premier on his cell phone five separate times and left him five messages, asking him to explain what he knew. To date, he has never responded.

In summary, we had a rep for Premier order a scope from us at Hide pricing, forward the evidence to ATI, which prompted a 90 day suspension, a nice little sting operation, if you will.

Discussion:

There are three issues here...

First, we never violated MAP nor any other dealer agreement with ATI, and when I explained this to Ted Milner, he stated they were well aware of that, but “they aren’t obligated to provide Liberty Optics with any product, either”. Ted also agreed that what happened was a sting operation, but that didn't impede the suspension.

Second, the issue emerges that when it comes to pricing Premier products, MAP is really Minimum Selling Price, as discounts in any shape or form seem to conflict with ATI’s marketing strategy. When a recent Hide vendor attempted to do a Group Buy here with Premier scopes, we received a rather stern email, as copied here (emphasis added is mine)

April 13, 2011

Dear Premier Heritage Tactical line Dealer:

You are receiving this email to inform you about a recent situation in the marketplace involving a serious breach of pricing protocol surrounding Premier Heritage Tactical riflescopes.

Specifically, a major national optics dealer engaged in a marketing endeavor they advertised as a “group buy” whereby they implied that participating individuals would be able to purchase Premier Tactical products at below Minimum Advertised Pricing. This type of practice is strictly prohibited as contravening the spirit of Minimum Advertised Pricing policy under the terms of Distributor and Dealer pricing. As such, the offending Dealer’s account with ATI has been suspended and their outstanding Purchase Orders will remain unfilled.

Please let us remind all Dealers that:

1) Minimum Advertised Price is not a benchmark by which to offer a discounted price; it is the price the consumer should expect to pay. We expect Premier Dealers to foster that concept by exhibiting a price on their advertising and marketing materials and websites, and that price should be not less than MAP. The practice of displaying statements such as “call for price” or “call for best price” is not deemed to be acceptable.

2) Any program or endeavor that offers implied discounts for those participating in a “group buy” will not be tolerated.

3) Dealers are fully responsible for updating price lists on their websites to reflect current Minimum Advertised Pricing.

The goal of this correspondence is to serve as a reminder that Premier Reticles Ltd. and Armament Technology Incorporated are very serious about the financial success of the products we distribute as well as the financial success of the Dealers we serve. Premier products are ‘top of the market’ products that are fully capable of generating premium pricing in the market and consequently healthy profit margins for Dealers. Companies that do not see the value in this business model can expect the same consequence as that experienced by the national Dealer referenced above.

Please take some time to ensure your full compliance with this policy; your continued success with Premier Heritage Tactical products is dependent upon it.

If you have any questions about the aforementioned, please contact us.

Best regards,

Andrew Webber President Armament Technology Incorporated

Chris Thomas
President
Premier Reticles Limited

There you have it. As a “consumer”, expect to pay the MAP/MSP price on Premier products. I heard after our suspension an even more aggressive email was circulated by ATI warning of the consequences of discounting these scopes to you guys, and I bet finding a deal will be increasingly difficult, if not impossible.

Finally, there is the human element here. Business is business, but in the not too distant past we fully backed and aggressively marketed and sold the Premier Heritage as a viable premium alternative in the tactical scope market, in every effort to ensure the success of the product’s introduction in the marketplace, at a time when few others would. We thought we had a good relationship with Premier and had earned it through hard work and loyalty. Apparently such means nothing as we were never contacted or warned directly that we were engaging in “damaging and disruptive behavior” when it came to selling Premier scopes to Hide members. In other words, there was no desire to take corrective action, just a desire to obtain evidence that would justify eliminating us from the dealer network.

Conclusion:

No question, this hurts economically, as we are a small dealer and this product line was a good source of income for us. However, there are bigger issues here than just money. Since our genesis, we have done everything we could to serve the tactical shooting market by providing honest advice and product evaluation, customer service and good pricing. I am passionate about tactical optics and share this passion in building relationships with you guys, one customer at a time, to meet your shooting optics needs. That is how we choose to run our business.

It appears that since Premier has built up a nice dealer chain, we are expendable. That is their choice.

However, while our suspension was involuntary, given how all this came about, it is clear to me that the character and philosophy of ATI and Premier Reticles is incompatible with our own. Therefore, our choice is to never carry the Premier line of scopes again.

I apologize for any inconvenience to you, our customers.

Sincerely,

Scott

Sweet USO Trade-in!

2011-04-06T10:33:00.003-06:00

2009 model SN-3 3.2-17x44 ERGO
30mm tube
FFP, MOA/MOA EREK elevation knob
MOA Type 1 reticle with full red line illumination
M40 windage knob, with spare windage knob that can be capped
Very light ring marks, mounted, never shot.

Recently completely rebuilt by Ryan Davis at USO (he did a GREAT job).

New Parts:
Rheostat
Objective cell and lens (flawless optics)
Spring plug and feet
Spool
Eye piece / Eye piece housing
Power collar (zero backlash on the magnification ring!)

The sight picture on this scope is top notch, outstanding glass and focus.

Comes with USO flip-up caps, sunshade with ARD, and 30mm Xtra-low USO rings

$2200 delivered.

Scott

Small batch of PSTs enroute

2011-01-27T11:31:00.002-07:00

Friends,

Not enough to really scratch the surface of the backorder list, except the good news is we are receiving a tiny amount of all 6-24 and 4-16 models...so I can give these a good looksee when they get here

Scott

SHOT Show Day 4: Got 'er Done

2011-01-21T22:15:00.007-07:00

Friends,

Tied up loose ends and I'll add some random thoughts here too...

Borka Tools: Boris is a good old Russian chap who has designed the elegant solution of a lightweight and simple torque wrench for shooters based on pure physics. These wrenches have been featured all over the Hide (Boris is a smart guy....besides his Ph.D). We have signed on to one of the few, the proud dealers, effective around March 1. Check out these neat pieces of kit at www.borkatools.com Besides being an interesting guy, Boris will forever be remembered for asking fellow Russian Ilya Koshkin if he was about 50 years old (he's in his mid-30's). After all the "old man" ribbing I take from Ilya, I got a real hoot out of that! It was one of those "you had to be there" moments....

Meopta: Having never really caught on with these guys, I still visited their booth with Ilya and the little diamond of a scope for 3-gunners is the new ZD 1-4x22. SFP, 30mm tube, tethered turret caps, light, around 9" long, a daytime visible (for sure) K-dot ballistic reticle, good glass, around $849 retail....you will hear more about this scope, for sure.

March Tactical: I posted last year that these scopes didn't blow my doors off for the price, and since then I've heard lots of good things about them, so with Ilya's guidance I went back for a second and more studied look. To be sure, the Sands Expo does optics no favors (as an aside, most of the optics manufacturers were on the best floor for them, the 2nd level main floor, but still...). What Kelbly's had was a lot of there scopes on a giant tripod/fluid head device that was elevated, with many scopes mounted; what they all were pointed at were a Berry's rifle target about 62 yards away on a far wall. The two scopes I spent time with were a 2.5-25x42 SFP and a new 3-24x42 FFP. Bottom line: I was able to read the black on white text of www.berrysmfg.com at 25x and 24x, respectively. Rather easily. How tall was the text? Don't have a ruler as I sit it my hotel room but the height is about the same thickness as three dimes stacked on each other. 3mm? 4mm? Let's assume worst case and say 4mm. By my calculations, this equates to reading (read: resolving) about 0.25moa. So, under perfect conditions, this could very well mean the March could read 2.5" tall letters at 1000 yards. Well, in my experience, the Kowa Prominar 66mm spotter could resolve 1" tall high contrast I(white on dark green) letters at 985 yards...this is at about 25x IIRC...so basically you are getting spotting scope (high end spotting scope) resolution in a 42mm objective rifle scope. In a manner of speaking. Wow. OK. I get it.

Don't get me wrong, the color "pop" just isn't there with these scopes, and there are somewhat funky edge effects and eye relief is a bit on the fussy side for me (about zero tunnel vision though) but in terms of high level optical and mechanical engineering these scopes are pretty trick. Throw in the FML-1 FFP reticle (another IOR MP-8 A5 clone), and scope dimensions of under 12.5" and about 23 ounces.....well, I'll say if you want a March 3-24x42 FFP I can't blame you. While perhaps not the ideal battle rifle optic, as a long range precision tool of unmatched versatility and easy portability, this scope has a lot going for it. There, excuse me while I eat a little crow...always learning!!

Nightforce: My man "Nightforce Ken" wasn't in the booth for the show but another cool dude Rick Owen, Senior Account Manager was very kind to spend some time with me. Make no mistake, my favorite all time NXS scope is the F1. They have a few new reticles for 2011 including the NP-RF1, the MD2, and the MLR2 are my favorites. The MD2 is the only fully symmetrical reticle of the three, but the cool factor of the mil based MLR2 and moa-based NP-RF1 can not be denied. Rumor has it Lowlight drew these up. Rumor also has it a "secret squirrel" super scope is in the works at Nightforce that will blow away anything on the market....we're all waiting...

Kahles: Went to the Kahles booth (imported and managed by Gamo, the airgun folks) to look at some new hunting binos. The Kahles guys had already skipped town, but they left their scopes behind and I swear the same "Tac" scope they had in like the year two thousand freaking six was sitting on the shelf. Next.

Laser Genetics ND3 SubZero: Stumbled on these at the Gamo booth. Bright, razor sharp, green forward projected lasers that are amazing indoors....mount in conjunction with a rifle scope and you have the ultimate predator/varmint night-time killin' rig, without the need for standard NV equipment. I see the survival and rescue utility of this thing. While I might be late to the party I'll say the cool factor is off the charts with these things..

Leupold Hunting: Guys, what I saw in the new VX-R series was pretty darn impressive. Very good looking and crisp glass, 30mm tubes throughout, "FireDot" motion sensing illumination, price around $400-$500 for most models. 2-7x, 3-9x, and 4-12x models. Lupy was out of catalogs but I believe it is daytime visible and digital illumination with various settings...very nice scopes for the money and a great move by Lupy, IMO.

Now, on to people...

Glen and Al, Seekins Precision: Took their usual spot at the Rock Creek barrels booth, both guys GTG.

Doug, Camera Land NY: "He who never sleeps"....he's like on 25+ forums now...he should bottle up whatever it is he is on and sell it to us old and slow guys and make a fortune. Doug's big time.

Kyle Lynch, Barrett Firearms: Not a classless bone in his body. Salt of the earth.

Jay Wiggins, Sport Optics: Ran into him in the waning minutes of the show, had a touch of the 1000 yard stare after finishing his first SHOT show, seem like a nice kid. He made a good impression.

What's in and out (IMHO, of course) bases on this years show

Out: Leupold Tactical

In: Leupold Hunting

Out: Booth Bimbos

In: Knowledgeable, polite sales/rep staff

Out: Mildots

In: Any dang copy of the IOR Mp-8 mil hash reticle

Out: SFP 1/4moa knobs

In: FFP mil/mil

Out: Conventional design scopes

In: Wide zoom range scopes

Out: "Non-Tactical" optics

In: Tactical Optics! I think it's viewed as an emerging market

Out: Value and discounting

In: MAP and margins

Out: Stock

In: Custom

Out: Range queens

In: Active/Competitive shooters

Out: Sands Expo

In: Las Vegas Convention Center, anyone?

Finally, I think this was a fairly bad show for me, but I learned a lot and improved my game even more. I'm really "over" the Sands as a venue and Vegas in general just isn't my style, I might skip next year and see what happens. I see NSSF keeps publishing all these quotes as to how all these vendors love the new setup but nearly everyone I talked to is not very happy with it.

At any rate, thanks for stopping by and here's looking forward to a great year helping you get set up with the optics you need to accomplish your objectives...

Scott

SHOT Show Day 3 continued

2011-01-21T11:32:00.004-07:00

Trijicon: Everyone knows I love these guys and we sell quite a bit of Accupoints and ACOGs too. What I was holding my breath on was a ACOG-reticled variable (in like a 1-6x or something). Make no bones about it, the Trijicon rep said no dice for this year, and maybe even the next. Apparently this has been on the table for many years but there are just other priorities for the guys in Wixom, Michigan right now. Boo Hoo. Proceed accordingly. Other than a nifty new luminous bow hunting sight, nothing new for Trijicon for 2011.

Hawke Optics: I am going against my own advice here (on avoiding scopes named after birds of prey) but Hawke Optics has three things going for them: First, a huge selection of scopes with many ballistic and "tactical" reticles. Second, they've got some really nice guys that work there (Brad Bonar to name one) that take pride in their work and take criticism well. Last but not least, Ilya Koshkin, of www.opticsthoughts.com and internet fame, has spent a lot of time with the brand over the last few years and says they are the one company that maintains consistent quality in Chinese manufactured scopes, they are holding up, and the warranty has been improved from 5 years to lifetime to the original purchaser. In today's economic reality, a lower price point scope make sense for many. I do not take Ilya's recommendation lightly and he is the reason we are going to give these guys a try. So, look for them on our website in the next few weeks.

Steiner: Two things I've learned in this business, is to never underestimate the power of new blood in a venture, and never underestimate the power of corporate spending, particularly when military contracts are to be won. I've always been pretty ambivalent about Steiner, but they introduced a new series of military scopes that bear watching. Currently being planned in a 3-12x50, 3-12x56, and 4-16x50 models, what's amazing is that these scopes come right out of the box with features we've been asking for for awhile, so someone's been listening. Made from 100% German parts and assembled by Burris in Greeley, CO (the connection is that both Steiner and Burris are owned by Beretta, which owns many other shooting related companies now, if you haven't noticed......there is the corporate backing that can result in market share), the new scopes have eyepieces that show a distinct Burris Black Diamond heritage. All models feature 34mm tubes, about 15.5-16 inches long, 34-36 ounces, and feature variable eye relief of 3 to ~~3.5 inches. The large 1/10 mil knobs are easy to grab and feature 10mils per turn, CCW rotation, decent clicks. 19.5mils (70moa) of travel, which is a bit on the light side for a 34mm tube. The windage knob is similar. Like Premier, the red illumination (powered by a CR2450 battery) is located in the focus knob, and the FFP G2 mildot reticle has the 1mil-spaced dots alternating with the 0.5 mil hashes. Optically this scope is very good. Everything works as it should, although I felt the illumination could be a bit crisper. The only real issue (nitpick) I saw was when you look into the inside of the scope (I know, not how you are supposed to do it, but believe me, someone will notice) you can see the edges of the reticle housing with its pins and screws and I see this as a potential distraction. Overall the scope has a lunch bucket appeal with a high end optical system. Priced right in the middle of the $2000's which is actually a market segment not very crowded at this time. This will be an interesting option once this arrives.

Other notable items are the Steiner Nighthunter XP binos and the new Predator Extremes, both redesigned for 2011. Very impressive glass that beg to be taken out. The last item of interest are the 10x50 military rangefinding binoculars. Introduced last year, and designed for ease of use and performance, the 1600 yard laser range is matched by the Bushnell Fusion LRF's at 1/3 the price, so it's hard to find a compelling reason to get them. Additionally, the Steiner version uses a individual eye focus, with the laser display found in the right barrel; while you may be in focus with the optics, the actual LED display may not be, and vice versa (I had to rotate the right eye focus to get the display sharp but that put me out of optical focus on the target......)

Wrapping up here, I want to say Steiner has two guys that were great faces of the organization, Director of LE Sales John Miklovis and Assistant Sales Manager LE Division Sky Leighton. These guys epitomized class and professionalism and I feel really good that constructive feedback on their products would be listened to and action would be taken if necessary. They were easy to talk to and made my visit very enjoyable. Thanks guys.

Schmidt & Bender: What's new and exciting at S&B is what's new and exciting, starting with a nicely executed 3-20x50 PMII...for $3149 MAP you get either FFP or SFP, 34mm tube, illumination, P3, P4, P4 fine or Klein reticles, 26mil DT-MTC knobs with locking feature on windage and elevation knobs, 100+moa of total travel, 3.5" of eye relief, parallax adjustable down to 25m....15" long and weighs 32.4 ounces, all I can say is, what's not to like? The scope has the usual S&B glass and controls and will be a high demand item in the upper end scope market.

The other big news is the arrival of the 1-8x24 PMII Short Dot scope. 30mm tube, FFP mildot reticle and SFP dot, day and night vision modes, locking turrets, this scope has a "CC" mode that has a parallax set for 10m and a true 1x. Not sure how necessary this is but that's the spec. Length is 11.4" and weight is 19 ounces or so. While this isn't my cup of tea this scope is super versatile and is what the market has been clamoring for, $2699 MAP.

We are getting setup with S&B, so this is an exciting step for us. BTW, the Military and LE sales guru for S&B is Sylvia Ehinger, I found her very knowledgeable and she knows darn near everybody it seems. Thanks to Mark Cromwell (he's been around since before
I showed up) for helping me out.

Weaver: No question, my "out of nowhere" surprise scopes of the show were a pair of new Weaver Tacticals...a 3-15x50 illuminated FFP mil/mil and a 1-5x24 FFP. The catalog amusingly states these optics are for those who value "Molle over Armani" Let's start with the long range dog. This scope was really nice. 30mm tube, mil/mil, illuminated FFP, locking turrets, extra hard coating on exterior lenses, side focus, resettable turrets, argon purged, 100moa, 6mils per turn, 13.5 inches long, 27.5 ounces, fast focus eyepiece, are you paying attention? The reticle is an etched EMDR (Enhanced Mildot Ranging). Knob feel isn't anything super great but they do lock. 4" of eye relief. Price? I'm TOLD (nothing in writing) around $1000, available in spring. This is likely the Viper PSTs only competition, but I've got a gut feeling these scopes are going to surprise. The other scope that is even better executed optically and has very crisp daytime illumination is the new 1-5x24. Capped turrets with finger adjustable/resettable knobs (much like the Elite 6500 knob, which is a tipoff who makes these) the CIRT (Close Intermediate Range Tactical) reticle is similar to the horseshoe dot reticle with symmetrical hashes and windage holdover points. FFP reticle! 10.3" long, 4.25" of eye relief, under 15 ounce, there really is nothing not to like here....price is told to me around $800....we will see. We look forward to getting our hands on them, the Weaver booth folks were very nice. Remember, Weaver is owned by ATK, big $$ and lots of clout, and these scopes exude ruggedness. Just sayin'....

Leica: Nothing too much to report here except that if the CRF 1600 works as advertised it is a very compact little rascal and would be the easiest to carry of any of the major manufacturer (read: quality) LRFs....I still like the optics in the Zeiss LRF better but this Leica is just plain handy...

OK, one more day to go!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Scott

SHOT Show Day 3: Petal to the Metal

2011-01-21T00:20:00.002-07:00

Friends,

Seriously made up for lost time today. Covered lots of ground, saw lots of neat stuff (from surprising sources) and met/saw lots of folks. Let's roll......

Leupold Tactical: I was graciously hosted by Chris Estadt, formerly of Vortex, and got to check out all the new Lupy scopes, both "ready for production" and some concept scopes that will be arriving down the road. I got to play with the new Mark 8 CQBSS 1.1-8x26, and the new Mark 4 6.5-20x50 ER/T with Horus reticle and locking elevation turret, and all the ER/T models with Horus reticles and M5 turrets. Bottom line is this, while these scopes are all decent, the pricetags have gotten a bit out of hand, whether it is by design or not, I am not sure. However, here's some very realistic street prices on these new models:

Mark 8 CQBSS (Part #110121): $3349

Mark 4 6.5-20x50 ER/T Horus H58/locking turret (Part #111855) : $2669 or Horus H27 reticle (Part #68140): $2559 (Conversely, the same scope with H28 reticle (part #110562) without the locking turret is $2189....so that big honking locking elevation knob is a $500 option.....?)

Based on what I see on the market, with the features and reticles of its competitors, the Lupy Tac scopes haven't been a real value recently, but these prices put them in strange territory where you wonder what the deal is. I mean, the CQBSS is priced $1000 over the S&B 1-8 Short dot.....huh?

Anyhoo, the star of the show, IMO, was the new HAMR (High Accuracy Multi-Range). This fixed 4x24 little cutie has an "all business" rugged appearance and is Lupy's take on the ACOG concept. Featuring a 5.56 62-grain calibrated CM-R2 reticle (basicially the ACOG horseshoe reticle in red......5moa horseshoe with 0.5moa dot) , an integral picatinny mount, and the availability of an optional DeltaPoint reflex riding atop it, this scope is battle rifle or 3-gun ready. The sight picture was very clear with high resolution, flat, clean, with nearly 3" of eye relief. The reticle has drops to 800+ yards. It's still a bit spendy, $1199 for the standard model and $1399 for the optional DeltaPoint model, and it does need batteries, but this scope is a worthy alternative to the ACOG, IMO. Well executed and worth a long look...

I once wrote that Lupy was no longer relevant....that was my inexperience there...but, it seems they are pricing themselves out of relevancy in the commercial market....in military circles they will be more than fine.

Nikon: Ho, hum. Nothing really new here to report. All the riflescopes (ProStaff, Buckmasters, and Monarch) are made in the Phillipines now. What's puzzling is that the new ProStaff scopes have finger adjustable turrets that reset without tools, while the higher priced B'masters and Monarch knobs require a coin or screwdriver to reset to zero, very similar to the Vortex Diamondback. Odd..... The "Made in Japan" Monarch X series, contrary to rumor, are NOT discontinued....but, dealer cost on them jumped about 20% from 2010...that is not a misprint...so a slow seller will move even slower....maybe they needed a reason to discontinue them for 2012....

Bushnell: The biggest news is the Bushy followed on the heels on their highly successful 10x42 Fusion 1600 ARC LRF binos with a new 12x50 version. While the optics on these are nothing special, the laser performance has been quite surprising and satisfying to many a customer, and overall these have been a good value for the money.

The other news is the amalgamation of the Elite 4200 and 3200 series into just an "Elite" series and a new "Elite Tactical" series which seem to combine all the old Elite 6500, 4200, and 32oo Tacs under one umbrella. Other than incorporating something called "Ultra Wide Band" coatings in their optics and Argon purging, I'm not sure what is really different other than the name change (except prices are going up). To be sure, the FFP versions of these scopes have been a solid and sensible mil/mil FFP scope (except for the green illumination) but there is nothing to get really to excited about here.....

Ran into Scott Parks from Vortex Optics today...a capable shooter and online forum presence for Vortex.....a very likable guy, we talked about scopes and him meeting Lou Ferrigno of "Incredible Hulk" fame.....ironically, Scott bears more than a passing semblance to Ben Grimm (Thing) from Fantastic Four....great big fella who looks like he could smash things if the need arose...good guy to have on your side for sure...

Kowa: My peeps at Kowa are introducing some new lower priced roof and porro prism binoculars but only mockups were on the show floor. A new super telephoto lens/spotting scopes (Prominar 88mm) with body focus that doubles as a spotter or a telephoto lens for digiscoping is the new hot item.

However, the really big news was Josh Lazenby (Kowa product manager) whipping out a mildot reticle 30x eyepiece for the Prominar 77mm and 88mm spotter. I've said the Prominar Kowa spotters are the best in the world (because they are) but the one hole in the game was lack of a reticle'd eyepiece for us tactical guys. While it was "only" a mildot reticle, the fact I was even shown this is a huge step in the right direction. My suggestion: Make it a more sophisticated mil-scale reticle for spotting and put it in a LER eyepiece for range use and I'm all in. Listen up: All you fellow shooters and Hide members, if you would like to see this happen, email Josh at Joshua(at)kowa.com and politely tell him this would be of interest. Use your collective marketing power and you can/will make this happen. We need to encourage manufacturers to come off the fence. Here's a golden opportunity. Thanks.

A couple of years ago, I jumped into the Kruger Optical Lynx APR FFP illuminated spotting scope (raise your hand if you remember). These were less than stellar and I could barely move them for just a few hundred dollars. Well, now they sell for $1200-$1300 MAP....I hope they are improved...

Anyway, I bring this up because I recovered from the trauma enough to visit them again and check out the new DTS 1-8x40 Tactical Sight. One thing for sure, there is nothing that looks like it in the world, so rather than try to describe it, here's a link http://www.krugeroptical.com/ko-tactical-scopes-next.asp With it's carbon fiber frame and funky design, this is definitely an "out of the box" riflescope suitable only for an AR platform. Looking through the thing you have either a 1x reflex sight (complete with obligatory greenish glass) or with a flick of the switch you get a 2-8 mildot reticle scope (choice of either FFP or SFP models on the table). Definitely different! David Fortier (he of "Premier Reticles has gone out of business" fame) was fawning over the "best" field of view (1x with a40mm objective will do that...) MAP on these is $1499, but could be had for about $1200 or so......at any rate, a unique product that guarantees looks at the range if you dare show up with it on your flat-top....

Zeiss: Big Blue is a fairly decent seller for us, mostly Conquest scopes with the occasional Victory scope, bino, or spotter. The only truly new product for 2011 is the Dialyt 18-45x65 Field Spotter...a Euro-inspired straight tube black rubber armored objective focus spotting scope, 15.5" long and about 42ounces, made to be easy to pack and designed for fast target acquisition in a field environment, tripod adaptable. This scope had an excellent sight picture, and unlike other draw-tube scopes it might compete against, it is completely waterproof. With a price of around $1200, this is an interesting option that I would like to evaluate in a field setting.

Sniper's Hide member "Jeff inTexas" FYI, your favorite classic Zeiss binos are being discontinued this year...might want to get another pair :+)

Folks, in case you didn't know, Armament Technology is the muscle behind Premier Reticles now....great folks, and notable in their own right for the Elcan line of rifle sights. These always have had great glass, excellent reticles and are in real world military use. The Specter series of sights include the 1-4x and 1.5-6x models, but the newest kid is the SpecterOS4x....basically a fixed 4x Specter with either a chevron BDC style reticle or crosshair/CQB reticle, these babies MAP at $1199 and have awesome FOV and NV compatible illumination. What I'm trying to say is that we are an authorized Elcan/Armament dealer and would love to hear from you concerning this product! Andrew, Ted, and the rest of the guys in the booth are top notch to work with, in my experience.

Well, that's all I can squeeze for now, tomorrow I'll report on Steiner, surprising new scopes from Weaver, Hawke, and S&B...

Tomorrow I visit Meopta, Kahles, Nightforce, USO, and Borka tools......and whomever else I can find....

Oh, say hello to the newest S&B dealer...... :+)

Catcha Friday...

Scott

SHOT Show Day 2: No report

2011-01-19T21:23:00.002-07:00

Friends,

I had some family crisis management to take care of and did not go out on the floor today. I realize this is somewhat disastrous but it is what it is. 10% of life is what happens to you and 90% of life is how you deal with it. The good news is I am as squared away as possible and I will get a full day in tomorrow. On the slate is Kowa, Kruger Optical, Meopta, Trijicon, Zeiss, Nikon, Bushnell, Leupold, Steiner (new scopes!), Weaver and whatever else I can manage.

See you tomorrow night!

Scott

SHOT Show Day 1 aka My Head is Spinning

2011-01-18T22:40:00.005-07:00

Friends,

Got off to a relatively slow start today taking care of old business, and customer emails and phone calls. However, it was a very productive day. Lots of new stuff by a handful of manufacturers that have been very good for us. Let's get started...

Same old Sands Expo, if you weren't on Level 1 you had a pretty poor venue for optics. The warm ballroom lighting and limited lines of sight make functional evaluation very limited. I've taken this in account with my comments. The best testing of optics is outside where you actually use them, and we will take an active role in evaluation of competing brands in the spring to get you the studies opinion you need to make your purchase decisions.

IOR Valdada: Those of you familiar with our history know we got our start with this brand, and, like a marriage, we've had our ups and downs but we have stayed "together" through thick and thin. The fact is, IOR scopes have evolved constantly over time and have improved markedly in the last couple of years. The reliability of the scopes (measured in real terms, as in customer returns/complaints) is simply leaps and bounds over several years ago, and the so called "Gen 4" scopes have a 100% track record since their introduction about 14 months ago. I can't accurately tell you what's inside a Gen 4 scope that makes it work so well and hold together, but I know the engineers at IOR have built a better mousetrap. These new scopes are going a long way in shedding the oft-heard IOR axiom of "great glass, crappy internals". The scopes track like they are on rails and pack in tons of features for less money than most competitors. The service provided by Scott Cornella and Val has improved by leaps and bounds too, which is probably one reason our sales in these scopes jumped 70% from 2009 levels...people are looking for value, and getting it...

Introduced late 2010, the flagship scopes of the "Gen 4" series are the 3.5-18x50 and 6-24x56 series of scopes. Both feature mil/mil FFP, or moa/moa SFP, exposed knobs, digital illumination, 35mm tube, side focus, MP8-A5 reticles in the FFP models, and a new redesigned eyebox with great eye relief and easier mounting. I've gone on record as saying the 3.5-18x50 is the best IOR long range optic we've sold and sales and feedback have supported that. IOR glass in a perfectly tracking and 100% reliable-to-date design with all the features you demand...yeah, that works.

However, you pay me for the preview of the new stuff....

Four scopes of note made their debut on the table today.

First up, is the heretofore mentioned 1-10x26 model (see all the pics in a couple of posts down). In the hand, I personally thought the prototype was pretty sweet. It had a true 1x that had no noticeable funky issues or defects..their is a touch of tunnel vision from 1-1.5x and then it's gone. The glass is typical IOR and looked very good, even at 10x. Eye relief is forgiving and the overall design is quite impressive. This scope is FFP, with a MP-8 style reticle with a dot. The digital illumination allows you to light the center dot "daylight bright" orange, the rest of the reticle green, or both. The 35mm tube allows for 30mils of travel (!) so the 10x with side focus is actually useful for long range work. Exposed 1/10mil knobs with zero stop. Arrival is likely June, specs are subject to be changed (esp the reticle design) and price point is estimated at $2000-2200 street price. I think this will be a hot item this summer.

Next up was a 1.25-10x26 model that will be FFP or SFP (the scope I examined was SFP). This scope differed from it's cousin in that it had no side focus, capped, low profile knobs (Lupy M2 style) with no zero reset and zero tunnel vision from 1.25x. The glass and sight picture were very clean, the scope had a funky "show and tell" 4a style reticle and Val hinted this would have a hunting version and a Tac version. Same digital illumination with 30mils of travel. I'm not keen to the subtleties of optical design but the 8x zoom on this model did just fine with no side focus but it seems the 10x zoom of the above model would benefit from the side focus. What is most striking is that these designs seemed to work, just making their debut, while others have struggled to bring these wide-zoom scopes to market. These scopes promise to be an exciting addition to the IOR scope line.

Another nice surprise and sensible addition to the stable is a 4-16x50 FFP model featuring a MP8-XRT (xtended range tactical) reticle, 30mm tube, side focus, digital illumination, long focal length for easy mounting and a pricetag that will be less than the 35mm FFP models. The XRT reticle is similar to the MP8-A5 but has additional windage holdover points in hash format and further increases the utility of the MP-8 reticle. This scope's reticle has 25mils of holdover capability at 7x and 17mils (61moa) visible at 16x. Lighter in weight and of a more conventional design, I feel this scope will do very well when it comes available this summer.

Finally, the "big" surprise was the debut of the 12-52x56 "Terminator" ultra long range scope. A departure for IOR, this 40mm tube scope will be a limited edition and is designed for super long range work on large caliber guns. The scope is a SFP moa/moa design, 100moa of travel, 20moa of reticle hashes from the crosshair in 1moa increments, illuminated center dot, 16" long, 3.5" of eye relief, and a weight of 3 pounds. Four key features on this scope make it unique for IOR. First, the design has an AO, but instead of the entire front bell rotating, only the portion at the front end of the main tube rotates (similar to the body focus on the Nikon ED Fieldscopes). One of those "why didn't I think of that" moments. This allows the actual objective bell to be of a slimmer profile. It's pretty clever and once you see a pic it will make sense. Second, the scope's magnification ring has detents on the numbers that correspond with multiples or fractions of the 24x used for ranging, so that ranging calculations are simplified when using other than 24x to range a target (the correction value is listed on the mag ring). Third, the scope has a blended 1/4moa / BDC style knob with interchangeable turret caps for either .338 Lapua, 50 BMG, or straight 1/4moa increments, with zero stop. On the caliber specific models, the turret is marked with numbers in different colors corresponding to the range in meters. When you rotate the knobs upward, different color lines on the turret base of the scope become visible and correspond with the color coded values on the turret. It's an easy and intuitive system to use once you understand it. Finally, the Terminator is the first IOR scope to use HD Flourite glass throughout the optical system, which takes optics to a whole 'nother level, so you can actually see better than ever before, and take advantage of the scopes high magnification....priced will be about $2999 and I expect this to be another IOR market value leader.

Val has introduced a new line of binos and the top dog is the new TRX 10x42 RF series, Asian-made ED-glass models with great military styling, black rubber armor, integrated caps, old IOR-style soft contoured rubber eyecups, and an MP-8 reticle in the right barrel. For around $400, these binos are tough to beat and look like they can take hard field use with aplomb. Available without reticle too. Many of you were able to receive the 8x32 models for free during the holidays. Simply worth the money, bottom line.

Finally, I met the maker of the V-Tac series of rings and rest assured these are indeed made in the USA. I won't divulge the name of the manufacturer but I will say he is a nice guy who knows machining and takes pride in his work. These rings have always been a great value and I feel better lifting the veil of speculation as to who and where these are made.

One more thing, for the first time in years, NO price increase for all existing model IOR models for 2011. Kudos to Val for recognizing economic realities and taking appropriate measures.

Here's to a great year for IOR scopes....

Next up on the tour was our current ultra-premium line of scopes by Premier Reticles. We touted the Heritage series of scopes as soon as we got a chance to see them a couple of years ago and they have done nothing to let us down. The optics are spectacular, the knobs feel more crisp and defined than ever and the factory service and support has been second to none.

The long awaited 1.1-8x24 V8 has been delayed until late summer so that the optical system can be redesigned for optimum performance and durability. There is no other scope on the planet which looks like this scope, and when the time comes, there is the expectation that no other scope will perform like it. Until then, we anxiously await the V8!!

In my mind, the arrival of the new 3-15x50 Hunter 30mm series is what is really news here. All the optical performance of the tactical Heritage in a lower cost and lighter weight package. Looking through the scopes revealed a "blow your doors off" image that will please the most discriminating optics aficionado. The scopes will be available with or without illumination; forgoing it saves you $200. The capped turrets were nothing to write home about, low profile and resettable to zero but a bit pedestrian so I'm already looking ahead to the development of the "Light Tactical" version of this scope with exposed double-turn knobs with 18mils total travel. This will be the "hot ticket". Get the Gen 2 mildot model and don't look back. This overall package of price and performance will be tough to beat!!!!

Finally, Paul at Premier wanted to make it clear that any Premier Heritage scope that is acquired used or secondhand can be sent to him to have a complete going over and updating to current specs. This is a boon for those of you that acquire an older generation model, and reinforces the commitment that Premier has in providing customer service befitting the top echelon of scope manufacturers. This makes buying a used Premier a safe investment indeed.

We look forward to providing you the best scopes in 2011, Premier.

Sightron was a new benchmark scope line for us in 2010, with the SIII Long Range series providing the best optics and performance of any scope under $1000 for long range shooting. The 6-24x50 was THE best selling SIII scope for us in 2010.

Despite the success of these scopes for us, the scopes were just a couple of thoughtful touches away from being a truly 21st century design....namely matching reticle and turret increments, illumination, exposed knobs, and FFP.

Well, three out of four ain't bad, I'll tell you.

Let's drop FFP from the equation. I feel it is less important than the others, for most of us. It's still a great feature, and we sell tons of FFP scopes, but if we had to pick what was most important I'd pick good tight exposed knobs in increments that match the reticle anyday. Illumination is icing on the cake. FFP is the cherry on top (caveat: most competitors and operators have a different utility for FFP, and thus it's importance goes way up).

Nevertheless, Sightron proves they are watching and listening with the new SIII additions to the lineup, same great 3.5-10x44 (1/10mil turret; 5mils per turn), 6-24x50 (1/10mil turret 5mils per turn), 8-32x56(1/10mil turret, 5mils per turn) and 10-50x60 (0.05mil turret, 2.5mils per turn) mildot scopes with exposed knobs.

The knob feel on these is exactly what you want, crisp (like "breaking glass rods") and tight, a totally different feel from the capped turrets model. Top mounted Torx screw for re-zeroing. Superb optics that were easy to discern on the Level 1 floor. These scopes take an evolutionary step forward and you will be happy.

For you "MOA" guys, Sightron has added a new MOA reticle that for all intents and purposes resembles the IOR MP-8 dot but in 2-moa increments. This will be available in the 6-24x50 and 8-32x56 with 1/4moa exposed knobs.

Finally, the same reticle but with added illumination is now available in the 3.5-10x44 and 10-50x60 series. Only the center dot is illuminated, which I personally like. When it's dark, the only question I have is "where is the bullet going?" This reticle provides the answer. The most under-appreciated scope in the SIII lineup is the 3.5-10x44 series, and when you add a "Tac" illuminated reticle and exposed matching knobs, I will say this scope will be a must have for me come hunting season. The glass is truly superb.

Price and delivery TBD but they will be a super value and worthy additions to the SIII lineup. For you conventional guys, the old models with capped turrets will continue to be offered also.

Last but not least, the "secret squirrel" works demo'd a 1-7x24 model with digitally illuminated 4a dot reticle. A sleek and functional design with amazing glass, current thoughts are this will be a capped turret "dangerous game" model with possible migration to a tactical realm with appropriate changes. Again, amazing optics for a 24mm objective and an exciting design, this "wide zoom" model shows that Sightron is determined to engineer the scopes you want that perform at a level beyond the price point. Stay tuned, you won't be sorry you did...

We conclude with my peeps at Vortex Optics and their ascent into the big, big leagues with a freaking pile of new offerings in scopes, spotters, and binos for 2011. How busy are things at Vortex? It took 15 minutes after my arrival to even be greeted. Yes, I wore deodorant.

Where do we begin? Let's start with the big dog of riflescopes, the 5-20x50 Razor HD. This scope gets a new reticle, the EBR-2B (Bravo) which has numbered holdovers and much more pronounced windage/holdover points...suffice to say my take on it is "so long EBR-2 reticle". 'Nuff said.

The real news is the new ocular housing design. Slightly shorter, with a new illumination hookup, less fussy eye relief and noticeably less tunnel vision, this new eyebox is quite the improvement over the old style. Now here's the punchline: For all you guys who dove into the Razor but bemoan the high magnification sight picture and critical eye relief, Vortex will replace the ocular housing at no charge to you upon receipt of your old scope!! Please note the spare ocular housings are not in stock yet but are expected to be arriving in the spring. I think this is a great example of the extreme dedication of Vortex to their customers and the true commitment of the service they provide. I am impressed.

Unless you have been living under a rock you are probably aware the new Viper PSTs are arriving and dealers will be stocking these in the next few weeks. Long awaited, much anticipated, painfully delayed, with all the features you want, at a most reasonable price, these scopes will be the market leader in the FFP mil/mil or FFP moa/moa category for under $1000. What has shipped has been mostly 1-4x models, and the TMCQ reticle is just superb and I do favor it over the Razor 1-4x EBR-556 (although the Razor's glass is clearly superior). The mil and moa versions of the TMCQ are just fast and intuitive and suitable for longer range precision at 4x also. The "big dog" 4-16 and 6-24 models are arriving soon. We anxiously await your feedback on these scopes! To me, the only point of discussion will be the glass...is it good enough or not? The reticles, knobs, features, warranty, all first class in my book. What are your expectations and will they be met? Stay tuned....

The Viper series of scopes have been quite popular since their inception but the 2-7x. 3-9x, and 4-12x series are gone. Fortunately, the best-selling 6.5-20x44 and 6.5-20x50 series of scopes will soldier on with BDC, mildot, and V-Plex reticles (50mm only). These also have dropped in price too!

What's new are the Viper HS (Hunting/Shooting) 30mm tube series of scopes in a 1-4x (basically a PST 1-4x with capped turrets and TMCQ MOA reticle), 2.5-10x44, and 4-16x44 and 4-16x50 models. These scopes blend the PST and Viper designs, featuring capped turrets with the same nice clicks you expect with finger resettable knobs and a choice of the V-plex or a NEW Dead Hold BDC model that uses hashes in place of the dots (noticeably finer reticle than its predecessor). Eye relief has been improved to about 4" across the board for these scopes. Looking at the 44mm 4-16x model the glass seemed to have a bit of haze at 16x and overall the difference between the optics of this series and that of the Razor series was quite discernible. More evaluation will be needed in a outdoor setting but I think the real topic of discussion for the Viper scopes for 2011 will be the optical quality compared to previous renditions of these scopes. Am I repeating myself?

Of particular note in the Viper HS series are a pair of 4-16x models dubbed the "Long Range" models. Featuring the new Dead Hold BDC reticle, capped windage turrets with an exposed PST-style elevation turret in 1/2moa clicks and the availability of the TMT custom turret for your favorite rifle and load, for around $500 these scopes are a sensible solution for many long range hunters, with 75-80moa of reticle travel, add a 20moa base and 1000 yard shots with a .308 are obtainable, making the scope an excellent budget range and target scope also. I'd opt for the 50mm model myself.

You guys know how much I generally loathe "Made in China" spotting scopes for serious work and the old Vortex Skyline ED models were no exception. Well, Vortex has a new Viper HD series of spotters that looks like is takes Chinese spotters to a whole 'nother level. Two models, 20-60x80 and 15-45x65 feature a heavy rubber armor and picatinny accessory rail, dual focus in both straight or angled models. Within the confines of the show floor the image seemed to have a high resolution and excellent brightness, seeing every detail the Razor HD spotter mounted by its side could see. Available in spring, we will test this spotter outdoors because the pricetag of $799 MAP (20-60x model) demands it. The spec sheet reads like a top end spotter so keep this on your radar and look for the upcoming reviews.

I've always liked Vortex binos and for the money they have exceeded everything I've compared them too, especially the Viper and Diamondback binos. For 2011, three new and revised models are worth your attention.

The new top dog are the completely redesigned Razor HD models. Replacing the old Razor binos, these new models feature the same open hinge design as their predecessor but just plain look better with attractive green and black colors and styling. Optically, Vortex made no bones about it that these are meant to be a "Euro-fighter" with the highest quality optical glass, prisms and coatings. The 8x42 model features a massive 415 feet FOV at 1000 yards and looking through these things the old "doughnut vision" of the old models is a thing of the past. Again, the venue is very tough to make any definitive judgements but the glass exhibited the least amount of physical imperfections I've seen from Vortex and the image appears to be top notch. Models include 8x42, 10x42, 8.5x50, 10x50 and 12x50 with MAP running from $1180 to $1300. Vortex is making a statement that their best is designed to go toe to toe with anything in the world. I can't wait to check these out back home in Montana!

My old fav Viper series binos have been amped up with the new Viper HD models. These binos are very similar to the old (excellent) models but with even better glass and ArmorTek coatings. Close focus distance on the 32mm models is a sick 3 feet and the 8x42 and 10x42 models retain all the compact size and great ergonomics of the old ones. Price is very comparable from last year and looking through these things reaffirms my belief these are still going to be very difficult to beat in the $500-$600 pricepoint no matter who they are up against.

Last, but not least, the best value yet might just be the new Talon HD series. Simplified to two models, 10x42 and 8x42 (425 feet FOV at 1000 yards!) think of these binos as "Razor HD Lites" in appearance and performance. HD glass, ArmorTek lens coatings, phase corrected prisms, and an open hinge design....these turned out so well they actually exceeded the image quality of the old Viper series, which necessitated the higher re-spec of the Vipers into the Viper HD models!! Weight is around 27 ounces which puts them heavier than the Viper HD but lighter than the Razor HD models. MAP is $439-$449 and I've got a feeling these are going to sell very well for Vortex.

Other new goodies include a swing mount for the VMX-3 magnifier (very fast to deploy) and new QD cantilever mounts for 30mm tube scopes (made by ADM). The cantilever mounts feature solid rings instead of split rings and are available with either a 2 inch or 3 inch offset. Price is very similar to current ADM mounts. Just the thing for the 1-4x series of scopes, but workable for any of the 30mm Vortex line for your AR flat-top.

It's going to be an exciting year for Vortex, and it's well earned.

Thanks for stopping by.

Scott

Greetings from the 2011 SHOT Show!

2011-01-17T22:42:00.003-07:00

Reporting from the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas...

Friends,

Well, I'm here, all unpacked and ready to go. It's been a long day to get here and get settled, but tomorrow waits for no one. Already ran into Chris Estadt of Leupold Tactical Division (he was formerly of Vortex) and got some insights on the new Lupy 1.1-8x scope....

First stop is IOR-Valdada....they've had a great year and promised some new goodies for 2011.....after that the plan is to check out Vortex, Sightron, Kowa and Premier Reticles...and we'll take it from there (gotta get my "show legs" in order...a lot of walking!)

Talk to you tomorrow night, and I promise to share everything I learn!

Sincerely,

Scott

Dusting this baby off with a new product sneak peek!

2011-01-13T10:30:00.009-07:00

Friends,

Good to see you again. I didn't keep my promise to update this blog regularly for 2010, but we will start the new year right by showing you a new prototype scope from IOR. The "holy grail" of wide zoom scopes starting with 1x power continues to be searched for by quite a few top end companies. For various reasons, up until this point, no one has brought anything to the market quite yet in other than a 1-6x (exception: March 1-10x) Numerous 1.1-8x or 1-8x scopes are in the pipeline, and not one to be left behind, the guys at Valdada, importer and gatekeeper of the IOR scopes, is debuting a 1-10x of their own.

Here's the low down:

FFP 1-10 x 26 on 35mm Tube.

Dual reticule with super bright lumen dot

30 mils adjustment!!
.1 milrad click value
dual illumination for either the dot, reticule, or both
true 1x power
true 10 power
cat tail on the magnification ring
zero stop with resetting turets
11.50 inches long

The design is pretty much finalized, except for the possibility of eliminating the side focus.

Now, here are the pics! What do you think??

Price TBD, delivery expected around June, can't wait to see the scope and reticle at SHOT Show next week!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Scott

Gunowners Should Expect the Worst from a Lame Duck Congress

2010-08-22T11:26:00.000-06:00

By Aaron Zelman
© Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership

President Obama has recently dropped his cagey and coy dissembling about his true “gun control” plans. In April of 2009 he once again made it completely clear that he was in favor of a renewed “assault weapon” ban. (Now available to watch here on JPFO) Obama is no longer laying low on the issue. We also know where Obama’s socialist Supreme Court appointees Sotomayer (who voted against the McDonald decision), and almost certainly Kagan, stand on citizens owning firearms. Kagan is just another Sotomayer when it comes to 2A. Like Sotomayer, she waffled and said all the right things to gain her confirmation by the Senate. Do you really think Kagan would have voted in favor of Heller or McDonald?

No, who can now seriously doubt that Obama, and those who he’s appointed, are not deeply ingrained enemies of the Second Amendment?

Why this recent renewal of Obama’s true agenda? Up until now Obama knew that he did not have the votes in Congress to pass anti-gun legislation. “Gun control” is, at this time, a political non-starter. So he temporarily put on his sheep’s clothing and played the “moderate” on gun rights. This has well suited his actual wider purpose.

With an anticipated lame-duck session of Congress after the November elections, Obama’s strategy is certain to surface. In many ways it will be a “now or never” opportunity for him. It will also be a last gasp chance at bitter revenge from liberal anti-gun politicians who will have been rejected by an angry November electorate.

Few of the newcomers to Congress will have the slightest bit of sympathy for much of Obama’s agenda. After all, nearly every one of them will have been ushered in because of voters’ fury with the Obama promoted policies. These “newbies” won’t have the slightest inclination to go along with fresh “gun control” schemes.

So Obama truly has nothing to lose…and everything to gain…by pushing with all his might for huge and sweeping “gun control” schemes in the lame-duck session.

Additionally, for many Democrats (and even the more liberal Republicans) who do not face re-election this November, the writing is clearly on the wall. Very simply put: These “representatives” voted for Obamacare. They are also known to be pro-amnesty (or leaning that way) for illegal aliens. Many of them can hear the not-so-distant sound of their plush D.C. office doors slamming behind them on their way out the next time their names appear on a ballot.

Many Democrats (and some Republicans) must be thinking “I’m out of here anyway, either this coming November, or when I next run for re-election. So what have I possibly got to lose by voting for the gun control legislation I’ve secretly wanted all along?” There is a perverse logic at work here. This lame-duck session will likely be a “sour grapes” gathering like none we’ve seen in our lifetimes.

What are some of the things a lame-duck Congress might do to your gun rights? Think hard on these points:

1. The very most dangerous? What if one of the pro-Second Amendment Justices on the Supreme Court dies, or retires for health reasons? A lame-duck session of Congress could push through an anti-gun appointee with no more opposition than the Sotomayor or Kagan confirmations received. The stage will be set for the overturning of both the Heller and the McDonald decisions. Crazy and paranoid? Think again.

2. A renewed “Assault Weapons Ban”. It’s official: Obama wants it. Further sales of so-called “military patterned” rifles would be outlawed, and registration of existing rifles would almost certainly be mandated (as they were in California during the last AWB).

Who cares what the Supreme Court decisions of late have declared? A legal challenge could take several years to filter up to an Obama-stacked Supreme Court to be heard. Your previously unregistered semi-automatic is now on the books and in centralized computer data bases. Damage done. (The U.N. applauding gleefully, I might add.)

3. All used military brass could once and for all be ordered destroyed by a command of Congress. Don’t think the anti-gun cabal ignores ammunition re-loaders. Far from it. By striking economically at ammunition re-loaders, the anti-gun politicians know that they are punishing many of the truly hard core gun owners and 2A advocates. Or maybe the brass won’t be destroyed. Might it be passed along to the U.N. to be reloaded by “International Agencies” for enforcement purposes? Give the brass to the Blue Hats? (Again, U.N. cheers of support.)

4. Ammunition, gun powder, primers, bullets and factory brass could be burdened with huge increases in excise taxes and/or a license to purchase. Congress is desperate for tax revenues. Ammo is, after all, a “public health danger” isn’t it? (Obama and his crew could also use some of that money to further help the U.N. with its Small Arms Treaty.)

5. The U.N. could easily fast track the Small Arms Treaty and it might even be approved by a lame-duck Senate. Hillary Clinton has been busy with this one. She and Obama, and a whole pack of ardent “gun control” supporters, are in full agreement on this deeply anti-American treaty.

6. A lame-duck Congress could very well double (or triple) the size and authority of the goon squad BATFE. Of course this would all be done under the guise of “national security”. The utterly corrupt Mexican government is quite eager to get cozier with the BATFE. What if open gang warfare breaks out north of the border, and dozens of innocents are caught in the crossfire? Liberal politicians and bureaucrats will hysterically resurrect “The 90 Percent Lie”.

7. And, last but not least, gun show sales could be restricted to FFL holders only. The chance to buy unregistered firearms from other private citizens will cease. Required: Form 4473s and F.B.I. NICS Check (and accompanying fees) for every gun sold. The global “gun control” bandwagon continues on its merry way with the aid of burgeoning computerized databases. It cannot be said too often: register, then confiscate. Over and over and over again, history demonstrates this malevolent pattern. See, "Death by Gun Control", and "Innocents Betrayed".

Along with following your conscience and common sense with your time in the voting booth this November, any gun owner who doesn’t take this “window of opportunity” to stock up on guns or ammunition is being downright short sighted.

Politicians have access to ammunition sales volumes via the taxation of the manufacturers. The same goes for gun production volumes. Every new gun and box of ammunition that is bought by the citizenry of this nation is a “vote” for the Second Amendment, the Guardian of the Bill of Rights.

Encourage your friends and neighbors to buy guns and ammo NOW. Buy any and all firearms and ammunition you can afford. Do so as quickly and privately as you possibly can. Take proactive moves now, before a lame-duck Congress and this aggressively anti-American President closes the door even further on your right to protect the lives of yourself and your loved ones.

Also, invest in “intellectual ammunition” for the defense of our liberty by supporting JPFO. Your donations are used efficiently and effectively in our battle to win the “hearts and minds” of intellectually honest Americans, and to expose the enemies of freedom in our midst. JPFO’s materials are the perfect tools for you to use to introduce your friends and neighbors to the importance of widespread gun ownership. Make it a personal goal to bring at least one other person into the ranks of educated gun ownership. Much of our material is free on our website, but please remember that these “freedom tools” cannot be created for free. Thank you for your commitment to American liberty and all the support you provide.

The DISCLOSE Act and the NRA

2010-06-17T12:23:00.001-06:00

Folks,

Another of many reasons I really despise the NRA. They only care about themselves, politically sucking up in Washington DC, while they sell us down the river...

Scott

Free Speech Gag Bill Moving in House
-- Please contact your Reps again

Gun Owners of America E-Mail Alert
8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151
Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408
www.gunowners.org

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

The ability of American citizens to communicate with their elected officials is one of the most important rights that help preserve our freedoms. In fact, of all the forms of speech protected by the First Amendment, political speech is at the top of the list.

This is exactly what the Supreme Court said earlier this year, in Citizens United v. FEC, when it ruled unconstitutional huge portions of the McCain-Feingold law, otherwise known as the Incumbent Protection Act.

Now, in an effort to undo the victory at the Supreme Court, liberals in Congress are attempting to pass the so-called DISCLOSE Act, which would severely limit the ability of GOA to communicate to our members and the general public.

This unconstitutional bill could come to the floor of the House as early as Thursday.

Sadly, as we reported yesterday, some in the pro-gun community have abandoned the principle of protecting the free speech rights of all Americans, so long as their ox is not being gored in this instance.

The NRA, which had previously opposed the DISCLOSE Act, has now accepted a deal to exempt that organization from the bill.

This is a startling about-face by the association.

When the Supreme Court ruled in favor of political speech in Citizens United, NRA executive vice president Wayne LaPierre praised the decision, saying, "This ruling is a victory for anyone who believes that the First Amendment applies to each and every one of us.... This is a defeat for arrogant elitists who wanted to carve out free speech as a privilege for themselves and deny it to the rest of us." (Emphasis added.)

That's a far cry from the NRA statement to Congress this week regarding legislation specifically designed to undo that Supreme Court decision.

"On June 14, 2010, Democratic leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives pledged that H.R. 5175 [DISCLOSE Act] would be amended to exempt groups like the NRA, that meet certain criteria, from its onerous restrictions on political speech," reads the statement.

"As a result, and as long as that remains the case, the NRA will not be involved in final consideration of the House bill."

Apparently it's ok to "carve out" a little free speech if you're in the role of the "elitists."

But the misguided NRA exemption will leave millions and millions of gun owners and sportsmen belonging to dozens of different organizations out in the cold.

We cannot allow this to happen. An attack on our First Amendment rights is a direct assault on our Second Amendment rights. After all, if GOA can't alert you about legislation affecting your Second Amendment rights, then we cannot protect those rights.

Of course, that's precisely what the politicians in Washington want. Shut out the voices of the "commoners" like gun owners and Tea Party activists who are coming to -- in the words of Senate candidate Rand Paul of Kentucky -- "take our government back!"

There's a reason the Bill of Rights is considered as an entire unit, and an attack on one part of the Constitution poses a threat to the whole document.

In short, if GOA loses this battle, all political organizations -- of any size -- will ultimately lose.

ACTION: Please ask your congressman to vote against the anti-gun DISCLOSE Act. This bill could come to the floor of the House as early as Thursday, June 17, 2010. Here's what you can do:

1. Urge your congressman to oppose HR 5175.

2. Urge the NRA to change its position and stand with Gun Owners of America. You know that GOA is the organization that consistently refuses to compromise on principle. Even still, GOA has fought alongside the NRA many times to fight unconstitutional legislation, and it is imperative that we fight side-by-side on this issue as well. It has often been said that, "We either hang together or we will hang alone." But impress upon the NRA management that being the last one hung doesn't make the situation any better. You can call the NRA at (800) 392-VOTE (8683).

Food for thought...

2010-03-24T22:57:00.002-06:00

Friends,

It is the gut feeling of many I converse with that ObamaCare signals the beginning of the end of America as we know it, short of a revolt, perhaps led by the states.

Here is an interesting viewpoint in a "big picture" perspective.

http://www.breitbart.tv/does-health-care-law-signal-u-s-empire-decline/

Can't find much to argue with here....

Scott

Tea Party Rebellions go Mainstream

2010-02-19T22:02:00.001-07:00

Friends,

Great reading, and note it's from the Nations's "Newspaper of Record"

http://http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/16/us/politics/16teaparty.html?pagewanted=1

Enjoy!

Scott

Bushnell Elite 4200 3-12x44 FFP in stock too!

2010-02-19T21:56:00.000-07:00

Friends,

Just arrived, the new Bushnell Elite 4200 3-12x44 FFP in stock for $699 shipped!! I like this scope better than the 6-24x50.

Scott

New Bushnell 6-24x50 FFP Tactical in stock!

2010-02-02T14:40:00.001-07:00

Just arrived, the new FFP Tac model with mildot, 1/10 mil knobs, green illumination, $799 shipped.

Scott

SHOT Show Day 4: It's a wrap

2010-01-23T00:31:00.001-07:00

Friends,

Nothing earth shattering today in a short day, but I did manage to be productive.

Inked the deal with Aimpoint, we will be a "LE" designated dealer. We bought a little of everything.

Today's reviews:

Burris: I've been harsh on Burris in the past, for good reason, but I haven't called the current weather yet, so I sought them out at the Steiner booth and for the first time in 4 years I really checked them out, especially the Euro Diamond and Tactical which is their best. Conclusion: Still junk. Love the "Invisible knobs" where you can hear the clicks but can't feel a darn thing. The wire reticles are so badly finished is looks like someone painted them with a brush, with different colors. The optics were simply OK. I think these are made to make someone money and there is little to no effort in making these a good product. If you have to have one, you won't get it from us.

Meopta: These guys have always had decent glass and are an OEM manufacturer for many "name brand" optics. The manufacturer behind the curtain, so to speak. Nice hunting scopes with crappy turrets. One scope had stated 1/4moa knobs but the numbers were not correctly marked (a common problem with Meopta SHOT show samples, it seems). They do have a new 1-4x K-Dot variant with holdovers with very bright daytime illumination, but the reticle is very faint without it. Overall, these are still decent European optics but nothing special and no real tactical value. Some things never change.

Barrett: Always been a fan of Ronnie Barrett, both of his products, his personality, and his politics. His relatively new Director of Sales, Kyle Lynch, epitomizes "stand up". We won't be selling their rifles, but we will be offering their rings. 30 and 34mm alloy designed for hard kicking guns and long picatinny top rails, like for Barrett, DTA, and more. The 34mm will be available in two heights and the 30mm will be had in four. Alloy rings with T25 Torx screws, "zero gap" technology, over 1" wide, price point around $199, these rings I predict will be a "go to" solution for many long range shooters in 2010.

Zero Tolerance Knives: I remember when these first debuted and I reported on it on my first SHOT Show report. I've been strictly optics since we started but maybe it's time to test the waters. Great quality knives and a consistent dealer pricing structure. Good people too.

Rokon: I still want one, but should have bought it last year, as this year's "SHOT Show Special" is nothing special at all. The olive drab Trailbreaker I'm told is the one to get, with the Kohler engine. It sure looks cool. Looks perfect for the NW Montana mountains.

BAE Systems: Their first SHOT show, these guys specialize in mobile security i.e. armored SUV's and trucks. For $160,000 you can get a grenade resistant Toyota Land Cruiser, brand new from the factory, with all required axle/tranny/suspension/engine upgrades to haul around the 3500 pounds of armor plating you now carry. Armor piercing bullet protection is an optional upgrade, not standard, so be sure to ask questions if you seek to create your own Batmobile. Nice people and a fascinating industry.

Well, that about it. I will conclude that overall there was very little really new and exciting optics, except for the Vortex PSTs. Vortex is the tip of the spear right now. There is a trend to make a 1.1-8 or 1-8x versatile riflescope for tactical applications but no one on the show floor had the finished product. And I bet Trijicon will steal all their thunder down the road anyway.

Also, I learned for the first time today that Kowa spotters are widely used by the US military, including the Navy SEALS, Army and Navy shooting teams, Secret Service, and USMC. This is not very common knowledge but even further validates why we recommend Kowa spotters!

Thanks for stopping by. I'll be posting pretty regularly here this year and look forward to interacting with you.

Scott

SHOT Show: Day 3

2010-01-21T11:23:00.007-07:00

Friends,

Got my "show legs" under me, and we're over the hump now. Today was slower paced, but lots of QT with some choice manufacturers.

Sightron: Sightron has a vast array of scope choices, but for our purposes we recommend and sell the SIII long range model the most. For the money, the combination of glass quality, reticle travel, ruggedness and repeatability can not be beat. In the SIII series, three new 8-32x56 and new 10-50x60 models debuted. The 8-32 have exposed 1/4moa knobs with 70moa of travel, and finally a mildot reticle, in addition to a fine crosshair and a long range target dot (about half the size of crosshair as the previous dot reticle). The new 10-50x60 are big scopes with 1/8moa knobs, 50moa of travel, and either a target dot or fine crosshair reticle. While these types of scopes aren't my cup of tea, I know darn well there is a market out there for magnification junkies and the SIII are sure to please at a fraction of the price of competing brands.

For me, the surprising news was the arrival of a trio of tactical 30mm fixed power scopes, the 1042, 16x42, and 20x42. These have EXPOSED 1/4 moa knobs with 150moa of travel, a new mildot reticle with 1/2 mil hashes in between the dots, rear parallax adjustment (right where you'd expect the mag ring to go) that focuses down to 10 yards, great glass! These definitely seem like an offshoot of the Super Sniper series and I'm guessing that is squarely where they are aiming for market share. I do not have prices yet but these scopes have such a wide range of applications and quality fixed power scopes at a decent price aren't too common, so I'm glad these are here!

Talked to Alan Orr and met Eden at the booth, and these are great folks. I will say I viewed a prototype variable "tac" scope that I can't comment on but I assure you Sightron is listening to the needs of shooters and they will get there with styles and features you want. I did officially beg them to stick the new mildot in the fixed powers in all the SIII LR variables. A very nice and practical reticle.

Another new product for these guys is the S33 Mil electronic sighting device, with a 5moa red dot and 8 position rheostat, plus a new Auto setting which adjusts the dot intensity based on ambient conditions (there is a mini-sensor in the illumination knob) plus two NV compatible settings. Since the Millet/Bushnell zoom dot is now assembled in Mexico (and not made here anymore), the S33 is my new hip pick for a rugged mid-priced red dot sight.

Swarovski: Of course, other than their high performing LRF, there is nothing really in the House of Optik that we would be interested in selling. Of course, looking through a few hunting scopes will get you an education on what top notch glass looks like. The real news for me was a conversation with Clay Taylor, the Naturalist Markets Manager for Swav. This guy is a fellow optics junkie and was refreshing honest and real when it came to assessing the state of the industry and how products have evolved. He explained the meaning and practical significance of what manufacturers mean by "HD" or "ED" glass as well as anyone I've ever seen. He understands the dynamics of designing and marketing top shelf glass and the challenges manufacturers face when deciding what compromises they will choose when designing a new optics system. The conversation turned to spotters and the use of fluorite crystal in eliminating chromatic aberration. Kowa is still the only one to use pure fluorite in a spotting scope (or any sporting optic for that matter) in the 88mm Prominar series. This material poses many practical challenges for a field use optic , but the results, in terms of pure image quality, are second to none. Apparently, in Swavs own in-house testing, the Prominar 88mm came out tops in pure image quality! I've been saying this all along and Clay's honesty was a revelation. Obviously, Swarovski's spotters are top shelf and their 65mm models consistently rank at the top of the heap. In technical terms, with the short focal length the Kowa does make sacrifices in other areas, but for you and I the practical result is that the Prominar 88mm is the envy of the industry. Anyway, this is the first friendly conversation I had at the Swav booth in years and I appreciate it.

Aimpoint: Playing it close to the vest in a shaky economy, we haven't gone crazy adding new stuff to our bag of tools lately. However, we do lack a consistent red dot brand, and Aimpoint easily has the best brand recognition of any of them. I think we will be an authorized dealer before the show is finished. That and USO are the targeted new brands for the portfolio. The Aimpoint reps spent a great deal of time with me and Ilya and we were treated very well. Aimpoint has new "Hunter" sights with 30mm and 34mm tubes, digital illumination controls and lots of marketing hype, but it's a red dot, keep in mind. The T-1 and H-1 micro series do everything you need them to. I even learned to use the Aimpoint with both eyes open, and I'm cross-dominant. Drop me a line if there are particular models you favor, as I admit the "long range game" is my thing and I'm not too hip on the CQB stuff....

Trijicon: We had a good year with Trijicon, and they are a key cog in the Liberty Optics business model. Practical weapon sights for any carbine or battle rifle, we have been slow to get them in stock and quick to move them. The real debate is the red vs. green reticle color. I like the red; Trijicon tells me green is the best. While it is bright and easy to pick up and works well at night, I don't like the green for general field use; perhaps I am being stubborn. But make it red for me. There are no really new products at SHOT for Trijicon except they will be selling an OEM Bobro mount, very slick little QD mount that obviously meets Trijicon's standards. I've heard great things about the Bobro design but never saw one before. The ring caps screws tighten from underneath, so the rings have a seamless profile with no holes on top.

The real exciting news was the whispers of a 1-6x or 1-8x Accupoint with BDC reticles like the ACOG. I'll go out on a limb here and say if Trijicon pulls that off that will be a game changer. Probably the last scope you would ever own for many battle rifle setups. Keep your fingers crossed!!

Schmidt & Bender: I've always held these scopes in high regard, but the news today will make you (and me) question my sanity. I looked closely at three scopes: The 3-12x50 SDSS, the 1-8x24 PM ShortDot (new), and the new 5-25x56 PMII/LP/MTC/Lt.

The 5-25 has a new "sand" ceramic coating, new 14mils per turn lockable turret (there is a collar around the turret that lifts up to free the turret, and snaps down to lock), with 26mils total travel, MTC knobs, 10 meter focus (whatever the hell for), an MTC click at the "zero" setting on the windage knob, and a Horus (did I say that again?) reticle with illumination. This is a dandy scope but for less $$ the Premier 5-25 will work just as well.

The biggest shock was the $3500 3-12x50 SDSS with Gen 2 XL and MTC knobs. I was all set to buy this from another dealer for $3200 for my personal stick until I actually examined the darn thing. It just feels different than the other S&B scopes. Very light and tinny. I noticed some ghosting and a less then eye-popping image when looking through the darn thing. My gut screamed that this scope was not worth the money. I have no idea what the heck is going on but this scope is not like other, traditional PMIIs IMHO.

The biggest turd was the 1-8x24 ShortDot. Note to manufacturers: IF your scope on the table in the biggest trade show of its type in the world is indeed a true prototype then PLEASE mark the darn thing as such. I was very critical of this scope on the show floor and someone chimed in "it's just a prototype" (not the S&B booth personnel, mind you). This scope was just really weak. The distortion was noticeable in the NW quadrant of the field of view, the illumination had major issues with "smearing" or "ghosting" and was poorly done, and overall the scope did not justify its high price tag. In fact, none of the "1-8" scopes on the table throughout the show by any manufacturer were impressive at all; is technology not capable of getting such a sight done right?

The good news is that S&B announced a new US service center in Newington New Hampshire. This is a good thing, and puts it on par with Premier and ahead of Hensoldt in this game.

Kowa Optimed: Kowa has been our flagship spotter for the last two years now, and although there is nothing new for 2010, the product lineup is excellent. There is an ongoing rebate program for the Genesis binoculars. And, like Carl Zeiss, Kowa is the 2nd manufacturer we handle to announce no new price increases for 2010. This is a conscious decision and one that Kowa mgmt needs to be lauded for. Josh Lazenby is Kowa's on the ground product manager and he is one savvy operator. His mojo has guided him to slash inventory on slow-moving products and keep the better movers, which has kept operations for Kowa on track in difficult times.

We want to sell more Kowa than ever in 2010. I will tell you that my observations of the 82SV has resulted it in moving up in our rankings and it still is probably the best non-ED spotter on the market today.

Leica: Leica had new (to us) riflescopes on display, two hunting models, a 2.5-10x42 and a 3.5-14x42 with side focus. While the turrets are nothing to write home about, the optical system is very impressive indeed. No tunnel vision, a bright, clear and very contrasty (is that a word?) image, "Hensoldt-like" non-critical eye relief. A very nice platform to launch from and if Leica will grow a pair and tune in to the tactical market these scopes hold a lot of promise. Of course, I have zero data on reliability, but the scopes are damm impressive in the showroom.

Kahles: Back from the dead, it looks like Gamo Outdoor USA is the new importer/distributor of Kahles scopes. The scopes on the stand were the exact same scopes I saw three years ago. Excellent optics, but still a time warp.

Burris: I though I had an amazing story when Burris was not listed in the SHOT program or visible on the floor. Turns out they are sharing a booth with Steiner, and are both owned by Beretta. I've shied away from Burris for sometime but its time I take a closer look at these, which I hope to tomorrow. I haven't checked them out in awhile.

Shepherd Enterprises: OK, I've been keen on these for quite sometime, but our customers have never really demanded them. I spent some time there and Sally and Glen Shepherd were noticeably absent from the booth. But Dan Shepherd was there and the fill-in crew was very pleasant. Bottom line: they have the same products since I first started doing business almost 7 years ago. I pick on Nightforce for being slow to change, but these guys are sitting firmly on their haunches. Talk about complacency....

Doug at CameraLand: Doug frequents many forums I post on, but he does so many more than I do. I was once critical of him and resentful of the competition on the shooting forums, but I've grown up. We met today for the first time for about 45 minutes (he's a busy man who seems to thrive on little sleep). I did my best to speak little and listen much. The guy is a master businessman, with loads of experience and lots of great advice. He gave me much food for thought. Suffice to say I've turned over a new leaf and I've grown to greatly respect him.

What is exciting for me is we have completely different takes on the Minox riflescopes. He says it will be a "huge" seller. I say the scope is total crap, and has no place in a serious rifleman's battery. His customer base is much bigger than mine, so I could be wrong.

But I shouldn't be.

Time will tell, and I can't wait for the results!

Thanks for your time Doug. And for your sake, Go Jets!

Tomorrow, I'll be wrapping up, and I'll try to have some fun. Necessary visits are Barrett, Meopta, Burris, and Kruger Optical. Optional visits are any darn gun and knife booth I can get my hands on.

See you tomorrow (actually, later today!)

Scott

News Flash: Premier gets 2nd Half of the USMC contract

2010-01-21T10:13:00.002-07:00

Folks,

Just talked to Paul at Premier and the ECP for the 3-15x50 was approved for the SDSS. The 3-15x50 Heritage will soon be issued an NSN number, so no exports soon, at least from us.

This is great news for Premier. The bottom line is that this is a big kick in the pants for them from a monetary standpoint and hopefully lay to rest the rumors of their impending demise.

Just talked to Chris and he expects this to increase commercial availability in the future due to production demand and the need for parts and other services to back up the contract. So that is good news for us and our customers who demand them.

Scott

SHOT Show: Day 2

2010-01-20T22:30:00.004-07:00

Folks,

A much better day today. Hung out with the Dark Lord of Optics aka Ilya Koshkin and we covered a lot of ground. I'm focusing on mostly the new stuff from these manufacturers today.

A modification of my Day 1 post is that the main room in Level 2 of the show is actually much like the old Convention Center in either Vegas or Orlando, tall ceilings with sodium style lighting and about 150 yards of line of sight possible, but this location is the only decent one at the Sands for checking out glass. The rest of the floorplan is BRUTAL for optics evaluations.

Let's get to it....

Premier Reticles: I posted here last year the "discovery" of the Premier Heritage scopes and the amazing glass and features they had. Fast forward one year and we sold more than anybody for 2009. Both the 3-15x50 and the 5-25x56 have been dandy scopes for us, and our data indicate 97.4% of all Heritage sold have given us zero issues. Premier's own data gives about a 1% defect rate. Overall, these scopes have worked very well for us and most importantly they have worked for our customers. I understand there has been a whirlwind of rumors about the health of PR and its President is a bit HTL (Hard to Love) but we've received every scope we ordered and we are onboard for 2010.

The new scope on the table for 2010 is the 1.1-8x24 V8. This is quite possibly the oddest looking scope we've seen in awhile. The turret housing is placed way forward on the 34mm tube with a stubby tube in front of it and a looooooong mounting area behind it, with mini-sized turrets with the lever-lock and 86moa of travel. The reticle is very unique in function, with a FFP mildot type reticle with hollow circles and full-line illumination at 3x - 8x. When the scope is turned below 3x, a second focal plane projected red dot kicks on for CQB use! The idea is that the transition from FFP long range precision reticle to SFP red dot is as seamless as turning the mag ring. The rheostat is 11 position with "off" settings between each one, with the three lowest settings being for NV.

I think this scope has interesting potential but I'd like to see the finished product first before commenting further. Same great Premier glass, though.

The 5-25 had the Horus reticle in it; I wish I had bought stock in Horus last year. No less than four brands of scopes (PR, Leupold, USO, and S&B) displayed the H37 reticle or variant in them at the show today!

David at Premier had a nice moa reticle drawing for me to look at; I told him that moa/moa scopes were desired by probably only a max of 10% of our clientele right now; more like 5%,mil/mil is in! Let me know if you disagree.

We are happy to be selling the Premier riflescopes and look forward to their continued growth and success.

Hensoldt: Ironically, Hensoldt was located right next to Premier for the show (delicious irony for Sniper's Hide members). Both manufacturers were stuck in a ballroom which really didn't do the scopes justice, no way they could stretch their legs, so to speak. I reported last year about purple halos around the point sources of light when looking through the scopes in Orlando, it is apparent to me that the light source definitely had a role to play, as I could not induce this type of chromatic aberration in the current environment. To be sure, Hensoldt does have an "easy" sight picture with "zero" tunnel vision effect, very sweet glass and highly advanced optical systems. For the money, the knobs lack a zero stop and they are nothing special, and the choice of reticles is pretty limited. But the quality is there and Ilya feels these are close to perfection as can be had. No doubt they belong in the top tier of the tactical scope world.

The Spotter 60 has resolution and contrast that is off the charts, but it is $5K+.

For those that have the coin, and are comfortable with the features, Hensoldts won't disappoint. But for "working class" folks the value really isn't there, IMO.

Zeiss: One thing I want to say right up front is that Carl Zeiss Sport Optics needs to be lauded for their express commitment to not raise prices in 2010. ALL 2009 pricing applies for all the models in the lineup. This was a corporate decision in the face of the current troubled economy and Zeiss will not toot their horn about it but I will, as looking at 2010 pricing for all other makes shows increases across the board. Kudos to Zeiss.

Some big news is the introduction of the trick, but pricey 8x56 and 10x56 T* RF laser rangefinding binoculars. I'm not crazy about an "all in one" solution in the field, if something happens to the piece of equipment you are out money and functionality but for the man who craves the latest technology in the field these are the answer.

We have enthusiastically supported and endorsed the Victory 8x26 PRF laser rangefinder since its introduction, it performs its job very well, with great optics, speed and precision, at a fair price. For 2010, this baby gets LotuTec coatings for even better fieldabilty. Did I mention no increase in price?

Finally, the most impressive new item to me was the Victory FL riflescopes, which are slowly but surely blurring the lines between the "civilian" and "tactical" Zeiss riflescopes, with SFP reticles, FL apochromatic optics, a beefed up turret housing, LotuTec coatings, and new turrets!

Three models are available - the 4-16x50, the 6-24x56 and the 6-24x72 (34mm tube!). Six different reticles are available, with four of them illuminated. The illuminated mildot is available in either 6-24 model (I wish it was in the 4-16!!) and would be "my guys" reticle of choice. The new turrets feature 20moa per turn, 1/4moa in the 6-24 and 1/3moa (1/10mil?) in the 4-16. They actually lock in place, with a pull-up or pull-out ring that allows turning of the knobs. In the "hunting" BDC turret, you can turn one revolution after setting your zero. In the "shooting" BDC knob, you may turn the knob all the way to max travel. Both of these knobs are uncapped, exposed. Reticle adjustment is just under 60moa so mount up on a 20moa base for maximum utility.

New spotting scopes are on tap in all black, the old green and silver ones were made by Meopta in the Czech Republic so I'm not sure what is new about these spotters, whether they are built in Germany again or something else. I'm going to visit their booth again, to answer these questions and to check out their new night vision 5.6x62 LT*.

Bushnell: I reported here last year that Bushnell seemed to be the most innovative optics company out of the "Big 3" (Leupold, Nikon, Bushnell) and that their new mildot FFP spotter held a lot of promise for a budget tactical spotter. Well, the FFP mildot Excursion was a disaster, to say the least, with a 15% return/defect rate on the 50 units we received, including water inside a couple of the spotters, right out of the box. I'm not talking "vapor", I'm talking "aquarium". Worst yet, was how this issue (and a couple of minor issues with the Elite 6500 scopes) were handled. Badly. For some odd reason, Bushnell's customer service and warranty claim service plummeted off a freaking cliff. Something's wrong at Bushnell. It looks like they have gone corporate, where the left hand doesn't know where the right hand is doing; and worse, doesn't seem to care. Buyer beware, just sayin.

Nevertheless, my focus is on the product, and a customer tip led me to the new Elite 4200 FFP riflescopes. Two models: a 6-24x50 (13mils of reticle travel) and a 3-12x44 (20mils of travel). Exposed 1/10 mil tactical knobs, 30mm tube, very decent glass. The knobs are simple and effective, with decent clicks. Reticle is a standard mildot. All was good until I switched on the illumination...green only. Why is so much green illumination koolaid being drunk nowadays?? Maybe in a CQB optic (a la Trijicon), but for long range low light work red is still king. At a price tag of $700-$800, just wait for the Vortex Viper PST if you can and all the goodies in a logical arrangement,

The other new product of note was the new Fusion 1600 LRF binos, with a 1200 yard laser. The glass has a slight greenish tint when viewed through it, and the LRF worked OK enough, but at $700+ street price, I’d just get a Zeiss PRF and be done with it.....

Redfield: Owned by Leupold, and made here (I'm sure some imported parts apply), the new Redfield scopes are actually pretty decent glass for under $200. The knobs and mechanics do not excite me at all, but my overall assessment is these are pretty good for the coin. If you want a cheap hunting scope and these come truly marked "Made in the USA" for production models, go for it. However, if you want a superior hunting scope for under $200, look no further than the Vortex Diamondback, the best kept secret in the industry....

Leupold: Maybe, just maybe, someone at the "Big L" has felt the twinge of all the cyber-bashing they've taken over the last couple of years (deservedly so). Looking at the Mark 4 series, I see a new generation illumination with NV-compatible settings, "off" setting between illumination settings, a common-sensical CR2032 battery for all scopes, the return (after only a 1-year hiatus) of the "fast-focus" diopter eyepiece, M4 (0.05 mil) and M5 (0.1 mil) knobs (look and act just like the M1 models), new Xtended Twilight optics, new FFP models, people in the tactical booth who actually have a clue (thanks, Brad Brumfield). So, it looks like progress is finally being made.

Of serious interest are two new models, one long range in a coyote finish (both 8.5-25 and 6.5-20 models) and the other a versatile 1.1-8x24 model.

For the long range model, this was a very big scope. FFP. 34m tube, a massive elevation knob (1/10 mil) with a locking turret; push down on the button centrally located on top of the turret to rotate it, release to lock it. Large capped windage knob, a great side focus, 20mils total travel. A Horus reticle completed the package. Honestly, the optics weren't all that great, and this scope seems to be built in response to a military contract, but to see something that is such a radical departure for Lupy is encouraging. The final product should be available in the summer, but the expected price tag (just under $3k) puts it at odds with well established Euro competitors and I'll wait and see with this.

The other scope is a 1.1-8x24, with a 34mm tube (yes, seems odd), the CQBSS model. Mil/mil. 40 mils of adjustment, FFP, two reticles: A TMR with some type of telemetric scale at the bottom, with the outer bars (not the TMR portion itself) illuminated, and a Horus H27 with a CQB style holographic red dot projected over the crosshairs. On this model, there was a definite "uneveness" of the illumination on the etched reticle piece. When you panned the scope in a vertical motion the holograph got bright, then dim, then bright. Not sure what was going on. The knobs are yet another twist...lockable, but you squeeze the sides of the turrets to unlock them (pics will really help here, we'll get 'em up soon) on two movable halves to unlock, and turn the knob. The ocular is large, knurled, and straight. The optical performance/sight picture was just OK. The estimated price tag is over $3K. It looks like this scope is yet another entry into a military contract. It's definitely different and it definitely holds a lot of promise!

Minox: Good news: The Minox HG binos are now being manufactured in Germany, and a new APO series (8x43 ands 10x43) makes their debut and I'll say these are some really sweet new spyglasses. Really a great value for the money, a hopefully flagship return for Minox to bino prominence.

Bad news: I really checked out the new Minox riflescopes. They proclaim Schott glass and Minobright coatings in the optics. The rest is sketchy. I'll tell you where the tube and mechanics are made: China. The optics were unimpressive. The turrets were off the shelf Chinese and they sucked. The overall impression of the scope was pretty poor. Lots of ghosting and flare with the optics and mushy, weak knobs, so you need to run like the wind. Tell you what; buy one of these and tell me where you live so I can bring an offering basket so you can throw your money away for a good cause instead.

March scopes: These highly regarded benchrest scopes have had quite the buzz in 2009, and after Ilya saw them yesterday and was highly excited about them. I had to take a peek myself. These are high quality Japanese semi-custom scopes with obscene 10x multiplier ranges, like 1-10x, 2.5-25x, 5-50x, etc, with parallax adjustments down to 10 yards in many cases. In other words, these were extremely engineered scopes.

I looked primarily at the 1-10x and 2.5-25x models. These scopes are very nicely made, with positive click turrets in 1/4 moa with 25moa per turn, a simple but effective collar that functioned as a zero stop, superb side focus knobs that housed a 4-setting rubber covered illumination knob, and excellent fit and finish.

Where I struggled was the sight picture. I really hated it. To my eyes, it was dull, fuzzy, and the image had some distortion along the edges. This really bothered me b/c Ilya was really impressed, but I spent a lot of time with these scopes. The reticles were too fine for my tastes, and I could rarely get a good clear image. Ilya lauded the pure resolution of the optics but for my eyes there was such poor contrast I couldn't get to the point of assessing resolution. There simply was no "wow" factor for me......YMMV....

For over $2000, I expected much more. Granted, the Sands environment did the glass no favors, but even so, these scope just didn't work for me.

That'll do it for tonight. Tomorrow, we'll post on Trijicon, Sightron, Kowa, Aimpoint, S&B, Hawke, Weaver, and more....

Thanks for stopping by. See you tomorrow.

Scott

SHOT Show: Day 1

2010-01-19T21:59:00.003-07:00

Friends,

Day 1 has come and gone. Right up front I'll say I didn't have my "A" game today. I've come to the realization that I really do not dig Vegas at all. After nearly 2 years in Big Sky country coming to a place like this is like landing on another planet. It started with the rude, foreign cab driver that picked me up at the airport (after being herded by an obnoxious security guy to a numbered waiting station to wait for a cab). I asked him to take me to my hotel (on the strip)and not use the interstate (a common ploy where they drive fast but take the long way to get to your destination, for extra fare). He didn't like my suggestion, but off we went. I asked him how he was doing, he said fine, then cranked up the radio. Hey, I can take a hint. Then he took a call on a cell phone and spoke in I don't know what language until all the way to the hotel. My fare was $19.30. I gave the jerk a $20.

I'm at the Venetian, which is fairly luxurious digs for this country boy. It better be for $250 a night. The advantage is the SHOT show is walking distance from my room. The disadvantage is no refrigerator. I mean, not one fridge in the entire place, and here in Vegas, where anything and everything is for sale, I can't BUY a fridge for my room. $250 a night and no way to stock up on cold beverages, are you freaking kidding me.

Add in the crowds, the smoke, the high prices for everything, the new venue (more on that shortly) and forgetting my map and I wasn't on fire for opening day.

Two silver linings: 1) The housekeeping lady did an awesome job, even folding and stacking my dirty clothes, arranging the bathroom toiletries on clean towels and tucking my dirty socks into my shoes. 2) The Canyon River spa, which I paid $20 extra on top of my daily $15 resort fee to use the steam and sauna facilities. The steam room did wonders for the aching muscles, but they also had two new items, "Experimental rain" where you stand in a stall and push a button on either "Cool fog", "Caribbean rain" or "Tropical storm" and down comes the cool water, scents, and lighting to simulate the aforementioned scenarios, very refreshing, just like getting caught at the beach in a downpour; and then "The Igloo" which is a 35-40 degree room with more cool water, with the choices of scents being "Aroma 1", "Aroma 2", or "Aroma 3". Now that's descriptive. For the record, Aroma 2 has a minty smell and feel that is the "go to" choice here....

Obviously, this has nothing to do with optics, but hopefully you are channeling my mood, and giving me a mulligan for a somewhat unproductive day.

On to the show...

First off, I want to tell you the Sands Expo is a terrible choice of venue for evaluating optics. The show floor is broken up into 10 different rooms of all sizes, from very large to very small, with very low ceilings, high walls between manufacturer booths, and uneven "ballroom" style lighting and fixtures. There are few lines of sight of any appreciable distance, and no windows to the outside world. It's pretty lame. At least in the old Convention Center or even in Orlando you had real tall ceilings, with tons of point source lighting, dark shadows and nooks and crannies up in the rafters, and the ability to focus on objects from 200-300 feet away. You also had the ability to peek outside sometime. But all that is out with the Sands. So the subjective evaluation of the glass just got a whole lot more difficult. We'll see how it pans out after a few more days, but I didn't get all warm and fuzzy playing with the glass today.

The first stop was Vortex Optics, who had a small booth in the 2nd level LE section and a larger spot on the first level section. I've been ringing the bell on these guys since their debut at SHOT a few years ago, and I must say they have not disappointed. Still the best folks in the industry, great business model, strong ethics, a pattern and history of innovation and listening to the customers needs, and great quality for the price, Vortex is where most of you should look when in need of glass, at any price point.

Vortex introduced the Razor HD 5-20x50 riflescope late in 2009, and those of who aren't hip to this beastly scope, are really missing out. Featuring an excellent rangefinding FFP illuminated reticle in either milrad or moa subtensions, 125+moa of travel, huge exposed 1/10 mil or 1/4moa knobs with patent pending zero stop, top notch Japanese glass, 35mm tube, and construction and tolerance specs similar to a Swiss watch, the Razor HD is a combat-ready optic for under $2K. We have this scope in stock, and it will earn its due in the near future.

Debuting at the show was the 5-20's little brother, the 1-4x24 Razor. 30mm tube, all the quality of Vortex's best, this little scope features either a CQMR-1 MOA reticle (sort of a crosshair) with a customized elevation knob (BDC for XM193 and M855) or the EBR-556 moa BDC reticle (a smart design but an asymmetrical reticle that would be an acquired taste in an .223 optic). Both reticles are illuminated FFP, with a 11-position rheostat on the side, and feature 200moa of adjustment. While wonderful little scopes that MAP in the $1200 range, with the choice of reticles provided, I must say "But Chuck, there just was no love connection!" Another factor influencing this is the introduction of the Razor's poorer, but sweeter cousin, the Viper PST 1-4x24 with the fast and furious TMCQ reticles in either moa or mils.....a decent segue into the long awaited Viper PST line...

The Viper PST (Precision Shooting Tactical) are a highly anticipated line of scopes that feature all the bells and whistles "my guys" want today; FFP, illumination, exposed knobs in increments that match the reticle subtensions, rugged construction, good glass, all without breaking the bank. While all I viewed were prototypes...

...I'll say Vortex has succeeded in their mission, which is good news for us!

My first impression of the new PST were "NXS Lite" as in Nightforce. The four models offered asr the aforementioned 1-4x24, the 2,5-10x44, the 4-16x50, and the 6-24x50 (the latter two available in FFP). All business in matte black, the eyeboxes are all Razor and the knobs are reminiscent of the excellent NXS turrets. While the clicks were a bit light for my tastes, Vortex has assured me they will be tightened up before the production models hit the showroom. The reticles in the long range models are similar to the Nightforce MLR and are well executed. All models a CRS (Customizable Rotational Stop) which is a somewhat crude, but effective zero stop system using stackable washers. In the SFP models there are even numbers on the back side of the magnification ring that correspond to the multiplication factor needed to correct for ranging on powers other than the synchronized one!

The 1-4x model has a great reticle and great eye relief!

All in all, I'm having a tough time imagining anyone being disappointed with the Viper PSTs. With pricing from $500 - $900, there is a ton of value in these scopes and I expect demand to be high, even with a good supply projected this year. Arriving in April or May of this year, order yours early!

Vortex wasn't done, though...

The recently introduced Viper R/T 10x50 binos were on display, featuring Armor-Tek lens coatings and the R/T rangefinding reticle. There are outstandingly clear binos, with a reticle focus, dipoter, and central focus, getting the reticle and image in sharp focus an easy task. Like most of the Viper line, the image does exhibit some distortion at the extreme tops and bottoms of the field of view, which affects the reticle also, but overall these are sweet binos. My only other nitpick are the eyecups, stiff and unforgiving, they will gouge the inside of your eyesockets; I am told a new silicon rubber matter (softer) and/or a possible redesign in the works, which would be a good thing. They do fold down or remove if you want. Price is about $680 MAP.

I think the stealthy new product for Vortex are the Recon Mountain R/T spotting scopes. These come in 10x50 and 15x50 flavors, 7 inches long, under a pound, with both a belt/Molle carry clip and a hand strap, Pic rail mounting and attachment points, Viper level glass and coatings with ArmorTek (sweet) and the R/T reticle, these things are a versatile tool. The icing on the cake is the new VMS (Versatile Mount System) which stabilizes the Recon for field use, allows an array of accessories and/or other optics (NV, thermal imaging, etc) and is totally modular. Don't wanna take my word for it? I've got it on good info that one has already been squirreled away by Jacob Bynun of Rifles Only and Frank Galli, owner of Sniper's Hide, for T/E at RO. That didn't take long. Lightweight, functional, quality made in Japan, the Recon R/T has all the looks of a real winner at $600 MAP, without VMS, and $800 with it

Vortex's innovation even extends to the lower price point Solo R/T 8x36 monocular, 10 ounces, 5.3 inches, super handy with very decent optics, the Solo R/T has a clip too and the rangefinding reticle of it's big brother, without the telemetric silhouettes.

Another new system that made it's first appearance is the VOTRS (Vortex Optics Tactical Reconnaissance System), which is a fancy moniker for a series of kits that feature the Razor HD spotter with new 30x R/T eyepiece, either the 15x56 Kaibab or 10x50 R/T binos, choice of the CBX or Dakota tripods, adaptors for cameras and mounts, instructions, all in a fitted Storm case. I'll presume there is a cost saving in the package deals but I haven't crunched the numbers yet in the $3600-$4200 package prices.....

The last item I checked out was the SPARC, a fancy acronym for Speed Point Aiming for Rapid Combat, which is a fancy name for what is basically a smaller version of the Strikefire red dot, except it costs more, $199. A little Chinese made red dot for $200, OK, color me not excited, I'm yawning now, we'll sell 'em if you want 'em :)

That's all I have for Vortex, but it's a lot. I expect them to have a good show and to see a groundswell of dealer and customer interest in what they are doing. The kicker is....they assure me, the best is yet to come!!!!

Please, for more info, visit http://www.vortextactical.com/ and then visit our newly redesigned website when you are ready to purchase :+)

Nightforce Optics - I'm a broken record with Nightforce, great track record of reliability, precision, performance, a great rifle sight but in my experience a mediocre optic. I'm convinced there are two grades of NXS scopes out there, those for the hotshots and mouthpieces and those for thee. At least when it comes to sight picture. I can't prove it but empirical and anecdotal evidence suggests otherwise. I'm not a fan of the "rheostat-less" illumination and the rotating eyepiece, features which many shooters regard as quirky but Nightforce seems to view as the penultimate in function.

Like last year, "Nightforce Ken" spent some time with me - this guy is a class act, very polite, very professional, a real credit to Nightforce. He understands the difference between business and personal. He went over what's new. The first is the new Velocity series SFP reticles, for all intents and purposes a reticle in the mold of the PFI Rapid Reticle or the Zeiss Rapid-Z. The subtensions come in three flavors for low, medium and high velocity cartridges. From what I can gather these will debut in the 2.5-10x models of the NXS line, with expansion into the longer range models sometime later. I did see the 2.5-10 models in two new colors, a dark earth and a coppery brown finish.

The other "new for 2010" are the "hi-speed adjustments" knobs, which feature 1/4moa (20moa per turn), 1/10 mil (10 mils per turn), and 1/8moa (I believe 20moa also). I heard a whisper that these new knobs might be a problem due to the close spacing.

I'm here to say that won't be the case. The knobs (even the 1/8moa) are very distinct, tactile, precise, and will please every NXS aficionado. No worries on the new knobs.

That's pretty much it for Nightforce. It's easy to criticize, but IMO Nightforce is starting to walk a finer line here. On one side of the line is the great success and accolades the brand has accomplished over the years, on the other side is complacency and stagnation. Heck, even the F-150 pickup has been the number one selling truck for how many years? And every few they change things up with no loss of loyalty. It's obvious Nightforce takes a lot of pride in their product, but it's also apparent change is slow to come in Orofino.

Of course, they give a rat's butt what I think!

IOR-Valdada: Val has never been one to let the grass grow under his feet, but this show they introduced a trio of truly new scopes for the first time since the 2-12x32 made it's debut in Vegas back in 2004.

A new 6-24x56 illuminated FFP mil/mil leads the pack. Featuring a HUGE eyebox, long mounting areas, 35mm tube, digital illumination (two rubber buttons on the side of the turret housing behind the side focus, a "+" and a "-" button stacked one over the other), new knobs with a prototype zero reference system, new, smooth mag ring adjustment, and the MP-8 A5 reticle that all interior lines light up, this is an impressive scope. Even more impressive, were the ring marks on the scope. I was told this scope was tested on .338 edge, .338 Lapua, and .50 cal to the tune of 800 rounds by Mike McIntyre of MPI Rifles in Dillon Montana with nary a hiccup. I'm glad to see this type of testing prior to release of the scope. IOR has new internals for the 3-18x42 FFP, 2.5-10x42 FFP, and these new scopes. IOR glass and reticles, tracking, etc, have never been an issue, but the durability has been suspect in some models. Val is looking to dispel these notions with the new design. The new 6-24x56 will MAP for under $2000 with rings, and will be available in a few months.

A new 3.5-15x50 illuminated FFP mil/mil and SFP moa/moa were the other two surprises. Same digital illumination as above, these scopes have a longer rear tube to counteract the previous mounting issues some experienced with the 3-18x42, new mag ring and massive eyebox. The FFP mil/mil features the MP-8 A5 (designed by the guys over at Sniper's Hide) and the SFP moa/moa version features a sweet new moa reticle, with a floating dot and 20moa windage lines on either side of the crosshair and 30moa of holdovers. In the SFP model only the center dot is illuminated, which I like.

The digital illumination allows you to memorize your last setting, or press the "+" button for brightest setting on or the "-" button for a lowest setting that won't shock your night vision.

The lines of the new models also offer a more "German" look, really pleasing appearances here.

Prices on the new 3.5-15x50 will be $1895 MAP, which is less than the 4-14x50 ultra and the 4-28x56 MX-7. Better scopes for less money = my kind of value.

US Optics: You know, I had an epiphany with these guys, I've been doing this for seven years and each SHOT I see the same faces and names....that says a lot about a company when you have little turnover. Always as friendly and down to earth as it gets, too. I've always liked the guys at USO, and their scopes can compete with the best in the world, but it didn't make sense for us to do business with them in the past, for business reasons....and sometimes for product reasons.

I think things are changed now.

First, I took a lot of USO scopes in trade this past year, and I'll say guys gave up some real gems in long range precision optics. Wonder glass, features, controls, ruggedness, as close to 100% made in the USA as one can get. Ever check out the purity (yes, I said purity) of the illumination of a USO scope? It's among the finest illumination I've ever seen. So clean and precise, with brilliant color saturation.

I spent a lot of time talking to JW3 and Jeff, and I'll say I'm gonna rack my brain on what we can offer as a Liberty Optic edition USO.

Crack open the USO catalog and you have a choice of, oh, 26 reticles...but who's counting?

Check out the RDP mil and RDP moa reticles, with super fine center crosshairs. I really liked this reticle!

I also like the mil scale MPR for ranging....it may be a little busy for some but when ranging reticle precision is a requirement it's right at the top....

A couple of the scopes featured at the booth had a new internal bubble level, one at the top of the FOV inside the scope, the other had it on the bottom of the FOV. Suffice to say it's a work in progress :+\

Spotted:

An MP-8 A5 reticle clone with Horus-like windage points
Circle dot reticle with BDC holdovers
A new "baby EREK" elevation knob. All the functionality of the EREK, in a compact knob. If you're at the show, G.A. Precision has got 'em mounted up.

Upcoming: Electronic Push button rheostats with 48 illumination settings.

Seriously, USO has been around a long time, and have elevated their game to new levels. We will do our best to get in on the action for 2010.

SnipersHide.com : I made the mistake of seeking out Frank aka "Lowlight" on the first day of the show. As usual he was gracious and we got some QT in but he knows about anybody and everybody and gets swept away in the current of humanity. After losing him for awhile, I asked Jacob Bynum if he knew where he was. "Sure" he said, "right down the row here in front of Badger Ordnance." "Can't you see him?"

I turned around, and easily spotted the bald guy whose white dome looked like it was polished with Zymol wax, with long flowing goatee and a very dark designer suit. Lowlight literally stood out from the crowd.

OK, not literally. heehee

Thanks for the time, Frank.

Team Blaster was spotted in the house! Rob, Tony, and Kevin were all smiles. Well, Rob and Tony were anyway. Kevin had his poker face on. Good to see you guys.

Had quite a few people "recognize" me through the name tag and introduce themselves, including many former/current customers. A very gratifying experience!

That's all for tonight folks. Up on the agenda tomorrow, I'll be hanging out with Ilya Koshkin from Opticstalk and checking out Premier, Hensoldt, possibly Zeiss, Bushnell, Lupy, and whatever else crosses our path. See you tomorrow.

Scott

Live from 2010 SHOT!!!

2010-01-18T22:58:00.002-07:00

Folks,

I'm here, the buzz around the show is deafening, with 1800 exhibitors under 700,000 square feet (that's 16 acres for you farm boys) this is the biggest SHOT ever. I'll be scouring the floor for the best new optics products for 2010 as well as all the goodies, scuttlebutt, and latest news from yours (and mine) favorite manufacturers.

I'll be posting a report every night of the show, right here. Thanks for stopping by!!

HERE WE GO!!!!!!

Scott

Liberty Optics now accepts GUNPAL!!

2010-01-13T23:23:00.001-07:00

.....and you should too!

Those who have followed me through the years know where I stand on our Right to Keep and Bear Arms, and know how much I have hated using ebay and PayPal as a sales and payment tool for Liberty Optics. PayPal's "acceptable use policy" is anti-gun and anti-freedom, to put it bluntly. We've accepted PayPal begrudgingly as a convenience for our customers (and international customers especially) mostly because no real alternatives have existed. Until now.

Here's a synopsis:

"GUNPAL is an online payment processing alternative that donates a portion of the proceeds from every transaction to a Non-Profit Organization or Charity.

GUNPAL does not discriminate based on the nature of your transaction, requiring only that the merchandise or services you buy and sell be legal. See our User Agreement for more information."

GUNPAL is here, it's live, and we have established a business account with them. GUNPAL let's you buy sell, guns, ammo, knives, nunchuks, whatever the heck is legal in the good 'ol US of A. Don't forget your favorite optics too! :)

I highly encourage you to sign up for a GUNPAL account! It's quick, easy, and it's run by gun people like ourselves. At any rate, to put our money where our mouth is, after June 30, 2010, we will no longer accept PayPal as a payment option for business. Hopefully, 6 months is enough time for GUNPAL to take root and blossom. At any rate, we are taking the plunge and taking point, so to speak. We all need to stick together and support each other, and IMHO GUNPAL deserves our support as a payment vehicle for conducting our business.

For more information click here: GUNPAL

Thanks!

Scott

2010 Blastoff!!!

2010-01-13T09:57:00.002-07:00

Friends,

It's been a long time, and many of you wonder where I've been, or if I've been lazy with this blog. The truth of the matter is sometime in April 2009 business took off like a rocket and you've kept me hopping all year long. Your support has been overwhelming, and highly appreciated. We got lots of comments, with the main theme of "Keep up the good work!"

It's been an honor to serve, but this year I'm going to re-commit to optics evaluations and keeping an active presence on here. It's part of what got us where we are, and I really enjoy connecting with readers and customers.

My next post will be a short report on "2009, the year in review" and then we kick off the 2010 festivities in a big way with the return of our 2010 SHOT Show report, live from Las Vagas, beginning the night of Tuesday January 19.

Good to see you again, and I look forward to talking to you soon.

Scott

The cost of freedom is.....money

2009-07-25T00:21:00.002-06:00

Friends,

I generally abhor soliciting money for specific causes due to the myriad of issues involved. However, I'm going to make an exception here. As you might know, Montana led the nation in drafting a "Firearms Freedom Act" that specifically challenged federal authority on guns based on the "Commerce clause" of the Constitution, which is the claimed basis for all this federal regulation of our guns. The new law (effective October 2009) basically says that a gun manufactured inside a state, for its state residents, that doesn't leave the state is exempt from Commerce clause regulation (i.e., no FFL needed, no background checks, no federal oversight). Predictably, the BATFE (a very useless federal agency) has already issued letters to Montana and Tennessee (who passed a similar law after Montana but whose effective date is before) FFL holders that these new laws are trumped by federal law.

This whole deal will result in a court showdown, which means our cause needs your money. I'll let Gary Marbut, head of the Montana Shooting Sports Association, lay it out.

"The Montana Shooting Sports Association has launched an important fundraising drive to defray costs of litigating the state-made guns concept.

MSSA has gotten 54 pro-gun and pro-hunting measures through the Montana Legislature in the past 30 years. These include HB 246 , called the Montana Firearms Freedom Act (MFFA), passed in 2009, which declares that any firearms made and retained in Montana are not subject to any federal authority or regulation. This is a Tenth Amendment challenge to overuse of the power given to Congress in the U.S. Constitution to "regulate commerce among the several states."

The principles in HB 246 must be vetted in federal court. MSSA is now finalizing litigation strategy to assert these principles.

This state-made guns challenge is sweeping the Nation. Clones of the MFFA have been introduced in Alaska, Texas, Tennessee (passed in TN), South Carolina, Minnesota and Florida. Legislators in other states have indicated that they will also introduce MFFA clones as soon as possible in Georgia, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Ohio, Louisiana, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho and Washington.

As the originating state in this challenge to federal power, other states are looking to Montana to lead the challenge in court. It is for this purpose that MSSA is raising funds.

MSSA needs your help!

Anyone able to make a donation can make a check payable to "MSSA", and mark "MFFA" (for Montana Firearms Freedom Act) in the memo line. Any such donations to MSSA are not tax deductible (hey, we don't want the hassle or political limitations associated with becoming a tax exempt entity).

Checks can be mailed to:

MSSA
P.O. Box 4924
Missoula, Montana 59806

OR, a donor can use the PayPal button in the upper left of the MSSA Website front page to make a credit card donation. Just go to:
http://www.mtssa.org

Thanks loads for whatever you can do to help!!

Gary Marbut, president
Montana Shooting Sports Association
http://www.mtssa.org
author, Gun Laws of Montana
http://www.mtpublish.com

If you can help, please do. Now.

Scott

Introducing Barrett Firearms riflescope rings!

2009-07-09T14:32:00.016-06:00

Barrett Firearms Manufacturing (Barrett) needs no introduction to any serious firearms enthusiast. Well known for bringing the semi-automatic M82 .50 caliber rifle to the military and civilian market nearly thirty years ago, it's been all upward and forward for Barrett since then.

I've always admired Ronnie Barrett. Not just for his drive and innovation applied to the .50 caliber rifle platform, but also for his staunch support and belief in our country's 2nd Amendment and how he backs his beliefs with policies and actions. Ronnie also has a flare for the artistic, as his rifles are as attractive to behold as they are to shoot.

Recently, I had the good fortune to receive a package from Kyle Lynch, Optics Product Manager for Barrett. Kyle was a customer of mine before he started working at Barrett. A dyed-in-the-wool "gun guy", Kyle served in the US Army 2nd Ranger Battalion, so he knows a thing or two about weaponry. Inside the package were two sets of scope rings manufactured in the USA that immediately intrigued me. Both were 30mm diameter, looked like they were built hell for stout and had the signature Barrett styling - good looking and aggressive. That's where the similarity ended, as it was apparent that these were two very different scope ring kits. Introducing Barrett Zero-Gap scope rings and ExRings with Zero-Gap technology.

Barrett ExRings (left) and standard 30mm riflescope rings.

First off, the above packaging is a prototype and will be replaced with an updated style.
Now, let's talk about the features of these rings.

Constructed from 7075-T6 aluminum, hard anodized to 60 HRC (Rockwell C scale)
Made to fit milspec 1913 Picatinny bases and accessory rails
Massive 1.2" width rings provide over 8 square inches of scope gripping area
Integral 1/4-32 steel cross bolt with captured 1/2" hex nut for secure clamping
Ring caps are held in place by four T-25 Torx bolts
Ring bore tolerances held to +/- .001"
ZERO-GAP technology. Simply torque down one side of the ring cap to spec until the ring cap and base are touching, make sure your scope is aligned, and torque down the other side of the ring cap to spec. There will be a tiny gap between the ring cap and lower half of the ring on this side
Available in 4 heights (measured from the top of the rail to the centerline of the scope axis): 1.00", 1.10", 1.30" and 1.40". 1-inch ring adapters will be available.

While the T-25 ring caps aren't anything new (Seekins) and the Zero-Gap design I've seen before with TPS, no other manufacture has combined these features in a ring design to withstand massive recoil and hold up to punishing use, while remaining lightweight. Let's check out the standard 30mm rings.

Barrett 30mm rings (1.1" tall)

The first thing I notice is that these are good looking rings. Nothing wrong with that, form follows function. The rings are massive, well finished and look built for serious business. The crossbolt is milled flat in the front and back, to maximize contact with your Picatinny rail (I've seen some manufacturer use round crossbolts in rings designed for M1913 rails. No thank you.)
The clamps have a slightly different hue from the rings and have a simple design....not too fancy or over-engineered. The ring caps have a sculpted design with lightening cuts and the signature Barrett logo engraved on top.

Top view of Barrett 30mm Zero-Gap rings

There is an index mark scored on the lower ring half on the side that is meant to be torqued until the ring cap touches...hint, it's on the same side as the hex nut that attaches the ring to the base. Underscoring the strength of the Zero-Gap design is the torque specs for the T-25 ring cap screws, a whopping 35 in-lbs!! I've never heard of such a spec on a tactical ring. The base-clamp hex nut is spec'd to be tightened to 65 in lb.

The Barrett standard rings retail for $200, but street price will likely be a little better than that.

Next in the lineup are the Barrett 30mm ExRings, which stand for Extended Range. These are an innovative "switch power" design that are designed for shooters with a zero cant Picatinny rail or AR flat-top platform. Here's the skinny: These rings function much the same as a canted base, except the rings themselves provide the added travel needed to wring out your riflescopes maximum reticle travel for long range shooting. The ExRings have a two-piece ring lower that is held together with two massive T-27 Torx bolts tightened to 50 in-lbs. Within this assembly is a stainless pin that is drilled in specific locations that align the scope rings at a precision cant without stressing the scope tube. The front ring has a single pin that acts as a pivot point, while the rear ring has two holes drilled; the cant is controlled by the location of the pin in the rear ring. The ExRings are offered in two models, 15moa/40moa and 20moa/30moa. Height is 1.6" (about 1" from top of rail to bottom of scope tube).

Barrett 30mm ExRings (15moa/40moa version shown)

Top view of Barrett 30mm ExRings

Front and rear view of Barrett 30mm ExRings, illustrating the
2-piece lower half ring design

Rear (left) and front (right) Barrett 30mm ExRings. Note the slight gap in between the upper and lower ring halves in the rear ring and the "Zero-Gap" in the ring on the right. These are torqued to spec. Also note the notch just visible in the center of the junction between upper and lower rings halves...this is the side with the zero-gap.

Inside view of ring cap and lower half of ring. The standard and ExRing are identical in this regard.

Despite the mantra that simpler is better, and the likely concern among shooters of having ring halves pieced together on a tactical rig, Kyle assures me that there will be zero movement and zero backlash associated with the ExRing assembly. The T27 Torx bolts were especially designed and made for the ExRing, and the bolthead cleverly captures the head of the stainless crosspin so it can never work loose. The components are guaranteed to have zero backlash due to the tongue and groove design manufactured to such close tolerances.

Side view of Barrett 30mm ExRing showing stainless pin captured by T27 bolthead (above) and view of T27 bolts and pin removed from the rings (below).

I can tell you that upon disassembly the fit of the lower ring halves was so tight I had a hard time
seperating them even with no pins holding them together. These rings are made with precise manufacturing!

Barrett 30mm ExRing disassembled into base and ring components.

A nice touch are the enclosed Torx wrenches for either set of rings, a small detail sometimes overlooked by other manufacturers. The ExRings come with a right angle wrench with both T25 and T27 heads, so you are ready to go right out of the box.

The ExRings retail for $230, but street price will likely be a bit less.

So there you have it. Joining the impressive array of Barrett products are new rings looking to make a huge splash in the tactical market; especially the large caliber, long range shooters that represent an ever growing segment in the shooting industry. Of course, this is just the beginning. Kyle Lynch promises big things to come from Barrett's Optics Products division. If these rings are any indication, that's not just talk.

So, how well do these rings work? Check the Optics section of Sniper's Hide www.snipershide.com in the near future for full evaluation and discussion! I promise you they will be put through their paces.

Thanks for stopping by.

Scott

Backing away from Millett tactical.....

2009-05-06T21:30:00.002-06:00

Friends,

You may recall that I embraced the Millett Tactical scopes (DMS-1, TRS-1, and LRS-1) scopes at SHOT Show (IIRC, I said something to the effect of they are "the best of China"), and the scopes I looked at seemed pretty tight and worth the money.

Recently, I took delivery of some DMS-1, and I was pretty disappointed in what I saw.

Specks in the field of view. I know this is common on etched reticle scopes, but right out of the box?
The scope magnification was actually under 1x at 1x....I mean when I cranked the scope down to 1x power, objects were definitely smaller than seen with the naked eye, sort of like looking through binocs backwards. Items appeared to be 1x when the scope was set at 1.5x.....I do not believe this was an illusion, all who looked through the scopes concluded the same thing.
When set at 1x, there was pronounced vignetting and distortion squeezing the sight picture from the 10 o'clock and 4 o'clock positions, the sight picture in ALL samples resembled an oval tilted 45 degrees
We had a windage knob that actually wobbled when you turned it, right out of the box
My "ear to the ground" hears that my experience is not too unusual...

So, I culled the herd for the best one to send to a customer and returned the rest. I also had a customer who deployed a TRS-1 at a match and the elevation knob completely froze up.

This is one example of a discrepancy between the product samples that are shown on the biggest stage in the world and those that are produced for off-the-shelf purchase. We have to call the current weather, so the Millett Tactical scopes rate a "don't buy"from us right now.

We still endorse the Made in USA Millett Zoom Dot red dot scope as a serious optic for serious riflemen. That is the lone shining star in the Millett product offering, IMO.

Take care,

Scott

Here's one reason why I moved here...

2009-04-10T23:51:00.003-06:00

Friends, some real credit for this goes to Gary Marbut of the Montana Shooting Sports Association (MTSSA), a tireless worker for the 2nd here in Big Sky Country. We are a bronze corporate sponsor of MTSSA. Visit www.mtssa.org or better yet, donate a little. Your money does get put to good use. Read on....

Montana Poised to Buck Federal Gun Control

Montana-made guns may form the basis for a court showdown over states' rights if the governor signs a bill to release some firearms in the state from federal regulation.

The proposed law aims to exempt firearms, weapons components and ammunition made in Montana and kept in Montana from federal gun laws. Since the state has few gun laws of its own, the legislation would allow some gunowners and sellers in the state to skirt registration, licensing requirements and background checks entirely.

"We'd like to just be able to make our own guns here in Montana and have the feds stay out of it," said Gary Marbut of the Montana Shooting Sports Association, which helped draft the bill.

The real target, though, is the U.S. Supreme Court. And Marbut and others believe they can hit that mark with a simple Montana-made youth-model single-shot bolt-action .22 rifle.

In particular, they plan to find a "squeaky clean" Montanan who wants to send a note to the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives threatening to build and sell about 20 such rifles without federal dealership licensing. If the ATF tells them it's illegal, they will then file a lawsuit in federal court — with any luck triggering a legal battle that lands in the nation's highest court.

House Bill 246 sailed through the Montana Legislature, but Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer has not yet offered a position on the measure, which awaits his action.

The federal enforcement agency for gun laws has also not taken a firm stand.

"ATF is not going to take a position on this because we don't make any of the laws, we just enforce the laws that Congress makes," said Carrie DiPirro, spokeswoman for the Denver field division, which oversees Montana.

Through the Constitution, Congress has authority to regulate interstate commerce, which serves as the legal basis for gun regulation in the United States.

Efforts to bypass that authority have been heard before by the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2005, the court upheld federal regulation of marijuana in California, even if its use is limited to noncommercial purposes — such as medical reasons — and it is grown and used within a state's borders.

However, Randy Barnett, the lawyer and constitutional scholar who represented the plaintiff in the California case, said the introduction of a "Made in Montana' stamp — and stay in Montana guideline — might give some mettle to Montana's latest pitch for sovereignty.

In the Gonzalez v. Raich case argued by Barnett, the court said that because marijuana produced within and outside of California is essentially indistinguishable, the government must regulate both to enforce national drug laws. Montana, though, could potentially argue that its guns are sufficiently unique and segregated as to lie outside of overarching federal regulatory schemes, Barnett said.

The Montana effort follows fears here and elsewhere that the election of Barack Obama as president would trigger more gun regulation, sparking a rush to stock up on firearms in the months following the inauguration.

But supporters insist House Bill 246 has been tailored to hit a different bull's eye than gun freedoms.

"Firearms are inextricably linked to the history and culture of Montana, and I'd like to support that," said bill sponsor Rep. Joel Boniek, R-Livingston, during its House debate. "But I want to point out that the issue here is not about firearms. It's about state rights."

We are now an authorized Carl Zeiss Sport Optics dealer!!

2009-04-10T08:23:00.002-06:00

Friends,

We won approval a couple of weeks ago, but I've been so slam busy that I haven't had a chance to share the news. We've been selling the Conquest for years, but never had access to the old Diavari/new Victory stuff.....until now.

I envision ordering a bunch of the new LRFs to start with, and a few of you have expressed interest in their low power big game scopes and the 6-24x56 and 6-24x72 models.

If there is anything we can do for you, let me know. Quotes always provided for free!

Just to review, here are our major optic product lines: Leupold, Nikon, Bushnell, IOR, Zeiss (Conquest and Victory), Sightron, Vortex, Trijicon, Kowa, and Premier Reticles.

Thanks for stopping by!

Scott

Where are the optics test writeups?

2009-04-04T00:50:00.002-06:00

Friends,

We have moved to a new location (better than ever for evaluating optics) and have a lot of tests planned for this year. However, we are still getting snow daily here in God's country. Spring has been slow to arrive. The weather won't cooperate.

We will try to kickoff our twice monthly reviews beginning in May, and keep on trucking until winter sets in the valley again. We look forward to an exciting year of optics evaluations!

Thanks,

Scott

First look...IOR's new 6x40 tactical

2009-03-21T23:39:00.008-06:00

Friends,

Here's a world premiere of a prototype IOR scope (code named "Big Daddy"). Described as basically a 3x25 QR-TS "on steroids" (big daddy compared to the little 3x25) this looks to be an interesting "outside the box" offering from IOR-Valdada that is expected for Fall 2009. Not much info right now but it is a 6x40 scope with exposed 1/10 mil increment knobs in a compact, all business package. Mount is integral and the accessory Picatinny(?) ring/rail is attached. A choice of reticular ranging/BDC reticles is expected. Enjoy the photos.

Scott

IOR prototype 6x40 (L) next to current production model 3x25 (R)

IOR 6x40 prototype on top, current production 3x25 on bottom

A word from Leica.... re: riflescopes

2009-03-13T20:25:00.002-06:00

Folks,

The SHOT show rumor concerning Kahles making Leica's new riflescopes has been debunked in an email from Dave Brown, Leica Sport Optics US vice president of sales. Here is an excerpt below:

".........Here’s the straight scoop, for example, regarding Leica rifle scopes:

First, it’s important to know that a lot has changed a Leica – so much so that it’s a substantially different company than it was even a year ago. The ownership is new, a separate vertical Sport Optics Business Unit has been created, and the management, product development, and marketing teams are almost entirely different, both in Germany and the US.

Heading up the new business unit is Dr. Gerold Dobler, a hunter and shooter, and formerly a dominant force in the development of the Swarovski rifle scope line. At Leica, Dr. Dobler has surrounded himself with some of the best minds in the optics industry, brought in from companies like Zeiss, Swarovski, Schmidt & Bender, and others. Combined, they have many decades of experience designing and building premium rifle scopes.

Leica has no association or connection with Kahles or any other optics brand, and there is no secret manufacturing partner for rifle scopes. Leica scopes are being made 100% by Leica in our factories. They are expensive; we know that. But we wanted to start out by establishing a really high standard with a flagship-type product. Leica is serious about becoming a major entity in the premium rifle scope business, and ultimately there will be many different models at many different price points.

All the best to you, and please let me know if there is anything I can help you with.

Dave Brown

Vice President, Sales

Leica Sport Optics US"

Our take: Congrats to Leica for re-starting their riflescope program from the ground up. Serious shooters can't have too many quality options. I wonder if Leica will be adverse to entering the tactical market??

Also, the first paragraph reference to turnover and re-structuring may explain why there has been reports about uneven quality control in Leica products over the last year or two. I personally examined their new $4000 spotter that had serious chromatic aberration in an optical system designed to eliminate it. Not acceptable in my book. Looks like "change" is in effect at Leica. Until the dust settles, I would be cautious about purchasing Leica products, especially through internet or mail order. Examine your prospective purchase thoroughly.

Best of luck to Leica Sports Optics in their return to prominence.

Scott

Inoculation

2009-03-05T11:16:00.002-07:00

This may be old news to some of you, but I feel it bears re-hashing. I don't buy that this exercise is 100% innocuous. What do you think? From the WorldNetDaily...

National Guard scraps plans to invade rural town
'This operation could be pretty intrusive to the people'

By Drew Zahn
© 2009 WorldNetDaily

DES MOINES, Iowa – Following publicized reports that the Army National Guard was planning a military training exercise on the streets of a rural Iowa town, the commanding officers have called off the mock "invasion."

The Guard had planned a four-day urban military operation in tiny Arcadia, Iowa, population 443, sending troops to take over the town and search door-to-door for a suspected weapons dealer.

The exercise was designed as a mock scenario to give soldiers the skills needed for deployment in an urban environment, and military officials stressed that only households that consented to be part of the drill would be searched.

"It will be important for us to gain the trust and confidence of the residents of Arcadia," Sgt. Mike Kots, readiness NCO for Alpha Company, told Carroll's Daily Times Herald. "We will need to identify individuals that are willing to assist us in training by allowing us to search their homes and vehicles and to participate in role-playing.

"We really want to get as much information out there as possible," Kots continued, "because this operation could be pretty intrusive to the people of Arcadia."

Military spokesman Lt. Col. Greg Hapgood, however, told WND that the operation has now been "scaled back" and no longer involves an "invasion" of Arcadia.

And while Hapgood confirmed the Guard had been inundated with objections from citizens concerned about soldiers patrolling the streets of an American town, he said most came from people out of state and unfamiliar with the operation. Iowans, he explained, typically cooperate with the Guard. The change in plans was based on troop evaluation, he said, not public outcry.

"Higher headquarters leadership" Hapgood told WND, "given the unit's status of training proficiency, made a decision to scale back the exercise."

Kots described the original operation to the Herald as set to begin on Thursday, April 2, with reconnaissance and exploratory patrols. On April 4 convoys were to be deployed from the armory in Carroll to nearby Arcadia, where soldiers would knock on doors, showing a picture of the invented "arms dealer."

"Once credible intelligence has been gathered," said Kots, "portions of the town will be road-blocked and more in-depth searches of homes and vehicles will be conducted in accordance with the residents' wishes.

"One of the techniques we use in today's political environment is cordon and knock," Kots explained. "We ask for the head of the household, get permission to search, then have them open doors and cupboards. The homeowner maintains control. We peer over their shoulder, and the soldier uses the homeowner's body language and position to protect him."

The planned drill had also included overhead supervision from a Blackhawk helicopter, crowd-control measures and simulated extraction of "injured" people, culminating in capture of the "arms dealer."

"This exercise will improve the real-life operational skills of the unit," said Kots. "And it will hopefully improve the public's understanding of military operations."

"There are no active duty bases in Iowa, so there are no urban warfare training areas of any size," Hopgood said. "In order to get that larger neighborhood feel or city feel, we have to be creative and partner with our communities."

Hopgood further told WND that in past cooperative exercises with the community, the people of Iowa have welcomed learning how their sons and daughters operate in action.

Plans for the urban operation training, Hopgood explained, are still set to continue, but will be conducted in a smaller, platoon-by-platoon basis in the near vicinity of the Carroll armory.

Some points/opinions I would like to make....

Why the heck are National Guardsmen looking for a "weapons dealer"??? Why not a suspected terrorist or other grave threat capable of explosive or biological or nuclear terror? Do private citizens selling guns among themselves qualify as a "weapons dealer"? Doesn't this sort of thing fall into the purview of civilian law enforcement?
"Iowans, he explained, typically cooperate with the Guard." I'd like to see that kind of operation proposed here in Montana, or Idaho, or Alaska, or.... This kind of comment reinforces the stereotype of many Midwesterners as being slavish and obedient types. If the citizens of Arcadia truly had no issue at all with the exercise, in a "big picture" context, they should be barred from voting as American citizens.
"One of the techniques we use in today's political environment is cordon and knock," Kots explained. "We ask for the head of the household, get permission to search, then have them open doors and cupboards. " The homeowner maintains control. We peer over their shoulder, and the soldier uses the homeowner's body language and position to protect him." Wow, where to begin here? What does he mean in today's "political" environment? Not "military" environment? Are these techniques used on our soil, like in the aftermath of Katrina? Did the homeowners maintain control then? Did their body language and position keep them from getting shot? Would there be loaded weapons in these exercises? I find this whole quote confusing and disturbing.

The title of this post gives you a clue as to what I think this is about. It's to condition Americans to cooperate with home searches and seizures, so it will be deemed "reasonable" to go door to door to seize firearms that are declared contraband under some federal declaration.

The National Guard using Blackhawk helicopters to search for a weapons dealer?

Just cooperate, and no one will get hurt.

Scott

Kerlikowske Pick More Proof of Obama's Anti-Gun Agenda, Says CCRKBA

2009-02-22T16:02:00.002-07:00

BELLEVUE, Wash. -- Reports that Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske has been tapped to become the nation's next "drug czar" offer more proof of the anti-gun intentions of the Obama administration, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms said.

Kerlikowske has lobbied for bans on sport-utility rifles that are owned by tens of thousands of law-abiding Washington residents, and millions of their fellow American citizens. He backed legislation to close the mythical "gun show loophole" with an unsubstantiated theory that private sales put guns in the hands of criminals.

"During his eight-year tenure as Seattle's police chief, Gil Kerlikowske has established himself as a devoted lobbyist for every restrictive gun law proposal," said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb. "That's pretty hypocritical of a guy whose own gun was stolen out of his department car on a downtown Seattle street. He may pass an FBI background check for an appointment, but he flunked the responsible gun owner's test."

"While he's been Seattle's police chief," Gottlieb noted, "he's become a close ally of the anti-gun Washington CeaseFire, but he's never bothered to sit down with gun owners to discuss crime problems, gun safety or enforcement efforts that focus on felons rather than firearms.

Kerlikowske's reported appointment to a post with the Obama administration reinforces the concerns of American gun owners that the new president is not their friend. The new president has surrounded himself with people who have long anti-gun rights track records, including Joe Biden, Eric Holder, Hillary Clinton and Rahm Emanuel. It's no surprise Gil Kerlikowske would jump at the opportunity to leave the Evergreen State. He still has yet to find his stolen pistol.

Looks like the deck continues to be stacked against us. I've said for a long time that it will be the state you live in that will determine your long term freedom. The fed guillotine continues to be raised.

Scott

Government not the problem??

2009-02-12T20:57:00.002-07:00

Friends,

This is an interesting read.

http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/224-government-is-not-the-problem

Here is the article in case the NRA claims a copyright on this one too..... :+/

That “the government is denying us our rights” and even that “the government is oppressing us” are complaints all too commonly heard among patriots today. Yet, although instances of public officials’ misbehavior are both numerous and serious, this characterization of the situation obscures the true cause of and proper remedy for the problem.

Surprising as it may seem to some, as a matter of law it is impossible for “the government” to deny Americans their rights, let alone to oppress them.

The United States and each of the Union’s constituent States is a constitutional republic. The fundamental principle of constitutionalism is that some powers are granted to the government and others withheld. At any moment, “the government” — whether national, state, or local — consists of the set of behaviors by the people in public offices that comport with the powers and absences of power (“disabilities” as lawyers say) set out in the supreme law. Where the supreme law guarantees individuals certain rights, the government lacks any power to infringe, abridge, or deny those rights. Where the supreme law imposes certain disabilities on the government, individuals enjoy rights to the fullest extent of those absences of power.

The specific foundation of America’s legal system is the Declaration of Independence. It asserts the “self-evident” truths

that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. —

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

Thus, any “Government[ ] … instituted among Men” that traces its lineage to the Declaration of Independence can never deny men’s “unalienable Rights,” because the only powers it may exercise are “just powers” derived from “the consent of the governed” who delegated those powers for the sole purpose of “secur[ing] the[ir] rights.”

Just Principles

The Constitution is structured on these principles alone. For if the people in the states did not gain their sovereignty through the Declaration of Independence, they enjoyed no authority to ordain and establish the Constitution. And if they did enjoy such sovereignty, its character must have derived from the Declaration, there being no other source. That is, the Constitution is law only because the Declaration is prior and higher law, and only to the extent that it is consistent with the Declaration’s precepts.

Both as to the states and as to individuals, with respect to some rights the Constitution delegates to the General Government no power whatsoever. For example —

“No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State.” (Article I, § 9, cl. 5)
“No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.” (Article I, § 9, cl. 3)
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” (First Amendment)
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” (Second Amendment)

Of all possible examples, the Second Amendment most strikingly illustrates how a true constitutional right is absolutely immune from governmental restriction. “[T]he right of the people to keep and bear Arms” is the foundation of “[a] well regulated Militia.” “A well regulated Militia” is “necessary to the security of a free State.” Therefore, the continued existence of “a free State” — and its government — depends upon “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms.” That right being the indispensable precondition for the existence of the United States and all of its constituent States as “free State[s],” neither the General Government nor the government of any state can infringe the right without destroying its own foundation, legitimacy, and authority. Inasmuch, then, as a purported power to infringe “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms” entails that self-destructive consequence, no such governmental power can possibly exist anywhere within the United States.

The same type of analysis applies to every one of Americans’ other “unalienable Rights.” Because the sole purpose of government is “to secure these rights,” government cannot abridge them without negating itself. So the notion that “the government,” as “the government” and in some legitimate manner, can deny Americans their rights is self-contradictory and absurd.

To be sure, the Constitution allows the government to restrict some rights in specific ways under particular circumstances. For example,

“The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.” (Article I, § 9, cl. 2)
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” (Fourth Amendment)
“No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury...; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation.” (Fifth Amendment)
“Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.” (Eighth Amendment)

But that some restrictions may be allowable in certain defined circumstances means that those and other restrictions are not allowable in any and all other circumstances. For instance, “The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus” may be “suspended” for a time — but not wholly eliminated. And a “suspen[sion]” may occur only “in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion” — but even then only “when . . . the public Safety may require it.” Searches and seizures may be had — but only “upon probable cause.” Private property may be taken — but only “for public use” and with “just compensation.” And punishments may be inflicted — but only if they are not “cruel and unusual.”

In short, “the government” cannot deprive any American of his rights, because only by acting consistently with those rights, precisely as the Constitution guarantees them, do public officials function as “the government” at all. When any public official steps even a single Angstrom Unit outside of the government’s constitutional boundaries, his actions become lawless and unauthorized, and he ceases to act as or for the government, but instead acts against and in defiance of the government.

So what explains contemporary repetition of the mantra “the government is denying us our rights,” which treats a constitutional impossibility as if it were not only possible, but even expectable, and largely irremediable? First, too many Americans are ignorant of the true nature and operation of the Constitution, and of its source in and the limitation of its powers by the Declaration of Independence. Second, too many aspiring usurpers and tyrants are to be found among officeholders, politicians, and the special-interest groups they serve — all of them driven by amorality, arrogance, avarice, ambition, and the appetite for unlimited power. These people have been all too successful in convincing gullible Americans that public officials actually have powers which the Constitution nowhere grants, and which the Declaration of Independence asserts could never derive from “the consent of the governed” — and that these so-called “emergency powers” or “aggregate powers” or “inherent powers” entitle officialdom to deny individuals their rights, even to the point of palpable oppression. Thus, whoever uncritically parrots the wrongheaded notion that “the government is denying us our rights” is actually (if perhaps unconsciously) aiding and abetting usurpers, tyrants, and their accomplices to do exactly that.

Of course, the complaint that “the government is denying us our rights” does contain a modicum of practical insight: namely, that many people in public offices today do increasingly disregard and infringe upon Americans’ rights “under color of law.” However, although these misdeeds may be carried out ostensibly in the name of the law, and supposedly through the procedures of the law, they nonetheless remain in violation of the supreme law. Therefore, notwithstanding that the perpetrators may hold public offices, with respect to such aberrant behavior they are not acting as public officials or in the capacity of “the government” at all. For “[a]n unconstitutional act is not a law; . . . it imposes no duties; it is, in legal contemplation, as inoperative as though it had never been passed.” Norton v. Shelby County, 118 U.S. 425, 442 (1886). “An unconstitutional act is not a law; it binds no one.” Huntington v. Worthen, 120 U.S. 97, 101-102 (1887). “An unconstitutional law is void, and is as no law. An offense created by it is not a crime.” Ex parte Siebold, 100 U.S. 371, 376 (1880), quoted in Fay v. Noia, 372 U.S. 391, 408 (1963). Where their unconstitutional acts are concerned, public officials are merely private lawbreakers, subject to criminal convictions for their transgressions. See, e.g., Title 18, United States Code, §§ 241 and 242. They may be political hoodlums whose crimes are of national or even international scope; but they are hoodlums nonetheless.

The essential point and fundamental basis for remedial action is that, under America’s political system, oppression is not and can not be the product of a disembodied generality called “the government” that is somehow above the law because it makes, interprets, and enforces the law. Rather, oppression is always the product of identifiable individual wrongdoers in public office, all of whom are themselves wholly subject to law — whether the law of the Constitution, or the higher law of the Declaration of Independence, or the highest “Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God” upon which both the Declaration and the Constitution rest. The responsibility for every act of oppression against the American people must be assigned specifically to these individuals, not to the public offices they happen to occupy or to “the government” as an institution.

After all, the Declaration of Independence condemned, not monarchy as an abstract “Form of Government,” but the very real person of King George III. That “[t]he history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in their direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States” was the indictment of an individual, not an institution. It was not monarchy in general, but a particular monarch himself who had as his object “the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States,” and who used as his means to that end “repeated injuries and usurpations.” And “the good People of these Colonies” could not rid themselves of him, his ministers, and their machinations except by severing the Colonies’ connection with Great Britain and changing their governments from the monarchical to the republican form.

Happily, such a radical course is not necessary for Americans to deal with the miscreants in public office who subvert and pervert governmental institutions at the national, state, and local levels today. Instead, Americans need only assert one of the most important of all checks and balances in the law: namely, that wrongdoers in public offices cannot be suffered to interpose the plea that their misdeeds were somehow acts of “government,” and that therefore “the government” alone should be blamed and held accountable. For “the government” can never be punished as a matter of fact — and as a matter of law should never be charged with the crimes of individuals who misuse public offices for their own nefarious purposes. Only the wrongdoers themselves should be punished, and can be punished, and therefore must be punished — surely, swiftly, and severely.

“We the People”

When wrongdoers hold public offices, though, and misuse their positions and powers to perpetrate crimes and then shield themselves from just retribution, who is to punish them? We the People. Who else is there? As the Constitution itself recites, “We the People of the United States . . . do ordain and establish this Constitution” — and therefore are ultimately responsible for insuring that whatever may be done in its name is legitimate. Moreover, We the People elect individuals to public offices — and therefore are ultimately responsible for seeing to it that those officials’ behavior in the government scrupulously accords with constitutional requirements. In the first as well as the final analysis, We the People are the government, and therefore must take upon ourselves the responsibility for making the government — our government — work properly.

For a self-governing republic to survive, these duties of citizenship must be carried out in a thoroughgoing and timely fashion. Self-government is not a spectator sport. If Americans will not govern themselves, someone else will govern them — and they will not like the result. As long as Americans supinely suffer conniving politicians and greedy special-interest groups to tell them who is going to run the government and how it is going to be run — and especially what “emergency powers” public officials supposedly have, and as a consequence what rights common Americans do not have — then those unjust and abusive powers will expand exponentially, and the rights necessary for the perpetuation of a free society will diminish to nonexistence. A façade of “law” and “government” will increasingly shelter, facilitate, empower, and reward political crimes — until organized criminality replaces both law and government and America finds herself reliving her Colonial history, “a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in their direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these States.”

Americans have come to that point “in the Course of human events” at which they must stop whining about how “the government is denying us our rights,” and instead stand up and secure those rights themselves in their capacity as this country’s one and only sovereign. If not now, there may never be another opportunity.

Edwin Vieira, Jr. is an attorney and author who concentrates on issues of constitutional law. He has won three cases in the Supreme Court of the United States.

Keep your eyes on this one...

2009-02-05T21:35:00.002-07:00

What H.R. 45 Does

The legislation has three main components.

Increasing requirements for firearms purchases.

Creating a national firearms registry overseen by the Federal Government.

Stiffen penalties for bookkeeping errors related to the Federal Firearms Database formed in section 2.

To purchase a firearm a person would be required to pass a written firearms examination, release all health records -- including mental heath records -- to the Attorney General's office, and submit to a two-day waiting period, as well as pay an "appropriate" fee of $25 per firearm.

Additionally, every firearm sale would be recorded in a database, which would track the serial number, make, model and identity of the owner. The legislation would also make all private sales of firearms illegal, and a felony offense.

In addition to these regulations, the legislation includes excessive regulations and penalties for bureaucratic missteps from simple failures to report address changes to failure to report stolen weapons.

Provisions of H.R. 45 include:

Requires passing a written examination to purchase a firearm.

Releases medical records -- including confidential mental health records -- to the Attorney General for Government review.

Requires a two-day waiting period on all firearms purchases.

Institutes a fee of $25 or more on all firearm purchases.

Creates a national database with all firearms and firearms owners registered by serial number with the Federal Government.

A Federal ban on all private firearms sales.

Increases in penalties for clerical errors related to this national firearms registry.

You can read the full text of the bill here.

Who's sponsoring H.R. 45

H.R. 45 -- President Obama's National Gun Registry and Citizen Disarmament Act -- was written by Illinois Congressman Bobby Rush (D). It currently has no cosponsors.

Representative Rush was a founding member of the Illinois Black Panther Party in 1968. The Black Panthers are a radical and militant organization.

But will it pass Congress?
Congressman Rush's bill an outrageous destruction of Constitutional Rights, but it's the compromises that are truly dangerous

Though far-left gun-haters routinely sponsor pie-in-the-sky legislation (anyone remember the days of Sen. Moynihan's annual 1000% tax on ammo?), H.R. 45 has set new lows for the depths to which hoplophobes will sink.

Is H.R. 45 dangerous? Yes. But is it likely to pass? No.... it's too far-reaching.

What is likely to pass, though, is a compromise, a deal cut with the gun-grabbers and the group that ostensibly represents gun owners, the NRA.

Think that can't happen? Rewind to the summer of 2007, when arch gun-hater Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy sat down with NRA board member Congressman John Dingell to craft a deal to expand Brady Checks into new realms of mental health records. A few months later, H.R. 2640 passed...with the approval of the NRA and McCarthy.

Congressman Rush's gun control ideas are much, much more dangerous as amendments to legislation that is already advancing.

Remember the Brady Bill? It didn't pass as a stand-alone bill. It passed as an amendment.

Even more frightening was that it passed with the approval of the NRA (click here for that full story)

The same is true of the Lautenberg Domestic Abuse ban, the Assault Weapons ban, 1986 McClure-Volkmer (which bans the manufacture of transferable machine guns), the 1968 Gun Control Act, and numerous other examples (especially if you look at state legislation).

Yes, we're watching H.R. 45. But beware the slight of hand -- it's often more dangerous.

That an elected official representing the people could even think up this garbage just goes to show how sad things really are. I may burn out on the bad news before summer...

Scott

More evidence the NRA doesn't (really) care about gun rights....

2009-02-03T20:48:00.002-07:00

Folks, the recent YouTube link (below the Sightron post) was a short video documentary of the failure of the draconian gun laws in England, the subsequent rise in violent crime, the jailing and sentencing of a man arrested when he defended his home from a couple of thugs who broke in (he killed one, the other is free now), and other dangers of the citizen disarmament mindset. I see it has already been pulled from YouTube. But here is the kicker. Guess what the reason is?

"This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by National Rifle Association"

You would think the NRA would be glad to see this video "go viral" and help inform the American public what happens when you trust politicians who work to pass "gun control". But the NRA is more worried about itself and promoting its own agenda. Talk about missing the forest for the trees.

I'm going to write a column soon titled "Why I've given up on the NRA...and why you should too". It's gonna be a dandy. File this away as one reason...

Scott

Finally........Sightron!!

2009-02-03T20:38:00.001-07:00

Friends,

At long last, Liberty Optics is an authorized Sightron dealer! For the last couple of years we have been extolling the virtues of the excellent optical and mechanical quality of the Sightron scopes, especially their top of the line SIII and SII Big Sky models. I think the SIII are the best scopes in the $500-$1000 price point, period. However, we never actually were able to competitively sell them...until now.

Thanks to Alan Orr, Sightron's product manger, for making this happen. There is also a to-be-unnamed third party without whose cooperation this would not have been possible. You know who you are and I thank you.

We are very excited, we are bringing in the 8-32, 6-24, and 3.5-10x44 SIII first, but we are a full line dealer. Anything of interest drop me a line for a quote. Sightron's MAP policy will be followed at all times. We will post items on the website ASAP.

With your support, we continue to grow.

Thanks!

Scott

A glimpse of the future in America?

2009-02-01T23:13:00.002-07:00

Friends,

From an email from GunsAmerica, the web-based gun selling forum....I do not know how old this is but it's certainly required viewing, about 9 minutes long. Would YOU tamely hand over your firearms to some administrative bureaucrat????

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTq2NEUlhDE

Scott

The Real Lesson of Rod "The Hair" Blah-blah-gojevich

2009-01-29T21:58:00.003-07:00

Friends,

I see it's "game over" for Mr. Blagojevich. I've kept tabs on this political circus and at least the right call appeared to have been made. I couldn't believe the nerve of this guy trying to influence his impeachment trial through the media. Who did he think he was, Bill Clinton? What a sociopath!

At any rate, what I wanted to tell you is that "The Hair" was as rabidly anti-gun as it gets (not that you needed to be told given Illinois gun friendly laws and politics cough cough).

There is an old saying that goes something like this: "People think everyone else is just about as honest as they are". With his security detail and access to classified federal Homeland Security briefings and anti-gun stance, Rod's suspicions about others were confirmed through his own conduct.

Here's another way of spinning the first saying: "Fear those who fear your gun".

This is especially true of politicians and lawmakers.

For while "The Hair" was one of the most, bizarre, brazen, and delusional anti-gun politicians I've seen, I assure you this....

He's not the only one. He's one of many.

He just got caught.

The correct reaction to such conduct is utter contempt and loathing. This is also the correct mindset for those who plan to disarm you.

Behind the veneer of "safety" in gun control proposals is some real ugliness.

"The Hair" on the dome is the "cap" on the "iceberg". But we now have a bona-fide poster child of the dangers we face from those who support citizen disarmament.

Thanks Rod. You da man. Have fun with the feds.

Scott

SHOT Show 2009: Addendum and errata

2009-01-25T22:28:00.002-07:00

Friends,

A couple of items....

First, in my first Day 1 post about Vortex Optics, I likened the new Armor-Tek coating to Bushnell's RainGuard or Zeiss' Lotutec. From Vortex's website:

ArmorTek is a new, chemically-bonded optical lens multi-coat that increases light transmission, color fidelity, and image resolution—while providing unprecedented protection for the lens surface with a proprietary fluorine compound which is ultra-hard and highly scratch-resistant. ArmorTek's unique strain-proof top coat features a slippery surface that actually repels the oil and corrosive salts of fingerprints. Dust, dirt, and smudges are all easily wiped away without fear of scratching the optical glass beneath.

While this expressly states oleophobic and dirt/scratch resistant properties, hydrophobic properties are not implied, so the comparison with Bushnell's and Zeiss' proprietary coatings is not entirely correct, and the mistake is mine alone. Perhaps a fairer comparison is to Leupold's Diamondcoat, but in reality it looks like Armor-Tek has its own unique properties.

Also, I heard from Jeff Redding, Riflescope Product Manager for Bushnell, Millett, Simmons and Tasco, and the developer of the new DOA reticle. There is a lot of science, both ballistic and biological, that went into the development of the reticle. Here's a link for more info:

http://marketing.bushnell.com/press/pdf/DOA%20Reticle.pdf

Also, Jeff wanted to share this with our readers:

"The average whitetail has ears that span 17" eartip-to-eartip. While the common mule deer has a 24" spread between eartips. So at each ballistic holdover dot there is a horizontal intersecting line that extends out to subtend 24", with vertical hash marks on it that measure 17" at each respective yardage. Now a hunter has a tool that they can utilize to estimate the width of the rack of which they are viewing, no matter whether they are hunting whitetails or muleys. I always thought that the hardest thing to do was to gauge the size of antlers when looking through magnification and you had no reference for size"

It will be interesting to see how the hunting public responds to this new reticle.

Thanks,

Scott

SHOT Show 2009: Epilogue

2009-01-22T16:05:00.004-07:00

Folks,

Some odds and ends I'd like to share which I didn't fit in the last days report....

Nightforce (Lightforce USA): I've been fairly consistent with my assessment of Nightforce NSX riflescopes the last couple of years...excellent mechanics with rock solid reliability, excellent QC, excellent finish and build quality, quirky features, "tunnel vision" field of view, reticles that on average are too fine for my tastes, and mediocre optics, especially considering the price point. Despite claims to the contrary, there is nothing redeeming about the optics in the NSX.... period, end of story. Nightforce has gotten away with it because they are more rugged and reliable than the two closest competitors (IOR and Lupy Mark 4) and track and hold zero like nobody's business. NSX are great gunsights, but so-so optics.

Having said that, I made the pilgrimage to the Nightforce booth again, and for the first time in 6 years, somebody actually walked up and helped me. That somebody was Ken ("NightforceKen" on longrangehunting.com). Ken and I had corresponded briefly in the past and I found him to be friendly and personable. He showed me the exact goods I came to look at, the 2-12x32 and the new 3.5-15x50 FFP model. The 2-12x32 is a newer model and judging by availability it's very popular. I like the mildot reticle model. This is a nice "medium-sized" optic that could do about anything except extreme long range shooting (no parallax adjustment). The FFP scope is also a new model and is simply waaaay overpriced. Same story, it had iffy optics that failed to impress. For roughly the same cash, you can (and should) get a Premier Heritage that is better on so many levels....... I realize that several Nightforce FFPs are working out just fine at Rifles Only...but I predict the new Vortex tac scope and the Heritage will deal a one-two punch to the NSX that will hurt a bit before the end of the year.

At any rate, Ken is a class representative of of Lightforce USA, passionate about the scopes, a great salesman, and he exhibits great professionalism. Thanks for taking the time, Ken.

Leupold: A little more on Lupy. While the new hunting scopes failed to impress, I've never really had an issue with the Mark 4 tactical scopes. They do have good variety in knob choices and two mainstay reticles, and can and do work. While the hired hands at the hunting booth were pretty helpful, the guys at the law enforcement booth were abysmal. One guy in particular was like a robot. No passion or knowledge at all. He handed me a SFP scope and insisted it was the new 4.5-14x50 FFP. "No it's not" I said. "Yes it is" he said. I handed him the scope and taught him "FFP 101" (look at the reticle......) Sheesh. They also denied marking or making Mark 4 "Dark Earth" 3.5-10x40 TMR models for Uncle Sam, despite the markings on the scope and the box it came in....interesting, "plausible deniability" in action. Honestly, there was no interest in selling on their part. The sad thing is, this is not the first time I've experienced this, I've seen this in at least two of the last five SHOT shows. Maybe if the Leupold family got hit in the pocketbook, they would wake up and make the goods again, with employees/reps who had a clue. I'm not trying to beat a dead horse, but the best Lupy has to offer isn't good enough anymore. The competition is eating their lunch and blind brand loyalty and the Custom Shop is all they have left in the tank....

SnipersHide.com: Shout out to "Lowlight". Frank Galli, owner of "The Hide", was at the show, as he is every year. Frank is a busy guy, but I finally realized that every SHOT show I've attended, he's taken the time to answer questions and give advice to me. Given his insider's perspective. I really appreciate it. Thanks, Frank.

Chinese ED binos: I had a response to my posts about Hawke Frontier and Bosma ED binos, and it seems there is an explosion of new models, like the Promaster ELX ED and the Zen Ray (neither which was at the show, I think) which are seeming to push the envelope of price vs performance. More support of my theory that the Chinese manufacturers are starting to come into their own with the higher end stuff. Bosma apparently is an OEM/ODM for a few other Japanese optics companies also, so they appear to be a player in the market. Still, the warranty/service should be a deciding factor. I know Vortex Optics will take care of you with no hassles, even if you are not the original owner of the optic. What about those other guys? The other thing to realize is the inherent prejudice against Chinese-made products, I experience it weekly in this business. Bottom line: When push comes to shove, the dollar rules in a slow economy and these look to provide great bang for the buck, so you need to know about your options.

Finally, a quick story....

During the flight home from Orlando, a somewhat familiar face stood up in the plane looking unhappy. Walking to the back of the plane, the gentleman offered $200 to a young lady to vacate her aisle seat. Being that she was a college student, he didn't have to ask her twice. After staring for a bit, I asked "Lynn Thompson?"...."In the flesh!!! he roared back with a hearty handshake to boot. Lynn Thompson is the president of Cold Steel knives. Given I own quite a few of his knives, striking up a conversation was easy. Lynn apparently was tired of the guy's behavior sitting next to him, and was going down the path of knocking his block off, which would have been a big "no-no" on a plane, so he bought his way to sanity. Say what you want about Lynn (and I've heard the gamut), the guy is successful, innovative, and doesn't let grass grow under his feet. It was a pleasure talking with him, and I just "accidentally" discovered he hunts almost exclusively with Leupold scopes....

I suppose we can help him get past that..... ;+)

Thanks again, and have a great day.

Scott

SHOT Show Day 4: It's a wrap

2009-01-18T17:50:00.005-07:00

Folks,

Day 4 of SHOT is finally in the rear view mirror. It's been a tremendously rewarding show, and well worth the effort. I've learned a lot, met a lot of people and put some faces with names. I'm glad I made it here. Now, it's time for the long trip home.

Let's add some more info to my impressions of the Premier Heritage scope. Specifically, I had the opportunity (along with Ilya Koshkin) to take the prototype 5-25x56 outside for some outdoors viewing (thanks to Jerry from Premier). The inside venue where Premier was situated had a long distance of about 35 yards to the wall....not exactly suitable for evaluating a long range scope (the width of the SHOT Show main floor was a lased 165 yards, and the length was an estimated 500 yards). Ilya and I wanted to see how well the Heritage performed as an optic with some distance to work with.

The Heritage did not disappoint.

The long range resolution, clarity, color rendition....simply outstanding. What was most amazing was the incredible depth of field the Heritage displayed. What I mean by this is the Heritage has the ability to keep two objects in the field of view in focus despite a big disparity in their distance. For instance, we were focused on a building several hundred yards away and a palm frond at a fraction of the distance could wave into the field of view and be in focus. This is exceptional from an optical engineering standpoint (so sayeth the Dark Lord of Optics). The utility of this from the practical standpoint of a combat riflescope should be obvious. The Heritage would seem to confer a decided advantage to the enduser in a variety of competitive or tactical environments.

In my my opinion, this is the single best all-round riflescope I've probably ever seen. American-made and the best? It's nice to put those two concepts in one sentence! Best of luck to Chris Thomas and crew. We will do whatever we can to sell as many Heritage scopes as possible.

I finally caught up with Glen Seekins of Seekins Precision and he debuted a new AR-15 lower of unique design. While I'm not an AR-15 aficionado, the lower had a sleek, curvaceous style that was very well received (pun intended). Like all Seekins products, machining and detail were second to none and Glen just keeps on innovating. Of course, we will continue to stock as many of his rings and bases as we can get our hands on. Another top notch American made product.

Aimpoint: I've been meaning to bring Aimpoint into the fold ever since my struggles dealing with L3/Eotech. I own an older model Aimpoint that has resided on my muzzleloader for years. I finally met up with Gilbert Russell of Aimpoint and he was a fine gentleman that was a credit to his company. The T-1 Micro is highly lauded and I examined one residing on a Glock pistol that was attached to a special mount that utilized the rear sight dovetail. When I realize that the sight will be riding the slide during every single shot, I understand the confidence that Aimpoint has in the ruggedness of the T-1. With my customers demanding a top quality red dot sight for their AR-15 platforms, I promise I'll be reading the Aimpoint catalog on the long flight home to get re-acquainted with this family of gunsights. Anyone wanting a quote on any Aimpoint sight, we will be placing an opening order soon, drop me a line.

Optolyth-Valdada: Optolyth spotters are made 100% in Germany by Sill Optics, excellent quality spotters. Valdada has introduced a new wide angle fixed eyepiece with a reticle that utilizes a grid pattern on the outside and some aiming points that allows a spotter to call in corrections to point of aim utilizing the mil system. After about 30 seconds behind it I could comprehend how it works and this is an "outside the box" alternative to standard crosshair reticles that seems it would really work. I'll post a pdf diagram of the reticle as I get one. Contact Valdada IOR optics for more info.

Bosma Sport Optics: For some reason, I lingered unnecessarily long at this booth and a polite Chinese gentleman behind the counter took up some conversation. I checked out some rifle scopes that I simply filed away in the NSL (No Second Look) pile. However, I eventually realized that these guys were the Chinese factory for Fujinon. After connecting some dots I found out that Bosma make a pair of ED glass binos (8x42 and 10x42) that I spent quite some time with. Audible and tactical clicks on the focus wheel mounted diopter adjustment, a decent focus mechanism and surprising good optics that were free of chromatic aberration and any serious physical flaws. Hmmmmmm. When I got my price quote for some quantity buys on these binos, well, all I can say is that those who believe the Chinese can't provide good value on quality optics simply have their head in the sand. Chinese optics factories can do anything they need to. I've seen it year after year here at SHOT.

Zero Tolerance Knives: I witnessed the debut of ZT several SHOT Shows ago and I've always pined for them as a staple LO offering (along with Chris Reeve knives, which I missed this year). Looks they are just rolling along just fine. Beefy liner lock and fixed blade knives as well as new models like the JB2 Shroud Cutter and 0500 Manual folder demonstrate ZT's continued commitment to excellence. Neat stuff!

Rokon: The Rokon 2x2 is a clunky but rugged looking motorcycle made in New Hampshire. Featuring low-displacement Kohler or Honda engines and a 3-speed Kevlar belt drive moving both wheels via a set of chains, this beast apparently can do some amazing things in rough terrain. Whether climbing logs, running through streams or negotiating steep rugged terrain, the Rokon seems ready for anything. Lightweight at just over 200 pounds (ever weigh a 4-wheeler lately?), the Rokon can be floated through deep water, top 40mph and haul 1000 pounds payload and pull 3000 pounds. These buggers were very intriguing and if any readers own them or have any experience with them, I would love to hear from you.

That'll do it. Thanks for visiting and contact me anytime if I can be of help.

Scott

SHOT Show report, Day 3 (the good stuff)

2009-01-17T18:14:00.008-07:00

Folks,

Here we go again. Today I spent most of my time in the law enforcement and military section. Most of my customers and clients gravitate toward this stuff so we were due to get up to speed. I'll start with my big surprise of the day.....

Premier Reticles: A lot of people have asked what I thought of the new Heritage riflescope. A few have misinterpreted my reticence on not wanting to say anything bad....not true. I've just not seen the darn things.....until now.

I truly was not prepared for what I saw.

The Heritage is a very fine gunsight AND optic. I love the heavy, stout construction, the chunky knobs, the parallax/illumination knob design, the finish, the machining. I definitely prefer the "double turn" knob with the detent every 1 mil and the tactile 2nd turn indicator. I had trouble moving the original single turn knob "only" one click or 0.1 mils due to the fineness of the spacing. I like the locking diopter design, and the tool-less re-zeroing is just dandy. Of course, the Gen 2 mildot and Gen 2 XR are awesome functional long range reticles. Ok, so there are a few "tough as nails" scopes that hold up well to rough treatment...like Nightforce NXS.

Then I looked through the thing. WOW. Premier states that no expense was spared in the specs of the optics and I completely believe them. The Heritage has awesome German glass. Clarity, light management, image quality.... are second to none. I know this is subjective, but within the confines of SHOT, the Heritage had the "Best in Show" optics, combined with a bulletproof package.

Tomorrow, we get to step outside with the scope and I can't wait.

I love the Premier Heritage.

I have no data on long term reliability, but otherwise I am very fired up about this scope! I know the NXS is much more proven, but IMO the NXS can't hold a candle to the Heritage. I sincerely wish Premier the best in getting this scope out there and we are going to do all we can to get these in the hands of serious shooters!! Nice folks to meet and deal with, too......

US Optics: Those who know me know that the folks at USO are some of my favorite people, first class all the way. This year, they are offering perhaps their most practical all around scope ever, the 1.8-10x37 T-PAL w/ 30mm tube. With 100+MOA adjustment and the same stout construction and crisp reticles you expect from USO, this scope should be a winner. Also new for 2009 are their new proprietary ballistic software and the patented new "Milestone" detent knob, which allows extra resistance to be set at any internal milestone in BDC, MIL, or MOA configuration. With these products US Optics continues their full custom tradition!

The Burn Machine: This item is a funky asymmetrical dumbbell system that utilizes 360 degree rotating handles and a sliding weight system to provide an efficient upper body and core workout. I remember these guys from last year but since they made the trip again I'd thought I mention them. What I appreciated is a little postcard showing how the Burn Machine can "improve your shot" and your "holding endurance" through strengthened upper body and hands. Any company that shows up and caters to shooters (even in a non-traditional sort of way) deserves our consideration, period. Just go to www.TheBurnMachine.com and check it out. We have the ability to purchase through a SHOT Show order so if interested let me know!

IOR-Valdada: Three new offerings highlight the 2009 lineup for IOR. The most unique is a 36x42 benchrest scope with 1/8 MOA clicks, 30mm tube a new MP-8 style MOA reticle. Priced right at the Leupold Competition fixed power scopes at $1125 MAP, benchrest shooters have a new option with better optics for the same $$. Advantage: IOR. Next in line is the 2-12x36 Tactical with a BDC style exposed knob and a MP-8 or CQB style of reticle and 35mm tube. No parallax adjustment but a simpler and more robust construction priced about $50 more than the (still available)2-12x32. Finally, an all new 1/4x x 30 with 35mm tube was on the table. Very short and stout, the scope utilizes a new CQB reticle with 1x or 4x magnification settings, sort of a poor man's Elcan Spectre. Quite frankly this new optic did nothing for me, but it might catch on with the AR crowd.

A modest 3% price increase (on average) takes effect immediately but LO customers have until February 1 until the new prices take effect. It is to your advantage to order early!

Schmidt & Bender: We all know S&B are awesome scopes. I looked through a variety of offerings and of course the 5-25x56 is flat out impressive. Keep in mind the Gen 2 mildot and Gen 2 XR offerings are just about done in the S&B, extremely limited quantities on hand. There are a very few 5-25x56 with 0.1 mil clicks, double turn knobs and illuminated Gen 2 XR reticle available, so heads up on a sweet riflescope package. Keep in mind service (if you need it) is S&B's responsibility, not Premier Reticles.....

Looking through some of the PMII scopes, I did note some chromatic aberration at the extreme edges of the field of view...which was a little disappointing, given that the Heritage has none I could see....

Also, the vaunted 1.1-4x24 Short Dot series, I will say that I would not spend $2K+ for that scope, maybe not even half that, I would rather have several Millett DMS-1 or Bushnell Elite 4200 1.25-4x24 4a dot scopes than one Short Dot....wire reticle and "nothing special" turrets....what the heck is the big deal????

The big news from S&B is their coordinated effort to level the playing field and streamline their distribution/dealer program to they can run a legitimate business model that is fair and equitable for everybody...and plug the "leaks" that skews the whole affair. We would like to carry these but we have been sitting on the sidelines until "market conditions" improve, so to speak......

Carl Zeiss Optronics / Hensoldt: After years of badgering and begging, and even questioning their manhood (sort of), the boys at Hensoldt lined up HDC, LLC to bring the Hensoldt line of long range riflescopes to the US. Basically military grade Zeiss, Hensoldt features 34mm tubes and both FFP and SFP configurations. The initial family of scopes include the 3-12x56, 4-16x56, 6-24x56, and 6-24x72 scopes. Quite frankly I was a bit disappointed with the easily visible chromatic abberation and a touch of internal flare when scanning the ceiling and lights inside the building. No question the overall quality is top rate and the big advantage Hensoldt has over S&B is the oodles of reticle travel (a worst case 58 MOA in the 6-24x50 and a best case 144 MOA in the 3-12x56 SFP model (108 MOA in the FFP model) so long range dialing in is easily obtainable. Price will be average MAP of over $3K, and availability should be 8 weeks from now in a worst case scenario, so if Hensoldt tickles your fancy, contact us ASAP.

The other super cool Hensoldt product is a military grade spotting scope with illuminated FFP mildot style spotter reticle and bulletproof construction and Picatinny accessory rails...but quite expensive at around $4999......

Nathan Hunt, President of HDC, was great to meet and seems to be a fine fellow, so it's time to realize that there are more top shelf choices in riflescopes than ever before...

Finally, Nikon Sport Optics......while I'm still more than a little peeved that the Tactical series of riflescopes was sniped for political reasons, Nikon is simply too big to ignore. The Monarch-X series of riflescopes do boast the Ultra Clear Coat optic system but the tube and knobs are definitely a bit different (not better) than the old Tac...more random scope observations....the Monarch 2-8x32 is simply a DANDY optic and performs above its counterparts (thanks to Ilya Koshkin for the inside scoop there)..I like it in the BDC reticle (though not crazy about the hollow circles)....the 4.5-14x40 Buckmaster mildot reinforced my belief and faith by being quite exceptional for the price point...no worries there. Nikon introduced some new fancy schmancy reticles of the BDC genre but frankly I'm getting a little burned out on the hype......In binoculars, the new high priced EDGs were all the rage, and they were very nice glass...but for less $$ you can get similar performance from the Kowa Genesis XDs......Nikon also re-introduced the Premier series of binos..which they seemed quite proud of...but when Ilya looked through them and wondered about some optical deficiencies which weren't apparent in the "old" Premier binos...Jon LaCorte from Nikon claimed the binos were "only a prototype"....hmmmmmm.

I'm a big fan of the Nikon ED Fieldscopes. so with much anticipation I checked out the ultimate EDG spotters....specifically the angled 85mm model (which does NOT have the dielectric coated prisms of the straight eyepiece model). Quite frankly, while decent, I have no idea what the big deal is. Featuring body (objective) focus and extra-low dispersion glass, the EDG simply underwhelmed in the confines of SHOT, so it's hard to get excited about it....I'm not sure what the problem is, but the sight picture was absolutely nothing special....go figure....

Well, I think that's all for now. We'll check out Aimpoint and our friend Glen Seekins tomorrow, and any other loose details that crop up...

As always, thanks for stopping by.

Scott

PS - News Flash - Rumor has it that Kahles, long the unwanted stepchild of Swarovski
(but still owned by them) has been bought by Leica and commissioned to lauch a new series of proprietary Leica riflescopes .....I have no further info, but I wouldn't get too excited, while likely having novelty and killer glass, I doubt Leica's ability to field scopes with features that make sense to real shooters....but time will tell.

SHOT Show report Day 2

2009-01-16T18:52:00.006-07:00

Friends,

Another productive day. Ilya Koshkin has been fantastic in explaining the finer elements of optics evaluations. His technical expertise on materials and design puts my comprehension to a whole 'nother level. Not to mention he's a great all around guy. I'm glad we have the opportunity to work the show.

One mission we have is to search for new brands or models that will fit in our philosophy of offering customers a superior value/quality at each price point. True innovation is somewhat rare but you never know what you will see or learn at an event like this. Anyway, we were introduced to Hawke Sport Optics www.hawkeoptics.com which is a decidedly British company that markets a series of Asian optics here in the US. Hawke's specialty is a series of ballistic holdover reticles that are matched with a proprietary free downloadable software that lets you get the appropriate holdovers and aiming points for your particular load. While most of Hawke's optics are made in China, the Frontier series of riflescopes are made in Japan. Featuring 1-inch tubes, the side focus models are the flagship scope for Hawke. A 4-16x42, 6-24x50, and 8-32x50 are the models offered, with 1/8MOA clicks on the latter two. I like the 4-16x42, which had about 80MOA of reticle travel. It's simply a very nice scope but a bit over-priced at $499 street price. Mildot reticles are available in all Frontier models. The non-side focus Frontier models can be thought of as the generic equivalent of the Sightron SI, with a street price in the $125-$155 range.

Probably the most noteworthy of the Hawke products is new Frontier ED binos, featuring phase coated ED optics, great field of view and open hinge design. Optically, these were very good, but the over-sized focus knob did not have a consistent feel for me. Still, for $350 you get the "Best from China" in a bino I've seen.

My only concern with Hawke is the 'Worldwide Warranty" which is not explained in writing but told to me it only applies to the original owner. I counseled the corporate "powers that be" that a "no hassle" warranty service is a huge key for success in a competitive market, and strongly advised a revision. I'll leave it at that. Overall, Hawke's bread and butter is the customizable printout ballistic reticles in certain models (check out the Sidewinder scopes) that offer a unique variation to play with. There is nothing overly compelling about the lineup to recommend them but there's another option for you.

Brunton: Brunton is a fine outdoors company based in Riverton Wyoming. They make neat camping and outdoors gear. They also sell optics. The cream of the crop binocular they sell is the Epoch. I looked at the 8.5x43 model. Bottom line: I still don't understand why they want $1200 for a rather ordinary Japanese bino. I wouldn't give them $600 for it. Go figure. The new compact 60mm spotters were actually pretty decent, featuring a rugged rubberized design, but I feel that Brunton offers optics to round out the product line, not because it is their passion. Another bottom line: We won't sell them in 2009.

Leupold: I visited Leupold's hunting booth thinking I was going to stay awhile, but this was not the case. The big news is the new VX-3 riflescopes. I spent some time looking through them. At lowest power, all had serious vignetting and fuzzy edges and a narrowed field of view (much like the IOR scopes), which opened up slightly with increased magnification. Optics were OK. The regular fast focus eyepiece has been replaced with a coarse thread traditional style ("old school") eyepiece. The standard low profile knobs pretty much suck, while the new Custom Dial System is pretty decent with it's low profile exposed design, tailored tothe ballistics of your load. Another thoughtful touch is the rangefinding markings on the magnification ring for hunting. Still.....I am not impressed with the new VX-3 and the laundry list of features and matching hype do not live up to expectations, IMO. The new Northfork binos, positioned under the Gold Ring on the quality gradient, are OK. But we know what we have with the Gold Ring binos, which are decent, but over-priced optics. The new RXB-IV LRF is the lightest and most compact, with a very bright LED display, but I still couldn't figure out how to use it. The display is too busy and the function is not intuitive. Why doesn't Lupy take a page from the high end LRF makers? K.I.S.S.

After spending more time in the Leupy booth, I had an epiphany of sorts. Despite all the star power and endorsements and slick marketing and big-time budgets.....Leupold is irrelevant. There is nothing they offer at each price point in any product that isn't exceeded by a competitor in quality for less money. That is a sad statement, but for Leupold 2009 I think it's true. The best thing going for Lupy is their Custom Shop, which truly sets them apart. But their production lineup lacks any good value, which is a bad thing IMO. Perusing their catalog the tactical lineup doesn't have any extensive new changes, big surprise.

Leupold needs some real leadership in their corporate structure, IMO.

Sightron: A year ago I wrote on some forums that I was quite impressed with Sightron scopes, especially the SIII and SII Big Sky series, and for 2009.....nothing has changed. I am blown away by the overall execution of the Sightron premium scopes. The optical sight picture really jumps out at you inside the confines of the show, indoors. Color, clarity, sharpness, fit, finish, controls, they're really no wrong notes here. This is coming from a dealer who has never made a penny selling Sightron. The tracking and repeatability performance and reputation are second to none. Simply put, Sightron scopes are excellent gunsights that need to find a way into your arsenal. The only limitation are the options and choices, and perhaps price for some of you. But they worth the money. The service is excellent too. Suffice to say, we are making the addition of Sightron a top priority for LO in 2009.

Meopta: I've never been too excited about Meopta scopes, neither fish nor fowl, never hitting on all cylinders, and this year is no different. The optics are quite fine but the finger adjustable knobs look similar to a Simmons or Bushnell Elite capped turret. On display was a 10x42 scope with 0.1 mil clicks on a BDC knob with 4 mils of travel..with a duplex reticle.....what the heck? I asked the company rep what the deal was and the reply was this was just a display prototype for upcoming scopes. I think it was better left in the lab. The new M-RAD reflex red dot (isn't everybody making one?) had a "dot" that resembled a cross, airplane, whatever, it wasn't a dot. To be fair, Meopta is not alone with failing to create a nice circular red dot but for $300+ dollars, it better be right.

I did spend some time with the 1-4x22 K-Dot, and it is a very nice illuminated CQB riflescope, but heaven help you if the illumination goes down, as the reticle is fairly useless without it.

The new Meostar B1 binos are exceptional. Very European and very well executed. Bright, clear, colorful optics and nice controls. These warrant serious consideration for European optics enthusiasts at a lower price. Do not be afraid to check these out, you might take them home. As always, I'm partial to the 42mm objectives, but 32mm, 50mm, and 56mm models are in the fleet. I think this is Meopta's flagship product.

I did not examine the spotters, I have before and they are decent but little has changed from models in the past.

Bushnell: Of the "Big 3" optics manufacturers (Lupy, Nikon, Bushnell) Bushnell seems to be most aggressive in moving "forward and upward" in the marketplace. They have many new offerings in spotters, binos, and scopes. The new buzz in the Elite series of riflescopes is the new "DOA" reticle, which resembles an upside down Swarovski TDS, used in estimated range on deer based on the average span between their ears, with MOA dots used for holdovers. The Elite 4200 and 6500 are solid scopes in nearly all aspects; mechanics, optics, fit, finish. All seem to feature wire reticles exclusively, even in the illuminated models. I feel the "brassiness" evident upon light entering the ocular of the scope (such as reflecting off your face) is more pronounced than it should be. These are still a safe choice, even if they are not the "sexiest" of riflescopes.

The biggest surprise was the new Excursion spotting scope, folded light path compact models that are similar to the Lupy Gold Ring and Mark 4 models. A 15-45x60 (including a taqctical version with FFP mildot reticle) and 20-60x80 are the two offerings. ED glass is standard, and these spotters feature a hard case and soft case and a tripod!! They looked quite good in the show and the focus was smoother than the Lupy Gold Ring HD I tested, but real testing outdoors is needed ;+)

I did not examine any binos but I will try to check out the new high end models including the new Legend Ultra HDs.

Millett: Bushnell owns Millett now, and I was told the Millet name would continue. After having been on the forums and hearing about the value of the Millet tactical series of scopes, I had to check them out for myself.

All I can say is, the 1-4 DMS-1, 4-16 TRS-1, and 6-24 LRS-1 are the best Chinese-made tactical scopes I've seen. The DMS-1 has a splendid reticle and very even illumination. The knobs aren't anything special but for a CQB scope once it's zeroed, knobs are irrelevant. The finish on the scopes is quite good, smooth and evenly applied. Optics are much better than I expected. The TRS-1 is a good budget tactical scope with a great QC record. The LRS-1 has very large and easy to see mildot reticle and from what I understand the "bugs" have been worked out. It's hard to argue with the Millet as viable low dollar scopes. One Bushnell employee showed me an African lion he had taken with his rifle topped with a DMS-1.....that's confidence in your optic!

The big story for me was a lesson on the Millett Zoom Dot tube-style reflex sight. The Millett Zoom Dot 30mm reflex sight is a non-magnifying 1-to-1 ratio red dot illuminated aiming system that can be used in all lighting situations with one or both eyes open. The dot size can be zoomed down to 1 MOA for a long-range accurate shot, or up to 10 MOA for super-fast target acquisition under close quarters battle, by simply turning the knob. I spent some time with one of the designers of the sight and this thing is quite the technological marvel. Currently made in the USA, this thing has no wires to wear out, it's controlled by a microprocessor and an optical glass sphere sensor or some sort, i.e., if you have it turned down for viewing in near darkness and swing your rifle to a sunny window, the dot is supposed to self intensify to a visible level. Wow. The Zoom Dot has integral flip up caps that will turn the dot down to a battey saving level if you snap them on but forget to turn the reticle off. The caps remain flexible in subzero weather.

Simple, rugged, affordable, I wasn't crazy about the greenish tint to the glass or imprecise dot, but the plusses definitely outweigh the minuses. There was a a sample there that had been frozen to 40F below zero, repeatedly dropped on concrete and run over by a truck, and it kept on ticking. I keep reading about the desires of many shooters (especially over on CalGuns.net) for a lower cost alternative to Aimpoint for a "SHTF" red dot......I sincerely believe the $299 Millett Zoom Dot is it....consider this, the military has taken an interest in this rugged and affordable technology and are currently working up a RFP and have begun the process of buying up oodles of them, which means 1) less future availability and 2) higher prices.....consider this too, the 400 or so still in Bushnell's inventory are US made but future assemblies will be made in Mexico....there is also a trick Picatinny clamp rail attachment that you can get that tightens and loosens with a finger adjustable star-shaped nut.

Anyway, the 8 ounce, 5.5 inch Zoom dot was the biggest surprise to date for the 2009 SHOT. I WOULD GET YOURS SOON. This may be old news to some of you but this is new to me and my job is to give you the scoop.

I did spent a good bit of time at the Nikon booth but frankly it's nearly 2:00 a.m. and I've hit the wall. Tomorrow is another day.

On tap for Saturday... Hensoldt, S&B, Premier Reticles, IOR, Aimpoint, Elcan, USO, LE Bushnell and Lupy.....whew.

As always, thanks for stopping by and let me know if I can answer any questions.

Scott

SHOT Show report Thursday January 15

2009-01-15T18:53:00.005-07:00

Friends,

Day 1 of SHOT is history. The show is as big as ever. Here's my first day's impressions of the goods.

Vortex Optics - Vortex continues to build on their success in 2008 with expanded offerings in the riflescopes, binos, and spotters.

Of course, the really big news, is a first peek at the new tactical scopes. Planned for a mid-summer 2009 debut, we were invited "backstage" for a preview. All I can say is "wow". Two models to start with. Vortex has REALLY done their homework and they are going to make a scope that will be made to last a lifetime. The technical details in design, features and materials set a new bar and I'm very surprised how well Vortex has been watching and listening to shooters.

Here's some details I know I can divulge:

A true 1-4x and a 5-20x
FFP illuminated reticles
MOA/MOA and mil/mil models coming (MOA reticles first)
Exposed turrets with proprietary zero stop, standard
Side focus on the LR model
Oodles of reticle travel
Internals and mechanics 2nd to none (I was impressed with the "hard core" design). Designed to track and hold zero for a lifetime.
Optics expressly spec'd to be "way beyond" the current Viper series (!)
A whole family of similar spec'd scopes to follow!!
Street price will be a bit higher than originally projected but well below the target market by at least $500.

Backed by Vortex....GTG

Now, for other news.

Viper riflescopes: Minor tweaks to the Viper line include the introduction of a mildot reticle in the 6.5-20x44 and mildot and BDC reticles in the 6.5-20x50 model.

Diamondback riflescopes: The very popular DB series adds a new 2-7x35 rimfire (V-Plex with 50 yard parallax setting) and a 4-12x40 AO model with Dead Hold BDC reticle. Prices have risen on all DB scopes for 2009.

Crossfire riflescopes: In a wise economic move, Vortex has greatly expanded the Crossfire series to include 9 new offerings. Prices have risen modestly for 2009. The big news are the 30mm tube models 4-16x50 AO and the 6-24x50 AO with illuminated etched reticles. The 4-16 has illuminated V-Plex and mildot reticles and non-illuminated V-Plex. The 6-24 has both illuminated and non illuminated mildot. Reticle travel is about 100MOA and the knobs will feature 1/4MOA clicks on the tall target turrets. For about $200 you simply can't find a better value. Another new longrange model is the 8-32x50 AO with 30mm tube and fine V-Plex wide reticle.

The Crossfire series also includes a 2-7x32 and 4x32 rimfire models with V-plex and 50 yard parallax setting. The 4x32 is simply the clearest and brightest little scope I've ever looked through for the price. A 3x32 crossbow model with crossbow reticle and 2x20 EER pistol scopes are welcome additions. Finally, the fixed 6x40 V-plex model is a fantastic, simple, all around woods-hunting scope.

Binoculars: Vortex introduces a new top of the line flagship bino, the Kaibab 15x56 HD. Looking like a Viper bino on steroids, these are designed for long range glassing on a tripod and I can tell you these babies deliver in spades. As clear and sharp and bright as anything on the SHOT Show floor. Also, the optics feature an Armor-Tek coating similar to the Rainguard or Lotu-tec coating. MAP price is $1200.

For 2009, the Razor binos are unchanged in price and lineup.

Folks who read my posts know I love the Viper series of binos. Prices have gone up on the 42mm models a bit. An all new 32mm series (under 20 ounces) makes it debut and fit, finish, feel, and optical performance are all Viper....in a lighter weight package. New for 2009, all Viper binos are Argon purged.

The very popular Diamondback series of binos are completely updated for 2009. All new multicoatings and Argon purging and a style redesign combine to give one of the best bino values available. With a performance rating at about 90% of the best Vortex offers and a price from $140-$250, The DBs are the best value for the money in my opinion.

Finally, the completely new Raptor porro prism models are 17 ounce mighty mights in 6.5x32 and 8.5x32 models. With a street price of just over $100, these are very decent glass for the money.

Spotting scopes: Many of you know I haven't held the Vortex spotters in the highest regard, but that feeling is over. The new Razor HD 20-60x85 is brand spanking new, with a triplet apochromatic lens system with two HD lens elements, state-of-the-art dual focus, magnesium housing (just now being offered by Swarovski....) argon purging, 15.5 inches, waterproof, shockproof, 4 pounds, the performance of this spotter is now taken a quantam leap to the upper echelon. MAP is $1600, and the word I'm getting in the field reviews are absolutely laudable. I apply my guarantee to this spotter, if not happy, 3 days your money back. This spotter is THAT good. Finally.

To conclude, Vortex has teamed with Manfrotto and Bogen for proprietary branded tripods of top quality. Look for exting offerings early this year.

For more info, visit www.vortexoptics.com

Trijicon - I've been a Trijicon convert, and the new ACOG horseshoe reticle is one of the best and most intuitive reticles ever offered. Available in .223 and .308 configs, this new design is FAST and as Ilya Koshkin, the Optics Talk "Dark Lord of Optics" states, the human eye naturally draws to and aligns with circular shapes and thus their utility in reticles. New reticles for the 6.8 SPC are also online for 2009.

I also want to tell you that the "often overlooked" 3x30 ACOG is fully deserving of your full attention. Excellent, forgiving eye relief, simplicity in the reticle design, lightweight, this ACOG is highly regarded by Trijicon staff and I was quite impressed with it. In fact Ilya directed me to check out this model and optically and in overall execution this is as good as any of them. Price is better than its big sisters 3.5x35 and 4x32 models too.

On to the Accupoints. The new 30mm 1-4x24 with capped turrets has an unecessary 100MOA+ of reticle adjustment, but eye relief is quite steady throughout the magnification range and the 30mm tube is a big plus. The knobs look like a carbon copy of the Vortex Viper, and were quite good for a capped turret. Great optics too.

Curiously, I wasn't too thrilled with the 5-20x50 model. 50+MOA of reticle adjustment in the 30mm tube, 12MOA of travel per turn, and optics that exhibited a bit of flare/aberration in them was a turn off. The side focus seemed a bit too loose in feel for me. The mildot reticle good, the picket post ? Overall, I felt the execution of this optic was a bit off the mark, with a street price of about $900.

The new Accupoints, available first quarter 2009....

For military and LE customers, the new Advanced Thermal Weapon Sight is a FLIR sight that can be hand carries or integrated perfectly with any 4x32 ACOG. I was amazed at how well the two worked together. Trijicon policy will be "no commercial sales" to make Obama happy so I won't expound anymore.

Finally, the new Ruggedized Miniature Reflex (RMR) red dot sight was on display. Now hear this: I like the CR2032 powered version better as an optic. Why? Clear optics and finer red dot reticles. (4 and 8 MOA vs 9 or 13 MOA). I know, for you SHTF types the tritium and fiber optic powered reticle is appealing, but I can't get past that annoying "coke bottle green" tint that is NOT present in the battery powered model. Buy lots of batteries!!

Kowa Optimed: The Kowa Prominar line of spotters (especially the 88mm series with flourite crystal lens elements) is world class. In the TSN-883 20-60x angled I was able to read 1/4" tall text consisting of 1mm thick lines inside the dimly lit show floor at a lased distance of 125 yards, through a plate glass window, at 60x. Just another performance benchmark for you to consider. New for 2009 are 33mm objective Genesis XD models of binos with super-wide field of views and 2 XD glass lens elements per barrel, at 20 ounces these are superb and every bit the equal or better of the Nikon EDGs for a fraction of the price. I love the 44mm models and while a touch heavy they are awesome performers for outdoor use. The Genesis are particularly strong in color rendition and contrast, a real joy to look through. My colleague Ilya Koshkin felt the 33mm were more technically sound than the 44mm, but I'm still partial to the larger exit pupil.

Other news, the old flagship 82mm TSN-821M series is done, but it is replaced by the new TSN-82SV model, which is angled eyepiece, green rubber armored, and takes the same eyepieces as the 66mm and 60mm models. As Kowa likes to say..."the legend lives on"...

Finally, hear ye, hear ye, prices on all Kowa products are going up 10% across the board for 2009, beginning February 1. There is never a better time to lock in what results in a 10% discount by ordering your Kowa product before then. If you are considering buying a Kowa product but are on the fence, call me!! You won't regret ordering before the price increase.

Oh, by the way, it's pronounced CO-wa..........

Swarovski Optik - Still awesome glass...but here's some news. Kahles is done...didn't even show up at the show...while a stake is still owned by Swav, there is a definite disconnect. No US distributor either, as Legacy Sports has come and gone with Kahles...

The new Ballistic Reticle is a mish-mash of the prototype Kahles tactical reticle from last year and a mildot. Swarovski is unequivocally not going tactical per floor staff...and this reticle (and the knobs) make for an expensive paperweight....avoid.

The SLC binos are as good as ever, and pricey too....

Finally, the LRF, although having the narrowest beam divergence (2.2 mils wide by 0.5 mils tall) and a well documented track record, I was not overly impressed with. NO ONE on the Swarovski floor new what the reticle diameter was, the reading was slow, and the reticle itself has distinct bubbles and/or skips that imparted a cheesy aura......pass....but only b/c of the new Zeiss Victory LRF!! LOL

Arsenal Bulgaria: OK....totally not an optic...but Arsenal AKs rule the current market, but big news are true Ishmash factory receiver AKs (Saiga)with stamped Russian (Ishevsk marked) receivers, AK-74 style gas blocks, and plum, green, or black factory stock colors. In 7.62x39, these new Section 922-R legal rifles just looked and felt AWESOME...checkout the SGL20 models at a dealer near you soon!!!

Zeiss Sporting Optics: The quality of Zeiss optics is no big secret, so let's focus on the new stuff....

First off, a new Conquest 2.5-7x32 EER handgun scope was on display. Featuring an average of 13+ inches of eye relief, designed to handle 1500G forces, 1/4 MOA clicks, parallax free at 75 yards, this may be just the ticket for pistol/shotgun/scout guns. Eye relief was very forgiving at 2.5x and not so much at 7x. Finally, a quality EER scope that should sell at a reasonable price.

Another neat scope that was a prototype is the 85mm spotter with objective lens zoom and intregral camera...the Victory Photoscope 85T*FL....completely eliminates the need for digital SLR "digiscoping"....and probably a price tag to boot.

I am going on record as saying I prefer the Zeiss Victory LRF over the Swav....cheaper, with a beam divergence of 2.5 mils by 1.5 mils (horizontal), ballistic compensation capable, lightweight, faster to range, 2 mil circle ranging reticle, and Made in Japan!!!! This is poised to be the best value on the market and we aim to buy and sell a bunch.

The Victory LRF rangefinding binos were on hand but at $2500+ we won't be featuring them in this economy....

Some new Victory riflescope models in SFP (vs. FFP) made their debut. 2.5-10x50 and 3-12x56 models were on display. Typical Zeiss quality.

Finally, from the horses mouth, the 6-24x72 scope is nearly identical in build quality and spec as its Hensoldt cousin!!!

That's it for today, tomorrow we feature Hawke Optics, Leupold, Bushnell, Nikon, Sightron, Brunton, and Hensoldt!!

Thanks for dropping by.

Scott

Welcome to SHOT Show 2009!

2009-01-14T16:18:00.002-07:00

Greetings,

Liberty Optics is here in Orlando Florida for the 2009 SHOT Show. Check back here for nightly updates of our experiences checking out all the new optics for 2009. The show starts tomorrow, January 15, and runs through Sunday, January 18. Feel free to ask for info for any particular items and we'll do our best to accomodate you!

Look forward to bringing all the good news on all the goodies, fast!

Thanks,

Scott

A small victory.....

2008-12-06T03:19:00.002-07:00

While this is great news for Montanans (handy for protection in Glacier, Yellowstone NP) and other states with liberal concealed carry laws, for "commie" states this is a "no decision". Still, we'll take it....

Interior Announces Final Firearms Policy Update

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Lyle Laverty today announced that the Department of the Interior has finalized updated regulations governing the possession of firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges. The final rule, which updates existing regulations, would allow an individual to carry a concealed weapon in national parks and wildlife refuges if, and only if, the individual is authorized to carry a concealed weapon under state law in the state in which the national park or refuge is located. The update has been submitted to the Federal Register for publication and is available to the public on www.doi.gov.

Existing regulations regarding the carrying of firearms remain otherwise unchanged, particularly limitations on poaching and target practice and prohibitions on carrying firearms in federal buildings.

“America was founded on the idea that the federal and state governments work together to serve the public and preserve our natural resources,” Laverty said. “The Department’s final regulation respects this tradition by allowing individuals to carry concealed firearms in federal park units and refuges to the extent that they could lawfully do so under state law. This is the same basic approach adopted by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the United States Forest Service (USFS), both of which allow visitors to carry weapons consistent with applicable federal and state laws.”

On February 22, 2008, Interior Secretary Kempthorne responded to letters from 51 Senators, both Democrats and Republicans, as well as from the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, urging him to update existing regulations that prohibit the carrying of firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges. In his response, the Secretary directed Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Lyle Laverty “to develop and propose for public comment by April 30 Federal regulations that will update firearms policies on these lands to reflect existing Federal laws (such as those prohibiting weapons in Federal buildings) and the laws by which the host states govern transporting and carrying of firearms on their analogous public lands.”

Changes in the final regulations from those originally proposed in April were developed as the result of public comments. In particular, comments expressed concern about the feasibility of implementing regulations which directly linked the carrying of concealed firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges to the ability of an individual to carry a concealed firearm on analogous state lands. The final regulations remove that potential logistical hurdle.

The existing regulations, as currently in effect, were adopted in 1981 for national wildlife refuges and in 1983 for national parks. Since that time many states have enacted new firearms policies. Currently, 48 states have passed legislation allowing for the lawful possession of concealed weapons.

“The Department believes that in managing parks and refuges we should, as appropriate, make every effort to give the greatest respect to the democratic judgments of State legislatures with respect to concealed firearms,” said Laverty. “Federal agencies have a responsibility to recognize the expertise of the States in this area, and federal regulations should be developed and implemented in a manner that respects state prerogatives and authority.”

Smoke a pack a day?

2008-12-03T01:46:00.004-07:00

Folks,

I've always admired and appreciated wolves as a top level carnivore that simply got the short end of the stick by Homo sapiens...while that may be true, I've noticed with some bemusement of a popular bumper sticker in these parts that show a a pack of wolves in the crosshairs of a riflescope with the caption "smoke a pack a day". Well, after reading this story by Sports Illustrated online and learning about a guy named Kenton Carnegie, I'm reminded of the old adage "there are three sides to a story.... yours, mine, and the truth." Suffice to say I'll never go hiking while unarmed again. Also, props to SI for posting such a story, which you must read here...

http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1148866/1/index.htm

Take care,

Scott

Be afraid......be very afraid.

2008-11-25T10:41:00.001-07:00

This from 2nd Amendment scholar and lawyer Dave Kopel, writing on UCLA Professor Eugene Volokhs's legal-discussion site, The Volokh Conspiracy http://volokh.com/

Earlier this year, Eric Holder--along with Janet Reno and several other former officials from the Clinton Department of Justice--co-signed an amicus brief in District of Columbia v. Heller. The brief was filed in support of DC's ban on all handguns, and ban on the use of any firearm for self-defense in the home. The brief argued that the Second Amendment is a "collective" right, not an individual one, and asserted that belief in the collective right had been the consistent policy of the U.S. Department of Justice since the FDR administration. A brief filed by some other former DOJ officials (including several Attorneys General, and Stuart Gerson, who was Acting Attorney General until Janet Reno was confirmed)took issue with the Reno-Holder brief's characterization of DOJ's viewpoint.

But at the least, the Reno-Holder brief accurately expressed the position of the Department of Justice when Janet Reno was Attorney General and Eric Holder was Deputy Attorney General. At the oral argument before the Fifth Circuit in United States v. Emerson, the Assistant U.S. Attorney told the panel that the Second Amendment was no barrier to gun confiscation, not even of the confiscation of guns from on-duty National Guardsmen.

As Deputy Attorney General, Holder was a strong supporter of restrictive gun control. He advocated federal licensing of handgun owners, a three day waiting period on handgun sales, rationing handgun sales to no more than one per month, banning possession of handguns and so-called "assault weapons" (cosmetically incorrect guns) by anyone under age of 21, a gun show restriction bill that would have given the federal government the power to shut down all gun shows, national gun registration, and mandatory prison sentences for trivial offenses (e.g., giving your son an heirloom handgun for Christmas, if he were two weeks shy of his 21st birthday). He also promoted the factoid that "Every day that goes by, about 12, 13 more children in this country die from gun violence"--a statistic is true only if one counts 18-year-old gangsters who shoot each other as "children."(Sources: Holder testimony before House Judiciary Committee, Subcommitee on Crime, May 27,1999; Holder Weekly Briefing, May 20, 2000. One of the bills that Holder endorsed is detailed in my 1999 Issue Paper "Unfair and Unconstitutional.")

After 9/11, he penned a Washington Post op-ed, "Keeping Guns Away From Terrorists" arguing that a new law should give "the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms a record of every firearm sale." He also stated that prospective gun buyers should be checked against the secret "watch lists" compiled by various government entities. (In an Issue Paper on the watch list proposal, I quote a FBI spokesman stating that there is no cause to deny gun ownership to someone simply because she is on the FBI list.)

After the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the D.C. handgun ban and self-defense ban were unconstitutional in 2007, Holder complained that the decision "opens the door to more people having more access to guns and putting guns on the streets."

Holder played a key role in the gunpoint, night-time kidnapping of Elian Gonzalez. The pretext for the paramilitary invasion of the six-year-old's home was that someone in his family might have been licensed to carry a handgun under Florida law. Although a Pulitzer Prize-winning photo showed a federal agent dressed like a soldier and pointing a machine gun at the man who was holding the terrified child, Holder claimed that Gonzalez "was not taken at the point of a gun" and that the federal agents whom Holder had sent to capture Gonzalez had acted "very sensitively." If Mr. Holder believes that breaking down a door with a battering ram, pointing guns at children (not just Elian), and yelling "Get down, get down, we'll shoot" is example of acting "very sensitively," his judgment about the responsible use of firearms is not as acute as would be desirable for a cabinet officer who would be in charge of thousands and thousands of armed federal agents, many of them paramilitary agents with machine guns.

Celente Predicts Revolution, Food Riots, Tax Rebellions By 2012

2008-11-24T10:13:00.002-07:00

Those of you who read my blog, this should come as no surpise. Spread the word and look after family, friends, and loved ones. Scott

Paul Joseph Watson
Prison Planet.com
Thursday, November 13, 2008

The man who predicted the 1987 stock market crash and the fall of the Soviet Union is now forecasting revolution in America, food riots and tax rebellions - all within four years, while cautioning that putting food on the table will be a more pressing concern than buying Christmas gifts by 2012.

Gerald Celente, the CEO of Trends Research Institute, is renowned for his accuracy in predicting future world and economic events, which will send a chill down your spine considering what he told Fox News this week.

Celente says that by 2012 America will become an undeveloped nation, that there will be a revolution marked by food riots, squatter rebellions, tax revolts and job marches, and that holidays will be more about obtaining food, not gifts.

“We’re going to see the end of the retail Christmas….we’re going to see a fundamental shift take place….putting food on the table is going to be more important that putting gifts under the Christmas tree,” said Celente, adding that the situation would be “worse than the great depression”.

“America’s going to go through a transition the likes of which no one is prepared for,” said Celente, noting that people’s refusal to acknowledge that America was even in a recession highlights how big a problem denial is in being ready for the true scale of the crisis.

Celente says that by 2012 America will become an undeveloped nation, that there will be a revolution marked by food riots, squatter rebellions, tax revolts and job marches, and that holidays will be more about obtaining food, not gifts.

Celente, who successfully predicted the 1997 Asian Currency Crisis, the subprime mortgage collapse and the massive devaluation of the U.S. dollar, told UPI in November last year that the following year would be known as “The Panic of 2008,” adding that “giants (would) tumble to their deaths,” which is exactly what we have witnessed with the collapse of Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns and others. He also said that the dollar would eventually be devalued by as much as 90 per cent.

The consequence of what we have seen unfold this year would lead to a lowering in living standards, Celente predicted a year ago, which is also being borne out by plummeting retail sales figures.

The prospect of revolution was a concept echoed by a British Ministry of Defence report last year, which predicted that within 30 years, the growing gap between the super rich and the middle class, along with an urban underclass threatening social order would mean, “The world’s middle classes might unite, using access to knowledge, resources and skills to shape transnational processes in their own class interest,” and that, “The middle classes could become a revolutionary class.”

In a separate recent interview, Celente went further on the subject of revolution in America.

“There will be a revolution in this country,” he said. “It’s not going to come yet, but it’s going to come down the line and we’re going to see a third party and this was the catalyst for it: the takeover of Washington, D. C., in broad daylight by Wall Street in this bloodless coup. And it will happen as conditions continue to worsen.”

“The first thing to do is organize with tax revolts. That’s going to be the big one because people can’t afford to pay more school tax, property tax, any kind of tax. You’re going to start seeing those kinds of protests start to develop.”

“It’s going to be very bleak. Very sad. And there is going to be a lot of homeless, the likes of which we have never seen before. Tent cities are already sprouting up around the country and we’re going to see many more.”

“We’re going to start seeing huge areas of vacant real estate and squatters living in them as well. It’s going to be a picture the likes of which Americans are not going to be used to. It’s going to come as a shock and with it, there’s going to be a lot of crime. And the crime is going to be a lot worse than it was before because in the last 1929 Depression, people’s minds weren’t wrecked on all these modern drugs – over-the-counter drugs, or crystal meth or whatever it might be. So, you have a huge underclass of very desperate people with their minds chemically blown beyond anybody’s comprehension.”

The George Washington blog has compiled a list of quotes attesting to Celente’s accuracy as a trend forecaster.

“When CNN wants to know about the Top Trends, we ask Gerald Celente.”
— CNN Headline News

“A network of 25 experts whose range of specialties would rival many university faculties.”
— The Economist

“Gerald Celente has a knack for getting the zeitgeist right.”
— USA Today

“There’s not a better trend forecaster than Gerald Celente. The man knows what he’s talking about.”
- CNBC

“Those who take their predictions seriously … consider the Trends Research Institute.”
— The Wall Street Journal

“Gerald Celente is always ahead of the curve on trends and uncannily on the mark … he’s one of the most accurate forecasters around.”
— The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

“Mr. Celente tracks the world’s social, economic and business trends for corporate clients.”
— The New York Times

“Mr. Celente is a very intelligent guy. We are able to learn about trends from an authority.”
— 48 Hours, CBS News

“Gerald Celente has a solid track record. He has predicted everything from the 1987 stock market crash and the demise of the Soviet Union to green marketing and corporate downsizing.”
— The Detroit News

“Gerald Celente forecast the 1987 stock market crash, ‘green marketing,’ and the boom in gourmet coffees.”
— Chicago Tribune

“The Trends Research Institute is the Standard and Poors of Popular Culture.”
— The Los Angeles Times

“If Nostradamus were alive today, he’d have a hard time keeping up with Gerald Celente.”
— New York Post

Obaba Administration: Hostile to guns (and clueless too)

2008-11-17T17:58:00.002-07:00

Readers,

From the National Shooting Sports Foundation:

"Obama's Job Application Includes
Questions on Gun Ownership

NEWTOWN, Conn. -- If you want a job in the Obama administration and you own a gun, you may be out of luck. Here is Question No. 59 on the application:

"Do you or any members of your immediate family own a gun? If so, provide complete ownership and registration information. Has the registration ever lapsed? Please also describe how and by whom it is used and whether it has been the cause of any personal injuries or property damage."

The tone of the question aside, it implies that we have national gun registration, which is, of course, not (yet) true.

"The question demonstrates that this administration does not truly respect the Second Amendment," said Lawrence G. Keane, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the National Shooting Sports Foundation. "It seems the message is 'Gun Owners Need Not Apply.'"

A total of 63 detailed -- some might say intrusive -- questions delve into the professional and personal lives and backgrounds of the applicants, their spouses and other family members. After reading the questionnaire, one TV pundit wondered if anybody in Washington could qualify."

My take: Give me a freaking break. The audacity of hope? More like just plain audacity, sticking your nose in where it doesn't belong, and being totally ignorant (or was that a Freudian slip?) about the requirement to register ones guns. Word to Mr. Obama: You would be wise to leave our guns completely alone. If you really want to unite (rather than ignite) this country, just leave gunowners alone, period Remember, 50,000,000+ voted against you, and that was with a poor choice for a Republican candidate on the ballot. You have an opportunity here to draw support from the entire country, rather than create the deepest divides imaginable. So "throw your weight around" for something other than the NCAA FBS playoff / BCS bowl argument and tell your future lemmings to back off the gun control agenda. Uphold the Constitution like you will swear to do for ALL Americans and you have a shot at making a positive change and your mark on history could be the brightest ever.

Wishful thinking, I know, Mr. Obama. I will give you the benefit of the doubt until then.

Scott

Honey, is it me, or the election?

2008-10-30T11:47:00.001-06:00

From my latest NSSF Bullet Points, interesting reading. Now, would you like some optics for those rifles? ;+)

Election Concerns Spur Gun Sales Nationwide

A Washington Post story on a spike in gun sales related to the presidential election has triggered a flurry of news stories across the country that explore the same trend on the local level. In each of these stories, firearms retailers, gun owners and gun-rights supporters sound off on their views and concerns about Tuesday's election and what it could mean for gun owners and businesses.

This Tuesday, it is more critical than ever before that gun owners make their voice heard at the polls. There are more than 80 million gun owners in America, a significant and respected voting bloc that has made a huge impact in past elections. Learn where your candidates stand on firearms issues and make your voice heard. Don't risk your rights. It's your freedoms that are at stake.

Online Resources: NSSF Voter Education | Find Your Voting Location | Absentee Voting

WHAT FIREARM RETAILERS AND GUN OWNERS ARE SAYING . . . News stories are popping up nationwide on gun sales related to the upcoming elections. See what firearms retailers and gun owners have been saying:

Oregon - Gun Sales Surge on Gun Control Fears

Pennsylvania - Gun Owners Stocking Up Before Election, Shops Say

Texas - Gun Sales Up One Week Before Election

Florida - Gun Shop Owners Say Election Reason For Rising Gun Sales

Alabama - Is The Election Causing Gun Sales To Spike?

It's starting already............

2008-10-15T23:47:00.002-06:00

Folks,

It looks like our "friends" over at the Brady Campaign didn't need to wait until Obama won the election.....I guess they are feeling their oats. They have released a report titled "Assault Weapons: Mass Produced Mayhem". As you might surmise, it's filled with emotional and ominous arguments exhorting the reader to support a wide reaching and "strong" federal assault weapons ban because "the lives of our law enforcement officers and citizens hang in the balance" (big surprise).

I don't want to comment on the article as I want you to read it yourself. It is required reading for any serious gun owner. I will say there are a couple hundred snippets from media and web reports on "assault weapon" violence. I will say that I know one of these media clips to be accurate. Of course, there is the usual BS you read when an extremist advocacy group tries to be authoritative on a subject they thoroughly despise and are ignorant of.

Of particular interest are pages 16 and 17 of the report (at the bottom of the pages of the report itself, not the pages on the Adobe Acrobat reader). Page 16 recounts the article from Jim Zumbo's infamous blog entry decrying the use of "assault style" weapons by hunters, and page 17 illustrates how DC vs Heller actually supports the ban of military style assault weapons. I've never been comfortable with the Heller ruling and my concerns are validated when an anti-gun group uses the ruling to support a federal weapons ban.

Here's the report: http://www.bradycenter.org/xshare/pdf/reports/mass-produced-mayhem.pdf

Go ahead, get a taste for what's in store for us.

Not that I think we would have good times if McCain were to be elected, and not that G.W. Bush has done anything to help us in his eight years, but I really believe that if Obama somehow wins the presidency, very dark days will lie ahead for gun owners. Times that will make the pain under Slick Willy and Bozo the President look like Happy Days. I'm also getting this feedback from some combat veterans whom I trust.

Get your weapons/ammo/optics/training squared away ASAP, before it's too late. It may already be too late for some.

As always, thanks for dropping by.

Scott

Two high end binos: Kowa Genesis 8.5x44 and Docter Aus Jena 10x50 Nobilem

2008-09-27T14:10:00.011-06:00

Folks,

I recently had the opportunity to spend some quality time with two perhaps lesser known but quality binos that I'd like to share with you. Great optics are a real joy and these two were simply outstanding. While this wasn't a head-to-head comparison per se (these binos are apples to oranges in design and specs) these are two high-end offerings and I was curious to see how they performed.

First up is the Kowa 8.5 x44 Genesis roof prism binoculars. These are the latest offering from Kowa Optimed sports optics (known for their excellent spotting scopes) and were generously donated for this evaluation by Jim Danzenbaker, North American sales manager for Kowa.

Next up are the Docter Aus Jena 10x50 Nobilem porro prism binoculars. These were provided by Scott Cornella, general manager for Valdada Enterprises LLC, importer of IOR, Optolyth and other premium European optics. According to Mr. Cornella, these binos are patterned after the Original Carl Zeiss Jena OCTAREM series. Mr. Cornella stated that these were some of the finest binos he's seen and was very confident in how they would fare.

Here's a pic of the two contenders:

Kowa Genesis 8.5x44 (left) and Docter Aus Jena 10x50 Nobilem

Tale of the Tape

Kowa Genesis 8.5x44: The flagship of the Kowa binocular line are an advanced roof prism design featuring Prominar XD objective lens elements (2 per barrel) that reduce chromatic aberration to a degree not possible with normal achromatic lens. This technology is borrowed from the TSN 880/770 Prominar series of spotters and has been perfected by Kowa in their spotting scopes. The binos are made in Japan (more on that later). Weighing in at a hefty 33 ounces, the Genesis 8.5x44 (my pick over the 10.5x44, as you know I'm apt to do if you are a regular reader) feature a close focus of 5.5 feet, a wide field of view of 400 feet at 1000 yards, generous 18mm of eye relief, and an exit pupil of 5.2mm.

These binos sport an attractive green color rubber armoring over a magnesium chassis, removable black objective caps, a large alloy press checkered focus knob, and a lockable diopter adjustment ring on the right ocular similar to the Vortex Viper. The eyecups are of the twist out type.

Kowa Genesis alloy (not plastic) focus knob and diopter adjustment (top right)

In addition to the Prominar XD objective lens elements, the Genesis feature a new high refractive index Schmidt-Pechan roof prism sytem with Kowa's proprietary C3 coating on one surface, phase correction coating, and is fully multi-coated throughout. The Genesis are nitrogen purged (why not argon or krypton?) and waterproof.

Gazing into the objective lens elements reveals a deep purple-pink tint, and if you look inside you can see "PROMINAR" in white letters on one of the inner rings (not sure what effect this has on internal reflection/flare but I could go without it).

View of the objective lens of the Kowa Genesis 8.5x44. (The coatings are the same for each lens but somehow I was able to get both the tinted and clear views in the same shot).

The overall impression of the Genesis is of a well built and solid bino, with a reassuring heft and excellent fit and finish. The Genesis binos feature Kowa's "Crystal Clear" lifetime warranty.

Docter Aus Jena 10x50 Nobilem: The Nobilem are very large porro prism binos. Weighing in at 46 ounces, these binos feature 14.5mm of eye relief to go with their 5mm exit pupil. The Nobilems feature a close focus distance of 18.7 feet, and a field of view of 387 feet at 1000 meters, which I estimate to be 353 feet at 1000 yards.

The 10x50 Nobilems have a center focus ring and a right ocular diopter adjustment. Both of these adjustment mechanisms are knurled rubber. Thr rubber eyecups are circular and can fold down for eyeglass wearers. These binos have integrated objective caps that fit into the objectives, in the old European style.

Docter Aus Jena 10x50 Nobilem focus knob, diopter ring, and eyecups.

The Docter brochure I was able to locate had this to say about the 10x50's: The NOBILEM 10x50 B/GA is a high-performance pair of binoculars being suitable when the smallest details have to be recognized sharp and contrasty from far distances. This model offers a proven combination of large field of view and best resolution. You will identify the smallest details - even if you have to keep distance: when watching birds or having a look at architectural details, at horse races when you would like to follow your favourite, when you want to recognize the name of a ship passing by on the horizon or when you want to make out different colours on the plumage of the bird sitting on the tree opposite. The NOBILEM 10x50 B/GA will provide you with an excellent view.

While I am not 100% sure of the history of the Docter name and how it relates to Carl Zeiss Jena, suffice to say that these are 100% German-made optics. I believe they are made at the Carl Zeiss Jena plant located in the old communist East Germany. They are heavily rubber armored and carry a 30 year warranty. Here's some views of the box so you know what to look for:

Peering into the objectives revealed a clear smoky gray tint, and flawless workmanship. The interior of the binos are matte gray, and the execution of the construction of these are very impressive. No sloppy fasteners, cement or any other signs of substandard workmanship, inside or out.

Field Test

The Kowa Genesis, while being heavy, feel good in the hand. They balance well and sit steady. The first thing you notice is the bright, clear, colorful view when you look through them. The clarity is something to behold. There is some minor spherical abberation at the top and bottom edges, but the left and right edges are clean, flat and have minimal distortion. The large focus knob is smooth, albeit a bit lighter to turn than the Vortex Viper. The Genesis did not behave like it had a fast focus, which I consider a good thing. After my initial impression, I turned to the Vortex resolution chart at 50 feet and put the Genesis through its paces. To my surprise, the resolution on this pair was not too impressive. I noticed a touch of astigmatism and just couldn't get a sharp view of the little bars like I wanted. The "whiteness" of the background and the "blackness" of the bars was exceptional, but the edges or interface of the two wasn't very sharp. Here's a pic of what I could clearly make out; feel free to download and examine.

Resolution chart with level of acuity achieved with Kowa Genesis circled in red (horizontal and vertical bars)

Taking out the Nobilems, the first thing I notices was how well they fit the hand, despite their inherent weight and bulk. For my hand anyway, I found the shape of the prism housings to be ergonomic and comfortable.

Ocular view of 10x50 Nobilems showing the ergonomic cross section of the prism housings

Looking through the Nobilems, the view was quite striking. The view is clear, very sharp and color rendition is neutral. The focus knob is accesible via the tips of my middle fingers while holding the binos and had a nice, smooth, but stiff feel. The diopter ring, while not of the locking variety, was stiff enough to afford staying put at its correct setting with little worry of being moved.

The eyecups are an acquired taste. They aren't the most comfortable, and may be a bother to some. I got used to them, as I learned to nestle them in my eye sockets. Nevertheless, they bear mentioning.

One thing that is apparent when looking at these (and Docter roof prism models), is that the philosophy seems to be to make the optical sweet spot as big and sweet as you can get; and damn the edges of the field of view. The curvature of field at the top and bottom edges was pretty bad, and the side edges showed some pincushion and barrel distortion. By my estimate about 80% of the view from the center of the image outward was perfect, and things went downhill from there. It's not a bother unless you actually spend time and view the edges. There is a fine line here. The Vortex Razors I tested had the distortion take up a larger portion of the field of view, to the point it bothered me. Not so the Nobilems. YMMV.

Putting up the Nobilems on the resolution chart, I quickly found out that the type copy from the Docter brochure wasn't just marketing hype. The resolution on these things had to be seen to be believed! The sharpness of the optics was simply "mind boggling" good. I was able to see pretty much to the limits of my vision. Here's the res chart for comparison:

Resolution chart for Docter Aus Jena 10x50 Nobilems, showing the horizontal and vertical bars I was clearly able to distinguish.

Heading into the field, I spent a few hours with both binos, doing my normal run of field tests. The Genesis read Sign #1 well but I struggled to read the letters of Sign #2 (as would be expected per the results of the res chart). Where the Genesis shined was the brightness of the colors and the expansive field of view with very little distortion. The contrast was excellent and the overall view was very pleasing to the eye. Kowa calls the Genesis series the "next generation of clarity" and as they say, "it isn't bragging if it's true." In a nature base setting, the Genesis were a joy to look through. All the controls worked as they should and it is evident that Kowa developed a premium bino here.

The Nobilems performed "on the street" as they did in the classroom. The resolution of these made reading Sign #1, #2, or any sign I could read within the limits of my visual acuity an easy task. While I have a hard time fathoming how such a large pair of porro binos has less field of view than a smaller pair of roof prisms, the reality is that such a difference is not a real noticeable handicap to the enduser. The Nobilems ability to see the tiniest details is just something that you need or want, or you don't. It's clearly their best feature. Compared with the Genesis, the vibrance of the colors was not up to par but the view was calm and efficient, for lack of better terms. Contrast was superb and the Nobilems were all business. I like the stiffness of the controls and felt they could be counted on to "hold their zero".

As the sun fell, the two binos diverged a bit in personality. The Nobilems, while quite bright to the limits of their 5mm exit pupil, exhibited a distinct gray scale effect. The litmus test was a herd of deer about two hundred yards away, framed with a timber backdrop. I was looking at them in the direction of the recently set sun, with the remnants of the glow of the sun on the horizon. When my own eyes failed to clearly see the herd of five does, I snapped up the Nobilems and Genesis alternatively and compared notes. The effect of the Nobilems was like watching black and white TV, or even digital night vision. The view was clear, sharp, but with a noticeable loss of color. The Genesis, on the other hand, appeared like you switched on the color TV. The deer were quite brown and the forage quite green, even in the time past twilight. The Genesis seemed to turn night into day, unlike any bino I have ever examined.

After dark, the light management of both of these binos while observing bright point sources of light was quite good. The purple color fringing was minimized with the Genesis, but the Nobilems weren't too far behind, unless you viewed with the edges. There was minimal scatter or "sabering" of the light images.

Final Thoughts

Kowa Genesis: The Genesis 8.5x44 are a premium optical product. With a MAP pricetag of $1260, they are priced that way, too. The physical attributes of the optics are as good as I've ever seen, the views are super bright, clear, colorful, and the performance is "money" in low light. The field of view is top shelf. the mechanics and controls are first rate. On the downside, the pair I examined had below average resolution. I have noticed this with Kowa BD44 binos a few years ago when starting out, when compared with IOR binos. This just may be the way they are spec'd. Also, the rubber armoring is a bit on the thin side; however, I would have confidence in the ruggedness and quality of construction of these for rugged field use. The Genesis are designed to be used in the great outdoors, and will enable you to spot critters with confidence, all the way from the crack of dawn to civil twilight. If you can find a good deal on a pair, I would recommend you give them serious consideration. They are backed by a great company with helpful folks.

Docter Aus Jena 10x50 Nobilems: If the Genesis are the "outdoorsy" type, the Nobilems are the "urban warriors". Rugged, stout, clad in tough black armor, I can't think of a better bino for police, military, or the work of nosy citizens. While their size and weight might make many eschew them for backpacking or neck carry, these are the ultimate truck, ATV, or boat bino, IMO. These binos are blessed with the ability to read; signs, license tags, you name it...nothing escapes the sharpness of these optics. Don't get me wrong, the resolution works on counting hairs on a deer's ass too, if you wanted. While the close focus doesn't even approach that of the Genesis, these could be used for nature observation with little handicap. The Nobilems have a huge optical sweet spot and while the edges are an afterthought, the bottom line is that they work, period. The best part? They are a bargain, too. Avaialble from us for merely $699 shipped, the supply is limited, and these present a unique opportunity to own top shelf German optics at a below market price.

Thanks for dropping by.

Scott

Acknowledgements: I would like to thank Jim Danzenbaker of Kowa and Scott Cornella of Valdada Enterprise for donating the binos for this evaluation.

Endnote: One thing I noticed is the origin tag in the Genesis binos. Here's a pic:

The rectangular black tag with white lettering and stamped serial number is the exact same as that found in the Vortex Viper series. Coincidence? Perhaps. But here's my take: These are made by Fujinon. If so, I'll say this company makes some darn good binos. While Nikon and Bausch & Lomb might be the household names, Fujinon takes a back seat to neither of them.

First Look: Ellis Optics MK-7 Tactical 4-16x50 FFP riflescope

2008-08-29T22:55:00.012-06:00

Folks,

With all the hub-bub about upcoming Front Focal Plane (FFP) riflescopes from Nightforce and Premier Reticles grabbing all the chat forum headlines, I think it's important for you to know that a viable option is available for purchase right now, for much less money than those other guys. Awhile back on this blog I mentioned the impending debut of the Ellis Optics MK-7 line of riflescopes (http://www.ellisoptics.com/). I am pleased to announce I had a chance to review the very first production MK-7, the 4-16x50 FFP illuminated riflescope. It is worth paying attention to.

Ellis Optics MK-7 Tactical FFP illuminated 4-16x50 riflescope.

Ocular of MK-7 Tactical. The magnification ring had a tight but smooth resistance, the fast focus eyepiece works exactly as it should.

Here's the specs on this "durable fire control optic":

16.5 inches long
39 ounces

4-16x50, side focus
Fast focus eyepiece
1/4 MOA exposed tactical knobs

Mildot/Milbar reticle, etched in glass
Dual red-green illumination, 5 position rheostat

FFP reticle
Super thick 35mm alloy tube

Hard mil-spec anodized finish

Oversized erector lens assembly

Three (that's "3") erector springs

Generous eye relief for hard kicking firearms.

Upon handling this scope for the first time, the things I notice are its heft, fine machining and excellent finish. Ryan Burrowes, Director of Ellis Optics, spec'd a super thick tube that is at least 5mm thick at the turret housing. All elements of the scope (except the optics) are made in the USA and precision machined to +/- .002 inches. The components were assembled in Japan and the finished product was re-imported into the USA. The one-piece main tube houses an assortment of knobs and covers that give the scope a unique profile. Let's take a look.

Top view of turret housing of MK-7 Tactical. In front of the elevation knob is the rheostat for reticle illumination. On the left is the parallax adjustment knob, and tucked under it is the cover for the windage erector spring.

Bottom view of the MK-7 Tactical, showing the massive elevation erector spring cover (next to the website etching), and the "normal" 45 degree erector spring cover (a la IOR, Burris, Pentax and many others). Note the "muscular" profile of the seamless turret housing.

Another view of the turret housing, from the bottom left profile. Both the elevation and windage knobs, parallax knob, and three erector spring covers are visible in photo.

As you can see, the MK-7 is designed for hard use. The stout maintube is designed to resist flexing and torque and the three erector springs (the most I've ever seen in a scope) are designed to HOLD the erector TIGHTLY in place, no matter what you throw at it. The MK-7 prototypes were extensively tested on 50 cal, 14.7mm, and 20mm guns and the resulting data compelled Ellis Optics to engineer in the massive springs for extremely long life and rock-solid durability.

The exposed, resettable (more on that later) 1/4 MOA knobs are quite audible and have a feel reminiscent of the old Nikon Tactical riflescopes. The rheostat houses a CR2032 camera cell and has 5 position settings for both red and green illumination.

Close-up of the MK-7 Tactical elevation knob and rheostat knob. The 1/4 MOA knob features 15 MOA per turn (same as the Leupold M1 knob) and the rheostat has a removable cap that houses the CR2032 camera cell.

The reticle is a modified mildot (Ellis calls it a "mil-bar" reticle), which features bars located at the 1/2 mil locations in-between the mildots. I like this reticle style and feels it enhances ranging and holdover precision as opposed to a standard mildot.

View of MK-7 Tactical reticle at 16x. Feel free to download and expand to study detail.

Operator's view of the MK-7 reticle at 16x. The scope features a measured 3.5-4.0 inches of eye relief, plenty for most any rifle it could be used on.

Now that we have covered the "X's", it's time to discuss the "O's".

The MK-7 features Japanese optics with a Chinese etched reticle. This may not sound too appetizing at first, but unlike Nightforce, Ellis Optics over-sized the internal erector assembly to fill the 35mm tube (What I call the "IOR-principle" of optical design). While this does limit reticle travel (same as the IOR, use a canted base to help your .308 reach 1000 yards), in theory, the larger erector lens assemblies offers a less-restrictive path for light to travel before reaching the ocular lens, thus resulting in a brighter and clearer sight picture.

All theory aside, I took the MK-7 out on the farm and compared it to a Trijicon 3-9x40 mildot Accupoint and Leupold MR/T 2.5-8x36 for optical performance. Wait, I can hear you now, you're crying "You're comparing apples to oranges". Perhaps. But, I wanted to see how the MK-7 stacked up to commercial offerings so as to establish a baseline. I mean, if the MK-7 can't beat these scopes out, then it's "game over".

To make things as equal as possible, I set each scope at 9x (the Lupy's true max magnification is 8.7x, so close enough).

I'm going to end all suspense right now. The MK-7 had a shockingly good optical performance. On my infamous "Sign #2" at 800 yards, the 5-inch tall letters were very easy to read at 9x. This was day or night (sign illuminated). The MK-7's light management was superb and the parallax knob worked to utter perfection. It was amazing to see how the other two scopes appeared handicapped compared to the MK-7. The field of view was excellent and scanning a string of houses at 1200 yards at 16x was pure joy. The brightness, clarity, and (surprising) resolution of the optics were an eye-opener to me. Before I published this article, I talked to a few friends and told them the MK-7 was "just as good" as a Nightforce upon initial impression. Boy, did I shortchange the MK-7 with that statement. The MK-7 takes any Nightforce I've ever seen to the woodshed.

Before you start thinking that I'm "on the take", I will say I have a few criticisms of the MK-7 Tactical. Here goes.

First and foremost, the knobs are the weak link in this current offering. The 1/4 MOA adjustments, while not a handicap, would be better set to 0.1 mil increments to appeal to a wider number of shooters who are looking for "matching" reticle subtension /turret increments. Also, while the knobs are technically resettable, the three hex screws that are used to secure the cap are too tiny and wimpy to withstand repeated rezeroing. I believe they are 1mm, and the metal they are made of is too soft. I stripped one screw on each turret without really trying. Ellis Optics is aware of this criticism and Ryan Burrowes agreed with my assessment.
The green illumination is worthless. Even at the lowest setting, the illumination fills the entire field of view with green light and washes out any sight picture. The red illumination is much better, but is best used at low setting at 12-16x. At lower mags it too will wash out the FOV (much like an IOR).
Under certain conditions, the sight picture is washed out by back reflection (internal flare). The conditions this occurred was after sunset, but before dark. Pointing the scope to the brightest part of the post-sunset sky and trying to get a sight picture was a futile endeavor. What happens is the light reflecting off your face hits the reticle and bounces back. While this is a phenomena that occurs with any etched reticle scope, the condition was particularly acute with the MK-7.

Overall, I am quite impressed with the MK-7 Tactical. The only hurdle left is seeing how it performs at the range! To this end, Vern Harrision, owner of Central Virginia Tactical http://www.centralvirginiatactical.com/ will be putting a MK-7 through its paces, and the scope featured here will be passed around among select members of Sniper's Hide http://www.snipershide.com/ and Long Range International http://www.longrangeinternational.com/ It won't take long for field data to start trickling in, so stay tuned and check back here!

Or, alternatively, you can buy your own and put yours to the test! The MK-7 features a lifetime warranty, and is available for purchase from Liberty Optics or Ellis Optics for $1299 delivered with rings or $1229 without rings. This would be a "market leading" price for the features, folks.

I am going to see how the MK-7 compares optically with the IOR 3-18x42 FFP, and I'll post my impressions here.

Any questions, contact Ryan Burrowes at 646-872-7014 or drop us a line.

As always, thanks for stopping by.

Scott

Super Shootout: Compact spotting scopes

2008-08-23T01:35:00.010-06:00

Folks,

Here in the mountains, I have quickly learned how much size and weight of packable items really make a difference. While in the flatlands of Florida, any gear I carried while hunting or exploring about was limited only by my strength and stamina, as level traversing is the norm. But, once you factor in steep hills and loose rocky terrain, fatigue sets in quickly and every ounce truly does count while backpacking.

Accepting the general axiom that when it comes to spotting scopes, "bigger is better", I nevertheless wanted to know how much the "little" spotters perform and whether they were worth the time. For this test I present to you to two contenders: The Nikon ED50 13-30x Fieldscope and the Leupold Gold Ring HD 12-40x60.

I had already gotten a preview of the Nikon while I was testing the Kruger APR spotter and was impressed. Now, we pit it against the best the big "L" has to offer, the Gold Ring HD for about $300 more.

Home on the Range: Nikon ED50 Fieldscope (left) and Lupy Gold Ring HD compact spotters

First, the Tale of the Tape. The Nikon is 20 ounces "with eyepiece" (why on earth would Nikon state the weight of the body (16 ounces) alone? Is not the eyepiece needed for the darn thing to work?) and is about 8 inches long and 2.8 inches wide. For this test, I used the angled body version. The body is polycarbonate and made in China. The eyepiece is made in Japan. The eyepiece threads into the body via a serrated ring and you can adjust the location of the magnification indicators with little effort. The spotter comes disassembled with plastic insert caps in every orifice to keep out dust. A nifty little nylon case is included, and the tripod mount is integral with the body, and does not allow for eyepiece rotation (i.e., it is "fixed"). The eyepiece that came with the scope is 13-30x and other eyepieces are available. The objective lens exhibits a deep pinkish purple color and the focus knob is a rubber covered item that protrudes from the scope body as seen below.

Front view of Nikon ED50 spotter

Changing the magnification is accomplished by turning the raised/knurled portion of the eyepiece and the resulting magnification for the 50/65/82mm spotters is indicated. However, only the min or max magnification is clearly delineated, and the user is relegated to "guestimating" the true magnification of the spotter at any points in between.

Closeup of the eyepiece of the Fieldscope ED50. The finely serrated ring closest to the body is used to tighten the eyepiece to the body. The coarsely serrated ring right behind is is used to adjust the magnification. Not the most "glove friendly" arrangement, but it works.

The Leupold spotter is of the "folded path" design, where a mirror is employed to reflect and fold the light path from the objective to the ocular. This results in a bright image and a compact design. The Lupy weighs 37 ounces, is 12.4 inches long, and boasts 30mm of eye relief and a FOV of 168 feet at 1000 yards at 12x (I could not find the values of eye relief and FOV for the Nikon for comparison). The purportedly calcium fluoride objective lens elements sported a mild pink-purple color. The body is armored with brown rubber and and the scope comes with a nylon brown case, but no lens covers of any kind (FYI, the largest current production Butler Creek flip-up cap will not fit the objective of the Lupy).

Objective view of the Lupy Gold Ring 12-40x60 HD

Unlike the Nikon, the Lupy has a integral (stacked) magnification ring and focus ring at the rear of the scope body. This design reeks of ruggedness and overall the Lupy seemed like you could hurt somebody with it. The mag ring is clearly marked with the the correct magnification at certain increments. The focus ring seems to work like the diopter adjustment on a riflescope, in that the eyepiece protrudes or retracts when you turn it.

Closeup of the controls of the Lupy spotter. The smooth ring on the left changes the magnification, while the ridged rubber ring adjusts the focus by moving the ocular piece in and out (eyepiece fully extended in picture).

The real key to these spotters is how they work in minimizing chromatic aberration (CA). To quote Wikipedia:

In optics, chromatic aberration is caused by a lens having a different refractive index for different wavelengths of light (the dispersion of the lens). Longitudinal and lateral chromatic aberration of a lens is seen as "fringes" of color around the image, because each color in the optical spectrum cannot be focused at a single common point on the optical axis.

The ultimate result of "CA" for the shooter is that the edges of objects in the FOV are fuzzier than they need to be, which results in an unsatisfactory sharpness in contrasting images (bullet holes in paper, for example. Having a glass lens with extra low dispersion properties or in some cases the use of fluorite crystal allows CA to be reduced to a negligible amount, increasing the sharpness of images and making for a more satisfactory viewing experience. After looking through true ED (extra low dispersion) glass, I will say I'm not going back.

Field Tests

I compared these spotters in terms of resolution, eye relief, FOV, color rendition, low light brightness, and intangibles. I spent 15 hours with this pair over a period of three days. Here are my observations:

Resolution: I whipped out my trusty Vortex resolution chart and looked through both spotters at 50 yards in bright daylight and dusk. I backed up to 150 yards at dusk also. While the Lupy was brighter in low light, the Nikon had better resolution. The pic below illustrates what I could resolve with each spotter at 25x. Feel free to download for your inspection.

Illustration of the resolution performance of the Nikon ED50 (red lines) and Lupy 12-40x60 Gold Ring HD 9blue lines). Performance is for 50 yards in broad daylight for the smaller lines and 150 yards after sunset for the larger lines.

I'll also say the ability to read Sign #1 (400 yards) and Sign #2 (800 yards) was not difficult by any means.

While the Nikon fared better, I'm not sure whether the difference is due to better optics or better focus. The Nikon knob had excellent precision and feel, which allowed you to get that "just right" focus on the target. The Lupy's focus, on the other hand, was a pain in the butt. The knob felt smooth, then rough, then smooth. I kept fiddling with it over and over, and it's uneven feel was a source of frustration. While the design was solid, the execution created problems for acquiring the best image, IMO.

Eye Relief: The Lupy wins here, hands down. While the eye relief was a touch critical, the 30mm will work with glasses, goggles, you name it. The Nikon, while the value is unknown (estimated 15mm) is much less. I do not think the Nikon would fare well with eyeglass wearers.

Field of View: Again, the Lupy wins hands down. The FOV is truly amazing for a spotter. The Nikon simply pales in comparison. You could take in much more scene with the Lupy than the Nikon, and at 12x the Lupy acted like a wide angle monocular. The sight picture is clean and flat to the edges with both spotters. I did notice more of a tendency to "shadow" with the Lupy, but such was not bothersome.

Color Rendition: While I have yet to invest in a Gretag MacBeth chart for color rendition, I will say that the colors appear brightest with the Nikon. The red of Sign #1 and the greens of the John Deere tractor used in the adjacent hayfield just seemed more brilliant to me, especially during periods of bright light. The Nikon has great color rendition and clarity, IMO.

Low Light Brightness: No question in my mind the Lupy works better when the sun goes down. Whether the 60mm objective was key, or what, the difference in view at twilight was noticeable. Sign #1 was much easier to read with the Lupy vs. the Nikon about 15 minutes after sunset. Scanning for deer was easier and more productive. The 50mm objective on the Nikon and/or the coatings did not lend itself as well for low light applications.

Intangibles: The Lupy is a stout and rugged beast, that breeds confidence that it could be taken to heck and back and survive in one piece. Optically and mechanically it has a lot to offer, but the darn focus knob is the Achilles heel. Rough, imprecise, and unpredictable, I feel it detracts from the spotter's overall performance. However, FOV and eye relief are big pluses, and the overall fit and finish is excellent. This is a precision mechanical device that you can count on. However, it's pricey and heavy, compared to the Nikon. But it would seem to be ideal for hunters, especially in cold weather with its glove friendly controls.

When it came to light management (viewing bright point sources of light at night) I think both spotters did a good job. No light sabers or other distracting weirdness. Very sharp and clear images. the color fringing at night was absolutely negligible with both spotters, and only visible at the extremes of the FOV. I was able to watch TV through a neighbors window at about 550 yards with both spotters, but the Lupy's 60mm objective really gave it the advantage in "no light" situations.

While the Nikon would seem more delicate than the Lupy, and the focus knob sticking out looks like an accident waiting to happen, such is only perception. This spotter is very well built, light as a feather, and squeezes every last drop of performance from it's 50mm objective (if only riflescopes had this glass!). It's the ultimate packable high performance spotter.

I do like the protective case that comes with Lupy, but I don't like the fact that there is no solid cover available to protect the objective lens. I disagree with Lupy, the zippered nylon case does not preclude the need for a protective cover for hard field use. The Nikon has a hard plastic protective insert, but I'm sure a Butler Creek cap exists that fits to protect the objective and ocular lenses. In fact I'll find out what works and post here.

The Bullet Hole Test: While many customers would look to use these spotters for hunting and glassing the countryside, a good spotter should work at the range also. To test this, I took a black sharpie marker and painted a 0.25 inch black spot on the lower right portion of Sign #1 to simulate a 30 cal bullet hole, and backed up to 450 yards (the furthest I could do without trespassing) and waited until late afternoon on a sunny cool day to see if I could spot the "hole" with either spotter. There was a mild to moderate "wavy" mirage, but not the typical summer "boiling" you get, which renders nearly any spotter useless for precision work. Both spotters were worked in the 20-25x range to balance exit pupil with needed magnification. I am pleased to say I was able to make out the hole with the Nikon ED50! Much to my surprise, but I really feel you could spot hits out to 500 yards or more on a day with no mirage. The optics are that good. With the Lupy, I could see the "hole", but it was definitely a little fuzzier and more difficult to pick up. I attribute this to the focus issues with the spotter, but perhaps the optics on the Nikon are better too, given how they performed with the resolution chart. I would say the Lupy was adequate, but it's low light brightness, eye relief, and FOV make it more suitable for glassing critters than precision range work, IMO.

Bottom Line:

Both spotters are winners in my book, but I feel the Nikon offers the best value. I liked it's glass better. Put another way, I felt the Nikon did a better job at 30x than the Lupy did at 40x, except for near darkness, where the Lupy shined. The Nikon weighs next to nothing, and if the small FOV and short eye relief are not an issue, this spotter is good to go. Available in a straight eyepiece design and a handholding case for one handed viewing at 13x. The ED50 even comes in a pink color (which I only expect patrons of Optics Planet or the like to take advantage of....). The Leupold Gold Ring HD is a fantastically engineered optic that performs its mission well, but the focus knob keeps it from going "from good to great". It's rugged, and tough, and clever, but heavier and much more money.

If I have to pick one (and I do), the Nikon ED50 Fieldscope is the one for humping it "out there".

Thanks for looking.

Scott

The view through the Liberty Optic

No SHOT Show for Liberty Optics this year

A new forum for you to check out

Just in time for the holidays, new IOR scopes

NEW IOR scopes raise the bar

We have moved: New Contact Info

We no longer sell Premier Reticles riflescopes

Sweet USO Trade-in!

Small batch of PSTs enroute

SHOT Show Day 4: Got 'er Done

SHOT Show Day 3 continued

SHOT Show Day 3: Petal to the Metal

SHOT Show Day 2: No report

SHOT Show Day 1 aka My Head is Spinning

Greetings from the 2011 SHOT Show!

Dusting this baby off with a new product sneak peek!

Gunowners Should Expect the Worst from a Lame Duck Congress

The DISCLOSE Act and the NRA

Food for thought...

Tea Party Rebellions go Mainstream

Bushnell Elite 4200 3-12x44 FFP in stock too!

New Bushnell 6-24x50 FFP Tactical in stock!

SHOT Show Day 4: It's a wrap

SHOT Show: Day 3

News Flash: Premier gets 2nd Half of the USMC contract

SHOT Show: Day 2

SHOT Show: Day 1

Live from 2010 SHOT!!!

Liberty Optics now accepts GUNPAL!!

2010 Blastoff!!!

The cost of freedom is.....money

Introducing Barrett Firearms riflescope rings!

Backing away from Millett tactical.....

Here's one reason why I moved here...

Montana Poised to Buck Federal Gun Control

We are now an authorized Carl Zeiss Sport Optics dealer!!

Where are the optics test writeups?

First look...IOR's new 6x40 tactical

A word from Leica.... re: riflescopes

Inoculation

Kerlikowske Pick More Proof of Obama's Anti-Gun Agenda, Says CCRKBA

Government not the problem??

Keep your eyes on this one...

What H.R. 45 Does

Who's sponsoring H.R. 45

But will it pass Congress?Congressman Rush's bill an outrageous destruction of Constitutional Rights, but it's the compromises that are truly dangerous

That an elected official representing the people could even think up this garbage just goes to show how sad things really are. I may burn out on the bad news before summer...

More evidence the NRA doesn't (really) care about gun rights....

Finally........Sightron!!

A glimpse of the future in America?

The Real Lesson of Rod "The Hair" Blah-blah-gojevich

SHOT Show 2009: Addendum and errata

SHOT Show 2009: Epilogue

SHOT Show Day 4: It's a wrap

SHOT Show report, Day 3 (the good stuff)

SHOT Show report Day 2

SHOT Show report Thursday January 15

Welcome to SHOT Show 2009!

A small victory.....

Smoke a pack a day?

Be afraid......be very afraid.

Celente Predicts Revolution, Food Riots, Tax Rebellions By 2012

Obaba Administration: Hostile to guns (and clueless too)

Honey, is it me, or the election?

It's starting already............

Two high end binos: Kowa Genesis 8.5x44 and Docter Aus Jena 10x50 Nobilem

First Look: Ellis Optics MK-7 Tactical 4-16x50 FFP riflescope

Super Shootout: Compact spotting scopes

But will it pass Congress?
Congressman Rush's bill an outrageous destruction of Constitutional Rights, but it's the compromises that are truly dangerous