Always On! Always Ready!

Late last year Sig Sauer introduced the Sig 365 SAS (Sig-Anti-Snag). One of the unique features to make it snag-proof is the low profile Meprolight FT Bullseye ™ sight. Gun sales have maintained their record pace over the past few months and the Sig 365 SAS remains a top seller. Independent reviews regarding the 365 SAS with the FT Bullseye have been positive:

“Instead of traditional iron sights, Sig took a Meprolight Bullseye sight and melted’ it down into the slide. Again, we’d like to re-emphasize how gimmicky we thought the sight was. We’d also like to point out how wrong we were. How much did we love it? I’m looking to have the Meprolight Bullseye mounted on other firearms.” (Ryan Cleckner, gununiversity.com, 2.7.2020)

“Finally, let’s talk about the FT Bullseye Sights. Besides the obvious cool factor, the real assessment centers around their functionality. Do they actually work? While I’ve only put 100-rounds down range, I can say that sight acquisition is quick and painless. These are possibly the easiest sights to pick up. If you have an astigmatism, as I do, then you may want to check out the SAS for this reason alone.” (Seth Rogers, guns.com, 11.27.19) Read more

New Riflescopes Support the Growing Demands of Long-Range Hunting and Shooting
White Plains, NY –

New for 2020, ZEISS has enhanced many of their ZEISS Conquest V4 riflescope models. These enhancements include optimized engraving, 10 yards to infinity side parallax adjustment, variable step reticle illumination, two new reticle designs, and reticle subtension indicators at the magnification settings. Select configurations will also incorporate ZEISS’ all-new External Locking Windage Turret with windage limiter adjustment. The new options will be available at your Authorized ZEISS Retailer beginning late May 2020.

“We can now share the good news and the new products,” said Kyle Brown – Director of Marketing/Product for Carl ZEISS SBE, LLC. “These new riflescopes are going to make a whole lot of hunters and shooters smile from ear-to-ear. Packed with features well above their price class, they deliver exceptional performance in a lighter-weight package. The new configurations support the long-range hunter and shooter more than ever. Regardless of just how challenging that shot is, the new riflescopes will help you deliver precise and accurate hits on the most challenging of targets.”

ZEISS will offer a total of 22 unique scope configurations within the ZEISS Conquest V4 riflescope portfolio. There are five models available – all with 30mm main tubes: 3-12×44, 3-12×56, 4-16×44, 4-16×50, and 6-24×50. All models deliver 90% light transmission, offer a large amount of elevation adjustment, and all are designed to handle up to 1,500 g-force of recoil. Lightweight and heavy duty, these riflescopes deliver confidence in the toughest conditions. The various riflescope choices will service many hunting and shooting applications that are typically encountered in the field and on the range. Read more

Hawke® Optics, the world leader in optics for modern, high-powered air rifles and other quality sporting optics that perform in the field at an amazing value to consumers, takes air guns to new levels of accuracy and performance with the new Airmax 30 FFP SF IR scopes. These 30mm main tube scopes have first focal plane accuracy and adaptable side focus. If you’re serious about your shooting, you need to take things to the max.

Air rifles have taken a major leap in speed, accuracy and performance in recent years. Hawke has kept up with the Airmax series of cutting-edge air rifle scopes. The new Airmax 30 FFP scopes are for the shooter looking to dial in accuracy at any range. Air rifles are brutal to lesser scopes, but Hawke’s Airmax scopes are built to handle the toughest recoil effects. No matter how powerful the air rifle is, the Airmax 30 FFP, a true first focal plane scope, can take it and keep you on target. Read more

By Todd M. Bailey

The Focus on Optics articles have covered topics such as low light performance, shooting to distance, using a ballistic table for holdover, and the value of high-quality glass in both binoculars and rifle scopes.  As a hunter, you may use all this knowledge and these tools to harvest your trophy in the same hunt.  However, accessing these items and the information they provide quickly and in challenging conditions can prove difficult.  A solution to this problem can be found in bundling all these important informant tools into a one unit – a range finding binocular.  Doing so will also eliminate the need for carrying (and keeping up with) multiple devices in the field.

Almost all sports optics manufacturers offer range finding binoculars at varying price points.  So, finding a product that will match your budget should not present a problem.  But, packaging all the most desirable qualities into a single unit, such as ranging capability (more than 2000 yards), superior glass quality for low-light performance and resolution, and the ability to provide a precise shooting solution narrows the field quite a bit.  Below are some points you should consider when you begin your search.

The Zeiss RF binocular has a very advanced feature set.  The unit is Bluetooth connected to your smart device where you can set your custom parameters and preferences.  Additionally, the Zeiss application provides a ballistic solver from which you can create and transfer your loads to the binocular.  The most innovative feature on the RF is the onboard weather station which will correct your ballistic solution for temperature, barometric pressure, and density altitude.

1. Decide what is most important to you with special consideration to where most of your hunting will take place.  Will the best glass be key?  Glass quality should be near the top of the list considering how much you will be using the binoculars to glass.  Will you be glassing ridgelines, mesas, valleys? If so, then binoculars long ranging capability will also be critical for you if you will be presented with longer than average shots.  What about size and weight?  Are you going to be packing into a hunt site?  Refer to my previous article in The Hunting Wire, Finding the Right Binocular in Four Easy Steps, for additional information to help you decide.  Here is a link:  https://www.huntingwire.com/features/222c65cf-36e6-4fcc-b0c3-d8928c65adac.

2. Having a range finding binocular with limited or no ballistic information presented to the hunter is not a solution to the problem.  You should evaluate each model for its ballistic output and how the hunter will be presented the shooting solution.  Some models only provide holdover in inches while others provide the correction in MOA, Mils, or even click value. The hunter will see this information heads up in the binocular’s field of view.  Does the model you’re considering offer any additional information such as slope correction, horizontal distance to the target (calculated using the slope angle of the shot)?  How about weather correction?  Does the product have any ability to correct for temperature, barometric pressure, and altitude?  These factors affect the ballistics exponentially as the distance of your shot increases.  Finally, you will want to understand how the binocular acquires the ballistic data and stores it for a cartridge.  What is the interface?  Will it store the ballistics for more than one cartridge onboard?  Is it relatively simple to use?

3. Look for additional features which will help you to become quicker and more accurate with your shot.  How customizable are the binoculars?  Will the ergonomics and buttons accommodate a left-handed user?  Is the display brightness adjustable? As the level of sophistication of the device increases, it will be important for the user to have the ability to easily change their preferences and settings on the unit.  When you’re talking with your favorite optics dealer, be sure they understand how to use the binocular and set it up.  They will be a valuable resource for you (as well as the manufacturer) as you learn to navigate the optic.  Your dealer should be able to offer adequate training on the product to get you in the field after the purchase.

A range finding binocular, in my opinion, is really the most effective tool a hunter can have to bridge the gap between spotting the game and making the shot successfully – especially at distance.  Using multiple tools such as a pocket range finder, a ballistic chart, and standard binoculars will also work.  But, keeping up with all three and then using them in the hunting situation under pressure to make a clean, quick shot can be cumbersome.  Once you have only to raise the binocular to your eye, depress the ranging button, and then read the shooting solution heads up in the display, you will become a believer in the power of having an all-in-one unit.  It is as simple and fast as view it, range it, dial it, and send it.  Go see your dealer and ask about range finding binoculars.  You’ll be glad you did.

Tucson, AZ – Veteran owned optics company, Riton Optics, is proud to announce the release of their new pistol red dot optic, the X3 Tactix MPRD.

As a variation from their 2019 released X3 Tactix PRD, this smaller frame micro pistol dot was engineered and tested at the Riton headquarters in Tucson, AZ. True to their core values, Riton’s X3 Tactix MPRD was created as a high-quality product that can withstand the most rugged applications, while also providing the highest level of functionality and absolute best value.

In contrast to many pistol red dots on the market that are made from polymers, the X3 Tactix MPRD is made from 6061 aircraft grade aluminum and has fully multi-coated, HD glass lenses for optimal clarity and long-lasting performance. It is also waterproof fog proof and shockproof up to 1500Gs. Read more

As a shooter, you know it is important to have the right equipment, ready-to-go at a moment’s notice. If your rifle of choice is an MSR ( modern sporting rifle), you owe it to yourself to check out the MEPRO M-21. It is the only red-dot optic that does not require a battery or an on/off switch. The maintenance-free— fiber-optic/tritium— power source provides illumination day or night.

Though classified as a red-dot optic The MEPRO M-21— built to MIL-SPEC standards— features a specially formulated amber colored dot for high visibility day or night. The large 30mm window allows for greater FOV and allows you to keep both eyes open. A choice of four reticles is available—4.3 MOA dot, X, Circle with dot and Triangle—with the two most popular being the 5.5 MOA circle and the Triangle. Read more

Please join the Kowa Sporting Optics team for a FREE webinar on Phonescoping – taking super-telephoto wildlife images & video with your smart phone through a spotting scope or binocular. During this webinar our digiscoping experts will cover everything you need to know to begin taking crisp images utilizing the full capabilities of the powerful magnification of a spotting scope which provides nearly 700% more zoom than most wildlife photography rigs with a 400 mm lens as example. While most commonly used for wildlife photography, phonescoping also has practical applications for industrial inspection of transmission towers & bridges, for surveillance, and at the range among other uses. Our instructors will not only cover all the basics but help you shorten the learning curve by reviewing common pitfalls and coupling errors.

Join team Kowa and the experts at PhoneSkope and learn to take the best images with your phonescoping gear! Saturday, May 9th at 12 PM Eastern time.

Click here to register your spot for this free event! Read more

BEAVERTON, OR — Leupold & Stevens, Inc., provider of the world’s most rugged, lightweight, and clear riflescopes and reflex sights, is pleased to announce that its award-winning Freedom RDS (Red Dot Sight) is now available in a Black Ring model. Originally featuring the company’s trademark Gold Ring around its objective bell, the RDS will now have an all-black finish similar to the company’s Mark 5HD, Mark 6, and Mark 8 riflescopes.

A tubular red dot sight built for performance and versatility, the new RDS is available in two models: One features capped precision ¼-MOA click adjustments, the other a precision exposed BDC elevation turret that ships with measurements out to 500 yards for standard 55-grain .223 Rem. ammunition. The RDS is designed to install easily with an included mount that sits at the optimal height for use on AR-style rifles. A third version, featuring the capped precision ¼-MOA click adjustments, will be available without the included mount. A 34mm maintube allows the RDS to be mounted using any appropriately-sized rings. Read more