Indholdsfortegnelse for Volume 77, Issue 18 i Firearms News

I have been amazed by the advancements made in optics over the last two decades. This is especially true of riflescopes. While optical performance has indeed improved thanks to lens design and coatings many of the advancements are elsewhere. Reticles for example are drastically different and become much more sophisticated. Magnification ranges have become very wide from the old 3-fold increase to now 10-fold. Illuminated reticles have become common. Overall, riflescopes have become much more user friendly. The gun owner of today though is much more demanding than in years past. They desire certain features in an optic, and if one model doesn’t have it, they will pick another which does. With this in mind the staff and writers of Firearms News put together this special issue focusing on optics.…

Having options is a good thing. As shooters, whether for target shooting or hunting, observation is critical and should not be underestimated. Binoculars are a sensible choice. They are typically rather compact and easy to keep on you or in your gear. Another benefit of binos is the ability to use both eyes. This prevents fatigue and eye strain. But there are some instances, many in fact where a solid spotting scope is best. When it comes to long-range shooting, the spotting scope is still king and allows for greater magnification to reach out and really see what’s going on. Also, many hunters like to use spotters for glassing for the same reason. When looking for a spotting scope, image quality is without a doubt the number one factor. Magnification…

As technology has advanced, many items formerly relegated to “Buck Rogers” are now not only available, but common. It wasn’t too many years ago that a GPS or handheld laser rangefinder would have been looked upon as something straight out of a science fiction movie. Today, they can be found in most gear bags. As technology steadfastly marches forward, modern electronics continually become smaller, more effective and less expensive. The same is also true of Night Vision Devices (NVDs). Like GPS and laser rangefinders, NVDs were originally designed with the military in mind. Today though, commercial NVDs are widely available. A highly useful tool in its own right, a quality NVD is something more and more outdoorsmen are interested in adding to their gear bag. Probably the most common “gateway”…

I was around 14 years old when I first had the chance to go on a thermal hog hunt. My dad’s lifelong friend had served in the U.S. Army for years, and he was able to acquire some high-end thermal scopes for the day. He built up a guide business, and he invited us on a hunt for free, which is something we never could have afforded then. I distinctly recall asking him how much the thermal optics we used cost, and he told me they would have been in the $15K to $20K range for civilian purchase. I lamented the fact that it would be a long time, if ever, before I could buy my own thermal, but my fortunes have changed as I now have one of the…

The value of a thermal imaging scope, or even a thermal camera, is readily apparent to anyone. While we will be focusing on the hunting and shooting applications of thermal, they offer extensive advantages to many different industries. The basest argument for wanting thermal imaging is that it has a cool factor that can’t be beat! In the firearms world, thermal sees the most use from hunters. Nocturnal animals like pigs and coyotes would be almost impossible to find at night, but a thermal scope makes them stand out even better than full daylight. While more and more people are buying new thermal scopes, few completely understand how they work. Thermal Science “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” This is a famous quote from writer Arthur C. Clark,…

A three-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has dealt the Biden Administration another blow, shooting down the ATF Final Rule redefining braced pistols as short-barreled rifles (SBRs). In a 2-1 ruling on Aug. 1, the court found that the Final Rule violates the federal Administrative Procedures Act since the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) finalized the rule with no opportunity for public comment. “The ATF incorrectly maintains that the Final Rule is merely interpretive, not legislative, and thus not subject to the logical-outgrowth test,” Judge Jerry Smith wrote in the Court’s opinion. “The Final Rule affects individual rights, speaks with the force of law, and significantly implicates private interests. Thus, it is legislative in character. Then, because the Final Rule bears almost no resemblance…

Precision rifle optics. I almost don’t know where to begin. There was a time when the choices were fewer and if you preceded fewer with the word “quality,” then the choices became even thinner. I’m fairly confident in saying that is no longer the case. There was an old saying that your rifle optic should cost as much, if not more than your rifle. In retrospect I’d have to guess that’s because even less than 10 years ago, certain levels of features, performance, and let’s say perceived quality, weren’t available until you hit a certain price-point, intentional or not. Now, I know for a fact that you can get solid performance without spending multiple thousands of dollars. There are several factors to consider when looking into a precision rifle optic.…

Nightforce needs little introduction, as they have a stellar track record for not only quality, but also clarity of glass, premium features and durability. So, as a current owner of two NXSs and an SHV, I was excited to see and try a member of the NX8 line of rifle scopes. The model I selected being their 2.5-20x50mm F1. The NX8 series is a fairly recent addition to the Nightforce line, being shown at the 2019 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, with an official release in July of the same year. The NX8 is a modernized variant of the robust and battle proven NXS series of scope, with several updates and offerings that many users (including myself) wanted to see on the NXS initially. It is no secret that Nightforce’s…

Announced at the beginning of 2023 and now available is the new Mark 5 HD 2-10x30 from Leupold. Everyone these days seems to be familiar with the term LPVO (low power variable optic), indicating a variable power scope with a low end at or near 1x, but some people have forgotten that Leupold, back at the beginning of the Afghanistan war, arguably invented the compact tactical MPVO (Medium Power Variable Optic) with their MR/T (Mid-Range Tactical) scopes, the most-well known of which was a 2.5-8x. In fact, Leupold itself states that the new Mark 5 HD 2-10x30mm is an evolution of those scopes used on the Mk 12 SPR during the height of the Global War on Terror, and is intended to extend the reach of tactical carbines. Leupold’s Mark…

Love them or hate them, red-dot sights for handguns are here to stay. Manufacturers that introduce new handguns that are not optics-ready, or at least have an optics-ready model available, are simply going to get less attention than their optics-ready competition. Does that mean you have to mount a pistol red dot? No, but people like having the option. If you’re new to pistol red dots, go try one out. You’ll quickly see why they’ve become so popular. However, one should always learn how to shoot a pistol with standard iron sights first and be well-versed in their use should your dot ever go down. If you’re going to put a red dot on a full-size handgun for defensive or duty use, then be sure to have solid irons as…

When it comes to scopes for AR-15 carbines, the low-powered variable optic (LPVO) is king. An LPVO generally has a lowest magnification of 1x and they have a top magnification of 4x, 6x, 8x and more and more 10x. There are even some 1-12x LPVOs hitting the market, but a 1-6x or 1-8x LPVO is most common. LPVOs are lightweight, fast and easy to use, making them ideal for competition, tactical shooting, home and self-defense and general plinking. In fact, LPVOs are a growing trend among hunters, too. For mounting an LPVO to an AR, a “one-piece” or “cantilever” mount is the preferred option for their ease of mounting on ARs. Cantilever mounts usually set the scope height at about 1.5 inches over the rail, which “about right” for almost…

In a 4-to-3 vote on Friday, the Illinois Supreme Court upheld the state’s punitive ban on common semi-automatic firearms and normal-capacity magazines, which was passed and signed into law earlier this year by anti-gun Democrat Gov. J.B. Pritzker. The sweeping law bans a wide variety of guns, including many semi-automatic firearms that lawful gun owners commonly own and use for self-defense, recreation and competition, along with some spare parts for those guns. It also includes a so-called “high-capacity” magazine ban, outlawing handgun magazines that can hold more than 15 rounds of ammunition and long gun mags that can hold more than 10 rounds. In this case, Caulkins v. Pritzker, which largely challenged the bill on legislative procedural issues, the court ruling stated: “First, we hold the circuit court erroneously entered…

While introductions of new Red Dots are happening all the time, in just the past two months (as I write this) two giant names in the field, SIG Sauer and Trijicon, have introduced several new products. That’s big news and great for the consumer, as more quality choices are always better. Trijicon RMR HD and RCR Trijicon (www.Trijicon.com) didn’t invent the mini Red Dot with their RMR (Ruggedized Mini Reflex), but many people consider it the first mini electro-optic tough enough for real world use outside of competition. And it is still considered by many to be the standard against which other mini Red Dots are judged. It’s been over a decade since Trijicon first introduced the RMR. While they’re now on the RMR Gen 2, and about four years…

There are hints of an arms race between optics manufacturers. Specifically in the binocular department. This market, like that of precision rifle optics has blown up and unless you’re really into binoculars or have tons of disposable income, you’re likely not aware of the many options available. That’s understandable because binoculars aren’t like firearms—you can likely make do with one pair of quality binos. But where do you start? Binoculars come in different magnifications, and sizes. If you’re hunting and hiking, you may want to consider lighter weight and smaller-sized options. On the flip side, if you are hunting (or even if not) having a pair of binoculars with a laser rangefinder could be invaluable. There are now several quality options with rangefinders included. In fact, many of these pair…

Truly, the world became a better place when the low-powered variable optic (LPVO) was created. To me, it is one of the most versatile optics you could ever use, especially the 1-6x and 1-8x LPVOs. Born for a tactical and competition demand, I would even take an LPVO over a traditional hunting optic for all but the longest shots. Clearly, I’m a fan, and I’ve been fortunate to try out many different models from many different manufacturers. The latest I’ve tested is the Model SAI 6 from SAI Optics, which has quickly become one of my all-time favorites. At a glance, this 1-6x24mm LPVO from SAI Optics looks sharp, but I wasn’t familiar with the brand at first. SAI Optics is a subsidiary of Armament Technology Incorporated. These are the…

I hate to admit it, but I’ve developed some expensive tastes when it comes to firearms and optics. However, my wallet has yet to comfortably catch up with my palate. That’s why I greatly appreciate companies that know how to make a quality product at a friendly price. Hi-Lux Optics is one such company. While they do make plenty of pricey optics, I’ve been more than pleased with the performance of the Hi-Lux TD-3C pistol red-dot sight, which comes in with a price tag at just $219. The TD-3C red-dot sight from Hi-Lux is my first experience with the company, but they do already have a cult-like following amongst vintage firearms enthusiasts. They’re probably best-known for their replicas of early military scopes like the Malcolm scope and Vietnam-era M40 sniper…

Freelance writer and editor Mark Chesnut is the owner/editorial director at Red Setter Communications LLC. An avid hunter, shooter and political observer, he has been covering Second Amendment issues and politics on a near-daily basis for the past 20 years. The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday voted to allow President Joe Biden’s Final Rule reclassifying some gun parts as “firearms” to stand while the matter plays out in an appeals court. The newest court ruling on the so-called “ghost gun” rule came after Justice Samuel Alito twice stayed a federal judge’s injunction that had blocked the rule from being enforced during an appeal of the earlier ruling finding the “law” to be unconstitutional. The Supreme Court action in Garland v. VanDerStok — a surprise to many — came on a…