Hunters and target shooters are always looking for the best optics they can afford, and for 2014, there are some new scopes, spotters and binoculars that bring the game much closer and clearer.
Weaver (weaveroptics.com) has announced the new 3X CompSTRIKE scope, a compact model that features an illuminated dot reticle. The internal prism design delivers the goods for hunters, competitors and tactical users. It has a 30mm objective and integral mounts that make for quick installation. Another scope family worth looking at is Weaver’s KASPA series. These are illuminated reticle scopes that address all kinds of challenges.
Weaver’s KASPA series. These are illuminated reticle scopes that address all kinds of challenges.
New from Nikon (Nikon.com) is the Monarch Fieldscope with either a 60mm or 82mm objective, interchangeable eyepieces and it adapts to a DSLR camera. The wide angle 30-60X zoom eyepiece comes in the 82mm outfit, and it becomes a 24-38X when attached to the 60mm Fieldscope. There are optional 20-60X (16-48X with 60mm objective) zoom and a fixed wide angle 38X (30x with the 60mm model) eyepieces available.
Nikon’s new Monarch 7 binoculars are offered in 8×30 and 10×30, both with a new body design featuring fiberglass-reinforced polycarbonate resin bodies with rubber armoring.
They weigh just over 15 ounces, and have low dispersion glass.
Another improvement in binocular technology has been announced by Swarovski Optik (swarovskioptik.com) with the arrival of the New Generation SLC series.
Introduced in 8x42mm and 10x42mm this past October, they’re being joined by a big 15x56mm model at the 2014 SHOT Show. These center-focus roof prism binoculars feature a userfriendly center focus knob, twist-down eyecups to accommodate people with eyeglasses, and they wear a tough rubberized outer surface In the compact world, Swarovski’s new CL pocket binoculars are offered in 8×25 or 10×2. The CL pocket binocular is a center focus roof-prism model with twist-in eye cups to accommodate people with glasses. The 8X model offers a 357-foot field of view at 1,000 yards and the 10X model allows for a 294-foot field at that range.
Swarovski’s SLC binoculars now in three sizes: 8x42mm; 10x42mm, and 15x56mm.
Aim Sports XPF First Focal tactical scope in 1-4x24mm.
Trijicon (trijicon.com) offers more than superb tritium night sights, and this year will prove it with the introduction of the VCOG (for Variable Combat Optical Gunsight) 1-6x24mm scope machined from 7075-T6 aluminum with a Mil Spec hard-coat anodized finish. It features fully multicoated lenses and seven different reticle choices, all located in the first focal plane so the ballistic reticle may be used with any magnification.
The VCOG has an integral mount that fits any 1913 rail. It measures 10 inches and the mount secures to the rail via two screws.
There’s a new 3-30x56mm Ezekiel riflescope, a 6-100×100 spotting scope and a laser for an AR-15 from Sightmark (sightmark.com).
The new Ezekiel riflescope is built on a 30mm tube and it comes with rings and flip-up lens covers. It features a second focal plane Mil-Dot reticle, side parallax adjustment and the first 10X optical zoom offered in a commercially viable system. There is a choice between two illuminated reticles, one red and one green.
There’s also a new 6-100×100 spotting scope, which is the first of its kind. It provides a 122.8-meter field of view at 1,000 yards.
Sightmark’s LoPro Green laser may be mounted in front of a riflescope, or on a rail, either on top or on the side. It has 1 MOA adjustments via windage and elevation turrets that are hand-adjustable. The laser is visible at about 50 yards in the daylight and more than 600 yards at night.
Sun Optics (sunoptics.com) has announced the Varmint Seeker scope family, all with 30mm tubes. They feature dot reticles and come in 4- 16×50, 6-24×50 and 8-32×50.
New from Redfield (redfield.com) are new binocular models and riflescopes. Redfield’s 10x42mm Battlefield roof prism binocular is finished with digital camo, but it’s what’s inside that really counts. The center-focus binocular features a TACMOA reticle in the left barrel, BaK4 prisms, and twist-up eyecups. It weighs 26.4 ounces and has a close focus distance of only 4.3 feet.
Another binocular entry is the Renegade, an 8×36 porro prism model with BaK4 prisms, armored aluminum body, twist-up eyecups, center focus, neoprene neck strap and a tripod adaptable mount.
One new scope from Redfield is a 3-9x40mm Revolution/TAC model featuring the Illuminator Lens System. It has ¼-MOA click adjustments, a 1-inch main tube, multicoated lens system and a Rapid Target Acquisition lockable eyepiece.
A second scope model is the 6- 18x44mm Battlezone model, with fully multi-coated lenses, pop-up resettable ¼-MOA adjustments, a 1-inch main tube, Fast Focus eyepiece and a Bullet Drop Compensation dial for .223/ 5.56mm and .308/7.62mm.
Also from Redfield is the new Accelerator Reflex sight, with multicoated lenses, four illumination settings, auto-shut off after five hours, and it mounts easily on a Picatinny rail.
Aim Sports (aimsports.inc) is unveiling the XPF First Focal 1- 4x24mm tactical scope with a 30mm main tube, focal plane Mil-Dot reticle, green fused multi-coated lenses, Triilluminated reticles (red, green, blue) with an adjustable brightness control and it comes with Weaver/Picatinny type ring mounts.
Leupold (leupold.com) is raising the curtain on its new BX-3 Mojave 8x32mm and 10x32mm binocular models.
This center focus roof prism model has a tough armor coating and features fully multi-coated lenses, L-coated BaK4 prisms with phase coating and a neoprene neck strap. Both binoculars weigh 17 ounces.
The new BX-2 Acadia models also come in 8×32 and 10×32.
Weighing 18 ounces, the Acadia is also a roof prism model that performs like a porro prism binocular. They are center focus with fully multi-coated lenses, dielectrically-coated prism surfaces, adjustable eyecups and more.
Leupold’s VX-6 riflescope comes in a 4-24x52mm model with side focus this year. It features the Quantum Optical System with Xtended Twilight lens coatings and DiamondCoat 2 for maximum light transmission.
This scope boasts a 34mm main tube, finger adjust able ¼-MOA click adjustments, one free Custom Bullet Drop Compensation Dial and a TMOA reticle.
