GUN SCOPE

GUIDE

Todays Best Value

in Rifle Scopes
 The popularity of AR ries
has prompted manufacture of
scopes expressly for them.

Myriad new rifle scopes, binoculars, and spotting scopes

include bargainsno second mortgage required!

GreyBull Precision adds trajectory-specic dials to Leupold Nikons ProStaff scopes are affordable, high-value alternatives
VX-IIIs, for long-range hits. to that companys Monarch line.

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2013_Opticsedit.indd 326 5/31/12 9:49 PM


BY WAYNE VAN ZWOLL
T
he Shooting, Hunting
and Outdoor Trade
(SHOT) show, held this
past January in Las Vegas, loaded me
up with boxes of catalogs, discs, and
thumb-drives. Over the decades Ive
attended SHOT, print has given way to
electronic media. The dream books I
ogled in my youth, late in the Miocene,
are slipping away. Something is lost
there. You might argue that all you need
to know about any optic can be mined
from a visit to Google. Still, hard copy
has substance. Its the substance we
came to expect from Bausch & Lomb
binoculars, and Kollmorgen rifle sights
we clamped to Remington 721s and Sav-
age 99s and Model 70s built before the
debacle of 1964.
I may get used to specifications on-
screen. Someday.
Meantime, the electronics that
matter are those in the optics. Theyre
proliferating. From laser rangefinders in
scopes and binoculars to illuminated,
range-compensating reticles and
night-vision gear, weve added bounce
to the staid science of lenses and light.
Traditionalists are yet blessed with
glass that works without batteries. The
best of the ordinary is, in fact, getting
better. Discernible differences between
top-end and value-priced optics have
diminished. Unless youve very sharp
eyes, those disparities will likely elude
Author van Zwoll thinks the Weaver K series a great value.
This Ruger No. 1 wears a sleek K6 (6X38).
2013_Opticsedit.indd 327
you in blind tests. The daunting news?
There are so many fresh items that
picking one at any price point can be a
chore. This Gun Digest roundup should
help with your sifting.
Ill try to stay even-handed, forgiving
manufacturers who follow the market
when it leads them astray. Whats
popular, alas, is not always most useful.
Scopes the size of sewer pipe sell to
shooters who value bulk over utility;
reticles as busy as Sanskrit evidently
add value to fields disturbingly blank
behind crosswires. The practical may
later supplant the bizarre in optics; it
is making slow progress displacing the
audacity of hope in politics.
Another point. Im obliged to report
on glass thats absurdly expensive. As
a youth, I settled on a Weaver K4, be-
cause, at $59.50, a Leupold 4X seemed
an indulgence. These days, a top-end
scope can cost more than my fi rst three
automobiles combined. Granted, the
scope will last longer, and you neednt
change the oil. But, on the value scale,
it may, arguably, rank as low as the
cheapest opticwhich also merits
print. A modern scope that costs less
than a tank of gasoline is unlikely to fail
youbut its still an odd match for a
$7,500 elk hunt.
Pricing of outdoors optics is a shadowy
business. Few products trade at MSRP
(manufacturers suggested retail price).
This Savage tactical rie wears a Sightron scope. An affordable
package with great reach!
REPORTS FROM THE FIELD
Indeed, MSRP is equivalent to the
opening plea of an optimistic auctioneer.
Street price used to be the more useful
figure, but even that is now clouded by
sales that cut deeply into profits. It was
not always so. In by-gone days, compa-
nies selling optics also made them. That
tradition changed, in the 1960s, when
Dave Bushnell began importing scopes
from the Orient to compete with Lyman,
Redfield, and Bausch & Lomb. Those
latter brands have since capitulated. Ly-
man is now a loading-tool company, and
while Redfields name was resurrected
recently by Leupold, B&L vanished into
the Bushnell line. Japan, China, and the
Philippines now produce more optics
than the Germans and Austrians, whose
glass once defined the state of the art.
The best scopes from the Orient are very,
very good. At all quality levels, many
come from the same production lines
that make scopes for the competition.
A crowded field brings forth bargains.
Witness the 3-9X rifle scope. All major
optics firms offer 3-9Xs, and high sales
volumes allow them to keep prices close
to the bone. These companies are also
acutely aware that a beginning shooter
satisfied with an inexpensive 3-9X will
likely show brand loyalty when they up-
grade to a costlier scope. Anyone buying
a 3-9X gets the benefit of the brisk trade
and fierce competition in these scopes.
Enough preamble. On with the show.
67TH EDITION, 2013  327
5/31/12 9:49 PM
 OPTI CS
AIMPOINT
In 1974, Gunnar Sandberg developed a
single-point sight that didnt allow you
to see through it. You looked into the
sight with one eye while your other saw
a dot on the target. Sandberg refined the
device and founded Aimpoint to build
it. Still considered the leader in red dot
sights, Aimpoint catalogs models for
both tactical and sporting rifles. The
new PRO (Patrol Rifle Optic) is a 1X sight
with a 2-minute dot and night-vision
compatibility. Designed for AR-style
rifles, it fits a Picatinny rail and so suits
any rifle or shotgun so equipped.
All 1X Aimpoints give you unlimited
eye relief. The smallest are the Micro
sights. Each weighs less than four
ounces, including mount, and features a
4-minute dot with 12 brightness settings.
The Comp Series is Aimpoints flag-
ship. The M4 wears an integral clamp for
a rail. One AA battery can power an M4
for up to eight yearswithout shut-off!
Aimpoint front lenses are achromats
(doublets) that correct for parallaxun-
like lenses in many competitive sights,
which have reflective paths that move
with eye position. An Aimpoints dot
comes to your eye in a line parallel
with the sights optical axis. You hit
where you see the dot, even if your eye
is off-axis. Windage/elevation adjust-
ments move point of impact a -inch
at 100 yards. One CR-2032 battery
(standard power for all but the M4) lasts
50,000 hours with a mid-level setting.
Aimpoints have been adopted by armed
forces and sportsmen in 40 countries.
The Burris Fulleld scope on this CZ affords the author quick
aim at big animals in cover.
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2013_Opticsedit.indd 328
Ive killed moose with these sights in
Europe. Theyre ideal for close, fast
shooting, but they are also more precise
than many hunters think. Its no trick
to maintain 2-minute accuracy at 100
yards. www.Aimpoint.com.
ALPEN
Demand for highly rated Alpen optics
has limited supply and throttled new-
product introductions.
But the pipeline is now spewing
the Apex XP one-inch rifle scopes,
introduced last year. They feature
turret-mounted parallax knobs and
fast-focus eyepieces. Pick 1.5-6X42,
3-9X40, 2-10X44, 4-16X44 or 6-24X50. A
new 30mm IR line has lighted reticles:
1.5-6X42, 2.5-10X50, and 4-16X56.
New XP binoculars headline the 2012
stable. They boast top-quality glass and
coatings, and very sturdy construction.
Alpens Wings ED binocular, in 8X42
or 10X42, is lightweight. Ive found the
images extraordinarily bright and sharp.
Youll pay much less than for European
optics of similar design. A new 8X30
IPD Porro prism binocular also gets my
attention. Though almost all roads these
days lead to roof-prism binoculars, I
like the Porro prism design (with offset
rather than straight barrels; its named
after an Italian who long ago fashioned
an early bino of that configuration).
Many Porro prism glasses weigh less
than corresponding roof-prism models,
even if their wide stance makes them
appear heavy. Where weight matters
less than reach, Alpens Apex 12X50
A technician blesses a Burris turret at the rms Colorado plant.
American-made scopes!
excels as a mid-range alternative to a
spotting scope. Its reasonably priced
and easier to use for extended glassing.
www.Alpenoptics.com.
BRUNTON
The new Icon, in 8X44 and 11X44,
ranks as the best of four series of Brun-
ton binoculars. The Epoch, in 8X5X43
and 10.5X43, follows, with a couple of
pocket binoculars, as well. There are
four Eterna models. The Echo anchors
the Brunton stable, at a lower price. My
Brunton Epochs deliver excellent im-
ages, and bird-watching colleagues have
told me Eternas perform right alongside
costlier glasses.
This year, Brunton lists five rifle
scopes under the Eterna banner, six as
Echoes. Eternas, 1.5-5X20 to 6.5-20X50,
climb in street price to nearly $1,000.
Echo scopes list at $165 to $295. This
Wyoming-based company has been
around long enough to know what hunt-
ers value in optics, and it offers those
features at prices cowhands can afford.
And it stands behind its products.
www.Brunton.com.
BURRIS
Additions to the value-priced Fullfield
E1 family caught my eye at SHOT.
Fullfields have proven themselves to
be exceptional valuesI have several!
The Fullfield E1 series has new 3-9X40
and 4.5-14X42 scopes with 30mm tubes,
and a 6.5-20X50 on a one-inch pipe.
5/31/12 9:49 PM

The Ballistic Plex E1 reticle assists with
drop and drift. Choose illumination
on the 3-9X. Also new is a fresh line of
tactical scopes and an updated 4-12X42
Eliminator. This programmable scope is
heavier than the first model, introduced
a couple years ago, but lean, sleek lines
make it more attractive, and it delivers
more with the ballistic data you provide.
As with its predecessor, Eliminators
laser rangefinder gives instant reads. A
dot that lights up on the reticle serves
as your aiming point, automatically
compensating for bullet drop. I managed
a sub-minute group at 400 yards, while
testing this scope. It was just a vertical
inch from centerEliminator knows
what its job is.
New Burris MTAC scopes, in 1-4X24
to 6.5-20X50, have 30mm tubes and Mil
Dot reticles (Ballistic CQ on the 1-4X).
The FastFire III is an upgrade of the
FastFire II. Ive used this red dot sight
on shotguns and handguns. Its compact
profile and light weight make it ideal
for both. Put the dot where you want
it and press the triggerno alignment
necessary! I tried a FastFire-equipped
pump-gun from the left shoulder at skeet
targets. Impossibly awkward as a lefty, I
shattered several clays with that unerr-
ing dot. www.Burrisoptics.com.
BUSHNELL
In rifle scopes, Bushnells recent
30mm Elite 6500 series still defines the
top end. But the 4200s and 3200s have
been merged into a single Elite category.
Ive used both and find them among the
The author likes this Bushnell Legend 10X36, a new binocular
that performs above its price.
2013_Opticsedit.indd 329
best of mid-priced sights. Legend Ultra
HD rifle scopes are a 2012 highlight.
Check the resolution beside traditional
Elite scopes.
Bushnell pioneered laser rangefinders
for outdoorsmen and still dominates
that market. The new 6X G-Force 1300
stores your rifles zero data to deliver
accurate angle-compensated reads at
the press of a button.
In binoculars, Im impressed by Bush-
nells new 10X36 Legend Ultra HD. Com-
pared to a bright 8X32, it transmits very
nearly as much light, with 25 percent
more power and no more weight or bulk.
In fact, I found the outside front diameter
of a popular 8X32 was bigger! The Leg-
ends magnesium frame keeps its weight
to just 20.6 ounces, so you can carry it
as I prefer, on a single strap. Bushnell
provides a quick-release strap, as well as
a harness. The Ultra HDs rubber armor
is easy to grip when wet and cushions
the binocular against knocks. The center
focus wheel has enough drag to prevent
accidental movement, but raised ribs
make it easy to turn with gloved fingers.
The right-hand adjustment locks when
shoved forward. Twist-up eyecups have
three stops.
With a retail price of $250, the 10X36
(or 8X36) Legend Ultra HD performs
above its class. The fluorite component
of its ED front lenses all but eliminate
chromatic aberration by bringing
waves of red, blue, and green light to
a common point. Bushnell describes
the 60 coatings on its BaK-4 prisms as
Ultra Wide Band. BaK-4, by the way,
is a high-end barium-silicate glass used
Bushnells big stable boasts extended eye relief scopes, like this
variable on the authors BL-81.
REPORTS FROM THE FIELD
in many binoculars. Its appropriate in
some but not all lenses. In advertising,
BaK-4 enjoys more status than it merits.
Naturally, the Bushnell Legend Ultra HD
has RainGuard coating to bead and shed
water. www.Bushnell.com.
CABELAS
Renowned as a one-stop sportsmans
shopper, the Cabelas catalog lists many
optics from top-ranked companies. But
this company also markets glass under
its own label. You might dismiss Cabelas
Alaskan Guide scopes as inexpensive
surrogates, items built under contract in
big, nameless factories in the Far East.
Truth is, many scopes sold under other
recognized brands originate in the same
places. Techniques and materials used
in building sturdy, reliable, optically
excellent rifle scopes and binoculars are
widely shared. A CNC machine doesnt
know if the tube in its oil spray is being
threaded for Cabelas or another com-
pany known only for its optics.
Weaver, once a Texas firm, now gets
its scopes from the Orient. Theyre good
values. So are Cabelas Alaskan Guide
scopes. Starting about $200, theyre also
affordable. Ive used them on expensive
and demanding hunts. A 4X44 on a hard-
kicking 9.3X62-chambered rifle dropped
a moose and a goat for me in British
Columbias backcountry. I took another
Alaskan Guide scope on a wilderness
hunt for elk. All AGs feature one-inch
tubes, 3 inches of eye relief, fast-focus
eyepieces, and plenty of free tube to
space the rings as you prefer. The 3-9X40
67TH EDITION, 2013  329
5/31/12 9:49 PM
 OPTI CS
A Cabelas Alaskan Guide 4X on a CZ
9.3X62 put this moose down in thick
cover.
scales 13 ounces, the 4-12X40 AO and
6-20X40 AO just a couple ounces more.
Cabelas Pine Ridge Lever Action line
comprises 3-9X40s, each with a reticle
specific to a single Hornady LEVERevolu-
In South Africa, Dave Emary bears down with Bushnells 6500
Elite and a T/C Icon.
330  GunDigest
2013_Opticsedit.indd 330
tion load. Reticle hash marks corre-
spond to specific points of impact for
each load. A generous 5 inches of eye
relief lets you to place these scopes well
forward to clear exposed hammers.
www.cabelas.com.
LEICA
A short list of the most versatile
hunting scopes must include Leicas
marvelous 3.5-14X42, with its turret-
mounted parallax dial. Cosmetically
and optically, this 30mm scope is top
drawer. Choose from five reticles.
Weight is 16.5 ounces. The 2.5-10X42
is an ounce lighter and comes with a
fi xed parallax setting. Both have tough,
slippery, AquaDura lens coatings to
shed water.
This year, Leica announced a new
Ultravid binocular, which it claims
is optically superior to the older
Ultravidsbinoculars that strike me
as peerless! At this writing, Ive yet to
field-test the new model, but a look
through those lenses shows the unit
to be absolutely brilliantjust like its
predecessor.
I have used Leicas laser rangefind-
ers, the CRF 1000 and CRF 1600. Both
feature 7X magnification and AquaDura
lens coatings. Carbon-reinforced bodies
are lightweight and waterproof. The
LED display adjusts for brightness. You
also get readings for temperature, baro-
metric pressure, and holdover. Leicas
ballistics calculator will chart the bullet
path of your load and compensate for
shot angle. www.leica-camera.com.
Dialing with target knobs helps this rieman hit far away with a
Blaser R8 in .300 magnum.
LEUPOLD
This spring, VX-1 and VX-2
riflescopes have been upgraded. The
VX-2s go to lead-free Quantum lenses
with Index Matched and DiamondCoat
2 coatings, while the VX-1 gets the
Quantum lenses with Multicoat 4
coatings. VX-2s come in magnification
ranges from 1-4X to 6-18X, with AO
and target-knob versions. Ive a 3-9X40
ready for a new Ruger American rifle
in .30-06. Though higher power seems
a trend, big-game hunters may still be
best served by the 3-9X40, a winning
combination of light weight and slim
profile, with enough field for the fastest
shooting, and magnification to reach
the most distant targets. Ive just
finished a long-range training course at
FTW ranch, using a 3-9X to hit 12-inch
targets out to 700 yardsthats twice
as far as I normally consider shooting
at game.
Leupolds VX-1 and Rifleman scopes
offer value in popular 2-7X, 3-9X and
4-12X magnifications. FX fi xed-power
scopes remain among my favorite
sights. Theyre very lightweight and
complement any svelte hunting rifle. So
do the new variables in Leupolds Ultra-
light line. The company has added to its
air rifle, AR-15, competition, and Mark
8 combat series. The VX-6 rifle scope,
with its 6X power range, was new last
spring. Now you can get the 1-6X24
and 2-12X42 with FireDot illumination
and 12-position brightness dial. A big
eye-box means generous eye relief,
even at high magnification. Blackened
lens edges keep light where it belongs.
5/31/12 9:49 PM

Muzzleloading enthusiasts nd optics
useful too! A Leupold helped down this
Illinois buck.
DiamondCoat 2 lens coatings resist
scratching. Twin beryllium/copper leaf
springs secure the erector assembly
against knocks afield. The VX-6s CDS
(Custom Dial System) option comes on
selected VX-3, VX-R, and VX-2 scopes,
Top-quality binoculars keep your eye to the glass, a requisite for
spotting game in big country.
2013_Opticsedit.indd 331
too, so you can program bullet trajec-
tory into the elevation dial. Then you
simply dial the yardage, hold center,
and fire. The scope compensates for
bullet drop. www.Leupold.com.
MEOPTA
The 3-9X42 MeoPro debuted two
years ago as a killer value (so
reported by Outdoor Life). It still ranks
high. Like the companion 4-12X50 and
6-18X50 scopes, it has a one-inch tube
and first-cabin lens coatings. I like its
relatively short, fast-focus eyepiece
and the snappy windage and eleva-
tion adjustments. The MeoPro series
features second-plane reticles and
transferable lifetime warranties.
Meoptas 30mm line, the R1, starts
with a 1-4X22. Its illuminated dot excels
for quick shots in cover. The R1 4-12X50
is a dandy long-range rifle scope, with
a sleek profile and an etched second-
plane reticle. MeoStar scopes come in
other sizes, too, including a 3-10X50,
3-12X56, 4-14X44, and even a 7X56 for
European boar shooting under the
stars.
MeoStar B1 binoculars, 7X to 12X,
include an 8X32 that strikes me as ide-
al for all-around hunting. The MeoPro
series features a 6.5X32, a very bright
glass. It also has more reach than
most hunters realize. Meopta lists a
top-drawer S175mm spotting scope
with a 30X wide-angle or a 20-60X
standard eyepiece, angled or straight.
www.Meopticsportsoptics.com.
Leupold VX lines are getting upgrades. The 2.5-8X36, here on a
Tikka, is the authors favorite.
REPORTS FROM THE FIELD
MINOX
Known mainly for binoculars,
Minox (MINN-ox) recently cataloged
3-9X40, 2-10X40, 3-15X42, and 4-20X50
riflescopes. The line has grown this
year, with models in 1.5-8X32, 3-9X50,
2-10X50, 3-15X50, and 6-30X56. The 3-15X
and 6-30X feature parallax knobs. The
6-30X has a 30mm tube, while the others
are one-inch scopes. All feature fully
multi-coated Schott glass, resettable
windage/elevation dials, and generous
four-inch eye relief. Choose from five
reticles. Weights range from 12 to 24
ounces. Minox scopes come with no-
questions-asked lifetime warranties.
New APO-HG and HG (High Grade)
binoculars, built in Wetzlar, boast
wider fields of view, phase-corrected
prisms, a quick-close-focus dial that
brings you from infinity to spitting dis-
tance with one spin. Magnesium frames
keep weight to a minimum. MinoBright
and M* lens coatings enhance images;
argon gas purging prevents fogging.
Choose an 8X33, or an 8X or 10X with
43mm or 52mm front lenses. Theres
also an 8X56 for hunters looking into
the night. www.Minox.com.
NIGHTFORCE
Big, powerful scopes with illuminated
reticles and high price tags define
Nightforce. But the line now includes
two versatile hunting sights, a 2.5-10X32
and a 1-4X24. Both these NXS models,
each under 20 ounces, feature ZeroStop
resettable windage/elevation adjust-
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5/31/12 9:49 PM
 OPTI CS
ments, illuminated reticles, and 30mm
tubes. Need more magnification? The
5.5-22X50 makes sense for long shots.
Other, absurdly powerful scopes, plus
a 5.5-22X56, serve long-range target
shooters. (Mirage and wind can play
havoc with sight pictures when you
crank that dial much above 20X).
Nightforce counts many top marks-
men among its customers, including
Matthew Kline, whose 2.815-inch 10-
shot group broke the three-inch barrier
at 1,000 yards! He did it with a custom-
built .300 WSM (Heavy Gun class)
and an NSX 8-32X56. On the 8-32X56,
incidentally, you can specify windage/
elevation clicks of -minute, 1/8 -minute
or .1 mil (10 mils per revolution). The
current Nightforce stable of a dozen
scopes includes a 3.5-15X50 F1, with a
first-plane reticle for military applica-
tion. The firm offers ballistic software
and custom turrets to track bullet arcs
of standard loads. Im partial to the
design of Nightforce reticles, which are
fine, sharp, and limited to the center of
the field, for an open, uncluttered view.
www.Nightforceoptics.com.
NIKON
The 2012 emphasis at Nikon is tacti-
cal. I like the compact 3X32 scope with
resettable dials, a 12-ounce sight ideal
for compact AR-style rifles. The P-22
2-7X32 has a military bearing, but the
BDC-150 reticle is calibrated for .22 LR
loads. A target version has sleeker lines
and an AO sleeve on the objective bell.
The P-223 AR riflescope has a BDC-600
Nightforce scopes, favorites of long-range shooters, feature
resettable dials with clutches!
332  GunDigest
2013_Opticsedit.indd 332
reticle. M-308 and M-223 4-16X42 rifle
scopes feature resettable dials, a paral-
lax knob, and your choice of a BDC-800
or Nikoplex reticle.
In specialized hunting optics, the In-
line XR muzzleloading scope, a 3-9X40,
has the BDC-300 reticle. Force XR 2X20
and 2.5-8X28 handgun scopes have the
innards to take the sharp recoil of that
Casull round. Value-priced Buckmaster
scopes include new 3-9X50 and 4-12X50
models. Building on the huge success
of its on-line ballistics program, Nikon
now offers Spot-On custom scope tur-
rets you can order engraved with the
ballistic data of your pet load.
In binoculars, the Monarch 5 ATB
includes a 12X42, as well as 10X42
and 8X42 models. New ProStaff laser
rangefinders with 6X magnification
read to 550 and 600 yards. ProStaff 5
Fieldscopes (60mm and 82mm) comple-
ment Nikons new EDG Fieldscope, an
85mm 20-60X with vibration damping
(a pair of miniature motors minimizes
the blur caused by scope movement).
Seven bayonet-lock eyepieces range
from 20X to 70X, including the popular
20X-60X. www.NikonHunting.com.
REDFIELD
Resurrected by Leupold three years
ago, the Redfield name again stands as
a worthy American brand. Those of us
who remember John Redfields earlier
scopes, and whove shot competitively
with Redfield target sights, are de-
lighted to see the new line expand. This
year, there are two series of Redfield
Nikons was the scope of choice to test the accuracy of T/Cs
new Dimension rie.
scopes, the Revolution (2-7X33, 3-9X40,
3-9X50, and 4-12X40), and the Revenge
(2-7X34, 3-9X42, 3-9X52, 4-12X42, and
6-18X44 AO). The Revenge, just cata-
loged, features a range-compensating
ABS reticleactually, your choice of
four, from one configured for crossbows
to those suitable for long shooting
at big game and prairie dogs. An
Accu-Range reticle helps you hit at
distance with the Revolution scope.
Finger-friendly Accu-Trac windage/
elevation adjustments are much easier
to use than the dials of the past. These
Redfields look good too, on new rifles
and old. They all feature one-inch
tubes and are much better optics than
their predecessors. The Redfield name
also appears on spotting scopes and
binoculars, and the Raider 550 laser
rangefinder. www.Redfield.com.
SCHMIDT & BENDER
Among thoroughbred optics,
Schmidt & Bender stands out. A
relatively small firm, it occupies a
rural factory that, on my first visit,
reminded me of a veterinary clinic.
But the white-frocked staff and sterile
environment also lend themselves to
producing rifle scopes. S&Bs star has
risen mostly on the reputation of its
P/M (Police/Marksman) series, but the
companys hunting scopes are just as
fetching. Newest is a 30mm illuminated
1-8X Zenith sight. The 1-8X24 features
both a black reticle and S&Bs bright-
ness-adjustable Flash Dot in the rear
focal plane. The 1-8X24 follows a scope
5/31/12 9:49 PM

built specifically for American sports-
men, S&Bs 2.5-10X40, with a one-inch
tube and -minute clicks. S&B is also
fielding a new 3-20X50 P/M II, with a
34mm tube, turret-side parallax knob,
and an illuminated reticle in your
choice of first or second plane. As on
other P/Ms, this variable has lockable,
resettable windage/elevation adjust-
ments. My favorite Schmidt & Bender
scopes take a more traditional form,
in 6X42 and 10X42 and the 3-12X42
Classics, all with 30mm tubes and dial
rotation indicators that show where
the erector tube lies in its adjustment
range. www.Schmidt-Bender.de.
STEINER
Predator Xtreme binoculars and
rifles wear Steiner sixth generation
contrast-enhancing optics. They filter
out light wavelengths near 550 nano-
meters, so you can quickly distinguish
color differences between game and
cover. Three PX riflescopes2.5-
10X42, 3-12X56, and 4-16X50feature
30mm tubes and Steiners Plex S1
ballistic reticle. The 4-16X has a
parallax-correction knob. A quartet
of center-focus binoculars share
roof-prism design, high-contrast lens
coatings, and twist-up eyepieces. The
rubber armor is new. Upgrades of the
popular Merlin binoculars, these four
models weigh from 21 to 26 ounces.
Pick a 10X32, an 8X42, a 10X42, or a
10X50. They focus as close as 6 feet.
All come with a padded travel case.
www.Steiner-binoculars.com.
Steadying a Remington 700ti, the author aims with a Swarovski
Z6 1.7-10X42. Superb glass!
2013_Opticsedit.indd 333
SWAROVSKI
Big news for 2012 is the EL Range
binocular, laser-equipped with HD
Swarovision glass. Fast-pitch focusing
brings you from near to far in two spins.
The range-finding button on the left
hinge is easy to reach, but unobtrusive.
Both the 8X42 and 10X42 EL Range read
in yards or meters, with compensation
for vertical angles. One CR2 battery
powers this sleek, relatively lightweight
binocular. Choose from five levels of
screen brightness.
Equally fetching from this Austrian
firm is its modestly priced CL Compan-
ion 30mm binocular in 8X and 10X. It
features a black, green, or tan exterior,
center focus, and twist-out eyecups. A
street price of less than $1,000 belies the
images youll get with the CL. At just 18
ounces, its a great hunting binocular.
An honest 91-percent light transmission
rating puts it in distinguished company!
If you hunt from a stand or must glass
far in dim light, consider the Swarvovski
EL 10X50 or 12X50, the modern version
of the SLC 10X50 I carried for years as a
hunting guide.
In rifle scopes, the Z-6 continues
to lead in sales. The 1.7-10X42 on my
Remington .30-06 is as versatile a hunt-
ing scope as I can imagine, with needle-
sharp resolution and superior light
transmission. At 17 ounces, this 30mm
sight is no burden. Z-5 and Z-3 lines have
narrow but still useful magnification
ranges. Im quite satisfied with 3X power
range, like that of the AV 3-9X36. I chose
one for my latest custom rifle, a fine
This Swarovski-equipped Remington in .300 Ultra Mag is
handsome, accurate, and versatile.
REPORTS FROM THE FIELD
.25-06 by ace gunmaker Patrick Holehan.
www.Swarovskioptik.com.
TRIJICON
The illuminated ACOG (Advanced
Combat Optical Gunsight) gave Trijicon
a high profi le in the shooting communi-
ty. The company uses fiber optics and
tritium to light reticles in its AccuPoint
hunting rifle scopes, too. Ive used the
AccuPoint to take elk and fi nd it a great
aid for quick aiming in cover. Choose a
delta or a standard dot, now in amber
and green, as well as red. Mil dot, plex,
and No. 4 reticles are options. From
1-4X24 to 5-20X50, AccuPoints feature
adjustable fiber optic windows. The
1.25-4X24 and 3-9X40 are lightest, at
12 and 13 ounces; thank their one-inch
tubes. The other three (including a
2.5-10X56) have 30mm tubes.
For 2012, Trijicon is offering a
companion to the RMR (Ruggedized
Miniature Reflex) red dot sight. Called
the SRS (Sealed Reflex Sight), it has
an LED-lit, 1.75-MOA dot. A solar
panel boosts illumination, prolong-
ing the life of the single AA battery.
Built to tough ACOG standards of
forged 7075-T6 aircraft alloy, the
SRS is parallax-free and waterproof.
It has 10 brightness settings and an
auto-locking mount. A natural for AR-
type rifles and shotguns, it does not
magnify the target; you get a 70-foot
field of view at 100 yards. The SRS is
less than four inches long and weighs
just 14 ounces with the supplied
lithium battery. Also from the Wixom,
67TH EDITION, 2013  333
5/31/12 9:49 PM
 OPTI CS
Michigan, fi rm is the TriPower, the
fi rst triple-illuminated sight. It boasts
fiber optic, tritium, and battery-
powered illumination. Its short 30mm
tube, of forged 7075-T6, is waterproof
to 100 feet! The red chevron reticle is
parallax-free. www.Trijicon.com.
TRUGLO
While it offers scopes and scope
mounts, shotgun chokes, and binocu-
lars, TruGlo is best known for its red
dot sights and illuminated open sights.
The new Triton 20mm Tri-Color affords
an instant choice of red, green, or
blue 5-minute dot. It includes the 3V-
CR2032 battery and a mounting clamp,
high or low, for a Weaver scope base.
The new 30mm Tri-Color shares all the
20mms featuresunlimited eye relief,
finger-friendly windage/elevation
adjustments, and rheostat brightness
control. The larger diameter speeds
aim. A remote on/off pressure switch
helps in turkey blinds, where move-
ment is anathema. Reticle choices are
either a dot or circle dot.
Perhaps most remarkable is the new
28mm Tri-Color Triton. It gives you 12
reticle choices, three colors each in 2-
and 5-minute dots, and 2-minute and
5-minute circle dots. Like the 30mm,
it accepts a detachable sunshade. Its
worth a look; Ive been impressed by
other TruGlo reflex-style sights with
multiple reticles. The firm has now
applied that technology to crossbow
sights, as well. Magnification? TruGlo
lists 2X tube-style dual-color sights.
Wayne used a GreyBull-equipped Leupold to take this
pronghorn with a .243 at 290 yards.
334  GunDigest
2013_Opticsedit.indd 334
You get color choices in its Xtreme
illuminated variable rifle scopes, too.
Optional is a bullet drop-compensat-
ing reticle in the Xtreme line and in
the Maxus 3.5-10X50. TruGlos fiber
optic open sights, including dual-color
beads, catch your eye for quick aim.
www.Truglo.com.
WEAVER
Like many fi rms, Weaver has
harkened to the demand for tactical
sights. Its new 3-15X50 comes in
illuminated and standard versions.
Or choose a 1-5X24 with close-range
reticle, or a 4-20X50 with Mil dot. In
hunting optics, Weaver SuperSlam
scopes with one-inch tubes and 5X
magnification ranges complement the
30mm Euro series. The Grand Slam
stable incorporates all important
features. From 1.5-5X32 to 6-20X40
AO, theyre a notch above the Classic
V-Series in Weavers catalog. Alas, the
K-Series fi xed-power line has dimin-
ished, retaining just 4X and 6X mod-
els. For target rifles and varminters,
theres the Classic T line, and the fi rm
still offers Classic Rimfi re scopes. The
Buck Commander 2-9X36 scopes, new
in 2011, are still great bargains. This
year, Weaver adds the economical
Kaspa series of rifle scopes. Four
reticles are available in fi ve models,
from 1X20 to 4-16X44. Prices run
$121 to $325. Also under the Kaspa
label is an open-hinge binocular in
either 8X42 or 10X50, at $119 and $131,
respectively. www.Weaveroptics.com.
Fully multi-coated optics are now standard even on mid-priced
glass, a boon in dim light.
VORTEX
For short-range shooting, Vortex
announces the Razor reflex red dot
sight, powered by one CR 2032 battery.
Ideal for carbines and handguns,
its parallax-free and weighs just 1.4
ounces. Choose a 3-minute or 6-minute
dot. Crossfi re variables now include
three scopes with illuminated reticles.
Two new 30mm Vipers, a 4-16X44 and
a 6-20X50, have ED glass and your
choice of a front- or rear-plane reticle.
A Viper tactical riflescope series offers
a trio of glass-etched ranging reticles.
Vortexs Razor label also now goes on
a new HD binocular, 25 ounces in 8X42
and 10X42. Its Argon purged, with Ar-
morTek glass protection and an open-
hinge, magnesium chassis. The new 6X
Ranger 1000 laser rangefi nder runs on
a CR2 battery, has coated optics, and
delivers angle-corrected reads to 1,000
yards. It weighs 7.7 ounces. To help
you shoot far, Vortex also has an on-
line ballistics calculator, from which
you can order a TMT (Trajectory
Matched Turret) for your Vortex scope.
www.Vortexoptics.com.
ZEISS
I got an advance look at the new
Zeiss Duralyt rifle scope last fall,
when I took a 2-8X42 to Idaho, for elk.
My only shot came at 290 yards. The
bull collapsed to one 140-grain Nosler
Partition from my E.R. Shaw rifle, a
6.5-284the Duralyt has my vote!
Actually, this new member of the Con-
5/31/12 9:49 PM

quest clan is a fi ne optic. An affordable
alternative to Zeisss Victory stable,
it shares the Victorys 30mm tube
and has an upsized erector assembly,
not, as is common, an erector tube
designed for one-inch scopes. Choose
illuminated or non-illuminated reticles
in 1.2-5X36, 2-8X42, and 3-12X50. Like
the one-inch Conquests, Duralyts
have rear-plane reticles, which stay
one apparent size through the power
range. The open three-post No. 6 plex
reticle with fi ne center wire is currently
the only style and, in my view, is an
appealing one! The No. 60 Zeiss illumi-
nated reticle for Duralyts is identical
to the No. 6, except for a crystal-sharp
.3-minute (at 12X) fiber-optic dot. You
control brightness with on/off buttons.
Theres also an auto shut-off. The
Duralyts 3 inches of eye relief stays
almost constant, as I dial magnification
up on my 2-8X42. Parallax-corrected
at 110 yards, the 1.2-5X, 2-8X, and
3-12X deliver 110, 63, and 43 inches
of square adjustment, respectively,
in crisp 1/3 -minute clicks. The 1.2-5X
and 2-8X Duralyts weigh just under
17 ounces; an unilluminated 3-12X50
scales 19. Duralyt scopes have a classy
look, with a dark-grey earth-tone fi nish
and black highlights. The scopes list
from $950 to $1,350.
Zeiss has also added Conquest HD
binoculars to its catalog. In 8X42 and
10X42, with Schmidt-Pecan prisms and
dielectric mirror coatings, they focus
down to eight feet and weigh roughly
25 ounces. LotuTec coatings on the HD
lenses shed water. www.Zeiss.com.
Famous for superior binoculars, Zeiss has added 8X42 and
10X42 Conquest HDs to its line.
2013_Opticsedit.indd 335
REPORTS FROM THE FIELD
Theres not room here to feature all
optics displayed at SHOT 2012 or its Eu-
ropean equivalent, the IWA show. Pentax
has a limited line, but its Gameseeker
3-9X40 and 4-12X40 are best buys in rifle
scopes. Premier, long revered for its
reticles, produces a brilliant, if heavy,
30mm scope, the Heritage 3-15X50 Hunter,
with turret-mounted AO. Tight times
have nudged hunters to modestly priced
scopes from the likes of Sightron, as well.
Ive used Sightron scopes on dangerous-
game rifles and on varminters. All have
performed very well and qualify as
overlooked bargains! GreyBull Precision is
not a scope maker, but modifies Leupold
VX-3s with custom turrets. Built to match
your specific load, a GreyBull elevation
dial delivers 1/3 -minute clicks, to give you
great reach with dead-on holds. Ive used
these scopes on steel targets as far as a
mile distant. Theyve proven very accu-
rate, truly extending my effective range.
Increasingly, sights from the Far East
are coming ashore under home country
bannersor names the makers hope will
stir the souls of American consumers.
Some are worth a peek. Konus, for exam-
ple, is so confident that its products will
stand up to hard service that, if one ever
fails, the company will ship a replacement
overnighteven to your hunting camp!
Should that option prove untenable, you
can buy a new scope locally to finish your
hunt, then bill Konus the cost of a replace-
ment! We dont expect many hunters will Wayne killed this prairie whitetail with a
need this guarantee, a company Ruger rie in .303 British and wearing a
representative told me, but the Zeiss Conquest.
gesture should tell shooters theyve
nothing to fear buying a Konus!
Turret-side parallax correction sharpens target focus. Knobs are
handier than front sleeves.
67TH EDITION, 2013  335
5/31/12 9:49 PM
 THE WORLDS GREATEST GUN BOOK!
NEED MORE GUN AND
GunDigest
GunDigest 2013

OPTICS INFO?
67 th
EDITION
FEATURE ARTICLES
NEW PRODUCT REPORTS
ILLUSTRATED FIREARMS
This download is an excerpt from the New Optics section
CATALOG
of Gun Digest 2013 by Wayne van Zwoll.

Click here to get your copy.

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