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Frank Melloni

KonusPro EL-30: One Riflescope, 10 Reticles

Konus EL-30 1

No matter your shooting situation (or range) the Konus EL-30 sets you up for success with a multitude of reticle options at the push of a button.

How the KonusPro EL-30 Is Ready For Any Shooting Task:

  • The scope has 10 LCD reticles a shooter can cycle through to meet their needs.
  • Five of the reticles are configured for long-range, three hunting and two close quarters.
  • The scope still retains traditional windage, elevation and magnification adjustments.

When it comes to selecting an optic, we usually consider the overall quality, then the magnification range and lastly, features such as locking turrets, zero stop and any other bells and whistles.

However, an experienced shooter will take note of one critical, yet often overlooked, component: the reticle. In many ways, selecting the correct reticle will mean more than magnification range.

Let’s take a certain gun writer in his younger days, for example. Hell-bent on taking his .308 Winchester out past 600 yards, he purchased a mid- to high-end optic designed for benchrest shooting. While the optic gave him an 8-32x magnification, it left him just shy of adjustment by 3 mils for 1,000-yard shooting, even after shimming to the point of costing him a 100-yard zero.

Push/pull locking turrets allow for fast adjustments while keeping your zero safe.
Push/pull locking turrets allow for fast adjustments while keeping your zero safe.

Naturally, most of us would just “make it up in the crosshairs” and use some of the mil dots to score a hit … except that’s where the problem sits—no mil-dots. Yes, this young enthusiast drank the “BDC Kool-Aid” of the early millennium, and in place of useful subtensions were arbitrarily spaced bubbles. While BDC can be a lifesaver for quick hunting shots inside 400 yards, they really become a hindrance at distances past that.

Eventually, that scope came off and another scope (of smaller magnification) that housed a standard mil-dot reticle was mounted in its place. Years later, this long-range rifle was retired to midrange hunting service, and—you guessed it … got the BDC glass back!

If you mount your own scope (and I highly recommend that you do), you understand the frustration of perfectly aligning your optic for eye relief and the diligent work associated with eliminating any cant. When it comes to precision, this process is arduous enough so that you don’t want to have to do it twice. Using a QD mount is a great solution; however, a perfect return to zero is seldom obtained.


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Enter the KonusPro EL-30

This is where the Konus KonusPro EL-30 gathered its inspiration from. With an innovative LCD reticle, a shooter can change their crosshairs to suit their current needs on the fly with just the press of a button. Although technology got thrown in the mix, the optic still retains traditional windage and elevation adjustments, along with a typical rotating collar for magnification change.

Although advanced, the new liquid reticle scope from Konus only has two buttons. One turns it on or off, and the other switches reticle style. That’s all there is to it.
Although advanced, the new liquid reticle scope from Konus only has two buttons. One turns it on or off, and the other switches reticle style. That’s all there is to it.

I liked this level of simplicity, because it makes for a very smooth learning curve. Overall, there are only two buttons, both of which are easily accessible in any shooting position. These two buttons are located on top of the ocular bell. The left one controls power (“on” or “off”), and the right one controls reticle choice. Pressing this button cycles the unit through its 10 selections, offering the perfect fit for hunting, as well as long- or close-range shooting. All reticles are positioned on the second focal plane and are true at 16x magnification. This allows the crosshairs to remain easily visible at the lower settings and lets you double or even quadruple the amount of adjustment you have in your reticle by cutting the power to 8x or 4x, respectively.

For the Hunter

For simplicity’s sake, let’s consider “hunting” to be big game at distances inside 300 yards. Reticles M1, M2 and M8 all accommodate your meat-harvesting needs. All three reticles are large enough to see in low light—which is when the majority of your shots will take place—and don’t have the clutter of windage subtensions. Shots inside traditional hunting distances don’t require any wind call, so it doesn’t make sense to add something that’s just going to obstruct your view of something important, such as how many points are on those antlers.

For Close Range

However, 4x zoom does still offer a bit of “run and gun” ability. It won’t have the larger, more natural, field of view of 1 or 1.5x, but it’ll still do the trick if this optic is mounted to a multipurpose rifle such as, say, an AR-15. Reticle M10 offers a dot with halo configuration that spans .4 mils at 4x and 1.6 mils at 16x. Reticle M9 offers the same configuration, except with a horizontal line cutting through it that can be used to judge lead or just confirm a level rifle in an awkward shooting position.

For Long Range

If you’ve opted to mount your KonusPro to your favorite long-distance carrier, 16x power will get you on a silhouette out to just about the distance a standard caliber is capable of. Reticles M3, M4, M5, M6 and M7 offer variations of mil lines and dots that span down the entire length of the crosshairs, allowing for elevation adjustment on the fly. Reticles M4 and M5 offer a “Christmas tree” dot system that spreads out farther as it gets closer to the bottom of your field of view.

After zeroing, the author fired one shot with each reticle. This amazing sub-MOA group was fired with Hornady’s 140-grain match ammo. This test confirmed that there’s no zero change when switching reticles.
After zeroing, the author fired one shot with each reticle in the KonusPro EL-30. This amazing sub-MOA group was fired with Hornady’s 140-grain match ammo. This test confirmed that there’s no zero change when switching reticles.

I’ve always considered this to be one of the most well-thought-out designs, because wind deflection gets greater with distance. This system not only considers that, it also reduces glass clutter by eliminating markings where they simply aren’t needed.

Setting it Up

Before range day, I built a rifle with the sole purpose of wringing out every possible last drop of accuracy. The idea is that when I want to test a scope, that’s all I want to be testing. Essentially, it’s the basic scientific method, and I’m trying to ensure that the only conceivable accuracy-robbing variable could be the optic.

To do so, I started with a WMD AR-10 lower receiver (WMDguns.com; $289) and completed it with an ultra-light Trigger Tech AR Diamond drop-in trigger (Triggertech.com; $299) and a LUTH-AR MBA-1 adjustable buttstock (Luth-AR.com; $139). Once completed, I snapped on a Uintah Precision bolt-action 6.5 Creedmoor upper receiver (UnintahPrecision.com; $1,295) and capped it off with a Kahntrol Solutions HexMod Brake (StopRecoil.com; $94.99).

The placement of the control buttons allows the shooter to easily change reticles without having to break the sight picture.
The placement of the control buttons allows the shooter to easily change reticles without having to break the sight picture.

Turning my attention to the scope mount, I chose a Warne Xskell one-piece base/ring combo set (WarneScopeMounts.com; $139.49), quickly positioned the Konus optic for proper eye relief and torqued it down evenly to my rifle. After stocking up on 140-grain Hornady Match ammo, I hit the range to test its function and repeatability.

On The Range and … in the Kitchen?

I had some mild weather at the range for testing. The wind was all but absent, and temperatures were in the low 70s (not a bad day to be me!).

After 20 rounds to break in the rifle and help settle the stock and every screw involved, I zeroed the new optic in just a few shots. During this time, I took notice of the locking turrets, as well as how locking them down doesn’t affect zero. After I had a good sub-MOA zero, I set up a tall target test to confirm tracking.

In order to confirm that the LCD reticle would not freeze in cold hunting weather, the author stuck his KonusPro EL-30 into a freezer for several hours. The reticle remained 100 percent functional, and the scope didn’t fog.
In order to confirm that the LCD reticle would not freeze in cold hunting weather, the author stuck his KonusPro EL-30 into a freezer for several hours. The reticle remained 100 percent functional, and the scope didn’t fog.

This tall target test involves a long sheet of paper (such as the back of a paper pistol silhouette) and a level. At an exact 100 meters (yards for MOA), you position the target, draw a level line from top to bottom, and give yourself a sub-MOA “bullseye” to aim at; it will be located at the very bottom of the line. Once your target is up, you fire a five-shot group to confirm you’re on the dot and right in line.

Next, adjust 2 mils up and fire a three-shot group. Repeat until you run off the paper. Then, you return to your zero setting and fire another group; it should be on top of your original group. The goal is to see if your impacts are moving the correct amount you dialed for and then return to where they belong.

Before that final group is fired, I also like to crank the windage turret throughout its entire range to confirm that it tracks properly as well. The optic passed that test, with all groups measuring under an 1 inch (impressive for a factory gun with factory ammo).

Konus Reticles

The last query I had was whether there was any zero loss when changing from reticle to reticle, so I set out another target and fired one shot with each reticle setting. The entire 10-shot group was still inside of an inch—simply amazing!

My last test for the Konus LCD reticle scope was of the reticle itself. The “L” in LCD stands for “liquid,” which means it can freeze. I hunt in the Northeast most of the time, and sub-freezing temperatures are the norm. Thinking back to the cheap LCD watch that lives in my hunting bag, that thing stops if it gets cold enough.

That being said, I unmounted the scope and stuck it in the freezer somewhere between the frozen peas and the ice cream that somebody keeps eating at 2:00 a.m. when they get up to go to the bathroom. I left the scope in the freezer until the next morning.

The Trigger Tech AR Diamond was installed to reduce the chance of shooter error showing up as scope error in the author’s tests. Its ultra-light break made it effortless to touch off a shot without pulling the rifle.
The Trigger Tech AR Diamond was installed to reduce the chance of shooter error showing up as scope error in the author’s tests. Its ultra-light break made it effortless to touch off a shot without pulling the rifle.

When I took it out, it was covered in ice crystals, the glass was fogged up … but the reticle still worked. It changed and powered off and on just the same as when it was in the sun on that 70-degree day. After an hour, I checked the glass again, and there was no sign of internal moisture—indicating a job well done with fog-proofing. Admittedly, I left the reticle on the night before and, to my surprise, it was still on in the morning.

When I reached out to Konus about battery life, all they had to say was, “We stopped testing after a week of straight runtime.” This prototype doesn’t have an automatic shutoff; however, the final production version that’s currently for sale does.

Casing Up

Konus has always been able to pull off some sort of Italian “voodoo” whereby it brings a remarkable product to the table—without a heavy price point. The KonusPro EL-30 can be purchased on OpticsPlanet.com for a measly $399.99. It’s some of the clearest glass I’ve ever looked through. When you factor in the utility of this optic, you could easily justify three times that amount, because it can replace three different optics.

KonusPro EL-30 Specs:
Color: Black
Magnification: 4-16x
Objective Lens Diameter: 44mm
Tube Diameter: 30mm
Reticle: 10, interchangeable
Eye Relief: 78-85mm, 3-3.3 inches
Exit Pupil: 2.7-11mm
Adjustment Click Value: 0.1 mil rad
Adjustment Range: 63.7 inches@100 yards
Field Of View (Linear): 9.5-22.6 feet@100 yards; 2.89-6.8 meters@100 meters
Optical Coating: Fully multi-coated
Water Resistance Level: Waterproof
Shockproof: Yes
Fog Proof: Yes
Length: 333mm; 13.1 inches
Weight: 23.39 ounces; 663 grams
Fabric/Material: Aluminum
Additional Features: Lock tactical turrets, LCD technology

The article originally appeared in the November 2019 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

For more information on the KonusPro EL-30, please visit konus.com.

Nimble Monster: Taurus’ Raging Hunter Revolver

Taurus Raging Hunter 9

The Taurus Raging Hunter .44 Rem. Mag. delivers blows well outside its weight class and price tag.

How The Raging Hunter Is Ready To Put Meat On The Table:

  • Based on the Raging Bull, the revolver has been optimized for hunting.
  • Boasts with an attractive two-tone or matte-black finish.
  • Outfitted with full-length optics rail for easy addition of a scope.
  • Comes from the factory with an adjustable rear sight.
  • Reasonable weight for a large-frame revolver.
  • Available in three barrel lengths.

I’ll never forget my first deer hunt in the thick woods of upstate New York. In my naiveté, I decided to bring the most accurate rifle that I owned, albeit the heaviest.

About three miles into the woods is when that 12-pound, heavy-barreled .308 Winchester really started to feel like, well … 12 pounds. When I got to my buddy’s tree stand, I hobbled up the trunk to the makeshift 2×6 platform and hoisted this behemoth, my pack and everything short of a cup of coffee (which hurtled to the ground during this transaction) into my position and waited for first light.

The author utilized an MTM High-Low Shooting Table. The tripod-style legs allow you to set up a level shooting platform, regardless of your terrain. Cradled in a Caldwell Rock Rest, 50-yard shooting was a breeze.
The author utilized an MTM High-Low Shooting Table. The tripod-style legs allow you to set up a level shooting platform, regardless of your terrain. Cradled in a Caldwell Rock Rest, 50-yard shooting was a breeze.

Once that first crack of daybreak illuminated the horizon, I decided to take out my rangefinder and get an idea of what distances I would be working with. To my surprise, I found out that my clearest shot was only going to be a bit more than 50 yards. I never thought it possible—but I had brought too much gun!

My Personal Revolver Revolution

Since that day, I have left my bench gun on the bench and started dragging out lighter and shorter rifles. This certainly was easier, but at the end of it all, it was still too much for heavily wooded areas.

The thought of handgun hunting entered my mind, but I have never really gotten too comfortable with big-framed revolvers, and I certainly wasn’t going to sacrifice lethality for ease of shooting.

The massive, six-shot cylinder of the Raging Hunter is kept in place with two cylinder locks, ensuring positive alignment with each trigger squeeze. This extra reinforcement also allows for the rough service that hunting firearms undergo.
The massive, six-shot cylinder of the Raging Hunter is kept in place with two cylinder locks, ensuring positive alignment with each trigger squeeze. This extra reinforcement also allows for the rough service that hunting firearms undergo.

That all changed at the Quail Creek Ranch in April 2018, when I laid my eyes on one of only three Taurus Raging Hunters in the country. I instantly noticed that it was unlike any other hand cannon on the market. It had balance, comfort—and was just gorgeous!

Taurus’s idea was to build on the success of the other Raging Revolvers and create something that would produce enough energy to humanely dispatch deer-sized game and still remain enjoyable to shoot and easy to carry. In addition, pistol optics are also commonplace now, so why not incorporate a simple mounting option while we’re at it?


Gun Down More Handgun Hunting Info:


The final product was chambered in .44 Magnum for its efficiency and availability—and was now in my hands! Writer Katie McCarthy stood next me as we fired cylinder after cylinder into a Revolution Targets Double Torso spinner until we got it flipping, end over end, like the world’s most inefficient windmill. Oh, the fun of unleashing massive rounds with little consequence to the wrists or forearms!

The best group of the day was with the Federal Vital-Shok, which sends the infamous 280-grain Swift A-Frame bullet downrange at an estimated 1,170 fps. This five-shot group is more than adequate for whitetail hunting and even smaller quarry.
The best group of the day was with the Federal Vital-Shok, which sends the infamous 280-grain Swift A-Frame bullet downrange at an estimated 1,170 fps. This five-shot group is more than adequate for whitetail hunting and even smaller quarry.

Later that day, we were all challenged to shoot at a random board of playing cards. The shooter with the four best hands would win their pick of any gun they shot that day. Seven well-placed shots landed me triple jacks with an ace-king kicker, for which I collected a handsome pot: a Raging Hunter of my very own.

The Wait

What they did to me really wasn’t fair: giving me a taste, letting me leave with a shiny certificate stamped “IOU”… and then making me wait just shy of a year to get the Raging Hunter in my hands! Demand was so high for the gun, and the importing process was so painfully slow that things literally got held up on the dock.

Well, it finally arrived. It was exactly as I remembered—except that I had been sent the ultra-sexy, matte, two-toned version! I picked it up, quickly remembering the recoil-reducing rubber grips and the balanced feel of the steel-sleeved aluminum barrel. The words, “Raging Hunter,” were engraved along the side, with laser-sharp edges accentuated by slick angular cuts along the entire length of the barrel. Topping it off was a 13-slot Picatinny rail—perfect for mounting your favorite sighting system or even a flashlight in a 45-degree offset.

Reunited With The Raging Hunter

I was especially excited for the chance to try out different rounds to see the gun’s true accuracy potential (short of handloading). I requested a “dealer’s choice” of ammo from my friends at Federal Ammunition, who sent over some rounds in the 240- to 280-grain range.

Federal’s American Eagle line of ammo has always made affordable practice sessions a reality. Here, the author is loading that sixth chamber while confirming an initial zero. Also shown is the signature red backstrap that’s responsible for reducing some of the felt recoil.
Federal’s American Eagle line of ammo has always made affordable practice sessions a reality. Here, the author is loading that sixth chamber while confirming an initial zero. Also shown is the signature red backstrap that’s responsible for reducing some of the felt recoil.

Before hitting the range, I mounted up a Nikon Force XR 2.5-8x handgun scope ($289.99; NikonSportOptics.com) in a pair of Warne Mountain Tech steel rings ($139; WarneScopeMounts.com) to assure a solid and repeatable shot picture.

That range day wasn’t quite as cozy up north as it was down in Florida. My test day consisted of cool temperatures, intermittent showers and a 5 to 10 mph crosswind. I figured I would test this gun at the distances for which I would likely use it, so I set up an MTM High-Low Shooting Table ($129.99; MTMcase-gard.com) at just about chest level to give me a natural pistol shooting position.

I cradled the gun in a Caldwell Rock Mount rest and commenced to fire off the standard five five-shot groups with each type of ammo. I was delighted that all performed well inside of “minute-of-deer.” However, I was especially impressed with the 280-grain Federal Premium Vital-Shok round that features a Swift A-Frame bullet. These groups were consistently inside of 3 inches, with my best group of the day landing well inside that.

Raging Hunter Range

Interestingly enough, this round had the least amount of felt recoil—even though it was slinging the heaviest bullet. My overall experience was terrific (remember, I had fired more than 100 rounds of full-power .44 Rem. Mag. loads without issue). Recoil was certainly there, but it was mitigated by the integral muzzle brake that reduced and redirected the impulse, allowing for a fast follow-up shot if needed.

Back at the Lab

After returning from the range and changing into dry clothes, I decided to give the gun a quick cleaning and experiment with some holster options for field carry. Cleaning was exactly what you would imagine: Open the cylinder and then brush and patch the six chambers and the barrel.

I pulled out my Lyman trigger gauge while I was at my workbench and measured an average trigger pull of just 4 pounds, 1 ounce in single-action mode. Getting the pistol into single-action is a very smooth, quiet maneuver, so I don’t really see the point of having to fire a double-action shot; but even the full trigger squeeze isn’t half bad.

Never waste meat, cigars or Picatinny rail! The integral, 13-slot rail in the Raging Hunter allows for nearly any option you can dream of. The author chose a Nikon Force XR 2.5-8x scope with BDC for his testing.
Never waste meat, cigars or Picatinny rail! The integral, 13-slot rail in the Raging Hunter allows for nearly any option you can dream of. The author chose a Nikon Force XR 2.5-8x scope with BDC for his testing.

After wiping off my Raging Hunter, I tried on two different holsters from Uncle Mike’s. The 8.37-inch barrel is certainly hard to accommodate. However, Uncle Mike’s makes a holster big enough for it—and even one big enough to carry it with a scope. Both models are available in either left- or right-handed configuration to accommodate southpaws … or the other 90 percent of the population.

The Raging Hunter Takeaway

As I packed away the Raging Hunter, I imagined the real-life adventures I would share with this gentle giant. One thing is for sure: I won’t be dragging a shotgun into a tent anymore, because the Raging Hunter is much easier to wield in an emergency—especially in a confined space.

Raging Hunter Specs

CCI even makes two different shot loads that it will chamber to help with pest control or maybe even a little small-game hunting. Walks through the woods just got about 7 pounds lighter; and, with a good shoulder rig, there’s no reason not to climb into your tree stand with it on (unloaded, of course).

Overall, I was quite impressed with how well Taurus managed to tame the signature caliber of a young Clint Eastwood and create a monster gun that has a surprising amount of utility.

For more information on the Raging Hunter, please visit taurususa.com.

The article originally appeared in the October 2019 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

How Riflescopes Perform At A Higher Level Than Ever Before

Riflescope 1

The modern scope is a marvel, able to take more abuse, yet excel at its job like never before. Here's how some of the top options pull off this feat.

How Modern Scopes Have Been Improved To Hold A Zero:

  • More robust turrets and erector assemblies
  • Improved lens geometry and coatings
  • Reinforced circuit boards on electronic models
  • Scopes specifically designed for the rifles on which they'll be mounted

Riflescopes are part modern marvel and part work of art. With the earliest designs dating back to the mid-1800s, a once relatively simple product now rivals the finest Swiss chronographs.

Optics are not only that precise, they are designed to maintain that precision with every shock they endure. Many methods of achieving this have been in use over the years, and most recent advancements have given way to even more repeatable designs.

Keep It Steady

Naturally, zero is affected by ammunition type, weather and target distance. However, a scope must not drift out of zero from the standard practices of transport and firing.

By cross-cutting an optic, the author was able to illustrate the springs that hold the erector tube in place. Notice the multiple directions of tension they impart on the erector tube alongside it. (Photo: Frank Melloni)
By cross-cutting an optic, the author was able to illustrate the springs that hold the erector tube in place. Notice the multiple directions of tension they impart on the erector tube alongside it. (Photo: Frank Melloni)

If a scope is drifting zero by, let’s say, one minute of angle, your gun can only be (at best) one minute of angle accurate because of the error imparted by the optic. For this reason, this is the most critical of criteria for selecting a scope. This ability even supersedes clarity of glass and magnification range. Essentially, a scope that can’t hold zero is good for nothing more than a spotter. Until recently, being able to keep zero meant shelling out big bucks.

I decided to reach out to some manufacturers and chat up their staffs for a deeper look on how their new designs are keeping minute-of-angle precision after the routine abuse from magnum calibers, rough service and even reverse recoil, as is seen in airgun scopes.

Riton: The New Kids

Riton is a relatively new company, opening its doors in 2013. In just six years, it has gained some major industry attention among hunters, target shooters and PRS competitors. After working directly with CEO Brady Speth on several occasions, I can easily endorse Riton—not only for its quality products, but also for its passion for customer service.

I don’t get into comparison research very often, but Riton’s warranty is simply unheard of. Should you ever experience a problem with one of its optics, you will receive a new product within 48 hours of the company receiving the old one. No repairs, no refurbs; just a fresh product out the door as soon as possible.

The spiral cut on the erector tube facilitates the forward and rearward motion that makes it possible to adjust magnification power. This slot and its engagement surfaces, such as those attached to the collar (also pictured) must be machined precisely in order to hold this position. (Photo: Frank Melloni)
The spiral cut on the erector tube facilitates the forward and rearward motion that makes it possible to adjust magnification power. This slot and its engagement surfaces, such as those attached to the collar (also pictured) must be machined precisely in order to hold this position. (Photo: Frank Melloni)

My complete satisfaction with the brand came when I fired a three-shot group at 1,000-plus yards that landed inside of 4 inches. This was done with an RT-S MOD 7 5-25x56IR that features a first focal plane lens, locking turrets and Riton’s signature spring system that reinforces the erector tube to ensure it stays put.

I reached out to Riton Business Development Manager Jerimiah Alexander to provide some insight on this system and how Riton is able to keep this level of precision.

“The number-one reason that Riton scopes hold zero: They are built right and built tough,” Alexander explained. “Our turrets are built tough, and the ‘gears’ are made of strong material that keeps them tight. We use high-quality brass and stainless steel for turrets and other components. Our tubes are machined from one piece of 6061 T6 aircraft-grade aluminum.

“You can feel the positive clicks when rotating our dials. There’s a return spring that provides tension and pushes the erector assembly back to zero. This must also be a quality piece so that it performs perfectly and does so under stress. We also have an additional set screw that holds the spring and assembly solidly in place.

Attached to the turret is a post that puts pressure on your erector tube. This pressure changes its position, which, in turn, changes your zero. Finely machined parts make up the entire apparatus. If each click puts a different amount on, your results will not be predictable or repeatable. (Photo: Frank Melloni)
Attached to the turret is a post that puts pressure on your erector tube. This pressure changes its position, which, in turn, changes your zero. Finely machined parts make up the entire apparatus. If each click puts a different amount on, your results will not be predictable or repeatable. (Photo: Frank Melloni)

“We also stay innovative,” Alexander added, “which means we’re constantly changing and making adjustments. Secondly, we have some proprietary things we wish not to share. This is partly how we stay ahead of the game.”

Nikon: 100 Years Strong

Nikon has been at it since 1917 and has always been synonymous with “quality” … but usually at a price.

When it comes to building an affordable scope, the hardest hurdle to jump is the glass itself. When trying to set a price point, most scope manufacturers will exhaust their budgets for a projected market on this one critical component—and with good reason. Nikon manufacturers all of its own glass in-house, thereby throttling that cost down to leave enough budget to build high-quality internals and still hit a low price point.

Nikon’s largest-scale success in this area came in 2017 with the release of the affordable BLACK series of optics. This series brought brilliant, affordable, long-range and AR-style scopes into just about any shooter’s budget.

Riflescope 4
The Bushnell Elite Tactical is the company’s most advanced optic of the bunch. PRS has named the Elite Tactical its official optic, and Bushnell could not be more proud. The author has used one on a heavy-hitting .308 Winchester for years without function loss.

According to Nikon Brand Strategist Collin Russell, “As one of the few makers of optical glass in the world, Nikon has a unique advantage of having the knowledge and experience to specify and select the exact type of glass, lens geometry and multi-coatings needed to optimize the performance of any given optic.”

I agree completely with this statement, because the only way to eliminate cost without sacrificing quality is to increase control. (Maybe it’s a testament to the old adage, “If you want something done right, do it yourself.”)

Sig Sauer: From Pistol To Parallax

When we think of Sig Sauer, we think of iconic firearms. However, in recent years, Sig has branched out to offer equally high-quality lines of optics to match its firearms. Sig’s electro-optic lines include the simple and brilliant Romeo series of red-dot sights and its highly sophisticated Tango target scopes.

The Tango series includes the electronic LevelPlex system that is used to indicate cant right inside the reticle. This system is positioned there so that a shooter does not have to take their eye off the target before sending that long-range shot.

Riflescope 2
The Bushnell Forge is a terrific example of how research-and-development will lead to better products. Competitive shooters all over the world are using these to connect at distance—and still have some gas money in their pockets to get to matches.

Scott Smith, Sig’s vice president of product development, explained how the company keeps these components from getting destroyed during use:

“All of the PCBAs (printed circuit board assemblies) embedded in our scopes and reflex sights are extensively live-fire-tested. The boards in many cases are potted (epoxied) into place and mechanically restrained for impact testing.

“For example, our reflex sights were tested at up to 8,000 Gs. We found that the PCBAs must be mechanically constrained with both fasteners and epoxy, including several of the key components having to be conformal coated and epoxied onto the PCBA. The PCBA had to be constrained across the entire PCBA to prevent any type of flexing during recoil. In addition, our PCBAs feature a keep-alive capability that keeps the microcontroller powered up, even during intermittent loss of power. All Tangos are tested to greater than 1,000 Gs.”


Scope Out More Optics Info:

  • 8 Revolutionary Reticles For Long-Range Accuracy
  • Buying the Perfect Precision Scope
  • The Best Tactical Red-Dot Performance-to-Price Option?
  • Shifting Winds: SIG BDX Changing Shooting For The Better

This level of scrutiny certainly shows in the field. I’ve been using a 5-30x Tango6 for the past two years and have never had a need to re-zero it. A typical day in its life involves continual dialing up to 1,050 yards and back over the course of eight hours.

Bushnell: From Everyday To Every Solution

Once regarded as entry level, Bushnell has been continually improving its products in order to bring high-quality scopes to any budget. What were once considered everyday optics are quickly becoming the go-to for many hunters and target shooters. I like to give credit where it’s due: Bushnell really did address its shortcomings and spent a lot of time and money developing its products into something I trust my trophy hunts to and that many professions stake their lives on.

Vista Outdoor Inc. Communications Coordinator Vic Ziliani was gracious enough to point out what has been done to increase Bushnell’s reliability to deliver incredible scopes such as its hit success, the HDMR, and its new Forge series.

“Some of the testing and R&D we’re doing with Bushnell products now include a more-severe recoil testing, with recoiling to a minimum of .30-06 on Prime and a minimum of 300 Win. Mag/.375 H&H on anything Nitro and above; specifying higher optical quality standards with respect to resolution, coatings, light transmission and low-light performance; and tightened tolerances on mechanical and optical components to reduce the severity in misaligned optics, which can cause optical aberrations.”

The proof is certainly in the final product, because Bushnell is the official scope sponsor of PRS with its Elite Tactical. To earn attention in this discriminating group is no easy feat.

BSA: Bracing For An Unlikely Adversary

Many people look at you a little oddly when you tell them that a spring-piston air rifle will destroy a scope faster than a Barrett .50-caliber, but the truth is that they can—and do.

Airguns obviously don’t generate intense felt recoil, but they do generate an entirely different type of recoil. This recoil acts in the opposite direction due to the violent motion of the spring gas piston. This reverse recoil acts on the scope differently than a gunpowder firearm does and, in turn, it damages them, because they are being jolted in a direction they are not built to withstand.

BSA Project Manager Kyle White Over explained what has been done to make BSA's scopes take the beating air rifles put on them.
“The stronger springs and tolerances are the primary elements making these scopes worthy of use on an air rifle. The mounting rings also help. In this case, the ring closest to the shooter has a pin in it. This pin, when the scope is mounted, inserts into a hole in the mounting rail. This also helps prevent damage due to recoil and is not typically found in firearm applications.”

Final Thoughts

The technology from the Old West has fought through every major war and can be found in the hands of competitive shooters, sportsman and backyard plinksters alike. This once mind-blowing technology has been perfected in such a way that it is not only more reliable, it can also be used in more applications.

With the growth of the shooting industry this past decade, more and more quality optics are finding their way in, and many established brands are finding new success. What we know about them and how to make them better is increasing exponentially as time goes on.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the 2019 Shooter's Guide issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Review: CZ-USA’s Polymer P-10 C Pistol

After watching — waiting and studying — CZ-USA has become one of the latest to enter the polymer striker-fired pistol game with the CZ P-10 C, and the years spent waiting have paid off.

CZ-USA P-10 C Review Snapshot

  • CZ-USA has joined the list of manufacturers offering a striker-fired polymer pistol
  • The new P-10 C offers excellent grip ergonomics and is highly shootable
  • The P-10 C's crisp, striker-fired trigger means it's capable of respectable accuracy
  • CZ's new pistol proved reliable with a host of ammunition, including steel-cased ammo

With nearly every major handgun manufacturer now offering a striker-fired polymer pistol, the wait for CZ’s offering has been excruciating. After its reveal in late 2016, fans of the famed Czech manufacturer have been standing idly by to get their hands on the newest addition to not only CZ, but to the world of polymer pistols. Having the advantage of time, CZ put a lot of thought into their design and made sure to include all of the features that have been a hit to the market — in their own style, of course.

CZ P-10 C review - 1Focused On Feel
Maintaining the notorious CZ grip angle, the P-10 C is built with “feel” as its primary attribute. The angle is my personal preference, simply because it’s not too steep and it points naturally. Arguably, the aspect of grip angle is 100 percent based on shooter preference, but I certainly know more shooters who prefer sharp over obtuse.

The grip also offers a mild palm swell that dials back what Walther and Smith and Wesson started with their PPQ and M&P, respectively. I’m not saying it’s better or worse, but it’s nice to have something different in the gun case when it comes time to make a selection.

Those with “less pronounced thumb muscles” will find that the P-10 C fits very well. If you have the hands of a gorilla like me, you might find that your trigger finger falls a bit too far for automatic placement of the first pad on the face of the trigger. That said, the included three interchangeable back straps will help each shooter tailor that a bit to their needs.

Regardless of your hands’ features, the deep beavertail places your grip very far forward in comparison to other pistols, and that makes recoil recovery an easy proposition. This works in conjunction with the undercut trigger guard and makes returning to target for fast double taps effortless.

CZ P-10 C review - 2The new Czech polymer sports an aggressive studded grip both around the magwell and on the frame to act as a nice landing pad for a shooter’s thumbs. My style of teaching revolves around shooters being able to identify a proper grip by feel and committing certain textures to muscle memory. In other words, when a shooter’s grip is proper, they should feel certain parts of the gun in certain places on their hands. I found this feature to be superb for this purpose.

Anyone familiar with my work knows that I give extra kudos to any manufacturer that acknowledges the other 11 percent of the community — those often-forgotten southpaws — and puts features like this on both sides of the gun. This is not only nice for lefties, but let’s face it: USPSA, IDPA and real life aren’t always shot “strong-handed.”

Also as a nod to the southpaw, you’ll find an ambidextrous mag release and slide stop. Being fully ambidextrous out of the box just makes sense from a manufacturing standpoint, and it’s nice to see this idea catch on.

CZ P-10 C review - 3The Topnotch Trigger
Although it’s taken CZ years to catch up with its competitors in the poly-striker game, the manufacturer appears to have been paying much attention to the other guys’ triggers. With a traditional “safety in trigger” setup, there’s no learning curve on the P-10 C. The new offering also utilizes a relatively straight trigger, much like those found on many of the company’s tactical pistols.

The trigger broke at an average of 4 pounds, 6 ounces as per my Lyman digital trigger pull scale. The break had just a hair of creep to it and reset at about 0.25 inch of travel. As per my testing to date, that puts it second only to the Walther PPQ.

CZ P-10 C review - 4Rounds Downrange
Excited to put some rounds through it, I slapped the pistol into a Safariland Pro-Fit multi-gun holster and hit the range. I utilized five different types of ammo with projectile weights as light as 85 grains and as heavy as 147 grains.

I fired five three-shot groups with each load and allowed the gun to cool in between types of ammo. All groups were fired in a standing position without the use of a rest, simply because any handgun that needs to be shot from a bench to produce reasonable groups is useless. To some degree, comfort or “shootability” needs to be taken into account as well when critiquing a pistol’s accuracy.

The loads selected were HPR’s Black Ops 85-grain OTF, Wolf’s Polyformance 115-grain FMJ, Black Hills’ 124-grain JHP, Hornady’s Critical Duty 135-grain FlexLock, and Hornady’s Custom 147-grain XTP. Accuracy was on par with other guns of this class.

The P-10 C seemed to prefer the heavier bullets, as groups got almost increasingly smaller with increased bullet weight. The best group was fired with Hornady’s Custom 147-grain XTP round, measuring just .956 inch. We also observed very repeatable consistency with Black Hills’ 124-grain JHP.

In addition to this, I was very pleased to see flawless function and respectable accuracy with Wolf’s Polyformance steel-cased ammo. It’s no secret that I’m a steel-cased advocate, and I don’t consider a gun usable if it cannot reliably fire it.

Also, digesting mag after mag gave me plenty of practice reloading. Reloads were instinctual, which is something I attribute to the grip angle; however, the magazines did not drop free. With some lubrication and use I did see some improvement, but I would’ve liked to see them whizz out of the magwell right out of the box. Further research shows that my results weren’t typical, so I wasn’t too upset and can attribute this to being part of the break-in period.

As for sights, CZ’s new P-10 C has a standard three-dot setup with an enlarged rear notch. The oversized rear notch allows for faster sight acquisition at what many would argue comes at the cost of accuracy. With the employment of a cold hammer-forged barrel and good ergonomics, I wasn’t too deterred by this, and the resulting groups proved that they struck a good balance. Double taps were also very accurate, as the overall design reduces muzzle flip and puts you right back on target without any effort.

CZ P-10 C review - 5The Takedown
Keeping it simple, the P-10 C takes down like most any other polymer striker-fired handgun. Once you’re certain that the pistol is unloaded and the magazine is removed, pull the trigger and hold it to the rear. With the trigger still depressed, pull the slide back slightly. Once it’s in the correct spot, you’ll be able to push down the disassembly buttons on each side of the frame, at which point the slide assembly will come all the way forward and slip right off of the frame.

This will now allow you to remove the guide rod/spring assembly and the barrel. Clean the fouling and lube where metal meets metal, and you are essentially finished. Reinsert your barrel and guide rod/spring, and then all that’s left is to move the slide assembly to the rear of the frame and it will lock back up.

CZ P-10 C review - 6The Breakdown
I think CZ definitely put a player into the game of poly guns with the P-10 C, and one would certainly be making a mistake if he or she doesn’t put some rounds through one when selecting a pistol of this style and size. I would’ve liked to see a game-changing reset and trigger pull weight, but it’s certainly one of the better available triggers out of the box.
Ergonomics were outstanding, and I feel that it was a great move to keep the palm swell modest, as it makes it stand out from its competitors who swing at the other end of the spectrum with this feature. I liked that the P-10 C fits many Glock holsters, as the introduction of new guns to the market is almost useless if a shooter cannot carry or compete with one.

Send some rounds through one yourself before deciding on what perfection means to you.

Editor's Note: This article is an excerpt from the 2017 Concealed Carry Special issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Ammo Review: HPR Ammunition On Target

HPR is an economical ammunition choice.

A relatively new ammunition maker, HPR has shaken up the shooting world producing affordable, high-quality ammo to send down range.

While packing up after an extended range session, I turned to my friend and said, “It looks like I’ll be spending the week reloading; I’m getting low.” Not my favorite activity but a necessary evil for the high-volume shooter.

Over a decade ago, I turned to handloading because, first, I needed clean, accurate ammo, and second, I couldn’t afford the ammo that complimented my ability. Ten years ago, these were my only options. Today, however, we have better options — we have HPR.

With the manufacturer’s first rounds rolling off the line in 2010, HPR has shaken up the industry with quality, affordable ammo. We set out to evaluate the company’s entire line, which has grown vastly since its initial offerings of ball ammo in 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP.

To understand HPR, one needs to understand their roots. In 2008, after the market crashed, the Antich family set out for a new business venture, and, lucky for us, they decided on ammo. After acquiring a small production plant in Payson, Arizona, the High Precision Range (HPR) ammo brand was born.

Utilizing the decades of experience that aeronautical engineer Jeff Antich acquired through his work with Lockheed Martin on projects such as the F22 Raptor, precision and repeatability are built into every round.

There are three cornerstones of the HPR brand: It’s all-American, load-specific and performance driven.

All American
HPR ammo is made from the best American components and is inspected by U.S. citizens. Right down to the packaging, this ammo doesn’t have to travel very far to hit your shelves. Not only is HPR’s quality control paramount, the company is committed to American-made quality.

Load Specific
Each offering is made for its target application. HPR didn’t buy into the one-size-fits-all theory of making factory ammo. Rather than just splitting the difference, HPR has optimized each and every powder charge.

Let’s start with a look at its basic JHP line. The .380 ACP JHP round is developed to produce reliable expansion at a low velocity to allow fast follow-up shots on the tiny pocket pistols that dominate that market. The .357 Magnum is designed to be among the hottest loads on the market, ensuring ethical harvests on game.

For our friends concerned with their hearing, the Emcon line was created specifically for suppressor use. Rather than poke and pray, HPR created this line with not only their own ballisticians but the engineers at SilencerCo as well. Each load is developed for a purpose.

Tight groups are common with HPR ammo.

Performance Driven
The manufacturer’s newest line, Black Ops, highlights this final aspect of the HPR business model. The Black Ops line consists of the company’s proprietary OTF bullet. The OTF, or open-tipped frangible bullet, is loaded into a nickel-plated case and charged with the correct power charge to reduce muzzle flash and flip.

All components ensure that you come out ahead in low-light situations. The nickel plating makes nighttime chamber checks a breeze, while the powder produces little flash that would damage night vision or cause temporary blindness. However, nothing can steal the show from the projectile that is designed to separate on impact and transfer 100 percent of its energy into the target, while minimizing the chance of overpenetration.

Range Day
Having worked with OTF rounds, we requested some of HPR’s new .300 BLK ammo, ball 9mm and .45 ACP JHP. After opening the UPS box and looking down at some of the most elaborate packaging that I have ever seen ammo in, range day wasn’t far behind.

The first round tested was the 230-grain JHP in .45 ACP. The chosen test gun was Colt’s new Competition pistol (Colt.com, $899). The ammo functioned flawlessly with the absence of the common failure to feed issue that this combination of pistol and ammo is commonly plagued with. Accuracy was impressive, with the best 15-yard group coming in at just .75 inches.

After the success of the .45 ACP test, we turned over to the 115-grain TMJ in 9mm. Satisfied with the performance from a match-grade pistol, we utilized a Canik TP9 (Canik55.com, $399). The Canik has a well-earned reputation as the best value in poly striker-fired pistols, and this test only further proved that testament, as our first group downrange measured .83 inches. This wasn’t far off from every other group sent downrange that day.

On the same day, we tested the .300 BLK rounds. For the rifle, we utilized the revolutionary WAR LOCK system from Frontier Tactical (FrontierTactical.com, $1,200). This new modular design allows you to simply swap barrels without changing the entire upper. This system saves you money on optics, bolt carrier groups, charging handles and anything else that you might have to buy two of when changing the entire upper.

Using the company’s 18-inch .300 BLK barrel, we topped our test rifle with a Meopta ZD 6-24×56 tactical scope (MeoptaSportsOptics.com, $2,070) set into a Warne LRSKEL30TG one piece mount (WarneScopeMounts.com, $140). The 24x optic ensures perfect sight picture, while the mount ensures position repeatability. At 100 yards our rifle rested in “The Rock” shooting rest, courtesy of Caldwell (BTIBrands.com, $110).

The first rounds downrange were the 110-grain TAC-TX loading. Flawless cycling and astonishing accuracy were the byproduct of these carefully selected and blended components. These rounds rivaled my best handloads with groups as small as .63 inches on the 100-yard target. There was no questioning that the 110-grain bullet is a perfect match for the 1:8.5-in. twist barrel.

Our final test round was the 150-grain soft point. The group on these opened up a bit but was still a respectable 1.71 inches. The intended purpose of this round is deer and hog hunting, which makes that minute of accuracy trade-off for a faster follow-up shot a no brainer.

Final Analysis
The HPR rounds fired and functioned very well in many different firearms and platforms. At just a few dollars more a box, it isn’t a substantial price difference for match-grade ammo. It is very clean burning, making life easier when you get home and dig in for cleaning and maintenance.

Be sure to pick up a box or case next time you hit the range. On the range and on the cleaning bench, HPR simply provides a better shooting experience.

How the different HPR loads performed.

Editor's Note: This article is from the Fall 2016 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Gun Review: IWI US Jericho 941 Pistol

IWI US Jericho 941 review - 2The 3.8-inch barreled IWI US Jericho 941 is a rugged little pistol that's perfect for tactical and concealed carry applications.

IWI has a long-standing history of firearms manufacturing and development, dating back to 1933 when it was first known solely as Israel Military Industries (IMI). Working closely with the Israel Defense Forces, it created legendary weapons such as the Uzi and Galil, and more recently the Tavor, and of course the Jericho 941.

The firearms it turned out were designed to withstand the type of rough urban combat that the Israelis were constantly encountering. In 2005, the firearms side of the company was sold and renamed Israel Weapons Industries, or simply IWI, and began commercial sales of these classic firearms. Later in 2012, the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania based IWI US brought out the first civilian versions of the Tavor, and of course the modern Jericho 941 that we bring you today.

A Rocky Start

Originally released in 1990, the Jericho 941 had a rough start. The pistol gets its numerical designation from the two calibers that it could readily fire.

The end user had the choice of using standard 9mm, or the then-new .41 Action Express (AE) with a simple field conversion. Of course, with the commercial success and acceptance of .40 S&W, the .41 AE went the way of the dodo.

Ammo and conversion barrels for .41 AE eventually became next to impossible to find. With half the reason to buy this pistol being more than an arm’s length away, most believe this lead to its unpopularity.

IWI US Jericho 941 review 1Classic Roots

The pistol itself was a masterpiece. The Jericho’s design was based off the venerable CZ-75.

This gave way to perfect function and ergonomics. Aesthetics were certainly slick, with the gun having a resemblance to a scaled down Desert Eagle.

This eventually earned it the nickname “Baby Eagle,” even though they had nothing to do with each other. The all-steel design was also very pleasing to purists who have had to endure the rapid emergence of the polymer-framed pistol market.

Today’s Jericho 941

Today, IWI US brings us its most updated series of the Jericho pistols. The pistol is available in both its original steel-framed version as well as a modernized polymer frame.

Abandoning the now obsolete .41 AE, each version is available in either 9mm or .40 S&W. The mid-sized steel pistol also gives an option of .45 ACP for a little extra kick from the waistband.

Both the steel and the polymer-framed pistols are available in either a full-sized version sporting a 4.4-inch barrel or a mid-sized version with a reduced barrel length of 3.8 inches. For testing, we were loaned a polymer mid-sized gun in 9mm ($559 MSRP).

The Jericho still retains the original double-action/single-action configuration it was introduced with. Along the slide, you will find a cross block safety in lieu of a de-cocking lever.

I found this desirable, as it gives you the option of carrying it locked and cocked or hammer down. Without getting into the debate over the two, I thought it was nice to see both schools of thought taken care of on the same platform.

IWI US Jericho 941 - 3Trigger squeeze broke in single action at 5 pounds, 2 ounces, while in double action, it required 11 pounds, 6 ounces of force to make it go bang. This is no doubt to reduce the chance of accidental discharge should you have a threat at gunpoint. The NYPD actually uses a trigger of nearly the same weight on their officers’ Glocks for the same reason.

A Lyman digital trigger pull scale (LymanProducts.com; $74.99) was used to determine these values. Although the double-action trigger was stiff, it’s fair to point out that there’s almost no reason to ever have to take a double-action shot as long as you are carrying with the hammer cocked and the safety on. If you are of the hammer down school of thought, all it takes is practice to get accurate.

The grip of the pistol is also very different from anything else on the market. The 941 has a very sharp grip angle that will appeal to Glock shooters.

However, it has a palm swell that is very low to meet the heel of your hand, making it very comfortable to shoot. The finger grooves also are a nice addition as long as your hand fills them correctly.

Range Day

The much anticipated range day brought us mist and periodic showers…weather that is never desirable for a plinking session but always makes for good data when testing. We weren’t gentle on the Jericho 941; we left it in the downpours to really test the durability of the Israeli pistol and see how a little moisture affected our grip. In other words, we wanted to see what it was made of!

Shooting the Jericho was very effortless. Even damp, it was easy to keep a firm grip during recoil and place controlled pairs on our Shootsteel.com full-sized IPSC target (ShootSteel.com; $207).

Although it has a high bore axis, the 941 comes back on target relatively fast with little effort. All rounds cycled perfectly without a single hang up all day, no matter how bad the elements were to it.

IWI US Jericho 941 - 4We collected data using a defensive load, a practice load and a competition load. We chose HPR’s new Black Ops OTF 85-grain round as our defensive test load, Freedom Munitions’ new 115-grain RN American Steel Round, and built our competition loads up with Hodgdon Titegroup Powder, X-Treme 124-grain RN bullets and Wolf WPA Small Pistol Primers.

The HPR OTF rounds (Open Tipped Frangible) are designed to shatter, yet remain straight through soft barriers such as glass and dry wall. This round gave us groups hovering right around 3.5 inches at 15 yards.

Freedom Munitions American Steel ammo provides the shooter economical steel-cased rounds that forgo the polymer coating. To solve the functioning issues that sometimes arise with steel ammo, the cases have been brass plated.

This round brought in consistent groups right around the 4-inch mark at the same distance. Our handload was made from competitors’ go-to components, providing a light round that brought in accuracy in the 3-inch neighborhood at that same 15 yards.

The pistol provided serviceable accuracy with all loads. At 15 yards, we didn’t have any groups break the 5-inch mark. This level of accuracy will be sufficient for most defensive carry situations.

IWI US Jericho 941 - 6Back on the Bench

Getting the pistol back to the bench, we took it down for a thorough cleaning. It had a rough day in the rain, so it certainly was called for.

To accomplish fieldstripping, simply align the mark on the slide with the mark on the frame, and then remove the takedown lever. Once the lever is removed, the slide will ride the rails straight off of the frame.

After they are separated, the recoil spring guide slips off of the barrel and the spring off of that. The barrel can now be lifted out of the slide with no effort.

In other words, pretty standard takedown. It was noted that the recoil spring system consisted of two springs, attenuating the recoil pulse and giving us that fast repeatability in our controlled pair drills.

We cleaned the pistol with Hoppe’s new foaming bore cleaner (Hoppes.com), then wiped it dry and lubricated it. It really was that simple.

Final Analysis

The new polymer 3.8-inch Jericho 941 provided lightweight, controllable firepower with a variety of carry options. This gun would be most at home in the defensive and tactical market, as it digests all types of ammo in even less-than-perfect weather conditions.

Accuracy is less than match grade, so you may want to stick to the 4.4-inch barreled version if you plan on running it in USPSA or IDPA, although the accuracy with the little guy will certainly have you competitive in steel challenge. Overall, I like the new lightweight version of the classic IWI service pistol.

For more information be sure to check out www.iwi.us.

Specifications:

IWI US Jericho 941
Type: Short Recoil Semi-Auto
Caliber: 9mm or .40 S&W
Composition: Polymer frame, Steel Slide
Capacity: 17rd 9mm / 13rd .40 S&W
Barrel: 3.8 in. Cold Hammer Forged
Overall length: 7.6 in.
Weight: 1.6 lbs.
Sights: Adjustable – Black w/ White dot
Safety: Cross Block /  non decocking
MSRP: $559
Manufacturer: IWI USA, (717) 695-2081, www.iwi.us

This article is an excerpt from the Fall 2016 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Gear Review: ATN X-Sight II HD Night Vision Optic

ATN X-Sight II HD - 1The ATN X-Sight II is a truly affordable night vision optic that also comes loaded with a number of other excellent features.

In this modern “Call of Duty” world, we often find ourselves walking away from the controller and into the game itself. This is evident once you pick up the new ATN X-Sight II HD. The X-Sight II is the product of several thousand hours of research and development geared toward bringing a feature-packed digital optic to the consumer for a price that fits nearly every budget.

Imagine a day/night optic that not only provides ranging capabilities and ballistic corrections but gives you the opportunity to film the shot in HD, all for under $700. Have I grabbed your attention?

Good, read on to see what I thought of it once I had it on the range.

ATN X-Sight II HD - 2The Package Has Been Delivered

Taking it out of the box, my first impression was that it wasn’t as heavy as I imagined. Weighing in at just a hair over 2.5 pounds, it wasn’t the monster that I was expecting at all.

The unit runs on four AA batteries that are kept in place by a beefy screw-on cap. Although the manufacturer recommend lithium batteries, I found that good rechargeable batteries provided up to 3 hours of scouting use. Utilizing the camera, range finder, etc., will undoubtedly drain them faster, but the battery lifespan is certainly adequate for a day on the range or a morning in a tree stand. No tools are needed to change batteries, so the practice of carrying replacements is practical. Better still, ATN offers an optional Power Weapon Kit (ATNCorp.com; $99) that provides 22 hours of use contained in a handy butt stock pouch.

Mounting is simple via the Picatinny mount that comes already attached. The mount has a unique spring tensioner to keep the screws from loosening during operation, eliminating the need for thread locker. An optional 850mW infrared illuminator (included) can be attached to the optic for use in pitch black scenarios. Once the optic is weapon mounted, all that’s left is to install an SD card (up to 64 GB) and press the power button.

ATN X-Sight II HD - 3Fire It Up!

Once you hit the power button, you are taken to the home screen. From here you are ready to take a shot or navigate the menus for the various features. Without sounding like a commercial, let me list some of the features that you have at your disposal, and then we’ll examine the most intriguing of the batch:

  • Night vision
  • Digital still and video camera
  • WiFi
  • Compass
  • Look angle display
  • Rangefinder
  • Ballistic calculator with automatic correction

This optic actually starts to pay for itself once you factor in the money that you save if you were to purchase each of these standalone devices. Not to mention lugging all that equipment around isn’t much fun either.

ATN X-Sight II HD - 4Go Ballistic

The ballistic features grabbed my attention right away. With experience in long-range shooting, I can appreciate all the work that the X-Sight II HD would save the casual hunter.

With traditional optics, you would need to range your target via reticle use, laser rangefinder or the use of skills that take years to perfect, and then calculate your drop based on DOPE or separate ballistic software. After that, you have to “judge” how much distance to subtract to accommodate the slope that you are shooting from and then make a precise shot – all before the target moves or the wind changes!

The X-Sight II HD uses a two-step system to do the math for you; all you have to know is the approximate size of the target, then range the feet and head. It’ll spit out a distance and, based on your own ballistic input, give you a shot correction to place a first-round hit.

ATN X-Sight II HD - 5Centering Up

Zeroing on this optic is different than what most shooters are used to. The scope is zeroed through a process that involves firing a shot, and then putting the reticle where it actually hit and pressing the enter button. Of course, if your shot is off the paper, then you must start closer and work your way back in small increments.

The X-Sight II doesn’t have traditional windage and elevation knobs, something that lost some points with me. However, it does have the ability to save preset zeros, which I thought was pretty useful and certainly much faster than dialing up. This feature allows you to not only save zeros for different distances, but for different guns as well. This becomes very helpful if you’re utilizing a multi-caliber system like the War Lock in our Frontier Tactical test rifle.

We tested the repeatability of this function with the Frontier Tactical 300 BLK War Lock Kit (FrontierTactical.com; $1,200), firing a very true Team Never Quit subsonic 200-grain round (SnakeRiverShootingProducts.com; $28.99). Switching from our 15-yard profile to our 200-yard profile, we kept a solid zero at both distances.

The scope comes pre-programmed with seven reticle styles. Among them include a BDC and a Mil-dot. We found the Mil-dot scale to be true 7.3x magnification, with each windage subtention representing 2 mils, and each elevation subtention representing 1. If you are an MOA fan, we found the subtention to be 1 MOA on the elevation axis and 2 on the windage line at exactly 12x zoom.

This information provides yet another way to range a target. Aside from style, you can also change colors, providing solutions for daytime and nighttime shooting as well as a blue option for our colorblind friends.

ATN X-Sight II HD - 6Light Up the Night

While all of the aforementioned features are certainly attainable for the price point at hand, the one that sets this optic apart is of course the night vision. Night vision alone can exceed the cost of the X-Sight II HD by four times, or more. ATN did an amazing job of making it affordable, yet not cutting corners in contrast or sharpness.

The end user can change themes from B&W to traditional green, as well as adjust light sensitivity on the go. Unlike conventional day/night optics, activating night vision accidentally during the day will not damage the X-Sight II.

We used the night vision feature to aid our ongoing struggle with pest control. Among our zero profiles is a 15-yard zero for our Wolf Jager .22 XP PCP air rifle (RLAirgunSupply.com/jager; $1,124.95), transforming it into the ideal tool to control raccoons, opossums or whatever lurks in the night around your trashcans. The X-Sight II HD will work well on any pre-charged pneumatic or CO2 air gun, just be sure to stay away from spring piston powered systems. As this style can, and will damage most optics.

ATN X-Sight II HD - 9Media Savvy

The last feature to note is the X-Sight’s media suite that allows for still photography and full HD video. While afield we see many interesting things that we would like to remember such as tracks, scrapes, waypoints and off-season game that we might want to keep track of for later in the year. Having this sight mounted onto our rifle kept us from having to dig for our phone or standalone camera when these photo opportunities presented themselves.

While these features are not new to the market, the recoil-activated video system (RAV) makes them truly unique. The RAV buffers approximately 10 seconds of video and automatically records when it detects recoil. Therefore, while hunting you don’t have to be concerned with flipping on the camera if you are hoping to record the shot of a lifetime. After the pursuit, you will wind up with a video that includes the instant before the shot, the shot and what happened afterwards!

The unit also is WiFi capable, transmitting what you see to a tablet or smart phone. This feature is very handy for training new shooters or just sharing the fun with someone on the range.

ATN X-Sight II HD - 7Does the Job

Using this optic for our testing left very little to be desired, other than a wider field of view. Only seeing 64 inches at 25 yards on the lowest magnification setting means it does take some time find your target, particularly if there aren’t any defining objects in the landscape.

However, if you are looking for an all-encompassing piece of equipment that has a terrific price point, this is it. Consider one for your next predator hunt, big game hunt or even just an everyday range session, as this will fit the bill without breaking the bank.

For more info visit ATNCorp.com.

Specifications:

ATN X-Sight II HD
Generation: Smart HD Optics
Magnification: 5x-20x Digital Zoom
Eye Relief: 65mm
IR Illuminator: 850mW Detachable
Sensor: HD 1080p 130 Sensor
Ports: Micro HDMI, Micro USB, Micro SD
Power: 4 AA batteries, or extended power kit
Compatible Mounts: A.R.M.S #17 or #35, LaRue LT270, American Defense AD 170
Data Storage: Micro SD card, up to 64 Gb
Video Out: 1080p at 30 fps
Remote View Finder: Yes, via iOS or Android app
Dimensions: 11.36 in. x 3.5 in. x 3.45 in.
Weight: 2.55 lbs.
MSRP: $699

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