With optics, you really get what you pay for. You'll notice the differences between value-priced scopes and top-of-the-line models during extreme conditions. When lighting conditions are bad, betters scopes really shine.

Reaching Way Out With Nikon
Nikon's Monarch riflescopes bring the idea of good glass to the forefront with the 8-32X50ED SF. This is the first riflescope to incorporate Nikon's exclusive ED glass, which delivers superior sharpness and color correction for unmatched detail resolution. The Monarch 8-32X50ED SF is designed for long-range hunting and target shooting.

Monarch long-range riflescopes come standard with a locking side-focus parallax adjustment. The easy-to-reach dials let you quickly focus while in shooting position. In addition to enhanced ring spacing, the new riflescope includes the Monarch Eye Box, with its impressive 4-time zoom range and 4 inches of eye relief, which remains constant throughout the power range without sacrificing field of view.

The Monarch's massive ocular lens also delivers a large high-resolution sight picture and the maximum field of view corresponding to each power setting.

Monarch riflescopes use Nikon's precise, repeatable, hand-turn reticle adjustments and feature the Interchangeable Turret Technology system, which lets you switch out turret knobs and caps for convenience and versatility.

The BDC reticle goes in every Monarch riflescope to let you hold dead on at ranges farther than those previously thought possible. Nikon's Nikoplex reticle is also available.

The scopes retain the popular 1-inch diameter main body tube. Nikon also uses lead-and-arsenic-free Eco-Glass lenses and Ultra ClearCoat anti-reflective multicoatings. Nikon Sport Optics:

Leupold's Gold Ring

Leupold's new Golden Ring UltimateSlam scopes feature a new reticle system to enhance accuracy for muzzleloader and shotgun hunters.

UltimateSlam's Sabot Ballistics Reticle has precise hold points in 50-yard increments to help you make accurate shots up to 300 yards. Precalculated markings on the magnification selector lets the reticle remain accurate for two- and three-pellet muzzleloader loads, as well as most popular 12- and 20-gauge sabot slug loads. The reticle has a range-estimation feature that instantly tells you if a deer is within 200 yards.

The scopes are available in 2-7×33 and 3-9×40 models. They have 1-inch main tubes and come in matte black or silver finish. Filled with bone-dry nitrogen, the UltimateSlam scopes have 1/4-minute-of-angle finger-click adjustments and are fog-, shock- and waterproof. They also feature Leupold's multicoat lens system for superior low-light performance. Leupold: (800) 538-7653

Sightron Goes Big, Small at Same Time
If you want incredible magnification and a clear view, Sightron Inc. has introduced a new model in its SII Big Sky line designed for bench-rest or precision-target shooting.

The new SII Big Sky 36×42 fixed-power scope has a fine cross-hair reticle that measures only .015 inch at 100 yards to give shooters an unobstructed view of their targets.

SII Big Sky scopes are built from a rugged one-piece aircraft-quality aluminum tube. They feature Sightron's unique Exactrack system for precise no-drift windage and elevation adjustments. The fully coated precision-ground lenses use Sightron's ZACT-7 Revcoat seven-layer multicoating throughout to provide high light transmission.

Sightron Scopes are waterproof, nitrogen-filled and provide a lifetime of internal fog protection. SII Big Sky models have climate-control coatings on the exterior lens surfaces to provide additional protection in bad weather. Sightron Inc

Burris Takes on Tactical
The TAC 30 3.5-10×50 is new for 2008. It has a 30 mm tube with olive anodizing, and comes with an illuminated Ballistic Plex reticle for low light.
Steel-on-steel click adjustment on the tactical knobs enhance repeatability and make sight changes easy. Burris

Vortex Won't Break the Bank
No longer must hunters settle for mediocre optics built with shortcuts to meet popular price points.

The new Vortex Crossfire packs much of the quality and performance of premium optics into a rugged, affordable riflescope. The Crossfire has fully multicoated optics that deliver 90 percent light transmission and a solid one-piece tube turned from aircraft-grade aluminum alloy. It's fog- and waterproof, has a choice of four reticles and is dry-nitrogen purged to prevent fogging and corrosion.

The Crossfire comes in 10 variable-zoom models, from 1.5-4×32 for brush hunting to a high-powered 6-24×50 AO for long-rage varmint and target shooting.

There's also a compact 2×20 mm model for handguns. Reticle styles include V-Plex (on most models), V-Brite (on select models), Fine Cross-hair (on the target model) and mil-dot (on long-range target and varmint models). Vortex

Binoculars
Binoculars are important tools. Typically, you get what you pay for. But sometimes, you can find great values.

Alpen Expands Pro Series
Alpen offers a 10×42 camouflage binocular in its popular Pro series. These binoculars provide great technology and features at an exceptional price.

The Pro model has a sleek ergonomic grip for slip-free comfort in wet conditions. It also offers superb optical clarity, color fidelity and brightness in a camouflage body.

The Pro provides great optical performance, with fully multicoated optics, BAK 4 high-refractive phase correction-coated prisms and a long eye-relief eyepiece for comfort while wearing glasses.
Alpen

Big Eyes From Vortex
Vortex has three new Viper binoculars with a 50 mm objective lens: 8.5×50 mm, 10×50 mm and 15×50 mm. They deliver premium performance at an affordable price.

With fog-, shock- and waterproof construction, the Vipers feature nonslip rubber armor, multi-position tapered eyecups and an easy-to-adjust diopter ring. Every Viper binocular is built with Vortex's advanced X-Factor Vision system, a combination of XD (extra-low dispersion) glass ‹ fully multicoated with Vortex's XR scratch-resistant coatings ‹ and premium, phase-corrected BaK4 roof prisms for brightness, image detail and high resolution. The Vortexes are built on a rugged, lightweight chassis. Vortex

Burris
Tough and ready for work, Burris' new Signature Select Binoculars 8×56 offer large 56 mm objective lenses to pull in light. These binoculars are crisp, clear and bright.

Fully multicoated lenses capture and transmit light for maximum clarity, and silver-coated internal prisms further maximize optical performance.

Twist-up eyecups are a convenience to eyeglass wearers, and Signature Series binoculars are waterproof, impact-resistant and designed with excellent ergonomics.
Burris

Tactical Gear
Missing a shot at a trophy is one thing. Missing a life-and-death shot in a tactical situation is different.

Optics and sighing systems on a fighting rifle require the kind of quality you can bet your life on. A couple of announcements for 2008 will make professionals happy and bring tactical benefits to the hunting community.

ACOG Goes Public
Trijicon Inc. is bringing the 4×32 ACOG (TA31RCO-M150CP) to consumers. The ACOG is the official rifle combat optic of the U.S. Marine Corps, and the Trijicon 4×32 ACOG is standard-issue for special operations forces. The 4×32 ACOG is the official optic of the U.S. Army.

The Trijicon 4×32 ACOG uses the Bindon Aiming Concept, a both-eyes-open aiming method that provides instinctive target acquisition and increased hit potential. The reticle features a red chevron aiming point and has a bullet-drop compensator, which offers additional aiming points to 800 meters. Weighing 16.2 ounces and measuring 7.3 inches long, 2.1 inches wide and 2.5 inches high, the Trijicon 4×32 ACOG is lightweight, versatile and mounts to any MIL-STD-1913 rail. A spacer system is also provided.

The ACOG features forged, 7075-T6 aluminum alloy housing, providing durability. A hard anodized coating protects against corrosion and chemicals.

Fully multilayer lens coating, per MIL-C-14806A, provides maximum optical performance in any light. Also, the 4×32 ACOG offers improved engineering of the external adjustment system (two clicks per inch at 100 yards). The system provides faster adjustment in the field and a waterproof design even when the caps are removed. The scope is nitrogen-filled to eliminate fogging.
Trijicon Inc.: (800) 388-0563

Schmidt & Bender ŒMarine' Scope
The riflescope chosen by the U.S. Marine Corps as standard scout sniper day scopes should be tough enough for hunting or tactical use. Only minor modifications to Schmidt & Bender's 3-12×50 PM II Military scope differentiates it from the USMC model.

The 3-12×50 PM II Military includes a specially designed double-turn counter-clockwise elevation knob with more tactile clicks every 10 cm. It has a ring-style indicator on the elevation turret that rises after the first full rotation of the elevation knob. There's a total of 220 cm — 22 mils, or 79.2 inches — of elevation adjustment.

The Gen 2 Mil-Dot reticle, developed and patented by Premier Reticles Ltd., is standard. It offers more accurate range-finding capabilities on more target sizes than ordinary mil-dot reticles. The Gen 2 is offered in an illuminated version for low light. Eleven precise click stops in a separate turret give you full control. Parallax adjustment, from 50 meters to infinity, is also in a separate turret.

The 3-12×50 PM II Military features the same extraordinary light transmission capabilities that distinguish Schmidt & Bender scopes.
Schmidt & Bender

ATN Cuts Darkness

Hunters don't need to sight in the dark, but some shooters do. American Technologies Network Corp. has them covered with the ATN MARS series of night-vision weapon sights: the MARS 4X-3P and MARS 6X-3P, featuring a new ATN feature — two-color manual brightness of the aiming reticle. That lets you choose red or amber for the projected reticle, depending on preference and light.

The sights use third-generation ITT Pinnacle Image Intensifier tubes, which provide superior performance in high light or light-polluted areas while minimizing halo effects.

MARS night-vision riflescopes are CNC milled from a solid aluminum billet and fitted with titanium inserts. Their one-piece construction makes them compact, light and rugged.

Using top quality multicoated glass optics with a mil-dot reticle, the MARS 4X-3P and MARS 6X-3P provide powerful 4X and 6X magnification, respectively.

The sights are nitrogen-purged for internal fogging resistance and feature an automatic brightness control. Windage and elevation can be easily adjusted.

MARS sights feature a tactical rail that lets you mount an IR illuminator or IR laser, and includes a mount for a Picatinny, Weaver-style rail or AK-style weapon. ATN

Something Really Cool
Have you had trouble finding your zero after moving the elevation knob? New ZeroStop technology from Nightforce lets you instantly return to the zero setting on your Nightforce riflescope, regardless of how much you've adjusted the elevation. It eliminates the need to count rotations and the possibility of being one rotation off.

After sighting in the rifle, you can set the ZeroStop to any of the 400 elevation clicks on a Nightforce scope (clicks are 1/4 MOA or 1/10 mm).

Return to zero is quick and positive, with no need for visual reference.
The ZeroStop is offered on all Nightforce 1-4×24, 2.5-10×24, 3.5-15×50, 3.5-15×56, 5.5-22×50 and 5.5-22×56 NXS scopes. Nightforce riflescopes in those configurations can be retrofitted to accommodate the ZeroStop turret.

ZeroStop technology was previously available only on Nightforce military and law-enforcement models. Nightforce USA Inc.:

Conclusion
More companies are producing great optics at affordable prices to help you put rounds where you want them.

Kevin Michalowski is the associate editor of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Editor's note: Want more information on optics? Check out Dave Morellis feature, Optics Necessities.