It’s not often a writer is given the opportunity to introduce a new product before the company announces it. In this case it happened. When a Leupold representative asked if I wanted to review a new scope they would be revealing at SHOT in January. Of course I jumped on it.

In this case our readers get to hear about this new Leupold AR scope first.This scope is called the Mark AR Mod 1 1.5-4 x 20mm. This scope has a matte black finish with a Fire Dot-G SPR reticle.

These are some of the revisions:

- Tactical, knurled elevation dials

- Green illuminated FireDot reticles

- 0.1 Mil dials for true Mil-Mil adjustments.

This is a tactical scope made for civilian use as well as police and others who have a need for this scope configuration. The Mark AR uses a standard Leupold picatinny mount. The mount is very sturdy and mounts tightly to the rail as well as the scope itself. Unlike so many mount and scope combinations I’ve used there is no play which means it held zero through four hundred rounds fired.

The scope comes with a very in depth manual which not only covers scope use but goes into a great amount of detail in using the SPR reticle. Topics cover reading the mil-dot type reticle as well as turret reading and adjustments.

The center of the reticle is also lighted with an adjustable green dot if desired. This dot goes from extremely small to fairly large. The dot intensity increases with the larger dot size. The dot size is adjusted using the turret on the left side of the scope. When the user unscrews the turret the battery compartment is revealed. The battery is a larger flat battery. With a new battery is installed the dot can be left off or adjusted upwards in size. In the photo I’ve included you see a Leupold “L” in the center of the left turret. It’s surrounded by a heavy duty rubber piece. Each time the “L” is depressed the dot grows larger/brighter. Half way through the adjustment cycle there is one setting allowing the dot to flash and continue to flash until the next setting is chosen. This gives the user a wide variety of choices in dot sizes as well as the flash setting.One very positive point is with the smallest dot setting it doesn’t cover the target at longer ranges which is something common with many scopes with reticle dots.

The Mark AR can be used with one eye or both eyes open. It’s really the shooters choice. One thing I can always be certain of and that’s the clarity and quality of the glass used in Leupold scopes. This scope is no exception. The edges of the reticle are very clear and sharp as is the overall view with no distortion around the edge of the sight picture.

After using this scope for a few weeks I’ve been very pleased with it. In variable lower power type of scopes I’ve used it’s the best without a doubt.

The photo below shows a five shot 100 yard group using the Mark AR with the lowest green dot setting while mounted on my AR.

MSRP is $400 for the scope itself. The mount is sold separately and sells for roughly $140.Even if you already own a scope with a one inch tube this mount is in itself worth changing over from what you currently use. It’s just very rugged in construction. It never gets loose as many I’ve tried have.

The New Leupold Mark AR Mod 1 originally appeared on The Firearm Blog on December 4, 2012.

Even though I won Top Shot Season 4 and a pro shooting contract with Bass Pro Shops, my self-taught amateurness is often still on fully display. I recently tested the Remedy .338 Lapua Magnum by Surgeon Rifles, both with and without a suppressor. For those of you who are well skilled in rifle shooting, you may get a good laugh at some of the rookie mistakes I made on my day out at the range. It’s a learning experience, and lucky for me I like to learn whether it’s through my own mistakes, or through intelligent readers such as yourselves.

The Surgeon “Remedy” in .338 Lapua Magnum. Nightforce scope, Harris bi-pod, and wine not included.

I drove 2 hours to my closest long distance range where I shot out to 600 yards. As to be expected, I met some really nice folks. When I set up my rifle, my first mistake was not having a stool as I assumed that they would have stools. My second mistake was that I forgot my shooting mat at home, so guess I wasn’t shooting prone! Thankfully, the R.O. had a spare stool so I was all set. I knew the Nightforce NXS 5.5-22×56 scope was zeroed in at 100 yards, but I had forgotten to check to see if the scope used hash marks or mil dots, and then looking up ahead of time what the corresponding hold would be at 600 yards. The Nightforce had mil dots, and thankfully the other shooters were kind enough to give me an approximate hold to get me on paper and walk it in.

View of the effective muzzle brake.

View of the folding buttstock.

The Remedy comes with a 5-round magazine, and has a very smooth action with an oversized bolt handle. I held my first sighting shot four hash marks below level, and broke the shot. The trigger was feather light, which I loved. The trigger had minimal pre and post travel, and I was able to easily rack another round while staying on target. I saw my target come up from the pit, and there was no marker, indicating I had completely missed. The R.O. asked me what my hold was, and he recommended I drop down another two hash marks. My next shot was on paper. I walked it in with eight more shots and was getting consistent groups. My other mistake was not bringing a sandbag or a rear support for the buttstock, so it was challenging to keep a steady hold on the bench. I was using my fist as a support.

Once I was dialed in I shot two, 5-round groups. My first group was 6.5 inches, and my second group was 4 inches. Not too shabby. A few months prior, I shot this same rifle with a suppressor and can report that it was very effective in reducing recoil and report. The suppressor took the .338 Lapua recoil down to something around a low recoil 12 gauge shotgun round.

All in all, the Surgeon is a beaut to shoot, and I can’t wait until I get to one again. If you’re in the market for a high end rifle, take a look at Surgeon.

Surgeon sells directly to consumers, and proudly supports the United States military. The base price of the Surgeon Remedy is $5,400. Other models and calibers are also available. www.surgeonrifles.com.

Chris Cheng is History Channel’s Top Shot Season 4 champion. A self-taught amateur turned pro through his Top Shot win, Cheng very much still considers himself an amateur who parachuted into this new career. He shares his thoughts and experiences from the perspective of a newbie to the shooting community. www.TopShotChris.com.

Surgeon Rifle: Remedy .338 Lapua Magnum originally appeared on The Firearm Blog on December 11, 2012.

I first learned of the Volquartsen line of rifles and pistols on Top Shot Season 3, and I then had the opportunity to shoot a Volquartsen SuperLite rifle during my time on Season 4. We were shooting offhand at soda pop openers at 75 feet, and gumballs on tees at 35 feet with a Volquartsen. During the competition, I said to myself, “when I get home, I have to look into getting a Volquartsen. They are beyond awesome.” I’m now the proud owner of a Volquartsen 10/22, and am in love with it.

A Volquartsen 10/22 rifle with a blue laminate thumbhole stock, and an “I-Flute” barrel with 2lb match-grade trigger. The Carl Zeiss 4.5-14×44 scope is mounted on an integrated Picatinny rail.

The Volquartsen line of pistols and rifles are like .22 cruise missiles. Aim at your target, and the high precision gun does the rest. The fun part of about getting your own Volquartsen is the number of customization options available. They have varying barrels, stocks, calibers (.22LR, .22WMR, .17HMR, .17Mach2) and muzzle brakes depending on what kind of performance, feel, and aesthetics you’re looking for.

Photo by David Dyer-Bennet

The 2lb trigger is nice and crisp with a short reset. The 21.5″ I-fluted barrel is lightened through the fluting process, which also helps cool the barrel. The forward-blow compensator is machined from 416 stainless steel and has sixteen precision machined ports.

A huge thanks to the great folks at Volquartsen for making excellent precision rifles and pistols!  www.Volquartsen.com.

Chris Cheng is History Channel’s Top Shot Season 4 champion. A self-taught amateur turned pro through his Top Shot win, Cheng very much still considers himself an amateur who parachuted into this new career. He shares his thoughts and experiences from the perspective of a newbie to the shooting community. www.TopShotChris.com.

Volquartsen Custom 10/22 rifle originally appeared on The Firearm Blog on December 17, 2012.

Most of our readers are familiar with Fred Eichler. For those not familiar with him he is a hunter of some note. He appears on many hunting shows as well as being a big game hunter, varmint hunter and possessed of a real passion for bow hunting. For those wishing to read more about him use this link. Fred Eichler Website

What does he have to with this article? Well Mr. Eichler worked with Rock River Arms in developing an AR varmint rifle made to his specifications based on his extensive experience in the hunting fields. These are the Fred Eichler Predator Series of LAR-15 rifles.

These rifles are in high demand with a current wait time of some fourteen weeks. I’ll vouch for that since it took about that long to receive my sample rifle from RRA. After receiving my review rifle I determined the scope I felt would give the best performance at distance.

I contacted Leupold who was kind enough to send a VX3 6.5-20X50LR Target/Varmint Hunter scope in 30MM matte finish. This scope has the longer turrets with a focus turret on the left side. The glass is super clear with a ranging reticle. Screw on turret covers are included.

Stats:

Caliber—–.223 Wylde Chamber for 5.56 & .223 Cal
Lower Reciever—–Forged RRA-LAR15
Upper——Forged A4
Barrel—-16 inch stainless steel, 1:8 twist, Cryo Treated
Muzzle—–RRA Tuned and Ported Brake / 1/2-28 Thread
Gas Block—–Low Profile
Trigger—-RRA Chrome Two Stage/Winter Trigger Guard
Safety Selector—-Star Safety
Handguard—-RRA Fred Eichler Series Free Float
Pistol Grip—-Hogue Rubber Tan
With Operator A2 Stock: Weight/Length 7.6 /36″
With CAR A2 Stock: Weight/Length 7.6 /34″
Accuracy—–3/4 MOA at 100 Yards
Included—-One Mag,RRA Case, Manual, Warranty
MSRP: $1395.00

The stats indicate a case is included but this is a black heavy gauge plastic case with egg crate lining top and bottom. The case contains not only the rifle but an in depth owners manual as well as rail covers. A separate booklet is enclosed explaining the use of the mil-dot system. There’s plenty of room in the case for a large mounted scope. The Leupold scope I used is a large scope so even with it mounted on the RRA there was plenty of room for extra mags etc.

Working front to back this rifle has an RRA directionally tuned and ported muzzle brake. This brake works well but man is it loud! It’s much louder than my AR with a Smith Vortex muzzle brake. I had some not so great ear plugs in when I fired that first round and my ears rang for thirty minutes. Not something I’m used to in an AR. Make sure you have that quality hearing protection on when firing this rifle!

The barrel is a 16 inch cryogenically treated barrel with a bead blast finish and heavy profile. The rate of twist is 1:8 that I found works well with 71 and 77 grain bullets but not so much with standard 55 grain ammo. The barrel is free floated with a mid length gas system. The handguard has a full-length rail on top with short rails at the 3, 6 and 9 o’clock position. You’ll note the handguard also has cooling vents shaped like the paws of a varmint. Some like the paw prints some not so much.

The lower receiver has a standard thumb safety, Hogue tan rubber grip and twenty round aluminum magazine with anti-tilt follower. The upper receiver is a standard configuration. The bolt is an RRA design with a slightly different shape having a flat side at the two o’clock position.

The shooter has an option, when ordering, of equipping the rifle with a tan CAR collapsible stock or a rifle length fixed tan stock.

Range Time:

I started this session at 100 yards to sight the scope in and get a feel for the rifle and it’s two stage polished match trigger.

I’ll take a short departure from the range review to pass along some information on a fine set of gloves I used off and on during this very cool day. Several weeks ago I got a pair of ICRS gloves from The Spec Ops Shop. I’d been looking for a set of gloves with hard knuckles (comfortable), reasonably warm with index finger and thumb, which detach at the first joint of both fingers. After much searching I found these gloves, which not only allow using your trigger finger uncovered but the thumb, uncovered to manipulate the safety. Each finger cover folds over and back attaching the tips to the back of the glove with Velcro. Both gloves are made the same way for right or left handed shooters. I recommend these gloves to any shooter for handgun or rifle use. The price is $69.00 direct from Spec Ops.
They are currently sold out unfortunately.

Back to the range:

After sighting in the scope I setup to fire several five shot groups. The claim of ¾ inch groups at 100 yards is no exaggeration. Out of ten five shop groups I only had two groups that were barely under one inch. Most groups were right at the advertised ¾ inch with two groups less than ¾ inch. I was using a Grip Pod military version as my bi-pod. It worked very well especially later on uneven ground.

My second session was at a much greater distance. I measured the distance with my laser range finder at 316 yards. The picture below shows the distance. It’s difficult to see but the target is just left of center in the photo. My best group out of ten five shot groups was 3 1/4 inches. Pretty impressive performance with the Leupold scope set at 20 power on the RRA. The humidity was low at 44 %, with sunny skies and a slight breeze from behind me. The temp was 44 degrees.

I mentioned loads earlier. The best performance and the rounds I used for these groups was Hornady match ammo with a 71 grain bullet. These are excellent rounds for longer distances. This particular rifle really liked this load.

Conclusion:

Some may look at this rifle and say what’s so special it doesn’t look much different than others. Well the proof is in the performance. Obviously care was taken in matching parts as well as assembly. QC was very good with no defects I could find. The trigger came in right at 3 ½ pounds on this example. The trigger was also crisp with a nice let off. It also has a short reset.

The Predator isn’t a super fancy rifle with all sorts of unneeded bells and whistles just what you need to get the job done. I can without reservation recommend this rifle for varmint hunting or for that matter casual target shooting.

Lastly buy a good quality scope. If you buy a cheap scope you’ll cheat yourself out of the accuracy this rifle and many others are capable of.

Rock River Arms

Rock River Arms LAR-15 Fred Eichler Predator Series originally appeared on The Firearm Blog on December 18, 2012.

I was looking for a compact green laser and white light combination that was small enough to fit my S&W M&P 40 compact. Most of those on the market were either a laser only or light only. The combination units were just too large and bulky for my concealed carry purpose.

After some searching I found the Viridian C5L, which is a sub-compact laser and light combination. It’s advertised as the smallest combination made and I believe it. At a bit over two ounces you hardly know it’s mounted on the pistol. The laser has the same power as most other larger types. You can see by the photos that the white light is considerably smaller than a dime. The stats listed below have the white light at 100 lumens but it does seem brighter.

Stats:

Dimensions:
1.90”L x 1.46”H x 1.31”W

Weight: 2.414 oz.
(including battery)

Construction:
Primarily 6061 Aircraft
Grade Aluminum, front and
rearconversion high strength
Zytel® polymer.

Laser Beam Intensity:
5mW peak, 532nm, Class IIIa,
Continuous wave.

Laser Beam Divergence/
Spot Size/Range:
1.2 mrad, appox 0.5” at 50 feet.
Up to 100 yards daylight,
2 miles at night.

User Adjustable:
Easy to use windage and
elevation adjustments on laser.

Battery Life:
4+ hours
of constant laser runtime, 7+
hours of pulsing laser runtime,
60 minutes of laser and light
runtime. Unit runs on one CR2
3v lithium (included).

Tactical Light Output:
100 lumens on continuous,
140 lumens on strobe mode.

Activation and Modes:
Ambidextrous activation and
infinite amount of custom
operating modes (user can
customize laser pulse rate,
tactical light strobe rate and
light output).

Universal Mounting System:
Three modular rail sets included
with unit allows quick mounting
to virtually all railed handguns
(including sub-compact)
and rifles.

When I received the C5L with the Tac Loc holster I laid the holster aside and inspected the contents of the foam lined case. The case is organized with the unit itself as well as mounting hardware which consists of three rail sets for various pistols such as my M&P, Glock and other pistols. There are also three sets of screws for the rail sizes of these other pistols. Three hex wrenches are included to not only adjust the elevation and windage but for the initial mounting on your pistol. A single Viridian CR2 battery is also provided.

The operators manual is well written with easy to follow instructions for mounting, adjusting elevation, windage and maintenance. The manual also covers setting all of the operation modes for both laser and light and combinations of both.

This unit has been out for over a year but changes have been made in that time to enhance its capabilities. Primarily this is the ECR or “Enhanced Combat Readiness” system.

The ECR system is a mating of the C5L with the Viridian branded TacLoc holster. I suspect the holster is made for Viridian by Blackhawk since the back of the holster uses any Blackhawk holster attachment. The manner in which these two work together is by setting the laser and light on the desired setting. The unit is left activated then holstered which turns the unit off. When the user is ready to fire they simply draw the weapon which automatically activates the laser and light. It remains on until it’s re-holstered. In order to draw the weapon the user depresses the lever on the side of the holster releasing the pistol. The TacLoc is rated at a level two retention. The back of the holster is adjustable to fit any dress or tactical wide belt.

The laser/light can be operated in a variety of settings. In order to adjust the unit two buttons are depressed simultaneously cycling through each option. These settings are very easy to select unlike some I’ve used. One button is mounted on each side. With the unit off it can be activated by depressing either button with left or right hand. Please excuse the marginal video quality. I do intend to acquire a better camera. The video below shows the settings the user has available.

I’ve been using the C5L for a couple of months now and really like the combination especially when carrying after dark. I prefer to leave the laser on the constant setting with the LED on strobe. The laser is still easy to see even with the white strobe on. Not having to press any buttons to activate the C5L makes it very fast to draw and get on target.

The C5L with the TacLoc is my favorite combination for low light use. I can’t think of any other combination that offers the light weight, security, speed, comfort and concealability of these two products. Retail price on the C5L is $350 with the TacLoc holster at $69. I’m sure a bit of shopping around would save a considerable amount when purchasing both. If you own a compact pistol, with rail, I don’t believe you can do better than the Viridian C5L and TacLoc setup.

Viridian C5L Compact Laser and LED Light with Tec Loc Holster originally appeared on The Firearm Blog on January 3, 2013.

At SHOT Show next week US Optics will debut their new “true 1x” scope. They guarantee that it has no magnification at the 1x setting, so it functions like a red dot sight, but can be cranked right up to 8x for long range engagement.

Featuring the new 8:1 zoom ratio, the SR8 can be used similarly to that of a red-dot reflex sight at true 1x, making it one of the first variable power optics with a true 1x magnification.  The SR8 allows this while providing threat identification and engagements at distances in excess of over 800 yards.

The optical clarity of the SR8 is achieved through a precision-engineered lens system, with advanced lens coatings for superior performance in the harshest conditions. With the simple push of a button, a Second Focal Plane (SFP) red-dot can be turned on and used in total daylight, while the First Focal Plane (FFP) reticle allows for ranging and the MIL knobs and reticles offer exact dimensional accuracy.

As with all U.S. Optics scopes, the SR8 is constructed of Type III hard-anodized 6061-T6 aluminum; making it extremely durable and lightweight. Combined with the low profile sleek design, the new SN-8 makes for a snag free tool in all shooting situations.

The scope will be on display at Booth #20031.

New US Optics SR8 (1-8x30mm) Scope originally appeared on The Firearm Blog on January 11, 2013.

I examined a new laser for Glocks which I believe will be a hit for Glock users. This unit is made by CAT in Argentina. I spoke with Ana Contessi the manager at CAT. She gave me the tour of this new product.

This sight appears to be very well made with a polymer body. The laser activation button is just under the rear CAT sight. It’s a straight forward push for on and push again for off. This laser is a red variety.

The most unique thing about this made for Glock laser (fits all but the slim model 36) is the fact it is held on to the Glock slide by a very strong magnet. This magnet is indeed strong and takes a good pull to remove it.There’s is no way it will move during recoil much less come off.The laser mounts by placing it over the Glock rear sight. A backup front and rear three dot sight is mounted on top of the laser if needed. The unit is also adjustable for windage and elevation. MSRP on this unit is a bargain at $134.00.

The photo above shows the on/off push button switch

New Glock Magnetic Laser from CAT originally appeared on The Firearm Blog on January 15, 2013.

To prove that their Leupold VX3 scope could take pounding the Leupold crew mounted it onto a picatinny equipped ”tactical” Bosch jachhammer. After 30 minutes of jackhammering, the scope was attached to a rifle and used to shoot a 3 round  1″ group at 100 yards.

The jackhammer is prominently displayed at thier SHOT Show booth.

Leupold’s Tactical Jackhammer originally appeared on The Firearm Blog on January 15, 2013.

Horus Vision has been an innovator in developing reticles for a long time now. They have developed reticles and software applications that have helped shooters obtain unsurpassed accuracy. This year Horus is introducing two new user-friendly reticles for civilian and military applications.

The H130 Hunting Reticle allows for quick range finding and adjustments for distance and wind. All within the reticle you have a built in range finder that allows for quick approximation of distance based on the size of the animal in the scope. It also has built in lines to indicate wind adjustment up to 20 miles per hour. The reticle also has the common holds for the common .270, .30-06, and .308 up to 500 yards.

Horus vision user-friendly military reticle is the H102. The H102 was designed for the entry-level rifleman, but can also be used by the designated marksman or sniper. With minimal instruction and 60 rounds on the range, the entry-level rifleman can effectively engage targets out to 500 yards. The H102 also allows for wind correction as well as leading targets moving up to 60 miles per hour.

Both of these reticles allow for second shot correction at the higher magnifications, which is one of the best features of the Horus Vision reticles. If you know where your shot hit, you simply put the hackmark of the impact point on the target and fire again. This allows for quick and accurate second shots, while taking all of the guesswork out of the second shot.

Horus Vision introduces new user-friendly reticles originally appeared on The Firearm Blog on January 16, 2013.

Schmidt & Bender is known for high quality glass, and their new line of hunting scopes is no exception. With their Flash Dot technology, you can get a red dot of varying brightness which is very useful depending on the weather. What was unique to this line is the new programmable illumination unit which has a one-touch button for “moon” and “sun” conditions.

Close-up of the one-touch “moon” and “sun” illumination buttons.

The Stratus line has an automatic shutdown feature where the user can choose the number of hours before shutdown with no use. Another neat feature is that the scope can detect when it is lying down and not being used, so it will auto-shutdown that way too. No more running your scope battery out in its case.

www.schmidtbender.com

Chris Cheng is History Channel’s Top Shot Season 4 champion. A self-taught amateur turned pro through his Top Shot win, Cheng very much still considers himself an amateur who parachuted into this new career. He shares his thoughts and experiences from the perspective of a newbie to the shooting community. www.TopShotChris.com.

Schmidt & Bender: New Stratus hunting rifle scope line originally appeared on The Firearm Blog on January 16, 2013.

HiViz is known by many shooters as a company that makes fiber optic sights.  One of their handgun products allowed a maximum amount of light in, as it had little protection around it.  The other version did not let nearly as much light in, but provided a greater degree of protection to the sight.

For 2013, HiViz is offering a third option.  In this front sight, the shooter gets a greater degree of light coming into the sight, but there is a skeletonized steel body around the sight providing more protection than previously available.

New HiViz Sights originally appeared on The Firearm Blog on January 16, 2013.

EOTech has updated its Zombie Stopper holographic weapon sight. As seen in the Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 video game, the sight now features green Reaper Z camouflage:

The camo apparently makes the sight completely invisible to zombies, though I was unable to test this at the show.

Other than the Reaper Z camo upgrade, the sight remains identical to the previous Zombie model (now called the Zombie I) which itself is based on the XPS2. It sports a unique biohazard reticle:

The Zombie II has 20 brightness settings. It’s powered by a single CR123 battery which should run it for up to 600 hours at setting 12.

I would have guessed that the zombie mania would have died out by now. I would have been wrong.

EOTech Zombie II originally appeared on The Firearm Blog on January 16, 2013.

Leupold has a new reticle, dubbed the CMR-W which is designed for close to mid-range use. The reticle also features a “Circle Dot” which is a variable light in the middle of the reticle. The reticle is available for 5.56mm and 7.62mm. Primary uses include 3-gun competitions and CQB operations.

The CMR-W reticle is currently available on Leupold’s Mark6 line.

www.Leupold.com.

Chris Cheng is History Channel’s Top Shot Season 4 champion. A self-taught amateur turned pro through his Top Shot win, Cheng very much still considers himself an amateur who parachuted into this new career. He is a professional marksman for Bass Pro Shops who shares his thoughts and experiences from the perspective of a newbie to the shooting community. www.TopShotChris.com.

Leupold’s new CMR-W reticle originally appeared on The Firearm Blog on January 22, 2013.

TrackingPoint’s iPhone-connected, guided shooting solution has not only made a big splash in the gun press, but the company’s debut at CES got it plenty of coverage in the mainstream tech press, as well. If you’re not familiar with TrackingPoint, my former colleague at Ars Technica, Lee Hutchinson, has written a great intro to the product. In brief TrackingPoint makes a line of three bolt-action hunting rifles, each of which comes with an integrated scope. What’s special about TrackingPoint’s scope + gun combo, is that the scope allows you to “tag” a target, and then the gun will fire when you put the crosshairs over the tag.

I got a chance to shoot a TrackingPoint gun at SHOT’s Media Day, and I can testify that it definitely works. I’ve never before attempted at 1,000-yard shot, but with the TP rifle I hit the target both times I fired at it. I didn’t quite score a bullseye due to effect of wind on my shot (more on this issue, below), but I would definitely have taken out any medium to large game animal at that distance with it.

The next day at SHOT, I got a chance to sit down with TrackingPoint’s John Lupher, one of the main engineers behind the scope/gun combo to talk about how it all works, and what the company’s plans are for future products.

The nuts and bolts of a perfect shot

The TrackingPoint scope is essentially a digital image processing system, the core of which consists of four primary processors.

The first main processor is the 14 megapixel CMOS image sensor that captures the real-time imagery for the scope. The sensor captures video as 3600×1600 pixel frames at a rate of 54 frames/second.

This video feed flows into three different parallel paths:

1. The display for the user. This includes both the display that’s visible to the shooter via the scope’s eyepiece, and the video that’s streamed from the scope’s built-in WiFi server to any connected iPhone or iPad.

2. The on-board video recording device, which is a kind of “black box” that records footage of shots.

3. The PIPE, or Predictive Input Processing Engine, which is what does the actual tagging and tracking. This last system uses black-and-white, luminance-only data, instead of the full-color video feed.

Upgradable firmware, and a Wal-Mart version

Most of the image processing is done in the scope’s FPGA, which is a type of chip that can be “rewired” via software. At the heart of the FPGA’s image processing capabilities is the 32-bit Nios II “soft core” from Altera, which the system uses to configure and control the parts of the FPGA that implement functions like automatic gain adjustment, sharpening algorithms, light level control, etc. This virtual CPU runs at 200Mhz, so it’s not exactly high-performance, but it’s plenty fast enough to process each frame within the allotted 18.5ms time window.

Lupher told me that TrackingPoint is constantly refining its image-processing algorithms, and that the system allows for customer upgrades of the FPGA in the field. You can download the latest firmware to the iPhone and update the scope.

“We can do new releases, and allow for apps that have new features, and they’ll get programmed into the FPGA after shipment of the product,” said Lupher.

FPGAs are quite costly, and this part adds significantly to the system’s hefty price tag, but the company uses the technology because of its flexibility and extensibility. However, cheaper iterations of TrackingPoint’s system will ditch the FPGA for a lower-cost ASIC.

“If we go to a lower price-point product, which we have some on our roadmap, and the volumes go up, then we’ll be looking at doing an ASIC, as well,” Lupher told us. “That will depend on the volumes that we see and the feature set that we want to implement. There’s no question in a couple of years that we’ll have an ASIC for a lower price point product — the Wal-Mart version of this. We’re probably 3 years away from that.”

Linux and ARM

The actual tracking algorithms, which render the tag point on each frame of video, is done with a TI DSP chip. The TI DSP searches each frame for the proper location of the tag point, a feat that happens at 54 FPS.

The scope also includes an ARM processor running Linux that handles housekeeping, networking, user interface, and other chores that aren’t real-time. So the functions that can tolerate some latency are done on the ARM core with Linux, but the DSP and FPGA run everything else in realtime with 18.5 millisecond/frame processing times.

Military possibilities

TrackingPoint is a new company was founded in February of 2011 solely for the purpose of making what the company calls “precision guided firearms”. The primary founder is John McHale, a serial entrepreneur now on his fifth startup. McHale and some early employees and board members provided a significant amount of TrackingPoint’s early funding, and the rest comes from Austin Ventures in Austin TX.

I asked Lupher if TrackingPoint was intended for the military market, and he replied that the company’s strategy is to produce a civilian product first and use that to get interest from the military.

“We thought we’d go to the commercial market first and see how that works, in terms of the military coming to us”, Lupher said. ” So far it’s worked out quite well, and we’ve got a lot interest from some components of the military. We’ll build a milspec product at some point. We’ll probably kick off a project to do that in the next six months.”

TrackingPoint’s current product is built to commercial standards, but the company does extensive testing for shock resistance and waterproofing.

I asked Lupher where TrackingPoint is headed next, and he told me that most of their current research is focused on doing automated wind reading. Right now, the only user input for the scope is a wind setting. My own experience at Media Day indicates that the wind setting is hard to get right, since many of us were missing direct bullseyes due to the heavy wind at the range. TrackingPoint’s plan is to fully automate the long-distance shooting solution by taking into account real-time wind measurements.

TrackingPoint is also looking at night vision solutions, and their research team is working on algorithm improvements for low-light and night imaging. Clearly, this is toward the goal of producing a product for the military and/or law enforcement.

Finally, the company is also working to improve the scope’s tracking algorithms in order to make the tracking of moving targets more robust. They want the scope to be able to track a target during changes in light levels, and to allow for more gun motion.

Varmint hunters and drop-in kits

I asked Lupher about the possibility of a drop-in kit, which would let users add TrackingPoint’s technology to their existing rifle.

“At some point, we’ll come out with a rifle scope that you can put on your own gun, and that could be within the year”, Lupher told me. “But there’s a few things we have to decide on this roadmap, and how our customers respond to this launch is going to affect that.”

I asked about a drop-in kit for the AR-15 platform, and Lupher said that there was some hesitation about committing resources to the platform when current politics have placed a question mark by its future in the civilian market.

Lupher told me that they’re looking at the varmint space as a possibility for their next product, and he mentioned prairie dog hunting in specific.

Whatever TrackingPoint ends up doing with the drop-in kit idea, it won’t be quite as accurate as their full package. In order to control accuracy, they they to control everything about the firing and the ammunition. They have to know the ballistics and tolerances for the rifle, and they also have to know the variability in those parameters between individual units that come off the production line. So to get the ultimate in accuracy, they make the complete package; and as they branch out into partial packages, accuracy will necessarily take a hit.

“If we went to a different rifle or a customer-provided rifle, we’re not going to be as accurate,” Lupher said. “At some point, that will be acceptable. But right now we’re trying to set a standard for the company, and to set as high a bar as we can for the brand. We don’t want to be known for almost making the shot — we want to be known for making the shot.”

Photos © Bryan William Jones.

TrackingPoint takes (automated) aim at the future of shooting originally appeared on The Firearm Blog on January 23, 2013.

Another futuristic technology on display at SHOT Show was the Radetec AmmoControl Digital Counter and AmmoControl Led Advisor. The AmmoControl is a grip that can keep track of how many rounds are left a magazine and how many rounds have been fired over the lifetime of the weapon.  The AmmoControl Digital Counter, currently available for the Beretta 92FS, 1911 and AR-15, displays how many rounds are left in the magazine on a little digital counter attached to the grip. Radetec had a gas firing replica at their booth to test it (the replica had cartridges that were cycled and ejected). I felt like I was playing a game of Halo!

The AmmoControl Led Advisor is the little brother of the Digital Counter. It has an LED that changes color depending on how many rounds are left in the magazine. Unlike the Digital Counter it does not have a display that protrudes out the side of the gun. The Led Advisor is available for the Beretta 92FS, 1911, S&W M&P and the Glock.

The only modification required to retrofit the AmmoControl to a compatible firearm is replacing the grip and the magazine follower. No modifications are required to frame, slide or bolt.

Radetec AmmoControl Digital Counter And Led Advisor originally appeared on The Firearm Blog on January 28, 2013.

US Night Vision manufacture a range of adapters to attached smartphones (Samsung Galaxy SIII, Motorola Bionic, iPhone) and iPads to rifle scopes, night vision systems or spotting scopes. An device adapter plugs into a scope adapter which then attaches to the optic. This system allows one device to be used with a range of different optics. Apple devices have the added benefit of being able to stream the video over AirPlay to an Apple TV.

iTelligent Android, iPhone and iPad Scope Optic Adapters originally appeared on The Firearm Blog on January 28, 2013.

Outside of the U.S. military, the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) is probably the biggest users of the Trijicon ACOG combat gunsight. Almost two years ago and to my surprise, which I found out an Israeli optic company was working on a four-power fixed magnification prism sight design that’s similar to the ACOG.

Detail of the new MEPRO 4X Day Sight with 4x magnification was unveiled to the press the week before the SHOT Show.  When I stopped by the Meprolight booth, I found the sight was being used as part of a thermal imaging sight system.

Design:
The MEPRO 4X is a compact roof-prism design with fixed magnification like the ELCAN Specter, Trijicon ACOG and Zeiss ZO. It has a huge 40mm objective lens and a smaller ACOG style ocular lens. The sight’s exterior is encased in rubber armor, which I found it’s less bulky than those used on the ELCAN and Zeiss. There’s a small sunshade build-in for the objective lens.

Due to the poor lighting and lack of sufficient clearance in the exhibition hall, I couldn’t verify the optical quality of the sight. What I can see was the field-of-view (FOV) is big and according to the spec sheet it is over 8 degree FOV. The eye relief is more generous than the ACOG 4×32 at just over 2 inches.

Adjustment System:
Unlike others, the MEPRO 4X used external recessed adjustment dials instead of capped adjustment turrets. From my experience of using Meprolight sights, those actually works quite well with no caps to come lose and no need for a tether. On the MEPRO 4X all adjustments are in Mils.

Reticle & Illumination:
The display unit has a simple crosshair reticle with BDC and thicken outer bars at 3, 6 and 9-O’clock. I told Meprolight and its US distributor, Mako Group, that they need a more refined reticle design like the chevron or horseshoe style for the US market.

The reticle illumination is powered by single coin size CR2032 lithium battery with over 250 hours of battery life at the highest illumination level. There are 5 brightness levels with shut-off setting in between each level. It also has a power saving function that will turn off the illumination after certain amount of time. It’s unknown if the reticle illumination is daylight visible or not since the display unit didn’t have a battery in it due to it was being used with the thermal sight.

Size and Weight:
The MEPRO 4X weights 15.25 oz. (350g) with the included dual QD mounts base and it has a 5.78 inches (147mm) total length. It’s marginally smaller and lighter than the 4×32 ACOG model.

Price & Availability:
The price of the MEPRO 4X will be $200 less than a comparable ACOG and it will be distributed in North America by The Mako Group, (631) 880-3396, www.themakogroup.com.

The Meprolight M5 red-dot sight was also showcased in the company’s booth. It’s powered by one AA battery for 8,000 hours of illumination. It will be available for around $400.

SHOT Show 2013 Optic Report: Israeli MEPRO 4X Combat Gunsight originally appeared on The Firearm Blog on January 31, 2013.

One of the first optic makers that I checked out during SHOT 2013 was Hi-Lux Leatherwood. What I saw were couple of their interesting new products on display.

CMR-AK762
I have been testing their new CMR-AK762 model since late October 2012 for my 300 Blackout article in the upcoming issue of the Guns & Ammo: Book of the AR-15. The scope is a new model in their CMR 1-4x24mm scope series. It has a specifically designed reticle that features BDCs for the 7.62x39mm and 300 Blackout/Whisper calibers (7.62x35mm). My full review of the new CMR-AK762 model will be out shortly. You can checkout my write-up of the standard 5.56/.308 calibers CMR model for TFB here.

CMR4 production model
Another new CMR model on display in the Hi-Lux Leatherwood booth is their finalized CMR4 production model. The higher end CMR4 model differs from the standard CMR version with the following improvements:

• Superior grade of lens to improve the optical performance
• Redesigned reticle
• Upgraded illumination system with 3 night vision settings and has a longer battery life
• Mil/Mil adjustment
• Capped turrets
• The windage adjustment turret have been relocated on the left side of scope housing
• The scope housing will be coated with a new durable wear-resistant finish.
• It will be available in both the 5.56mm/.308 and the 7.62x39mm/300 Blackout versions.

You can read my preview of the CMR4 prototype for TFB from last SHOT here.

USMC Vietnam Sniper Scope
Following the previous success of their USMC 8x World War II sniper scope, Hi-Lux Leatherwood have developed a replica of the USMC Vietnam era sniper scope. In the 1960s, the original Redfield 3-9x40mm scope was selected by the US Marine Corps to complement the Remington 700 rifle to what came to be known as the M40 sniper rifle system. The Hi-Lux Leatherwood version retained the range finder feature of the original and it’s available in the unique green color of the military model as well as the standard black. It also features upgraded modern multi-coated lens, new 1/4″ click turrets and the range finder scale is now made from durable etched glass sheet instead of the thin plastic tape in the original Redfield.

The top 2 lines are for bracketing a torso size target. The animated range scale is at 5 o’clock.

Blue CMR Reticle Illumination:
The president of Hi-Lux Leatherwood, John Wu, shown me an experimental illumination color that uses blue LED. He said the blue color offers better performance when is used with night-vision and infrared devices. However, they will not be offering the blue color since the popular green color illumination works nearly as good. It’s just that I think the blue color is very unique and the only other company that has it in production optic is Browe Inc.

CMR-AK762 reticle in blue color illumination

CMR 1.5-6x42mm
Hi-Lux Leatherwood is also working on adding their signature CMR double-ring reticle to their existing 1.5-6x42mm formula.  I’m looking forward for this CMR model to come out.

Contact:
Hi-Lux Leatherwood Optics, 1-888-445-8912, www.hi-luxoptics.com

SHOT Show 2013 Optic Report: Hi-Lux Leatherwood originally appeared on The Firearm Blog on February 7, 2013.

The above photo was included in the article Michael wrote about the weapons in use by the French Foreign Legion. Readers commented that the EOTech sight mounted on top of the FELIN scope would have been very hard to use effectively in combat. A former Legionnaire emailed me explaining how the optic would have been used …

The photo with the EOTech holosight…it utilizes the standard long thumbscrew to fix it on the picatinny rail of the FELIN sight.  If needed (when the FELIN sights goes tits up or whatever) the FELIN sight is placed in the assault pack, and the EOTech holosight is removed from that picatinny rail and placed on the rifle rail.  Note this is NOT a return-to-zero type clamping mechanism ala Larue, so there are no guarantees that the EOTech is still zeroed.

On The French Foreign Legion’s EOTech Sights originally appeared on The Firearm Blog on February 13, 2013.

Nikon is the latest company to roll out a specific bit of gear designed around the .300 AAC Blackout cartridge.  The P-300 is a rifle scope that is specifically designed for AR-style rifles chambered for the 300 BLK round.

The new Nikon P-300 is a 2-7×32 scope that uses a new reticle that is calibrated to work with both sub- and supersonic ammo.  The reticle is called BDC SuperSub, and it is has open circle aiming points every 100 yards up to 600 yards with hashmarks indicating 50 yard increments.

The glass is multicoated and is said to provide up to 98% light transmission.  The scope is waterproof and fogproof.  It comes with a lifetime warranty.

“When you look at what the .300 Blackout cartridge can do in terms of effectiveness, it really is an amazing caliber. Nikon is excited to jump into the mix and give shooters a riflescope that was designed from the ground up to match the ballistic profiles of .300 AAC Blackout,” said Jon LaCorte, senior product marketing manager of Nikon Sport Optics.

MSRP on the new Nikon P-300 is $199.95.

Nikon P-300 BLK Scope for .300 AAC Blackout originally appeared on The Firearm Blog on February 25, 2013.