Industry guests of the 2009 Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show saw the introduction of a wide range of new and interesting products for almost every imaginable shooting application at almost every imaginable price. If you have been searching for a high-quality, mid-priced riflescope, the time has never been better. Bargain-priced optics made a strong showing this year, and so did the high-end super scopes from Europe. A new company has entered the fray, and some old tried-and-true lines were reborn. Here are the highlights of the year's new optic introductions.

Alpen
Joining forces with other companies across the nation in the fight against breast cancer, Alpen Optics introduced the new Pink 263P 8X25mm compact and the Pink 393P 10X42mm binocular. The National Breast Cancer Foundation receives a portion of the profits from each bino sold. The Pink 263P 8X25mm binocular is very affordable at $60, and its features include a compact-body design, a wide 430-foot field of view, and multi-coated BaK4 optics to provide crisp and bright images. The Alpen Pink 393P 10X42mm binocular costs $200.

Barska
Barska added a pair of open-bridge binoculars and two new electronic sights to its extensive optics line. The new Storm EX open-bridge binocular is very compact and completely waterproof. A pebbled, rubber coating makes the Storm EX comfortable to hold, and fully multi-coated optics and BAK-4 prisms deliver a crisp, clear image. There are two models in the Storm EX line--an 8X42mm and a 10X42mm--and they sell for around $225.

Two new Electro Sights were introduced this year: a 2X 30mm IR and a 4X 28mm IR. Both models have built-in mounts that will accept Weaver or Picatinny cross-slots, and they have 1/2-inch-per-click adjustments, ruby and multi-coated optics, and external rail sections for the attachment of additional accessories. The 2X 30mm IR's 5-MOA dot reticle has a seven-position rheostat, and the 2X magnifier is removable. The 4X 28mm IR features a dual-color--red or green--mil-dot reticle controlled by a five- position rheostat and is just $180. The 2X model is $140.

Burris
In my opinion, the best, most versatile new product from Burris is the new SixX line of riflescopes. As the name implies, the 2-12X SixX models--one with a 40mm objective and the other with 50mm--have a six-fold increase in magnification from the lowest setting, allowing one scope to be used for a lot of different things. The lower settings keep you on target when the game is close or moving fast, and 12X is adequate for just about any long-range shot imaginable. The pair of SixX scopes have different objective sizes, but they share the same 30mm tube, fully multi-coated and indexed lenses, and a coating that helps shed raindrops. Another feature that might interest magnum cartridge lovers is the 4 to 4.5 inches of eye relief. Pricing will fall between $700 and $800, and that's a real bargain for this level of optical performance.

AR rifles are great for shooting stuff at your feet or out at 200 or 300 yards, but rarely are you able to do both with the same optic. Burris has developed a new reticle that promises to do both, and the firm put it in a new 3X prismatic sight called the AR-332. The Ballistic/CQ reticle is illuminated and has a CQB aiming point as well as a ballistic compensator for reaching out and touching distant targets. Add integrated, flip-up lens covers and a Picatinny mounting bracket that can be removed to fit carry handles, and you've got a cool little sight for $350.