July 23, 2020
By Joel J. Hutchcroft
Some of the coolest new optics introduced this year range from Aimpoint's new COMPM5B red dot to Zeiss's Precision Rings and include Trijicon's Ventus laser rangefinder that measures wind speed via its ground-breaking Doppler LIDAR engine and a lot more. Here's a quick look at 17 hot new products.
Aimpoint COMPM5B Red Dot Aimpoint’s new COMPM5B red-dot sight allows the user to adjust the position of the reticle to compensate for ballistic drop depending on the distance to the target. Interchangeable turrets are adapted for different calibers. It also allows wind and lead compensation adjustment, and adjustment caps can be tailor-made to meet the user’s needs.
Eye relief is unlimited, and the sight is compatible with Aimpoint’s 3XMag-1 and 6XMag-1 magnifiers as well as all generations of Night Vision Devices. It’s powered by one AAA 1.5V alkaline or lithium battery, and battery life is more than 10 years of continuous use at positions 1 to 4, more than five years at position 7, and more than one year at position 8.
Constructed of high-strength aluminum, the COMPM5B red-dot sight comes with an LRP mount and flip-up lens covers. It also features a 2-MOA reticle. The unit measures 3.4 inches long and 2.8 inches high, and it weighs 9 ounces.
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MSRP: $1,124; aimpoint.com
Axeon NightVue Illuminator The Axeon NightVue is a binocular-mounted laser illuminator that transforms the standard binocular from a daylight-only tool into an optic that can be used at night. It attaches to the front hinge of the binocular and uses green laser technology to provide night vision out to 250 meters. The unit is USB rechargeable, and the laser is focused via a wheel-type dial on top of the unit. It weighs 8 ounces and provides 60 minutes of constant runtime.
MSRP: $149.99; axeonoptics.com
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Burris FastFire RD Red Dot Burris’s FastFire sights have been on the market for a full decade, and new for 2020 is the 1X FastFire RD (Rifle Dot). This new optic features a crisp 2-MOA dot reticle, seven brightness levels, improved battery life, and a new redesigned low-profile housing. It has a built-in mounting bracket, parallax-free glass, and new lens coatings. The automatic brightness sensor adjusts to match environmental conditions. The sight is 2.8 inches long and weighs 6.4 ounces.
MSRP: $215; burrisoptics.com
Bushnell Engage X 10X42mm Binocular The new Engage X 10X42mm binocular from Bushnell offers quality glass in a lightweight package. Weighing 21.9 ounces, the roof prism binocular features fully multi-coated optics, an ultra-smooth focus wheel, Bushnell’s exclusive molecularly bonded EXO Barrier lens coating, an adjustable diopter, a rubber armor covering, and more. It’s waterproof, tripod compatible, and covered by a full lifetime warranty.
MSRP: $129.99; bushnell.com
EOTech G30 Magnifier EOTech has three new magnifiers for 2020. One is the G30 that comes complete with a built-in, quick-detach mount. The G30 provides three times magnification and works with all EOTech holographic weapon sights. It is 4 inches long, weighs 9.5 ounces, and has an eye relief of 2.2 inches. The G30 is fixed (it does not flip up), and it does not have rubberized armor, but it is half the price of EOTech’s other magnifiers.
MSRP: $319; eotechinc.com
Kahles Helia RF-M 7X25mm Rangefinder The new Helia RF-M 7X25mm rangefinder features a large field of view (351 feet at 1,000 yards) and can range targets up to 2,000 yards away. It is ergonomically designed for intuitive handling, and the OLED display has five brightness settings. Battery life for the CR2 battery is 4,000 measurements. The unit measures 3.6x1.5x3.0 inches and weighs 7.7 ounces. It uses Kahles’s patented Enhanced Angle Compensation technology for angle correction.
MSRP: $610; kahles.at
Leupold VX-Freedom 6-18X 40mm Riflescope Leupold’s new VX-Freedom 6-18X 40mm riflescope comes with the company’s CDS dial system, a Tri-MOA reticle, and matte black finish. It has a 30mm tube, measures 14.6 inches long, and weighs 17.1 ounces. The scope features military-spec lens coatings, a low-profile power selector ring, and the proprietary Leupold Twilight Light Management System.
MSRP: $779.99; leupold.com
Meopta MeoPro Air 8X42mm Binocular Meopta’s new 8X42mm MeoPro Air binocular features an open-hinge design and a lightweight magnesium-alloy chassis; twist-up eyecups; and ED glass with Meopta’s proprietary MeoShield anti-abrasion lens coating, MeoBright anti-reflection lens coating, and MeoDrop hydrophobic lens coating. The binocular is nitrogen purged and fully sealed for fogproof and waterproof performance.
The 8X42mm MeoPro Air has a close-focus distance of 6 feet, a field of view of 419 feet at 1,000 yards, and an exit pupil diameter of 5.3mm. It measures 5x2.5x6 inches and weighs 29 ounces.
MSRP: $979.99; meoptasportsoptics.com
Meprolight RDS Pro V2 Red Dot The durable, aluminum-bodied 1X Mepro RDS Pro V2 optic features a 2-MOA red dot and a large 33x20mm display window. Powered by one AA battery, the unit has four brightness settings and an auto shut-off/power-resume energy-saving system. It comes with a Picatinny rail adaptor and is compatible with NVGs and magnifying scopes. It weighs 10.6 ounces.
MSRP: $599.99; us.meprolight.com
Nightforce NX8 2.5-20X 50mm Riflescope The new Nightforce NX8 2.5-20X 50mm riflescope might be the only scope you’ll ever need. With its incredible eight times zoom, as the company states, this scope can handle “any shooting environment anywhere on Earth at almost any distance.”
The scope features a 30mm tube, a first focal plane reticle, 110 MOA of elevation adjustment, and 80 MOA of windage adjustment. It has 3.5 inches of eye relief, DigIllum illumination, and ZeroStop elevation technology. It’s just 12 inches long and weighs 28.3 ounces. MOAR, MIL-C, MIL-XT, and TReMoR3 reticles are offered.
MSRP: $1,950 to $2,200 depending on the reticle; nightforceoptics.com
Steiner T856r 8X56mm Binocular Steiner’s new T856r tactical porro prism binocular features Diamond Night lens coating and is waterproof (submersible down to 16 feet), fogproof, and shockproof. It weighs 38.9 ounces and has a field of view of 441 feet at 1,000 yards. It also features Steiner’s Universal Milling reticle with fine graduations for measuring target size and distance. It is 8.27 inches wide and 8.3 inches tall. The military-tough polycarbonate frame wears NBR long-life rubber armoring.
MSRP: $1,248.99; steiner-optics.com
Swarovski Z5i 2.4-12X 50mm Riflescope The lightweight Z5i illuminated-reticle scope is now available with a 1-inch main tube. Like all Z5i riflescopes, it features five times zoom and comes in 2.4-12X 50mm, 3.5-18X 44mm, and 5-25X 52mm models.
The Z5i 2.4-12X 50mm scope shown here is 13.1 inches long and weighs 17.7 ounces. Plex-1 and BRH-1 reticles are offered, and you can get it with or without ballistic turrets.
MSRP: $1,699 (Plex-1 and ballistic turret); swarovskioptik.com
Trijicon Ventus The new handheld, push-button Ventus laser rangefinder relies on a Doppler LIDAR engine to measure headwind, tailwind, crosswind, and even vertical wind components at six different distances.
Effective out to 5,000 yards, the Ventus is powered by WindPro technology and sends multiple lasers downrange to provide advanced wind mapping and range detection. The device provides wind measurements at various gates; comes with 9X magnification; and works effectively in any weather, including sleet, snow, dust, and fog.
The Ventus can be paired with a smartphone via Bluetooth technology and the Trijicon Ballistics Calculator app, offering shooters a complete ballistic solution for making the perfect shot. Power is provided by two rechargeable lithium batteries. Built to military standards, the Ventus stands up to the harshest elements.
MSRP: Not available at presstime; trijicon.com
TRUGLO OMNIA 1-6X 24mm Riflescope TRUGLO’s new 1-6X 24mm OMNIA tactical riflescope is built to provide fast acquisition of near-field targets. It features TRUGLO’s illuminated, glass-etched, All Purpose Tactical Reticle; a 30mm tube; multi-coated lenses; locking turrets; a detachable quick-zoom magnification lever; and a one-piece, machined APTUS-M1 Picatinny rail mount that’s perfect for AR-15 carbines.
The scope is water-resistant, shock-resistant, and fogproof, and it is covered by TRUGLO’s limited lifetime warranty. It’s available with a hard coat anodized matte black finish.
MSRP: $355.99; truglo.com
UTG OP3 Micro Red Dot The UTG OP3 Micro red-dot reflex sight from Leapers is precision machined from 6061-T6 aluminum and is finished in matte black. Powered by a single CR2032 battery, the OP3 Micro has eight power-intensity settings with 55,000+ hours of battery life at the middle brightness setting. The red dot is 4 MOA, and click adjustments are 1 MOA. The unit is IPX7 waterproof rated, and it includes a removable Picatinny mounting base. The sight interfaces with the common Docter footprint and co-witnesses with most suppressor-height iron sights.
MSRP: $124.97; leapers.com
Vortex Razor HD Gen III 1-10X 24mm Riflescope The new Vortex Razor HD Gen III 1-10X 24mm is a highly sophisticated riflescope with state-of-the-art engineering. It features a first focal plane reticle in the all-new EBR-9 Mrad and EBR-9 BDC MOA patterns. Daylight-bright reticle illumination gives red-dot sight functionality on 1X and full use of the data-rich glass-etched reticle at 10X no matter the light conditions. Eleven intensity levels are provided with an off-position between each setting.
The Razor HD Gen III 1-10X 24mm provides excellent clarity, resolution, color accuracy, light transmission, and edge-to-edge sharpness. The HD glass is fully multi-coated and protected by Vortex’s scratch-, oil-, and salt-resistant ArmorTek coating. The scope is compact and stout, has a 34mm aircraft-grade aluminum tube, and comes with low-profile windage and elevation turrets. It is O-ring sealed and purged with argon gas, making it waterproof and fogproof.
MSRP: $2,899.99; vortexoptics.com
Zeiss Precision Rings The new Zeiss Precision Rings feature an integral anti-cant bubble level in the top half of the ring that’s visible to the shooter from any shooting position. Constructed of 7075-T6 aluminum, they are offered in 30mm, 34mm, and 36mm sizes with a hard-anodized matte black finish in low, medium, and high heights.
MSRP: $179; zeiss.com
