The illuminated reticle # 60 is non-magnifying in the second focal plane for minimum target coverage and activated by pulling out the knob on the left side of the scope.  Turning the knob then controls the brightness, allowing for the most versatile levels of illumination.  When the knob is simply pushed back in, the illumination turns off.  The superior ergonomics of this system make it easy to operate while looking through the scope, even while wearing gloves.  The illuminated dot is as easily visible in bright sunlight as it is in any low light conditions. This dot is so fine, it totally disappears when the illumination is turned off offering the shooter an absolute distraction- free sight picture.  If the illumination knob is untouched for four hours, the illumination automatically shuts off to preserve battery life.

The VICTORY HT riflescopes are also designed with a notably slim ocular for a lower profile and come with Zeiss’ new ASV + turret for quick ballistic compensation.  Each scope will have a complete set of ballistic rings for any hunting load, allowing for easy, fast and accurate target acquisition and distance compensation with a quick turn of the elevation turret.

VICTORY HT 1.1-4×24

With its large exit pupil and wide field of view on low power, this smallest VICTORY HT is perfect for any shooting requiring extremely fast target acquisition whether hunting dangerous game, shooting in a 3-Gun competition or use for tactical applications.   When every second counts, the VICTORY HT 1.1-4×24 delivers fast, accurate results.  Available with reticle # 54 or # 60.

VICTORY HT 1.5-6×42

This super-compact, low-profile scope is versatile and perfect for varied terrains – from heavy brush to open country stalking.   The high-performance HT glass in this scope is a benchmark in low-light performance for 42mm riflescopes.  Available with reticle # 60.

VICTORY HT 2.5-10×50

This low-profile, all-purpose scope squeezes the utmost light out of its 50mm objective – from dawn until dusk.  This scope is as versatile as they come and, with the ultra-fine dot in reticle # 60 and state-of-the-art HT glass, it delivers unprecedented precision at longer distances.  Available with reticle # 60.

VICTORY HT 3-12×56

The largest of the VICTORY HT line, this 3-12×56 makes targets visible in the very last of shooting light when conventional optics often fail.   The combination of the advanced HT glass, high-performance 56MM objective lens, the super-fine illuminated dot and ASV+ turret option makes this scope deadly accurate at any distance in any light.  Available with reticle # 60.

“Carl Zeiss has set a new standard once again,” said Michael A Jensen, President of Carl Zeiss Sports Optics.  “The VICTORY HT is the finest, highest-performance riflescope on the market today and once you’ve looked through one, you’ll see why.  There is nothing comparable.”

The VICTORY HT riflescopes will be on display for the first time in the United States at the NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits in St. Louis, Missouri, April 13-15, 2012 and available in stores in the third quarter.

MSRP:

VICTORY HT 1.1-4×24                      $2,556

VICTORY HT 1.5-6×42                      $2,611

VICTORY HT 2.5-10×50                    $2,667

VICTORY HT 3-12×56                       $2,772

Specifications:

I mounted several long-eye-relief sight systems on the MR556A1, such as those from Aimpoint and EOtech, as well as other optics that required the removal of the diopter rear sight. One example was the brand-new Titanium 4×32 mm Combat Optic from Browe Inc. Called the Browe Combat Optic (BCO), this scope has a lot to offer.

Featuring an average battery life of 2,000 hours (720 on maximum brightness), the BCO can be activated by depressing a waterproof on/off button. With a red chevron, the BCO’s reticle has ballistic correction from 100 to 800 meters for 5.56 NATO ammunition and three night-vision-device and 10 daylight settings. The 5.2-inch BCO weighs 17.2 ounces with its battery and has 1.46 inches of eye relief. The BCO’s Target Light Sensor automatically adjusts the reticle illumination for ambient daylight brightness. It also an internal BCO Microcontroller, the brain of the unit, which can be reflashed with alternate programs via a sealed port. This port also accepts a remote pressure switch.

The hull of the BCO contains two mounting bosses for additional accessories, such as a CQB sight. Both objective and ocular ends are machined to accept a variety of filters and covers. The BCO comes with an adjustable A.R.M.S. MK II Throw-Lever Mount.

“Leupold Tactical Optics is always looking for ways to improve the optics we put into the hands of our military, law enforcement and competition shooters,” said Kevin Trepa, vice president, tactical division for Leupold & Stevens, Inc. “One of the latest advancements has been the .300 AAC Blackout cartridge, and we want to ensure operators have premium riflescopes to pair with this new round.”

The illuminated front focal plane reticle allows for precision aiming at lower power settings and intuitive ranging at higher powers. Seven intensity settings feature an off position between each numbered brightness mark to help extend battery life and ensure that illumination is never more than one click away.

From point-blank range to beyond 700 yards, the Mark 4 1.5-2x20mm MR/T provides the rugged flexibility sought by both combat and action rifle shooters. With a twist of the magnification dial, operators can quickly transition between instinctive, short-range snap shots and precision long-range shots.

Developed in conjunction with Advanced Armament Corporation, the new 300 Blackout reticle is calibrated for use with both subsonic and supersonic loadings of the .300 AAC Blackout cartridge. This .30-caliber cartridge delivers enhanced suppressed knockdown energy when compared to pistol caliber carbines. In its supersonic loadings, the .300 AAC Blackout has proven to be a solid hunting cartridge for game up to whitetail deer.

300 Blackout Reticle Available in Leupold Mark 4 1.5-5x20mm MR/T Leupold’s Xtended Twilight Lens System delivers superior light transmission and edge-to-edge image clarity throughout the entire zoom range. DiamondCoat 2 further enhances light transmission and provides scratch resistance that exceeds mil-specs.

Other key features:

• Rugged 30mm maintube
• Twin Bias Spring Erector System
• ½-MOA per click M2 adjustable turrets
• Lockable fast-focus eyepiece
• Tethered battery cap

For more information, call 1-800-LEUPOLD or 503-526-1400; or visit www.leupold.com.

The Nikon Spot-On program is an Internet-based external ballistic calculator. It does several things common to most ballistic calculators. It also does some additional things that allow shooters to apply the calculations to their specific Nikon riflescope.

One problem many shooters have when working with ballistic programs is obtaining the muzzle velocity of a particular load and the ballistic coefficient (BC) of the bullet used. The BCs for most every bullet and the muzzle velocities for almost all currently manufactured ammunition are already integrated into the Nikon Spot-On program. You don’t have to go look them up.

The Nikon Spot-On external ballistics calculator is well thought out and easy to use on your computer or your smartphone. It takes Nikon’s BDC reticle to the next level.

First, log on to the Nikon Spot-On website. You can view tutorials or go right to the calculator. The program provides trajectory data you can use with any riflescope, but is custom tailored to work with Nikon’s products. If you have a Nikon riflescope the first thing you need to do is select your scope. To illustrate how this program works, I mounted a Nikon 2-8×32 mm scope with the company’s BDC reticle on my Smith & Wesson M&P15-22 and chose that option.

Selecting your ammunition is the next step. Factory-advertised velocities are provided, but ideally you should input the exact velocity—an average velocity obtained with a chronograph. This is precisely what I did using CCI Velocitor ammo. CCI’s advertised velocity was 1,435 fps, but the actual, average velocity from my rifle was 1,410 fps.

When inputting your data, you’ll need to include the atmospheric and wind conditions as well as the angle of the shot. The Spot-On program has a separate screen just for that.

Next, enter the appropriate atmospheric and wind conditions. This is relatively easy to obtain by checking the weather on your computer or your smartphone. (More on smartphones later.) You might have to guess the actual wind direction and speed at your location. Now, you’re ready to look at the trajectory data and go shoot.

There are several ways the data can be viewed. You can view a field-reference ballistic chart, a ballistic table or a ballistic graph. The information can encompass everything from drop, wind drift, downrange energy and velocity—even time of flight. These charts or graphs can be printed, exported to Excel or even turned into an Adobe PDF document.

To maximize the versatility of your Nikon BDC reticle, the Spot-On program has a feature that lets you expand the BDC data. Use this if you want to work with multiple aiming points and better fine-tune your long range shooting.

The Spot-On program also correlates trajectory data to the additional aiming points on Nikon scopes with BDC reticles. It tells you at what range each point will correspond to the bullet’s trajectory. Each BDC circle actually offers three aiming points; top, center and bottom. By clicking the “Expand BDC Circles” button, you can see the range to which each point correlates. Further fine tuning can be achieved by changing scope magnification.

With the printed results—based on a 25-yard zero—in hand, I stepped out to my range and zeroed the M&P15-22 at 25 yards. As directed by the Spot-On program, I then fired at a 100-yard target using the center of the first circle as an aiming point. The five-shot group impacted the target spot-nn, pun intended. I also checked the combination at 150 yards. The program told me the bottom of the third circle would correspond to 149 yards, so that was the aiming point I used. The group opened to almost 3 inches, but was about as close to center as practical.

This system works just as well with centerfire cartridges. Last year I used my custom .308 Win. Sisk Civilian Sniper Rifle on a Wyoming mule deer hunt. It was topped with a Nikon Monarch 2.5-10×42 mm riflescope with a BDC reticle. I was using Nosler Custom ammunition, and prior to the hunt ran the combination through the Spot-On program. My shot came at 329 yards on a grand old buck. I’d memorized the drop data, but also made a cheat sheet and taped it to the rifle’s stock. Using the bottom of the second circle as an aiming point, one shot was all it took.

What if you handload or shoot a new cartridge not cataloged in the Spot-On program? Not a problem. The only cartridge-specific data you need is the muzzle velocity and bullet BC. There is even a section in the program to record handload data.

Case in point; I’ve been shooting the Wilson Combat 7.62×40 WT cartridge a lot. This is a .223 Rem. case necked up to .30 caliber. By inputting the chronographed velocity of the Wilson Combat ammo and the BC of the 125-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip bullet into the Spot-On program, I found the data provided was accurate out to 300 yards, which was as far as I checked it.

There are two other neat Spot-On features. The program will tell you how many clicks are needed to adjust the point of aim of any Nikon scope at the range you are shooting. And, what some folks do not realize is with a standard Nikoplex reticle you can use the taper point on the bottom vertical stadia wire as an additional aiming point—kind of like a makeshift BDC reticle. The Spot On program will tell you at what range this point coincides with your load’s trajectory, and you can fine tune this range by altering the magnification, by the distance at which you zero your rifle or both.

Whether you use your computer or your smartphone, the Nikon Spot-On program is a great way to obtain external ballistic data.

Remember, I said we’d get back to the smartphones? There’s an app for the iPhone and one soon to come for Android phones. When I worked the Spot-On calculations for the 7.62×40 WT, I used my iPhone. The data was double-checked with my computer and it was exact. Smartphones also make it really easy to obtain atmospheric conditions. Just tap the “current conditions” button, and the iPhone does the rest. Apps are also available to give you your current elevation.

Nikon has always made great scopes, and the Spot-On program, which is as neat as a pillow that is always cool on both sides, has made them even better. This is especially true for those wanting to reach out and touch something with a bullet. Keep it in mind when you are looking to purchase your next riflescope.

The .300 Win. Mag. and .223 Rem. both had mil-dot reticles, but the .308 Win. had the Zeiss Rapid-Z 1000 reticle.

The Rapid-Z is well thought out and capable of an incredible range of variations. It can be used on any rifle with any cartridge and dialed in using ballistic information to an amazing degree of precision.

Zeiss offers four different Rapid-Z reticles. While all can be used with any cartridge, the engineers did have some specifics in mind when designing the reticle. The 1000 is designed for use with a tactical rifle chambered in .308 Win. and that is, of course, the model I used for testing the Blaser Tactical 2.

It has 10 primary elevation cross-bars, five above center and five below. There are also secondary bars between the primaries. Also, each of these bars has hash marks for wind correction. The reason for the bars above the center is to give close-range aiming points with a long-range zero. I elected to use a 200-yard zero, which makes the upper bars mostly irrelevant and the No. 10 bar just right for an 816-yard shot.

The reason I know this is the Zeiss website has a calculator for the Rapid-Z. Simply plug in your ballistic data and it figures out the points of aim for you at the proper distances.

Those calculations I quoted are at the full 24X power of my scope. The Rapid-Z reticle is in the second focal plane, so it does not change relative size as the magnification is changed. I much prefer this style of reticle to a first focal-plane model, where the reticle grows larger as the power is increased. I know a lot of sniper types like the first focal plane so they can range with the reticle, but most of us lack the time or knowledge to learn this process with any degree of confidence.

The Rapid-Z calculation website also has a function that will figure out the optimal power setting for your scope based on using the No. 10 bar for a 1,000-yard shot. For example, with my load I would need to switch to a 300-yard zero and then turn the 24X scope down to 17.49X for a 1,000-yard hold with the No. 10 bar.

To test Zeiss’ claims, we went to my friend’s range where he has a target up at 778 yards. With a 200-yard zero and at 24X, the No. 10 bar is zeroed for 816 yards. Of course, there are always some variations for atmospheric conditions and ballistic variables, but I found that using the No. 10 bar resulted in “bang…clang” every time. While there was a 38-yard difference between the calculations and the actual target, that’s pretty much nothing at that range, particularly considering the outside variables. No reticle can get you dead on every time simply by running the numbers through a computer, but the Rapid-Z comes pretty darn close.

While the reticle’s stadia get bigger in the scope’s field of view as magnification increases, the illuminated dot stays the same size throughout the power range. The advantage of this system for hunting is it allows users to get the best of both American and European preferences in reticle styles.

Euros love first focal plane reticles because the stadia are more visible in low light and at night, when the majority of hunting takes places across the pond. Americans prefer second focal plane varieties because the crosshairs stay the same size, taking up less of the field of view and covering less of the target. Tactical shooters should use first focal plane reticles because, when equipped with mil dots, they allow ranging throughout the magnification scale. With the #60 reticle, all shooters will have to get used to something new, but all will benefit from the melding of European and American styles.

I crank the magnification ring through its range often when hunting. Trying to pick out an individual antelope in a herd of 15 usually requires zooming out to find the general location of the herd, then zooming in on the target buck. A second focal plane reticle might make it easier to see the whole speed goat, but its constant, thin size can be hard to pick up against different backgrounds or in low light. The first focal plane stadia of the #60 do take up more of the image as magnification increases, but they can be found instantly and bracket the point of aim quite nicely. The second focal plane illuminated dot allows for precise shot placement and loudly stands out from the changing size of the stadia. As it remains small, the dot also covers up less of the target right at the point of aim, so the American aversion to covering up that crucial area is not a concern.

For those debating between a first and second focal plane reticle, the Zeiss #60 is the perfect decision. It’s well worth a look even for those wedded to second focal plane models, as I found the benefits to far outweigh the slight disadvantage of being more used to American-style scopes. You will adapt quickly to this innovative system and the scopes on which it is available are among the best in the world.