Here’s an early look at some of the most exciting offerings found at the 2019 SHOT show, including the Nikon Monarch M5 riflescope. (Scott Bernarde photo)
January 22, 2019
By Aram von Benedikt
Every year we see new and exciting improvements in riflescope technology and design. From low-power scopes built for up-close, fast-action dangerous game work to high-magnification, ballistic-turret topped scopes that excel at long-range hunting or shooting, the scopes of today would have been viewed as the stuff of science fiction 30 years ago. Here’s an early look at some of the most exciting offerings found at the 2019 SHOT show.
LEUPOLD MARK 5HD 3.5-18X44 MOA Maven This scope in a MIL version made big waves at last year’s SHOT show, and later in PRC and long-range hunting circles. Now, much to the delight of folks like me who prefer the MOA system, Leupold is announcing some MOA models. The 3.6-18X44 is a perfect size for the hunter who wants a scope that is lightweight enough to carry up a mountain, but still boasts all the features of a premium PRS or tactical-type optic. www.leupold.com
Focal plane: Front Illumination: Yes Zero stop: Yes Tube: 35mm Length: 12.06 inches Weight: 26 oz TRIJICON ACCUPOWER 4.5-30X56 Trijicon This scope is big, heavy, and ideal for sniping prairie dogs and predators from unholy distances. It’s available in both front and rear focal planes, and with red/green selectable illumination. Designed expressly for long-range shooters. www.trijicon.com
Focal Plane: Available in Front or Rear Illumination: Red & Green Zero Stop: Yes Tube Size: 34mm Length: 14.3 in Weight: 36 oz MAVEN RS2 2-10X38 Maven If you’re into hardcore backcountry hunting this scope deserves your attention. Superlight and reasonably compact yet still boasting up to 10-power magnification, it’ll fit perfectly atop your favorite mountain or sheep rifle. www.mavenbuilt.com
Focal Plane: Rear Illumination: None Zero Stop: N/A Tube Size: 1 inch Length:12.44 in Weight: 12.4 oz VORTEX DIAMONDBACK TACTICAL FFP 4-16X44 Vortex A favorite among hunters and shooters across America, Vortex optics are know for their rugged reliability, functional good looks, affordability, and stellar lifetime warrantee. This front focal plane scope offered at a price most folks could afford carries on that tradition. Designed for tactical applications, the scope is nonetheless well-configured for the hunter who wants a first focal plane hunting scope. www.vortexoptics.com
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Focal Plane: Front Illumination: None Zero Stop: None Tube Size: 30mm Length: 14 in Weight: 23.1 oz ZIESS CONQUEST V4 3-12X44 Zeiss For over 150 years the name Zeiss has been synonymous with quality. Offering some of the finest glass in the world, here’s a new mountain-worthy riflescope. If you like to carry class, panache, and crystal-clear optics around on tall mountains while hunting sheep or big muleys, this scope is for you. www.zeiss.com/sports-optics/en_us/home.html
Focal Plane: Rear Illumination: None Zero Stop: N/A Tube Size: 30mm Length: 13.8 in Weight: 18.2 oz NIKON MONARCH M5 4-16X50 Nikon “Completely re-engineered” is the term Nikon is using to describe their new Monarch M5 riflescope line. There are some pretty interesting new offerings, among them this 4-16X50 set up for long-range shooting and hunting. They’re available with Nikon’s newly designed MK1-MOA reticle, as well as their popular BDC reticle. www.nikonsportoptics.com.
Focal Plane: Rear Illumination: None Zero Stop: N/A Tube Size: 30mm Length: 14.8 in Weight: 22.4 oz BURRIS VERACITY 2-10X42 Burris Backed by Burris’ Forever Warranty, sporting their Modular Adjustment Dial (M.A.D.) system, and boasting a 5X zoom ratio; this offering in Burris’ award-winning Veracity line is a great mid-sized scope for all-around hunting. It’s now available in a rear focal plane reticle for those hunters who prefer their reticle to always stay the same. www.burrisoptics.com
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Focal Plane: Rear Illumination: None Zero Stop: M.A.D. Tube Size: 30mm Length: 13.5 in Weight: 22.7 oz GPO PASSION 3X 6-18X50 GPO A recent newcomer to the hunting optics scene, GPO is gaining momentum fast due to their strategy of combining European design, engineering, and quality control with overseas production to provide awesome glass at affordable prices. This year they are adding a new riflescope designed for long-range shooting and low light conditions. http://gp-optics.com
Focal Plane: Rear Illumination: None Zero Stop: N/A Tube Size: 30mm Length: 15 in Weight: 29 oz NIGHTFORCE ATACR 4-16X50 F1 Nightforce Offered in your choice of MOA or Mil-Radian, this scope from Nightforce - now available in a front-focal-plane model - features everything a hunter or precision shooter could ask for. Surpassingly fine glass, durability, repeatability… this is a Nightforce. Need I go on?
Focal Plane: Front Illumination: Yes Zero Stop: Yes Tube Size: 34mm Length: 13.1 in Weight: 33 oz SWAROVSKI dS 5-25X52 Swarovski Almost everyone these days has a smart phone, but who has a “Smart” riflescope? Well, pretty soon, you can. Remember my quip about today’s science fiction equipment? Here’s where it gets real. Swarovski, always the purveyor of top-tier optics, is announcing a scope that not only ranges your target, it also reads temperature, pressure, and angle, adds that information to your personal ballistic data that you previously input via Bluetooth from your iOS or Android device, stirs it all up, and bing! Seven tenths of a second later your correct aiming point displays, along with distance, bullet energy, and so on. Windage marks also display based on range, ballistic data, and programed wind speed. This scope ranges distances out to 1,500 yards, and corrects to 1,120 yards. www.swarovskioptik.com
Focal Plane: Rear Illumination: LCoSmonochrome display Zero Stop: N/A Tube Size: 40mm Length: 15.87 in Weight: 38.4 oz
