Riflescope Blog: Expert's reviews, news, notes on rifle scopes, hunting optics, shooting, binoculars, night vision sights, gun accessories, and more

I've been supplying equipment for my local forest preserve biologist friends for about 20 years. These folks band birds and bats, relocate beavers, collar coyotes, and study every wild thing that lives in the woodlands and swamps. Population control of deer takes place most of the year including now. The carrying capacity of our woods for deer is from 9 to 11 deer per square mile. Some of our preserves have OVER 100! The latest package that was dropped off at my house was a new stainless 700 in .243. I lapped the barrel 777 times like I usually do, polished the crown and installed a 3.5-10x50 Zeiss Conquest in fully lapped Leupold Dual Dovetail two piece rings and bases as my standard. The problem was that the windage adjustment of the scope was almost buried to one side when boresighted with my Zero Point boresighter. I swapped to a different set I had laying around as well as turning them 180 degrees, all with no change in windage. The screw holes were obviously not centered. By my caliper measurements they weren't even close, and I could see the difference just with a close look. So I installed Standard rings and bases and adjusted windage that way. I could've used Burris Signature rings with inserts, but I like metal on metal. Along with this rifle I packaged an ATN PS-22 with the 3A tube and appropriate adapter. The rings were extra-high for a bit more clearance with this ultra-modern night vision unit, so I also put on a Blackhawk Ammo Cheekpad for a more comfortable cheek weld. Formerly the biologists had to carry two guns when they stayed out a while: one for daytime and one for night. Now with the ATN PS-22 they simply install the unit onto the existing daytime riflescope in about 5 seconds and shoot away. The whole package has been out of my Gunroom for two days and I can't wait for the required reports from a person who will put it all through its paces and give me real-world reports with no bias. I learn an awful lot from these guys and gals. I also sold them another pair of 8x42 Leica Geovids which probably have the nicest picture of any binocular I have ever used. If you want to know how tough a piece of equipment is, just give it to these folks for a season. I enjoy helping these people a lot, and they are a wealth of information.

I was speaking to a colleague the other day that didn't know what a drilling was. Drei (pronounced "dry") is the German word for three. Three barrels on a gun is a drilling. Mine was bought in parts without wood and missing some metal pieces. I hooked up with a metalworker whose son was autistic and couldn't care for himself but was a genius with wood. He made the stock without plans, and the blank was gorgeous. The rifle was built in Suhl by Edgar Keiss in the early thirties and is two 16 gauge 2 1/2" barrels over an 8x57R J bore. The gun is a work of art, and shoots well. I promised to send a few pictures to my colleague, and here's one to share with you folks. Time to get into the safes and spring clean and plan for the new shooting year!

One of the best first generation night vision units on the market is the Bushnell Tactical Monocular # 262013. For most of 2007 I have been recommending this reasonably priced tactical monocular because it comes with headgear and is an excellent value. It offers a view better than most first generation night vision products due to the tremendous influence Bushnell has with manufacturers. They get some of the cleanest intensifier tubes available. This was a steal at $399.99 all year, but has been discontinued because of the supply being predicted as spotty in the future. Our negotiators have managed not only to purchase the remaining hundreds that were available, but they were able to buy them so low that now we are able to sell them at the incredible price of only $299.99. A hundred dollars off our already low price! This is the time to get a great performing Bushnell monocular at a great price with easily adjustable and comfortable headgear included. I highly recommend them.

Many companies brought out new flashlights this year, or at least incorporated innovations into existing models. Streamlight has a new pistol grip light for under the barrel of a long gun (mainly AR-types) that looks good. Surefire made many of their existing models last longer, and some now offer two or more brightness levels and more maximum lumens. We should have most models fully described and available to order very shortly.

One of the new lines we're starting to carry is scuba gear starting with the Omega Aquatics company. The story is that as an Israeli commando was parachuting into a combat zone he had an idea how to transition from land to water without having to waste time removing his fins from behind his back with all his clumsy expensive equipment and putting them on. The Omega Aquatic Amphibian swim fins are made to quickly and easily flip up out of the way for walking and running, as well as climbing a ship's ladder. More products including BCDs from this exiting company will follow shortly. Even though I'm Old Navy, the only reason I use a scuba tank these days is to fill a PCP air rifle or power a keg of beer.