Category: Optics

thoughts on scopes, rangefinders, binoculars, spotters, and other outdoors related optics.

Optics

Kowa 553 Review

Over the past 5 years or so there has been an explosion in the compact spotting scope segment of the market. This is for good reason. There are very few hunters who actually need the horsepower of a full size spotting scope. However, these compact spotters offer a lightweight portable option that still provides significantly […]

Optics

Choosing a Hunting Reticle

Post author By njgbadovinac
Post date August 11, 2026
No Comments on Choosing a Hunting Reticle

Gone are the days where a standard crosshairs is the default for hunting reticles. Technical reticles, originally pioneered in the military and competition spaces, have become prevalent in hunting scopes. With so many options, it can be difficult to decide which reticle is best for you. Here are some considerations when selecting a reticle for […]

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Optics

Leupold Mark-4HD 4.5-18×52 Review

Post author By njgbadovinac
Post date June 16, 2026

In 2024 Leupold updated their popular Mark 4 line of tactical rifle scopes. After the huge success of their Mark 5HD line they took the lessons learned and transferred them to their lower cost Mark 4HD line. I got my hands on a Mark 4HD 4.5-18×52. Here are my thoughts on Leupold’s newest mid tier […]

Optics

Vortex Venom 5-25×56 Review

Post author By njgbadovinac
Post date May 26, 2026

The optics of today are significantly better than those of twenty years ago. Long range shooters now have value priced options with all of the features of more expensive optics. The Vortex Venom line is full of value priced optics that don’t sacrifice on their feature sets. After being impressed by the Vortex Venom 1-6×24 […]

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Optics

Vortex Razor 4000 GB Review

Post author By njgbadovinac
Post date April 21, 2026

The laser rangefinder market has been developing at a breakneck pace over the last several decades. Not only are the rangefinders increasing their range. The cutting edge modern rangefinders now incorporate ballistic calculators and environmental sensors on board. The Vortex Razor 4000 GB is Vortex’s flagship rangefinder and is at the forefront of this new […]

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Optics

Nightforce NXS 2.5-10×42 Review

Post author By njgbadovinac
Post date April 14, 2026

Nightforce is one of the top optic manufacturers in both the military and competition spheres. One drawback of most Nightforce scopes are that they are heavier than a typical hunting scope. The Nightforce NXS 2.5-10×42 breaks the mold and offers a lightweight compact optic with Nightforce durability. I’ve ran the NXS 2.5-10 on a variety […]

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Optics

Rokslide Scope Drop Test Data

Post author By njgbadovinac
Post date April 7, 2026

The Rokslide Drop Testing has prompted a lot of discussion from the community. However, a common criticism is that each test is a sample size of one and is not statistically significant. This is true, and the data set is not large enough to determine the failure rates of different scope models with any kind […]

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Optics

Vortex Venom 1-6×24 Review

Post author By njgbadovinac
Post date January 13, 2026

The low-powered variable optic (LPVO) market has exploded alongside the popularity of ARs. This unique class of scope provides the ability for fast handling up close shots similar to a red dot while maintaining the ability to use magnification at distance. These characteristics make LPVOs at home on fast handling brush guns where longer shots […]

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Optics

Athlon Talos 10×42 BTR Gen 2 Review

Post author By njgbadovinac
Post date December 23, 2025

Several years ago I began searching for a low cost full featured scope option for rimfire rifles. Unsurprisingly, there are not many options for scopes with adjustable parallax and external turrets from reputable manufacturers. This caused me to look at a class of optics that has mostly been left in yesteryear: Fixed power scopes. I […]

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Optics

Nightforce NX8 4-32×50 F1 Review

Post author By njgbadovinac
Post date December 2, 2025

I recently built a new custom rifle and found myself in need of an optic to match. The rifle that was being replaced had been wearing a Leupold VX-3HD which unfortunately had had zero retention issues. This wasn’t the first VX-3HD that had issues holding zero. I have experience with a Nightforce NXS 2.5-10×42 that […]

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