Frank Galli, a former Marine sniper, shares his opinion on the new long-range shooting equipment. We get to see what companies will be releasing that year at SHOT Show, which is usually held in January. SHOT Show 2021 was cancelled. Many of the 2020 products never made it to market. Last SHOT Show we were teased, but then the lockdowns occurred and everything disappeared. I ordered several new products last yea, but they never arrived. The biggest problem is the supply chain. You can’t build a new product if your business isn’t able to get the materials. Some companies have been able to move forward with design and testing while others are trying to deliver. The current political climate has caused demand to rise, which is a double-edged problem. However, innovation is moving forward, even though demand is up and supply is down. Let’s take a look at 2021. OEM ScopesI’m going to start with optics since this sector has seen the most movement. An OEM scope is a single build for a company. It is not made by a manufacturer of scopes. Instead, a list of features is selected and the builder brands the scope to the company. We track test the OEM scopes using a 30-pound fixture for stability and accuracy. The Arken scope scored 100 per cent despite its low price and proves to be a great investment in long-range shooting equipment. A large manufacturer may requisition a design from an overseas builder. These designs can then be resold to other companies. Athlon is the most popular company in this category. They make a solid product and have a track record. Their entry has inspired many others to follow their lead and are now releasing new products and design adjustments to their existing lines.
The X7 Riton Optics Conqueror, a 3-24x56mm Front Focal Plane scope retails for $2,250. There are many new models in Riton’s lineup, with the X7 being top-of-the line models. This scope has improved internals, 120-MOA adjustment, and a holdover-style-reticle. It has a 34mm main tube that is illuminated and offers options in MRAD and MOA. This scope is a solid entry to the market. It’s the right size, weight, and specifications to satisfy precision rifle shooters. There are many magnification options, including 3-32x and 4-32x versions. Get on target with Frank Galli:Arken Optics
Arken Optics is another company worth considering in this market. Arken Optics is a Chinese-made scope manufacturer that is cheaper than most brands. Their products are reliable, which is what makes them different. It’s like an a-la-carte menu where you can choose to invest in glass, internals, or other features. Arken Optics invested in the internals and it shows. I have the Arken Optics 4-16x50mm Focal Plane scope. This scope is very affordable at $399 and is a great entry-level scope. It’s a great scope for anyone with a budget of at least $399. The selection of scopes below $500 was terrible in the past. This price range had poor reliability. We tested the Arken using our Sniper’s Hide Scope tool and found it to track with 100% reliability. The company was able to modify the reticle because of the shortages caused by the pandemic. They listened to the end-users and changed the reticle to make it more popular. You’ll be able to upgrade to this reticle in the future. There are many other scopes within this category. There are many companies such as Tract, Maven, and Athlon that offer excellent optics at a range of prices. I recommend that you look at the specs in these ways: Budget: Decide your budget. Reticle: Make sure the reticle speaks to you. MOA or MRAD: Most modern optics offer both. Be sure to check point two as MOA reticle choices are often limited versus their mil-based counterparts.Features: The features are often very similar, as many OEM scopes are based off a specific model to begin with; look at the tube size, turret design and ocular adjustments.Glass: Glass is the last thing I consider; current specifications have improved over the years. HD glass is very common. Long-Range RiflesRifles will be a difficult call for 2021. The previous record for gun sales was set in 2016. Gun sales soared in 2020. The previous record was 2016. In 2020, gun sales soared. The action, design, and chassis are all tested before being released. This is because it is difficult to get supply. Research and development are taking a back seat. Hoplite Arms
Hoplite Arms spoke to me about their new rifle systems that will be available in 2021. They were ready for SHOT Show. A Hoplite R&D representative stated that Hoplite Arms will initially offer complete weapon systems, and not just actions. Hoplite Arms will offer a complete weapon system right from the beginning to ensure that our design does not become vulnerable to problems that have plagued some sectors of our industry. Hoplite Arms criteria for these new projects (Kopis Aspis and Phalanx weapons systems) have been designed to not only increase reliability and add value, but also to expand and exceed the current performance envelope. Through the alloy selections of critical components such as the bolt or the breech, we are achieving unprecedented action strength. Aermet 100 is the alloy that both of these alloys are made from, and it has great strength without being brittle. “Ballistic CalculatorsGenesis BallisticsHoplite Arms will also be releasing a new version Patagonia Ballistics HotBore 2.0 via smartphones. Patagonia Ballistics is the oldest ballistic solver on the market. They were actually right there with CheyTac’s ABC system and Gerald Perry’s ExBal. It used a Windows mobile-based software system. ColdBore is the best ballistic software available, but we don’t have to deal Windows. It works well with Trimble units but they are heavy and bulky. The software can be ported to Androids and iPhones. Genesis Ballistics is a full-featured app that will run on your smartphone. Genesis builds off the Patagonia software; it has tools and features not found in other solvers, like the Scope Tracking Utility.RangefindersWe see a lot of companies offering small incremental updates to products, especially around ballistic software. Connectivity is one area where companies can stand out. It allows for the linking of products.
Vectronix excels at this, especially with Terrapin X rangefinder. This consumer-based unit doesn’t include proprietary software but focuses on feeding different programs data. They recently added connectivity to a number of new products, including the Garmin Applied Ballistic smartwatch. This allows you to easily range a target, flip your wrist, and get the solution. Connectivity across multiple devices is a way to be future-proof, rather than investing in proprietary solutions.
Garmin Tactix Delta Applied Ballistics with Garmin Tactix Delta is a fully-featured ballistic solver. It’s not like the old devices. Garmin smartwatches are a huge favorite of mine. The Tactix Delta is very similar the Fenix 6; it has the solar glass for charging, and the watch will last for more than 25-days.
This year, Really Right Stuff will be releasing several new products. Sticking with what works–tripods–they’re releasing a small, compact hunting tripod called the Ascend. It’s the ultimate modern shooting tripod, compact and lightweight. The Cinch Elite is an aluminum model, while the LR is a polymer version. The price of the polymer model is affordable for everyone. Many people complain about the high cost of Really Right Stuff products. But we pay them because they work.
The pandemic really caused a disruption in our supply chain. This is combined with a potentially disastrous election for the gun industry. It’s a recipe for disaster when it comes to new product releases. More opportunity may be found in staggering releases. n Digest the Magazine. Target grids and bullseye sizes can be found in MOA. Perfect for long-range shooting! Get free targets
