Leupold LCO and D-EVO - SHOT Show Optic Preview
Leupold release the LCO and D-EVO just before SHOT. The combination is very different than anything else on the market as the two optics are setup in a side-by-side configuration with one off-set to the right side. I call that in the Gangsta-style layout.
In the front is the LCO (Leupold Carbine Optic) non-magnified red-dot sight. Behind it is the D-EVO with its right side off-set objective. The D-EVO is basically a prism sight with a 6x fixed magnification in the same category as the Trijicon ACOG and ELCAN sights.
The combo took up the whole top rail on this Noveske AR-15. The magnified D-EVO will actually work in conjunction with red-dot or reflex sight as long as it’s tall enough for the dot to be see above the D-EVO’s housing. The LCO red-dot sight is nothing special other than is homely looking and being twice as expensive as top-end Aimpoint and EOTech.
The sight picture that Leupold spend 3 years to develop. It allows to weapon operator to see both the non-magnified view of the red-dot and the 6x view of the D-EVO at the same time. I would say this really need a lot of training to get use. Unlike the LCO red-dot, the D-EVO has restriction of eye relief and I found it’s very sensitive to head position.
The D-EVO’s etched reticle looks similar to the one found on the Mk6 and Mk8 but it’s not illuminated. Noted that the BDCs are gradually off-set to the right? That’s because of the D-EVO’s reticle not only has to deal with ballistic trajectory but also the optic being off-set to the right side of the weapon.
The top view of the combo. I can’t say it’s going to be user friend to left-hander as that the D-EVO’s optic housing would block much peripheral vision on the other eye. The D-EVO by itself is retail for $1875. The LCO has a MSRP of $1249.
Writer and gear editor with articles published in major gun publications. A five year combat veteran of the US Marine Corps, Tim is also part of Point & Shoot Media Works, a producer of photography, video and web media for the firearms and shooting sport industry. Tim's direct contact: Tyan.TFB -at- gmail.com
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I had a chance to work with this unit at SHOT Show as well. Very, very cool.
Why didn't they run the optic tube straight under the red dot sight, and put the red dot's electronics off to the side? Seems overly-complex to me.