The Firearm Blog

Korean firm Dong In Optical specializes in red dot sights for machine guns, miniguns, grenade launchers and auto-cannons.

The Model DCL100 Red Dot Sight (below) is designed specifically for the FN Minimi / M249 and FN MAG / M240 light machine guns. It is seen here mounted on the Minimi Para, FN's short 13.7" barreled, collapsible stocked, machine gun.

DCL100 mounted on the FN Minimi Para.

The larger Model DCL110 designed for .50 heavy machine guns and 20mm cannons

I have an overwhelming desire to mount one of these on a Ruger 10/22

A big thanks to Groot Mamba for the photos.

The M16 in this photo, which was taken in Afghanistan a few days ago, has a carry handle mounted on the 9 o’clock handguard rail.

I had not seen a carry handle mounted there before so I asked about it on MP.net. BumpkinBoy and scrybe suggested he has it there in case his optics fail. If it failed he would need to detach the scope and carry handle, then reattach the carry handle.

I suppose it is not a bad idea if you cannot afford, are not allowed, or do not have backup iron sights (BUIS) on hand.

I recently blogged about the new rangefinders from Leupold. Jeff, their PR guy, emailed me to say they also have two cheaper, lower ranged versions of the new RX-1000 coming out soon.

The RX-1000 model

The RX-600 and RX-750 can be used out to 600 yards and 750 yards respectively, but otherwise have a feature-set similar to the RX-1000 . No product photos or pricing information are available yet.

Leupold’s new RX-1000 Rangefinder is very impressive. It is lightweight, compact, has a 6x zoom and can measure out to 1000 yards.

Standard model RX-1000

There are two models, the standard and the TBR model (True Ballistic Range). The TBR model includes an integrated ballistics computer which can calculate MOA elevation adjustment or the hold over point and the equivalent horizontal range when firing at an angle … the only thing it does not do it skin the game

I am not sure what the official MSRP is, but OpticsPlanet.net have the standard model listed for $350 and the TBR model for $400.

WrenTech Industries have started selling a shotgun and Ruger 10/22 rifle variant of their Advantage Tactical Sight. The new sights work the same as the pistol version. To aim you simply line up the rear sight with front sight to create a triangular shape. This apparently allows very quick sight acquisition.

The ATS on a glock and the sight picture.

The Universal Shotgun sight fits any non-ribbed 12 gauge barrel that is 14″ – 20″ long and of .840” to .890” in diameter, which includes most non-ribbed Mossberg and Remington barrels.

Mossberg 500 Shotgun

The Ruger 10/22 variant is only compatible with the aftermarket Tactical Solutions fluted .22 LR barrel. It is designed specifically for .22 steel matches.

Ruger 10/22

Both sights can be purchased online and cost $129.95. You can read more about the pistol sight system in an article [PDF Link] from this months GUNS Magazine.

Capitalizing on the phenomenal popularity of the AR-15, Leupold have produced a line of scopes designed for AR-15 hunting rifles.

Mark AR 1.5-4×20mm

The Mark AR 1.5-4×20mm model is a light weight scope allowing a wide field of view at the 1.5x zoom, while giving the option of 4x zoom for longer shots. The disadvantage of this scope is the poor low-light performance from the 20mm OA (objective aperture).

The Mark AR 3-9×40mm is your standard 3-9×40mm scope but with pre-engraved bullet drop compensation on the elevate adjustment dial for a 55 grain .223/5.56mm NATO load.

More info here.

Hat Tip: Shooting Wire

Trijicon have partnered with FLIR Systems, night vision expects, to develop a very compact thermal imager for ACOG scopes. The ATWS or Advanced Thermal Weapon Sight uses a 640×480 pixel uncooled camera.

While it is compact it is not light, weighing in at 1.5 lbs.

Defense Industry Daily reports that the Marines are getting a new spotting scope called the Scout Sniper Observation Telescopes (SSOT). The SSOT is a variant of the Horus Vision Leupold spotting scope system designed specifically for snipers.

Horus Vision Leupold spotting scope

I was amazed that the M49, the standard military spotting scope, was designed during WWII!

Picture of M49 from War Department manual TM 9-1556 published in 1944.

In my personal opinion, optics are one of the two major improvements in firearm technology since WWII (the other being ammunition component improvements). While I am sure the current M49’s exceed the mil specs from the 1940s it is only 20x in power and has no reticle.

UPDATE: According to Allen, a Marine vet and analyst at The Columbia Group, The Marines will be using a standard Gen II Mil-Dot reticle, not the Horus reticle described below.

The Horus Vision Leupold, as the name suggests, is made with Leupold optics, and offers 12.7-38.1x zoom. Its main feature is the reticles. Unlike standard mil-dot these show a 2d-grid which allows for precise calculations of holdover and, in the case of a spotter for a sniper, calculating speed of moving objects.

Horus H36 reticle.

This promotion video shows how it works. The video is showing the Horus line of rifle scopes, not the spotting scope, but the idea is the same.

Defense Industry Daily has more info and details of the contact awarded to Horus.

A while back I covered diamond rifle sights, and recently I became aware that Trijicons “Bright & Tough” night sights use a sapphire crystal to focus light into the tritium lamp.

Pretty cool. The Brownells description of the night sights:

Nighttime and low light shooting tests prove sights equipped with these glowing dots are easier to see and more accurate than instinctive shooting with standard black sights. Rugged, heavy duty, Traser®, luminous, 3-Dot tritium lamps provide their own long-lasting energy source. Lamps are mounted in silicone-sealed, metal cylinders to give maximum protection from breakage or leakage. Polished sapphire, crystal windows give a bright, crisp and perfectly round aiming dot in low light. Inlaid white rings around each sapphire make the sights appear as standard white dots in daylight. Very narrow blades do not have the white ring and will look more like a plain black blade in daylight. Most can be installed in factory dovetail or sight base. Glock® models require use of special Trijicon installation tools to prevent sight damage.

I do not know the MSRP but Brownells have them listed for $99 – $145 depending on the handgun model.

Any volunteers to update the Wikipedia page for Sapphire with by far the coolest use of the stone?

[ I make no money what-so-ever from linking to Brownells and have no business relationship with them. ]

Trijicon have updated their mini red dot RMR sight. They claim the new model is tougher than any other mini red dot available.

When precision is the only option, your best option is the Trijicon RMR™ Sight. Built to provide optimum red-dot visibility against the target, you can acquire and hit your target quickly and more accurately.

The new Trijicon RMR™ (Ruggedized Miniature Reflex) has been introduced to match the legendary toughness of the Trijicon ACOG® (Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight).

It can be teamed up with the ACOG® or AccuPoint® for the ultimate in fast target acquisition or precise aiming at extended distances.

They start at $425.

If shooting was still popular with hollywood types or if the gangsta’s had more class we would see more scopes like this:

Click to expand

The perfect scope to go with your diamond front sight or gold sniper rifle.

I am not sure what Swarovski Optik model this is.

Hat Tip: Хроники безумного Макса

EOTech have developed a next-generation grenade sight at the request of the Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC). SMGLee grabbed some exclusive shots of it.

The reticle tracks up and down as the weapon is raised or lowered. How cool is that? I don’t have a grenade/flare/golf ball launcher but I want one!
More photos at MP.net

Carl Zeiss have built a spotting scope with a built in 7 megapixel digital camera … or maybe it is a digital camera with a built in spotting scope. Anyway it is pretty cool. The scope features a 15-45x zoom, flip out screen and Infa-red remote control.

One of these at the range would be great fun. Range reports would look great with a animated GIF of shots hitting the target!

PhotoScope 85 T* FL

H/T: Engadget

This is a snippet of the future weapons episode about the .50 BMG Accuracy International AS50. It is amazing footage, you can see the scope, scope rail and barrel flexing during the recoil.

Watching that scope move around really made me wince.