Breaking News: Remington 2020: Digital Scopes Go Mainstream

The Remington 2020 is similar, both in software and hardware, to the Tracking Point system, but one major different is that the Remington 2020 is not connected to the trigger. Instead of releasing/unlocking the trigger at the exact moment the shot should be taken, the Remington 2020 simply gives the shooter a visual alert to pull the trigger. While the Tracking Point system has a range of 1,200 yards, the Remington 2020 can only provide targeting assistance out to 500 yards (although it should be noted that the laser range finding functionality will work out to 750 yards). The scope has a 3-21x magnification.

Along with environmental factors (Temperature, Barometric Pressure, Incline/Decline, Cant, Air Density, Magnus Effect Drift, Target Movement, Coriolis Effect Drift), the Remington 2020 factors in the specific rifle characteristics (Barrel Twist and Direction, Lock Time, Ignition Time and Barrel Time) and ammunition characteristics (Drop, Wind Drift, Spin Drift., Muzzle Velocity). While this should give accurate results, it does means that the scope is coupled to the specific rifle and ammunition combinations that Remington has developed 3D flight models for. At launch there will be three scope/rifle combinations available for purchase. There is one Bushmaster AR-15 chambered in .223, a short action Model 700 chambered in .308 Win. and a long action Model 700 chambered in .30-06. Each of these rifles is matched to two Remington loads and one Barnes load.

The scope also features video recording (including sound), so hunters can record and share their kill shots. Expect animal rights activists to go ballistic when these videos start hitting YouTube.

Remington has always been willing to try something a cutting edge. Hunters laughed at Remington when they introduced the Remington Model 700 Etronx. Who, they asked, would want a rifle that required batteries to operated? If Remington had not abandoned the concept I believe every large hunting rifle manufacturer would be making at least one electronic firing rifle. I know Tracking Point is in the digital scope game for the long term, I just wonder if Remington is as well.