Every SHOT SHOW you talk to fellow gunwriters and ask them the same question: “Have you seen anything really new and interesting?”. Most of the time an answer is quite vague: “Well, you know, this and that, it depends on you definition of “new and interesting”… This SHOT, I did not have a problem answering this question. Axion Second Zero device is something I never saw before, I never heard about similar devices and it looks like it actually brings something new to the table.

If we look at the development of small arms in the late 20th century and early 21st century, it really did not go the way everyone expected. No lightsabers or blasters, no flechette-firing weapons, caseless ammunition or programmable airburst munitions. We all still use the same gas-operated rifles developed in the 50s.

The real progress occurred not in small arms, but in aiming devices. Red dots, holographic sights, variable magnification scopes, lasers, night vision, thermal imaging. All those things help is to use the full potential of those “old” rifles from the 50s. And Second Zero does exactly the same thing – it allows the shooter to use the full ballistic potential of his round.

Second zero and EOtech on an AR-15 rifle.

How it works? Very simple. You install Second Zero on the Picatinny rail in front of your scope or red dot, flip it up and the lens shifts the image to compensate for bullet drop.

Second zero and EOtech on an AR-15 rifle.

You can also mount it directly on the scope. There are several applications for that system.

Let’s say you have to switch between subsonic and supersonic ammunition in your rifle. Red dot is zeroed for the normal supersonic rounds, but with subsonics you POI (point of impact) is completely different. All you have to do, if you have Second Zero, is to flip up the lens and just aim like you normally would with no holdovers.

Second zero on the 300 BLK AR-15 pistol.

Another problem for many rifle shooters is that they only have access to a relatively short range for zeroing. 25, 50 or a 100 meters/yards is what you typically have. With Second Zero, you effectively double the distance of you zero.

Second zero on the 300 BLK AR-15 pistol.

Bigger versions of Second zero are already in use with a lot of precision shooters and snipers around the world. Rumor has it that a Canadian sniper who did a famous killshot at a distance of 2.2 miles (of 3,540 meters) also used a similar device – “Charlie” unit developed and manufactured by TacomHQ.

You can also watch the product demonstration in this TFBTV video.

Second Zero is available now for just $79.99 at Axeon optics website: http://axeonoptics.com/second-zero/

Representative of Axeon optics with 300 BLK pistol.