In the world of F-Class, PRS and other precision rifle disciplines, scope manufactures such as Nightforce, Kahles, and Vortex currently dominate the firing lines. However, Oregon-based Leupold has set out to change all that. Long known for premier hunting and military scopes, Leupold has set its sights squarely on the long-range competition market with the Mark 5HD series scopes. With these scopes (available in both MIL and MOA versions), Leupold now has a clear, repeatable, versatile scope in a wide range of magnifications, all the way up to 7-35X. We tested the Leupold Mark 5HD 7-35x56mm MOA second focal plane (SFP) optic. Though it features a very large 35mm (yes thirty-FIVE mm) main tube, it is one of the lightest scopes in its class — a bonus for guys struggling to make weight with their comp rifles.
Leupold Mark 5HD 7-35x56mm Field Test Report by F-Class John
The Mark 5HD is a beast of a scope packed into a great-looking and sturdy form factor. While mounting and bore-sighting the scope, I immediately like the size, shape and feel of the elevation and windage knobs. The knobs have a solid, positive feel with distinct, lovely clicks every time they were turned. I was happy to see that Leupold designed the elevation to actually go under zero which can be helpful in some situations.
Scope Box Test in Tunnel
I ran a box test while shooting in a 100-yard tunnel going clockwise then counterclockwise around the corners. I found that the repeatability to be “spot on” with each 5 MOA adjustment landing me basically back on top of the previous shots. After five passes back and forth I was left with four ragged holes in each corner. That’s impressive.
The power ring became one of my favorite features, with its incredibly functional throw lever. Actually more of a throw knob, this allows for quick and smooth change of power. Combine these features with 100 MOA of vertical adjustment and 50 MOA of windage and you have just about everything need to achieve your goals.
Reticle Options for Mark 5HD 7-35x56mm — TMOA Plus on Test Scope
Leupold currently offers two reticle options for its second focal plane (SFP) Mark 5HD 7-35X scope: the TMOA Plus (above) and the Impact-60 (right). The Impact-60 reticle features Xmas Tree-type vertical and horizontal hold-offs. My test scope had the TMOA Plus reticle, a much simpler design with an open aiming point in the center of the reticle for precise shot placement.
The TMOA Plus takes a little getting used to especially if you’re coming from a center dot or crosshair like I did. This is because there’s nothing dead center in your reticle, only four small hold squares at 3, 6, 9, 12 o’clock around center. You can use the aiming center to center up on a bullseye or any of the points around the center as hold off points. A side benefit is that the center set of squares are designed to perfectly fill the X ring at 1000 yards for easy aiming. I will say that once you get used to the reticle configuration it starts to become more intuitive and you can find different ways to use it when holding off for different conditions.
Leupold Mark 5HD Delivers Outstanding Brightness and Clarity
As I got behind the scope, I was surprised by the amount of light coming in through the large 35mm main tube. I tested the scope in the early morning just after dawn, during mid-day, and also at night. Where I shoot there is often a good amount of head-on light coming over the hills in the morning. With my current premium scope, I often see a faint glare (often seen as a haze or whiteness) that will ultimately resolve itself by mid-day but nonetheless bothers me in those early relays. The Mark 5 had NONE of this. The first time I thought it was a fluke but after countless mornings without the annoying haze I was convinced it was the glass. Leupold told me that the Mark 5HD’s superior haze- and glare-free morning performance was a function of how the lens coatings are applied.
While many top-end scopes have quality coatings, the method of applying coatings can produce micro flaws. Leupold explained that such flaws, under certain light conditions, can create a hazy view through the lens. Leupold has clearly mastered this process, achieving a visually clear scope no matter what direction the light comes from, even head-on.
HD Glass Eliminates Chromatic Aberration
Optical performance during mid-day was bright and clear. Importantly, I did notice the absence of chromatic aberration which I have experienced with some other popular-brand scopes. Chromatic aberration usually manifests as fringes of color around hard edges and can be seen even in some of the better scopes. This can affect your ability to see mirage, or to see details on a long-range target. With the Leupold Mark 5HD, chromatic aberration was noticeably absent.
The Leupold Mark 5HD also worked great during an evening shooting session. My club has night shooting for our 600-yard matches. We do it every Tuesday night, so I had lots of time to test the scope in the evening. Our club has lit targets, and even with the rest of the range dark, the targets were clear and bright, making it easy to aim precisely.
SUMMARY — Great Sharp, Clear Scope — More Magnification Would be Welcome
The majority of my testing was in F-Class and while I found nearly every aspect of the scope enjoyable, I did find myself wanting just a little more magnification. I have no doubt that in other disciplines such as PRS and ELR the 7-35X is more than enough and in fact perfectly suited. However, in the current F-Class world, 35X max magnification is on the low end, as other leading optics-makers offer scopes in the 50-60x range.
Overall, I really enjoyed this scope and think it’s going to become the favorite for a lot of shooters. It is easy to use and incredibly clear. Despite its beefy look it actually weighs less than many scopes in this category. Leupold says the Mark 5HD is “up to 20 ounces lighter than other scopes in its class”. That’s great for disciplines with tight weight limits. If you’re in the market for a new competition optic you should give one of the new Mark 5HD scopes a try.
Box to Bench Precision (B2B) has developed an oversize (23.5″ x 30″) precisely-scaled target designed for Load Development and Scope Testing. This waterproof target is very innovative. On the target you’ll find clusters of aim points for various tasks. Upper left are orange aiming spots for testing various powder charges. In the upper right quadrant are more red aim points to be used when testing bullet seating depth. Running down the center of the target is a vertical line with horizontal marks showing precise MOA and Mil heights at 100 yards — use this feature to verify your click values. ORDER HERE.
And there’s more. In the lower right quadrant (far right) are three black targets to be used for chrono work. With these you can record cold velocity, hot barrel velocity and a “Final Velocity”. Over in the lower left quadrant, in the left-most column, are three dot targets for zeroing and recording group size with load data. Finally, four more black/white targets can be used for a scope box test (aka “shooting the square”). With a box test, you move from target to target, clicking in sequence to each corner of the square in sequence, eventually returning to your original aim point. If your scope tracks correctly, the last box test shot should end up right on top of the first shot.
Record the Entire Load Development Process on One Target
For those used to shooting at conventional bulleyes or benchrest targets, this target may seem confusing, but it can really help organize and simplify the process of load development. We like the idea of having a single, durable target that performs double-duty — serving for load development as well as scope checking. And we like the fact that the target is pretty strong — the maker says: “The target is Tear-Resistant and Water-Proof”. We’d expect a maker based in the Pacific NW to design a target that can handle wet weather.
Previous version of target shown in photo. Current version has a larger and centered box test, and Tracking lines that are labeled in IPHY/MOA/MIL.
How to Order
So how much does all this target technology cost? A single, 23.5″ x 30″ target costs $5.00. A pack of three targets costs $14.25, while a five-target pack runs $22.50 (which works out to $4.50 per target). There is also a 100 meter version of this target for $4.25 each or $20 for five. Targets ship in a durable cardboard tube. To order these targets, visit the Box To Box Precision Online Store.
Would you like to record what your eyes are seeing through your scope, during a practice session or hunt. Here is a very highly-reviewed product that will do the job superbly for under $430.00 on Amazon. The impressive Tactacam FTS 5.0, that allows you to film directly through your rifle scope. The FTS 5.0 unit, produced by Tactacam in Minnesota, has earned high praise from users. In September 2019, reviewer Joe Rhea declared: “This Tactacam 5.0 is the best scope cam system I have seen or used”. Likewise reviewer Scott Gregg states: “This is THE BEST Action Camera for hunting.”
Tactacam Live Streaming AND Recording
What you see through your riflescope can be recorded to your mobile device as well as viewed live. We think this is an important technology for marksmanship training. In addition, this is great for hunters who may want to record a successful hunt sequence.
The Tactacam FTS combines high definition capture with the high-power zoom of a rifle scope. This lets you remotely view and record live footage from your rifle on your smartphone or mobile device. Simply couple your scope and your camera together with the Tactacam FTS components. Then sync the camera to the Tactacam APP on your smart phone for live viewing.
You continue to watch your target through the normal optical axis of the rifle scope. The camera records via the offset FTS camera mount. The output of the FTS camera system can then be viewed, in real time, via a live feed to a smartphone. After setup, the Tactacam FTS allows the riflescope to operate normally with no additional adjustment or modification.
4K Resolution, Remote Control, Slo-Mo, Wifi Viewing and More
Tactacam’s innovative camera systems allow easy, in-the-field recording of hunts and shooting sessions. The latest Tactacam 5.0 unit provides 4K resolution with outstanding image quality. Other features include WiFi and APP viewing options, remote control activation, slow motion, and live-streaming capabilities. Camera output can be viewed both in the App and on external WiFi-capable devices.
The Tactacam FTS system can attach to nearly all conventional rifle scopes. This system is less expensive and easier-to-mount that most other through-the-scope viewing systems. Importantly, your valuable smartphone remains separate, i.e. NOT attached to the rifle. Hence it cannot be harmed by recoil or muzzle blast. That’s important.
January 1, 2020 NOTICE: Midsouth’s End of Year Sale Was Set to End at Midnight 12/31/2019. But we are still seeing Clearance Pricing available on hundreds of items — so you may still have a chance!
There’s an amazing sale going on right now at Midsouth Shooters — prices on over 1000 products have been dropping every day since 12/26/19. The Midsouth End of Year Clearance (EOYC) sale is now in the home stretch — the last round of price reductions is today, December 31, 2019 at 11:59 pm Central Time. If you snooze you loose — EOYC inventory is selling fast!
We saw some great deals on Norma brass/bullets and Hornady ammo. Leupold and Nikon scope prices are drastically reduced. RCBS Dies and Reloading presses are deeply discounted. AR accessories are discounted. There are also big savings on gun cases, muzzle brakes, scope mounts and more…
Go to MidsouthShootersSupply.com to see the final, absolutely lowest prices for these and all other clearance items. NOTE: You can go to the EOYC Sale Page, which features all Clearance Sale items, but you can also use the regular Search Function — Sale Items will appear with the Close-out Prices indicated. For example, search for “Leupold”, or “Norma”, or “Hornady”. Scroll down the page and you’ll seen Close-Out Items with a red “Sale” tag and “Close-Out Price” marked.
Here are three examples tracking Midsouth’s EOYC price cuts since December 26th:
EOYC Sale Price Cuts for Timney Triggers
EOYC Sale Price Cuts for Nikon Scopes
EOYC Sale Price Cuts for Aero Precision 6.5 Creedmoor AR Upper
At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
1. Midsouth — End of Year Clearance — Prices Drop Daily
Visit Midsouth Shooters right now for big year-end savings. You’ll find great deals on Leupold, Nikon, and Vortex optics, Hornady and RCBS tools, and major-brand bullets and brass (Berger, Hornady, Lapua, Norma, Sierra). Shown above are notable deals — but there are over 1000 products on close-out. We suggest you take your time. Use the Search and Sort functions to find deals by brand (e.g. “Berger”, “Lapua”, or “Leupold”). There are some GREAT deals to be had here! NOTE: The prices go down each day until the sale ends, but inventories are limited. If you wait too long, you may miss out.
2. EuroOptic — Vortex Year-End Scope Clearance
Vortex Optics riflescopes and spotting scopes offer excellent value with a truly outstanding warranty. Right now hunters and long-range shooters can save big with EuroOptic’s Year-End Clearance Sale. You’ll find Vortex Viper and Razor scopes are now deeply discounted at EuroOptic.com. You’ll find a wide range of models, zoom levels, and reticles available.
3. Brownells — End-of-Year Year Promo Codes — Big Savings
If you’re like us you might’ve gotten most of what we wanted for Christmas but you still have gift money to spend on toys. Head over to Brownells.com and use the Discount Codes listed above to save money and in some cases get FREE shipping to boot. For example, with CODE M8Y you get $20 off a $200+ order and shipping is free. Be sure to meet the minimums listed for each code to get the maximum savings possible.
4. Precision Reloading — All Berger Products 10% Off
With the new year coming, it’s a good time to stock up on bullets. Precision Reloading is now offering 10% OFF ALL Berger products. This sale covers both competition and hunting bullets as well as Berger loaded ammo. Berger bullets are proven winners for all forms of centerfire rifle competition and Berger hunting projectiles are also excellent. Visit Precision Reloading to get 10% Off All Berger bullets and loaded ammo. This sale may close very soon.
5. Amazon — Kowa TSN-501 Spotting Scope, $349.00
Without question, Kowa’s top-of-the-line Prominar series spotting scopes are some of the best spotters money can buy. Kowa also offers much more affordable spotters that deliver excellent optical “bang for the buck” in compact formats. Check out this Kowa TSN-501 50mm Angled Spotting Scope with Eyepiece. This unit features an ultra-compact design and impressive clarity for under $350.00 including 20-40X Zoom Eyepiece. The TSN-501’s small size and light weight make this unit very handy for hunters or for a prone shooter on the firing line who needs to watch mirage.
6. Bullet Central — Bix’N Andy TacSport Pro
Bix’N Andy triggers are favored by many top F-Class, benchrest, and long-range competitors for good reason. These trigger have a superb break and excellent adjustability. The TacSport PRO is one of the best triggers you can buy. Up until now it’s been tough to find but Bullet Central now has a supply of TacSport Pro Single-Stage and Two-Stage Triggers in stock. These typically sell out quickly, so grab now while they’re in stock.
7. Grafs — Big Holiday Sale Through 12/31/2019
Like many other vendors, Grafs.com had a big Black Friday Sale. But Graf’s has extended its discounts all the way through the end of the year — 11:59 pm on Wednesday, December 31st. Head over to Graf’s Extended Holiday Sale Page. Save on ammo, reloading tools, optics, and more. We noted the great prices on Lyman products and Nikon Scopes (Nikon close-out sale). You can also get FREE Hazmat with powder/primers purchase of $150.00 or more.
8. Grizzly — Bald Eagle Range and Rifle Case Clearance
Bald Eagle range bags and rifle cases offer high quality at very reasonable prices. Sadly, Grizzly is closing these items out so here’s your last chance to grab a Bald Eagle bag or case before they’re all gone. We use the range bags to transport our spotting scopes and they work great for that task — these come in 15″ and 20″ sizes in various colors. The excellent Bald Eagle Rifle cases also come in multiple sizes and colors — but some styles/colors are disappearing quickly, so don’t delay.
9. Palmetto State Armory — Taurus G2c 9mm Pistol, $179.99
This is a good little compact carry gun at a great price. Palmetto State Armory has the black-on-black Taurus 9mm G2c for just $179.99. But it gets even better — with Taurus Factory Rebate your net cost is just $154.99! That’s one of the lowest prices we’ve ever seen for a big name, reliable 9mm handgun. NOTE: Taurus Rebate Offer expires at 11:59 pm 12/31/19.
10. Midsouth — Pachmayr Shock Shield Gel Recoil Pad, $12.54
The new Pachmayr Shock Shield gel-filled slip-On Recoil Pad is a simple, handy solution for reducing the felt recoil of your rifles. The one-size design stretches to fit the vast majority of conventional rifle and shotgun buttstocks. WATCH VIDEO to see how the Shock Shield goes on in seconds.
At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
1. Midsouth Shooters — Christmas Gift Guide with 128 Deals
Midsouth Shooters is running a big Holiday Sale right now. Save up to 30% on a wide variety of products — Optics, Reloading Presses, Ammo, Bullets, Powder Measures, Tools, Triggers — you name it. In total, you’ll find 128 great deals on Midsouth’s Christmas Gift Guide webpage. We’ve featured six of our favorites above, including 10% Off all Berger products in stock. NOTE: PrecisionReloading.com is also offering 10% Off Berger products through 12/29/2019.
2. Palmetto State Armory — SIG Scope AND RangeFinder $229.99
Great deal for hunters — get a SIG Sauer Whiskey III 3-9x40mm riflescope PLUS a SIG Kilo Laser RangeFinder for just $229.99. That’s right, get BOTH products for $229.99 — less than you might expect to pay for the scope by itself. The 3-9X scope features a QuadPlex reticle, while the Kilo Rangefinder has a 5X monocular, Angle Correction, and 4x per second Hyperscan ranging. Put the money you save into other gear to enhance your hunt (such as a Satellite GPS).
3. Stocky’s — Rem 700 Composite Stock with Accublock, $99.99
These stocks were the first run of Stocky’s Long Range Composite Sporters. There is nothing wrong with these “factory seconds” except the barrel channels are narrower than current versions, so you may have to open up the barrel channels a bit (simple task). On Sale for $99.99, these are an Amazing Bargain. Designed for Rem 700 and Rem clone actions, these LRC Sporter Stocks are constructed from a high-fiber composite with precision aluminum Accublock® chassis molded into the stock.
4. Sportsman’s Warehouse — RCBS & Hornady Sale, 25% Off
We’ve seen reloading sales before but never two major brands with 25% OFF for all items in stock. Head over to Sportsman’s Warehouse and take advantage of the big RCBS and Hornady 25% Off SALE. Think of the savings — on a Progressive Press, you can save $120 or more. On a Reloading Kit you can save $80+, and on a Powder Scale/Dispenser you can save $70 or more. Hundreds of items are on sale now. But act quickly — this sale will end soon.
5. Amazon — Teslong WiFi Borescope (iOS Apple and Android)
The impressive Teslong digital borescope has been a huge success. Our Forum members have raved about this unit. This compact, electro-optical, cable-type borescope outputs sharp, high-resolution images and VIDEO to desktop computers, laptops, as well as Android tablets and smartphones. And now there is a NEW WiFi Version that works with Apple iPhones and iPads, as well as Android WiFi devices and tablets, and Amazon Fire tablets (with software upgrade). Get the Wifi Teslong for $74.99.
6. EuroOptic — End of 2019 Sales, Many Brands
EuroOptic.com is one of the very best source for quality scopes and rifles. And now EuroOptic is running a huge 2019 Year End Sale with truly outstanding bargains. There are rifles, handguns, and premium optics at deep discounts. Even premium Kahles, Leica, Swarovski, and Zeiss optics are deeply discounted. If you want top-of-the-line equipment at the lowest possible price, check out EuroOptic’s YEAR END SALE today.
We’ve shot the Ruger SR9 9mm pistol and we like the ergonomics MUCH better than a Glock. The SR9 is comfortable with a slim, ergonomic grip, reversible backstrap, and narrow stainless slide. The Ruger SR9 also includes ambidextrous manual safety and magazine release, built-in Picatinny rail, and adjustable high-viz 3-dot sight system. If you are looking for a standard 9x19mm pistol (4.14″ barrel), this is a great value — $249.95 at Sportsman’s Warehouse
8. Graf’s — 2019 Holiday Sale on Lyman Products
Through the end of 2019, Grafs.com is running a Holiday Sale, with great prices on Lyman products including Reloading Presses, Powder Dispensers, Case Prep Centers, Tumblers, BoreCams and more. The prices are very attractive. For example, the Lyman Case Prep Express is marked down from $149.99 to $119.99, a 20% Savings.
9. Graf’s — Platinum Case Prep & Trim + EZ Tumbler, $179.99
If you want to step up your brass preparation game, here’s a great deal. Graf’s is offering the Frankford Arsenal Case Prep & Trim PLUS the EZ Tumbler for only $179.99. That’s an amazing deal considering you could pay $199.99 or more for the Prep & Trim unit by itself, and the EZ Tumbler is regularly $50 or more. This Grafs.com combo deal represents a savings of nearly $70.00.
10. Amazon — Bore-Snake Two-Pack, $7.99
While bore cleaning should be done with a good cleaning rod and fitted bore guide, there are times when Bore-Snakes can be handy, such as when cleaning pistols and 10/22s. Now on Amazon you can get two (2) convenient GogoKu Bore-Snakes for just $7.99. Get two of the same diameter (.22 up to 12ga), or choose a Kit with both .223 and .308 sizes. Great stocking stuffer for a shooter.
11. Amazon — 12″ x 12″ Splatter Grid Targets, 10 for $9.99
This 12″x12″ Splatterburst Target combines splatter shot marking with a grid background, with five aiming points. The bright neon shot circles make it easy to see your shots. And the handy grid lets you quickly estimate your group size. Get a 10-pack for $9.99, or a 25-pack for $17.99 (better deal). This particular target has earned rave reviews — 87% of verified buyers gave this a FIVE-Star rating. One example: “Excellent quality and durability. The adhesive is really strong. High contrast makes down range targeting easy and the splatter contrast is [great].”
If you’re looking for a state-of-the-art scope with a 34mm main tube, consider the new Foundation Series™ riflescopes from U.S. Optics. There are four new models, three zooms (1.8-10x42mm, 3.2-17x50mm, 5-25x52mm) plus a 10X fixed power. These look impressive. Check out the features of the FDN 25X 5-25x52mm ($3449) below. There are so many options! Chose among 11 different reticle types, and three illumination colors (Red, Blue, Green). Get a black Anodized finish or order any one of 8 Cerakote colors. For Elevation adjustment, choose a 1/10 MIL knob or 6.5 Creedmoor, or .308 Win BDC knobs. The Rapid Focus Eyepiece is even available with optional internal level.
This all represents serious optics technology. But you’ll pay for it. MSRP on the FDN 25X starts at $3449.00.
The Foundation Series is machined from aircraft-grade 6061-T6 aluminum and features a low profile ER3K elevation knob with a Zero Stop, capped US#1 windage knob, adjustable integrated parallax and illumination knob, rapid adjustable 180° magnification throw, and customizable options.
Field Test by Colton Reid, AccurateShooter Hunting Editor
As a solo backcountry hunter, I try to carry as little weight as possible. Each step is a reminder to bring only the most essential/effective equipment. Each item in my pack must earn its precious backpack real estate. That’s why I favor gear that serves multiple purposes — and binoculars are no exception. In a previous optics review, I field-tested Zeiss Victory RF 10×42 ranging binoculars and the results were beyond expectation — they are outstanding. However, such superior, upper-eschelon ranging optics from Zeiss cost over $3000.00. And Leica Geovid HD-B 3000 ranging binoculars cost around $2500.00.
For those looking for a more affordable option, there are several mid-range binoculars with integrated ranging capability. One popular choice is the Vortex Fury HD 5000 10×42 LRF Binoculars. Priced at around $1200 on Amazon, the Fury HD 5000 is half the price of some European LRF Binoculars. Yet the Fury HD 5000 LRF Binos still combine two optical systems (magnification and laser ranging) into one that is more valuable than the sum of the parts.
Vortex Fury HD 5000 Look and Feel
The Fury binoculars are compact and relatively light — a modest 2 pounds. They are covered by a rubber armor exterior that feels sturdy enough to survive some hard falls, but is also comfortable to hold. The compact size did offer a challenge in determining how best to place my thumbs (see top photo). The rangefinder controls (Measure, Menu) are easy to access and are distinguishable by the braille-like bumps that cover them. Considering that these buttons are going to be located and pressed without looking at the top of the binoculars each time, it was perhaps a poor design choice to place the raised Vortex logo adjacent to the controls. But after a little practice I was able to quickly locate the measure button when ranging in the field.
The eye cups are comfortable and offer four discrete eye relief positions. The focus and diopter knobs are large and easy to turn but also provide resistance to rotation. Resistance is useful for maintaining the previous positional setting.
Vortex Fury 5000 — Rangefinding Performance
The Vortex Fury’s rangefinder function, along with its menu, is simple and intuitive. In my humble opinion, simple is better. The display is a red LED projection in the right optic. As noted in another review, the red display can be difficult to distinguish against a tan/brown image, so I used max brightness at all times to ensure display visibility. The display menu covers the core items: distance (line of sight or angle compensated), measurement units (yards/meters), brightness, and the ability to display either the strongest “Best” signal or the “Last Result” to help range objects behind trees or brush. The rangefinder also enables scan mode (continuous ranging) that updates displayed distance every three-quarters of a second as you sweep over the terrain.
In the field, rangefinder performance was good. I could consistently range objects at distances out to around 1500 yards. Beyond that, the rangefinder struggled with hills, trees, and brush. Ranging Longer distances required a rock or something more reflective. I will likely never shoot targets at or beyond 1500 yards, but the ability to range objects at those distances is extremely useful when scouting in the field. I routinely use my rangefinder to measure the distance to my next vantage point or staging area for a stalk, which can be over a mile away.
Optics — How Good is the Glass?
I should first note that it is difficult to quantitatively compare optical systems without objective data from sophisticated scientific measurement systems used in optics labs. Consequently, I must rely on a qualitative comparison with a known reference. In this case I compared the Fury HD against my tried and true Swarovski Habicht porro-prism binoculars.
With that disclaimer, I would rate the Vortex Fury optics as good to very good. In ample daylight, the Fury and Habicht binoculars were comparable. The main difference being that the Fury required a more precise adjustment of the focus knob in order to capture a crisp image. In low light, the Habichts had the advantage. The Fury images appeared slightly darker than the Habichts and the image sharpness in the Fury seemed to degrade more quickly with the fading light.
That may be partially linked to lower light transmission but also to the more sensitive focus knob of the Fury. With that sensitivity it could be difficult to tell which knob position yielded the best image. That being said, I was still able to spot deer with the Furys in low light (see image). What is more, I didn’t have to switch between my binoculars and a rangefinder to determine distance or suffer the reorientation of a different magnification and field of view. That is a huge benefit!
The Verdict
Overall, I was happy with the Vortex Fury’s performance. Both the optics and rangefinder were what I would consider mid-range in terms of performance. But for a street price of about $1200.00, that is a good value. Yes you can do better, but you’ll have to pay more than twice as much. Considering my recommendation is always to buy the best optics you can afford, the Vortex Fury HD 5000 would be a good choice for serious hunters on a budget. These are solidly made. Vortex states the aluminum alloy body is nitrogen-purged, and O-ring sealed to provide a waterproof, fogproof and shockproof product.
At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
1. Sportsman’s Warehouse — RCBS & Hornady Sale, 25% Off
We’ve seen reloading sales before but never two major brands with 25% OFF for all items in stock. Head over to Sportsman’s Warehouse and take advantage of the big RCBS and Hornady 25% Off SALE. Think of the savings — on a Progressive Press, you can save $120 or more. On a Reloading Kit you can save $80+, and on a Powder Scale/Dispenser you can save $70 or more. Hundreds of items are on sale now. But act quickly — this sale will end soon.
2. CDNN — Thompson Center Compass, $269.99
In you want a solid, low-cost hunting rifle, look no further. CDNN is running an amazing sale on the Thompson Center Compass. At just $269.99, this is a perfect first rifle for a family member. This is a $129 savings over normal retail. At this ultra-affordable $269.99 price, six (6) different chamberings are available: 6.5 Creedmoor, .270 Win, 7mm-08, .308 Win, .30-06 Springfield, and .300 Win Magnum.
3. EuroOptic — End of 2019 Sales — Many Brands
EuroOptic.com is one of the very best source for quality scopes and rifles. And now EuroOptic is running a huge 2019 Year End Sale with truly outstanding bargains. There are rifles, handguns, and premium optics at deep discounts. Even premium Kahles, Leica, Swarovski, and Zeiss optics are deeply discounted. If you want top-of-the-line equipment at the lowest possible price, check out EuroOptic’s YEAR END SALE today.
4. Brownells – Gift Center 2019 Major Savings
Brownells.com is always a perennial favorite for many shooters. Through the end of December, you can find many great bargains on Brownell’s Gift Center 2019. You’ll find great deals on rifles, reloading supplies, optics, gun parts and more. Or get a gift for a friend or family member. There’s bound to be something you need at significant discounts.
5. Bruno Shooters Supply — L.E. Wilson Reloading Tools Sale
L.E. Wilson makes outstanding tools and reloading dies. We use Wilson dies with our Arbor presses, and use Wilson Trimmers. Now you can save on the full line of Wilson dies and reloading tools. Bruno Shooters Supply is running a great Wilson Product Sale this month. There’s lots to choose from including case trimmers, die sets,and more.
6. Amazon — Wheeler Digital Trigger Pull Gauge, $54.31
Every serious shooter should have a good trigger gauge. The Wheeler digital trigger gauge is precise and repeatable, measuring pull weights up to 12 pounds, making it suitable for all types of firearms. The load cell directly contacts the trigger making it extremely accurate with +/- 0.2 ounce precision. There are two modes: “Peak” and “Live.” Peak mode shows max force for each pull and calculates the minimum, maximum and average pull weights. Live mode continuously shows the force on the sensor. It even has a special adapter for Savage-style triggers with bladed inserts.
7. Amazon — Chapman Tool Kit, $45.00
If you’re using cheap “box store” drivers and wrenches for your scopes, guns, dies, and presses then you’re risking damage. You need proper, quality tools to do the job right and the components in Chapman tool kits are exactly that. Choose from a variety of Champman Kit with multiple drivers. With these tools you can work on your fine firearms with confidence.
8. Longshot Target Cameras — All Systems on Sale!
Target cameras have come a long way in the last year or two and Targetvision is leading the charge with their Longshot camera systems. The top-end LR-3 System offers longer range (2 miles), higher resolution, and better software than you get with any other consumer target camera system. The Longshot systems have earned some of the highest reviews on the market and also have a ‘bulletproof’ option which guarantees a replacement in the event your unit gets shot.
9. Midsouth Shooters — Sparc AR Red Dot, $119.99
Not everyone needs a high-tech $500 red dot optic for their AR or shotgun. There are plenty of guys who just love having fun and want a red dot sight that does the job and the Sparc AR red dot is exactly that. Pick one up for a crazy low price of $119.99 and start having some fun today.
10. Amazon — MTM Cleaning Rod Case, $22.89
Good cleaning rods are expensive and can be easily damaged if you’re not careful. To protect those valuable cleaning rods, we recommend the MTM cleaning rod case which holds four rods as well as cleaning supplies. This case protects your rods both at home and while traveling. With this handy, durable case you can stop worrying about bending or breaking those important cleaning rods.
Gavin Gear of UltimateReloader.com recently tested Hawkeye Borescopes from Gradient Lens Corp., along with the impressive Hawkeye Video Slide System. Gavin observed: “When it comes to gunsmithing, gun inspection, and gun maintenance, a borescope can tell you things that nothing else can. And that’s why a borescope is an invaluable tool for gunsmiths, competition shooters, and gun enthusiasts.”
UltimateReloader.com MUST WATCH Video — See What Hawkeye Borescope Reveals:
A good borescope reveals the reality inside your barrel(s). There’s no more guesswork. All the issues associated with barrel will be revealed — carbon build-up, copper fouling, fire-cracking and more. Within a few seconds you can judge the state of your bore, and diagnose problems such as copper fouling and fire-cracking. Check out these two images. On the left is a brand new hand-lapped barrel. On the right is a barrel with heavy fire-cracking.
Gavin tested both 7″ and 17″ versions of the Hawkeye Borescope. He tested straight versions, and both long and short borescopes with a 90° eyepiece. For most tasks we prefer the 90° eyepiece. In addition to these systems, Gavin tested the the Hawkeye Video Slide and video image acquisition system, shown below.
The features are: 1. Video Slide support system; 2. Pistol barrel being inspected; 3. Borescope with quick-coupler equipped Sony camera; 4. Windows 10 PC Laptop running Hawkeye App with VIDEO Feed; 5. LED illumination for borescope.
“The Hawkeye Video Slide and video image acquisition system are not intended for consumers. They are primarily used by laboratories, gun OEMs, and other commercial customers,” Gavin notes. He used the Video Slide to provide the “next best thing” to viewing through the Hawkeye itself.
What You Can See with a Hawkeye Borescope
This Gradient Lens video shows how to correctly borescope your barrel:
A precision optical borescope is a pricey tool, but it performs critical tasks for gun-owners, and a Hawkeye’s rigid optic tube offers some important advantages over a cheap endoscope on a flexible cord. To learn how a Hawkeye borescope can help you diagnose barrel issues, you should read a Rifle Shooter magazine feature story, What the Eye Can See.
In this article, writer Terry Wieland shows how to inspect for defects in new barrels, how to recognize different kinds of fouling (in both barrels and brass), and how to spot throat erosion in its early stages. Terry uses a Gradient Lens HawkEye BoreScope. The current generation of HawkEyes can be attached to a still or video camera to record digital images. The most interesting part of the article is on the second page. There, author Wieland provides photos of various types of internal flaws that can appear in barrels. This will help you spot pitting, excessive land wear, rust damage, and damage from corrosive primers.
Wieland notes that BoreScopes aren’t just for barrels: “The borescope has other uses as well. It can be used to examine the interior of a cartridge case to look for the beginnings of a case separation or to examine the interior of a loading die that is giving you trouble. When you consider the number of tubular objects that play such an important role in rifle shooting, it is a wonder we were ever able to function without such a method of studying bores.”
Leupold currently offers two reticle options for its second focal plane (SFP) Mark 5HD 7-35X scope: the TMOA Plus (above) and the Impact-60 (right). The Impact-60 reticle features Xmas Tree-type vertical and horizontal hold-offs. My test scope had the TMOA Plus reticle, a much simpler design with an open aiming point in the center of the reticle for precise shot placement.
Gavin tested both 7″ and 17″ versions of the Hawkeye Borescope. He tested straight versions, and both long and short borescopes with a 90° eyepiece. For most tasks we prefer the 90° eyepiece. In addition to these systems, Gavin tested the the Hawkeye Video Slide and video image acquisition system, shown below.
A precision optical borescope is a pricey tool, but it performs critical tasks for gun-owners, and a Hawkeye’s rigid optic tube offers some important advantages over a cheap endoscope on a flexible cord. To learn how a Hawkeye borescope can help you diagnose barrel issues, you should read a 
