For readers with marketing skills, here are two “Dream Job” opportunities in the gun industry. If you’ve ever wanted to be a video producer, the Hornady job opening should be exciting….
Hornady Creative Manager (Marketing Dept.)
First, the Hornady Marketing Department is looking to hire a Creative Manager. This position will be responsible for ad creation, copywriting, website design, as well as filming, producing, and editing company videos. This employee will manage creative projects including print advertising and web design projects. Importantly, the Creative Manager will develop and produce video projects from start to finish. This person must be capable of working well with production companies, ad agencies, and vendors. The Creative Manager will also be involved in new packaging design. CLICK HERE for full job description. Qualified applicants should contact the Hornady HR Department via email: hr [at] hornady.com .
Zeiss Marketing Manager (Hunting) Carl Zeiss Sports Optics, LLC needs a Marketing Manager for its hunting products, including riflescopes, binoculars, and laser rangefinders. This position, “Marketing Manager, Hunting”, reports to the Director of Marketing. Job duties include business development, public relations, and management of advertising campaigns. Zeiss states it is offering “a competitive salary & excellent benefits”. If you are interested and meet the qualifications listed below, email your resume (with salary requirements) to: zeissjobs [at] zeiss.com .
Marketing Manager (Hunting) for Zeiss Sports Optics, LLC
The Marketing Manager, Hunting serves as a leader in the management of Carl Zeiss Sports Optics’ growing product portfolio for premium hunting optics and is responsible for tasks that relate to brand and business development, product and company advertising, promotional activities and public relations. Key responsibilities include planning and executing marketing strategies, and providing support to achieve stated objectives regarding revenue, profitability and market share. Candidates should be skilled in all aspects of marketing including: project development, strategic planning, budgeting, research, advertising creation and management, public/media relations and copywriting. [This is an] exciting position available for a marketing professional with exceptional management, interpersonal and communication skills to collaborate with technical staff, senior management and external partners.
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, Business Administration required; MBA preferred.
5 years experience in marketing, communications or a brand management role.
Superior written and verbal communications skills.
Carl Zeiss Sports Optics has just announced its latest FIELD DAYS promotion. From August 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012, Zeiss is offering consumers significant savings on many of its most popular optics. With FIELD DAYS mail-in rebates you can save money on rifle scopes, spotting scopes, laser rangefinders, and rangefinding binoculars.
Here are the FIELD DAYS Rebate offers:
$500 rebate on the 65mm and 85mm VICTORY DiaScope. Customers who purchase a DiaScope will also receive a free, portable tripod.
$300 rebate on the award-winning VICTORY RF rangefinding binoculars
$50 rebate on the award-winning VICTORY 8×26 PRF laser rangefinding monocular
$100 rebate on the NEW Conquest HD 42mm binoculars
$100 rebate on the NEW Conquest 30mm Duralyt Riflescopes
$100 rebate on all riflescopes that have any Rapid-Z reticle
How to Get Your Discounts
All purchases must be made from a Carl Zeiss Authorized Dealer in the United States and rebate request forms must be completed and postmarked within 30 days of purchase. Payment will be made by a ZEISS Prepaid Reward Card by American Express. For promotion details, visit www.zeiss.com/sports and click the “Promotions” link on the left. Then click the Field Days Promotion Link. For more information, call 800-441-3005.
Carl Zeiss Sports Optics has made its top-end spotting scopes much more affordable. From August 1, 2012 through the end of the year, Zeiss is offering a whopping $500 rebate on its 65mm and 85mm Victory DiaScope spotting scopes. Those who purchase a DiaScope during this time will also receive a free portable tripod to enhance their viewing pleasure. This rebate offer is part of the Carl Zeiss 2012 Field Days Promotion. Visit Zeiss.com on August 1st for full details of the DiaScope promotion and other Field Days special offers.
The current Zeiss DiaScope models were launched in 2010 and won Field & Stream’s Best of the Best award, Outdoor Life’s Editor’s Choice award, Petersen’s Hunting’s Editor’s Choice award and the prestigious international Red Dot Design Award. It has many impressive features, including one-piece construction, full armor, and an innovative Dual Speed Focus System (DSF). For those seeking extreme magnification, the DiaScope has an edge over other premium spotting scopes — MORE POWER. The DiaScope’s 20-75x eyepiece remains the most powerful on the market today.
AccurateShooter.com Field Tests: Zeiss vs. Other Premium Spotting Scopes
We have tested the latest Zeiss 85mm DiaScope against high-end scopes from Swarovski, Nikon, and Pentax. Viewed at equivalent 60 power, the Zeiss glass was sharper, brighter, and clearer than both the Nikon and Pentax (showing less chromatic aberration). Contrast and sharpness was very, very close to the Swarovski, with possibly a tiny edge to the Swaro in contrast. Some of our testers prefered the DiaScope’s Dual Speed Focus. It is definitely fast. Others preferred the simplicity of the big, full-diameter ring on the Swarovski. But when we wanted max magnification, the DiaScope offered significantly more power than the Swaro: 75X for the Zeiss vs. 60X for the Swaro. Advantage Zeiss.
How about price? A Swarovski ATM-80 HD (Angled) with 20-60X eyepiece currently costs about $3059.00. The Zeiss Victory DiaScope 85T FL (Angled) with 20-75x eyepiece retails for about $3150.00 before rebate. If you knock $500.00 off the Zeiss with the rebate, you can get the 85mm Zeiss DiaScope for $409.00 less than the 80mm Swarovski. That should secure more buyers for the Zeiss. But anyone looking at ultra-premium spotting scopes should also consider the 88mm Kowa TSN-883/884 Prominar with Fluorite Glass. The Kowa is superb — perhaps the new benchmark for 80+ mm class spotters. The 88mm Angled version is $2450.00 for body only. CLICK HERE for Kowa TSN-880 Series Gear Review.
The new Ruger Inside & Out TV program debuts tonight (June 25) at 9:00 pm EST on the Sportsman Channel. The show gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the product development process at Ruger, Hornady, Zeiss and other major manufacturers in the gun/hunting industry. Ken Jorgensen, Ruger’s Media Relations Director, explained the show’s concept: “Ruger Inside & Out tells the story of how products come to be. We talk with designers, engineers, manufacturing staff, and many others that are part of the process that brings products from concept to customer. Viewers will hear these stories and see what goes on in the factory, not only at Ruger, but also with show partners such as Hornady and Zeiss. We’ll also head out on hunts, to training classes, and to other venues where we can put these excellent products to use.”
Here Are Summaries of the First Three Episodes:
Episode 1:
The premiere episode features the .375 Ruger cartridge. The show covers the .375 Ruger’s development and field capabilities, and producers travel to Alaska to see how it fares against grizzly, moose, and bighorn sheep. Plus, Steve Hornady talks about the origins of the Ruger family of cartridges, and get advice from Zeiss about picking the right dangerous game scope.
Episode 2:
This week’s episode covers Ruger’s SR22™ semi-auto .22 LR pistol: how it’s made, and how it shoots. This episode also features “Straight Talk” on how to pick the right size, weight, and caliber handgun for personal and home defense, plus a look at the developmental history of Hornady’s brand-new .17 Hornet cartridge.
Episode 3:
Behind-the-scenes information on how the new Ruger American Rifle™ was designed and manufactured, and how it fares in the field. You’ll get more “Straight Talk” for the armed citizen from veteran law enforcement officers Dave Spaulding & Jason Teague, and take a look at Zeiss’ new Rapid-Z® reticle for Hornady® Superformance® ammo.
As conceived, the show will provide “how to” information to viewers: “Whether it is choosing the right optics for an upcoming hunt or the best ammunition for your personal protection firearms, show hosts and guests will discuss the products that will work best for you and why.” Ruger Inside & Out premieres June 25th at 9:00 PM EST during the Sportsman Channel’s Monday Night “Lock & Load” primetime block.
Our Comment: This show contains some interesting technical info, and the hunting footage shot on location is impressive. However, the “product placement” is heavy-handed and at times the show becomes little more than an “infomercial” for Ruger and Hornady.
If you’re lucky enough to be able to attend the NRA Annual Meeting & Exhibits in St. Louis, stop by the Zeiss Booth (#1111) today or tomorrow. For NRA members on a mission to buy, Zeiss Sports Optics is offering special discounts on optics sold through an authorized retailer in the Zeiss booth during the show.
The Zeiss Conquest 3-9×40 riflescope (#20 reticle) will be available for only $399.00 and show attendees will also receive 10% off all other Zeiss products, except for the Victory RF and Victory FL 42mm binoculars. Zeiss already has a national consumer rebate promotion for the Victory RF binoculars ($300 rebate) and Victory FL 42mm binoculars ($200 rebate). NRA members who purchase a Victory RF or Victory FL 42mm binocular at the NRA show will instantly receive the rebate, on the spot. NRA Meeting attendees can also receive discounts on gear. Stop by the Zeiss booth, mention the Gear Store offer and you’ll receive a discount voucher for your purchase at ZeissGear.com. For more info on Zeiss optics, visit www.zeiss.com/sports or call 1-800-441-3005.
Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40mm
RifleScope with #20 Reticle.
Carl Zeiss Sports Optics has introduced a “No-Fault Policy” to supplement its current limited lifetime transferrable warranty. This “No-Fault Policy” is being initially offered to customers who purchase new Conquest HD Binoculars or Conquest Duralyt Riflescopes from Zeiss dealers in the USA or Canada. Under this new No-Fault Policy, Zeiss will repair or replace any of these new models for free for the first five years of ownership if they are damaged during normal and intended use. NOTE: The new policy is for original owners only and is not transferrable.
“This policy is being introduced at a time when customer service expectations are at their highest level in history. Asking consumers to pay for a repair soon after they have just invested a considerable amount of money for a high quality product is simply no longer acceptable,” said Michael A. Jensen, President of Carl Zeiss Sports Optics. “Anybody who purchases equipment at this quality level always takes great care of it. However … serious hunters and birders are hard on our optics, and accidents happen. This new policy simply allows those who purchase Conquest HD or Conquest Duralyt products to pursue their passion with extra peace of mind.”
Product Registration Required for “No-Fault” Coverage
Customers must register all new Conquest HD Binoculars and Conquest Duralyt Riflescopes with Zeiss within 60 days of purchase to qualify for the No-Fault Policy. Scope owners will then be covered for five (5) years from the initial date of purchase. Visit www.zeiss.com/register to register these products online. This No-Fault Policy is in addition to the limited lifetime transferrable warranty. To learn more about the No-Fault Policy for Conquest HD Binoculars and Duralyt riflescopes, visit www.zeiss.com/sports or call 1-800-441-3005.
While we were somewhat disappointed that we didn’t see many all-new precision rifles at Media Day 2012, there were plenty of new riflescopes on display. Among the most impressive new optics were rugged new high-zoom-range, First Focal Plane (FFP) tactical scopes from Hensoldt (Carl Zeiss), Leupold and Trijicon. These new scopes all featured fat tubes, compact overall length, and abundant elevation travel. These lastest top-end FFP tactical scopes offer as much as 26-power in a form factor not much bigger than a “normal” 4-16X scope.
New 3.5-26x50mm Hensoldt Was Outstanding
Hensoldt showcased a very impressive, prototype 3.5-26x56mm FFP tactical scope. Though this scope offers a whopping 7.4X zoom range and 26-power on top, this new Hensold is relatively compact. The reticle in these prototype versions was a very useful (and simple) milradian-based reticle that we hope Hensoldt retains in the production versions. The Hensoldt boasted an impressive 36 Mils of total elevation travel in two (2) turns of the turret. The new Hensoldt still shares the same superior glass and compact size that puts these scopes at the top of their class. We tested a prototype mounted to an Accuracy International AX 338. Expect the production version to be the same size and cost approximately $4000.00.
As you can see in the video, the new Hensoldt coupled with the new Accuracy Int’l AX in 338 Lapua Magnum worked very effectively at 900 meters in some tricky winds. This combination made it fairly easy to break clay pigeons on the bank at 900 meters. Off camera this combination continued to show great accuracy and very effective design features.
New Leupold MK-8
Leupold showed off a brand new MK-8 3.5-25x56mm with a Horus reticle and a beefy main tube. Again, this featured a lot of elevation in one turn as well as a pinch-and-turn locking turrets. This is a big leap forward for Leupold and we feel this will be well-received in the tactical world. Along with the new MK8, we also sampled Leupold’s new MK6 3-18x50mm. This shared similar features as the 3.5-25, and was incredibly compact as well. We expect the MK8 to sell near $4000 and the MK6 to be substantially less, likely under $3000 according to company reps.
Trijicon made a departure from their standard fare and jumped into the tactical scope world with a beefy Front-Focal Plane 3-15x50mm. This featured a well-executed MOA-based reticle and turrets with 30 MOA per turn (a Milrad version offers 10 Mils per turn). The Trijicon showcased the “short and fat” appearance that seems to be the latest design trend in tactical scopes. But though the Trijicon had a fairly short OAL (for its zoom range), it was still quite heavy at 47 ounces. The glass in this prototype version was disappointing for a scope that will retail in the $4K range. Reps told us the production version glass would be much improved. (It had better be, if Trijicon hopes to play in this stratospheric price range.)
It was apparent at Media Day 2012 that scope companies have worked hard to provide more features and more performance in their high-end tactical scopes. Consequently, the latest generation of scopes offer some very interesting and useful innovations — wider zoom range, more compact size, more elevation travel per rotation, and “goof-proof” turret mechanisms. We can only hope that, with more competition in this market, prices may become more reasonable. $4000 is an awful lot of money to pay for a scope.
Zeiss Sports Optics has introduced a new “Duralyt” line of affordable hunting scopes — all made in Germany. The new 30mm CONQUEST Duralyt line-up has 1.2-5×36, 2-8×42 and 3-12×50 models. All three premium German-made Duralyt riflescopes are available with illuminated reticle #60 or non-illuminated reticle #6. The illuminated versions are great for low-light hunting, but they are much more costly. Illuminated model MSRPs run $200-$300 more than the unlit versions.
The CONQUEST Duralyt scopes are nitrogen-filled to remain waterproof and fog-proof. The illuminated reticle #60 features an extremely fine red dot in the center of the crosshairs. When turned off, the dot disappears and it looks identical to reticle #6). The daylight-visible illuminated reticle #60 was developed using fiber optic nanotechnology that produces the finest illuminated dot in its class –- covering just 0.3 inches at 100 yards on 12x magnification.
Duralyt prices, starting at $949.99 MSRP, are affordable when compared to other premium 30mm, European-made optics. Michael Jensen, President of Carl Zeiss Sports Optics, states: “The CONQUEST Duralyt represents the best value for a European-engineered riflescope. These riflescopes feature the mechanical precision that you expect from ZEISS, large fields of view, incredible daylight illumination and image quality that is absolutely outstanding for this class.”
Conquest Duralyt 1.2-5x36mm #60
wide field of view for dangerous game and tactical applications. $949.99 MSRP; $1,249.99 with illum.
Conquest Duralyt 2-8x42mm #6
Light, compact, best magnification choice for most hunting. $999.99 MSRP, $1299.99 with illum.
Conquest Duralyt 3-12x50mm, #60
50mm objec. for xlnt low light performance. $1049.99 MSRP; $1,349.99 with illum.
Remington and Carl Zeiss Sports Optics have partnered on a promo that can save you $150.00. Starting August 1, 2011, if you purchase a Remington 700 rifle (most models) and a Zeiss Conquest or Victory riflescope, you’ll qualify for a $150.00 rebate. This promo runs through Dec. 31, 2011.
Qualifying Rifles and Scopes
Customers who purchase any Remington Model 700 BDL, CDL, CDL SF, XCR, XCR II or XHR® and any ZEISS Conquest or Victory riflescope (except ZEISS Conquest 3-9×40 # 20 reticle), from authorized Remington and Zeiss dealers in the U.S.A. between August 1 and December 31, 2011 qualify for the rebate. To get the money, customers must fill out a rebate form, and mail it in along with both original sales receipts and proofs of purchase to receive a $150 American Express gift card. All Ultimate Combination rebates must be postmarked by January 14, 2012 and cannot be combined with other rebate promotions. (Note: We’ve posted the correct link to Remington’s rebate page, but Remington hasn’t published the Rem/Zeiss rebate form yet — it should be up in a week or so.)
EuroOptic.com has a couple Zeiss 3-12x56mm Diarange units for sale at $2000.00 each — half off the normal $3999.00 price! The Victory Diarange is a quality riflescope with an integrated, through-the-lens laser rangefinder. The Zeiss Diarange was a breakthrough innovation when first released and it remains the most sophisticated combo scope/rangefinder you can buy. You have a choice of two reticles with the special $2000.000 sale items from EuroOptic.com. One unit has the illuminated #70 reticle, a illuminated red dot in the center of a medium plex. The other sale unit has the #77 reticle, an illuminated cross in a medium plex. When the illumination is switched on, the combined scope and display brightness can be adjusted with the plus and minus buttons. Reticle and display are powered by a conventional battery that provides at least 100 hours of scope illumination and 5000 laser range measurements.
Zeiss Diarange Scope/Rangefinder Features:
Riflescope with integrated laser rangefinder (eye safe, laser Class 1).
Large measuring range from 10 yds to 999 yds.
High measuring accuracy: 1 yard up to 600 yards and 0.5% of reading at 600+ yards.
Very short measuring time = 0.5 sec.
Simple, fast operation.
Outstanding performance and high low-light capability.
High mechanical sturdiness as well as recoil-proof, water tight and nitrogen-filled.
Lowest subtension resulting from reticle in the 2nd image plane.
Mounting achieved through rail type system.
This story tip from Edlongrange. We welcome submissions from our readers.