Hunting optic technology has skyrocketed in popularity. Across the sector, recent advancements in glass and optic technology will carry the avid hunter for the next 20 years. New and innovative products are hitting the market in rapid succession.
A few short decades ago, if you asked an experienced hunter what hunting optics were on the market, they were likely to respond with scopes, early development binoculars, and rangefinders. Visit any good online retailer; there are now laser products, trail cameras, night vision, and thermal imaging with massive accessories.
One product finally coming into its own is the HD spotting scope. Some will say that a good pair of binoculars can do the same thing, and to a degree, yes. However, where a good spotting scope comes into play are on the premium and limited tags for big game. Hunters want to evaluate the animal and its headgear before taking a shot. Spotting scopes feature some of the finest long-range glass and optics in the industry.
Global leaders in hunting optics, such as Leupold and Nightforce, lead the way in innovation and product development. Decades-old technology driven glass builders in Europe offer high-end products with world-class optics. High-end scopes should easily zero a hunting rifle at 400 to 600 yards with an effective range of over 1000 yards.
Leupold’s VX 6 HD has some of the most innovative features to hit the segment. A 6:1 Zoom ratio gives the hunter six times higher power magnification for those long-distance shots. Guard-on lens coating keeps the glass free from dirt and adds security. A professional-grade lighting system highlights the Leupold. Glare reduction, outstanding clarity and resolution, and unmatched light transmission are part of the optical system.
Recent Innovations in Hunting Optics
Choosing the right optic for your hunt takes experience and market knowledge. The most important question is what kind of hunt you will do: open, flat land, or mountaintop ridges. Most high-end scopes have different lighting systems on command with different presets to focus your aim. Make sure to have presets to avoid changing lighting conditions derailing the hunt.
Every piece of hunting and optic gear has been reimagined since the 21st century. Smart and nano-engineered materials are in development now; sports will be one of the first target markets for these advancements. The combination of high-end electronics and optics is being explored around the world. Smart glass is a perfect marriage of practical applications for upscale product lines.
2022 Shot Show
The recent show saw many new binoculars from classic European glass builders, such as Zeiss, Leica, and Steiner. The clarity and brilliance of European glass are unequaled. There were many hunting scopes with larger configurations with targets to 1000 yards.
Vortex brought to market a remarkable hunting scope from the Razer line. The new flagship brings a new EBR-7D Illuminated Reticle in MOA or MRAD. Red Dots and Lasers were everywhere.
Ballistic Reticles
Ballistic reticles are the latest innovation to improve accuracy; it is an aiming point that includes multiple points in the sight picture. Once the rifle is zeroed, a ballistic reticle can precisely aim at different distances. No other hunting scope component has seen a complete transformation than the reticle.
Every scope builder crafts reticles in-house, optimizing scope performance. With the introduction of ballistic reticles, innovation has taken a step further. Burris has developed a Ballistic Plex Reticle, which is effective and simple in design. The ballistic plex features trajectory compensation out to 500 yards.
The Duplex Reticle developed by Leupold in the early sixties is the most copied reticle design in the world. Many experienced hunters consider the Duplex as the best aiming point or hunting reticle. The Duplex is a classic reticle style, with thicker lines to the outside and thinner lines leading to a point. The Duplex reticle helps hunters learn to aim quickly on target.
Smart Scopes
The expensive Smart Scope technology is a new breed of hunting scope coming to market. Burris led the revolution to the electronic optic nearly a decade ago, but now the market is growing. Advancements in micro-processing and integrated circuitry have made the intelligent scope possible.
Industry experts continue to ask ethical questions; are we relying too much on technology? Laser rangefinders can place the animal within a few feet of a target. A test done by OutdoorLife, in 2020 between analog scopes and the new electronic devices found that the analog performed statically better.
Final Word
Three to five years ago, the industry saw drops in price points across the board due to stellar production methods, and product designs became more compact due to its electronic core.
Digital optics are exploding in popularity and can only get better. Law enforcement and consumers use thermal imaging and night vision cameras more than in years past. Digital scopes are built for long guns offering crisp, precise imaging around the clock.
Hinterland Outfitters
https://www.hinterlandoutfitters.com/