• GunVault RadioVault – Hidden Bedside Safe from SHOT Show 2013!

    Jan 22 • News, Videos • 9212

    Easily one of the coolest products from SHOT Show 2013 is the RadioVault from GunVault.  This is just a great idea through and through.  First, it looks fantastic.  If you see this safe when it’s closed and didn’t know better, you’d swear it was just like any other nightstand iPhone and iPod radio dock.  It’s a bit taller than some models out there these days, but it really has a sleek, modern look that’s sure to fool a vast majority of would-be robbers.  And if you’re trying to keep your valuables safe and sound, one of the best ways is to keep it hidden.

    But there’s more to this safe than just hiding the fact that it’s a safe.  It’s also very strong, and has a simple to use biometric scanner, so you can get in and out of it in a flash.  The safe portion is big enough to hold your wallet and keys, or, since this is a GUNVault, a sidearm for home defense.  I’m more interested in having a quality dock for my phone that doubles as an alarm clock.  And, of course, I want it to look great!

    Watch the video above to see more of the new GunVault RadioVault, and don’t forget that you can get one for yourself at OpticsPlanet.com!

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  • Crimson Trace Defender Series Laser Sights Video from SHOT Show 2013!

    Jan 22 • News, Videos • 4656

    We wrote a little on some new Crimson Trace Green Lasers last week, and now we have a new video that’s laser-focused (sorry, if there’s a pun to be made, I’ll make it) on the Defender Series.  The first thing you should remember about the new Crimson Trace Defender Series is that we’re giving one away for the Ruger LCP!  Head over to our Facebook Page and click on the tab at the top of the page for your chance to enter and WIN! (or just click here to go straight to the contest page)

    But no doubt you want to know more about this awesome new laser sight from Crimson Trace. Check out the video above.  We talked to Justin from Crimson Trace, and he gave us a rundown of this new series.  The aim of the Defender is to do two challenging things: first, produce a best in class laser sight.  Since we’re talking about Crimson Trace, I can safely say that this isn’t impossible.  If anyone can do it, they can.  But it’s really the second challenge that is truly tough, and that’s making this best in class laser sight affordable.  That’s a tall order, but the prices are looking pretty good so far.

    There’ll be four models of the Defender Series available soon.  There’s one for Glock, S&W J-Frame, Springfield XD and of course the Ruger LCP model that we’re giving away.  Those are a few of the more popular handgun models out there today, but I’d bet Crimson Trace will have more models available soon.  The on/off button is pretty simple to use, and you’ll get a nice powerful red laser from one of these laser sights.  That’s a pretty exciting new product line from Crimson Trace at SHOT Show!

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  • Vortex Viper HS LR line SHOT Show featured image

    Vortex Viper HS LR, Viper PST & More from SHOT Show!

    Jan 22 • News • 6310

    The Vortex booth was hopping this year, and no doubt it was due to the new Vortex Viper HS LR line. I remember seeing the Viper HS LR line last year, and it was fairly popular throughout 2012, but I think 2013 is going to be even better.  This line of rifle scopes is positioned between the base Viper line and the Viper PST line in price and features, but will feature both second focal plane and first focal plane (FFP) models. The specific model we looked at was a 6-24×50 FFP Reticle and it looked a lot like the Viper PST. These are expected to arrive in April with an MSRP around $999, though look for the street price to be a bit lower.  That’s a good price for scopes of this quality with this number of features.

    Vortex Viper PST Rifle Scope

    Vortex Viper PST Rifle Scope

    We also saw the latest addition to the Viper PST line, the 2.5-10×32 Vortex Viper PST FFP scope. Specifically designed to be a low profile AR scope while still being true to the features and polish end-users expect from the Vortex Viper PST series.

    The Vortex Viper PST line has suffered from manufacturing issues in the past, as demand has been absolutely incredible and Vortex struggled to produce them quickly while still making sure to meet their incredibly high quality standards. It looks like 2013 will see an improvement in that regard, and hopefully Vortex Viper PST’s will be available and in-stock as opposed to backordered for months.

    Vortex was the last brand we saw on Day 3 of SHOT Show 2013, but we still have more to come, including exclusive video interviews, and some pics of the amazing firearms and some new optics we saw on Friday!  Stay tuned!

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  • Pulsar Clip-On Night Vision DFA 75 at SHOT Show Featured Image

    SightMark Photon Night Vision Scopes and Pulsar DFA 75 Co-Witness NV!

    Jan 21 • News • 20413

    On Thursday, over at the SightMark and Pulsar booths, the theme was definitely all about digital night vision. We got some time with the new SightMark Photon, a digital night vision rifle scope expected to be released for around $700 in April (or perhaps earlier, or fingers are crossed!) This NV Rifle Scope features a powerful CCD chip and an OLED display giving it about 200 yards in range, and comes complete with video out capabilities and a side Picatinny rail (in case you wanted to mount an additional IR laser.) The scope has been rated to handle recoil up to a .308.  Not bad.  It’s certainly an exciting new SightMark NV Scope that’s sure to make Spring and Summer fun!

    Pulsar was showing off an incredibly impressive clip-on unit called the Pulsar DFA 75. This unit clips directly on top of your day optics, and will be available in May for around $1999. Once again it has a powerful CCD chip and OLED display, but also comes with an external adjustable IR laser and supports a separate attachment that allows the clip-on unit to function as a 10x NV monocular (also available in May for around $300.) Depending on the riflescope you are using and ambient light conditions, you may be able to see and hit targets up to 300 yards away using this unit!  That’s HUGE!  300 yards is a rare feat for a night vision rifle scope, so you’ll definitely want to give this another look when it’s released in May.

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  • BLACKHAWK! Sportster Titan Rests, NEW Watches and Weaver Grand Slam Scopes!

    Jan 21 • News • 9706

    BlackHawk, Weaver, RCBS, Champion Traps & Targets, Federal Premium and many other brands all occupied the same area of the show on the second floor, and we head over to get the low-down on new gear from BlackHawk and Weaver.

    BLACKHAWK! at SHOT Show

    BlackHawk is finally debuting their new line of watches in 2013. We spent most of the second half of 2012 eagerly anticipating these watches, but BlackHawk had to delay them to ensure the highest quality possible. It looks like it’ll be worth the wait, as the watches looked very refined and polished. There are many tactical watches on the market that, well, you wouldn’t want to wear them to a nice restaurant. But BlackHawk has balanced function with style, and these watches will likely be a big hit with the military and law enforcement communities. Some are available now, others will be shipped in the coming weeks.

    BlackHawk Sportster Titan FSX

    BlackHawk Sportster Titan FSX

    We also got a chance to see the new rifle rests coming out from BlackHawk. We had heard BlackHawk was planning on entering the rifle rest/shooting rest market this year, and learned they intended to do so under the BlackHawk Sportster Label. Five different models will be offered, from the premium level BlackHawk Sportster Titan FXS to the simple BlackHawk Sportster Titan VR Shooting Rest, intended for ARs and varmint hunting. The construction, weight, and solidness was impressive, and it looks like the shooting rest market just became a bit more competitive in 2013.

    BlackHawk Epic Holster

    The BlackHawk Epic Holster has all the great quality of a SERPA, but with room for a weapon light!

    It wouldn’t be a stop at the BlackHawk booth if we didn’t check out apparel, bags, or holsters, and while we did spend some time with the watches we also made time for BlackHawk’s new holsters and rigs. First up was the new Epic Series. Put extremely simply, it’s a SERPA that has additional room for a weapon light. You’ll get that same snug fit you get from a SERPA, but now you have a holster to use with your mounted light. This looks like it’ll especially useful for police officers, as the Epic Series will support the Streamlight TLR-1 and TLR-2 and also the Surefire X300 and X400. Looks like we should expect the first versions for full-size Glocks by the end of March, with 1911s, XD’s and more to come soon after.

    We also took a look at the Grip Rig, a smooth, fast draw holster that will be available in both leather and nylon versions in late March.

    BlackHawk Versa Harness

    BlackHawk Versa Harness

    Before leaving, we got a hands-on demonstration of the new Versa Harness. BlackHawk made this simple harness for a variety of purposes, from harnessing in your binoculars or rangefinder to attaching your Blackhawk holster and keeping your firearm close to your person. The possibilities are nearly endless, and no doubt this item will be popular with both professionals and hunters who need to carry a lot of gear as securely as possible.

    Weaver’s SHOT Show Gear

    Weaver Grand Slam Rifle Scope

    Weaver Grand Slam Rifle Scope

    Weaver was our next stop, and we learned that the popular Grand Slam series was being completely updated in and out this year. Available in June, the refreshed Grand Slam line will feature new improved glass, new lens coatings, finer adjustments, and a much sleeker and polished look than the previous model. The Grand Slam Riflescope line definitely needed the attention, and I expect a lot of deer hunters will be utilizing these scopes this fall. With an MSRP of around $550, they won’t be cheap, but there are a major contender in the mid-level market.

    Weaver Kaspa Rifle Scopes

    Weaver Kaspa Rifle Scopes

    We also learned that the Kaspa series of entry-level hunting rifle scopes (which we covered last year right from the SHOT Show floor) will be getting a new Turkey Scope this year. This Mossy Oak scope will have an MSRP of around $259.99 and be available in June. The most interesting part of the scope is the new reticle Weaver is developing. What we saw was a prototype, but the reticle is specifically designed to highlight the vertical kill-zone on your gobbling target. It makes a lot of sense that this new reticle will help improve accuracy. I would certainly love to try it out!

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