Continuing CVLife’s proud tradition of smashing animal names into a random name, we get the EagleVanta 6-24×50 FFP. “Vanta” still means “boast” in Italian, and this one boasts a proper first-focal-plane Christmas-tree MOA reticle, a 34 mm tube, zero-stop elevation, and side parallax that actually goes down to 10 yards. Not bad for a scope that costs less than a decent night out.
The scope has fully multi-coated ED glass, comes comes with flip-up caps, a sunshade, and a nice set of rings. But perhaps to accomodate any strange rifle setups, these are high rings which are about 1/2″ too high for any of my rifles unless you prefer a see-through setup for your iron sights?
It’s not going to dethrone a high-end Japanese or German optic, and at nearly 30 ounces it’s no featherweight. But for the money it delivers real long-range tools—FFP holdovers that work at every magnification, decent tracking, and enough adjustment to get you into trouble—without requiring a second mortgage.
Did you know that TrailCams aren’t a new inventions? They’ve been around for nearly as long as photography.
This Livestream is sponsored by Aura.com. Go to my link https://aura.com/moondog to get a 14-day free trial and see if any of your data has been exposed.
This episode is sponsored by MattHat jerky. Use code: MOONDOG to get 15% Order a free sample using my link https://matthatjerky.com/products/sample-pack?ref=moondog
EARLYBIRD Visual Clue:
VIDEOS THIS WEEK
Moondog2A
Moondog Reviews
Moondog Go
BRAND CONTEST CLUE
This company invented rolled photographic film and the Funsaver disposable cameras. And ironically invented digital photography in the 1970’s but were eventually killed by the smartphones, declaring bankruptcy in the 2000’s.
DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE
Maxdone Trail Camera sneek peek. This is a solar powered WiFi enabled cam.
TrailCams seem like a modern invention. But after doing a deep dive, I came across this article from a Canadian hunger Nathan Davis that reminded me that TrailCams have been around for almost as long as there have been film cameras.
In 1877 Eadweard Muybridge took this historic series of photos of a galloping horse.
•Proved a bet by Leeland Standfor that a horse has all 4 legs in the air during a full running gallop.
• This led to the invention of motion pictures
In the 1880’s George Shiras III a Congressman from PA and a pioneer in nature photography, invented wildlife trap photography using a flash and trip wire.
The first commercialy available all-in-one film TrailCam was the 1980’s Cuddeback.
BUT I DIGRESS Camera companies were instrumental in creating products for hunting. Leica invented the first commercially available hand-held laser range finder in 1993.
Mileseey makes industrial laser measuring devices. I recently tested the longest range laser rangefinder, the IonJet8
• 8000 yard max range
• MIL-STD-810H compliant
• Built in ballistic calculator with up to 10 bullet profiles
FINAL CLUE
This company was founded by George Eastman in 1892 in Rochester, NY and became one of the largest photographic film and comera companies in the world.
DISCOUNTS AND OFFERS
Vueroid S1 Dashcam September 5 to September 20, customers will save up to 35% off the regular price on Amazon. https://vector2007.com/X-NanoVEOT-RSS08 Discount code (12% off): MOONDOG
Arken Special scope ring and accessory bundles for Labor Day week. 20% OFF Sitewide with code MOONDOG 25% OFF for Verified Veterans
At the Vector Optics booth at Shot Show 2026, I discovered the smallest thermal optic I’d ever seen, the Owlset HEIM ES X-Nano RSS08. This thermal optic has an ACRO and is sized between an enclosed pistol red dot and an EOTech holosight.
The RSS08 is powered by an 18280/CR2 battery and came with 3 cells in the box along with a USB-C combatible charger. Each cell is rated to run the unit for up to 3.5 hours (in standby/sleep mode). The unit can also be powered and recharged using a USB-C port.
The RSS08 is not just a thermal imager, but it is also a thermal camera, allowing the user to record video and photo stills. The unit has about 14-16GB of internal memory. The RSS08 model can be connected via WiFi to an Owlset mobile App to control the camera and to download files. Or you can download the files via the USB-C port to your computer.
Its 1.4″ LCD display screen is a touch display which allows for gesture controls and access to the menu. Two external control buttons allow additional access the menu and activate/deactivate the unit. The RSS08 offers 6 false-color modes to display hot/cold objects and 10 reticle options for targeting. The default PURE MODE setting must be deactivated before the reticles are available.
Nighttime, hand-held testing did reveal the unsuitability of using the RSS08 as a pistol optic. I was able to clearly ID human and varmint-sized objects in complete darkness over 100 yards away. But the rapid movement of the LCD screen under recoil would make it unreadable in rapid fire. On a rifle, it would necessitate very slow semi-fire. On a pistol slide, impossible.
Moreover, the light spill from the screen would easily give the user’s position away to another human. To an animal, this wouldn’t be as alarming as the noise we make walking around at night. And before using this thermal on a firearm, you should consult your local hunting and gun laws.
One major drawback to using the RSS08 as a combat or patrol optic is water. The RSS08 is IPX6 water-resistant, able to survive rain and water spills. But as anybody with a phone knows, moisture renders LCD touchscreens inoperable until they can be wiped dry.
Where I see this mini thermal being used is co-mounted to a red dot or other optic. The box comes with an ACRO to Picatinny adapter plate, and Vector Optics makes a selection of adapters. The RSS08 isn’t the firearms optic as I’d originally hoped, but it is a capable and affordable full-featured thermal camera.
I’ve reviewed many of Discovery Optics (DiscoveryOpt) scopes and a have found their top-tier scopes to be among the best values in terms of glass clarity and precision features. DiscoveryOpt opened a US office to service customers with their Lifetime warranty. They have been touring the country supporting PRS and long-range matches, promoting their scopes and getting first hand feedback on their products.
Nigel, the head of their US office, was traveling through San Francisco and we arranged to meet up at my local range. I reached out to my subscribers and collected questions about DiscoveryOpt that they wanted me to ask during our interview.
The C.F. Martin guitar factory is located in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. They offer tours for a modest cost of $5/pp but the tour groups sell out quickly. Advanced online reservations are imperative, especially for popular summer months.
The guided tours are groups of 12 led through the working factory and meet workers. The tour ends in the Picking Room where visitors can try out guitars on the wall and order them at a modest discount.
You can visit the Museum inside the factory without a reservation. The Museum contains guitars and instruments from the breadth of company history, from C.F. Martin’s first guitars to its 1-millionth guitar.
My YouTube friends @Dayattherange and @Hazzbro1964 created a deceptively tricky .22 rimfire challenge target called Hold Em or Fold Em. https://dayattherange.com/holdem-or-foldem/5/
This timed challenge requires 10 shots to hit 10 targets from 50 yards with a .22. The first row is five playing-card targets for a straight flush; the second row is five smaller ones for a royal flush. You must keep every shot entirely inside its card without breaking any lines or it’s a DQ. After the first five you can hold (stop) or go for broke on the royal flush. Ties are broken by time. From 50 yards the cards are roughly 1–1.5 MOA—tiny, with edges that are hard to distinguish.
For my attempt I used a budget Bear Creek Arsenal BC-22 (dedicated .22 LR semi-auto AR upper on a BCM lower). On top sat a Discovery Optics ED-PRS Gen 2, a 5-25×56 FFP scope with Japanese ED glass. Even though it’s a long-range optic, the high magnification and clarity made the thin card lines visible enough to aim precisely (I stayed in the mid-power range rather than maxing out at 25×). I sighted in with a few spotter rounds, then ran the challenge.
I DQ’d on the first row (broke a line), but continued for fun. Time was 1:31. Looking at the target, the second (smaller) row actually went better—several clean hits inside the cards. Aim small, miss small, I guess. Not a clean run, but a fun test of both the budget upper and the high-power scope at close range.
We’re going to learn about “Vibe Coding” and how AI has become a power tool in creating software with guest, Alysium Software. This Livestream is sponsored by Aura.com. Go to my link https://aura.com/moondog to get a 14-day free trial and see if any of your data has been exposed.
This episode is sponsored by MattHat jerky. Use code: MOONDOG to get 15% Order a free sample using my link https://matthatjerky.com/products/sample-pack?ref=moondog
EARLYBIRD Visual Clue:
Omit “the” in the name
VIDEOS THIS WEEK
Moondog2A
Moondog Reviews
Moondog Go
BRAND CONTEST CLUE
One of the largest software companies in the world, this company is best known forits Windows operating system, and Office and Word business software.
How is it related to Claude Code, Cursor, and GitHub Co-Pilot?
Have you used it in your software company?
FINAL CLUE
This giant software company was founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen.
DISCOUNTS AND OFFERS
Vueroid S1 Dashcam September 5 to September 20, customers will save up to 35% off the regular price on Amazon. https://vector2007.com/X-NanoVEOT-RSS08 Discount code (12% off): MOONDOG
Arken 20% OFF Sitewide with code MOONDOG 25% OFF for Verified Veterans
Watch the prize drawing on my TMI LIvestream on Wednesday, October 7, 20206. Must be present to win.
Each prize is supplied by Arken, Maxdone, and SVBony is awarded at their sole discretion and direction.Entries must be received no later than 12pm noon EST on September 30, 2026.
CONTEST INSTRUCTIONS
Prove you have the skills to fill out a form and upload screenshots to get a free entry. And earn bonus entries for donating to the Breast Cancer GoFundMe
NO PURCHASE OR DONATION IS NECESSARY TO ENTER. MUST BE PRESENT DURING THE LIVESTREAM TO WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
1. Sponsors and Platforms
Arken, Maxdone, and SVBony (known as the SPONSOR) and Moondog Industries (known as the CO-SPONSOR) is a video entertainment producer based in San Francisco, CA. YouTube, TikTok, Rumble, X and online video platforms (known as PLATFORMS) are not SPONSORS or in any way affiliated with the contest or content.
2. Entry Period
Contest email entries must be received between: 12:00pm EST 1 September 2026 and 12:00pm EST 30 September 2026
3. Eligibility
Void where prohibited by law. Must be a legal resident in the USA. Moondog Industries employees, subsidiaries, affiliates, suppliers, advertising and promotion agencies, and employees’ immediate family members are ineligible to participate in the contest/giveaway.
Entrants must be willing and able to appear on YouTube to discuss the contest and post images of the prize on their social feed should they win the contest.
Entrants must be present and able to post comments during the TMI Livestream show to identify themselves in the Chat during the live drawing.
4. Agreement to Rules
By entering the contest, participants agree to abide by the SPONSOR’s Official Rules and decisions. The SPONSOR retains the right to refuse, withdraw, or disqualify entries at their sole discretion. By submitting an entry, the participant agrees to accept the decision of the SPONSOR as final and binding.
5. How to Enter
This contest requires your skill in navigating your phone or computer controls to screen capture an image of the following YouTube channels/Social Media accounts. Subscribe or Follow and make a screen capture of those pages showing a greyed out Subscribe button or indicator that your account is Following that page. If the page is not functioning, please contact contest@moondogindustries.com . One entry per, or per Social Media account. Fraudulent methods of entry, photo retouched, or other methods of circumvention of the rules may result in the SPONSOR invalidating a participant’s entries.
6. Prizes
The winner must be able to receive the prize by e-mail or by physical mail. Prize may be substituted at the sole discretion of the SPONSOR. Acceptance of the prize grants SPONSOR permission to use the winner’s entry, name, and likeness for advertising, promotion, and trade without further compensation or remuneration unless prohibited by law.
7. Odds
The odds of winning are dependent upon the number of eligible entries received.
8. Selection and Notification of the Winner
The winners will be chosen at random by the SPONSOR from among the entrants who demonstrated the skill to navigate the electronic entry and have met the minimum requirements. The selected entrant must respond in the Livestream chat within 1/4-minute of selection to be designated the Winner. Winners must email contest@moondogindustries.com within 24-hrs of selection to confirm their shipping address. The winner must have a legal address within the US to ship the prize.
SPONSOR is not liable for the winner’s failure to receive notification of winning if he or she provided the wrong email address or if their email security settings caused your prize notification to go into the spam or junk folder. If a winner does not respond within 24hrs of selction with a confirmation email, the SPONSOR will select an alternate winner. Receipt of the prize is upon the condition of compliance with federal, state, and local laws.
9. Rights Granted by the Entrant
The SPONSOR, upon submission of an entry into the giveaway or contest, has the right to use the participant’s submission, voice, likeness, image, statements about the contest, etc., for publicity, news, advertising, promotional purposes, trade, and so forth, without any further notice, review, consent, compensation, or remuneration.
Participants shall defend or settle against such claims at their sole expense, and shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the SPONSOR from any suit due to damage of or by the prize.
10. Terms & Conditions
The SPONSOR reserves the right to modify, suspend, cancel, or terminate if unauthorized human intervention, a bug or virus, fraud, or other causes beyond your control impact or corrupt the security, fairness, proper conduct, or administration of the contest/giveaway.
11. Limitation of Liability
Entry into this contest constitutes the participant’s agreement to release and hold harmless the SPONSOR and PLATFORMS, subsidiaries, affiliates, employees, etc., against all claims, liability, illness, injury, death, loss, etc., that occur directly or indirectly from participation in the contest or use/misuse of the awarded prize.
12. Disputes
As a condition of participating in the promotion, the participant agrees to resolve all disputes with an arbitrator designated by the SPONSOR in the state of California, without resorting to any form of class action. Entrants waive all rights to punitive, incidental, or consequential damages, and waive all rights to have damages multiplied or increased.
13. Privacy Policy
Participants agree to abide by all privacy and NDA laws in the State of California and any federal laws of the United States of America.
14. Winners List
Participants may request a list of winners by submitting a request in writing to Moondog Industries for up to 30 days after the contest ends.
15. Social Media Platform Rules
Winners will agree to post a photo of the prize on their social media channels in such a way as does not violate any rules of that platform. The winners also agree to appear for an interview where they will discuss the prize and its performance. If there are functional problems with the prize, the winner agrees to make a good-faith effort to resolve all issues with the SPONSOR prior to posting reviews or opinions about the prize.
16. Affirmation of Acceptance of and Agreement to All of the Official Rules
By entering the contest, the entrant has affirmatively reviewed, accepted, and agreed to all of them.
The E2 is a lightweight, compact keychain with some unique features that set it apart. It has a multi-output main beam with a 150 lumen max, body light, and body blue/red signal lights. The E2 Necklace Edition is the first flashlight I’ve ever tested that comes with a clip-on bead chain that turns it into a neck-worn flashlight.
My sample was not perfect. The activation button would occasionally stick when pressed. And like the X5, Wuben seems to have a reputation for less-than-perfect waterproofing. In my high-power water test, some water worked itself inside the body. Despite this, the unit continued to function through the rest of my testing.
One cool feature escaped me until nighttime testing: its body is glow-in-the-dark.
SHOP
SPECS
Max Output: 150 lumens (main) Max Throw: 26 meters Battery: Built-in 120 mAh Li-ion battery Charging: USB-C port Dimensions: 19 × 14.6 × 41.4 mm Weight: 10.7 grams Durability: IP66
Just before its official release, Arken sent me an Outrider, their new traditional hunting scope. This new scope was not something I was expecting to come from Arken. It’s not tactical. It’s Fud.
Arken shook up the firearms industry with their SH4 and EP5; long-range scopes for half the price of the competition. Scopes with oversized turrets, zero-stop, and a first focal plane reticle with a detailed tree and fine subtensions. Scopes made for PRS competition shooters or counter-snipers.
The Outrider is the antithesis of tactical. It has a traditional hunting scope: second focal plane duplex reticle, capped low-profile turrets, and a fixed 100-yard parallax focus. It has a small fin that you can screw into the magnification ring, but it feels unnecessary as the ring turns butter smooth.
But the Outrider isn’t a step backward in quality. It has Japanese HD glass delivering a sharp and color-accurate image. It has an LPVO’s fiber optic center dot that is daylight bright and an unusual 2x low end providing an exceptionally wide field of view. It has a good eyebox and is pretty lightweight, especially compared to Arken’s other scopes.
The Outdrider may be a traditional hunting scope, but it has Arken’s trademark quality optics, robust build, and affordable street price (~$300.)
