All posts by moondog

Tom "Moondog" DelMundo is a former NYC Creative Director.
Shooting Sports

Nightforce ATACR 1-8×24

The ATACR is the optic of choice for special forces, contractors, and SWAT. In many ways, it’s the gold standard for tacticool LPVOs known for its light transfer and intensely bright illumination. Nightforce is known for it’s durability and reliability in real world combat. But also known for being Gucci with a street price around $3000.

The ATACR’s FFP reticle optimized for long range use fine MIL stadia and a horseshoe of death with holdover markings. At 1x it appears as a T-style reticle which is a bit thicker and more usable without illumination than the Vortex Razor HD. But thankfully it has red dot bright illumination to compensate for it 1x reticle.

Its illumination knob features 10 levels of visible brightness and 3 additional night vision settings; with off settings in between. Curiously, there is a stop between it’s lowest NV and highest visible setting which does not allow you to turn it past. This brightness is not without a cost with reports of shorter battery life when on extended patrols (there is no free lunch).

Optically I found it to be impressively sharp and bright. While Nightforce uses ED glass the ATACR does exhibit chromatic aberration at the edges of it scope view; high light transfer glass tends to exhibit more CA. Despite the CA, the resolution was impressive at 8x and comparable to scopes of higher magnification.

While the eyebox is better than most 8x LPVOs, it still is not as forgiving as a red dot. But overall the LPVO lived up to my expectations. LEOs and Military get discounts from Nightforce but for us civilians, it’s $2,900 which is still way out of my league. The only reason I was able to get a hold of one was because my buddy lent it to me and he thinks its worth it.

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Amazon affiliate link: https://amzn.to/46gGVAe

RESOLUTION

Element 6 / Group -1

STATS

Magnification: 1-8x
Focal Plane: First (FFP)
Tube: 34mm
Length: 10.1in/256 mm
Weight: 21.0 oz/595 g
Click Value: 0.1 MRAD
Elevation Adjustment 30 MRAD
Windage Adjustment: 30 MRAD
Parallax: Fixed 125 m
Eye Relief: 3.7 in/95 mm
FOV @ 100 yd: 1x: @ 96.1 ft/32.0
FOV @ 100 yd: 8x: 13.1 ft/4.4 m
Exit Pupil 1x: 11.3 mm / 8x: 3.2 mm

Product Reviews, Shooting Sports

Sunwayfoto Inverted Leg Tripod

Sunwayfoto sent me their new T4030CSI-L, one of their first Inverted Leg Tripods. Traditionally, telescoping leg tripods were attached at the hinge at the thickest and widest leg segment, telescoping out to the thinest section. Inverted leg tripods are hinged to the head at their thinnest diameter section.

Having the widest diameter part of the leg offers two advantages. The heaviest part of the leg is at the bottom, lowering the tripod’s center of gravity. Moreover, the largest diameter part of the leg also offers a wider contact point with the ground. One of the advantages I thought it would have would be the higher position of the locking rings but this did not prove to be substantially better ergonomics than standard tripods.

The T4030CSI-L is one of Sunwayfoto’s tall (L=long) and heavy-duty models. It has a rated load capacity of 66lbs but it was easily able to hold up my weight of ~165lbs. In use, I found it to be a sturdy and stable shooting platform, soaking up recoil from my 5.56 AR-15. Moving forward, I think I would prefer having all of my tripods follow this inverted design. But then I always tended to be a bit of a heterodox.

BUY IT

Sunwayfoto affiliate 5% Discount Code: MOONDOG https://sunwayfoto.com/

Browse their entire tripod line: https://sunwayfoto.com/?ref=pwwCNnfb

Shooting Sports

March Majesta 8-80×56

Let me preface this review by stating that I am not an ELR (Extreme Long Range) or F-class shooter. I’ve hit a 1000yrd target a handful of times in my shooting career but I make no claims of being an expert on the nuances ELR shooting and gear. My opinions and observations about March scopes are from the point of view of your average 100yrd range shooter.

March Scopes is the brand name of rifle scopes made by Deon, a small optics company in Japan. That name is not well known by most gun owners but it’s a brand name that will impress anybody who is an ELR competition shooter. March Scopes are known in ELR for extremely high magnification scopes that were made with high quality ED glass, and for their commensurate high price tags.

I had an opportunity to visit their booth at SHOT Show and was shown their new Majesta 8-80×56 scope. That’s correct this scope’s top end is 80x! That’s the highest power scope in the world that you can buy (if you have the ~$4500 to buy one).

This scope has some unique features. The turrets have March’s Shruiken turret locks; star shapped ring atop the turret which turns to lock and unlock the turret. The illuminator is activated by a button on the end of the parallax turret. It has screw down zero stop that can be a accessed outside of the turret.

The Majesta has Deon’s “Super Master” lenses made with their Super ED glass. I don’t know if “Super ED” is their own name or an industry name for a formulation of ED (Extra Low Dispersion) glass with a higher fluorite content. This reduces chromatic aberration. In my testing, even at 80x I saw almost no CA through my camera. Where most premium scopes would exhibit a notable purple or green fringe at 24x or 30x, the Majesta at 80x showed just a slight yellow tint on high contrast edges.

The Majesta was specifically designed to reduce the mirage/shimmer effect of light bending due to warm air, distorting the image of a target at long range. The Majesta does not completely eliminate mirage (nothing can, thermodynamics and physics) it glass enhances contrast and detail in some magical way to allow long range shooters to see better detail on their target despite the mirage.

In my 100yrd range testing, this scope at 80x scopes is impressive. Almost like looking through a spotting scope. You will lose quite a bit of brightness and experience a very unforgiving eyebox understandably. You won’t be able to see the nuts on a fly but you will be able to see that fly crawling on your center X.

I won’t bother posting a online retail link as these scopes are special order at most retailers. They are certainly a boutique luxury optic. Sadly this scope is a short-term loaner so I have to send this scope back to March after this review so I won’t have any long-term follow up. But I appreciate March Scopes giving this Average Shooter an opportunity to ride this unicorn.

BUY IT

Optics Planet (Majesta 8-80x) https://tidd.ly/4hJwD1u
Opitcs Planet (Shuraken model) https://shrsl.com/4m6ee

RESOLUTION

100yrds: Element 4 / Group 0

SPECS

Magnification 8x-80x
Effective Lens Diameter 56mm
Body Tube Diameter 34mm
Exit Pupil 4.1mm
(0.16inch) 0.7mm
(0.03inch)
Field of View (real) degree 3.12° 0.31°
ft/100yd 16.4ft 1.64ft
m/100m 5.45m 0.54m
Eye Relief 76-92mm
(2.99-3.62inch) 79-92mm
(3.11-3.62inch)
1 Click Adjustment 1/8MOA
Elevation Travel 66MOA
Windage Travel 36MOA
Focus Distance 10yd – infinity

KEY POINTS

・10X Zoom in SFP, MOA
・New bicolor scope: Dark grey body with black turrets
・Robust 34mm body tube with a 4mm thick wall simply to make the scope extra strong
・56mm objective lens
・Highest magnification rifle scope in the world
・Wide Angle eyepiece : 25 degrees
・Temperature Anti-Drift Lens System
・High Master lens system (Super ED lenses)
・Shimmer protection
・Focus from 10 yard to infinity
・Scope body fully machined from aluminum ingot
・All Japanese metal parts with no plastic part except for minimum essentials such as an insulator
・Argon gas filled for internal stability
・6 level illumination module
・Top quality multi lens coating where the transmittance is very near 100%
・Water repellent lens coating
・Shuriken lock elevation and windage turrets

Shooting Sports

Discovery 7075 Precision Rings

Discovery released new scope rings made of 7075 aircraft grade aluminum and with precision features like their “Lightweight 7075 offset mounts”. The design makes extensive use of lightening cuts to reduce the weight. Uniquely the upper and lower ring halves have an index pin to precisely line up the halves without the need for play in the Torx screws.

Discovery also went to the extra effort of pre-lapping the rings with a finishing buff on the rings inner surface to assure a smooth, high contact interface with your scope. The rings come in 30mm, 34mm, and 35mm tube sizes in 1.5″ center height and higher profile 1.93″ heights. Overall the rings look as good as those made by big brands for a lot less than half the price.

BUY IT

10% discount code Moondog7075

Amazon affiliate https://amzn.to/3z3OPAL

Discovery Optics website https://discoveryopt.com/ 

Shooting Sports

Viridian at SHOT 2024

Viridian is a Weapon Technology” company that produces lasers, dot sights, flashlights and cameras. Their claim to fame is producing the first green laser pistol light in 2006. Our eyes are much more sensitive to green color than red which is why they also exclusively produce green dot weapon sights.

My buddy, American Hillbilly introduced me to Viridian because his astigmatism prevents him from using red dot sights (red dots looks like a fuzzy smear to his eyes which is the opposite of precision.) He swears by his Viridian reflex sight because it appears clear to him. He asked me to stop by the Viridian booth as SHOT this year to say hello.

This year Viridian is launching their new MDS enclosed sight (this was the year everybody seemed to be pushing enclosed reflex sights). They also showed off their extremely bright 4LUX Duo 1800 lumen rifle light, laser and angled grip. My apologies to Junior for calling him Jose at the end of the video but as you can hear in our off camera exchange he took it with great humor.

BUY IT

MDS25 green dot
Optics Planet affiliate link http://shrsl.com/4mi6b

4LUX
Optics Planet affiliate link http://shrsl.com/4mi64

Gadgets, Product Reviews

Blackbeard Fire Plugs

In a survival situation, without a means to create a fire, can you slowly die of hypothermia. Blackbeard sent me a bag of Fire Plugs; compact fire starters that feel like mini candles and look a bit like white cheddar Cheetos. They claim their completely water proof.

As a torture test, I dropped a plug into a pitcher of water and let it soak for an hour. After 62 minutes I took a wet plug out of the water and gave it a quick shake. I bent it and twisted it and worked it back and fourth until it softened and allowed me to pull it apart into two halves.

Blackbeard’s online demos advise fluffing up the torn half which felt like wax impregnated cotton cigarette filters. Despite floating in water for an hour, the interior of the plug felt relatively dry (though it was hard to tell as my fingers were wet from fishing out the plugs). To my surprise the tinder lit up without too much effort. Despite it also being a gusty day, I was able to get a small fire started.

If you’re a hiker or packing for an extreme bug-out-bag, adding a Blackbeard to your kit is good “fire insurance.”

AFFILIATE RETAIL LINK

Amazon https://amzn.to/4ePPfLr

The lighter and ropes are part of the Pirate Plunder Kit: https://amzn.to/4eW4H8I

Shooting Sports

Athlon Midas 1-6×24 BTR Gen2

Athlon designed the Midas BTR Gen2 1-6×24 LPVO for 3Gun competitors. It features low profile turrets to maximize the shooter’s field-of-view when moving through the course. Its ATSR4 second focal plane reticle has a high-visibility Death Circle, minimal graphics (no wind holdover stadia), and BDC holdover dots offering just enough reference points for quick hit adjustments, while not obscuring steel targets.

Athlon sent a sample of this competition grade optic for my tests. The package comes minimal contents, just the optic, a CR2032 battery, cleaning cloth, and the user manual. At 18oz it is relatively light weight, which is ideal for competitions where speed is a factor in scoring.

It’s illumination is daylilght bright enough for 3-gun with an off in-between it’s 6 intensity settings. It’s capped turrets offer a crisp and loud 0.25 MOA per click. Its tracking tests proved it precise with an impressive 75MOA per direction of adjustment.

Optically, the scope is sharp and flat with a decent eyebox. At 6x the glass is not very bright, my target view appeared muddy in a shaded cover but this shouldn’t effect most 3-gun competitions which are conducted in broad daylight. The ASTR4 reticle proved very quick to aim and intuitive. It’s a good copy of the ACSS reticle which is an evolution of Trijicon’s horseshoe-of-death reticle.

In my live fire tests it held zero and proved to be one of my favorite 1-6x LPVOs. With a street price just under $500, this LPVO is a surprisingly good value.

AFFILIATE RETAIL LINK

Amazon https://amzn.to/4bkjAPd

RESOLUTION

Element 1 / Group -1 @ 100yrds

SPECS

Magnification1-6
Objective Lens Diameter24 mm
Reticle ATSR16 SFP IR MOA, Glass Etched illuminated
Surface FinishMatte 
Lens CoatingAdvanced Fully Multicoated 
Extra CoatingXtra Protective Coating 
Tube Material6061 Aluminium 
Tube Diameter30 mm
Exit Pupil 12.5- 4 mm
Eye Relief3.8″
Field of View @100 yards108-17.6 ft
Click Value0.25 MOA
Adjustment range per rotation30 MOA
Total Elevation Adjustment150 MOA
Total Windage Adjustment150 MOA
Turret StyleCapped
Parallax AdjustmentFixed
Purging MaterialArgon 
Length10.6″
Weight18.1 oz
Gadgets, Product Reviews

Fenix PD32R EDC flashlight

I assume ‘PD’ in PD32R stands for Police Department because Fenix designed their entire PD flashlight line “professional” users such as LEOs, security, and first responders. First impressions of the unit are that it’s a ‘typical’ looking tactical flashlight with a 1″ barrel, tail click button, and crenellated bell. But looking at the Specs we can see it’s an evolutionary rather than evolutionary flashlight.

The PD32R runs off a standard 18650 lipo cell. An o-ringed screw down collar below the bell covers a USB-C port which allows you to recharge the battery inside the PD32R. The flashlight is IPX-68 rated means it can be submerged in down to 2m of water for up to half an hour. I tested it sealed in a water jug for an hour with no moisture leaking in.

It has a silent tail click button that activates the unit and based on the length and number of presses allows you to cycle through it’s brightness modes: low, medium, high, and turbo. The button is partially hooded to protect it from accidental presses but will not allow it to tail stand. mode has offers up to 1400 lumens of brightess that automatically dims to high and medium to avoid overheating the electronics.

There is a strobe mode which is activated by keeping the button pressed for 3 seconds. This is intended to be hide the strobe from accidental activation or activated under stress when a user crunches down on the button. I would have liked to allow the user to means to change this feature to switch out to Turbo instead of strobe for those who absolutely do not want a strobe on their EDC.

BUY

Get 10% off using code AF-MOONDOG
on Fenix LIghting’s website https://www.fenixlighting.com

Amazon affiliate: https://amzn.to/3WeBwoJ

SPECS

PD32R

Max Lumens: 1400

Max Beam Distance: 344m

Max Runtime: 70 hours

Modes: 4 + strobe

Bulb Type:  SFT40 LED

Color Temp: ~6500K

Length: 5.32” (135mm) 

Head: 1.04” (26.5mm) 

Body: 0.93” (23.6mm)

Weight: 4.80 oz. (136g) 

Battery: 18650  or two CR123A

Gadgets, Product Reviews

Anarchy Outdoors Bubble Level Scope Rail

The Ruger Precision Rimfire (RPR) is an popular entry-level chassis riflePRS training or NRL22. It comes from the factory with a 30MOA rail which is perfect to compensate for the bullet drop for long range targets at 200yrds or more. But this 30MOA rail can make it impossible to zero a scope for targets at 25yrds or less. I was eager to replace my stock 30MOA rail with a flat rail to easily allow me the option to attach flip-up iron sights to train my kids.

Anarchy Outdoors sent me their 00MOA rail. This Picatinny rail has a built in bubble level that’s user replaceable and they offer a selection of colored levels on their website. This rail is also available in 10MOA, 20MOA, 30MOA, and 40MOA grades and for other popular rifle makes like Remington, CZ, Bergara, and Browning.

RETAIL AFFILIATE LINK

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4cCBRZf