All posts by moondog

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

Monstrum GHOST 2x Forward Magnifier

Red dot magnifiers have been around for over almost two decades. These specialized scopes allow users to add magnification to their red dots. But for prism scopes, magnification has been fixed due to their limited eye relief. Monstrum did something innovative.

The Ghost magnifier is the first of its kind that I’m aware of that fits forward of the aiming optic instead of behind it. This allows the GHOST to work with both red dots and prism scopes; converting a 4x prism scope to an 8x. It comes with a side-flip mount.

Shooting Sports

Nightforce Configurable Field Spotting Scope

Nightforce is well known as the optic of choice for the military, law enforcement, and wealthy LARPers. Their optics are legendary for their ruggedness, reliability, brightness, and clarity. What is less well known is that they also make spotting scopes and at SHOT Show 2024, they showed off their new compact profile tactical spotter.

This 6-36×50 spotting scope looks like a modified rifle scope with a similar size profile to a 6-24x rifle scope save for the unusual double adjustment ring. The focus ring sits in front of the magnification ring. Both a rubberized for increased grip.

Unlike a rifle scope, this spotting scope has an ARCA Swiss compatible mounting foot moulded and integrated into the scope tube. Nightforce also sells an optional cage which clamps onto the foot providing the user with M-Lok compatible mounting points for Picatinny rails and accessories such as thermal sights, lasers, and range finders.

This is available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3UF9ILb

Shooting Sports

Stag Arms Lever Gun

Stag Arms was founded as a premium AR maker but this year they introduced a number of guns to expand their offerings: an entry-level AR and a modernized lever action rifle modeled after the Marlin 1985. Last year they merged with Aero Precision and their designers have collaborated to create their own version of the design. Stag chose a more traditional design with some modern improvements such as a full length 1913 Picatinny rail, whilst Aero went for a more space-age tactical reinterpretation of a lever gun.

Shooting Sports

Aguilastore.com

Aguila, one of the worlds largest makers of ammunition showed off their newest product at SHOT Show 2024. Surprisingly this wasn’t a new caliber or cartridge, it was clothing. They created a whole product line of Aguila branded clothing and accessories available on their online store aguilastore.com

Shooting Sports

March Scopes at SHOT 2024

Since the departure of Nikon from sporting optics, March Scopes has stepped up to become Japan’s maker of premium rifle scopes. They are known among competition Precision Rifle Series (PRS) shooters for their high power scopes. At SHOT Show I was introduced to their new 80x Majesta scope, the highest power rifle scope I’ve ever seen. And the Genesis, a 4x-40x scope that puts the Extreme in Extreme Long Range (ELR) shooting with 400 MOA (116 MIL) of adjustment.

The Majesta 80x scope is available on Optics Planet https://shrsl.com/4ez2g

Shooting Sports

Anderson AM9 Budget PCC

PCC’s gained in popularity in 3Gun competitions for their manual of arms and component compatibility to standard 5.56mm ARs .While shooting 9mm is a lot cheaper than shooting 5.56mm ammo, PCC ARs have generally cost more than a basic AR.

Known for making budget price, yet reliable AR components, Anderson showed me their most budget friendly PCCs. Their AM-9 is priced under $900 and their UTILITY pistol AR at under $600; that’s the price some AR makers charge for just an upper receiver! Anderson brings their extensive AR manufacturing experience and skills into creating a solid and reliable Glock-compatible PCC.

Post a comment on this video if you want to see CA featureless version.

Shooting Sports

Leupold BX4 Gen2

Leupold has updated their entire BX4 line. These scopes still offer the exceptional optics we’ve come to expect from Leupold. The Gen 2 offers a lighter optic, enhanced non-slip skin, and eyecups.

This scope is available on Amazon
10×32 BX4 binocular https://amzn.to/3OEk4ar
10×42 BX4 binocular https://amzn.to/3wfOfOR
10×50 BX4 binocular https://amzn.to/3wfOx8p
12×50 BX4 binocular https://amzn.to/4bzb3ct
8×32 BX4 binocular https://amzn.to/3UDZlHC
8×42 BX4 https://amzn.to/3OKi7Jv
Spotting Scope https://amzn.to/42IiHx5

Shooting Sports

Vote for PSA’s next guns

PSA has made a name for themselves in creating a wide range of ARs, AKs, famous and fantasy firearms. This year at SHOT Show they brought over a dozen new designs including a pump shotgun, a bolt action rifle, and an MP7 look alike. All in all, too many for them to realistically bring into production next year. So they’re asking the public to help choose their next 3 guns by voting for their 3 favorite. Cast your vote on PSA’s website. https://palmettostatearmory.com/shotshow2024

Shooting Sports

New Leupold Mk4 HD rifle scopes

At Industry Range Day, I rang steel at 1000yrds using a precision build rifle with what I thought was a Leupold Mk5 scope. It turns out it was a brand new Mark 4 HD. In the 1980’s Leupold developed the Mark 4 tactical rifle scopes, the first rifle scopes built specifically for the US military. As other optics companies developed tactical scopes for military needs, Leupold developed the Mark 5 and discontinued the Mk4.

This year at SHOT Show, Leupold brought back the venerable Mk4 for their new line of Mrk4 HD “affordable” premium scopes. This line includes an LPVO and selection of long range and ELR scopes. These scopes will fill the gap between their top-of-the-line Mk5 scopes and their paired down Mk3 scopes. They’ll range in price between $1000 and $1600.

At roughly half the price of a Mk5, the Mk4HD was as clear and sharp as it’s big brother. The Mk4 it may not have as many bells and whistles or the bragging rights of a Mk5. But if you’re looking for a prime example of Leupold performance, you can’t go wrong with a Mk4HD.

This scope is available on Amazon
4.5-14×50 https://amzn.to/3SvT8KU
6.5-20×50 https://amzn.to/48ip4Zl
Spotting Scope https://amzn.to/42IiHx5

Shooting Sports

PSA X5.7 first look at SHOT Show

Palmetto State Armory are the Mad Scientists of gun makers, coming out with new designs and recreations of guns. This year they brought out over a dozen prototypes including their MP7-a-like named the X5.7 (which may not be the final name). This PDW is based on their Rock pistol they debuted 3 years ago at SHOT. With a polymer housing, and retractable brace, at first glance it could be mistaken for a mini HK MP7.

PSA has too many ideas and but too little engineering time so they’re asking fans to vote for their favorite prototype guns that PSA should focus on. This means the 3 guns with the highest votes will be most likely to see testing and production later this year. Cast your vote at https://palmettostatearmory.com/