Category Archives: Shooting Sports

Firearms and shooting sports

Shooting Sports

AcuVista Surge 1-10×24

AcuVista is a new optics company that proposes to offer optics with high-quality glass at Direct-to-Consumer discount prices like Arken and Tract. Their Surge 1-10×24 is a First Focal Plane LPVO with HD glass and comes with an offset cantilever mount. Oddly, it also comes with a set of plastic shims whose purpose I can’t fathom, as the mount is 30mm, matching the scope’s tube diameter.

The turrets are exposed for tactical adjustment, with nice audible and tactile clicks and “lock” when pressed down. Or at least are supposed to lock, but the windage turret had noticeable play when locked down. I tested AcuVista’s Lifetime Warranty and customer service by contacting them through their website and sending them a short video of the issue. To their credit, AcuVista responded to my email and notified me that they would be sending me a replacement scope. I didn’t have to ship the old scope back.

A brand new replacement scope arrived 5 days later. Unfortunately, that scope also had a loose windage turret. Fortunately, while testing at the scope at the range, I discovered the locked turret was truly locked. Fiddling with the loose turret did not cause the reticle to shift. Moreover, the turrets tracked and survived my turret abuse “nipple twister” test.

The Surge’s optical performance was better than expected. While it had some chromatic aberration at high power, it had good color accuracy and resolution. Optically, it is nearly as good as more premium scopes, except that the Surge has a tight eyebox. Most 1-10x FFP LPVOs I have tested tend to have tight eyeboxes, and the Surge is a prime example.

The Surge is a mixed bag in terms of quality and performance. If this were priced more like a Monstrum Panzer or it would be an amazing value. But with a price point higher than an Arken EP-8 it comes up short.

SHOP

Get 10% off code: MOONDOG

AcuVista website https://acuvistaoptics.com/collections/lpvo-scope/products/acuvista-surge-1-10×24-ffp-lpvo-scope

RESOLUTION (@50y)

Group -1 / Element 3

SPECS

SURGE
Magnification: 1-10x
Objective: 24mm
Tube: 30mm
Focal Plane: First
Reticle: BDC
Eye Relief: 4-5 in.
Exit Pupil: 8.7 in-2.7 in
Click Value: 1/2 MOA
Total Elev. Adjust: ±50 MOA
Total Wind. Adjust: ±50 MOA
Waterproof: IPX7
Length: 11 in.
Weight: 19.7 oz

Shooting Sports

Are some LPVO’s upside down?

I’ve reviewed a wide variety of LPVOs. And while many offer different features, reticles, and levels of glass clarity, one of the most common complaints people have with LPVOs is the distortion they see at low power. To add to the confusion, some LPVO makers intentionally design their scopes to show a larger field of view (FOV) through their scope, causing the perception that their scopes feel more “fish eye”. Moreover, some cheap LPVOs have uneven sharpness in their lens, creating additional distortions. At times, looking through an LPVO at 1x feels less like looking through a pane of glass and more like looking through a glass bottle.

Some of this distortion can be corrected by adjusting the diopter, but you can only adjust so much. I also noticed that with some LPVOs at 1x, objects look slightly offset from their position in the real world. It doesn’t matter if the scope costs over $2000 or less than $200, I will sometimes get a scope that doesn’t show an image aligned to its background.

But the odd thing is that when I rotate this “defective” mora than 90º in my hand, it seems to correct the effect. At SHOT Show, I stopped by the Trijicon booth (a company known for making combat-proven optics) and looked through their Credo LPVO, and it had that image shift issue I was describing. The effect was greatly reduced when looking through the Credo with the tube upside down! I asked a Trijicon technical staffer to explain this to me, but they shrugged and said they didn’t know what I was talking about.

I reached out to my friend, Dark Lord of Optics. There were too many confounding factors for him to diagnose the situation based on just my photos and videos. He suspects that I may not have adjusted the diopter properly for the camera (which I disagree). It could also be that the reticle and turrets were not optically centered or the elements were not assembled correctly.

I asked him if scope makers check for this issue at the factory. He said that scope factories center the turrets mechanically, but do not test for optical center. One thing that never occurred to me was that FFP (and some SFP) reticles are etched onto the lens and that the turrets move the reticle crosshairs by moving the entire lens. I tested one of the LPVOs that I thought had an image shift “out of the box”. I turned the turrets and discovered that it also shifted the overall image. This is only noticeable at 1x, which is why I only noticed this “defect” in LPVOs!

So the Trijicon Credo I looked at at SHOT Show probably wasn’t defective. There are hundreds of people touching and messing with the demo scopes at the expo. Somebody who was testing out the demo optic may have turned the turrets a rotation or even two. Even if they reset the turret number to “0” the image I was wasn’t optically, visually centered.

Now I know. And as G.I. said, knowing is half the battle.

SHOP

Trijicon Credo: https://amzn.to/3IdfKi2

If you want to get an affordable LPVO, check out the Discovery Optics ED-AR
Official Website: https://discoveryopt.com/ (10% Discount Code: Moondog)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4ofFcnH (10% Discount Code: MOONDOG2A)

Gadgets, Shooting Sports

ProHear EM030 2.0 BT Earmuffs

I visited the ProHear booth at SHOT Show 2025 and asked which model offered the best sound quality when connected to a phone or device. One of the deciding factors of Ear Pro (hearing protection) for me is the quality of the sound you hear through electronic earmuffs. The sound quality of music through electronic EarPro is a good indication of a headphone’s ability to recreate a realistic representation of the sounds and environment around you.

Ear Pro at a gun range or just mowing your lawn is important because any damage to your hearing is permanent. Electronic Ear Pro has become the standard for hearing protection, amplifying normal sounds while blocking out loud gunfire and noises. Better quality electronic Ear Pro can simulate or even improve upon what you could hear with your naked ears.

ProHear gave me a set of their EM030 “Machete” headphones. These are Bluetooth-capable, rechargeable headphones. They look like a boxier version of Howard Leight Impact Sports and have compatible earpads. Paired to my phone and playing a sound sample of music, their audio quality was better than Howard Leights or Walker Razors.

Testing them at the gun range, they quickly cut out gunshots while amplifying voices and environmental sounds. Unfortunately, the sound was omnidirectional without stereoscopic directionality or the distance of the sound source (the same complaint with Walker Razors). I could hear conversations a few tables away better than someone directly in front of me.

While the ambient performance was not better than my stereo-sound Howard Leight’s, the ProHear offers Bluetooth connectivity at the same price point. That may be the final determining factor between these two similar Ear Pro.

SHOP

Amazon https://amzn.to/4hESQNb

SPECS

EM030

Bluetooth 5.4 

NRR 22dB 

Omni-directional mic

USB-C port

0.5 ms reaction time

Weight: 0.63 Pounds

Dimensions: 4.52 x 3.54 x 4.92 inches

Shooting Sports

OLight ArkPro

Olight has released the AkrPro, the newest model of their category-defining Arkfeld “blade style” EDC flashlight. This flashlight looks nearly identical to the Arkfeld Pro, but on closer inspection, the AkPro is slightly longer, and it has more upgrades in store.

On its left side, it now has a USB-C port hidden under a metal flap similar to the OClip. The ArkPro still retains the magnetic charging base, which also allows for a remote pressure switch accessory. When charging, a series of bars around the inside of the rotary control indicates the battery charge.

On its right side, it has a small button that activates the green laser pointer. Replacing the laser setting on the rotary wheel, the ArkPro now offers a FLOOD beam setting, which produces a broad flood pattern differing from the OLight’s “standard/spot” style beam. The UV light now offers a high and low output mode.

The ArkPro is everything you would want in an Arkfeld Pro and more, which makes me wonder why they would still offer the older model. The only thing the ArkPro is missing is an analogue Lock Out setting. Maybe that should be offered in an ArkUltra?

SHOP

Amazon https://amzn.to/4pwV6Kz

SPECS

Light: White LED, UV (365nm), Green Laser (510-530nm)
Max Brightness: Up to 1500 Lumens
Max Throw: 205 meters (672 ft)
Runtime: Up to 72 hours on low
Battery: Built-in (2000mAh)
Charging: USB-C & Magnetic
Water Resistance: IPX7
Material: 6061 Aluminum Alloy
Dimensions: 4.88″ x 1.06″ x 0.63″ (124x27x16mm)
Weight: Approx. 4.06 oz / 115g

Shooting Sports

BCA BC15 Bolt Action AR Upper

Whether to create an even more accurate long-range rifle out of an existing AR15 or to comply with certain states unfair restrictions on semi-automatic AR15 rifles, or just for the sheer novelty of it, you can now change any AR15 into a bolt-action rifle. Bear Creek Arsenal (BCA) debuted its BC15 bolt-action AR15 uppers at SHOT Show with an upper chambered in the straight-wall 350 Legend. Finally, they’re releasing BC15’s in other popular calibers. BCA sent me a BC15 chambered in 6.5 Grendel, a thicker cartridge that offers greater accuracy and long-range stopping power than NATO 5.56, while retaining the same length.

The BC15 I received for testing definitely looked budget in terms of fit and finish. The milling on the handguard felt a little sharp and unfinished. The action felt rough for a bolt-action, and this initial impression would only be reinforced with time. I mated it to a MilSpec AR15 lower and added a Discovery Optics ED-AR 5-25×56 precision long-range scope. For the 100-yard tests, I shot Hornady 123gr SSI 6.5 Grendel.

It shot a decent 2-inch group straight out of the box. I did not have a 6.5 Grendel magazine, so I tried using a 5.56 STANAG magazine, but discovered it fed unreliably, so I chambered each 6.5 Grendel round individually. Because I was running the magazine empty, I also discovered that my lower bolt catch would lock the bolt open and prevent me from closing the bolt until I depressed the paddle.

To say that my BC15 has a rough action would be a gross understatement. Often, its lugs would fail to rotate and release after a shot or require a hard slam to close the bolt. Undoubtedly, it would run better after a break-in period, but for now, it is frustrating. What the BC15 does have going for it is its ridiculously affordable price and a MilSpec design that allows for upgrades. And out of the box accuracy it printed 1.5″ groups at 100 yards.

SHOP

Bear Creek Arsenal BC15 https://alnk.to/7McEe5X

Discovery Optics ED-PRS 5-25×56
Official Website: https://discoveryopt.com/ (10% Discount Code: Moondog)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4ofFcnH (10% Discount Code: MOONDOG2A)

SPECS

BC15 Bolt Action Upper

Barrel Length 20

Profile Heavy Barrel

Twist 1:8

Barrel Finish Black Nitride

Material 4150 Chrome Moly Vanadium

Thread Pitch 5/8 x 24

Caliber 6.5 Grendel Type II

Feed Ramp M4

Platform AR-15

Bolt Material E9310

Receiver Material Billet

Weight 6.3 lbs

Shooting Sports

TMI 251210: Warner Bros. Takeover

In the last week, both Netflix and now Paramount/Skydance are in open war to buy Warner Brothers studios. In today’s Livestream we’ll talk about this takeover bid and review the most influential films created by Warner Brothers Studios. This video is sponsored by Aura. Stop leaving yourself vulnerable to data breaches. 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 Matt Hat beef jerky. Use code: MOONDOG to get 15%
Order a free sample using my link https://matthatjerky.com/products/sample-pack?ref=moondog

EARLYBIRD Clue:

Logo 1972-1990

THIS WEEK

Moondog2A

Moondog Reviews

Moondog Go

BRAND CONTEST CLUE

This film studio was founded on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood in 1920, by 4 brothers from PA and produced the first successful “talking picture”, the Jazz Singer.

DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE

In December 5, Netflix announced its intention to buy Warner Brothers for $85B in stock. 4 days later, on December 9, Paramount Skydance announces a hostile takeover offering $30/share of Warner Brothers (worth $108B) 

SPECIAL GUEST

CONTESTS

CONTEST: DEC Aquilifer LPVO
CONTEST: December 2025 Hotligh EDC

CONTEST CLUE

In 1989 this studio was bought by Time, Inc. In 2018 it was sold to AT&T and later merged with Discovery Networks. It is the home of such iconic franchises as Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, and D.C. Comics’ Batman and Superman.

YARD SALE

Fundraiser for St. Anne Middle School 8th grade class trip to Washington D.C.
https://moondogindustries.com/yardsale/

This week, you can get a Monstrum 2000 lumen weaponlight for half off.

Yard Sale School Fundraiser
Shooting Sports

CVLife EagleVanta 1-6×24 LPVO

Continuing in CVLife’s lineup of mashing animal names and random words, they’ve come up with a new one: EagleVanta. “Vanta” means “boast” in Italian, and this scope boasts ultra-high definition glass. In my testing, I found the glass was color-accurate and bright. I like its BDC reticle, which is simple and easy to aim with a daylight bright horseshoe reticle.

While not quite as refined as a Vector Optics Continental, the EagleVanta boasts a build and appearance that puts it at the top of CVLife’s LPVO lineup. In addition, the EagleVanta comes with a good cantilever mount and a throw lever. Overall, I like the simplicity and practicality of this SFP LPVO. For the price, it checks all the boxes, including value.

SHOP

Amzon https://amzn.to/4pyhEKh
Get 10% Off, use code: CY57IAVG

RESOLUTION (50y)

Group -2 / Element 6

SPECS

EAGLEVANTA

Objective: 24 mm

Magnification 1-6x

Tube: 30 mm

Eye Relief: 3.74″

FOV@100y: 124.5′-20.7′

Click Value 1/2 MOA

Wind. Adj. Range: ±70 MOA

Elev. Adj.  Range : ±70 MOA

Weight: 17.03oz

Length: 11.10″

Shooting Sports

OSight C micro red dot

When the OSight first came out earlier this year, they launched a micro reflex sight (RMR) that was wireless rechargeable at a very reasonable price. But many shooters were hesitant to buy any RMR that they couldn’t easily replace the battery.

OSight listened. They released the C model which offers the same performance as their original OSight multi-reticle but powered by a user-replaceable 16332 coin battery. Moreover, it can run for a whoppping 100,000 hours from a fresh coin battery in 3MOA dot mode at its lowest visible brightness (Level 3).

If this wasn’t amazing enough, they launched the OSight C with a street price under $150. At this price, with these features, and OLights great customer service, there is no RMR that is a better value.

SHOP

Amazon https://amzn.to/4rtjuOG

OLight https://tidd.ly/3KczXpy

CODE: Moondog

SPECS

Magnification: 1x
Color: Red
Reticle: 3 MOA Red Dot / 32 MOA Circle 
Material: 7075 Aluminum 
Mount Footprint: RMR 
Objective: 19mm x 24mm
Brightness Settings: 8 Daylight, 2 Night Vision
Power Source: CR1632
Battery Life: 100,000 Hours 
Proofs: IPX6   
Dimensions: 1.77″ x 1.18″ x 1.18″ 
Weight: 1.48 oz 

Shooting Sports

Wuben X4 flashlight

When I received a Wuben X4 flashlight to test, I was struck by its futuristic industrial design. It looks like a device from a Cyberpunk fever dream or a component from a Gundam mech. It has a robust pocket/belt clip and has been described as a “flat” EDC, though I found it too chunky to be comfortably a pocket EDC.

The blockier form factor is required to accommodate a user-replaceable 18650 lithium battery. In addition to its cubist design, this flashlight is unusual for its use of analogue controls. The squared base is magnetic, incorporating a tail clicky plate with an additional rubber activation button on its side. Its modes are set by a sliding switch, and the settings are adjusted with a stepless dial. The layout is intuitive and responsive.

My only negative experience wasn’t with the X4 sample I tested but with Wuben’s customer service. I had a failure with a different flashlight, a Wuben G5 I was also testing. Despite multiple attempts to contact customer service through the Wuben website, they failed to respond to my request for help on the G5. While I can say that the X4 passed my performance, drop, and waterproof tests, I would not count on warranty support from the company in the future. If Wuben’s customer service was as good as its design, this would be an amazing flashlight.

SHOP

Save 20%, $49.99 → $39.99

Wuben X4:https://www.wubenlight.com/products/wuben-x4-compact-multi-function-flashlight?ref=wjotytoc

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4oFP0GO

Amazon https://amzn.to/3M7pRXq

SPECS

Max Output: 1500 lumens

Max Throw: 205 meters

Side light Output: 100 lumens

Modes: 6 

Color Temp: 4000K RGB

Battery: 18650, 3400mAh

Charging: USB-C 

Waterproof: IP68

Weight: 137g w/battery

Dimensions: 3.8 x 2.6 x 9.5 cm

Shooting Sports

TMI 251203: A.I. on the job

Welcome my guest Scott Robinet of Allysium Software. We’re going to talk about A.I. and the future job market. This video is sponsored by Aura. Stop leaving yourself vulnerable to data breaches. 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 Matt Hat beef jerky. Use code: MOONDOG to get 15%
Order a free sample using my link https://matthatjerky.com/products/sample-pack?ref=moondog

EARLYBIRD Clue:

THIS WEEK

Moondog2A

Moondog Reviews

Moondog Go

BRAND CONTEST CLUE

This US social networking company has been described as Facebook for the white-collar office.

Its name rhymes with Lincoln. 

DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE

Generative AI is coming for our jobs

SPECIAL GUEST

Scott Robinet
Ellysium Software

CONTESTS

CONTEST: DEC Aquilifer LPVO
CONTEST: December 2025 Hotligh EDC

CONTEST CLUE

This American social networking company was purchased by Microsoft in 2016 for $26.2B and has over 1 billion registered users worldwide.

YARD SALE

Fundraiser for St. Anne Middle School 8th grade class trip to Washington D.C.
https://moondogindustries.com/yardsale/

This week, you can get a Monstrum 2000 lumen weaponlight for half off.

Yard Sale School Fundraiser