At SHOT Show 2023, Leapers debuted their newest line of rifle optics: Accushot Pro. I wasn’t even aware of this new brand until I visited my buddy Kiyo at Leapers huge booth at the show. This new brand is positioned in in between their budget tier UTG scopes (sub $250) and their premium Integrix line (over $1000).
The Accushot scopes have many of the external design features of their Integrix scopes but with a few changes to lower the cost. These scopes will use Chinese HD glass and their turret design is similar to a beefed up UTG turret. They are expected to launch with an LPVO and a 3-12×44 model in later Q3 with an MSRP of around $500.
Leapers is best known for the UTG brand of high-quality accessories and budget tier optics (my UTG Bugbuster is not awesome but for the price, one of my favorite scopes). Last year I was introduced to their Integrix brand made with German and Japanese glass and sporting premium features. They released their LPVO but delayed the launch of their PRS/ELR targeted scopes until now.
On Industry Range Day, I was surprised to stumble upon a small UTG booth at the end of the firing line. There I ran into our old friend Kiyo who set me up at the bench with an Accuracy International precision rifle chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum, the same rifle used by the Canadian sniper who scored the worlds farthest confirmed kill at 1.3 miles! Atop this rifle was Leapers new Integrix 4.5-27x56mm FFP scope.
Dealing with a 20-30mph crosswinds and intermittent rain and hail, I managed to get at least 1 solid hit on a gong over 900m downrange. The scope brought the target sharply in focus and the image was bright and clear from edge to edge. And I’m told all of Integrix scopes are tested to withstand the recoil of .338 Magnum rounds.
Theis new ELR scopes contain premium components and are expected to have a commensurate price with an MSRP over $1500. This year I hope Kiyo and Leapers comes through with a sample model that I can test and review at the range.
UTG/Leapers is a Taiwan based maker of optics and firearms accessories that is often miscategorized as a cheap Chinese knock-off brand. But their most recent offerings are often original designs that often copied by the aforementioned knock-off brands. Case in point, their Recon Flex II bipod was one of the first direct attach M-Lok bipods to market.
I purchased the Gen 1 Recon Flex a few years back and found it to be an affordable, rugged, and stable bipod. In addition, its side-mounted M-Lok design made it exceptionally low profile when stowed. It’s major drawback was it’s slow speed in deployment compared to spring-loaded Harris style bipods.
This deficiency was the main feature rectified in the Recon Flex II. Like a Harris bipod, the Flex II has spring loaded lower legs which quickly extend the legs to max extension when the locking tab is pressed. The Flex II also features smaller metallic feet which can be user replaced with Atlas compatible pads.
The lower legs are sectioned to index when adjusting for height. The release tab must be pressed to retract or extend, unlike the Gen 1, which could be pulled out without depressing the release tab. Like the Gen 1 the Flex II has an adjustment wheel should you require a leg length between index stops to level a rifle on uneven terrain.
The Flex II still has not come up with a quicker means to deploy the legs. Unfortunately, the slight redesign of the locking collar with a less aggressive checkering, makes the legs harder to unlock and deploy compared to the Gen 1. A slightly flared collar or raised checkering might solve some of this but the short of adding spring loaded legs or creating an unlocked free swinging mode, this design will never be as quick to deploy as a Harris-style bipod. The trade off for the quick deployment its legs is a thinner profile when stowed and the option to angle the legs forward to pre-load the tripod.
Because of the bipods M-Lok side-mounting, the bipod can not swivel or cant. For some shooters this is no loss and may be preferred. The Flex II offers a very rigid and strong shooting platform which just a slight amount of give for micro-adjustments required for precision shooters.
Overall the Flex II is an improvement on the Gen 1 but the changes are not all improvements. The two handed leg lock design and the smoother locking collar both make for a new design which can actually be slower to use than the original Recon Flex. But a retail price still below a $100, this is one of the most affordable high-quality, bipods available.
This Recon Flex II is available on Amazon through my affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3sL5ItE
Leaper’s UTG brand has had a spotty reputation among some gun owners who consider it to be a low-quality Chinese brand. But I think that reputation in optics and accessories is worse than it deserves; certainly not as bad as brands such as NC Star, MidTen, Feyachi, CVLife and the like. I’ll grant that UTG rifle scopes like their BugBuster 3-9×44 are certainly not high-end optics but their quality features are often on-par or better than similar rifle scopes in the $90-$140 price tier.
At this year’s Shot Show, Leapers debuted their new Integrix brand of tactical optics featuring Japanese and German glass, high quality turrets, and precision reticles. While their UTG brand targets beginners and budget buyers, Integrix is meant to compete with brands such as Vortex, Athlon, and SIG. Their products will be shipping later this Spring and I hope to test one and see if they truly live up to their claims.
