From traditional riflescopes to high-tech thermal and night-vision optics to the more-popular-than-ever red-dots, SHOT Show 2023 has plenty of new sighting solutions to take a look at.
Sightmark Mini Shot M-Spec M2
This compact optic from Sightmark (pictured above) is a true red-dot sight, not a reflex sight. It sports solar technology from a top solar panel backed up by standard CR1620 batteries, for up to 20,000 hours of battery life. It features a 3-MOA dot for rapid target acquisition and automatic brightness adjustment for a crisp reticle and field of view in varying light conditions. Mount it on a Weaver or Picatinny rail or put it on a pistol that uses the RMR footprint (maximum caliber .45 ACP). It’s got a durable housing and matte-black finish, and it’s shockproof for a drop of up to 3 feet. MSRP is $299, and Sightmark says they’ll be shipping around the first of March.
Hawke Prism Sights
Hawke’s new prism sights are a bit of a hybrid between a riflescope and a red-dot sight. They feature 10-stage brightness control, exposed 1-MOA-click turrets, auto shut-off, shake-awake and more. They’re rated for all calibers and include a low-profile mount and a lower 1/3 co-witness mount. The 1x15 model has a speed-dot reticle, while the 4x24 and 6x36 models use a BDC 5.56 reticle. MSRP will be between $329 and $429 depending on the model, and Hawke expects to ship them early in the second quarter of the year.
ATN X-Sight 5
ATN is introducing the Gen 5 series of its popular X-Sight day- and night-vision riflescope. Features include a Gen 5 Quad core, an upgraded sensor, ultra-high-def imaging in the 1280x960 display, vivid colors, 4K video recording, dual streaming, smooth zoom, one-shot zero, e-compass, recoil-activated video, ballistics calculator, profile manager, and customizable reticles. Battery life is outstanding — up to 14 hours. Four models are currently available: a 3-15X with or without a laser rangefinder, and a 5-25X with or without a laser rangefinder. All carry a two-year warranty.
Trijicon Compact ACOG
The Compact version of Trijicon’s legendary ACOG isn’t new, but this year Trijicon is adding RTR (Rapid Target Reticles; pictured below) in the TAC-R series for the 1.5x16S and 2x20 ACOG models. The RTR .223 reticle has a 2-MOA center dot, BDC holds to 700 yards (for .223 Rem 55-grain FMJ ammo out of a 16-inch barrel), 7.5 mph crosswind holds at 250 yards, and 19-inch-wide stadia lines for ranging. The RTR 9mm PCC reticle is designed for 115-grain 9mm FMJ ammo and a 16-inch barrel length and features a 2-MOA illuminated center dot with a horseshoe shroud to help the user get on target quickly. The stadia lines provide BDC holds out to 300 yards.
Pulsar Thermion Duo DXP
Pulsar introduces what it calls the industry’s first multispectral hunting scope, the Thermion Duo DXP, combining effective thermal imaging detection at any time of day with the comfort of full-color daytime observation. Features include a 4K full-color sensor for daytime hunting, a 640x480 high-sensitivity thermal sensor with < 25 mK NETD — it can detect temperature variances down to a quarter of a degree — F50/1.0 germanium lens, advanced image processing, up to 2,000 -yard thermal detection range (day or night), photo and video recording, 10 reticle options, picture-in-picture mode for precision aiming, and more. They’ll be available around the end of the first quarter of 2023. MSRP is $6,600; MAP is $6,000.
