Reviews & Field Tests

This review on the Leica Geovid HD-B 10×42 rangefinder binoculars is based on a 3 month long field test. It reflects the thoughts of 3 different precision rifle shooters as they used the product to observe and range targets from 25 to 2,000 yards hundreds of times. The full field test consisted of 8 different rangefinders, so we have a very wide view of what to expect in a good pair of rangefinder binoculars. This post is compiled from our notes of what we specifically liked or didn’t like about the Leica Geovid HD-B compared to the rest of the ...

Welcome to the largest and most comprehensive field test & review of laser rangefinder binoculars ever conducted. I tested virtually every pair available in a variety of real-world scenarios, to see which had the best performance in the field in terms of both optical clarity and ranging capabilities. This post is the executive summary of the results. I’ve already written other posts in this series of articles, which include exhaustive details about the ranging tests and results, as well as the optical tests and results. But, I’ll try to hit the highlights here. These results are based on over 10,000 ...

Not long ago, I helped build a 2,000 yard range for long-range, precision rifles. That range seems like the ideal facilities for a field test. It doesn’t get more real-world than this. Remember this isn’t a laboratory test … it is a field test. Although I was meticulous to ensure each model was tested in the same exact way and under the same exact circumstances, the targets and ranging scenarios varied just like they would in the field. By that, I mean the target shape, exact size, and surroundings were not identical at every range … just like they would ...

This is one of a series of posts about the results of field tests on rangefinding binoculars. Here are the models included in the test: Leica Geovid HD-B 10×42 (View Full Review) Leica Geovid HD Classic 10×42 Zeiss Victory RF 10×45 (View Full Review) Bushnell Fusion 1 Mile 10×42 (View Full Review) Bushnell Fusion 1600 10×42 Vectronix Vector 23 (View Full Review) Vectronix Terrapin (View Full Review) Leupold RX-1000i I hear so many people claim there is no way to objectively test optical clarity, because everyone’s eyes are different, so you just have to look through each pair for yourself. ...

Welcome to the largest and most comprehensive field test & review of laser rangefinder binoculars ever conducted. I tested almost every pair available in a variety of real-world scenarios, to see which had the best performance in the field in terms of both optical clarity and ranging capabilities. The results are based on over 10,000 data points collected from the field over 3 months of testing. I shoot in long-range rifle competitions, and some have known distance targets and some are unknown distance. For example, in the Steel Safari competitors have to locate, range, and engage 6 targets within 5 ...

A few weeks ago I wrote the AI Stock Shootout, which compared the different AI stock configurations available.  One of the products I mentioned that showed a lot of promise was Victor Company’s ViperSkins, so I thought a good follow-up would be a more in-depth review on that product. What are ViperSkins? The Accuracy International Chassis System (AICS) is different than most stocks.  The body of most stocks like McMillan, H.S. Precision, and others are solid with some type of metal pillars or bedding block permanently embedded within them.  The body of the stock also provides part of the structural rigidity needed for ...

My custom target/hunting 7mm Rem Mag has a McMillan A3-5 stock on it, but I’m also a fan of the Accuracy International stocks and have been considering building my next rifle on one of their chassis.  These are very popular upgrades for Remington 700 rifles.  With the recent release of their AX platform, along with the new skins available for the Accuracy International Chassis System (AICS) platform … there are a lot of options. One major benefit of an Accuracy International stock is it’s folding option.  Precision rifles can get pretty long, especially with a can.  I actually had a hard ...

I’ve been using Norma’s brass for the 7mm Remington Magnum lately, and thought I’d write a review over what I’ve found so far. Norma is a high-end, European brass manufacturer similar to Lapua.  They use the highest quality raw materials, and have very narrow tolerances and tight quality control.  Like Lapua, they drill the flashholes on their brass instead of punching them.  Almost all other brass manufacturers punch their flashholes, which can cause inconsistency and require that you debur the flash hole. Also like Lapua, Norma anneals the neck on all of their brass.  However, that isn’t as apparent as it is ...