Editors Choice Awards

Blue-Force-Sling-1B

Vickers 221 Sling

Based on the Vickers Combat Applications Sling, the new Vickers 221 Sling from Blue Force Gear ($80) may be the best carbine sling yet devised. Two-point slings are ideal for most situations, but there are circumstances—like deploying from a vehicle or searching complex buildings—when a 1-point sling offers a clear advantage. Made from 1.25” nylon webbing, the Vickers 221 Sling combines BFG’s new polymer Burnsed Socket with their patented RED (“Rapid Emergency Detachment”) Swivel, and permits the user to switch from 2-point to 1-point mode instantly by pulling on the RED Swivel knob and reinserting it in to the Burnsed Socket at the rear of the receiver. Complete adjustability is maintained in both 1- and 2-point modes. It’s available in black, coyote brown, foliage green, OD green, Multicam, Kryptek Highlander and Kryptek Typhon. See it at your outdoor retailer, or for more information contact Blue Force Gear, Dept. OT; Tel.: (877) 430-2583; Web: www.blueforcegear.com

 

P308-Main-copy2

POF E2 Extraction Technology

P308 Chamber 1(C)POF’s founder and president, Frank DeSomma, was an aerospace engineer with no prior experience in firearms design, but in 2002 he developed the first commercially available gas-piston-operated AR-15 rifle. In an another major innovation this year, DeSomma invented and patented POF’s new E2 Extraction Technology. When a round is fired in a standard chamber, the neck of the cartridge case fire-forms to the chamber walls, causing it to stick. E2 Extraction Technology features four channels cut into the neck of the chamber, permitting small amounts of combustion gas to travel back through the channels and push against the case shoulder, breaking it free from the chamber walls. E2 Extraction Technology removes a tremendous amount of work that would otherwise be left up to the extractor: Rather than having to rip the empty case free of the P308 Chamber 2(C)chamber walls, the extractor now simply pulls on an already dislodged case. It’s like the difference between trying to tow a car with the shift lever in “neutral” rather than in “park.” With the addition of E2 Extraction Technology, the rifle’s extractor can last up to five times longer than it would in a rifle with a standard chamber. For more information contact Patriot Ordnance Factory, Dept. OT; Tel.: (623) 561-9572; E-mail: [email protected]; Web: www.pof-usa.com

 

Nightforce-SHV2-copy

Nightforce SHV Riflescopes

By limiting some options, offering simpler controls and using a less complex manufacturing process, the new SHV series scopes from Nightforce offer the company’s legendary quality and performance at more user friendly prices. Two SHV models are now available: a 4-14x56mm ($975; $1,171 with illuminated reticle) and a 5-20x56mm ($1,171; $1,299 with illuminated reticle). Both models can be had with the choice of two proprietary reticles set in the second focal plane—the uncluttered International Hunting Reticle in both illuminated and non-illuminated versions, or the MOAR tactical reticle with floating center crosshair and 1-MOA elevation and windage markings (illuminated only).

The two models are virtually indistinguishable, both having 30mm machined aluminum tubes, 56mm objective lenses, 43mm ocular lenses and matte black finishes. Other common features include side-mounted parallax adjustment dials, zero-resettable, finger-adjustable turrets with 1/4-MOA click adjustments, fully multi-coated lenses and limited lifetime warranties. Both models provide outstanding image clarity and color contrast throughout their entire magnification range.

The 4-14x56mm offers a 4X to 14X magnification, eye relief of 3.14” to 3.54”, exit pupil diameter of 12mm at 4X and 3.6mm at 14X and 100-yard field of view of 24.9’ at 4X and 7.3’ at 14X. It is 14.8” long overall and weighs 26.9 oz. (28.5 oz. with illuminated reticle). With a 5X to 20X magnification range, the 5-20x56mm model has a 100-yard field of view of 17.9’ at 5X and 5.0’ at 20X, exit pupil diameter of 8.7mm at 5X and 2.5mm at 20X and eye relief of 3.14” to 3.54”. It measures 15.2” long and weighs 29.1 oz. (30.5 oz. with illuminated reticle). See them at your outdoor retailer, or for more information contact Nightforce Optics, Dept. OT; Tel.: (208) 476-9814; Web: www.nightforceoptics.com