I know it’s late folks, and I apologize.  I was simply brain dead by the time I got back to my room this evening.  It took a little dinner, a tasty beverage or two, and a little roulette (I lost…duh) to get my head back in the game.  So here I am…

Despite the fact that the crowds seem to have grown even more packed today, it was a fairly productive day at the 2010 SHOT Show.  In addition to getting some insight into a handful of great products, I also made some good contacts that might lead to a couple of new writing opportunities for me.  It was also quite gratifying to find that several of the folks I talked to were familiar with The Hog Blog. 

As I was sitting in the Press Room this morning, meeting some new folks and listening to conversations, Kevin Howard of Howard Communications popped by and asked if I was attending the Bushnell Press Conference.  I guess I missed the release, and didn’t have it on my calendar… but I quickly remedied that.  Among other things I was interested in learning about, I wanted to see more about the DOA Scope. 

At the conference, I certainly got what I was looking for, but then I got a bonus.  Bushnell has completely redesigned and re-introduced their range-finding binocular.  They are producing the unit initially in a 10x42mm configuration, and I have to say, I think they got it right this time! 

Several years ago, I bought one of the early versions of the rangefinding binocular… sold then as a Yardage Pro.  The unit was quite clunky and heavy.  The glass wasn’t terribly bad, but the way the binocular was designed really made it a little difficult to use.  Instead of a hinged body, like a normal binocular, the Yardage Pro was actually built in a single body.   Adjustments for eye width were made by moving the actual eye cups.  While they worked OK for me, several other people couldn’t work with them at all. 

The new version, sold as the Fusion, is a true binocular, with two tubes attached on a hinge so they are completely adjustable.  They’ve also shaved a few ounces off, so the unit weighs in now at about 31 ounces.  This isn’t exactly featherweight, but it’s still a savings considering that it combines two useful tools into a single package. 

The glass on the Fusion is also on the higher end of Bushnell’s product line… comparable to the Elite line of binoculars.  I didn’t get a chance to use them outdoors, but flashing around the big meeting room, the clarity and definition were pretty impressive.  I’m hoping I’ll be able to get my hands on a set of these for review later this year (no press samples are currently available). 

The Fusion is designed to provide accurate range readings from 10 to 1600 yards.  Now I know 1600 yards is a LONG ways for any laser rangefinder, but I know it’s possible.  This is something I’d have to experience in person before I could say if it’s just hype or if it’s real… but that’s really irrelevant.  At ranges over 500-1000 yards, a rangefinder isn’t going to mean that much to an average hunter.  We’re not likely to shoot that far anyway.

Bushnell has also incorporated their “ARC” (Angle Range Compensating) technology, so they will figure out the actual range for shots at any angle from +90 degrees to -90 (straight up/straight down).  You can set the unit for bow or rifle hunting.  In rifle mode, they’ve taken it even one step further.  The unit calculates for bullet drop, and you can set it to compensate based on your rifle’s zero (for 100, 200, or 300 yard zero). 

These guys have even changed the display from the LED to what they call “Vivid Display”.  LED readouts tended to block the shooter’s view.  The Vivid Display actually projects the range information into the field of view so it doesn’t really obscure the target.  You can set the brightness of the display so it’s nice and sharp from bright daylight to low light conditions.  It looked really clear and sharp in the trial unit, although there’s a lot of info in that display.  It’s something I’d have to work with a little bit to get completely used to.

The Bushnell Fusion will retail in the range of $899.  This is less than half the price of the nearest competition… the Leica GeoVid (which I currently own and like a lot)… and less than one third the MSRP of the Zeiss rangefinding binocular. 

Like I said, I really hope I can get one of these guys to try out in the field.  I think it’s going to be a great addition to the market, at a price that’s a little more realistic for “real” hunters. 

I’m also hoping to get a chance to put one of the DOA scopes on my .270, and put it through the paces as well.  Like I mentioned Monday, I’ve become something of a convert to the ballistic compensating scopes, and I’d love the opportunity to put it to work on a big ol’ boar hog. 

From Bushnell to Leupold… with many stops in between.

I’ve probably mentioned at sometime in the past that most of my primary hunting rifles are topped with Leupold scopes.  When I finally decided to upgrade my cheap scopes to quality glass, Leupold fit my needs perfectly… both in price and quality.  Since then, several companies including Bushnell and Nikon have stepped up their own lines to compete with the German company, giving the hunter a lot of great choices.

Leupold also stepped into the fray with some great, quality laser rangefinders (I think they had a rangefinding binocular at one point, but I’m not sure what happened to it).  Personally, I’ve never been too big of a fan of the single-purpose rangefinder units.  It’s just one more thing to carry, usually strapped around my neck, and I don’t need more stuff hanging off of me.  That’s why I like the rangefinding binoculars so much. 

Well Leupold has come out with a new product that will alleviate the need to carry a separate rangefinder around my neck (or in a belt pouch), and also lets me carry a lightweight binocular for spotting. 

The Vendetta is a rangefinder that mounts directly to a compound bow (the literature says it will attach to “almost” any modern compound).  The main unit mounts to the bow frame, and the trigger is attached to the riser.  The archer can then draw, and with a simple movement of the index finger, depress the ranging button.  A single press gives a fixed distance, or a sustained press puts the unit into Scan mode, so he can get a fix on a moving animal. 

The Vendetta incorporates Angle Calibration, so that the range display shows the adjusted range which compensates for the angle of the shot.  This can be pretty critical for bowhunters, since the difference of a couple of yards can mean the difference between a clean kill and a miss (or worse). 

This unit only ranges from 10 to 70 yards, but for most bowhunters, there’s really not any need to range beyond that anyway.  When I fooled around with the demo unit at the Show this afternoon, it took a moment between the trigger press and the range display, but it locked onto pretty much everything I pointed at. 

The Vendetta weighs about 10 ounces, but it really didn’t seem very noticeable on the test bows I was playing with.  I don’t think it would make a significant difference to most hunters, and again, the tradeoff is the efficiency of having the rangefinder right there on the bow.  You don’t have to raise and lower a rangefinder, then raise your bow… just raise the bow, touch the trigger, and get ready to shoot! 

I didn’t make it to the ATA show where I think this product was available for actual range testing, but I’m pretty sold on the idea.  If it works as well in the field as it did on the show floor, I think Leupold might have just taken a big step out ahead of the competition… at least in the archery market. 

The MSRP for the Vendetta isn’t listed on the literature I’ve got here, and this thing is still so new it’s not even on the website yet.  If I get this info, I’ll append this post or add it to the comments.

I checked out several other great products today, but those reviews will have to wait a little while.  Among other things, I’ve got some great info on lead-free ammo… although there’s really not a ton of new info right now.  I saw an exciting new entry into the marketplace, though, if they can get an American distributor to bring it in. 

What else? 

A question for readers… are there any specific guns you’d like to hear more about?  I have been looking at some of the new offerings, and while I’ve missed my chance to shoot them at the range, I can still check them out on the floor.  Problem is, there are so many and I so love handling guns, there’s no way I could pick one or two to report on.  Tell me what you’d like to read about, and I’ll see what I can do.

Now it’s sleepy time… big day tomorrow.  T. Michael Riddle of Native Hunt is coming out, not to mention all the stuff I haven’t had a chance to look at yet.

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