from model series upgrades and useful product kits. the m&P .40 s&W and 9mm are now available in a vtac version. Based on the standard 4.25-inch barreled models—.40 s&W (15-round magazine capacity) and 9mm pistols (17-round magazine capacity)—and offering all the standard features and specifications of those pistols, the new m&P40 vtac and m&P9 vtac feature the vtac Warrior 2-in-1 fiber-optic and tritium night sights. the vtac series also sports a flat Dark earth (fDe) finish. srP: $779. the m&P45 and m&P9 are now available in “threaded Barrel kit” versions (srP: $719). each kit includes a second, fitted drop-in barrel that protrudes beyond the muzzle and is threaded to accept suppressors. a protector cap covers the threaded portion of the barrel when required, and with that in place, the threaded barrel can be used as a standard barrel or be quickly replaced with the original barrel. Home defense involves more than just having a gun, and s&W simplifies the process of acquiring the proper system with the new Home Defense kit (srP: $499). Based on the sD40 and sD9 platform, it combines a gun, light and storage system into one product kit. available in .40 s&W (14+1 standard capacity version and 10+1 low capacity) and in 9mm (16+1 standard and 10+1 low capacity), both guns feature a 4-inch stainless-steel slide and barrel. (800-331-0852; smith-wesson.com)
The Burris 1.5–6x40mm Xtreme Tactical Riflescope has been designed for close- and mid-range operation with the 7.62mm round.
Burris
A new dedicated 7.62mm tactical riflescope, several new mounting systems and a new line of Steiner military scopes are the big news at Burris this year. Designed for close- to mid-range operation with the 7.62mm round, the new Burris 1.5– 6x40mm Xtreme Tactical Riflescope (XTR) is built on a 30mm tube with thicker outer walls to increase strength. Other features include a double-force coil-springadjustment suspension system, Hi-Lume multi-coated lenses, low-profile XT-1 Tactical adjustment knobs, an integrated eyepiece and power ring, a side-mounted turret parallax adjustment and a sidemounted illumination switch (with multiple intensity levels) for the reticle. The 7.62mm illuminated ballistic reticle was designed for both fast target acquisition at close range and precision at longer ranges. The reticle’s drop compensation is optimized for the 7.62mm round. SRP: $799. This year, Burris takes over the U.S. distribution of Steiner Optics, and a new line of Steiner military riflescopes will make its American debut. The line is made up of five scopes, which share such common features as a rugged 34mm tube; 19.5 mils of elevation adjustment and 5 mils of right and left windage; a specially designed illuminated front-focal-plane G2 mil-dot reticle; sidemounted parallax/focus adjustment; and Steiner’s highly respected fully multicoated optics. The windage and elevation adjustments are in 0.1 mil increments, and all adjustments are clearly indicated by detents and audible clicks, with hard stops at both ends of the adjustment range to prevent a shooter from “getting lost” on the dial. For shooting at extreme distances, the elevation adjustment provides 19.5 mils, with
two full revolutions of adjustment. The first revolution of 100 clicks of elevation is indicated by a white scale on the knob. The second revolution sees a small rotation indicator pop up to remind the shooter to use the second revolution scale, in gray. Parallax adjustment is on the left side of the scope and includes the rotary illumination switch for the reticle, which provides 11 intensity levels, with a batterysaver position between each setting. Each illumination level features a detent to lock the setting in. All Steiner riflescopes are fogproof, shockproof and waterproof. The new scope models consist of a 3–12x50mm model with a low mounting height that makes it a good choice for Patrol Rifle platforms; a 3–12x56mm with a larger objective lens for improved lowlight visibility and a wider field of view; a 4–16x50mm that covers a wide range of tactical requirements; and a 5–25x56mm scope designed for maximum precision at longer ranges. The last model is a 1–4x24mm scope designed for CQB, and it offers “botheyes-open” use at close range, combined with an illuminated ballistic reticle (differing from the G2 mil dot) that allows accurate ranging of targets beyond 600 meters. On this scope, windage and elevation adjustments are 0.1 mil, with a 10-mil adjustment per rotation. In addition, Burris is offering the AR-P.E.P.R QD Mount ($160), a one-piece mount designed for Picatinny rails that incorporates two quick detachable levers, which allow the optic to be quickly removed or installed. The mount can fit anywhere rail space allows, and the accessory provides up to 2 inches of scopemounting position within the mount. It comes complete with smooth and Picatinny ring tops. (970-356-1670; burrisoptics.com)
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