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DLO Range Day, September 11, 2024
Here is a list of gear in the video since this is a tech oriented endeavor
The Fix by Q with 24" Proof Research 308 Win barrel. If I was buying one now, I'd probably do 6.5CM https://alnk.to/cb36hCA and https://alnk.to/6xKQTwS
Tangent Theta 7-35x56 with Gen3 XR reticle https://alnk.to/4BGw6zr
Area 419 36mm mount (20MOA slope, 39mm tall) https://alnk.to/2jMFlYq
MDT Ckye triple pull Bipod https://alnk.to/faBYXxh
Q Trash Panda suppressor https://alnk.to/hDqAGXK
AAC Precision 175gr OTM ammo https://alnk.to/gzW2O5r
Pint-sized Gamechanger bag https://alnk.to/aLJ2rb7
458SOCOM AR-15 that I built out of pieces when 458SOCOM just appeared on the scene around a 16" Tromix barrel
Witt SME muzzle device
SAI6 1-6x24 https://alnk.to/9moYAFp
Steiner C35 Gen2 thermal clip-on ($2340 at Battlehawk Armory) https://alnk.to/flwJWpL
Spartan Precision Javelin Lite bipod https://alnk.to/3J6JcBs
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DLO Reviews: Blackhound Emerge 2-12x44
Blackhound Emerge 2-12x44 has very solid optomechanical fundamentals, combined with some fairly glaring errors in how it is configured. It is a polarizing design, but if it fits your application, you could do a lot worse.
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DLO Range Day, August 2nd, 2024
Every once in a while when there aren't too many people at the range and when I am not running anywhere, I spend a few minutes on recording my impressions and on what products I am looking at.
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DLO Live! Ep. 60 Discreet Ballistics
60 is a round number of some sort, so I figured we should do something special. For the first time, I think, I have a live guest, not someone joining be via digital connection from afar.
I am in Wyoming at the moment, trying to chase down an elk and visiting with David, the proprietor of Discreet Ballistics. They make what is likely the best subsonic ammunition on the market. Definitely the best I have seen, but there is more to what they do than just accurate subsonics. Tune to learn more about them.
https://discreetballistics.com/
Post show notes:
-the bulk of the discussion focused on what faster barrel twist does to bullet lethality and accuracy
-David went in depth into how different bullets perform in soft tissue and what makes them effective
-A lot of the discussion was on different bullet types, construction and manufacturing method and how they do with fast twist barrels
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DLO Live! Ep. 59 The War In Israel
This is going to be a special edition version of DLO Live!
Eugene is joining me to talk about the events that transpired in Israel over the last few days. We will do our best to cover what has been happening and why.
I will not take any gun or optics questions unless there is time later in the show.
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Tract Optics 1-8x24
Join me at www.darklordofoptics.com
Tract Toric 1-8x24 is a really capable general purpose scope.
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2023 Magpul DAKA Organizer
Join me at www.darklordofoptics.com
DAKA organizer https://bit.ly/3S294Gh for Pelican V730 https://bit.ly/3Fm4StA gives me the room for a 24" barreled rifle with a suppressor, bipod and folding stock, sidearm in a holster, ammo for both and a cleaning kit with space left over. It is a brilliant solution.
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DLO Live! Ep.58 Element Immersive 5x30
Element's 5x30 prismatics are finally here and I have two scopes from the first production lot. I have spent enough time with these to offer some first impressions. These are some of most full featured prismatics on the market today with excellent image quality and side focus.
Also, since I designed the reticles, I will go over the reasoning behind various reticle features.
https://shrsl.com/4954k
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DLO Live! Ep. 57 Scope Mounts
The topic of scope mounts comes up again and again.
I have talked about in the past, so if you have been following my channel, a lot of this might not be new. However, I do not think I have ever tried to focus the discussion on the mounts to this degree.
The purpose here is to not necessarily discuss any specific mounts (although I'll be happy to do that if I am familiar with whatever brand you are inquiring about).
The purpose is to introduce a somewhat different way of thinking about scope mounts than is common.
In principle, there isn't that much there and 15 minutes should be more than enough. In practice, I am allocating an hour and a half and I am afraid we will use up all of it.
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DLO Live! Ep.56 S&B 6-36x56 First Look, Swaro Boycott? General Updates
It has been a month since I have done one of these, so there is a lot to cover.
-S&B's new 6-36x56 is here, so I am kicking off the next High End Tactical Comparison
-I am considering a wholesale boycott of Swarovski/Kahles. I'll explain why
-Apex 12x50 binocular with a reticle is here
-Gunwerk Elevate Bipod is in the house and I am really liking it so far
-I am, again, jumping into the rabbit hole of the best way to set up auxiliary red dot sight on your AR.
And, of course, there is more along with the customary Q&A
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DLO Review: AK Sights and Optics, Primary Arms GLx 2x
Join me at www.darklordofoptics.com for advice on optics and a discussion of current events.
Here is a final wrap up of where I think the GLx 2x from Primary Arms belongs.
It is likely the best general purpose optic for AKs and ARs I have seen in a while for shooting inside of $200. Definitely the best for the money and per ounce.
https://alnk.to/ge40PLW
The ACSS reticle on this one is done just right for a 2x scopes. There are a couple of holdover marks just in case, but by and large the primary aiming point and horseshoe are all you need inside of 200 yards.
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DLO Reviews: SwampFox Sentinel Red Dot Sight
Join me at www.darklordofoptics.com for further discussion.
This one is a very simple review:
-it is small
-it is robust
-it works they way it is supposed to
-it does not cost a huge amount of money
-the Ironside shield is a good idea
-RMSc footprint is a good idea
I messed up on price in the video. It is about $50 less than I thought at Brownells: https://alnk.to/a41u5D4
Ironsides stainless steel shield adds $40 to it: https://alnk.to/hDo4gJf
#reddotsight
#swampfoxoptics
#aroptics
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DLO Review: 5x Prismatics, SwampFox Saber 5x36 and Vortex Spitfire Gen2 5x25
Join me at www.darklordofoptics.com for further discussion.
These two scopes are both 5x prismatic designs, but they could not be more different form each other. The video explains why.
SwampFox Saber: https://alnk.to/1XUCNyb
Vortex Spitfire Gen2: https://alnk.to/58ogsf6
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DLO Live! Ep.55 Current Events and Q&A
There is no prepared monologue for this one.
There is all sorts of interesting stuff happening in Russia, so I'll go over that a little and then do the customary Q&A.
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DLO Live! Ep.53 Tract Optics
An old tradition I used to have was an occasional re-visit of how different optics companies have been growing and evolving. It has been a little while, but I think it is worth resurrecting.
This time, I am going to spend a little time talking about Tract Optics and I hope one of the founders of Tract, Jon LaCorte, will join me for this.
Aside from the general company and product line overview, Tract has just announced a new interesting 4-25x50 design that is worth discussing. I have briefly seen the prototype several months ago and I plan to test in the future.
Post show notes:
There was a brief aside on the critic I wrote down of a video by Brassfacts. The write-up is here: https://darklordofoptics.locals.com/p...
A couple of time tags.
0:00 we kick off with a general introduction
10:45 I go over which Tract products I ahve personal experience with
16:55 Jon goes over different product lines Tract offers
38:48 We talk about the new 4-25x50 Toric scopes that has just been introduced
48:00 We kick of the Q&A part of the show.
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DLO Live! Ep 52 Resolution Limits vs English majors
This livestream is going to piss off a bunch of people.
I am going to get a little nerdy and give a bunch (not all, I am sure) of my fellow gun writers a hard time. They are often good shots and excellent writers. However, when they try to get numerical, all too often, they draw on technically accurate things and come up with completely asinine conclusions. I am going to address one of those and that is the relationship between objective lens diameter, resolution and magnification of a riflescope.
Naturally, I'll take questions as I go along and switch over to the customary Q&A toward the end.
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DLO Live! EP.51 New projects and general updates
It has been a little while since I did a livestream. We all make plans and life happens, I suppose. This is going to be a general update and Q&A livestream. I do not have a specific topic in mind, but I am kicking off several riflescope reviews, among other things, that are worth updating you on.
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SHOT2023 Vudoo Gunworks
Join me at www.darklordofoptics.com for further discussion.
The way things are going, eventually YouTube will find an excuse to ban all gun and 2nd Amendment channels. All of my videos are also on my website and on Rumble. Make sure you subscribe there as well.
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DLO Live! Ep.50 SHOT 2023 w/COVERTNOOB5
It is that time of the year when Will and I try to squeeze a week's worth of new stuff from SHOT Show into a two hour livestream. Last year, it took a few attempts to go through everything, but we'll see what 2023 brings to the table.
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SHOT2023: MDT ZeroStage Trigger
Join me at www.darklordofoptics.com for further discussion
At first glance, it seemed like a solution looking for a problem. After some reflection, it is a perfectly viable idea on a rifle not used for home defense or hunting. The trigger feel was indeed spectacular.
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Primary Arms ACSS NOVA Reticle
Here is a closer look at the fiber illuminated ACSS NOVA reticle in the new SLx 1-6x24 scope by Primary Arms.
https://bit.ly/3XjFBY6
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First Look: Element Theos 6-36x56
Join me at www.darklordofoptics.com for further discussion.
Element's Theos was not a particularly well kept secret since Matt has had a version of it on his competition rifle here and there. I have also seen a prototype or two since the scope has been in development for a good amount of time.
This time around, I actually got my hands on a scope that is from a very first production batch. I did not have it for very long since it had to go back to Element for SHOT show. I hope to get this scope back for a thorough review at some point.
It is not a cookie cutter LOW design. There are some clear differences and the turrets are definitely unique to Element and really excellent.
The big question is whether, along with Vortex Razor Gen3 6-36x56, this scope pushed its way into Tier 1 competition or whether it is competing against Mark 5HD and ATACR.
I won't know for sure until I do a full review, but I like what I see so far.
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First Look: Primary Arms SLx 1-6x24 with DAY BRIGHT ACSS NOVA Reticle
Join me at www.darklordofoptics.com for further discussion.
Here is a brief initial look at the Primary Arms SLx 1-6x24 with fiber illuminated ACSS NOVA reticle.
This is the first $300-ish scope I know of with a truly day bright reticle illumination and the rest of the scope is not letting the reticle down either.
https://bit.ly/3QAarcu
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Kowa BD II XD 6.5x32 Review - Best Mid-Range Bino?
Join me at www.darklordofoptics.com for further discussion.
There are very few binoculars left with magnification of less than 8x.
6x30 or similar designs really have a lot to offer when you are looking for stability and ease of use in a compact package.
As a matter of personal preference, for general purpose use, I like binoculars with the exit pupil around 5mm and Kowa 6.5x32 is a grand example of why.
Kowa BD II XD 6.5x32: https://amzn.to/3Z2tgJm and https://bit.ly/3tuBDyT
Kowa's YF 6x30 https://bit.ly/3B0dQeL
Maven 6x30 https://bit.ly/3QjuITi
Steiner Navigator 7x30 https://bit.ly/3OcprKQ
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