Mat puts the binoculars through their paces Binoculars are a very useful accessory that too many shooters overlook. Stalkers know their value when it comes to quarry observation, but they can be a real asset in other branches of our sport, from scanning fields in search of pigeon activity to planning routes along the hedgerows…

As more and more shooters switch to bullpups and stubby carbines, the demand increases for diminutive optics to match their downsized guns. SWAT Prismatic scopes from MTC Optics fit that niche perfectly, and the 10×30 model, nicknamed the ‘Atom’, is the smallest option in the range, with a 12×50 version also available. (Read Mat’s review…

Names, it seems, are important. This is probably something which marketing folk have known for a good long time. Words that sound right can help sell things. ZEISS, of course, was around long before marketing as we know it was dreamed up, making optical equipment of the highest quality. “ZEISS.” Say it slowly and listen….

It wasn’t that long ago that hand-held thermal imaging devices were only affordable to the military, police and search and rescue teams, but today the prices have come down dramatically. What you consider affordable depends on how deep your pockets are, and many of the high-quality thermal spotters are £2,000 or more, so I was…

I’ve tested lots of night vision kit, and none of it ever made me put my hand in my pocket and part with the cash to own it. I’ve got by with a lamp for decades and it would take something special to get me excited, so when I saw the HIKMICRO Alpex my interest…

I have a fondness for Nikko Stirling scopes as my first telescopic sight was the firm’s Silver Crown 4×40. Things have come a long way since the simple optic that adorned my beloved Webley Vulcan in 1988, so I jumped at the chance to put the current Diamond FFP model through its paces. Retailing at…

Not so long ago I attended one of the excellent night-vision demo evenings held at my local gunshop. An early downpour meant that the usual crowds stayed away but this meant I was able to spend more time than usual checking out the latest developments in the world of thermal and night-vision (NV) kit. One…

Pard has been at the forefront of the recent night-vision revolution and has won a loyal following by striking a desirable balance between value for money, image quality and ease of use. Its latest offering, the Pard DS35, is built around those principles and takes development a stage further in terms of features and performance,…

Steiner binoculars have never let me down, so the new Steiner Ranger riflescopes certainly took my interest, especially this new R8 version with an eight-power zoom ratio from four to 32x. I have used a pair of Steiner 12×42 binoculars for most of my hunting trips abroad, from the wet forests of Europe to the…

Being able to shave some weight off a rifle and scope set-up can be a huge advantage. And while there are plenty of lightweight guns on the market, the weight savings they offer can easily be undone by bulky optics. BSA’s Ultra SE airgun has been my go-to lightweight option for farm and woodland pest…

Professional Airgun Optics has an extensive line-up of telescopic sights, and that line-up has now grown with the arrival of the new SSS series, one of which, the PAO 6-24×56 SSS, is on test here, which offers two different types of scope technology. SSS stands for Smart Spherical Structure, which is an all-metal turret/erector tube…