Products & Projects

Leupold Goes Thermal

The consumer market has seen it time and time again, with products such as Jeep, penicillin and even the personal GPS unit: Innovations in specialized markets often occur as a result of war. It wasn’t all that long ago (2013) that the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) announced major advancements in sensor technologies related to thermal imaging, virtually eliminating the monstrous, vehicle-mounted contraptions used at the time in favor of pocket-size units operating on sensors the size of a smartphone camera lens. Private-sector companies, including Leupold & Stevens, Inc. (leupold.com), are now able to utilize these tax-dollarfunded DARPA advancements and hand that technology directly to the consumer market. One such product available from Leupold is the LTO-Tracker.

When Leupold released the sub-$1,000 ($909) device, I just had to have a closer look. Why? Because, like 300 million other folks in the world who have color-receptor de ciencies, I am visually impaired. Though not debilitating, my color blindness still makes it dif cult to properly match a tie with a shirt or blood trail an animal. Nonetheless, I have learned to overcome the problem with the aid of color wheels, “sel es” sent to mom at zero-dark-thirty and, once, calling a good buddy at 11 p.m. to track a wounded deer. With the LTO-Tracker, the latter may have not been necessary.

For an over-the-counter price closer to $600, the unit offers a lot of technology. In fact, its digital, temperature-sensing, handheld Seek thermal sensor was developed by defense contractor Raytheon. Further, Leupold makes use of Chalcogenide glass in the LTO-Tracker—chosen for its ability to transmit across a wide range of the infrared electromagnetic spectrum. The body is made of aluminum, uses a 30 mm tube and exhibits the classic gold ring that usually adorns Leupold optics. The 240x204 pixel, direct-view, digital color screen provides a frame rate of 30 Hz. The unlimited eye relief is a practical feature—especially when stumbling through brush in total darkness. The LTO-Tracker has a wide, 21 degree eld of view with a sensor detection range of between -40° F and 572° F. I fabricated a basic tripod mount utilizing a chunk of bulk Picatinny rail that I tapped 1/4x20 TPI and attached a 30 mm scope ring. Having the unit af xed to a tripod was handy during a late-evening coyote hunt.

Three buttons on the unit’s top operate its various functions, and just behind them is a knurled ring that provides access to the unit’s battery compartment. Leupold claims battery life for the single CR123 battery is 10 hours of continuous use. I found it to be closer to seven hours, and that included heavy use. I suspect the difference can be attributed to the “off-brand” battery I used.

At 6X magni cation, I found determining ne detail to be dif cult at distance (past 100 yds.), but handy nonetheless. I was able to discern quickly between cold and hot objects, even at distances beyond its intended use. The LTO-Tracker excelled at nding freshly shot game in a grassy eld— “seen” from a distance of slightly more than 200 yds. Finding game in dense brush may prove dif cult, and one will notice quickly that some objects in nature hold heat longer than others. Misconceptions regarding thermal units and their ability to “see through” items run strong, and my testing proved that dense foliage, brush and humidity are, along with time of day, limiting factors—something true of all thermal imaging products. The Leupold LTOTracker provides a real value, and its size makes it easy to keep in a eld bag. I nd myself using the unit more than I ever thought possible in situations like deciphering which wheel bearing went bad on my car or where exactly the air leaks are on my home windows. The technology that trickles down from defense contracts seems to be a win-win situation for consumers, and the LTO-Tracker is a great example of that.

Hornady 6.5 mm PRC 147-Gr. ELD Match

The 6.5 mm PRC (Precision Ri e Cartridge) from Hornady provides a ballistic upgrade over the company’s popular 6.5 mm Creedmoor chambering. This new cartridge is sized to t in short or medium actions with a standard magnum bolt face (0.532"), and features a long cartridge case neck and the same 30-degree shoulder as used by the 6.5 mm Creedmoor. Tipped ELD Match bullets with an astonishing 0.351 (G7) ballistic coef cient are loaded into uniform and consistent cases with carefully matched powder to provide for a match-grade ammunition with a velocity of 2910 f.p.s. Pairing velocity with aerodynamic bullets should make this new cartridge a top performer in its eld. Price: $37. Contact: Hornady Manufacturing: (800) 338-3220; hornady.com.

Caldwell Mag Charger Universal Pistol Loader

The Mag Charger Universal Pistol Loader from Caldwell Shooting Supplies puts an end to thumbing rounds into a magazine, and instead requires only a simple squeeze. Two rotating lugs and a rear tensioning screw facilitate a snug t for magazines large or small, single- or double-stack, designed for cartridges from 9 mm Luger to .45 ACP—and most .380 ACP. After dropping a fresh round into the loading port, just squeeze the lever to press the cartridge into the magazine’s feed lips and then fully seat it to the rear. Price: $48. Contact: Battenfeld Technologies; (573) 445-9200; btibrands.com.

TruGlo Tritium Pro Handgun Night Sights

Featuring a bold, white front dot and a U-notch rear sight, TruGlo’s Tritium Pro Handgun Night Sights are an aftermarket upgrade for many of the popular semi-automatic pistols available today. The steel sights possess embedded tritium vials—one in the front, two in the rear—to create a glowing three-dot sight arrangement for use in low-light conditions. Another feature is the rear sight’s aggressive, forward-cant ledge, which is intended to facilitate emergency one-hand manipulations of the slide by providing a “hook” that can engage the edge of a belt, holster or other surface. Price: $108. Contact: TruGlo, Inc.; (888) 887-8456; truglo.com.

Javelin Bipod Quick Fit Adaptor

Gaining popularity among hunters, shooters and ultra-light ri e enthusiasts, the carbon- ber Javelin Bipod from Spartan Precision Equipment offers a new take on eld-expedient shooting supports. Featuring pegged, telescoping legs and a cant-adjustable head unit containing a powerful magnet, the bipod previously required minor stock-smithing to mount, or embed, its attachment port. Spartan’s latest adapter ts instead to most common under-stock sling swivel studs—no alterations required—and comes with three rubber adaptor plates for a snug, customized t. Price: $125. Contact: Spartan Precision Equipment; javelinbipod.com.

Kolpin DryArmor Ri e Case

The Kolpin DryArmor Ri e Case is a soft-bodied case for scoped ri es up to 47"-long that utilizes fully welded 900D three-layer laminated TPU fabric for 100-percent waterproof protection. At the butt end of the case is a TIZIP Master Seal 10 waterproof zipper that opens quickly for ri e access and stowage. Internally, 5 mm closed-cell EVA foam serves as mid-layer impact protection along with a 10 mm closed-cell Polyethylene foam inner layer for shock absorption. A reinforced muzzle cap and polycarbonate armor plates further enhance the case and the protection it offers. Additionally, Hypalon is used to reinforce wear locations. A padded shoulder strap with anodized aluminum carabiners, along with a padded carry handle, make toting easy. One exterior pocket provides room for accessories. The DryArmor Ri e Case oats and is available in tan and woodland camou age colors. Price: $180. Contact: Kolpin Outdoors Inc.; (877) 956-5746; kolpin.com.

SIG Sauer M1911 “We The People” BB Pistol

The M1911 “We The People” BB pistol from SIG Sauer is a tribute to the Second Amendment and the most storied handgun in history—the M1911. A distressed nish with patriotic embellishments throughout make this a one-of-a-kind plinker. Powered by CO2 and built from metal, the pistol provides for a realistic M1911 experience with a reciprocating slide. Magazine capacity is 17 rounds of .177-cal. (4.5 mm) BBs, and the muzzle velocity approaches 340 f.p.s. The stock panels provide positive purchase by use of 50 raised stars, 25 on each side, symbolizing each state of the union. The slide’s sides feature the tribute marks “WE THE PEOPLE” and “1776.” Atop the slide are the 13 stars of the “Betsy Ross” ag along with a set of xed, combat-style sights. Price: $120. Contact: SIG Sauer; (603) 610-3000; sigsauer.com.