Outdoor Life Names Best New Rifles, Shotguns, and Hunting Optics
OutdoorHub 05.23.13
Outdoor Life names the best new firearms and optics in the June/July issue, on newsstands now. The magazine’s test team spent a week on a ranch in Montana compiling data and testing each piece of gear extensively to produce the most comprehensive and objective rankings in the industry for new guns and optics. For complete results, visit outdoorlife.com
“Our rankings are about results,” said Andrew McKean, Editor of Outdoor Life. “We cut through the hype to supply sportsmen with data they can trust so when they spend their hard-earned dollars they’re getting gear that they know will perform.”
The test team evaluated 12 new rifles and 9 new shotguns in this year’s iteration of the annual test. The Outdoor Life rifle and shotgun test comprises three in-depth and time-consuming phases. Before the guns are even fired they are inspected, measured, weighed, cleaned if necessary, and in the case of the rifles, scoped up. With baseline data ready, testers hit the range to determine performance, design, and accuracy scores. Firearms are tested in a variety of situations to ensure they perform on the range as well as in everyday field conditions.
Outdoor Life’s optics test determines differences in quality and performance by applying both scientific analysis and subjective evaluation to each submission. The resulting score is based equally on the two parts of the test. Hands-on evaluations are performed in a variety of light conditions to determine optical quality, perceived image, and performance scores. In all, 16 riflescopes, 18 binoculars, and 7 spotting scopes were submitted for this year’s test.
“We’re incredibly thorough and put these products through exactly the sort of hard-core workouts that our readers expect to determine the winners,” said McKean. “If we’re putting the Outdoor Life seal of approval on an item, we make sure it’s earned it.”
Once the numbers are tallied, the top rifle, shotgun, and optics are awarded Editor’s Choice titles. Thanks to the vigorous testing products endure to receive the award, it is considered one of the hardest-earned badges in the industry. Going one-step further, Outdoor Life also considers the costs of the products to determine which offer the most bang for the buck. Products determined to offer the best value in each category are named Great Buy award winners.
For an expanded list of the tested firearms and optics with results, as well as information on ammunition picks, and top trends and innovations in firearms and optics, see the June/July issue of Outdoor Life or visit outdoorlife.com.
Outdoor Life 2013 Gun Test Winners:
Rifles Editor’s Choice & Great Buy- SIG Sauer SSG 3000
Shotguns Editor’s Choice- Beretta A400 XPLOR Action
Shotguns Great Buy- Stoeger Condor Longfowler
Outdoor Life 2013 Optics Test Winners:
Riflescopes Editor’s Choice- Leupold VX-6 3–18×50
Riflescopes Great Buy- Burris C4 4.5–14×42
Mid-Size Binoculars Editor’s Choice- Zeiss Conquest HD 8×32
Mid-Size Binoculars Great Buy- Bushnell NatureView 6×30
Full-Size Binoculars Editor’s Choice- Zeiss Victory HT 10×42
Full-Size Binoculars Great Buy- Nikon Monarch 7 10×42
Innovation Award- Leica Geovid HD-B
Spotting Scopes Editor’s Choice- Swarovski ATX/STX Modular System
Spotting Scopes Great Buy- Cabela’s Euro HD 20–70x80mm
