Hi-Lux Optics M40 Tactical Hunter
During the Vietnam conflict, the U.S. Marine Corps set out
to establish something of a standard rifle and scope combination for its best
long range marksmen - the Marine Corps snipers.
The rifle they settled on was the Remington Model 40x, chambered for the
7.62 NATO (.308 Winchester) cartridge.
The rifles were custom accurized by Marine gunsmiths and topped with a
3-9x40mm scope featuring a built in ranging system that was simple and easy to
use. The combination of the rifle, a
premium grade of the bolt-action Remington Model 700, and scope became known as the M40.
Many
former Marines and even more hunters of the 1960s have been quick to recognize
a remake of the scope, which has been displayed by Hi-Lux Optics at the 2013
SHOT Show and at this year's NRA Show.
Those shooters who have looked through the OD green finished militarized
version of what the company has dubbed the M40 USMC riflescope, which features the same reticle as the original, have voiced how
much they would like to see the same scope, featuring the same ranging system,
offered for today's big game hunter.
Hi-Lux
Optics listened, and is now introducing a black finished sporting version of the scope - the
M40 Tactical Hunter.
This
3-9x40mm hunting scope is built with the same ranging system that Marine Corps
snipers relied on in Vietnam - only it has been improved. To determine the distance of a target, the
hunter simply zooms the power/magnification higher or lower until the chest
cavity (appx. 18" top to bottom) of a deer, pronghorn, wild hog, or
similar sized big game animal, is framed by the two parallel crosshairs near
the top of the reticle. (A pair of
cross-bars on the horizontal crosshair also allow easy ranging by framing the
body length of the game being hunted - from coyotes to big game.) The range can
then be seen on a yardage scale at the bottom of the rear lens. Knowing the distance to the target and
knowing the trajectory of the rifle and load allows a more precise placement of
the shot.
M40 Tactical Hunter Reticle (Shown Without Ranging Scale)
Hi-Lux
Optics improved this ranging system by relying on an etched glass yardage
scale, positioned in the first focal plane, instead of the plastic scale found
in the original scopes mounted on the M40 Marine Corps sniper rifles. The system determines ranges from 200 to 600
yards with reliable accuracy for most hunting situations. Another improvement with the M40 Tactical
Hunter ranging reticle is the addition of bullet drop compensating cross-bars for placing shots at 300 to 600
yards. These BDC holdovers have been
calibrated for standard service round .308 Winchester and .223 Remington ammo,
but work well with more than a dozen other popular calibers. Likewise, when the shooter takes the time to
do the shooting to determine where these cross-bars place bullet impact, this
scope can be effectively used with any rifle chambered for any cartridge or
load.
Like
all Hi-Lux optics riflescopes, both the M40 Tactical Hunter and the M40 USMC
versions of this scope come with fully multi-coated lenses for the absolute
brightest and sharpest target image possible.
The M40 Series scopes are backed with a Limited Lifetime Warranty. Suggested retail price for either version in
$399.
Hi-Lux
Optics is scheduled to have the M40 USMC model in stock by the end of summer,
and the M40 Tactical Hunter model should be available in early fall. Watch for availability info on the Hi-Lux
Optics website at www.hi-luxoptics.com
, give the company a call at 310 257-8142, or drop them an e-mail at info@hi-luxoptics.com
to learn more about when these scopes should be ready to ship.
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