Optics

Coming out of Vortex's bag of surprises for 2026 is the new Vortex Strike Eagle 1-10x24 FFP riflescope. This new addition to Vortex's extremely popular budget line of LPVOs boasts a lot of the same features you’ll find on more expensive optics, but won’t come with the typical expensive LPVO price. This new offering will come in two different reticle options, new auto-off features to save your battery, and will be sold for a starting MSRP of just $699.

Steiner Optics has introduced the MPS Rotary Switch, a compact enclosed red dot sight purpose-built for shotgun competition and dynamic sporting use. Based on the proven MPS platform, this new version adds a mechanical rotary switch with clearly defined tactile positions and three brightness settings (0–3). The simplified control layout is designed for fast adjustments on the clock, particularly in changing light conditions common to practical shotgun stages.

Steiner Optics has introduced the new M10Xi 1-10x24, a premium low-power variable optic aimed at special forces and public safety units. With a true 1x low end and a full 10x top magnification, the M10Xi is designed to bridge close-quarters work and extended-range engagements in a single optic.

Maven takes the solid RS.4 5-30x56mm scope and upgrades it to the RS4.2 with a new 3-revolution locking elevation turret, capped windage, auto-off illuminated reticle, and toolless mechanical zero stop, all alongside a first focal plane 5-30x56 with side parallax adjustment and four reticle options (SHR-W, MOA-2, SHR-MIL, CFR-MIL). This new optic is intended for competitive shooters who often dial to a known distance over using holds contained within the reticle first. This new option is a more budget-oriented scope that is trying to compete with some of the most legendary names in the high magnification optics game that often cost twice as much, if not more.

Vortex is no stranger to budget red dots, but for each year they release a new one, the tech and the presentation seem to get better and better without the price climbing too much. This year’s example is the new 2 MOA Triumph red dot. This new budget-friendly series is meant to appeal to newer shooters or those just looking for an inexpensive red dot to throw on a spare gun. Even though it is in the budget category, the red dot still comes standard with a lot of neat luxury features like a motion-activated auto-off that saves battery, 9 daylight and 2 night vision brightness settings, and a standard Aimpoint micro footprint.

Just after SHOT Show, Aimpoint announced the new COA R, a rifle-focused red dot sight built specifically for hunters who prioritize speed, durability, and a streamlined setup. The COA R carries over the ultra-compact, enclosed design of the original COA, tipping the scales at just 48 grams. It features a 3.5 MOA dot and an optical profile tuned for fast target acquisition at close range while still supporting precise holds at extended distances.

Expanding their RFX line of reflex sights, Viridian introduced at SHOT 2026 the RFX1, a green dot sight designed specifically for the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0 pistol. As you can see in the images, the serrations of the sight's housing as well as its contours match those of the pistol’s slide, giving the assembly a nice, streamlined look. With dimensions of 1.63" x 0.81" x 1.02" and weighing 0.53 oz, this optic is claimed to be the smallest reflex sight in the world.

Hoplopfheil⁩ is stopping by the Trijicon Booth at SHOT Show 2026 to speak to Chris about the brand-new Trijicon AccuPoint 1-8x24 riflescope, a true 1x-to-8x LPVO perfect for hunters needing speed at close range and precision at longer engagement distances. This scope features Trijicon’s battery-free Hunter Holds MOA reticle that glows with ambient light for quick holds without electronics failing in the field, tool-less turrets, and a rugged build ready for recoil and weather. Chris breaks down why this AccuPoint brings legendary Trijicon reliability to the versatile LPVO category at SHOT Show 2026.

EOtech’s slate of new releases for 2026 was very full. They had new scopes, IR lasers, silencers, and sights all on display. Let’s take a tour through the new offerings.

Holosun has a whole slate of new product releases for 2026. All of these new goodies were on display at their booth at SHOT Show 2026. Let’s take a tour of the new releases.

Burris has updated their Veracity line of riflescopes by deleting the internal digital screen and introducing new reticles as well as a controls design called RED (Rapid Engagement Design) that features aggressive knurling along the power ring, turrets, and turret caps. The RED upgrade will be applied to other Burris scopes as well and products featuring this industrial design can be distinguished by the red ring behind the magnification adjustment ring.

At SHOT Show 2026, Steiner introduced a new enclosed emitter handgun red dot sight called MPS-C. Based on the MPS design, this new red dot is noticeably shorter (1.89” vs 1.46”) and lighter (2.05 oz vs 1.13 oz) than its elder sibling. At the same time, the MPS-C has slightly larger objective lens dimensions (21x19mm vs 20x16mm).

Swedish optics pioneer and red dot powerhouse Aimpoint displayed the COA optic and wide range of newly available A-Cut mounting opportunities at SHOT Show 2026. This system was unveiled at SHOT last year but was exclusive to the Glock Gen 5 pistols at the time. Now, it is available across a broad portion of the market.

Back in December when Glock announced the new Generation 6 Glock 17, 19 and 45 one of the questions many asked online is will there be a GEN 6 COA? The COA, if you’re not familiar, is a collaboration between Glock and AIMPOINT which was launched at SHOT Show 2025.

This week at SHOT Show 2026 Shield Sights have just announced their new OMSx competition sight which combines the translucent roof design which was introduced last year on the OMSsc. The OMSx has the same wide viewing window as Shield Sights’ popular RMSx but combined with the translucent roof it creates the visual effect of an even larger window. Shield Sights say this allows shooters to pick up the dot faster and track targets more intuitively under speed and stress.

Nightforce announced the NX6 series of scopes just last week, and they are on display here at SHOT Show 2026. This is a large product family, ranging from a 1-6x24 LPVO up to a 6-36x56mm high magnification scope. Whatever type of scope you are looking for, there is probably an NX6 that could fill the role.

Red dot sights are growing more and more popular on pistols these days, but what if you want a green dot instead of red? A lot of people find the green dot offers better daytime visibility while helping you pick up the target more quickly, and also reducing eye strain. Meprolight has adapted its pistol-mounted dot optics, offering the MPO-S, MPO-F, MPO Pro F and MPO Pro S all with green dots.

The Leapers Integrix lineup is growing, with the new Integrix iXF 4.5x28 34mm SFP service rifle scope, which will soon have a hunting-oriented counterpart to match it.

Aimpoint has long been the gold standard for rugged, reliable red dot sights, and the original Duty RDS brought that legendary Swedish quality to a more accessible price point. As there are only so many things you can do with a red dot, I decided to make this review a bit more diverse. So I threw it into a lake for a day to see if the fish would eat it. I also mounted it with a 3x magnifier and used it with a Pulsar Krypton 2 thermal clip-on for some night-action. Let’s see how it performed.

Trijicon has expanded its AccuPoint lineup with the introduction of the new AccuPoint 1-8x24 riflescope, aimed squarely at hunters pursuing dangerous game and those looking for a highly versatile, battery-free optic. Developed with input from professional hunters operating in environments ranging from Alaska to Africa, the AccuPoint 1-8x24 is designed to support big-bore rifles in both close-quarters and extended-range scenarios.

Vortex has announced the launch of the AMG 1-10x24 FFP riflescope, expanding its top-tier AMG lineup with a low-power variable optic designed for modern duty and tactical carbines. Built to meet demanding operational standards, the AMG 1-10x24 combines a wide magnification range with a compact footprint intended for short-barreled rifles and systems that require extensive rail-mounted accessories. The MSRP of $6,399.99 is not as compact.

German Precision Optics USA (GPO USA) has introduced the new PASSION™ HDi riflescope series, designed to deliver high-end optical performance while maintaining affordability for a broad range of hunters and shooters. The lineup focuses on practical features rather than unnecessary complexity, offering a streamlined experience with essential capabilities.

The Element Optics THEOS 2–10×42 is a mid-power variable optic (MPVO) designed to support rapid target engagement across a broad range of distances. Built around an ED optical system, the scope delivers consistent image quality throughout the magnification range while maintaining a compact overall footprint.

C&H Precision (CHPWS) has announced an expansion of its pistol optics lineup, adding green-reticle variants across several of its most popular models. The new options are now available for the COMP, COMP Max, EDC, and DUTY XL optics, along with all Direct Mount Optics designed for select SIG SAUER, HK, GLOCK, CZ, Walther, Taurus, and Smith & Wesson pistols.

SIGHTRON has announced that its long-anticipated S6 10–60x56 ED Field Target riflescope is now shipping. The optic is intended for airgun and small-caliber field target shooters as well as benchrest competitors, with a design focused on high-resolution glass, precise parallax control, and repeatable adjustments. The S6 uses a 15-lens optical system built from Japanese optical-grade glass.

Viridian Weapon Technologies has introduced its newest rifle optic, the VENTA Green Dot, positioned as a compact sight for shooters who prioritize fast acquisition, minimal weight, and clear sight pictures. The VENTA is built around a 2 MOA green dot and a 1x22 mm fully multi-coated lens system designed to provide consistent clarity under a wide range of lighting conditions.

Photo Of The Day: Behold the SIG Sauer P320 X-Five Legion in its factory tungsten-infused “Legion Gray” finish, wearing an Aimpoint ACRO P-2. Skeletonized flat trigger? Yes, and this trigger breaks cleaner than most production guns have any right to. Just underneath, you can see what it looks like looking through the P-2 ACRO red dot, and while it works, the new and upcoming Aimpoint COA has such a larger window.

Aimpoint has released a new configuration of the ACRO P-2 red dot sight, featuring a 9 MOA aiming point intended for use on tactical shotguns. The sight was developed in response to requests from agencies seeking a simple, rapidly deployable optic for engaging small, fast-moving targets at short distances, including low-altitude drones. According to Aimpoint, the development process from initial request to prototype took four weeks.

AGM Global Vision has expanded its digital optics lineup with the introduction of the Spectrum 4K-Mini, a compact day/night scope designed for hunters who prioritise mobility without giving up image quality or key functionality. Within thermals and night vision, I hear a lot of voices complaining about the weight of the devices. These customers will be happy to see that the new Mini model is said to keep many of the same capabilities as the bigger units, while coming in at a notably lighter 16 ounces.

Aimpoint has announced that its COA optic paired with the A-CUT mounting interface has been selected as Guns & Ammo’s Red Dot of the Year. The award highlights standout new products introduced in 2025, with the Aimpoint system recognized for its durability, optical performance, and secure interface design. Introduced earlier this year, the COA + A-CUT system was developed to streamline integration between the optic and host firearm. The Guns & Ammo editorial staff noted the system’s rugged construction, consistent clarity, and repeatable mounting solution following extended evaluation and field testing.