The D-EVO optical magnifier is the most interesting part of the system. It's a very clever optic that gives the user an almost instantaneous "switch" between 1X and 6X views. With proper cheek weld, what you see is similar to a bifocal lens from your granddad's glasses- from top to bottom: a clear 1X view up top, then a blurry thin line, then a magnified image. Without changing cheek weld, you can transition between 1X and 6X with just a slight nod of your head.

"D-EVO was developed with input from some of the tactical industry's top instructors and combat veterans," said Tim Lesser, director of product development for Leupold & Stevens, Inc. "The shortcomings of other dual optics systems, like flip-up magnifiers, led us to believe there was a better solution for our warfighters. D-EVO is that solution."

The D-EVO has a zigzag shape when viewed from above and places the objective lens offset to the right side of the red dot just above the ejection port. Through a series of prisms and lenses, the image gathered by the objective banks left and exits a small ocular lens that is below and directly behind the red dot's window. it is completely self-contained and must be zeroed separately from the red dot.

In contrast to existing magnifiers, the new Leupold offering is a self-contained unit with its own reticle, versus just a set of lenses that magnify the red dot's reticle similar to Aimpoint's and Eotech's magnifiers. It borrows the close mid-range reticle with wind holds (CMR-W) from the MK6 line, shown below. ID=32161331

The reticle features a 0.5 MOA dot surrounded by a 5 MOA circle, mil-based ranging features and windage hold points. This result is a relatively crowded view when including the host sight's dot and various ranging and BDC points. And, yes, it works with a wide variety of red dot optics, provided you have some real estate between the optic and your rear BUIS.

In my quick time behind it, it presented a very novel approach to multiple magnifications that was fast to use and had the advantage of no flips, buttons, or hinges. I look forward to spending more time with it at the show next week. MSRP as a combo with the D-EVO and LCO is $2999.99. The D-EVO alone will MSRP for $1874.99; the LCO, $1249.99.

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