Hi-Lux Optics may not be the first company that comes to mind when shooters are asked to name a scope or red dot maker. But they have products that those shooters might be interested in once they discover the company’s offerings.
Hi-Lux Optics has grown from a Vietnam-era scope designed by Jim Leatherwood into a multifaceted organization that sells a wide range of gun-related products. But… it specializes in optics, such as scopes and red dots. They sent me one of each to review. Before we look at those, let’s look at some of the items they sell.
Products
Without turning this review into a straight product list, I’ll let you visit the site and read the details of what they sell.
There are a couple of items that deserve mention, though, that are off the beaten path….
Vintage Malcolm Scopes
Image: hi-luxoptics.com
Have you ever wanted a scope that hearkens back to what the originals might have looked like? Hi-Lux sells the $779 6X Malcolm Vintage Scope. Early scopes appeared in the 1850s, and you can recreate that experience here. They also make a shorter version of this optic for $475. Mounts are available, as well.
Want something old that’s a bit more “modern”? How about an $799 8X Gen II vintage sniper scope for competition?
Image: hi-luxoptics.com
I’m referring to specific competitions, such as the CMP’s Vintage Sniper Rifle Match. You’ll see other shooters using retro-but-new optics, and these fit right in.
They manufacture and sell several models of vintage scopes; go here for more details. I’ve shown just two of them.
Without further ado, let’s get to the scope and red dot they sent.
The Scope
Hi-Lux makes a couple of automatic ranging trajectory rifle scopes, and one for bow hunters. Here’s the rifle scope they sent, a Leatherwood ART M1000-PRO 2X-10X42. Here’s what the website says about it:
For the 50th anniversary of Jim Leatherwood’s legendary Automatic Ranging Trajectory (ART) scope, Hi-Lux introduces the redesigned ART M1000-PRO. The original Auto-Ranging Telescope (ARTel) was issued to US Army and Marine Corps servicemen over 40 years ago. Since then, Hi-Lux has refined and improved the ART system’s general cam to compensate for the bullet drop of virtually any caliber.
The ART scope’s integrated mount provides external adjustment through the Trajectory cam. Selecting the proper cam setting will effectively match your rifle’s trajectory curve to the curve of the trajectory cam.
There are two ways to automatically compensate for trajectory when using the ART scope:
1) Framing known-sized targets within the HR1 reticle
2) Dialing the Cam to a known distance
Once the known size target is framed, the ART scope will automatically compensate for bullet trajectory from 200 out to 1000 yards. This means no holdover or guesswork.
The M1000-PRO Trajectory cam has been designed to be modular and interchangeable. Caliber-specific cams will be introduced in the future.
You’re probably wondering, How does this work? I was, too, so I went to the Training Page that explains the system and how to use it. It helped.
I mounted the scope on my Bear Creek Arsenal .277 Fury AR-10. This beast puts a 135-grain bullet downrange at close to 3000 fps. The scope’s features came in handy on this rifle!
The Red Dot: TD-3E Enclosed Emitter
I received a TD-3E red dot sight from Hi-Lux in addition to the scope above.
Here it is on my Canik MC9L 9mm.
This $219 RMSc-footprint red dot features an enclosed emitter, which will keep it clean and sharp in the event of nasty weather. Here is what is in the box:
I’m sure most of these items are familiar to you, except for maybe one of them. Just to the left of the sight above is a steel “cage” (shroud, they call it) that you can install if you expect rough conditions. It will protect the sight. I didn’t put it on, as I wanted clarity in my photos, and I don’t expect to be arm-wrestling with a grizzly anytime soon.
You get all the screws you need, plus a couple of tools. I appreciate that they provide a cleaning cloth… not everyone does. There was also a battery.. You can tell they thought out the accessories they include in the box.
So, what do we have here? Let me quote from the TD-3E’s web page:
Key Features
- Enclosed Emitter Design – Fully sealed to prevent water, dust, and lint from interfering with the emitter—ideal for daily carry.
- RMSc Footprint – Mounts directly to most slimline pistols and factory-cut concealed carry handguns.
- Compact 20x16mm Window – Designed to sit nearly flush with your slide for a smooth, snag-free draw.
- Multi-Reticle Options – Switch between 3 MOA dot, 36 MOA circle-dot, or circle-only reticles based on your preference or shooting environment.
- Shake Awake Activation – Automatically powers on with motion; turns off when still to extend battery life.
- 7075-T6 Aluminum Housing – Lightweight and tough enough for daily use and concealed carry rigors.
- Stainless Steel Shroud – Added protection from bumps, drops, and holster wear.
- Recoil Rated to 1800Gs – Built to hold zero even on subcompact pistols with stout recoil.
- Wide Temperature Range – Operates reliably from -40°C to 60°C—whether you’re carrying in summer heat or winter cold.
- Side-Loading CR1620 Battery – No need to remove or re-zero the optic to swap batteries; up to 50,000 hours of life.
- 1 MOA Click Adjustments – Dial in precision with simple, no-fuss windage and elevation tuning.
- Aspherical Lens – Crisp, distortion-free sight picture.
- Integrated Backup Sights – Rear notches milled in the housing serve as passive backup sights.
You can tell they did their homework. We offer an aluminum sight body with an optional shroud, a side-loading battery compartment to prevent losing your zero, and three reticles with several brightness settings.
They don’t specify this, but the sight has an IPX-7 water-resistance rating. You can submerge it in 1 meter of water for 30 minutes without adverse effects.
One feature I really like is its shake-awake ability. You can physically turn it off by holding down the “-” button for a few seconds, but if you leave it on, it will go to sleep in three minutes if it isn’t moved and then pop back on when you pick it up.
The three reticles are useful; the old orbs aren’t what they used to be, so I appreciate the ability to have some variety in the reticles they include.
How Did It Work?
Once I got it mounted and zeroed (no sweat), it worked very well. For pistol accuracy checks from a bench, the 3 MOA dot works well. For more informal shooting, either the dot-in-circle or the plain circle tends to perform a bit better, as they are faster to acquire. I had no glitches with the sight. It works very well.
Hi-Lux Warranty
The TD-3E is covered by a DiamondTuff Guarantee that covers it for the life of the product, for the original owner (if it was purchased in the U.S.). This does not cover stupidity on the part of the owner… figured I might put it like that. You can’t back over the sight with your truck and expect them to replace it… I heard about an instance like that once, believe it or not. If it breaks because of something they did, for as long as you own it, you’ll have recourse. This applies to everything they sell.
Summing Up
To be honest, Hi-Lux Optics was a company not on my radar until I read about them. There are many optics manufacturers and marketers that we can choose from, with products for any budget. After “discovering” Hi-Lux, I found a company that makes some very niche-oriented products… in my book, that’s always a good thing!
From sniper to old-timey 1850s-era scopes to mounts and rings to red dots, they offer a product line that benefits many shooters. Their prices seem very reasonable, and the warranty that comes with their products provides coverage. Their site features numerous testimonials from shooters who use their products. Give them a look if you’re in the market for a new optic.
If you want more information, you can go here or call (310) 257-8142.
Read the full article here
