I was able to see the TrackingPoint Precision Guided Firearm in action firsthand at the SHOT Show Media Day. On the long range, I watched as a novice shooter got behind the Surgeon rifle and Networked Tracking Scope, then hit a 962 yard shot on his first attempt…uh, Wow!
TrackingPoint had an iPad streaming live video next to the .338 Lapua rifle. Bystanders were able to watch on the screen as the shooter “tagged” the distant piece of steel and then let the microprocessors work the dope. The Guided Trigger will only allow a shot to be fired when the scope and tagged target are optically aligned. The rifle operator moves the point of aim off the target then back on, which presumably allowed for the scope to work up its firing solution. When the reticle turned from blue to red, it was time to “Send it!”
The TrackingPoint system worked just as advertised. I was amazed at how easy it made the long-range shots look, especially in light of the 28° temperatures and steady-to-gusty wind values. This is currently an expensive option in the sniping world, but as with all things technological I’m sure the price will come down over time.
When I got back from SHOT Show, I spoke with one of our SWAT riflemen about the capabilities of a system such as this. He seemed skeptical about the electronic firing solutions and was worried that maybe the point of impact would not match up with the point of aim.
My feeling was that the accuracy of the TrackingPoint scope would be proven by pallets of rounds sent downrange. Obviously, no one should confidently field a system like this without first having rigorously tested it at the range under various conditions. After all, that’s what the snipers themselves go through!
Watching shooters accurately employ the TrackingPoint system in the desert, I was sold on its usefulness. We shall see where this technology leads us in the future.
Randall
