Welcome to Winchester

Winchester Attractions & Accommodation

admin — Fri, 11 May 2012 20:17:27 +0000

Winchester is the county town of Hampshire and a popular destination for both domestic and international travelers. Perfect for exploring city attractions, whilst also being located within close proximity to the famously gorgeous Hampshire countryside, Winchester is a great destination for families, couples, friends and seniors alike.

Steeped in rich history, exploring Winchester is a fun and educational adventure that can be enjoyed by all. Famous for Winchester Cathedral, Winchester Castle and many other monuments, there’s almost too much to discover during a trip to this historical and picturesque city. to help you get an idea of what it has to offer, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite things to to and my favorite places to stay in Winchester.

Winchester Cathedral

Built in 1079, the breathtaking Winchester Cathedral is the longest in Europe and a must-see landmark if you’re taking a trip to Winchester. Marvel at the medieval carvings, take a guided tour or simply enjoy a coffee at the Cathedral Cafe.

Winchester Castle

Home to the great Hall and legendary Arthurian Round Table, Winchester Castle is well worth a visit, particularly for history buffs.

The great Hall

One of the only surviving parts of Winchester Castle, the great Hall is one of the oldest and largest in Britain. It houses the famous Arthurian Round Table and has many architectural features to admire, including stained glass windows, wrought iron gates and a judge’s gallery.

The Round Table

Dating as far back as the 13th Century, the Round Table, located within the great Hall, is still intact today with the names of 24 of the knights of the Round Table written around the edges. Guided tours are available upon request.

Marwell Wildlife

Home to over 200 different species of animal, Marwell Wildlife is a great place for the whole family. You will see giraffe, zebra, tigers, snow leopards and more at this charity park devoted to conservation.

Winchester Discovery Center

Winchester Discovery Center is a great place to explore the city’s rich culture and history. with a library, gallery and regular theater performances, you’ll find it easy to immerse yourself in all things Winchester.

Where to stay in Winchester

Winchester is full of great places to stay, including hotels, B&Bs and budget accommodation. Whether it’s a city stay you’re after, or a quiet countryside getaway, Winchester has it all. there are many award winning accommodation providers, which include both traditional and modern properties.

Winchester Attractions & Accommodation

admin — Fri, 11 May 2012 20:16:30 +0000

Winchester Cathedral

Winchester Castle

Home to the Great Hall and legendary Arthurian Round Table, Winchester Castle is well worth a visit, particularly for history buffs.

The Great Hall

One of the only surviving parts of Winchester Castle, The Great Hall is one of the oldest and largest in Britain. It houses the famous Arthurian Round Table and has many architectural features to admire, including stained glass windows, wrought iron gates and a judge’s gallery.

The Round Table

Dating as far back as the 13th Century, The Round Table, located within The Great Hall, is still intact today with the names of 24 of the knights of the Round Table written around the edges. Guided tours are available upon request.

Marwell Wildlife

Winchester Discovery Center

Winchester Discovery Center is a great place to explore the city’s rich culture and history. With a library, gallery and regular theater performances, you’ll find it easy to immerse yourself in all things Winchester.

Where to stay in Winchester

Winchester is full of great places to stay, including hotels, B&Bs and budget accommodation. Whether it’s a city stay you’re after, or a quiet countryside getaway, Winchester has it all. There are many award winning accommodation providers, which include both traditional and modern properties.

Winchester Attractions & Accommodation

Picking the Right Gun

admin — Fri, 11 May 2012 19:56:28 +0000

People of Illinois often wonder what the best gun to use for deer hunting is, and although there many guns to choose from between rifles and shotguns this article is going to be based on shotguns only. the four main types of shotguns are single shot, bolt action, pump action, and semi-automatic. There is not a correct answer which gun is the best and which is the worst it all really depends on the type of person is shooting the gun and what they prefer.

Now with that being said, every person has a specific niche when it comes to guns, the single shot shotguns have advantages and disadvantages. Some advantages are that they are incredibly accurate and powerful. the H&R Ultra Slug Hunter is a great example of the incredible accuracy of a single shot shotgun. the twenty gauge single shot shotgun is an accurate out to two hundred yards with knock down power as well at that range as well. A disadvantage of these guns though is that they only have one shot, if the shot is missed then the chance for a follow up shot is a lost cause. Not many deer sit around for a second shot from a single shot shotgun. Another great single shot shotgun is the Thompson Center Encore which actually has three or four interchangeable barrels (shotgun, rifle, muzzleloader, and pistol). These guns are made for the most confident hunter who knows their weapon and is comfortable with taking only one shot.

The next set of shotguns would be bolt action shotguns which have the same mechanics as every other shotgun but has a different style of loading. Like the single shot shotguns, the bolt actions are incredibly accurate for the reason that all of the gas that comes from the shot does not force the bolt back like it would in an automatic gun. A few typical bolt action shotguns are: TarHunt RSG, Savage 212 and 220, Browning A-Bolt Shotgun Hunter, Marlin 512 Slugmaster, and the Mossberg 695. These guns come in a variety of gauges like.410, twenty, and twelve and all are very accurate. A major disadvantage of these shotguns though is that like the single shot shotguns be ready to hit the target on the first shot because follow up shots are very difficult to make. when taking a follow up shot the face of the shooter has to leave the sight picture in order to reload the weapon, this makes taking a second shot at a now running animal very difficult.

The ever reliable pump action shotgun is a favorite among a lot of the hunters from where I hunt. These guns are very durable and can take a lot of abuse out in the field and home. most guns need to have the action cleaned regularly to make sure the gun continues to work properly, but pump action shotguns do not necessarily need to be cleaned near as often as others. This is because unlike the action of a semi-automatic that uses the gasses of the shot to force the action to cycle through the pump action uses the backward force of the shooter to cycle the action. These guns are accurate, maybe not as much as single shots and bolt actions but are still very reliable guns. A few pump action shotguns that are part of the top fifteen best deer hunting guns are: Remington 870 Express, Ithaca Deer Slayer, Mossberg 500 Slugster, Winchester 1300 Speed Pump, and the Browning BPS Rifled Deer Hunter. These guns have some great advantages, but a big disadvantage of this gun is that, although it can take a great deal of abuse, the reload usually takes you off the sight picture. It is a big disadvantage to be thrown off the sight picture, but after the reload, it is not very hard to regain the sight picture after the reload.

The last type of shotgun that is usually used to hunt big game is the semi-automatic shotgun. These guns are all about speed and accuracy, when the right shooting rhythm is involved. most hunters aim to take down an animal in one shot but sometimes that does not always happen and this is where the semi-automatics shine. they are quick to bring on a follow up shot because the shooter does not have to do anything to reload the weapon since the gun does it based on the gas system in the gun. A few semi-automatics that made the list of best guns to deer hunt with are: Browning Gold Deer Hunter, Remington 11-87, and the Benelli Super Black Eagle II Rifled Slug. A major disadvantage of the semi-automatic shotgun is the amount of cleaning that is involved with these guns. It is not uncommon for these guns to get gummed up after years of shooting and improper cleaning of the shooting mechanism. Improper cleaning of a semi-automatic can lead to drastic problems such as shells not ejecting or the gun not firing at all. All in all these guns are the best of the best when it comes to follow up shots, a hunter can make a quick three shots (in Illinois) back to back all while maintaining a proper sight picture. if the gun is well kept and cleaned regularly there is no limit to what the semi-automatic gun will do.

Shotguns have a wide variety of uses in this world, but one of their best uses is for hunting and there are so many to choose from. A hunter has many choices to choose from for deer hunting and it all depends on what the hunter prefers. the four main types of guns are single shot, bolt action, pump action, and semi-automatics and all have their strengths and weaknesses. the gun has to fit the shooter so it all depends on what the shooter prefers when it comes to picking the right gun for the shooter. Accurate shooters tend to prefer single shot or bolt action shotguns, and people who prefer a quick second shot would usually pick pump or semi-automatic but every shooter is different.

Picking the Right Gun

Bomb scare at Winchester Crown Court (From Hampshire Chronicle)

admin — Fri, 11 May 2012 18:56:17 +0000

Bomb scare at Winchester Crown Court

1:53pm Monday 16th April 2012 in Winchester

THERE was major disruption in Winchester after a bomb scare at the city’s combined courts on Monday (April 16).

The building was evacuated at lunchtime after police received a telephone call.

Officers set up an exclusion zone of 200 metres around the court buildings off the High Street as a precaution. This was later reduced to 100 metres but was left in place for several hours.

Once the court building was empty, specialist military and police officers searched it from top to bottom.

A spokesman for her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service confirmed that all cases at the court were suspended. He said: “Obviously we will have to reschedule all of the cases that were due to be heard, and we will do our best to re-list them as soon as we can.”

He added that prisoners held in the court’s cells were driven back to jail when the building was evacuated.

Several nearby offices and businesses were also affected, including Hampshire County Council’s headquarters. Hotel du Vin in Southgate Street was also evacuated with some tourists stranded because they could not retrieve their cars.

As the drama, or lack of it, unfolded, the patience of some people began to wear thin. Traffic was blocked in several roads including Gladstone Street where one motorist was ordered to return to his car after arguing with a policewoman directing traffic.

Judith Burnett, owner of the Old Fashioned Sweetie Shop in High Street, said: “I know they have a job to do and it’s difficult if it’s a bomb but if it’s not safe to have businesses open why is it safe to have someone drive past in a car? I’ve lost an afternoon’s takings and most of my trade comes in the afternoon.”

Tony Whyman, owner of Childhood’s Dream in Southgate Street, said he’d lost about 60 per cent of his daily income. He said: “We need to know the threat level because we need to know if the response was proportional or if the police have overreacted. We’ve only been told it’s a credible threat.”

By 5.30pm it was downgraded to the point where the cordon was lifted and traffic was flowing freely again.

Fleet Driver Management & Training – An Ultimate Fleet Management Guide

admin — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:34:29 +0000

As a fleet manager, some of the most important work you are going to do is going to be preparing your fleet drivers to perform responsibly on the road. there is no way that you can watch what your drivers are doing all of the time, but there are strategies for optimizing their performances while also allowing them to drive as responsibility and safely as possible.

There are a number of different strategies out there, and different fleet managers will recommend different methods. there are, however, a few core methods that are used by the top fleet managers in the world for getting the absolute best performances out of their drivers. In this article, you will learn some basic tips about driver management & training.

The first step toward smart driver management & training should be to train your drivers to be responsible on the road. most drivers will enter your team with proper licenses. Remember that as fleet manager, their performance is now your responsibility. this means that if you want them to be trained correctly, you must do it yourself.

There have been many studies recently that have shown a drastic reduction in fleet-related accidents in organizations that have put all of their drivers through training. there were fewer violations, fewer bumper-to-bumpers, and fewer accidents with injuries. this is important, not only for the reputation of your organization, but for your bottom line.

The next step toward exceptional driver management & training is to know how to manage your drivers, even when they are out on the road. if you think this sounds difficult, then you should be aware of some new technology that has been introduced. this technology is called telematics, and it is a way for you to keep close tabs on your drivers. this will reduce cost, as drivers will be encouraged to take the most efficient routes.

You can also use fleet fuel cards to keep tabs on your drivers’ fuel usage. this kind of method adds an aspect of discipline to your fleet that is necessary for optimum performance.

Finally, in order to excel in driver management & training, it is important to include your drivers and users in your strategies and goals. Don’t let them sit on the outside. You should encourage them to be a part of the team. this will heighten their sense of responsibility; you will also get some valuable feedback from them.

Fleet Driver Management & Training – An Ultimate Fleet Management Guide

Tips to Avoid Back Pain

admin — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:21:13 +0000

Lower back pain, sciatica, or lumbago, as it sometimes known, will affect almost all adults at some point in their working lives. this pain will interfere with all facets of their lives, from work or posture related conditions for example causing lower back pain in drivers, at a recreational level with say a high incidence of lumbar pain in golfers. Back pain or sciatica can indeed detrimentally affect physical relationships between partners.

Usually pain in the lower back or lumbar pain will ease after a few days, although some occurrences may take longer to subside or resolve and in these instances, it’s wise to consult your GP to diagnose the condition and seek appropriate back pain treatment.

Rather than endure the misery of lower back problems in the first place or indeed avoid a repetition once you have recovered from the last bout, there are some simple steps or adjustments we can all make to reduce the risk of pain. We often don’t appreciate the loads and strains we put on our spines, going about our daily routines, tasks, and past times until something goes wrong, so it’s well worthwhile to give some attention towards how we can maintain a healthier regime to reduce the risk of back problems now.

Here are some tips to look after your back and avoid lower back or lumbar pain

Diet

This might be stating the obvious but a healthy balanced diet enables the body to maintain not only its normal function of for example joint lubrication, essential for a healthy back, but also its ability to allow ‘self repair’ when we do strain and overdo things such as the seasonal digging the garden over. It’s advisable to drink plenty of water

Driving

Just watch drivers stretch, clutch, and massage their lower backs as they gingerly clamber out of their cars and lorries at the motorway service areas, long periods of driving are often a cause of lower back pain. Lumbar pain in drivers is a common back condition usually brought about by poor seating posture, remaining in the same position for extended periods, and whole body vibration (WBV, in particular where the lower back is subjected to this e.g. lorry drivers or special purpose vehicles)

The advice here is to ensure that your seat is correctly positioned to aid your posture, your lumbar is properly supported, and try to have frequent breaks from driving and doing some simple stretching exercises, and have a walk around.

Exercise

You can often help lumbar pain with exercise. Exercise is considered to be a both an effective back pain therapy, and as a useful means of pain prevention. Aside from increasing the endorphins (or feel good factors), regular exercise helps to maintain healthy muscles joint mobility and flexibility, reducing the risk of strain through physical activity. if you are suffering from backache or sciatica already then speak to your health care professional for advice on exercises useful to reduce or prevent backache

Lifting

Most of us at some time have received instruction in the do’s and don’ts of correct lifting techniques to avoid backache but how often do we ignore the advice of the works ‘Elf and safety zealots’ in the workplace until it’s too late. Applying common sense techniques can avoid lower back problems. Don’t overstretch, lift heavy objects using and bending from the knees rather than your bending your back, don’t overreach and ask for help rather than trying to lift too much, especially if you’re dealing with an awkward shape object.

It’s useful to consider the sort of bag you carry. if you are prone to back ache then instead of carrying your laptop and work documents in a shoulder bag, think about using one of the airline style wheeled bags to avoid putting unbalanced loads on your back

Posture

Posture is often cited as a cause of backache. by slouching we are over time compressing the lumbar joints and increasing the propensity of back problems in the future. Think about how you sit in the workplace and how you use your telephone handset, either hold it in use or get a headset. Don’t get into the habit of cradling the handset your shoulder and ear as this can cause poor posture or twisting occasionally leading to back pain.

Are you sitting properly at your workstation, or is your car or lorry seat in the correct position for you to maintain a correct and healthy posture in your back?

Sleeping Position

The way you sleep can sometimes lead to back ache. Poor sleeping posture will not help back pain. It’s not considered a good idea to lie on your stomach which will put pressure or loads on your neck and back, that don’t permit your spine to adopt a comfortable posture again potentially leading to back ache. It’s essential to have a good mattress which offers support to your spine

Smoking

Again, smoking will not help pain in the back. if there aren’t already enough reasons for kicking the weed, then here’s another. Smoking has the effect of reducing the blood’s capacity to carry oxygen around the body, including to the intervertebral discs of the lumbar spine reducing the discs’ ability to remain healthy and ‘self repair’ under strain. if the muscles and joints can’t recover quickly from strains then this can lead to inflammation and lower back pain

Sports Warm Up

Most of us are not professional sports people with unlimited access to advice on technique, but maybe just get involved in sporting activity as a weekend pursuit or past time, often as a contrast to our increasingly sedentary occupations. It’s important to carry out warm up and stretching exercises before starting to reduce the risks of back strains or injury (not just our backs though) which could lead to back pain.

A classic example would be lumbar pain in golfers often brought about by the unnatural loads put on the lumbar spine through the golf swing or indeed the very act of bending over around 150 times during the round to retrieve or position the ball. It’s worthwhile asking your healthcare professional or expert in your field e.g. the club professional to provide a warm up routine to prevent lower back problems or to help back pain.

Standing

It’s estimated that the average person can be around half an inch taller in the morning than the evening as a direct result of gravity having the effect of compressing the spine during the day and only recovering overnight whilst lying in bed. this daily downward pressure on the lumbar spine joints and discs can lead to back pain and back problems over time unless addressed. if you are in an occupation that requires constant standing e.g. hairdressing, then try to take the weight off your feet and sit down as and when you have the opportunity

Watch your weight

Excessive weight can cause back pain and back problems. Aside from the usual reasons and health issues surrounding obesity, it stands to reason that every addition pound overweight we are puts an additional strain on the body, and often the lower back’s ability to carry it, thereby increasing the risk of causing long term back problems

Remember though. if you are suffering for more than a few days then always consult your GP to help back pain and prescribe a suitable back pain treatment

Tips to Avoid Back Pain

Privatization plan could bring jail to Hinsdale

admin — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:01:29 +0000

Tuesday May 8, 2012

HINSDALE, N.H. — the town is one of three being eyed as the potential site of a prison if the state turns the industry over to any of four national corporations that have submitted bids for private ownership of correctional facilities.

Bids from Corrections Corporation of America, MTC Corrections, GEO Group inc., and the Elayn Hunt Correctional Center are currently under review by committees within the New Hampshire Legislature, but Hinsdale Town Administrator Jill Collins said CCA is the only one that has met with town officials about the possibility of opening a private facility.

She said reviews will not be completed until at least the end of the summer, though it could be later than that because it is an election year. All bids were submitted in early March, according to Rudy Ogden of the New Hampshire Department of Administrative Services.

Rep. bill Butynski, a Democrat who represents Hinsdale, Chesterfield and Winchester at the Statehouse, said that in order for Hinsdale to host a facility the state would first have to accept the bid from CCA, which in turn must choose the town over the two other communities it is mulling, which CCA refused to identify. Butynski said he wouldn’t be surprised if the decision on the bids didn’t come until December or January.

Brad Wiggins, CCA’s senior director for site acquisition, gave a PowerPoint presentation along with colleagues Ben Shuster and David Collins to the Hinsdale Board of Selectmen on Monday, Feb. 13. according to the meeting minutes, the Hinsdale proposal entails a secure facility that is financed, constructed and managed by CCA, with a 20-year contract with the state. the proposed building would be located on 193 acres of land located two miles east of the Walmart on Route 119 and would replace the state facility in Concord and house the prisoners currently held there.

It would hold 1,500 to 2,000 inmates and cost $100 to $120 million to build, with a possible expansion in the future.

Wiggins also attended a Hinsdale Planning Board meeting on Tuesday, April 17, to answer questions about the corporation and explain what it does. Planning Board Chairman bill Nebelski said Wiggins described at the informal meeting how CCA operates its facilities and how they are developed.

Nebelski said that construction of a prison in his town would take two years to complete and create 300 to 350 construction jobs. the facility itself would likely employ 300 people, he said.

He said there are some issues — like how the building would get its water supply and how it would deal with its sewage — that would need to be dealt with before construction begins.

At the Board of Selectmen meeting, CCA representatives said the corporation hopes to hook up the facility to the town’s water and sewer system and sign a development agreement to pay the additional costs for the town’s system to be able to handle CCA’s needs.

CCA spokesman Steve Owen told the Reformer the corporation founded the private prison industry in 1983 and now operates 67 public-private partnership prisons in 20 states and the District of Columbia. Partnership prisons, as they are called, are paid by governments to house prisoners. Owen said CCA works with the federal government as well as those at the state and local levels.

Owen said more than half the states in the country allow for prison privatization.

Butynski said a private prison facility would bring a lot of jobs to the town and greatly increase its tax revenues and housing values. He said, however, he has not formed an opinion on the issue and is still waiting to hear more from his constituents, though he has already heard from both sides of the issue — those that don’t want a private facility in their town and those that do.

Jeff Lyons, public information officer of the New Hampshire Department of Corrections, said everything started when the state Legislature asked his department to seek bids for the privatization of the prison systems as a way of offsetting corrections costs. He said the four private companies are located in different parts of the United States.

Domenic Poli can be reached at dpoli@reformer.com, or 802-254-2311, ext. 277.

Winchester Attractions & Accommodation

admin — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:53:38 +0000

Winchester Cathedral

Winchester Castle

Home to the great Hall and legendary Arthurian round Table, Winchester Castle is well worth a visit, particularly for history buffs.

The great Hall

One of the only surviving parts of Winchester Castle, the great Hall is one of the oldest and largest in Britain. It houses the famous Arthurian round Table and has many architectural features to admire, including stained glass windows, wrought iron gates and a judge’s gallery.

The round Table

Dating as far back as the 13th Century, the round Table, located within the great Hall, is still intact today with the names of 24 of the knights of the round Table written around the edges. Guided tours are available upon request.

Marwell Wildlife

Winchester Discovery Center

Where to stay in Winchester

Winchester is full of great places to stay, including hotels, B&Bs and budget accommodation. whether it’s a city stay you’re after, or a quiet countryside getaway, Winchester has it all. there are many award winning accommodation providers, which include both traditional and modern properties.

Winchester Attractions & Accommodation

admin — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:48:31 +0000

Winchester Cathedral

Winchester Castle

Home to the Great Hall and legendary Arthurian Round Table, Winchester Castle is well worth a visit, particularly for history buffs.

The Great Hall

One of the only surviving parts of Winchester Castle, The Great Hall is one of the oldest and largest in Britain. it houses the famous Arthurian Round Table and has many architectural features to admire, including stained glass windows, wrought iron gates and a judge’s gallery.

The Round Table

Marwell Wildlife

Winchester Discovery Center

Where to stay in Winchester

Winchester is full of great places to stay, including hotels, B&Bs and budget accommodation. Whether it’s a city stay you’re after, or a quiet countryside getaway, Winchester has it all. There are many award winning accommodation providers, which include both traditional and modern properties.

Winchester Attractions & Accommodation

The Monarch Riflescope 8-32x50ED SF BDC Monarch Series of Riflescopes

admin — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:40:39 +0000

The test was carried out on the Monarch Riflescope 8-32x50ED SF with BDC reticule that is top of the range in Nikon’s Monarch range, coming in the shops at around $700 – $800 against a list price of $980. You might be able to get it cheaper than $700 but I haven’t found it.

It is certainly a beautiful-looking instrument, and was crystal clear all the way down to the x32 zoom. however, let’s start with a discussion about the company itself, because if you are going to purchase a Nikon riflescope you want to know the background. This instrument has to be reliable under all conditions, so how does Nikon stand in the riflescope market.

The company is well known for its optical products, most people being familiar with the Nikon camera range. Over the past few years, the firm has being trying to make a name for itself in the hunting scope market, and now offers a range of hunting optical equipment including binoculars, rangefinders and spotting scopes and now riflescopes particularly designed for the higher end of the hunting market. So the Monarch has not just appeared from nowhere, but has a good pedigree.

The riflescope range offered by Nikon is the Prostaff, the Buckmaster and the Monarch, in that order. the Prostaff are the entry level products, intended predominantly for amateurs seeking a telescopic sight for their rifle, but not wanting to pay too much. however, they are good quality, and you get a lot for what you pay. It’s a pity that the quality of the other two ranges does not increase proportionate to their price, but that would likely be impossible to achieve.

While the Prostaff range offers a good quality basic scope, the Buckmasters are better in that they offer a wider range of magnifications and objective dimensions, and also better light transmission. These are three very important properties in a riflescope, and while they are important improvements, the jump in price from that of the Prostaff is a bit too steep to warrant just these differences. and then we come to the Monarch, and it is that on which we will focus (sorry).

This is Nikons best, beating the other two hands down in all features. the problem with the Monarch is that that there is too many of them: they are subdivided into a range of different products and it is not easy for the uneducated to know which is best for their needs. for example, you can choose from the Monarch original UCC 3-9×40, the African, the Gold, the X series or just the plain Monarch, which I shall refer to as the standard. So what’s the difference between these?

It would take too long a review to explain the differences between all the Monarch models, so I shall stick to the standard 17 long Monarch Riflescope 8-32x50ED SF with BDC which is excellent for serious hunters.

Magnification

The entire range offers the 1 main tube that Americans prefer, and 4x magnification range. the starting power options start at 2 and increase to a total of 7 possible starting points to 8, through 2.5, 3, 4, 5 and 6. with these magnification ranges come the objectives: 2-8×32; 2.5-10×42; 3-12×42; 4-16×42; 4-16×50; 5-20×44; 6-24×50; 8-32×50. with various other options, you can purchase 24 different scopes in the standard Monarch range.

Of these, this review is of the last in that line-up, the 8-32×50 with ED labeled glass, standing for Extra-low Dispersion that offers improved sharpness and color-correction, particularly at higher powers (20x or over). our scope also had a BDC – bullet drop correction – reticule that compensates for bullet drop over specified distances on the reticule. the actual model number we tested was Nikon #8480, the pinnacle of the Monarch series.

Eye Relief

Anybody familiar with Nikon Monarch scopes will know about the Eye Box technology that offers four inches of eye relief and 4x power magnification. What that means is that you can aim with your eye 4 inches from the eyepiece – this offers at least four inches recoil before the eyepiece hits your eyebrow. When I tested the scope the 4 was OK at 32x power, but al lower power you could take your eye even further away, but only by about an inch or so. the Nikon Monarch riflescope 8-32x50ED is better than many variable power scopes where the optimum eye relief varies considerably with power. It is better to be fairly constant so you can get used to a certain stance in shooting – you don’t want to be switching too much between powers with a variable power riflescope.

Optical Properties

The Monarch 8-32x50ED was particularly clear and bright, even for the 50 objective lens. the ED glass has been explained, but it sure makes a difference to the clarity, particularly at higher magnifications. Apparently this ED glass has been used on Nikon’s telephoto lenses as standard, and has been applied to the Monarch riflescope – but only to the 8-32×50 as far as I can ascertain. It also offers excellent color compensation.

Nikon also have what they refer to as an ‘Ultra Clear Coat’ on their lenses, claiming it to boost the transmission of light through them to 95% as compared to the 90% of the lower-priced basic Prostaff range. This really is excellent, particularly in low light conditions.

The SF in the model name we tested means that it is fitted with a side parallax adjustment, SF standing for side Focus. This works as normal, only it has a locking device whereby you pull out a locking ring to free the adjustment, make your adjustment, and then push the ring in to lock it in place. the adjustment then can’t be moved by accident. the adjustment moves in 1/8 MOA clicks offering precise parallax adjustment at ranges from 50 yards to infinity. the same 1/8 MOA adjustment is available on the accessory target-style windage and elevation adjustment knobs and caps.

Bullet Drop Compensation

Nikon’s Monarch BDC models offer BDC reticules which possess four circles on the bottom half of the vertical reticule axis, corresponding to 200, 300, 400 and 500 yard holdovers for standard cartridges. for magnum cartridges, with higher muzzle velocities of about 300 fps, they are each 100 yards higher.

Simply target using the appropriate circle for the appropriate range and cartridge type. This is a fairly simple no-frills BDC system that still requires a bit of skill and know-how to use accurately. BDC does not come as standard, but each scope can be configured using the system, so if you want it you have to specify.

Unexpected Extras

The model we tested came with a couple of useful accessories: a sunshade and two flip-up lens caps. that makes sure you can’t lose your lens caps. Apparently they are only available with this scope model, although they can be ordered as after sales accessories from Nikon for lower priced models such as the Prostaff and Buckmaster range.

Conclusions

This is a good riflescope with some very useful features. the standard book price tag is possibly a bit high but you can it for over $200 less online, so in that respect it is very well priced for what you get. the glass is very clear with excellent color and the extra features are worth having, particularly the side parallax locking ring that helps maintain the setting even when knocked.

Perhaps the 32 power magnification is a bit high for this scope, unless you have a rest or bipod when using it, and the 20 MOA internal adjustment is perhaps not quite enough for longer distances. nevertheless, for its intended use it is a magnificent riflescope and you will have to look far and wide to get better value for money (at the online price) than the Nikon Monarch 8-32x50ED SF BDC.

The Monarch Riflescope 8-32x50ED SF BDC Monarch Series of Riflescopes