LAS VEGAS — I hate hunting. Not because I’m morally opposed to needlessly slaughtering animals, but because I’m a horrible shot.
I couldn’t hit a deer even if it was only 100 yards away, which is why I need TrackingPoint’s Internet-connected rifles. They boast the same type of precision-guided technology that fighter jets use to blast targets from miles away, while letting your family and friends watch the slaughter from the comfort of their couches.
At International CES this week, the Texas firearms company revealed its new ShotView iOS app that allows hunters to broadcast real-time video feeds of their hunt so friends, colleagues or soldiers can see what a fellow shooter sees in his tracking optics.
The guns use an integrated target-tracking system, just like a fighter jet or Predator drone. Just tag the spot on the target you want to hit, and the onboard computer will wait for the exact moment your barrel lines up before firing off a round.
TrackingPoint’s firearms aren’t just about ridiculously high-tech targeting systems though. The company says adding Internet connectivity to guns will deliver increased safety benefits for hunters. By sharing their geolocations, hunters can see who’s in the area, and collaborate on prey selection and shot placement to ensure ethical and humane hunting.
They’re also making hunting “social” by letting other app users see exactly what you’re staring at down the barrel of your gun. For example, a father in Austin, Texas, can securely connect to his son’s firearm in Africa and participate remotely in a real-time hunting experience.
TrackingPoint promises its new guidances systems are so accurate, they’ll hit within 10 inches of a tag point on a 1,000-yard target. The gun is so high-tech, the Department of Defense restricted exports by classifying it in the same category as an F16 jet.
Poor shooters like me are about to get a chance to become highly skilled marksmen, but it’s not going to come cheap. A precision-guided semi-auto 5.56 will set you back $7,495 on the low end. If you’re ready to step up to the big guns, you can grab a 338 LM bolt-action rifle for a cool $27,500.
