Why even use a scope?

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Aiming through a scope or a red dot sight is 33% easier that using plain iron sights. With metallic Iron sights you are required to line up the rear sight with the front sight and your target... When you choose the correct rifle scope, you simply have to line up your cross-hairs (reticle) with your target. It's much easier to learn to shoot with a correct rifle scope than iron sights, and since most rifle scopes also magnify, your target appears closer, and therefore easier to see, enabling you to place a more precise shot on your target.

For people with less than than perfect vision the benefits of using a scope are even more pronounced, for instance adjustment of the reticle focus at the eyepiece for their particular eyes for a clear, sight picture. Older eyes often have a difficult, if not impossible time trying to switch their focus from a rear sight to a front sight to a target as required without a scope, and it's frustrating to say the least. Scopes eliminate this frustration.

Whatever level of knowledge a person may have regarding rife scopes, the first thing one ought to consider is what exactly do they want from their optics. Ask yourself what it is you are trying to achieve, and then chose an optic that will best facilitate that goal.

• Are you a long distance target shooter?
• Are you a small game hunter who generally takes shorter range shots?
• Do you often find yourself shooting in low light conditions?

First Things First before you Choose the Correct Rifle Scope

Make sure you understand the mounting system your rifle uses in order to buy the correct scope mount. Next try to determine the amount of magnification you will most likely need. A scope’s magnification level is going to establish the limits of its usefulness. For example, 1,000 yard bench rest shooter would be horrendously under-equipped with a 4X scope, while a deer hunter in thick forests would have a very hard time making a shot with a 32x scope. Now you will need to understand the different parts of the scope and how they will affect your needs...

What is the Main Tube and Objective Lens:

A rifle-scope's main tube generally measures around 1 inch, 30 mm or 34 mm in diameter. Large-diameter main tubes increase the range of adjustment, which is important for long-distance targeting, and they enhance durability, as well. However, the additional material used in their construction increases weight, and rings-especially in 34 mm-used to mount them can be pricier and more limited in selection when compared those for 1 inch main tubes.

Objective lens - this is the lens at the end of the scope and sizes run the gamut; everything from 20 mm to 72 mm are available, though 40-mm and 50-mm sizes dominate the marketplace. Increasing the objective lens size slightly boosts an optic’s light-gathering ability, (thus improving resolution), which can be beneficial in low-light conditions. . Rifle-scopes with a 50-mm objective lens or larger require that the optic be mounted higher than normal so that there’s clearance between the scope’s bell and the rifle barrel; however, doing so can impact scope-to-eye alignment and consistencyof cheek weld, which is required for accuracy.

With an AR-Style this is especially problematic. Furthermore, scopes with large objective lenses are naturally heavier, making them cumbersome to carry. An objective lens measuring 40 mm to 44 mm is all that is needed to get the correct scope for your AR-15. Don’t compensate for low-quality glass and/or insufficient lens coatings by selecting a larger objective lens.

Reasons for Adjustable Objective:

This is a feature you’ll see on some scopes that allows the shooter to adjust the focus of the objective or front lens of a scope via a dial around the objective lens of the scope. An adjustable objective is great for shooters who commonly shoot at various ranges and at long range targets. At the most basic level, a scope with an adjustable objective will allow the shooter to fine tune the focus of the reticle for their own personal eyesight.

Most Popular Reticles

• Duplex Reticle: The duplex reticle is the most common reticle today. It is characterized by a thin center cross-hair which becomes thicker at the outer area of the scope. When you think of looking through a scope, you are probably imagining a duplex reticle. This design naturally focuses the eye towards the center of the scope and the thick outer bars can also aid in low light shooting where the fine center cross-hair may not be visible. Scopes with this type of reticle are best suited for most hunting and target shooting.

  See our Duplex reticle Scopes

  

• Mildot Reticle: The midot reticle is based off of the duplex reticle pattern but it has some subtle yet powerful enhancements. The size and spacing of the dots along the reticle-lines correspond to specific angles measured in milliradians. The power of the mildot reticle comes from the ability to use it to determine a target’s range as long as the target’s size is known, and for making fast and intuitive adjustments for wind and elevation.

  See our MilDot Reticle scopes

• BDC Reticle: BDC is the abbreviation for “bullet drop compensator” and today BDC reticles are more popular than ever. A BDC retricle allows for accurate shooting over different target ranges without making adjustments to the scope’s elevation setting. This is accomplished by having several aiming points incorporated into the reticle pattern which correspond to different target distances. BDC scopes offer a lot of utility beyond the simple duplex reticle but are only available for certain cartridges and are only moderately accurate for ranges beyond 500 yards even when using the specific load that the reticle is calibrated for.

  See our BDC Reticle Scopes

  

Parallax Explained:

Put a small mark from a pencil on a table, and put an inch or so of water in a clear drinking glass. Hold the glass an inch over the mark and move it around slightly in different directions. Looking down into the glass, watch the dot move in directions other than where it should be.

External parallax adjustments, called adjustable objectives or side focuses, are generally on scopes of more than 10 power, or on scopes that are used at close distances. Parallax adjustments are made at the objective lens with a rotating dial marked in incremental distances. Recently it has become popular to install parallax adjustment dials on the left side of the turret housing, which is much more convenient and user friendly.

Two Types of Adjustment Systems:

At this juncture you should have a good idea how much power you need and what type of reticle you want. Now it’s time to determine how your scope is adjusted. There are two different measurement systems for scope adjustment: MOA or MRAD

MOA: Is most common and stands for “Minute of Angle” and while technically this means 1/60th of an angular degree, it is commonly associated with linear inches; this is because 1 MOA very closely corresponds to 1 inch at a distance of 100 yards. One major benefit of MOA adjustment is that it allows for more precise zeroing than milradian scopes because MOA adjustment increments are smaller, typically 1/4 inch at 100 yards, but sometimes even half that. This is great for anyone wanting an extremely precise zero or very fine adjustment capability at long range. Typically having smaller adjustments, leading to more precise zeroing. They are the most common for a variety of shooters. However, much harder to adjust when at distances not 100 yards. One drawback to consider for MOA is that calculating adjustments becomes complex at ranges other than 100 yards, and so MOA adjustment works best when paired with a duplex or BDC reticle and simple covered adjustment screws. Some scopes will feature MOA adjustment turrets paired with a mildot reticle, but this configuration is not optimal because it does not allow for the most efficient use of the mildot system.

MRAD: Is abbreviation for a milradian; which represents a fractional section of an angle, in this case 1/1,000th of a radian. 1 milradian works out to be about 3.6 inches at 100 yards. This measurement may seem pretty awkward compared to MOA but it actually leads to much simpler adjustments. This is because the reticle in milradian scopes is essentially used like a ruler. If you observe through the scope that a bullet has impacted 1.2 mils below the center crosshair then you can simply adjust up 1.2 mils and be on target. The real beauty of this is that the process works the same way no matter what the range is because you are never trying to calculate a linear measurement from an angular one

Conclusion:

As longs as you know your gear and its capabilities, take into consideration the aforementioned guidelines for choosing the correct rife-scope. You should feel confident when using your selected scope, provided you understand your needs and conditions. Choose a magnification range that is suitable for your application. If you are shooting from medium range, don't choose a 6-20x sniper's scope. If you are shooting from 150 feet (45.7 m), don't choose a non-magnifying reflex sight. The important thing to do is recognize what you actually need a scope for, and choose accordingly.