Hunting is all about adrenaline and the excitement of going after a target. This is why many hunters don’t sit at home and drink while on holiday, instead they choose a good spot to observe before sunrise and wait for a good target. It’s also why many hunters spend huge amounts of money on equipment. A good rifle is only half of a successful hunt. The right scope is an equally important part of hunting equipment. So how to choose a rifle scope?
What should we look for when choosing a scope?
Many hunters buy rifles for $1,000 but buy only the cheapest scopes, believing that this is enough for a good hunt. But this is a big mistake. If you want to get real pleasure from hunting, then this issue should be taken more seriously. First of all, you should choose a quality range. There are several criteria for choosing a scope, let’s take a closer look at them.
一.High Magnification
Magnification means how many times larger the target will be if you look through the scope. The magnification is marked on the body of the scope and can be labelled as “3-10×42”. In this example, “3-10” is the magnification. This means that your scope will be able to magnify the target 3-10 times. It is worth remembering that the higher the magnification, the more difficult it will be to aim. The image will shake with every movement of your hand, breath or heartbeat.
There are two types of magnification:
(1)Fixed. Your scope will always magnify the target only to a fixed magnification. For example, only at 3x or only at 10x. This has its advantages – your rifle will always be ready for rapid fire and you won’t have to adjust the magnification every time.
(2)Variable. You can adjust the magnification according to your preferences, hunting conditions, visibility and target distance.
Sometimes there is no rush to buy the most expensive variable magnification scopes. Here are some tips for each type of rifle and each type of hunting:
(1)For recreational hunting and target shooting, scopes with 3-10x magnification will be a good choice. They can be attached to a carbine or rifle and will work in a variety of hunting conditions. They are also cheap, lightweight and effective.
(2)12-20x magnification is good for long range shooting in the field. It is also much more expensive than the first one.
(3)Magnification of 20x or more is suitable for professional hunters who like to hunt in large open areas. The scopes in this category are the most expensive and require experience to use.
Before you buy, think about whether you plan to hunt in such a large area that you can use 20x magnification? The most versatile option is the first one. It is suitable for targets up to 50 metres away from you, but you can also aim well at targets up to 200 metres from your location.
二.Illuminated Reticle
The reticle is the crosshair that you see when you look at the target through the scope. Reticle helps to aim more accurately and estimate the real distance to the target.
For many hunters, this option has become much more convenient than standard reticles, mainly because it is visible at any time of the day – during the day, at dusk, at dawn, when the rays of the rising sun blind the eyes. Remember, it happened that against the background of the shadow from a tree or a rock, your reticle became completely invisible. This will not happen with the illuminated reticle, because it is always clearly visible.
This type of reticle is powered by two different sources of energy – batteries or ambient light. With the first one, it is clear – batteries provide energy and due to this the illumination works. In the second option the scope captures the ambient light, accumulates it, and due to this, the crosshair can be seen. The second option is not very inconvenient, as for this type of reticle you need a constant light source.
三.Effective Objective Lens Diameter
For some reason, most hunters, especially beginners, want to buy the largest diameter objective lens right away. Do you think a larger lens will help you see your target better? Let’s figure it out.
The objective lens is the glass located opposite the end of the scope. The diameter of the objective lens is indicated after the “x” mark. Let’s remember our original example – “3-10×42”. In this case, 42 is the diameter of the objective lens, i.e. 42 mm. The larger the diameter of the objective lens, the more light it captures, and the clearer you see your target. But there’s a nuance – a large magnification reduces the amount of light entering the scope lens. So if you want to choose the biggest thing, it has to be either the magnification or the objective lens diameter.
Here are some tips on how to choose your lens diameter:
(1)If you are hunting short distances, up to 100 yards, a diameter of 28 mm or less is right for you.
(2)If you are seeking medium distances (150-200 yards), a diameter of 30-44 mm is ideal for you.
(3)If you like to follow targets at very long distances (more than 200 yards), then lenses with a diameter of 50 mm and above are perfect for you.
Keep in mind that large lenses reflect sunlight and create glare. This is very noticeable no matter where you are hiding. In addition to the diameter, it’s worth mentioning the type of coating, as this is also a key point when choosing a good option:
(1)Coated. The lenses are covered on one side only and in one layer.
(2)Fully-Coated. The lenses are covered in one layer over the entire air-to-glass surface.
(3)Multicoated. One lens surface is covered in several layers.
(4)Fully Multicoated. Like the second option, this covering has several layers and covers all air-to-glass surfaces.
(5)Hydrophilic coated. The coating repels water, that is, during rain or snow, drops of water will not gather on the surface of the lens but will flow down.
The better the coverage, the more expensive it is. Every feature of your lenses adds cost to them, so it’s worth thinking carefully about what you need and what you want to buy.
四.Ballistic Turrets
In fact, this is the most important part of your selection. Once you’ve selected your magnification, crosshairs and lens diameter, it’s time to set up your scope. Adjustments can be made along the vertical and horizontal axes. The turret is two separate sets of dials to help you adjust height and windage.
When rotating the turret, you can turn the scope up, down, left and right. The turrets should make a loud clicking sound when adjusted. That’s how you’ll know they’re adjusted. Their mission is primarily to provide hunters with the most accurate aim at long range.
If you’re not sure what to choose but want the best, start with something simple. Don’t rush to spend your money on fancy scopes, start by finding the right scope for your type of hunting and rifle. Try different types of dividing plates, matching lens diameters and magnifications to suit your type of hunting preference. Versatile options are only good if you’ve tried more than one type of scope and you know exactly how, what, and at what time of day to hunt.
