Best Rifle Scopes Reviews Magazine – How to Choose One?

Herbert Kikoy

Have you recently started hunting? If so, you have probably already figured out the importance of rifle scopes. These resemble miniature telescopes that help individuals make more accurate shots.

There’s a multitude of functions and features to consider when selecting the best telescopic sight, such as magnification, objective lenses, lens coating, reticles, turrets, eye relief, and others.

There are numerous review sites, such as BestRifleScopesReviews.com, helping individuals purchase the best rifle scopes.

Follow the shopping tips below to make a better decision.

Fixed vs. variable

The first choice to make when shopping for a rifle scope is choosing between fixed and variable models. The former has a single magnification, whereas the latter has multiple magnifications. The difference between these two variants is mainly related to versatility. Individuals hunting from various ranges are advised to choose a variable model.

Moreover, others hunting from a single range are recommended to purchase a fixed telescopic sight. Fixed rifle scopes are cheaper but of higher quality compared to the variable ones. Nevertheless, you can only shoot from a single range, not various ranges.

Choose the right magnification

After selecting a type of rifle scope, the following aspect to factor in is magnification. This feature stands for the proximity of the target when looking through the lens compared to how individuals see it with a naked eye. For instance, if the magnification of a telescopic sight is 7X, it means you can see seven times closer than the naked eye.

Nevertheless, most individuals are confused when it comes to selecting the best magnification for their needs. A magnification between 1-4X is suitable for target shooting up to a hundred yards and hunting small game. Click here to gain a better understanding of the concept of magnification.

5-8X magnification is appropriate for target shooting up to 200 yards and hunting large game in closed landscapes like forests and mountains. In contrast, 9-12X magnification corresponds to a target shooting over 200 yards in open landscapes like fields and deserts.

Consider the objective lens

Another important aspect to consider when shopping for a rifle scope is the objective lens. Their location is at the end of the scope, providing it with brightness and clarity. Even though larger objective lenses provide better clarity, they also impose a series of problems, such as adding extra weight, causing scope ring problems, increasing the susceptibility of sunlight reflection, etc.

Regardless of the size of the objective, you won’t be able to see at night or with an absence of light. If planning to hunt at night, you should invest in a night vision model. Riflescopes with objective diameters up to 28 mm are suitable for close-range hunting and firearms with little recoil. 30-44 mm objective diameter is appropriate for firearms with more recoil. Diameters over 50 mm are ideal for extreme long-range targets.

Consider the lens coating

The following feature to factor in when looking for the right telescopic sight is the lens coating. It refers to an invisible layer that improves sight and reduces glare. There are four types of lens coatings for hunters to choose from. For example, coated lenses have a single layer covering part of the surface of the scope. Conversely, fully-coated lenses are the standard choice, as the entire glass is coated with one layer.

Multicoated lenses, on the other hand, have multiple layers covering part of the surface. Such lenses are mainly used in costly rifle scopes. In contrast, fully multicoated lenses refer to a full coating of the external glass. When choosing a coating, make sure you invest in at least fully-coated lenses. Nevertheless, keep in mind that lens coating doesn’t compensate for low glass quality.

Choose a scope reticle

Another important consideration is the choice of a reticle. It refers to the crosshair (aiming point) you look through the scope. The reticle is of great importance for facilitating the process of shooting and estimating distance. There are three reticle types to consider, duplex, mil-dot, and BDC.

The duplex pattern is unquestionably the simplest. It’s the ideal reticle for beginners trying their luck in hunting or target shooting. Conversely, the mil-dot reticle estimates the distance from the target, mainly used by the military and law enforcement. BDC is the best option for long-range shooters, estimating bullet drop.

Consider the turrets

The following consideration should be the types of turrets, referring to the knobs in charge of making horizontal and vertical adjustments. There are windage, elevation, and parallax adjustment turrets. The windage turret is the knob that adjusts the aim from left to the right. Conversely, the elevation turret adjusts the aim from top to the bottom.

Moreover, the parallax adjustment knob is optional, designed to eliminate the parallax. When choosing high-quality turrets, you should look for a loud click sound, which indicates a successful adjustment. Also, repeatability is a feature that means the scope adjusts automatically, indicating turrets of high quality.

Eye relief

Last but not least, eye relief stands for the distance between the eye of the shooter and the lens. In order to avoid earning a bruised eye, you should get appropriate eye relief, determined by the recoil of the firearm. Higher recoils require greater eye relief, at least three to four inches.