While your going over the gear you have and what you need to buy new or to replace existing worn out, pay special attention to your scope. Are the lenses still in good shape? Are any threads stripped? Does it hold the zero after you sight in? If not, you may need another scope.
Also, consider if you are changing your shooting needs. If you are going to be hunting long range when you have been hunting close range, you may need another scope.
There's a ton of rifle scopes on the market, cheap to expensive, general to specialized. Here's some things to consider when looking for a scope:
Magnification:
What kind of shooting are you doing? Hunting big game, hunting small game, competitive target shooting, varmint hunting, plinking, they all require a different magnification. It's obvious that the longer the distance to intend to shoot the higher the magnification you need. A word of caution is not to get too high a magnification. Hunting whitetail deer in Maine does not require a 6-18x scope. You're just as likely to get a 20 yard shot as a 200 yard shot. A 3-9X is a much better choice in this instance.
Here's a general guide:
Squirrels: up to 4x Varmints: 4-12x Big game in dense woods: 1.5-4x or 2-7x Big game in fairly open country: 3-9x or 2.5-10x Big game in wide open country: 4-12x or 6-18x
Resolution:
Basically this is a measure of how much light that enters the scope actually gets to your eye. It's measured as a percentage, e.g. 95%, 87%, etc.. It is really a measure of optical quality. The better the resolution, the clearer the picture you see through the scope.
How good a resolution do you need? Well, it depends on your shooting. For close in work you can get away with a lower resolution. For long range shooting or shooting in low light conditions you'll want good (over 90%) resolution.
Scopes that are sealed, waterproof and shock proof:
A scope of even just decent quality should be sealed from air and water, and able to take the normal rigors of a handling during a hunting trip. This is one knock against real cheap scopes as they just won't hold up.
Reticles:
Reticles are also known as the cross hairs. There's all types of reticles available on the market these days. The most popular is the Duplex reticle made famous by Leupold. The duplex is similar to the standard cross hair, except the cross hair is thick for about 80% of it's length, thinning in the middle so you can see your target easily. Every manufacturer has a variation on the duplex. Some new reticles are ballistic reticles that are marked with graduations on a scale to help you compensate for distance and wind. There are also illuminated reticles, great for shooting in low light conditions.
Reticle choice is really a personal preference. If possible, test out several types and choose the one you like best.
How much should you spend?
For the most part, you get what you pay for. You can't expect a $75 scope to perform like a $600 scope. Cheaper scopes tend to have poor optics and loose their zero easily. You don't get out hunting that much, do you want your trip spoiled because your scope fails you?
You should expect to pay $200-$800 for a good scope. You can spend more for specialized scopes. A good piece of advice is get the best you can afford. You will never regret getting quality that is too good, but always kick yourself for not getting good enough.
Choosing a new scope for your rifle isn't always a simple matter. In the past few years there has been a huge increase in the number of scopes released to the public. Scopes are using more and more advanced technology and prices are getting higher as well. Depending on what you are looking for, a lot of these scopes won't even apply to your needs and you can disregard them from your consideration. Be sure to take your time when comparing scopes, and always look at the three main things to consider when shopping : the warranty, the scope's internal adjustment range, and the scope body assembly quality. Here we will take a look at each of these elements.
When buying a scope, you want to be sure you are protected against any manufacturer defects, since you are spending a considerable amount of money. Some warranties are better than others, in that they even cover accidental damage for a limited period of time. Many scopes come with limited lifetime warranties, which doesn't alwyas mean the same thing. Be clear on whether this covers accidental damage, or if it excludes certain types of damage. Small warranty details like these won't make a huge difference right away, but down the road may save you lots of repair costs. Be sure to check how long the warranty lasts, and just as importantly, if you need to be the original scope owner to be eligible for warranty coverage.
The second thing you need to consider is how much internal adjustment range is on the scope. Ideally, you want at least 60 inches or more of adjustment. To determine this, first look at your rifle. If your rifle is hard to mount, you may not have the amount of range that you thought you did. Be sure that you can mount the scope straight onto the rifle, otherwise there is the possibility of losing a lot of range. If you want maximum, you should go for a scope with a large objective lens.
Lastly, take some time to examine the assembly of the scope's body. The scope is going to be exposed to the elements, and sometimes some bumps and bangs here and there. This will happen even moreso if you move around a lot and are primarily an outdoor shooter. Ideally you want a body constructed of sturdy materials like steel or aluminum, and not plastic. Doing so will save you some repair and replacement costs in the future. This is a case where the extra costs up front can go a long way.
Whether you are a new or experienced shooter or hunter, your rifle scope is an investment where you want to go for quality. Do not go for a no-name brand that looks like it has questionable construction. A good rule of thumb is to budget about $250 for your rifle scope. You will have better shooting results and know that your scope will last you a long time.
Both Scott Peters & Joshua Belden are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Scott Peters has sinced written about articles on various topics from Baseball, Diamonds and Hunting. Scott Peters is an avid whitetail deer hunter and outfitter. For more information please visit .. Scott Peters's top article generates over 33100 views. to your Favourites.
Joshua Belden has sinced written about articles on various topics from Guns, Cars and Shoes. Joshua Belden is a shooter with 9 years of experience. Over the years he restored and used many and. Joshua Belden's top article generates over 90500 views. to your Favourites.