Understand your hunting environment and shooting range as this will have a direct effect on what type of optic you require.

An increase in brightness does not depend on having a larger main tube; rather, it helps keep the scope smaller and lighter. Hunters tend to favor simple reticles with clear sight pictures for hunting purposes while tactical scopes typically feature first-plane reticles to allow shooters to dial in solutions or compensate for distance via holdover.

High-Quality Lenses

Brightness in scopes is determined by their glass quality; for optimal brightness in various illumination environments, high transmission glass with impressive coatings provides optimal illumination levels. The best optics feature such glass that maximizes brightness across a spectrum of illumination conditions.

Riflescope manufacturers are constantly pushing the limits of optical engineering to produce riflescopes with unparalleled clarity, precision and durability. Although more costly than their counterparts, these riflescopes often offer features that could mean the difference between success and failure on your next hunting expedition.

As part of your riflescope purchase decision, consider the environmental conditions where you typically hunt when selecting an optics system. Optics that can withstand wet and foggy conditions will allow for clear vision even under dim lighting conditions, while anti-reflective coating can reduce lens surface reflections to enhance contrast sensitivity so you can spot game more quickly. Choosing your reticle type also plays a significant role; many hunters favor second-plane reticles which provide consistent subtensions or aiming points across magnification levels while first-plane ones become bigger to help center their targets more quickly.

Parallax Adjustment

When the shooter makes minor adjustments to their stock or eye position, their reticle may seem to move off target – an effect known as parallax distortion that compromises aiming accuracy. With the parallax adjustment feature of their scopes, shooters can correct for this error and ensure their crosshairs stay on target.

Newcomers to long-distance shooting may be surprised when their scope reticle seems to “float” on their target. This is a common issue and can be corrected using parallax adjustment.

Adjust for parallax by looking at a plain, bright background at least five yards away and turning the adjustment ring of your objective bell until your reticle appears crisp and clear. Repeat this process by looking at that same background from different distances while nodding your head up and down as you look through your scope until the reticle no longer shifts on target.

Field of View

An expansive field of view (FOV) helps hunters quickly scan a scene and spot game at longer distances, but may limit your ability to accurately target specific targets with magnification settings – higher magnification makes the world appear closer, which reduces FOV width at comparable power settings.

Before purchasing, it is wise to research and take note of a rifle scope’s maximum magnification and FOV at its intended range before making a purchase decision. When shopping for telescopes or microscopes, know their magnification levels as well as angular field of view (AFOV).

Your scope will include a diopter adjustment to help adjust for your eyesight, typically found as a small ring at the rear of it, that should be set according to what works best for you. Elevation and windage turrets should also be carefully considered, which serve as large knobs used to precisely manipulate rifle scopes with higher magnification levels; exposed turrets provide more precise manipulation.

Magnification

Magnification is one of the most crucial features to keep in mind when purchasing a rifle scope, so don’t get misled by low-quality optics on store shelves or hype from salespeople (have they ever hunted a bean field?) A high-quality scope will bring your target closer and increase accuracy.

Magnification (m) on a scope’s label represents how much larger an image appears; for instance, a 3-9x scope zooms in three times larger than it appears through naked eye vision.

Scopes can be designed with their reticle either in the first focal plane (FFP) or second focal plane (SFP). FFP scopes feature an expanding reticle that changes size as magnification increases, providing accurate distance measurement and long range bullet drop calculations. SFP scopes maintain constant reticle size to provide consistent point of aim aiming points and simplify hunting experiences.