Hunting optics and scopes should give you confidence in yourself and help you achieve precision with rifles or shotguns, no matter the hunting environment or shooting style. Selecting an optic that meets both criteria is key to reaping successful harvests.

The RS1.2 is an outstanding long-range scope designed specifically to meet all long-range hunters’ needs. Ideal for holdover hunters with its first-plane reticle providing elevation and windage references.

Variable scopes

Variable scopes are invaluable tools for improving precision when hunting in the woods or shooting long-range targets, yet they must be treated as delicate tools in order for them to function effectively. Here are a few tips to keep your scope functioning at its peak performance!

Variable-power riflescopes have become the go-to hunting optic. For years, their practical technological limit was three times zoom; thus 3-9X scopes became the go-to all-purpose scopes to hunt everything from dangerous game to small game and pests.

Some hunters prefer first-plane reticle systems because their aiming points do not change when magnification increases or decreases; however, second-plane reticle systems have become increasingly popular as technology improves.

Fixed scopes

Fixed scopes offer lightweight and compact optics that produce clear images, typically featuring generous eye relief to allow shooting from multiple positions and more durability than variable power scopes. Furthermore, fixed scopes tend to feature simpler designs with less lenses for improved light transmission.

Variable power scopes tend to be more costly than fixed scopes, yet offer greater magnification range. Unfortunately, their increased number of moving parts may cause recoil issues under recoil – though these issues are becoming less prevalent as manufacturers use superior materials and engineering solutions.

No matter your shooting style, it’s essential that you consider what type of game you plan to hunt. From ground hogs to rhinos, your scope choice can make a significant impactful statement about who and how you hunt.

Magnification

Magnification can help you spot game at distance and enhance its identification, but can narrow your field of view, making scanning challenging. Your ideal scope magnification depends on what hunting conditions you typically face.

Magnification in a scope refers to how much an object appears larger compared to its size when seen through the naked eye. It depends on factors like lens size (focal length) and base magnification, which determines how quickly or slowly your reticle zooms when changing magnification settings.

Tactical and competitive shooters tend to favor first-focal plane scopes that maintain the size of their reticle as you zoom in or out, enabling them to compensate for wind drift and unexpected deviations from expected point of impact more easily.

Reticles

Reticles are markings found within a scope’s image that can range from simple lines or complex dots and crosshairs, illuminated so you can still easily spot it at dawn, dusk and night.

Reticle options available to hunters include etched, wire and fiber options. Etched reticles can be ideal for hunting while wire reticles provide straightforward sight pictures ideal for beginning scopes. Fiber reticles offer versatility as they’re visible even in broad daylight ranges at short to medium ranges – both great features to consider when competing or using duty scopes in competitions or duty uses.

Second Focal Plane (SFP) Reticles are ideal for scopes designed primarily for upper half magnification use, like law enforcement sniper rifles or competitive shooters who prefer shooting from within the upper half magnification range. SFP reticles subtend accurately at one magnification level making them easier to read than BDC Reticles.

Light transmission

Hunters often mistakenly assume that larger objective lenses will perform better in low light conditions, but that simply isn’t the case. Instead, other factors influence a scope’s ability to gather and process light efficiently: ratio of objective/ocular lens ratio; lens quality/coatings etc all play an integral part.

Modern hunting scopes from manufacturers like Steiner take advantage of the same advanced optical technology used to produce top-tier binoculars and riflescopes designed for hard field use, including reduced chromatic aberration and enhanced light transmission to provide sharper images from distant bull elk to birds in midday sun – quality glass helps minimize eye strain and fatigue as well.