Each year millions of hunters head into the woods in search of game meat to add to their dinner tables, and for that purpose require appropriate optics and scopes.

The top rifle scopes offer high-grade glass and coatings, illuminated reticle options, capped adjustment turrets and magnification ranges that make them suitable for big game hunting. Furthermore, these exceptional scopes represent excellent value.

Variable Scopes

Variable scopes offer hunters and target shooters alike the versatility to adapt on-the-fly for quick close-up shots or long range target shooting situations. Their zoom ring (typically located near the eyepiece) enables easy magnification adjustments.

Lower magnification settings give you a wider field of view to quickly acquire targets, while increasing power ensures precise long-range shooting.

Make sure your variable scope remains in top condition by performing periodic inspections for loose mounts or misalignments and cleaning it using mild, nonabrasive cleaner. Protect it from extreme temperatures and humidity levels when not in use, and follow manufacturer maintenance and care instructions when caring for it.

Fixed Scopes

If you prefer hunting at close range or shooting targets that require constant engagement distances, a fixed power scope could be ideal. These scopes come equipped with one magnification level from the factory so there’s no need for last minute adjustments of rings in an unpredictable situation.

Fixed power scopes often provide greater light transmission due to having fewer internal lenses, and are usually lighter and cheaper than variable scopes.

Fixed scopes now feature many of the same upgrades as variable ones (lens coatings, durability etc), so you should have no difficulty finding one to suit your hunting style. Check out Billings’ selection of fixed power hunting scopes like Hammer 4x and Sidewinder 6x to make your choice easy!

Glass and Coatings

Coatings on scope lenses play an invaluable role in image clarity and light transmission; without coatings, over half the light entering the lens is lost due to internal reflections that cause light loss; coatings reduce this reflection rate so more of it passes through even during low light conditions.

Carl Zeiss first invented anti-reflective coatings in 1935; modern ones far surpass these early efforts, transmitting an incredible amount of light while fine-tuning color transmission. Furthermore, anti-reflective coatings protect expensive lenses from damage while making cleaning simpler; such coatings are especially helpful if used for wildlife identification; extreme magnification with wide field of view and true-color reproduction are ideal spotting scope characteristics.

Zoom Ranges

Scope magnification can be confusing, with numbers that seem to change constantly. Looking through a scope’s reticle will reveal an array of numbers followed by an “x,” which correspond to its magnification factor; for instance, one with 3x magnification provides you with an image three times larger than its actual target.

Your scope’s turrets will display a number that represents its objective lens diameter. A larger objective lens allows more light into your optic and thus produces brighter images under low-light conditions.

Be wary of scopes that look bright under store lighting – these may appear ideal, but when dawn breaks and animals emerge to hunt you need one that performs well in low light conditions.

Tube Size

The diameter of a scope’s main tube directly influences its adjustment range and turret design; it does not, however, directly affect light transmission – this depends on the quality of its objective lens and coatings.

A larger tube allows you to utilize larger objective lenses, letting more light enter at the top of the scope and creating a brighter image. Larger objective lenses also offer greater zoom ratios and improved low-light performance.

An important consideration when purchasing a hunting scope is its reticle, which may either be inscribed onto the lens itself or provided through another optical system. Popular patterns include BDC (bullet drop compensating) and MOA (minute of angle), with BDC having horizontal hashmarks corresponding to expected trajectory of common calibers and bullet weights.