Optics unlock next-level performance to transform hunting from an exhausting iron-sighted task into an engaging skill-based marksmanship activity. Their precision aiming, versatility and adaptability help hunters gain trust in their gear.

When purchasing rifle scopes or sights, take these factors into consideration: magnification, field of view, lenses and reticle types. These features determine how versatile a scope is as well as which capabilities best suit your hunting situation.

Magnification

Hunters who rely on their scopes for long-range shooting may benefit from using higher magnification lenses, as it will allow them to hit those distant targets more accurately. Unfortunately, however, higher magnification often means larger scopes that are heavier and harder to transport while hunting.

Magnification measures how large an image appears through its objective lens, and the larger this number becomes, the more light enters and brightens up reticle in low-light environments.

Some scopes offer variable magnification settings while others remain fixed at one power level. When making your selection, consider what kind of hunting you do, the distances at which you typically shoot, and whether or not flexibility in magnification adjustment may be important to you.

Field of View

When it comes to hunting game, field of view is an integral element. It refers to the area visible between one side of a scope’s field stop and its other edge and can often be expressed either linearly or angularly.

As magnification increases, so too does field of view (FOV). Therefore, you should choose a scope with an adequate FOV for your hunting conditions.

At 100 yards, a threex variable scope typically has an effective field of view (FOV) of 30 feet; as you zoom closer on your target this decreases significantly. Larger objective lenses may increase FOV but should be balanced against other considerations – too much lens size could make your riflescope too heavy.

Lenses

Lenses play an integral part in image quality for scopes. Multicoated lenses offer increased light transmission and create clearer imagery.

Consider which lens coating you desire. Some scopes offer blue lens coating to reduce glare and enhance contrast, while other lenses filter specific wavelengths of light.

The Leupold Mark 5 HD 3.6-18 boasts excellent glass quality and an adaptive tree-style CFR reticle to create an extremely versatile hunting scope with enough long-range precision capabilities to compete in PRS matches. Although it won’t win any beauty contests, this scope makes a fantastic choice for hunters and well-rounded marksmen alike.

Reticles

Scope manufacturers provide an abundance of reticle options, catering to hunters’ specific hunting styles and ballistic architecture needs. Capped turrets should prevent accidental movement during use and provide quick target acquisition in dynamic situations.

Large game such as elk and moose require thicker posts and crosshairs that quickly cover vitals areas without obscuring them. Finely centered dots or hash marks may help when shooting distant small game shots, while finely spaced dots or hash marks provide assistance when shooting faraway shots. Some reticle scopes feature illumination in low light conditions with rheostats for controlling brightness while advanced first focal plane reticle scopes have more sophisticated technology capable of calculating range estimation and bullet drop/wind compensation markings which display bullet drop/wind compensation markings – these types of scopes cost significantly more.

Price

As with anything, spending more on a rifle scope means higher-grade glass and features, such as illumination of the reticle, parallax adjustment dials and integration with ballistic apps.

Scopes are ideal for hunting across wide, open terrain where shots from longer distances are more frequent, while sights enable hunters to develop instincts and quick reaction capabilities for close quarters situations that only last for a brief moment before another shot opportunity arises.

Expecting one hybrid scope to perform as both hunting and target optics under every shooting scenario can be challenging. Most scopes are purpose-built for one form of shooting with specific features tailored towards it – the Meopta Optika5 stands out as an exception here.