What to look for in a Rifle Scope
Not sure what you really want or need when looking for your first hunting scope? They make entry-level riflescopes created for hunters on a budget. Educate yourself and look at how you think you will be hunting. Big game hunting like elk or bear, or will you be hunting pheasant and birds, rabbit or other small game? There is nothing wrong when you purchase your first hunting scope to go with inexpensive optics. Go hunting, is this something you enjoyed, hunting is not for everyone. So give it a try, don't deck yourself out with all the latest and greatest hunting gear only to find out this was not for you. If you find out on the other hand you really enjoyed shooting and hunting then look for the features that make shooting more pleasurable. Decide what your sport will be, competition shooting, hand gun, varmint hunting, or big game, tactical?
The more features you have in a rifle scope the more expensive it will be obviously. Most optics will have the standard features such as waterproof and fog proof, but may not be shock proof. Does it have a wire or an etched reticle a wire reticle can be knocked out of place making the scope unusable? Some reticles offer to illuminate red or green with multiple brightness settings. Green is the easiest light or color for the human eye to see and causes no typical "night blindness" associated with standard or high intensity flashlights. High power green laser light reflects intensely off the eyes of animals allowing quick detection this works well for both night hunting and game spotting. Is it compatible with every generation of night vision devices? Is there laser emission that could be harmful to your eyes?
Camera quality glass is offered on some models. How the scope is mounted, by rings, rail and does the scope have the mounting system built in or is it separate? Weight is always a concern yet you want it to be rugged and of durable construction.
Is the rifle scope built for the intended purpose, rifles, carbines, shotguns, or handguns? Trying to adapt a scope to something it is not intended to be use for is trouble waiting to happen. Do the power ring and parallax adjust ring provide a firm, no-nonsense grip relief grooves? Are they built primarily for use in daylight and in low light conditions or for law enforcement and military applications? Any hazardous materials, nitrogen filled, built-in sunshade, scope covers? What is the warranty, limited, lifetime, replacement, repair?
As always it does not matter how much you're optics cost if you don't know how and when to use them. Practice makes perfect, knowing your equipment makes it safe, and everyone making it safely home should be in everyone sight.
Dale Coover writes articles for www.milehighoptics.com and blogs for www.lookscloser.com He lives in Colorado and enjoys traveling and being outdoors. We offer Free Shipping on orders over 100.00. Binoculars, range finders, hunting scopes, spotting scopes and night vision devices at competitive prices.
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