Tip 1: This or That
There is no ideal-for-every-condition rifle scope, so choose the scope that best fits your needs. There will be a constant set of trade-offs between price and features, and you need to take into account variables in brightness, resolution, magnification, field of view, weight, durability, eye relief, reticle type and finish.

Tip 2: What Those Numbers Mean
Scopes are described in numbers, such as 4 X 32, or 4-12 X 50. The first number is the magnification power: 4 times enlargement, or a variable of 4 to 12 times enlargement. The second number is the diameter of the objective lens in millimeters. A larger objective will let in more light, and will be more effective in low-light situations.

Tip 3: Exit Pupil is Not Someone Leaving School
The exit pupil is the size of the beam of light that leaves the back of the scope, and can be calculated by dividing the objective diameter by the power. For instance, a 4-10 X 50 scope would have an exit pupil of 12.5mm at 4 X and 5mm at 10 X. On a bright day this will not matter, but in low light the pupil of your eye can be from 5-9mm in diameter, and the larger the exit pupil the more light gets inside your eye. If you shoot only during the brightest part of the day, you do not need a large (and more expensive) objective.

Tip 4: What You Pay For is What You Get
Special glass can let more light through, and better scopes have lens elements that are all multi-coated, which transmits even more light. A better scope should also be more robust, have precision, durable reticle and adjustments and be sealed with inert gas inside.

Tip 5: Playing the Field
Field of View, or FOV, is the area (usually in feet) you can see through the scope at 100 yards. The FOV will get smaller as the power of the scope gets larger. When hunting on open plains a small FOV is great, but if you hunt at short ranges in dense cover a wide FOV would be more useful.

Tip 6: Up and Down
The knobs at the middle of the scope adjust the aim point side-to-side (Windage) and up-and-down (Elevation). Covers should seal against weather, but allow easy access.

Tip 7: A Minute is More than Time
Minute of Angle, or MOA, is one inch at 100 yards. If the elevation and windage adjustments on the scope are listed as 1/4” MOA, that means that for every click of the adjustment knob the aim point will move 1/4-inch at 100 yards.

Tip 8: Is Bigger Better?
Scopes are commonly one-inch in diameter, but some are also available in 30mm. You must purchase the correct size rings to mount the scope to your rifle. The 30mm scopes will not necessarily let more light through (depending on the design), but can be stronger and more rigid, and allow for a wider range of adjustment. They will also be heavier.

Tip 9: One Size Doesn’t Fit All
If you always hunt in the same place at the same time, one scope might be fine for you. If your hunting is varied, having several scopes to match to different conditions is the way to go.

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