Set Your Sights
Whether you are an avid hunter or a passionate sport shooter you know that having a great rifle scope that puts your needs first is vital to getting the most out of your experience. Perhaps you need a scope that allows for quick sighting. You may need a rifle scope that can hone in on a target from immense distances. No matter what your needs are one thing stands true: a great rifle scope can bring your shooting to a new level. It is important to consider what makes a scope great before pulling the trigger on buying a new scope.
Know The Scope
A good scope can be measure by a few different features, and as a consumer you should educate yourself on what is on the market while factoring in your own needs.
If you are into tactical shooting at close range a scope that is a single power will be what you are looking for. You want to make sure that your rifle scope has low magnification as well as a large field of view in the scope. This ensures that faster movements are possible without giving up the sight on your target. For the long range hunter or target shooter consider a scope that has higher magnification while having a smaller field of view. This grants you the ability to have patience in each shot without worrying about not having enough power to see your target.
There are variable power scopes available that grant you the choice between low and high magnification. This enables you to use your best judgment and knowledge of distance shooting to choose which magnification to go with when assessing your target. Variable scopes can be highly effective in close quarters as well as down the range.
Weight is an important factor to consider when choosing a scope. If you have a lightweight AR-style rifle the last thing that you want is a scope that negates the reason for having a lighter rifle. For a hunting rifle that will be used in a prone or stationary position a heavier scope is not so much of an issue.
Aim For The Deal
Depending on where you are shopping you will find rifle scopes that range from affordable to absurd and everything in between.
When weighing how much you should spend on your next rifle scope consider the price that you paid for your rifle. You want to spend at least half of what you did on your gun when you buy a new scope. This is a great rule when you are purchasing something that you hope will see a lot of use. A huge mistake that many gun owners make is that they underestimate the importance of a quality scope and end up losing their investment after a short period.
The more you spend on a scope will grant you more freedoms. Many newer models have features such as a charged scope which holds gas to push away moisture in the lens. There are many options to choose from and you will want to go with the best for you and your planned uses.