Top Tips to Choose the Perfect Hunting Scope

Perfect Hunting Scope

If you are looking to buy a hunting rifle scope, you might think that it’s going to be a simple thing to do. However, things are never as easy as they look. In fact, it’s very confusing – mainly because there are so many choices and features to consider.

Still, you don’t have to be an expert in optical physics to choose the perfect scope. Yes, hunting scopes are fairly complex accessories. They feature a myriad of parts that are crucial for the unit’s proper functioning. But by following some basic tips, you should be able to find a model that suits your needs.

Here are the top tips for you to find the perfect rifle scope.

1. Choose the Weight Based on Your Comfort

Hunting scopes come in various shapes and sizes. Obviously, a scope with a higher diameter will have a better ability to capture light and images. Therefore improving your chances of closing in on a game. However, these scopes can be quite heavy – and can be very tiresome to carry around on a long hunting trip.

First of all, think about how much time you tend to spend on a hunting session. If you are planning to go for the entire day, then a bigger, 33mm tube might be very tiresome to carry around. On the other hand, if you don’t want to go for more than a couple of hours, this type of scope might give you a better read.

Also, you might want to consider how you are planning to use that scope. If you are planning to attach it to your scope and walk around, looking for game, then a 1-inch model might be a more convenient option. On the other hand, if your hunting sessions are generally stationary, then a larger and heavier model might be a more visually-appealing choice – literally.

2. When in Doubt, Go for Brands

Brands are popular for a reason – and if there’s a brand that everyone seems to particularly like, then it means it also had many things to show.

Ideally, you may want to test the scope for yourself – because each model focuses differently. Similarly, what seems to be perfect for other buyers may not be just as satisfying for you.

Interestingly, there are indeed some brands out there that are not very known – but can still show a very good image. However, if you cannot test the unit yourself, then you might want to go for the more popular brands. If they are at the top, then there might be a solid reason for that.

3. Know About the Coating System

The coating systems are practically the things that keep your scope from deteriorating in the long run. Plus, the more coating it has, the more waterproof and fog proof it will be. Depending on the type of coating, you will get a different level of protection or effectiveness. From the cheapest to the most expensive, you have the coated, fully coated, multicoated ad fully multicoated hunting scopes. The more coating it has, the more effective it will be when the weather is against you.

4. Know Your Hunting Zones

Before you get a hunting scope, make sure that you know your kill zones. As well as what animals generally frequent that place.

Some hunting zones will have fast and small animals – which will require a fair amount of precision, as well as a decent mobility. Similarly, when dealing with larger animals, you can go for something with a slower focus speed – but with a bigger field of view.

5. Choose the Exit Pupil Correctly

The exit pupil is an important factorthat allows you to see properly in low-lighting conditions. When the brightness level is not that high, you might want to make sure that the exit pupil is at least 4mm. You may get less magnification – but at least you’ll get a clear, well-lit image.

On the other hand, in well-lit environments, your pupil will constrict and you will be able to focus on the target yourself. In these circumstances, you can go for a hunting scope with a smaller exit pupil. However, you shouldn’t consider a small exit pupil if you plan to do your hunting during the evening or when it’s foggy outside.

6. Don’t Go for Over-Adjustments

It may seem like a good idea to get a scope with many adjustment settings – but in truth, it is actually a pain to deal with them. The more adjustment options it has, the likelier it will be that it will have issues. If it doesn’t have hundreds of adjustment settings, you won’t be adjusting it to the point of breakage.

So, when looking for a hunting scope, remember this. The simpler it is, the easier it will be to lock in on your target.

7. Be Careful About Eye Relief

This is a very important tip to consider, particularly if you wear glasses. The eye relief of a scope basically tells you how far you can keep your head from the scope – but also get an image.

Plus, this is not only very convenient for glass-wearers – but it’s also highly protective against “scope eye”. This is basically the moment when the gun recoil sends the scope right into your eyes. If your gun has a high recoil, then you might want to go for higher eye relief as well.

Generally speaking, most rifles work just fine with a 4-inch eye relief. However, if you wear glasses and have a high-recoil on your gun, then you can go for eye relief as big as 20 inches.

Final Thoughts

Picking the best hunting scope might not be something very easy to do. Particularly since these items come in so many different models with so many different features. What’s most important is that you consider your hunting habits and the type of gun.

Last but not least, you also need to consider the game you are chasing. For each kill, you will need a different kind of focus and visibility.