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How to Choose
a Rifle Scope

By Patrick Long |
Man looking through a rifle scope

If you are going to be shooting over 50 yards, it is a good idea to have a scope on your rifle. Instead of lining up iron sights and using the power of your regular eyesight to take aim at your target, a scope magnifies your target many times over again and gives you crosshairs to aim with. Even if you can see your target relatively well, the magnification offered by a scope allows you to place your shot more precisely. This is going to make you more accurate on the range, and help you get a clean kill while hunting.

The world of rifle optics can get fairly complicated, but with a basic understanding, you can pick out an awesome scope for your needs. Scopes are not one size fits all, so today I am going to help you decipher all the jargon in the industry and figure out exactly what kind of scope you need as simply as possible. There are thousands of scopes on the market, so figuring out what kind of scope you need is 90% of the battle. Let’s get started with the basics, scope ratings.

Scope Ratings & What They Mean

When you purchase a scope, it will be defined by a set of numbers. For example, it may be listed as a 4-16x50 scope. The numbers before the x refer to the magnification. A 4x50 scope will magnify the image 4 times, and a 16x50 scope will magnify the image 16 times. In this example, the 4-16x50 scope refers to a range, which means the scope is adjustable and can magnify the image between 4 and 16 times.

The number following the x in “4-16x50” refers to the diameter of the objective lens in millimeters, so it is common to see this stated as “4-16x50mm.” The objective lens is the lens on the end of the scope, and it is responsible for catching and transmitting light through the scope. In general terms, a bigger objective lens means more light transmission and a brighter and clearer image from your scope. However, bigger is not always better for an objective lens, as described below.

What Are You Using Your Rifle For?

Before getting into the details of scope components, make sure you are clear on how you intend to use your scope, and therefore your rifle. There are plenty of fancy bells and whistles a scope can come with, but if you can never use those features, there is no use in paying for them.

First and foremost, consider what purpose you are using your gun for. If you keep a firearm for self-defense, a scope will likely not be very helpful. Self-defense emergencies generally happen at close quarters, where a scope will only get in your way.

If you use your firearm for target shooting, make sure the targets will be far enough away from you (over 30 to 50 yards) to justify a scope. If you are shooting targets at short distances, your regular eyesight will probably do just fine. Although if you exclusively shoot at short distances, a fixed scope will likely be cheaper and work perfectly for you.

If you plan on shooting at long ranges (300 to 500 yards), you will obviously need a much more powerful scope than you would if you were shooting under 100 yards. You can get scopes that magnify as much as 50 times, but more magnification is often more expensive, and has a diminishing rate of return.

The most common use of rifle scopes is for hunting. If you are a whitetail hunter, a 3-9x40mm scope will likely be just fine if you shoot under 200 yards. That is what I use, and it has worked wonders for every situation I have found myself in over the years in the Georgia woods.

For western hunters going after mule deer or elk, you need to be able to shoot up to 400 yards or more, you will likely want something similar to a 4-24x52mm scope. The same type of argument can be made for all sorts of shooting, so let me try to sum the most general cases up for you in a table.

Scope Use Case & Popular Size

Recreational shooting under 100 yards 1-6x24mm
Recreational shooting under 300 yards 3-12x40mm
Hunting Under 200 Yards 3-9x40mm
Long Range Hunting (300 - 400 yards) 4-16x50mm
Serious long range shooting under 500 yards 6-24x50mm
Serious long range shooting under 1000 yards 7-35x56mm

How Serious Do You Want to Get?

Like firearms, optics can get extremely expensive. If you are just shooting around on the range for fun, you can get by with a cheaper scope. If you want the best thing on the market and are a serious competitive shooter, you can spend thousands of dollars on a scope. Obviously, price is one of the first factors that anyone considers when buying just about anything. Although, with optics, you get what you pay for.

Regardless of how much you have to spend, you still need to think about how seriously you are going to use your scope. Are you going to be the casual hunter that shoots their rifle a few times a year, or the range guy that keeps detailed DOPE charts on his setup? If you want to keep DOPE charts, you will likely want a higher quality scope that works off the more accurate MRAD system. Either way, here are some quick picks for common budgets.

Price A Popular Pick Recommended Use
Under $200 Vortex Diamondback 3-9x 40mm Hunting or shooting under 200 yards
Under $500 Vortex Viper 6.5-20x 50mm Long range shooting under 500 yards
Under $1000 Leupold VX-5HD CDS-ZL2 3-15x 44mm Western hunting or shooting under 400 yards
Under $2000 Leupold VX-6HD 4-24x 52mm Long range shooting under 600 yards

Basic Decisions to Make

Now that you have a little bit of a better idea of what you are looking at when you see a listing for a scope, there are a few basic decisions you need to make about your next scope to narrow down your choices. The first will be magnification, which we have talked a bit about already. Then you need to pick a measurement system and a focal plane.

Fixed Magnification vs. Variable Magnification

If you know you’ll be shooting at short to medium distances and don’t want to deal with the complexity of a magnification range, many people opt for fixed magnification, such as a 4x for squirrel rifles, or a 2x for a handgun. Finding your target is often easier with less magnification, so if you are reacting to fast-moving nearby critters, a lower, fixed magnification might be just right. Fixed scopes are also less expensive than those with a range. Most commonly, you will find fixed magnification scopes with 1 to 5x magnification.

However, most scopes come with a range of magnifications. If you will be using your rifle in a variety of situations and distances, these provide extraordinary versatility. You’ll be able to see shorter and longer distances with the same scope, allowing you to respond to the game around you. If you leave the scope on the lowest magnification, it will act the same way as a fixed scope, but when you need the extra magnification, it will still be there. For that reason, I usually go with a variable scope; and most other shooters do the same.

First vs Second Focal Plane

First and second focal plane refers to how your reticle acts when you zoom your scope in. For a first focal plane (FFP) scope, the reticle will get larger and larger as you increase the magnification. That means that your crosshairs are going to cover up more and more of your target as you increase magnification. This sounds bad at first, but it is not nearly as dramatic as most people make it out to be.

An added benefit of FFP is that it keeps your hash marks accurate. With an increase in magnification, without the increase in your reticle size, the actual distance between your hash marks on your crosshairs would shrink. So, with FFP, you are able to reliably use your hash marks at all distances. This is why FFP scopes are often preferred at longer ranges. Although this also comes with a higher price tag on average.

Second focal plane (SFP) is when your reticle or crosshairs stays the same size no matter how much you zoom in. This is how most scopes are, especially for hunting under 200 yards. Most of the time, these reticles or crosshairs do not have hash marks because they are only accurate at the maximum magnification. Generally, if you are not shooting super long distances and need to worry about holding over on a hash mark, SFP will be just fine. Some people even argue that SFP is better for longer distances.

MOA vs MRAD/MILS

If you don’t already know, scopes come with different measurement systems. When you turn the dial on your scope, what measurement does it use? How do you quantify how far you are actually moving your reticle when you turn the dial since all scopes are not built the same? Well that is where MOA or MRAD come in. When you buy a scope, it will likely say 1 click on the turret is equal to some fraction of an MOA or MRAD. Most commonly, a click is equal to ¼ MOA.

MOA stands for Minute of Angle. It is a bit of an odd measurement, but it essentially means a 1 inch circle at 100 yards. So if your shots are within a one inch circle at 100 yards, you are shooting 1 MOA. If you need to move your group to the right by an inch, and you have a ¼ MOA scope, then you make 4 clicks to the right and you should be good to go. When you back up to 200 yards, 1 MOA is now a 2 inch circle. At 300 yards, it is a 3 inch circle, etc.

MRAD does the exact same thing, but it is a metric unit. MRAD stands for MilliRADian. Radians are what we use to measure angles (especially in circles like here) in math and science. MRAD can have other names too, it can be shortened to MILS, or MIL Dot, but that is just another name for MRAD. MRAD is actually a little bit more accurate than MOA, but the inaccuracy in MOA is not seen until you are shooting very long distances. Due to the increased accuracy and their general use of metric units, the US military uses MRAD.

Either MOA or Mil Dot will work fine, and it’s alright to stick with what you are familiar with and comfortable using. You just want to pick one system and stick with it. This is especially true if you want to make DOPE (data on previous engagements) charts for your rifle. If you change scopes and use a different system, all of your DOPE will be wasted, and no one wants to waste good DOPE.

Characteristics That Impact Performance

At this point you should know three basic things about what your new scope is going to be. You should know which focal plane you want, if you will use MRAD or MOA, and if you want fixed or variable magnification. Now let's look at the factors that are going to impact performance. These four basic factors below will determine a scope’s ideal uses.

Magnification Range

Get the magnification that you will actually need based on the type of shooting you are doing. In other words: more is not always better! If you are hunting game at short to medium distances but invested in a high magnification scope, you will not be able to see a creature that has crept up just a few yards in front of you. It will appear as a blip in the ultra-magnified scope.

Trust me, during one hunt I was trying to shoot a deer 50 yards away with 10x magnification on my scope. I could see the deer plain as day, but my scope was so zoomed in that I couldn’t find the deer when I pulled my rifle up. That deer survived that day thanks to my screw up. I would have been better off with 3x magnification, and the same theory can be carried over to shooting at the range.

Higher magnification also means less light gets into the objective lens. The more glass the light has to go through, the less light reaches your eye. Now, if you are shooting long distances, this is an easy trade-off. But if you don’t need it, opt for a lower magnification and enjoy a little extra illumination in your scope.

When selecting a magnification in the field, do some experimenting to determine what magnification you prefer at what distances. There are many opinions about which magnifications are best, and ultimately, it is for you to decide what works for you. Generally variable scopes provide enough range of magnifications to have something that works for you if you have a good starting point in mind. Here is how you find that starting point:

A common approach is to use an increase of 3x magnification for every 100 yards of distance (a 3:1 magnification ratio). In other words, if aiming for a target 100 yards away, use a 3x scope; at 200 yards away, a 6x scope; and so on. This is certainly not to say that you can’t shoot targets with weaker or stronger magnification at these distances, but may help you find a place to start.

Shooting Distance Recommended Magnification
100 Yards 3x
200 Yards 6x
300 Yards 9x
400 Yards 12x
500 Yards 15x
600 Yards 18x
700 Yards 21x
800 Yards 24x
900 Yards 27x
1000 Yards 30x

You can buy a scope in a wide range of magnification levels though. So you don’t have to do the math, here is another table that lists out all of the popular magnification levels, and what range those scopes are best suited for. The range will be on the conservative side, because nothing would be worse than spending a lot of cash on a scope and not having enough magnification. Plus, you can see all the scopes Sportsmans Warehouse has to offer in your favorite size by clicking the respective link.

Magnification Level Recommended Range
1-4X 0 - 125 Yards
1-6X 0 - 200 Yards
1-8X 0 - 250 Yards
2-7X 50 - 225 Yards
2.5-10X 75 - 325 Yards
2.5-15X 75 - 500 Yards
2.5-20X 75 - 650 Yards
3-12X 100 - 400 Yards
3-18X 100 - 600 Yards
3-9X 100 - 300 Yards
3.5-18X 100 - 600 Yards
4X 125 Yards
4-12X 125 - 400 Yards
4-16X 125 - 525 Yards
4-20X 125 - 650 Yards
4-24X 125 - 725 Yards
4.5-14X 150 - 450 Yards
5-25X 175 - 825 Yards
5-30X 175 - 1000 Yards
6-18X 200 - 600 Yards
6-24X 200 - 800 Yards
6.5-20X 225 - 650 Yards
7-35X 250 - 1150 Yards

Objective Lens Size

An objective lens is the lens on the end of the scope. It is responsible for capturing light and sending it through the scope and eventually to your eye. A larger lens means more light, and a better picture through your scope. We measure the size of an objective lens by its diameter, also known as its width.

Make sure you find out what size scopes your firearm can handle before getting your heart set on a large diameter objective lens though. If your rifle doesn’t come with a set, you will need to purchase scope rings to mount the scope to your rifle, and larger rings are more expensive than smaller rings.

There is a huge range in available scope sizes. Most common are one-inch (25 mm) to 44 mm, and these sizes generally work for most types of hunting. In theory, the larger the diameter, the more light is let in. However, in practice, the difference is only appreciable at the scope’s highest power in the dimmest conditions. If you are not intending to shoot in particularly dim conditions, the bulky diameter of a 50 or even 75 mm objective lens is probably not worth the bulk, weight, and discomfort.

Before you pick a size for your objective lens, make sure you are able to mount the rifle easily. You should be able to shoulder your gun with proper positioning and look through the scope every time. If your objective lens is so large that you have to crane or otherwise contort yourself to look through the eyepiece, you will probably need something smaller.

Since the objective lens is all about getting as much light as possible, I thought I would also introduce another factor that you can use to evaluate performance of your scope, the exit pupil. Light transmission also depends on magnification, more magnification leads to less transmission, which is usually compensated for with a larger objective lens. Your exit pupil accounts for your combination of both the objective lens size, and magnification.

The exit pupil will determine apparent brightness of your scope, and it can be calculated by taking the objective lens diameter of your scope, and dividing it by the maximum magnification of your scope. For a clear/brighter picture, you want a larger exit pupil. For example, a 3-9x40mm scope would have an exit pupil of 40mm divided by 9, which is 4.44mm. The following table tabulates the most popular objective lens diameters, and their exit pupils for popular magnification levels.

Objective Lense Diameter Popular Maximum Magnification Exit Pupil
20MM 4x 5mm
24MM 6x 4mm
28MM 10x 2.8mm
32MM 7x 4.57mm
40MM 9x 4.44mm
42MM 10x 4.2mm
44MM 12x 3.66mm
50MM 16x 3.125mm
52MM 25x 2.08mm
56MM 25x 2.24mm

Field of View

Scope zooming in on the mountain

Field of View is the distance you can see left to right through your scope. The higher your magnification, the shorter your field of view. A wide field of view is good for picking out a target, so you can often find wider fields of view on binoculars. A scope is more focused on zooming in the picture so you can see the details of your target before you shoot.

Field of view and magnification are inversely proportional. If one goes up, the other goes down. If your scope says its field of view is 75 meters, that means you will be able to see 75 meters left to right through the scope itself, but this will decrease as you zoom in. If you really need a wide field of view to find game, you should likely use binoculars when hunting. Western hunting is a perfect example of this. Hunters never “glass” the rolling mountains with their rifle scopes, they are just not built for it.

Field of view may be slightly different from scope to scope even in the same magnification range, but I would not worry about it too much. It technically impacts performance, which is why it is included here, but magnification is a bit more important, and I wouldn't give up magnification for a higher field of view than I really need.

Windage & Elevation Turrets

As you shoot with your scope, it may need adjusting over time. You may also want to adjust based on the windage or elevation you’re shooting at. These adjustments can be made with the rifle scope turrets. There will be a turret/dial for windage (left to right adjustment) and for elevation (up and down adjustment). If you are shooting long distances, you might need to adjust these before the shot.

That is where a DOPE chart comes in. A DOPE chart lets you practice shooting at long distances and record the adjustments you needed to make. That way when you are in the field and range your target at 450 yards, you can look at your dope chart and see the exact changes you made when you practiced that distance on the range.

As a close-range hunter (anything under 300 yards) I never mess with my turrets. Actually, hunting scopes built for that range have very small turrets that are out of the way because they know you will only use them while sighting in the scope. If your scope is built for long range shooting, the turrets will be tall and clearly labeled so you can see how many MOA or MRADs you are adjusting.

Make sure that your turrets work consistently, and that they are able to return to zero after your shots. As you are shooting, check often that a turret wasn’t accidentally rotated, especially if your rifle has been moving around since your last shot.

Characteristics That Impact Quality

With the above characteristics, you should be able to pick out a scope that is purpose built for your activity. The main thing to look at is the magnification and objective lens size. After you have that all figured out and know the size of the scope you want, you can start comparing these factors that impact quality. These qualities may make a scope perform better, but not differently.

Lenses & Coatings

Higher quality glass is, of course, going to be more expensive. Extra-low dispersion glass will yield a sharper image with more contrast and better replication of the colors of the field.

Lenses can come with many coatings to serve a variety of purposes, but the success of these coatings will ultimately depend on their quality and the quality of the glass.

At the least, your scope should be fog-proof and waterproof. Make sure your lens is coated to avoid buildup of condensation within the scope, especially if you frequently hunt in humid climates. If you travel to a variety of climates or live somewhere with extreme seasons, you may need to spend the extra money for more serious weather-proofing for your scope.

Marketing language can make it difficult to determine what level of coating you’re actually paying for. Here is a quick guide to understand your lens coating, from weakest to strongest:

  • Coated: One lens surface has one coating layer.
  • Fully Coated: All air-to-glass surfaces have one coating layer
  • Multicoated: At least one surface has multiple coating layers.
  • Fully Multicoated: All air-to-glass surfaces have multiple coating layers.

More coatings generally lead to better transmission of light, as they reduce glare and reflection. Coatings may also prevent water from staying on the glass.

Eye Relief

The distance your eye has to be from the scope in order to see the full image clearly is called the eye-relief. It is extremely important that the eye relief of your scope be large enough for the recoil of your gun. Otherwise, when you fire the gun, the scope will hit you in the eye!

The standard eye relief on most rifle scopes is 3-3.5 inches. If you have a high recoil gun, opt for a higher eye-relief. If you need more than 4 inches, you may need to get specialty scopes made for shotguns and hunting dangerous game. Intermediate Eye Relief scopes have 9-12 inches of eye-relief, and Long Eye Relief scopes may have 16-20 inches.

When you mount your scope, make sure you are mounting it at the correct eye relief for the position you will shoot from most frequently.

Parallax Correction

Parallax is a perceived difference in a target’s position based on the point from which it is viewed. Most scopes under 10x are already parallax corrected (meaning the lens is focused at a set distance already), and therefore not something the user has to worry about.

You can tell if your scope’s parallax is off using a simple trick. If your scope is corrected for a distance of 100 yards, try pointing the scope at a distinct target 30 yards away. Then, move your head off center. If just moving your head while keeping the rifle still causes the crosshairs to move off of your target, then the parallax needs to be adjusted.

Scopes of more than 10x generally have external parallax adjustments, or side focuses. This will be a third turret on your scope. These help you dial in the distance you’ll be shooting. Under 10x, they are generally not necessary, and not included.

Light Transmission

As I mentioned before, higher magnifications mean less light transmission, and a larger objective lens will transmit more light. However, if you take magnification and objective lens size out of the equation, all scopes are only so efficient at transmitting whatever light is available.

Most scopes transmit light around 90% of available light, and anything over 95% efficiency is considered excellent. Although manufacturers measure light transmission differently, so this number should likely not be your make-or-break decision on which scope to buy.

Rifle Scopes by Caliber

The specific workings of your rifle will determine what kind of scope you will need. If you are working with a firearm that has a hefty recoil, you will need more eye relief from your scope. If your rifle can’t shoot long distances, you probably won’t need to invest in a high magnification scope.

We’ve therefore put together a series of articles detailing the best scopes for different types of calibers and rifles.

Rifle Scope Brands

When selecting a hunting, tactical or competition scope for your rifle, it's important to consider more than just performance specs. You also need to evaluate the company that is manufacturing the scope. There are a few rifle scope companies that have a reputation for producing high quality scopes and who guarantee the quality of their lens. The following is a list of rifle scope manufucturers that have a long track record for producing high quality rifle optics.

Burris Burris is a quality optics manufacturer that produces highly reliable and durable rifle scopes for hunting, tactical and competitive shooting. Burris prides itself on manufacturing reticles with unique features designed to enhance long-distance target shooting and hunting.
Bushnell Bushnell is known for manufacturing high-performance rifle scopes optimized for hunting a wide variety of game types, long range shooting, and competition. All Bushnell rifle scopes come with a lifetime warranty.
Crimson Trace Crimson Trace is a manufacturer of high quality rifle scopes and optics. The company offers a large selection precision hunting optics and superior customer service. Crimson Trace scopes are designe for the serious hunter looking for an afforable, quality scope for small or big game hunting.
Eotech Eotech offers a full line of rifle optics for just about every hunting and long range shooting application. The EOTECH Vudu FFP (first focal plane) and SFP (second focal plane) rifle scopes offer unmatched accuracy and reliability.
Hawke No matter the budget, Hawke offers a quality rifle scope for every hunter or competitive shooter. Hawke is based in the U.K. and their scopes are manufactured in Japan. While Hawke is a newer company in the U.S. market, sportsmen who have used Hawke optics have nothing but good things to say.
Kahles Kahles is an Austrian based manufacturer of high performace rifle scopes. The company bills itself as a pioneer in rifle scopes. Established in 1898, Kahle is one of the oldest rifle scope manufacturers in the world. Kahles’ line of scopes tend to be pricey but they're certainly high quality.
Leica Leica is another reputable manufacturer of high end rifle scopes and optics. Leica focuses on manufacturing precision rifle scopes for game hunting. Their scopes are know for being accurate, rugged and dependable. Their rifle scope line includes the Leica Amplus 6, PRS ER LRS and Tempus ASPH series.
Leupold When it comes to precision rifle scopes, no one does it better than Leupold. Leupold has a century long history of manufacturing extremely durable and accurate optics. When you purchase a Leupold scope you are assured a high-end scope at a reasonable price.
Nightforce Since its inception in 1992, Nightforce has established itself as a top tier manufacturer of high performance rifle optics. Nightforce offers a complete line of rifle scopes designed for law enforcement, military, tactical, hunting and competitive shooting applications.
Sig Sauer Sig Sauer is known as one of the top firearms manufacturers in world. Their dedication to quality manufacturing rolls over into their line of precision rifle scopes. Sig offers a complete line of high quality rifle scopes for tactical, competition and hunting applications.
Simmons Simmons manufactures rifle scopes with the hunter in mind. Simmons rifle scopes have all the features an avid hunter requires that provide excellent accuracy and reliability. Once you put a Simmons scope on your rifle you'll never take it off or switch it out for another scope.
Steiner Steiner is a German company that produces German-engineered rifle optics. Steiner is known for producing the highest quality gun-mounted tactical optics in the industry. Their primary consumer is military and law enforcement.
Swarovski Swarovski Optik is an Austrian manufacturer of premium rifle scopes for hunting and tactical applications. Over the years Swarovski has established itself as one of the forerunners in rifle optics pioneering and quality. Swarovski scopes are on par with other high quality manufacturers including Vortex and Bushnell.
Trijicon Primarily known as a manufacturer of combat optics, Trijicon also produces a line of premium scopes for hunting rifles. Trijicon rifle scopes are as durable as any other rifle scope on the market and are known for superior accuracy and long-distance shooting.
Vortex Vortex is known for manufacturing a full selection of high-quality rifle scopes for the budget shopper. Vortex optics are rugged, reliable and accurate. Whether you're looking for an entry-level or premium HD scope, Vortex will get you what you need in your price range.
Zeiss Zeiss is known for manufacturing high quality rifle scopes and optics for a superior value. The value of Zeiss scopes comes from the a superior product offered at a very competitive price. Many of Zeiss's higher end scopes cost only a fraction of what a comparable rifle scope will cost you elsewhere.

Choosing the Right Scope for You

A quality scope is the best way to get an accurate shot at long distances, and is therefore as worthy of investment as your gun itself. Your scope should be repeatable: that is, holding your gun and your posture in the same position should result in the same image in your scope, over and over.

As with your gun, it will take some practice to get used to using your scope. Make sure it has the features that you need, and spend what you can to get high-quality materials. As a rule of thumb, plan to spend half as much on the scope and mount as you do on the rifle. If you haven’t purchased your rifle yet, include the scope and mount in your overall budget to determine what you can really afford. After all, what’s the point of a high-quality rifle if you can’t see your targets?