The hunting season is approaching and it’s time to revamp your hunting arsenal. Opportunities on a hunt come in all shapes and distances and pairing your hunting rifle with the right scope is paramount. A proficient scope will help you get accurate shots every time.
When searching for the best hunting scope, the first thing to take into consideration is your hunting skills. This factor plays a big part in determining which rifle scope best suits you. If you are a beginner, you will need a scope that is made with beginners in mind. The same applies to seasoned hunters who are looking for an optic that will take their hunting skills to the next big level.
The second thing to consider is the kind of hunting that you will be doing. Are you hunting deer, elks, prairies, varmint, hogs, or other types of game? Some of the renowned manufacturers tailor their scopes to certain games to help hunters maximize their performance once they set their feet on the hunting ground.
Still regarding the type of hunting you will be doing, consider the hunting environment. Does hunting in thick brush fascinate you or do you prefer pursuing game in large, open fields? By being more environmental-specific, it becomes much simpler to find a scope that increases your odds of having a successful hunting trip.
How to Choose the Best Hunting Scopes
The other essential things that you should look for when buying a hunting scope include:
1) Magnification Power
Magnification power is an integral feature of every rifle scope. For hunting scopes, it can either be fixed power or variable power. Here is the difference between the two.
Fixed Power Scopes
Fixed power hunting scopes have a magnification set at a certain level that can’t be changed. Scopes with fixed zoom power are ideal for hunting at constant ranges.
They make scanning for games simpler as they often offer a wide field of view. If you are a beginner in hunting, this scope style is your ideal option.
Variable Power Scopes
A variable power scope has an adjustable magnification power. For most seasoned hunters, variable power scopes are the ideal option.
They deliver stunning performance at different ranges depending on how broad the zoom range is. Variable-powered scopes are also ideal for hunting game in different environments.
Read: Best Long-Range Deer Hunting Scopes
2) Objective Lens
The objective lens is the part that is responsible for drawing light inside the rifle scope. For the best hunting rifle scopes, the objective lens size usually ranges from 32mm to 56mm. Bigger diameters mean a larger field of view and brighter image views.
3) Optical System
Optical system is the other important thing you should consider when trying to figure out how to choose the best hunting scopes. Two things differentiate a quality hunting scope from a cheap one. They include the quality of coatings applied on the optics and the nature of the glass elements used.
The glass elements a scope is made with will determine how it will interact with the light that the objective lens collects. With that in mind, hunting scopes made with high-end glass elements such as fluorite, extra-low dispersion and high-density glass elements will give you the best image views even in the less ideal lighting conditions.
To complement the high-end glass elements, the best hunting scope should also have premium lens coatings applied to the optics. The coatings are responsible for maximizing light transmission and limiting glare. As a result, a scope that boasts several layers of anti-reflective coatings will yield bright and clearer images compared to one without.
Read: Best FFP Scopes for Hunting
4) Reticle
Reticle is another thing to consider when shopping for a hunting scope. All reticles provide a central aiming point even if the designs are different.
Generally, thick reticles are the best for low-light hunting and against bust backgrounds such as foliage.
Thin reticles on the other hand are perfect when precision matters most. Additionally, such reticles are good for small game hunting as they hardly cover up a lot of the target.
Read: Best Scopes for 30-06 Elk Hunting
5) Durability
No matter the kind of game you will be hunting or the environment you will be hunting in, be sure to choose a scope that is optimized for durability. To know if the scope is made to last, look at the nature of construction as well as the materials used.
The best hunting scopes are made with hard-wearing materials such as magnesium and aluminum alloy. To add on durability, the scope should be shockproof, impact-resistant and recoil-proof.
Since hunting takes place outdoors, it is wise to invest in a rifle scope that is built and ready for use in any environment.
Look for a scope that has an IPX water resistance level of 6 and above. On top of that, be sure to get a hunting scope that is fogproof and operable in a broad range of temperatures.
Read: Best Scopes for Hog Hunting
6) Weight
To make the best selection possible, check out the weight of the scopes you are making your selection from and pick a model that weighs not more than 2 lbs.
With a lightweight hunting scope, you can be confident that it will not add unnecessary bulk to your rifle and affect its accuracy. Lightweight hunting scopes also are beneficial in that they are easy to use and maneuver during use.
7) Eye Relief
The last thing to consider when buying a hunting scope is eye relief. The more ample the amount of eye relief a scope has, the better.
This is irrespective of whether you wear eyeglasses or not when hunting. A long eye relief optimizes glassing comfort and makes it easy for you to use the scope from any shooting position.
Read: Best 308 Scopes for Deer Hunting
Conclusion
Hunting is a thrilling outdoor activity, it is only worthwhile when you have the right hunting gear at your disposal. Every hunt comes with its own set of challenges so it is important to equip yourself with tools that will boost your odds of getting back home with some meat in your hand.
Hopefully, this article on how to choose the best hunting scopes has given you all the insight you need and you are now able to find the right scope for your hunting needs.
Keep in mind that, a rifle scope must be accurate, clear extremely reliable and durable to get the job done. Whatever your hunting needs and habits might be, there is a scope out there that waiting for you.