You may have a rifle, handgun or shotgun that you love, but without the proper optics, you are likely missing out on all that your gun has to offer. Let’s explore some of the options to improve your accuracy for both long-distance shooting and close-quarters self-defense encounters.
When it comes to rifle scopes, there are so many options that you may feel overwhelmed. Let’s take a quick look at the main types of rifle scopes, some of which are very specialized, and others that can serve a variety of shooting needs.
- Fixed Scope – One of the most basic types of rifle scopes is the fixed scope. A fixed scope has a fixed magnification level, however many scopes feature adjustable magnification that allows you to increase your target inside the scope.
- Variable Scope – A variable scope enables you alter the magnification level to suit the scenario. The names or models of variable scopes will include series of numbers. For example, 10-30X50. The final number, 50, simply refers to the objective lens’s size. It’s 50 millimeters in this scenario. The magnification is represented by the first two numbers, 5-20X. The magnification ranges from 10X to 30X in this sample.
- Night Vision Scope – An infrared illuminator is integrated into this sort of scope, allowing you to see when there is nearly no light. Many people think of night vision as a military tool, but it has many practical applications for hunters and civilian marksmen as well.
- Tactical Scope – A tactical scope is a specific type of scope that is purpose-built for a specific sort of shooting. Though practically any piece of gear can be called “tactical” these days, a tactical scope is a specific type of scope that is purpose-built for a specific style of shooting. These scopes are designed to increase the conventional engagement range for infantry forces, making them ideal for military and civilian use. Many tactical scopes are more sophisticated than hunting scopes. Because they’ll be out in the elements for the majority of their lifetimes, they’re built to be tough and weather-resistant. Scout scopes are comparable to tactical scopes and are frequently employed by both the military and hunters in densely forested areas. Scout scopes are very popular among deer hunters.
- Long Range Scope – Long-range scopes are a large category that encompasses a wide range of scopes, including competition and sniper scopes. A long-range scope is any scope with a magnification more than 10X. Although there are few fixed long-range scopes, the majority of these scopes have variable magnification. You might imagine that snipers, like competitive shooters, utilize large Sniper Scopes with a lot of magnification, but the odds are that such an assumption would be completely wrong. Despite common perceptions, often from the movies, snipers employ scopes with a reasonable amount of power and reticles that display a lot of information. For snipers, the military use a fixed 10x scope, which is significantly less powerful than many would think.
- Competition Scope – Competition scopes are very specialized in their usability, as they are typically manufactured with very high magnification and are not particularly robust. Competition scopes aren’t suitable for hunting or tactical scenarios as they tend to be very large, rather delicate (not built for tactical or hunting durability), and don’t always have enough light transition for applications other than competition shooting, which often takes place in a controlled environment.
- Scout Scope – Scout scopes are comparable to tactical scopes and are frequently employed by both the military and hunters in densely forested areas. Scout scopes are very popular among deer hunters.
- Red Dot Scope – Close-quarters shooting with a red dot scope is popular among tactical scenario competition shooters because of how quickly you can spot your target and make precise shots. Normally, red dot scopes have little or no magnification. When looking through a red dot scope, you’ll only see a single red dot in the optic’s center. This is where you want to target. The red dot, unlike a laser sight, does not appear on your target; it is only visible inside the scope. Red dot scopes are often used as handgun optics as well, which we will explore in the near future.
As we’ve mentioned in the past, Brownells is a great option for all of your shooting needs, and rifle scope deals are no exception when it comes to their vast selection of great gun prices and gun accessory deals. Another great optics brand to explore is ATN, which offers a wide range of optics, including Night Vision Systems, Thermal Imaging, Digital Rifle Scopes, Digital Rangefinders, and much more. Regardless of your rifle type or gun scope needs, be sure to save on all your shooting gear and gun accessories with the best deals on shooting supplies and great hunting gear deals!