Upgrade Your Shooting Game with These MustHave Tactical Rifle Scopes
Introduction
Are you a hunter or shooter looking to increase your performance? Then, seek no longer! Tactical rifle scopes are essential for any shooter. Whether you're aiming to improve your target shooting skills or compete in different tournaments, the appropriate scope on your rifle can be a game-changer.
Tactical scopes come in a variety of sizes and shapes, offering different features and benefits. These can give you an advantage on your next hunt. Also, they have large magnification capabilities for shooters operating at various distances from their target. In this guide, we'll explain the different types of tactical scopes available and recommend the best one for each type. So, you can find one that fits your needs perfectly!
Here are the types of tactical scopes:
- Red Dot Scopes
- Holographic Scopes
- Variable Power Scopes
- Fixed Power Scopes
Benefits of Rifle Scopes
Rifle scopes offer a great advantage when shooting. They help you hit targets from far away, whether it be game or an enemy. Investing in one for your next shooting event is beneficial. Here are the reasons why:
- Precision and accuracy. With a rifle scope, you'll have a much better chance of hitting your target.
Increased accuracy
A good rifle scope can be worth it. Its powerful optics help you find targets and see details that the naked eye can't. This boosts accuracy and gives you more confidence. Magnification also helps in low light and long distance shots.
When choosing a scope, look at the field of view, lens coating, clarity, reticle size, and parallax adjustments. A quality scope will help you reach your shooting goals both inside and outside!
Longer shooting range
Rifle scopes can give us an edge in shooting and hunting. They provide a greater distance than with the naked eye and increased magnification settings. This means we can accurately hit targets that binoculars and open sights can't reach.
A rifle scope gives us greater precision and tighter grouping of shots. Plus, many come with features like parallax adjustments. These adjustments offset errors, like bullet drop and wind drift, for better accuracy in long-range shooting scenarios. With a good rifle scope, we can take shots at greater distances with confidence that we're hitting our target.
Better visibility
Rifle scopes provide better visibility than iron sights. Optics aren't impacted by weather, so in the dark or fog, your target is still clear. Most rifle scopes offer a zoom level, so binoculars or spotting scopes aren't needed. Plus, they have markers on the reticle that help shooters adjust aim easily at different distances.
With a rifle scope, shooters can see more detail in their targets and beyond. This gives them an edge when competing.
Types of Rifle Scopes
Do you hunt for fun or do you shoot for competition? You know the importance of good optics for long-distance accuracy. Whatever your needs, there are many rifle scopes available to choose from. Let's explore the various types and what they offer:
- Fixed power scopes
- Variable power scopes
- Red dot scopes
- Night vision scopes
- Laser scopes
Red dot scopes
Red dot rifle scopes are widely used for shooting at short distances. This is because they come with a projected dot, adjustable brightness, and little parallax errors. These scopes offer fast target acquisition and precise aim even at long distances, making them ideal for firearm enthusiasts.
When choosing red-dot sights, consider magnification, reticle, battery life, and durability. There are many types, such as holographic, reflex, and open-dot designs. Holographic scopes use laser technology to project random dots onto the lens. Reflex sights provide a lit tube and the size of reflection needs to be considered. Open-dot designs allow shooters to tweak sighting performance. They eliminate parallax related dispersion and retain clarity during recoil impulse.
Variable power scopes
Variable power scopes are awesome for long-distance shooting. They give the user various settings to increase accuracy with various ranges. Whether you're a hunter or target shooter, these scopes offer maximum precision when accuracy is key.
These scopes allow you to adjust magnification settings. This helps you get the right shot with each try. This is especially helpful when hunting in different environments. It adjusts field of view and magnification based on the situation. It specializes in ensuring clarity at any range.
Popular variable power optics include:
- 3x-9x Scopes: These give mid- to long-range performance. Magnification can be three times greater than low-powered lenses. A 40mm objective lens gives ample light gathering.
- 4x-14x Scopes: Gives maximum long-range performance. Extra large objective lenses (up to 50mm) give superior light transmission for better resolution.
- 6x-24x Scopes: For accurate long-distance shooting. Has higher levels of clarity due to bigger objective lenses (50mm plus). Magnification can be dialed down below 12 times for closer engagement scenarios.
Night vision scopes
Night vision scopes give hunters and shooters a chance to shoot in dark or low-light. Technologies vary from traditional night vision to digital devices with image enhancement. Night vision needs a battery and either comes as an attachment or handheld.
Rifle scopes with night vision are IR, image intensifiers, thermal imaging and laser sights. Digital night vision has external components to make it more accurate and still visible.
When searching for a scope that combines optics, tough design and long reaching, look into these:
- Nightforce NXS 5.5–22x56mm riflescope has clear optics up to 5000 yards away in twilight or dark.
- Vortex Viper HS 4–16×44mm riflescope works up to 150 yards or 130 meters in the dark.
- Riton Mod 7 4–20x50mm FFP Riflescope has HD glass lens system for long range morning shooting.
Factors to Consider When Buying a Rifle Scope
Selecting the correct rifle scope for your shooting goals can be overwhelming! To make a wise choice, remember a few essential details:
- Magnification
- Reticle
- Tube Diameter
- Eye relief
Keeping these things in mind when shopping will guarantee the ideal rifle scope for your shooting. Furthermore, comprehending the features of a rifle scope will assist you to buy with knowledge.
Magnification
Magnification is an important factor when picking a rifle scope. It's what makes small targets at long distances bigger and easier to spot and hit. This magnification is described with two numbers, like 4×32 (4 times normal view) or 8×32 (8 times normal view). The first number is the power of magnification, and the second is the size of the objective lens in millimeters.
The higher magnifications are 10x, 15x, and 20x. But these aren't always needed for shooting under 100 yards. Generally, 3-9X or 4-12X will do. For longer distances, at least 10X is needed, and 12-24X is better for long-range target shooting.
High powered scopes can cost more with additional modifications like higher threaded front lenses for stability and clarity. So it's important to know how much magnification you need before buying.
Reticle
Reticles are patterns of dots, lines or circles that are located in rifle scopes. They help you to aim accurately at targets, and make corrections for bullet drop. There are two main types: Duplex and BDC. Duplex have two posts in each direction and are good for mid-range shots. BDC reticles have hash marks which correspond to different ranges, up to 600 yards.
Reticles come in various shapes, such as crosshairs, mills dots, combinations of circles and dots, and hybrids of center crosses and crosshairs. Carefully consider which reticle is best for your shooting needs when upgrading your scope!
Eye relief
Eye relief is the distance between your eye and the ocular lens. It's also called “exit pupil“, and it can range from a few inches to several feet. When shopping for a rifle scope, eye relief should be a top priority. It's essential to keep your face away from the recoil of the gun. A short-eye relief scope can cause headaches and even injuries with a magnum caliber round.
A standard rifle scope generally has 3-4 inch eye relief. That can be suitable for rifles chambered in .22LR or .17HMR. But if you're using specialty magnum rounds like .300Winchester Magnum or 6mm Remington Magnum, go for 4-6 inch eye relief scopes, or more.
Different shooting activities may need special consideration when selecting eye relief:
- Longer eye relief scopes are good for hunting, where quick shots occur. They reduce recoil and give more room for follow up shots.
- Short eye relief scopes help with quick target acquisition in Law Enforcement environments.
Choose a rifle scope model that meets your needs. Consider longevity and quality, as well as functionality.
Durability
When searching for a rifle scope, look for durability. The construction should be robust. High-quality materials are best. They'll withstand shock, stress and elements.
Look for aluminum alloy. It's durable and lightweight. The higher the grade, the better. Nitrogen or argon gas-filled lenses are waterproof and fog-proof. Multi-coated lenses protect against scratches and provide clarity in low light.
Lens caps or flip covers save the lenses from dirt, mud and sand. This optimizes longevity!
Top 5 Tactical Rifle Scopes
Ready to up your shooting? For better accuracy and precision, a tactical rifle scope is the answer! Here are the top 5 scopes you need to take your game up a notch. We'll review each and explain why they stand out:
Vortex Optics Viper PST Gen II
Vortex Optics is renowned for offering great value for money, and the Viper PST Gen II lives up to that! It's the perfect mix of a top-tier scope and an affordable one.
This scope includes Vortex Optics' CRS Zero Stop turret. This means you can reset your zero quickly and easily. Plus, it has one-piece aircraft grade aluminum alloy tubes, is shockproof and has nitrogen-purged interior tubes for waterproof and fog proof conditions.
The XD Lens Elements technology provides vibrant images with high resolution, and there's the Spot On Ballistic Technology app for accurate holdover points. Lastly, there's the ArmorTek lens coating to protect against scratches and dirt.
In conclusion, the Vortex Optic Viper PST Gen II is the superior choice for serious shooters who want advanced accuracy without spending too much.
Bushnell Elite Tactical
The Bushnell Elite Tactical scope is the top choice for tactical shooting. It has fully multi-coated lenses for brightness. Plus, a precision etched reticle for accurate shots. Its illuminated ranging reticle helps you get the perfect shot in any light.
This scope is waterproof and fog proof with an integrated sunshade to protect against glare. Furthermore, it has a 34mm main tube, making it easy to mount on any rifle. It has locking turrets, so there won't be any accidental adjustments in the field. It's durable and light weight, only 29oz. So you can take it anywhere. Whether you're shooting close or long range, this scope is ideal for any situation.
Primary Arms Advanced Micro
Shooters designed the Primary Arms Advanced Micro. It's an excellent budget tactical rifle scope. It has a strong 6061-T6 aluminum body and an ultra-clear, bright lens. The reticle is a 5 MOA dot with dual illumination. This lets you shoot day and night with increasing precision. It has adjustable Picatinny rails and adjustable focus eyepiece. The parallax can be adjusted down to 15 yards. It's powered by a CR2032 battery.
The Primary Arms Advanced Micro is great for accuracy without overspending.
Leupold Mark 5HD
Leupold Mark 5HD is highly regarded as one of the best rifle scopes on the market. This scope offers many features. It has a wide field of view, great light transmission, clarity & resolution. It also has 24 degrees of rotation range with adjustable zero stop. Furthermore, it has an illuminated reticle and is made from aircraft grade aluminum, making it incredibly durable.
Low light shooting is made easier due to the excellent light transmission. The zero stop feature also provides consistent accuracy for repeatable shots. Leupold Mark 5HD truly earns its place as one of the best tactical rifle scopes today.
Trijicon AccuPower
The Trijicon AccuPower is a must for serious shooting enthusiasts. It has advanced features for accuracy and precision. It comes in FFP & SFP options. LED illumination technology provides a bright aiming point in any light. The patented fiber optic illuminated reticle allows quick target acquisition. The military-grade optics feature a 34mm aluminium main tube and are built to last, even in harsh conditions. It has precision tactical turret adjustments and a 100 MOA windage and elevation range. It offers top-notch performance with quality construction and an affordable price.
The Trijicon AccuPower is an absolute must for any shooter who is looking to make their next rifle upgrade count.
Conclusion
Investing in the best tactical scope for your rifle can seem pricey. But it's worth it! It'll save you money and prevent disappointment. Make sure the scope is built to last and fits your type of rifle. Do your research before you buy. Every scope is different.
Choose the one with the features that best suit your shooting style and tools. Pick wisely and have fun shooting!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is a Tactical Rifle Scope?
A: A Tactical Rifle Scope is an advanced optical device designed for use on rifles and other weapons. It typically contains a reticle, adjustable magnification, and other features to improve accuracy and precision when shooting.
Q: What are the benefits of using a Tactical Rifle Scope?
A: The use of a Tactical Rifle Scope helps to improve accuracy and precision when shooting, as it offers greater magnification and features such as illuminated reticles, range finding capabilities, and other features that can help a shooter stay on target. Additionally, the use of a Tactical Rifle Scope can help increase a shooter's confidence when shooting, as they are more likely to hit their target with greater accuracy and precision.
Q: What features should I look for when shopping for a Tactical Rifle Scope?
A: When shopping for a Tactical Rifle Scope, it is important to look for features such as adjustable magnification, reticles, range finding capabilities, illuminated reticles, and other features that can help improve accuracy and precision when shooting. Additionally, it is important to consider the durability and construction of the scope, as it will need to withstand the recoil of the firearm.