Scopes are vital for rifles. It helps shooters aim their target accurately. Without this, you can't expect to hit your target every time you shoot or even at all!

If you are planning on buying a rifle scope , make sure that these 9 factors are considered before making the purchase:

The Solaray pro zx-1 offers a bright light for the darkest moments. It is fitted with a Cree super-silicon carbide, single-die, XM-L LED chip which offers extra bright light that is designed to reach as far as 150ft in a dark area.Added to the bright light is a focusing feature. You are able to zoom the light in or out for short or long-distance visuals in the dark.

1. The Magnification Power of Your Scope

It is not uncommon for experienced shooters to have multiple scopes in stock just so they can choose the magnification power that corresponds best with their caliber size, hunting style and range needs…and having more than 1 scope becomes necessary when you want different magnification powers for different roles.

The first thing to consider is what purpose you will use your rifle scope for during its lifetime . This will help narrow down your choices to the magnification power you need. Different magnification powers are suitable for different tasks.

For example, optical scopes (with non-magnified lenses) are the best option if range is not an issue and you want to shoot at moving targets that are closer than 100 yards away like varmint hunting or bird watching . Variable power scopes work better in this case because they can be adjusted according to your target's distance (usually up to 100-400 yards). Since it has a wider range of magnification to suit a broad variety of targets, variable power scopes cost more. If you're using a standard cartridge rifle then going for a medium powered scope with 3x – 9x magnification will be optimum for most situations.

If you intend to use your rifle for hunting bigger animals or shooting long range, a fixed power scope with a decent magnification is more suitable. Fixed power scopes have the advantage of being smaller and lighter, making them ideal for carrying around on all-day hunts. For big game hunting, look for an optic with a high magnification of at least 12x . A good example would be a 25 x 56mm NATO military grade rifle scope that can give true 1/4 MOA adjustments even if it weighs up to 36 ounces!

In some instances where the target's movement isn't as unpredictable as bird watching or varmint hunting , tactical style variable power scopes are also great choices because they offer fast target acquisition and more reference points (such as adjustable turrets) that help shooters make quick follow up shots.

2. The Size of Your Scope's Objective Lens

This is actually less of an issue for scopes with non-magnified lenses like opticals and red dots but definitely something to consider if your rifle scope has magnification features.

The larger the objective lens, the brighter your visual image will be in low light conditions because there is a bigger hole for light to enter. However, a large objective lens makes it difficult to mount a scope on carbines or short barreled rifles . This is because there isn't enough space left between the ocular lens and the barrel when you attach longer scopes onto these shorter guns so, as a result, the target is not as bright as it should be. This issue can be solved by using high quality optical rifle scopes with smaller objective lenses but they tend to have lower light gathering properties so you have to spend more on batteries if you use your scope at night or in low light situations.

3. The Magnification of Your Scope's Reticle

The reticle of a rifle scope is responsible for pointing out your intended target and giving relative measurements so you know how much lead to give when shooting an un-stationary object like game animals or moving targets.

There are many different types of reticles available so it will depend on your preference which one you'd want to go with…but here are some important things to consider when choosing one for your rifle scope.

First, the thickness of the reticle's lines are measured in milliradians (MRAD) or minutes of angle (MOA). A 1/4" thick line that subtends 3.6" at 100 yards is called a 4-mil or .1 MRAD reticle whereas a 1/4" thick line that subtends 1" at 100 yards is called a 1 MOA reticle . The first number represents angular distance so if you know how many mils equal an arcminute , it will be easier to determine which type of reticle you should look for. For example, finding out how much 1 mil equals can be done by dividing 1 by 3.438 (because there are 3.438 MOA in a mil) which will result to 0.29666…so 1 mil is equivalent to 29.666 MOA or roughly 30 MOA.

It's also worth checking whether your reticle has hashmarks or not because they help shooters estimate range, windage and leads faster at longer distances . Reticles with hashmarks are very useful but unfortunately anything greater than 4x magnification doesn't work well with these types of reticles because the marks become too close together for accurate estimations. You can use Nikon's Spot On Ballistic Match Technology App if you want scope reticle options that have hashmarks designed for long-range shooting scenarios.

4. The Magnification and Objective Lens Size of Your Scope

This may sound like a no-brainer and that the bigger the objective lens and magnification, the more expensive your rifle scope will be. However, many shooters don't know that this two-variable system also affects how much light enters your scope so it really depends on where you plan to use your gun. For example, with airsoft guns which are usually used indoors in close quarter combat situations , lower magnifications are usually recommended because they gather less light when compared to scopes with higher power settings . This is perfectly fine if you're close enough to see the target up close but not in dark places with poor lighting conditions.

5. The Reticle Location in Your Rifle Scope

Basically, there are two types of reticles that you will find on hunting rifle scopes: first is the second focal plane (SFP) and second is the first focal plane (FFP). The former is located in the second optical lens group which means that changes made to magnification do not affect how your crosshair or any other type of marks appear. For instance, if you zoom in with a SFP reticle , it will look the same as it would at low magnifications so you can either choose to have an unmagnified view or be able to dial up the power without having to worry about holding off for elevation or windage. However, because FFP reticles are located in front of your riflesope's erector tube , it will appear to grow larger at higher mag settings so you have to factor in how much your target's size changes when using a magnification greater than 6x.

6. The Field of View with Your Rifle Scope

The most obvious reason why most rifle scopes have a wide field of view is because it lets shooters see more of the area surrounding their targets without having to adjust their aim . This advantage is very important especially when shooting from shorter distances and also even if you're just trying to get a better feel of the immediate environment around you. Optics like the H59, for example, provide shooters with more peripheral vision by making adjustments such as cutting lenses and altering tube lengths which results in an impressive 98ft@100yds field of view.

7. The Optics Quality of Your Rifle Scope

Compared to other optics that are designed for specific shooting situations, most rifle scopes can be used in various conditions like daylight where you'll need high-quality glass elements , lenses with anti-reflective coatings and fully multi coated optics . These features help make sure that the image is bright and crisp even if there's a lot of ambient light around you. To determine how well your scope will perform no matter what situation you're in, make sure to check the objective lens Diameter (the larger it is, the more illumination will be allowed inside) and also the exit pupil (a bigger one lets more light pass through it).

8. How Your Rifle Scope Is Mounted

This may seem like a minor thing but it's actually an important aspect that you should never overlook. A loose scope will not only hinder your accuracy but also expose you to potential safety hazards as well. While this won't be much of a problem with rifle scopes that don't magnify the image, those high-power models can easily throw off your aim and even break because they're not firmly secured to your rifle . Make sure to choose mounts and rings made from high-quality materials so you'll be sure that everything fits tightly without any wiggling around.

9. The Eye Relief Range of Your Rifle Scopes (Optional)

Eye relief is very important especially for people with astigmatism, myopia and other types of vision problems because it allows them to see the whole target clearly without straining their eyes. However, this is a feature that you will only need if you're going to use a riflescope with a high magnification level . Although variable models typically have more eye relief than fixed scopes, anything over 3 inches from your eye when using the highest power setting should be good enough for most people.