Finding the best rifle scope

The aim of this article is as a guide to evaluating the different kinds of scopes and laser sighting devices that are available for mounting on typical rifles; it should give you enough information to be able to choose the best rifle scope or laser sight for your budget and hunting terrain.

We shall first take a look at how rifle scopes and laser sights work, with particular reference to the main aims of fitting a rifle with such a device, namely:

• To help aim;
• Give an estimate of distance;
• Make target acquisition easier;
• Enable night hunting.

In each category we will evaluate what kinds of device fits with the aims of the hunter, and their budget, as well as the conditions and terrain under which they will be used.

After reading through each overview, the reader should be able to determine whether that type of device is right for them, and what to look for when evaluating competing products.

Scopes and Sights
Typically, a hand held scope such as a spotting scope can be used to magnify the immediate surroundings in the hope that a target can be acquired and tracked before the scope is swapped for the rifle, complete with mounted sight, ready for the kill.

Clearly, being constructed around single optics, the best rifle scope tend to be very high quality, light weight, and hence reasonably expensive. It is, on the other hand, worth spending the extra money to get best rifle scope that is both reassuringly rugged (it will take some knocks) and has good quality optics.

The scope will also need to be fairly light weight, especially if you are not used to the additional weight that an optical sight can bring. Most sights tend not to contain glassware at all for this reason. However, if you want to have any magnification, or light enhancing properties, then glass optics are a must.

The weight is also important in terms of the mounts that are available to fix the sight or scope to the rifle. Lightweight, solid materials tend to be expensive, and, while the mounts are less important than the quality of the optics, it is important to be sure that the consequences of spending less are understood when making the decision:

Weight; Ease of fixing; Adaptability to different or future scopes.
The final decision that needs to be made is whether the system should combine a laser sight with a standard sight or scope, or whether two devices should be acquired – a scope on top and laser sight underneath the rifle, for example.

Reticule or Laser
The most common sight is known as the reticule, which is a piece of glass or plastic with a printed design on it (crosshairs) which help to center the target.

Optical rifle scopes will also have lines which enable the hunter to gauge the distance to the prey, thus allowing them to compensate for bullet drop over distance. Some ‘red dot’ reticules also have a light that appears to float in the center of the sight, enabling the hunter to aim with greater and more natural accuracy.

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