How to Choose the Best Rifle Scope

Are you looking to buy the best rifle scope to suit your outdoor activities? Do you want to upgrade the scope of your hunting or sports-shooting rifle? 

101.6 million Americans practice hunting, fishing, and wildlife-watching. However, today, fewer people now do these activities for their hobby or sport. If you plan on coming back into the scene of sports shooting or hunting, upgrading your gear is a must.

In our guide below, we’ll discuss how to pick the best rifle scope for your rifle.

What You Need to Find in a Good Rifle Scope

Before we talk about where and how you buy a rifle scope, you need to first understand rifle optics or scopes. A basic scope is an aiding device used to help gun user’s aim with more accuracy over distances. The riflescope is the specific scope placed on top of a rifle to improve a rifle user’s accuracy.

A good, modern rifle scope allows you to adjust some of its settings. It also helps you see better in the dark or light by adding more brightness to your vision and reducing glare. If you are like 67% of Americans who have guns for protection, this is a key feature.

Pick a Type of Rifle Scope

The first step to finding the best rifle scope is to know what type of scope you need. The various rifle scope types include:

• Standard eye relief scope
• Long eye relief or scout scope
• Red dot sights

Each type does different things and is appropriate for different situations.

The standard eye relief scope is the common rifle scope that you see and use for hunting and shooting. Long eye relief scopes are the scopes of choice for rifles that have high recoil or if mobility is a priority. Scopes used in tactical situations are often red dot sights, too.

Purpose of the Scope

The next thing you need to know is to match a rifle scope to your intended use. For example, the best scopes for tactical situations are tactical rifle optics. These scopes allow great target magnification but can leave you vulnerable to the goings-on around you.

If your purpose is to protect your home or land, use a Home Defense Scope. It offers smaller magnification, so you can have more situational awareness. The red dot scope is the most popular type of Home Defense Scope.

Scopes for hunting, action shooting, long-range competition, and target shooting are also different.

Again, refer to your purposes before you buy a scope. It’s useless to get the best rifle scopes for home defense if you want to join action shooting games. If you plan to switch your focus, feel free to sell your optic before you buy a new one.

Buy the Best Rifle Scope that Matches Your Rifle

Finally, after you consider the type and purpose, look for a scope that matches your rifle. Look for scopes that match the range your rifle can fire at. Height, light, and the amount of magnification are also other factors to consider when choosing the best rifle optics.

Pick the Best Scope for Your Rifle

Getting the best rifle scope helps you land each shot with precision and accuracy. Use the guide above to choose the right scope today!

Do you want to learn more about gun accessories and maintenance? Check out more of our posts! You may learn a thing or two about your hobby and how you can enhance your experience.