Rifle & Shotgun Scopes (Page 3)

One of the most-hyped and debated features of a scope is the size of the objective, or forward, lens. Simply put, larger objectives gather more light, making for a brighter view, especially in low-light conditions.

That said, the larger (44mm and up) objectives are nothing to get excited about, in my opinion. The largest objective on any of my deer-hunting scopes is 40mm, and that's plenty big. At dusk or daybreak, any of my good scopes will gather enough light to alllow me to peer into dark brushy areas and see much more detail than I can see with my naked eye.

Also, larger objectives invariably mean that the scope must be mounted higher on the gun - and the higher the line of sight, the more awkward the sighting process becomes, and the more awkward the gun is to handle, as it becomes increasingly top-heavy.

Another feature found on some scopes is the adjustable objective. This allows better focus at varied ranges, and requires adjustment depending on how far your target is from your scope. I believe this feature does help make some lower-priced variable scopes more dependable as far as point-of-impact goes, but again it usually means that a higher mount is required. Adjustable objectives are mainly only valuable for long-distance and/or precision shooting, neither of which is required for most hunting situations. Again, your personal requirements come into play here when making your choice.

Final Thoughts

In closing, let me wish you luck in your search for the perfect scope. If you find it, please let me know - because I have never found the perfect scope, just as I have never found the perfect gun, truck, etc. But with a little luck and some useful knowledge, you can find a scope that will do a good job for you, whether you are hunting whitetails in close cover or taking pronghorn antelope in the wide-open spaces - or simply punching paper targets in quest of the ultimate one-ragged-hole group.

- Russ Chastain