Choosing the right scope can be difficult, but making the right choice can give you an enormous advantage and accuracy! Here at Game-On, we have something for everyone! Whether you're a beginner or an expert, going hunting, playing airsoft, or just shooting at targets! In this guide, we'll go through the different specifications of a scope so you know what to look for and what you need. We'll also explain what red dot sights and laser sights are and what they're used for.
Maybe you're simply wondering which scope is best? It's probably not that simple, as it completely depends on what you're going to use it for and how much you're willing to pay. But good news—we have most of them! Feeling confused when looking at the different options? That's understandable; there are an incredible number of different elements and specifications in a scope.That’s why it’s no wonder you can get a little confused when choosing the right one! But we’ve gathered everything you need to know in one guide!
Things to consider when buying a riflescope
The main question is, of course, what you’re going to use the riflescope for, but other things to consider are the distance to the target and whether you’ll be using it during the day in bright light, at dusk, or at night. How much money you’re planning to—or are able to—spend is also important to consider, as riflescopes are available in every price range. Does your firearm have heavy recoil? Riflescopes offer varying degrees of shock resistance, so this is an important factor to take into account. Scopes that aren’t shockproof will wear out faster and become less accurate. Do you need to be able to zero the scope and set the distance? Then you should look for a riflescope with turret adjustments. You’ll find the adjustment options on the gear at the top in the center. Otherwise, we’ll go through the main specifications below.
Magnification
You can choose between fixed and variable magnification. For beginners, we recommend fixed magnification. It provides greater reliability and is easy to use. This means choosing a scope with, for example, 3x magnification. With variable magnification, you can choose anything from 3x to 25x magnification. This naturally gives you more options regarding how far away you can be from the target, but it can also make the shot more difficult, as it reduces the amount of light entering the scope and thus limits the field of view.
Objective Lens Diameter
This tells us how much light enters the scope. The larger the diameter, the more light enters. If you plan to use it at dusk or in low-light conditions, anything over 50 mm is recommended. For use in daylight, sizes from 24 mm are common.
Reticle
Here at Game-On, we have scopes with many different reticles, also known as crosshairs. A standard crosshair and Mil-Dot. The red dot in the center makes it easier to hit the target, even in low-light conditions.
There are many variations, all with the same purpose—to hit the target. But they use slightly different methods.
Some crosshairs are First Focal Plane (FFP), which means that the crosshair size remains unchanged even when you zoom in. When you zoom in, you will then zoom in on the reticle as well.
Parallax adjustment vs. fixed
Some scopes have parallax adjustments, which means you can set the distance in meters between you and the target. This gives you the clearest sight picture and the smallest possible deviation between the point of aim and the point of impact.This is only necessary for highly precise shooting, but it’s of course fun to have and it will help improve accuracy! Most of the scopes we carry have fixed parallax.
Red Dot Sight and Laser Sight
Red dot sights aren’t used much for hunting or precision shooting because they don’t provide magnification. However, they’re widely used in airsoft, as they let you acquire a sight picture more quickly while keeping both eyes open. This makes it easier to hit opponents who are moving or nearby. A laser sight is usually a red or green laser that shines toward your target. It isn’t used much for hunting or airsoft, but it’s pretty fun to have for target shooting. Just be aware that you must never shine it directly into the eyes of people or animals, and shining it at aircraft is strictly prohibited. You can find all our red dot sights here and all our laser sights here.
Scopes for pistols and revolvers
It’s not just rifles that can use scopes! Many pistols and revolvers come with rails that let you attach a scope. The most important thing when choosing a scope for a pistol or revolver is to choose one with long “eye relief.” Eye relief allows you to hold the scope farther away from your eye while still getting a clear sight picture. Most scopes are designed for use with rifles and therefore have short eye relief.
You can find all our scopes here! Still unsure? We’d be more than happy to help you choose the right one! Send us an email at post@game-on.no with any questions you may have.
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