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Is the Tactical Scope Really Necessary For You?

Choosing a rifle scope is not always the easiest task. There are many scopes on the market today, and everyone wants to get the one that's going to be best for him, and that's going to last the longest. Today, there is a trend to buy anything that has the word "Tactical" put on it. Tactical implies rugged, durable and super power. This, however, is not always the case in action. And, many people end up spending much more money than they need to purchase the best "tactical" scope simply to put it onto their hunting rifle. It is important to understand where this idea of tactical comes from, and to see when it is, and isn't necessary for the regular hunter.

Tactical Scopes

Many of these "tactical" scopes try to fool the user and the potential buyer by loading them full of items that aren't necessary - and that are actually not helpful. They have extra high magnifications, as high as the 40 power scope, and they have an objective lens that is as high as 75mm and that weighs in at several pounds. These scopes are simply loaded with many features, aimed at making the buyer think that he's getting something special when he's really getting extra features he doesn't need.

Is It Practical?

So, what is actually practical for a tactical scope, and what is really tactical about the scope? Real military snipers use top quality fixed 10X scopes most of the time. Why? Well, they have mildot reticles that allow these trained professionals to calculate distance and hold-over or elevation clicks. Using a fixed power scope makes this calculation much easier to do, since mildot calculations have to be made at the highest scope power the scope has. The fixed power scope eliminates potential miscalculations because the scope can be set at less than the highest power.

Those Who Don't Use It

It's interesting to know that most state law enforcement agencies don't use mildot type reticles; rather they use variable scopes of the best quality. In their jobs they don't usually need range estimation since the longest shots they'll have to take are across a street or through an alley. In these situations, the mildot type reticles would actually clutter the field of view.

The bottom line for most hunters is that they don't need tactical scopes, and they don't need scopes with mildot reticles. Purchasing the basic scope without all of the bells and whistles will often guarantee a better, longer lasting, and more practical scope. Undoubtedly, it will also guarantee an easier-to-swallow price tag along the way!