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Nice Tactic

So Many To Choose From

There's definitely no shortage of riflescopes available today.  The plethora of offerings intended for military, law enforcement and serious civilian use is staggering, to say the least.  A look through catalogues and websites can leave a person in overload as they try to wade through the choices which range widely in both cost and design.

Criteria for Choosing

There are some criteria to consider before jumping into the mounds of scopes out there which can help to narrow down the decision making process.  First, decide what the optic is going to be used for - police work, military or recreation.  Be realistic about the range and distances you expect to be covering for at least 80 percent of your shooting, including the maximum range.  The needs are different if most of the shooting is done in low light, in evening and night hours or with artificial light.  There are a few questions about the rifle to think about as well; for instance, the size and weight of the rifle as well as caliber.  By making a very honest assessment and remembering there is no scope that is perfect, you can choose the scope with the features and elements which will work best.

Tell Me About Tactical Scopes...

Tactical scopes come in both fixed and variable magnifications.  Scopes for military use are generally fixed power and are sturdier, have fewer lenses and cost less than many other scopes.  The fixed power scope is not flexible while the variable magnification scope, on the other hand, is very flexible.  It does seem that since there have been many improvements to the variable scope over the years, they may well replace the flexible scope in usage. 

Magnification

Magnification range is determined by individual requirement,  the popular range being 2.5-10x.  With this type of spread it is possible to gather information at a higher magnification and then reduce the magnification to make the shot.  Another consideration when deciding upon magnification in a variable scope is ambient lighting conditions since both magnification and objective lens size work together when shooting in lighting that isn't bright.  Size of the objective lens is an important consideration as well since a larger lens is not only heavier and more cumbersome, it is also more likely to reflect light and disclose position.

More Considerations

Tactical scopes come in a variety of tube diameters with the larger ones being sturdier thus allowing for more adjustment. The most common size on tactical scopes is 30mm diameter.  Adjustment turrets allow for control of the ballistics dialed into the scope.  Tactical clicks are important to hear when dialing the adjustments, so keeping track of them is less difficult.  The adjustment range of the scope should allow for reaching the maximum range desired when firing the rifle.  An easy to find aiming point which is easy to see in low light is important to have in the reticle.  An illuminated style is a great help in low-light situations.

There is no perfect tactical optic, but with thorough investigation and evaluation you should find the right scope at the right price.