| Hunting for Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer, Elk, Moose, | | | | can be change by removing the protective cap |
| Black Bear or Coyotes you will need a quality rifle | | | | and turning with your fingers. Each click generally |
| scope. The following tips may help with your | | | | is ¼" in 100 yards. These clicks are fairly |
| selection. | | | | easy to hear. |
| First find a quality scope that fits in your budget, | | | | The next thing to consider is the exit pupil size. |
| buy the best you can afford. You will never go | | | | That would be the end of the scope nearest your |
| wrong buying the best, but we all have budgets. | | | | eye. Again, the larger the exit pupil size the |
| First, consider the light gathering quality of the | | | | brighter the image will be. Normally you can divide |
| scope. To do this, look at the large end of the | | | | the magnification power by the objective lens to |
| scope. It will be measured in millimeters. The | | | | find the exit pupil size. A 4x40 would then give |
| larger the objective lens the more light it will | | | | you a 10mm exit pupil. In other words, the size of |
| gather. If you are hunting early morning or late | | | | the column of light that comes out of the exit |
| evening (if your not, you should be) you need to | | | | pupil lens. |
| gather as much light as possible. A scope size will | | | | An important consideration for me personally is |
| look like 9x40. That means that you will see the | | | | the eye relief. Eye relief means how far your eye |
| object 9 times magnification, and 40 would be the | | | | can be from the end of the scope and still give |
| objective lens. Here is where you gather light. The | | | | you a full field of view (FOV). With a long eye |
| larger the objective lens, the more light it gathers. | | | | relief you can be farther from the end of the |
| Now the example above would be for a fixed | | | | scope. If you are too close, the rifle recoil may |
| magnification scope. I prefer a rifle scope that has | | | | cause the scope to hit your eyebrow causing a |
| adjustable magnification. A scope like 4-9x40 | | | | nasty little cut or at least a bruise. If you choose |
| means that it is adjustable from 4 power to 9 | | | | a scope with a fairly short eye relief, make sure |
| power magnification. The scope set on 4 power | | | | it has soft rubber surrounding your end of the |
| will give you wider field of view (FOV). If you are | | | | scope. This will give a little more protection from |
| shooting at a moving target then lower | | | | the recoil. |
| magnification is best. It will make it easier to track | | | | Find a scope that is sealed, waterproof and fog |
| your moving target. The higher the magnification, | | | | proof, one that is scratch resistant. Falls, going |
| the narrower the FOV. Consider the zoom | | | | through brush can all scratch your scope. And by |
| feature on a camera, works much the same. | | | | the way, if you fall or otherwise shock your |
| Next make sure the scope has multiple coated | | | | scope, you should sight it in again to make sure |
| lens. This means that each lens in the rifle scope | | | | your shot at a trophy will hit its mark. |
| has multiple coatings which will reduce the loss of | | | | Finally, have your scope mounted on your hunting |
| light, provides a higher contrast image and | | | | rifle by a professional. If you buy your new scope |
| reduces glare. There are different types of | | | | from a quality dealer, they will mount your scope |
| coatings used. The type of coating depends on | | | | at no charge. |
| the manufacturer. | | | | I won't get into the internal parts of rifle scopes. |
| Next, your new scope should have windage and | | | | What I have written is the layman's version of |
| elevation adjustments. These are the dial | | | | choosing a new rifle scope. |
| protrusions on the top and the side. The top | | | | My personal preference is a 3-9x40. I believe this |
| adjustment should be the elevation or up and | | | | is an excellent rifle scope for big game hunting. |
| down adjustment. The windage or left to right is | | | | There are many fine brands available that you |
| commonly on the right side of the scope. Each of | | | | would be safe to purchase. Here is a partial list. |