Rifle Scopes  1. The first thing to know about rifle scopes is there are several selections for various specific applications.  2. The second thing to know about rifle scopes is that, these specific applications are based on the average accurate distance that those rifles can effectively be used by range for sure.  3. The third thing to know about rifle scopes is that various features on rifle scopes are meant only for certain rifles with a certain length in disance to be used effectively. Close Quarter Tactical Rifle Scopes:  Close quarter tactical rifle scopes will generally be low magnification, will use a lighted, circle dot reticle for quick pointability no matter what the light conditions are, and will have a large field of view, again, for quick target acquisition. Long Range Tactical Rifle Scopes:  Long range tactical rifle scopes will generally have features such as illuminated reticles, external precision parallax adjustment ring or knob, external windage and elevation adjustment knobs plus 30mm maintubes for increased windage and elevation adjustment. Muzzleloading Rifle, Rifle Scopes:  Muzzleloader rifle scopes typically have extra long eye relief so you can mount them well forward for easy access to firing mechanisms that lie under ocular bells of ordinary scopes. A medium to heavy reticle is standard on muzzleloader scopes for the simple reason they are much easier to see. Last but not least parallex is adjusted to a closer range as well usually between 50 - 75 yards Air Rifle, Rifle Scopes:  Air rifle rifle scopes need at least 2 key features to be viable candidates for air-rifles, first it has to have an adjustable objective lense to correct parallax at short distance and second the crosshair in the reticle needs to be fine, for the simple fact air rifle targets are small and a large crosshair rifle scope would cover to much of the target. Rimfire Rifle, Rifle Scopes:  Rimfire rifle, rifle scopes will generally have parallax adjusted for 50 - 60 yards, and a fine duplex reticle for precise shot placement on small targets. Sporting Rifle, Rifle Scope Terminology:  Magnification: There are two basic kinds of rifle scopes for sporting purposes, fixed power and variable power scopes.  Fixed power scopes have the magnification set by the manufacturer and can not be changed. Example 4x - 32mm scope: The 4x is power or magnification, which means it will magnify an object up to 4 times larger than you could see with the naked eye.  Variable power scopes the magnification can be adjusted according to the distance of view needed by the user by simply turning the power ring at the back of the scope. Example 4-12x - 40mm scope: The 4 - 12x is power or magnification, which means it will magnify an object from 4 times larger than you could see with the naked eye and by turning the power ring it will adjust up to 12 times larger than you could see with the naked eye.  Objective lens: The objective lens is the lens in the front of the scope, the larger the diameter the more light gathering ability it has, of which there are two types fixed and adjustable.  The fixed objective lense will have its parallax pre-set at the manufacturers for a given distance for a imparticular usage such as a muzzleloader scope. Example 4x - 32mm scope: The 4x is power or magnification, the 32mm is the objective lens diameter, which is measured in millimeters.  The Adjustable objective lens has the ability to correct parallax at given yardages to keep the scopes on target zero for all yardages regardless of the shooters eye alignment in the scope.  Exit pupil diameter: The exit pupil diameter is the shaft of light exiting the scope toward the scope users eye, this is expressed in millimeter measurement. It is also the true measure used to rate the brightness of a riflescope's sight picture. The larger the diameter the better it is for low light conditions.  Field of view: The field of view is the measure of how much area you can see through your scope at 100 yards, generally, the higher the magnification, the less the field of view. Example, field of view of 40 feet: With a field of view of 40 feet, simply means at 100 yards with a target in the center of the scope you will be able to see 20 feet to the left and 20 feet to the right of the target.  Eye relief: The eye relief indicates the distance between your eye and the scope, which allows you to achieve the scopes entire field of view. Example, eye relief of 3": An eye relief of three inches is simply your eye is 3 inches from the scope and your able to see through the scope its entire field of view.  Parallax: Parallax is a condition that occurs when the image of the target is not focused precisely by misalignment of shooters eye on the reticle plane. This condition exists in all scopes and accounts for more inlarging of rifle group sizes than anything else. Parallax is visible as an apparent movement between the crosshairs and the target when a shooter moves their head and changes eye alignment in the scope. The higher the magnification the more visible this is, a good high power rifle scope will have an adjustable objective lens to correct this at all yardages.  Popular Brands of Rifle Scopes: AMT, Bausch & Lomb, BC Outdoors, BSA Optics, Burris, Bushnell, Hi Point Firearms, Kahles, Leapers, Leatherwood, Leupold, Millett, Nikon, Redfield, Sigtron, Simmons, Smith's Abrasives, Springfield, Steiner-Pioneer Research, Swarovski Optik, Tasco, Thompson/Center Arms, Trijicon, Ultralux, Weaver and Zeiss. Copyright 2001 - 2007