Scope Finish: Matte or Gloss?

[Lonestar.45]

Okay, so Ms. Santa picked up a Ruger Compact MKII in 7mm-08 for me today that I've been wanting. She says I can't open it until Christmas

Anyway, it is a very nice walnut stock and polished blue steel. I need to scope it. Looking at ultralight Leupold VXII's in 2-7 or maybe VXIII's in 2.5-8. Not sure but I know I want a small lightweight scope. Any other suggestions welcome as long as it is super quality, no cheap scopes this time. I want something that lasts and is up to the task.

Question---should I stick with a gloss finish? I think so, just so it matches up nice. Problem is, the selection of gloss scopes is much much smaller. So many more are matte these days. Going matte would open up a lot of other options. With gloss I am limited with just a couple two or three good choices it seems.

Does it matter? Anyone put a matte scope on a polished blue rifle?

On my other rifles I stick with matte on the matte finish and a nice gloss scope on my BDL.

 

[litman252]

I put a matt burris on a mod. 70 classic. Matt rings are a must but it looked OK. The selection does suck in gloss.............

Tony

 

[MotorOilMcCall]

If you're gonna hunt with it I'd say stick to matte... Gloss scopes give off more of a reflection than a typical blued barrel, and you never know if that trophy is gonna catch a flicker off your scope.

 

[4Low]

MotorOil makes a good point. Anything that helps keep you hidden from game is a good thing.

But generally from an aesthetics point of view, I like the look of a glossy finish scope on glossy finished rifles and matte finish scopes on rifles with matte finishes.

 

[slzy]

put camo tape on either.

 

[CH47gunner]

Easy - My rule of thumb:

Gloss scopes on polished blue guns. Matte scopes on matte guns. I just like the Classic blued polished rifle to match with the gloss scope. Especially if the metalwork is good.

Mostly.

You are correct, the selection of gloss scopes is getting thin. I do have several blued guns with matte scopes because there was no option in gloss.

Bruce

Sako Finnbear AIII 30-06 w/ Gloss Nikon Monarch 4-12x40AO


Charles Daly (Zastava) Superior II .22lr. w/ Gloss Bushnell Rimfire 3-9x32AO


CZ527 Varmint .223 w/ Matte Nikon 6-18x40SF

 

[Lonestar.45]

Thanks for the pics and advice.

I know what you all mean about being hidden and not reflective, I bowhunt so I'm not new to that game.

But this rifle....it has a really nice polished blue finish. I think I need something that matches it. For a knock around matte no nonsense hunting rifle I have an ADL in .270. I think I'm going with a compact gloss Leupold if I can find one.

 

[ken22250]

if at all posible a leupold VX_III 1.5-5x scope would go nicely with a compact rifle, and i know the gloss strugle all to well, i have all gloss scopes on the weatherbys, and a good gloss scope is quite hard to find.

ken