What's the difference: Shotgun/Rifle/other Optics

[bigalexe]

I am very confused on optics with their labeling and some stuff I have read about them. In general I notice optics labeled as Rifle/Shotgun/Rimfire/Crossbow and even Airgun. Can someone please explain what I can and can't mix and match here so I don't break my optics?

Why am I asking? I had assumed it was a hierarchical order where one was tougher than the other that went airgun/crossbow, rimfire, shotgun, rifle from bottom to top. However someone had mentioned somewhere here that rifle scopes can sometimes break when used on airguns because they are designed to withstand a single high-intensity, short interval impulse and airguns have more of a vibration. It's a different kind of force involved.

Example: I am looking at buying a Tasco Red-Dot ($20 used) sight that was on a pistol, can I put this on a crossbow? How about a shotgun?

 

[rcmodel]

The principal differences are:

*.22 rim fire and shotgun scopes have the parallax set at much closer range (50-75 yards) then a high-power scope (150 or so). This is due to .22's and shotguns normally being used a closer ranges then high-power rifles.

* Air-gun scopes often have adjustable parallax & focus, because they are normally used at 10 meter targets, or even closer, and you simply can't see the target through a high-power scope that close.

Cheap .22 scopes will not handle air-gun, shotgun, or hi-power recoil, because they were never intended for anything but .22 rimfire recoil levels.

Higher priced .22 scopes like the Leupold 3x-7x-33mm not only have adjustable parallax, but are also built to stand the recoil of anything.

Air-gun scopes take a beating because a spring-piston air-rifle recoils to the rear when the piston is released, and then recoils forward when the piston reaches the end of it's stroke and stops suddenly.

So, they have the lens mounted to withstand recoil in the opposite direction of anything a cartridge firing firearm can generate.

Red-Dot sights do not have any magnifacation, so are not as subject to parralax errors at any range. If it was able to withstand the recoil on a centerfire pistol, it should have no problem at all on a cross-bow or shotgun.

rc

 

[Mr_Pale_Horse]

In addition to rc's excellent information, some shotgun scopes have,
- 1/2" MOA adjustments, instead of 1/4"
- More eye relief than a similar size/magnification riflescope

 

[bigalexe]

Ok thanks guys.

I am buying the red-dot primarily because the Simmons 3-9 that was on my .22 broke and the irons suck. I am also gonna try it on my crossbow because I have a 4x on it right now and want to see what a regular 1x looks like, the 4x is overkill.

 

[atblis]

It's also not unusual to see a special reticule for a "shotgun" scope (e.g. coarse cross-hair, cross-hair with a circle, etc.)

 

[jajo]

l was also bored with cheap chinese scopes,so l bought an "made in usa" product.
sunoptics 4x32 ao/wa rimfire/airgun hd scope.the seller was [email protected] from
forth worth,tx. well, l dont know for rimfire,but if you own air rifle do not buy this scope.
after several shots with my phantom1000,the reticle was gone same as my money /the seller refused to refund me postal costs/

 

[SentinelStrategic]

Sun Optics USA are Chinese scopes, that's why.