Rifle Scope Tutorial?

[Prof]

Does anyone have a link to a website that has a "tutorial" on rifle scopes? I am still in the dark over things like what power for what distance, "come-ups", etc. Also, some scopes have 1/4 clicks and others have 1/2 or 1 clicks: why and what difference would it make? These are the kinds of questions I need answered and I can't find a site that has a FAQ-type of format for scopes. Thanks!

 

[Art Eatman]

Did you try a google search? I've never tried, having meddled with scopes for so many years...

A few answers: The lower the magnification, the wider the field of view. it's all a compromise. For target shooting, the field of view is not important, compared to hunting. Thus, scopes for hunting are generally in the 3X to 4X range (or the bottom end of the range of magnification in variable-power scopes).

Example story: One of my rifles has a 2x7 scope. I'd had the scope on 7X while sitting in a stand, awaiting Bambi. No luck. After sunup I begin walking hunting, forgetting to change down to 2X. I jumped a nice little buck at about 25 yards. I went to kill him, and all I saw through the scope was brown; then an ear; more brown, and then brush. He was gone. Had I been on 2X, the field of view would have been wider and I'd have been able to see the whole deer and some background around him. Put the crosshairs in the right place and sayonara Bambi.

Clicks: A minute of angle (MOA) is very close to one inch per hundred yards of distance. A 1/4 click is 1/4 MOA. Thus, at one hundred yards, one click is 1/4". Precision generally costs money; a scope that has finer clicks costs more to make and thus sells for a higher price.

Don't mean to be talking down to you, if you already have figured out some of this.

, Art

 

[Prof]

Art: Thanks for the quick reply. As usual, you are a font of great knowledge! I did try a google search but nothing came up. But, you have answered some of my questions. One follow-up, regarding the "clicks": for shooting under 200 yards, it would be better to have the 1/4, more precise clicks, right? I noticed (and this confused me), that the long-range "target" style scopes seem to have the 1/4 clicks but some of the long-range "sniper" scopes have 1 full clicks, at least for elevation. Why the difference? Thanks!

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

I don't do any long-range shooting with precision scopes, so my understanding of this concept may be less than perfect; but as I understand it:

The 1/4 clicks offer better precision; but as you adjust for distance it can be difficult to "count clicks" since you are counting 4x as many clicks. To use one example, drop on .223 is something like 57" at 600yds. To adjust elevation, you would have to count 228 clicks on a 1/4MOA scope.

For that reason, some prefer 1MOA clicks on longer range scopes . It makes it simpler to adjust for longer distances; but gives up some of the precision of 1/4 MOA scope adjustment.

 

[Prof]

"you would have to count 228 clicks on a 1/4MOA scope" Wow! Now I see why the military snipers would want the larger clicks! Thanks, Bartholomew, that clears up that question.

 

[BigG]

you would have to count 228 clicks on a 1/4MOA scope

Yes - Well, many scopes for that particular purpose are keyed to a particular cartridge like 7.62 Nato or 223. The scope has a cam inside that tracks the standard ballistics so you just set the dial on 600 yards or whatever and fire away. The scope takes care of the holdover. I have a Dragunov that has a scope like that for the 7.62x54R. HTH

 

[cola8d8]

Not entirely correct... Given the info above (57 inch drop at 600 yards) that equals 9.5 MOA. So in that case you would have to go 38 "clicks" up on a scope with 1/4 MOA "clicks".

 

[Houndawg]

cola8d8,

That's what I was thinking. I could be wrong though. I can't see having 1 MOA clicks. That would move the shot 6 inches at 600 yards and 10 inches at 1000. I can't see a sniper using adjustments that crude. Granted, long range snipers tend to make area (torso) shots, but 6-10 inches could take you right off of the target. But then again, you have snipers like Hathcock who just figured the range and held over without adjusting the scope.

 

[cola8d8]

hounddawg
I have not used or seen any scope with 1 MOA adjustments. I agree, that would not be very percise at all. Most will have 1/4 MOA adjustments and some of the "target"/longrange scopes will have 1/8 MOA adjustments.

 

[Prof]

Now I don't feel so ignorant. I was looking at the description for the Leupold Mk 4 LR/T M3 and it said it had the 1" click elevation adjustments. That's why I was questioning why such large click adjustments would be used - even at long range. I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one that finds that odd. Thanks!

 

[Swamp Yankee]

Three websites that are really helpfull explaining scopes, uses and features
www.swfa.com
www.burrisoptics.com
www.zeiss.com
If you look around SWFA's website there's a lot of good information, Burris and zeiss both have some good information about optics, construction, and how to select.

Take Care

 

[Prof]

Thanks, Swamp Yankee! Those are great links!

 

[nipprdog]

http://www.charm.net/~kmarsh/sport.html

 

[Art Eatman]

Some of the decision-making about buying a scope depends on how it will be used. Most hunters need do no more than "set it and forget it". Maybe one or two clicks when sighting in again for the following year's season, but that's about it. Repeatability of the amount of movement for a given number of clicks is unimportant. The difference between 1/4- and 1/2-MOA clicks is also unimportant.

Target shooting is a different deal. If a course of fire includes 100, 300 and 500 yards, and the targets are round "bullseyes", precise and repeatable adjustments are near-mandatory.

It's just my opinion, but the majority of one's shooting is in daylight at targets no more than two- or three-hundred yards away, a 40mm objective lens is plenty good. A 50mm lens is gilding the lily, since light-gathering isn't a factor.

The 50mm is desireable for one who hunts at the earliest light or the latest legal time of evening.

From all I've read, I think that buying all the coating you can afford is a Good Thing. This seems to be a major factor in how much light is transmitted, and the better coatings seem to also be associated with the more precisely-ground lenses.

All this stuff is opinion, of course, and as I've said many times, my primary orientation is hunting and informal target shooting. I'm not a 1,000-yarder nor a benchrester in competition...

, Art

 

[Prof]

Nipprdog: Thanks, that is exactly the kind of site I was looking for!

Art, thanks for clearing up another couple of points. I figure I will be doing more target-type shooting than anything else. The 40mm objective and the 1/4 inch clicks seem best for me.

 

[ocabj]

I have not used or seen any scope with 1 MOA adjustments. I agree, that would not be very percise at all. Most will have 1/4 MOA adjustments and some of the "target"/longrange scopes will have 1/8 MOA adjustments.

Leupold Mark IV M3 scope has 1MOA per click elevation adjustments with 1/2MOA per click windage adjustments.

 

[chetrogers]

Nipprdog very helpfull link for a newbie like myself.