|
  |
|
|
Scoping it Out Right
By Keith Grable
SCOPING IT OUT RIGHT Matching the right scope optics to the right hunting situation is key to ensuring one-shot, one-kill accuracy.
For many hunters, one of the first rights of early fall is to sight-in their hunting rifle. BUYING A SCOPE The caliber of the rifle and the anticipated shooting range are the first two things you need to know before making that scope purchase. Whether it is rimfire, centerfire or magnum will determine what kind of scope base and rings are needed, and secondly, what kind of scope optics (magnification) and objective lens size would fit those needs best. Mounting accessories, rings and scope base, are what hold the scope on the rifle. Magnification refers to the scope's "power" to make things appear closer than they are, and objective lens size refers to the diameter of the front lens, measured in millimeters. One of the most popular scopes sold is the 3x9x40mm. A scope with these properties provides a hunter with the ability to see well enough to shoot accurately across all ranges out to 300 yards, as long as enough light exists to identify the target. High quality, name brand hunting scopes include Burris, Bushnell, Leupold, Nikon, Pentax, Sightron and others. The 40mm glass also gathers enough light to accurately identify the target right up to the end of "daylight hours only" legal hunting time. All scopes have an optimum magnification that becomes especially critical in low-light conditions just before dark or just before dawn. The best way to tell what the optimum magnification is of any scope is to take it out just before dark and start cranking up the maginification. When you start getting past it's optimum magnification, it will start to go dim. That is why some of the most popular binoculars optics are 7x50s or 8x56s. They are built with the optimum magnification at that glass size. MOUNTING ACCESSORIES: BASES AND RINGS No matter what style of scope base and rings you choose-Weaver Mounts or Redfield- choose steel unless they are going on a small-caliber rimfire or centerfire rifle with very little recoil. Weaver style rings work well on most new rifles that have been drilled for a scope under tight-tolerances at the factory. Redfield rings will work on new rifles but are also recommended for use on rifles that were drilled at home or with a scope that was at one time mounted on another rifle because of the built-in windage adjustment. The windage screws allow the scope to be adjusted side-to-side as well as backward and forward on the scope base. SIGHTING IN One of the biggest mistakes people can make is to take a bore-sighted gun to the tree stand. Bore-sighting is not sighted-in. When a gun is bore-sighted with an optical or laser bore-sighter, it only means a bullet will hit on an 18" by 18" piece of paper at 25 yards. Bore-sighting is just the starting point. The new laser bore-sighting devices from AimShot, Bushnell, Tasco and Wheeler Mounts, among others, really come into play after the rifle has been sighted-in on the shooting range. After the rifle has been sighted-in, the laser bore-sighter can provide a reference point so you can tell if the gun is still sighted-in without firing a shot. To accomplish this, the laser sighter should be placed in the end of the barrel, the scope zeroed on the target, and then write down where the laser dot hits the paper and keep that information in your gun case. For example, if the laser dot is hitting the paper at 2 inches high and 2 inches to the right with the scope zeroed, it should continue to hit the same spot unless the scope has somehow been knocked off zero. |
No reactions yet.
Please login or sign up to rate this intel.
Please login or sign up to add a comment.
The copyright for this content entitled "Scoping it Out Right" has been specified by the contributor as:
All Rights Reserved
This content may not be copied, distributed or adapted by anyone under any circumstances.
|
 |
May, 2012
2008
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2009
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2010
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2011
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2012
January, February, March, April, May
|
|
Not a member yet?
Qondio is a powerful network for making it online. If you have a website to
promote, we can help.
Sign up and get in on the action.
|
|
Welcome to Qondio! Discover the awesome power this network can deliver by going to our About page. Or you could skip straight to the Sign Up form.
|
|
