What do Rifle Scope Numbers Mean?
Rifle scopes are an essential accessory for any serious rifle enthusiast or marksman, but understanding the various numbers and markings on the scope can be overwhelming. In this article, we’ll demystify the meaning of rifle scope numbers and provide you with a comprehensive guide to help you make the most of your scope.
What Do the Numbers Represent?
Rifle scope numbers are a code that represents various aspects of the scope’s performance. These numbers can be overwhelming at first glance, but we’ll break them down into manageable sections.
Contents
Magnification
The magnification of a rifle scope is the first number or series of numbers you’ll see. For example: 3-9x, 4-16x, or 8-32x.
| Magnification Range | |
|---|---|
| Lower Number | Upper Number |
The lower number represents the lowest magnification power (also known as the ‘objective’ power), and the upper number represents the highest magnification power. A scope with a range of 3-9x, for instance, has a lowest magnification power of 3 and a highest power of 9.
Why are there different magnification ranges?
Each magnification range has its advantages. For example:
- Low-power scopes (e.g., 3-9x) are ideal for general hunting and target shooting, as they provide a wide field of view and allow for fast target acquisition.
- Medium-power scopes (e.g., 4-16x) offer a good balance between magnification and field of view, making them suitable for most hunting and long-range shooting applications.
- High-power scopes (e.g., 8-32x) are geared towards competitive target shooting and precision hunting, where long-range accuracy and precise adjustment are crucial.
Optical Power
The optical power of a scope is often represented as 1x, 2x, 4x, etc. These numbers indicate the scope’s magnification multiplier.
What does it mean?
- A 1x scope is essentially an unmagnified optic that provides a straight-through view, often used for prismatic scopes or red dots.
- A 2x scope magnifies the view by two times.
- A 4x scope magnifies the view by four times, and so on.
Illumination
Many rifle scopes have an adjustable illumination ring around the objective lens or on the adjustment turrets. This ring is represented by a number, typically in the form of 7-5-5-2, which may look like gibberish.
What does it mean?
- These numbers represent the intensity or brightness of the illumination settings, usually ranging from fully off (0) to maximum brightness (e.g., 7).
- Some scopes have multiple dots or lines separated by hyphens (e.g., 7-5-5-2). Each dot or line corresponds to a specific intensity setting.
Reticle Style
Rifle scope reticles can be anything from simple dot-and-POST (Positive Optimal Scoring Target) sights to complex hash-mark-and-curve patterns. Many reticles have specific styles, such as:
• Duplex: Simple dot-and-POST sighting system.
• Complex: Hash-mark-and-curve reticles for better wind deflection and tracking.
• Mil Dot: A grid-based system using mils (mil-dot) measurements for quick target ranging and hold-over.
Field of View
The field of view (FOV) refers to the amount of landscape visible through the scope when at a specific magnification. A scope with a 30′ FOV at 4x magnification will show an approximately 30-foot view when set to 4x magnification.
Parallax Adjustment
Many scopes have parallax adjustments, which are represented by numbers or markers on the scope’s adjustments turrets.
What does it mean?
- The parallax adjustment compensates for the scope’s image shift caused by the viewer’s eye movement or barrel vibrations.
- The scope is adjusted to match the eye relief distance (measured from the scope’s rear lens to the rear of the user’s eye), ensuring a clear image without distortion.
Battery Life
Battery life may be represented as 40 hours, 1000 hours, or multi- setting.
What does it mean?
- Battery life (e.g., 40 hours) represents the hours the scope can operate with the battery on a single charge.
- Multi-setting (e.g., multi-setting) indicates a scope with multiple power options or adjustable illumination settings.
- Some scopes have very long battery life (e.g., 1000 hours), often exceeding a year’s worth of usage.
In conclusion, rifle scope numbers may look overwhelming at first, but breaking them down into distinct categories helps make sense of the information. Understanding these numbers will allow you to:
- Choose the right magnification range for your needs
- Adjust for illumination and parallax errors
- Optimize the scope’s reticle and field of view
- Choose the correct battery setting
By understanding what each number represents, you can ensure you’re getting the most out of your rifle scope and maximizing your chances of success on the shooting range or in the hunting field.
