Have you already obtained a gun permit and selected a weapon? Will the sights alone be enough for effective and accurate shooting? Surely not! To improve the functioning of the weapon, you can additionally install various components to it. People investing more money into a high-quality weapon should also think about a suitable target scope. This, often underestimated, part of the weapon can clearly help in the more accurate and faster shooting.

So let’s start one step at a time

If you are a festive or novice shooter, ask more experienced colleagues for help when you are choosing a spotting scope. In this article, we will try to advise you and explain which spotting scope is suitable for what kind of shooting. We will start the story on this topic with the basic designation of a spotting scope. In our e-shop, for example, we offer the Norconia 3-9×40 rifle scope.

Norconia is the name of the manufacturer, the numbers 3-9x stand for the zoom, and the number 40 again for the diameter of the objective lens. In total, these three designations determine for what purpose exactly the spotting scope can be used.

Zoom

Zoom options vary from one individual spotting scope to another, and clearly affect accuracy when shooting primarily at longer distances. Basically, we can distinguish between two versions of spotting scopes: with fixed zoom – they are mainly used by snipers, or with adjustable zooms, such as the aforementioned Norconia 3-9×40 spotting scope.  The 3x magnification can be used when shooting at close targets. The discreet zoom allows you to view a wider environment.  The 3-9x zoom range simultaneously defines the upper limit of magnification.

The 9x zoom, compared to the 3x, offers more comfortable and accurate shooting at longer distances. We deliberately chose this spotting scope as an example, because the 3-9x zoom is most used when hunting forest animals, guarantees high-quality shooting at close and distant targets, and is very popular among airsoft players. 

Zoom above 15x can be used primarily when shooting at the longest distances, but it is necessary to stabilize the weapon and avoid unwanted movements. Any movement, even the smallest one, due to the longer trajectory of the bullet, will lead to missing the target. Shooting accuracy is, of course, affected by wind, heat waves, and the cleanliness of the barrel. You must also always think about the ballistic curve. When zooming, the rule applies: the bigger the zoom, the lower the light transmission.

Lens diameter

The second designation from the device description, No., indicates the diameter of the lens in millimeters. It determines the field of view of the shooter and affects what the shooter sees, in addition to the object he is aiming at. The rule of thumb applies: the larger the diameter of the lens, the better the transmission of light during magnification. Lens diameter of 30mm to 50mm should be sufficient in our conditions, also in terms of light transmission.

What you need to watch out for 

If you have chosen the most suitable spotting scope for you based on the original information, check other parameters that affect the functionality of the device, just in case. 

For example, the tube can be made of different materials. Note, some materials are shiny, so they will reveal your presence in the forest! In addition, the length of the tube affects light transmission.

Parallax, designated SF (Side Focus) or AO (Adjustable Objective), is used to sharpen the image, helping you aim better. The aiming axis is a serious indicator. It defines the point you want to hit. Ideally, the manufacturer has placed it in the second focal plane or additionally included illumination. Quality and development of optics and mechanics (along with good and intuitive operation) are essential aspects when choosing a spotting scope.

Classification of spotting scopes

Running target scopes

Priority is given to moving targets and for shorter distances of up to 100m under the condition of a well-lit environment. They are characterized by no or minimal magnification and a large field of view, important for finding a target in a short time. Target scopes in this category are, for example, scopes marked 1-4×22, 1-5×24, and 1-6×24.

Target scopes for shooting from hunting pulpits

Target scopes with stable zoom from 6x to 8x are mainly used by hunters at distances up to 200m. The small field of view minimizes the visibility of the surroundings and in case of a moving target, it is more difficult to follow it and hit it. However, in the case of stationary targets, it guarantees greater accuracy and, in the hands of an experienced shooter, almost 100% success. Spotting scopes in this category are, for example, those marked 7×50, 7×56, and 8×56.

Universal spotting scopes

These are mainly target scopes with variable zoom, adjustable by spinning the part located on the tube. The most commonly produced spotting scopes are those with a zoom level of 3-9x. The higher the zoom level, the more versatile the spotting scope has. This versatility ensures even at short distances excellent visibility, at medium distances sufficient brightness, and the use of great magnification guarantee again better conditions for shooting at distant targets. The spotting scopes in this category are, for example, those marked 3-9×50, 2-12×50, 3-12×56, 3-18×50, and 4-20×56.

Conclusion

For short-distance shooting up to 20m, it is not necessary to use a spotting scope. If you want to be sure of accurate shooting even at a short distance, we recommend using a small fixed zoom. Do you shoot at different targets at different distances? An adjustable zoom will just suit you. For long distances, you will need an adjustable zoom (with the highest magnification) or a fixed zoom (with high magnification).

We recommend you use securely fastening mounting elements of the highest quality. In case your spotting scope is too big for you and you think you won’t use it enough when shooting at short distances, we invite you to take a look at our range of collimators.