What shooting scope should you buy?

The correct optic for your firearm is an essential part of your system. Unfortunately, many people invest in a good gun but throw pennies at their optics.

Look at it this way: That’s like buying a sports car, swapping the engine out for a 4-cylinder, and wondering why it won’t go fast.

Answering the question of what shooting scope you should buy can be overwhelming. There are hundreds of options and price ranges out there. My goal is to help you purchase what will work for you and not something better suited as a paperweight.

What will you use the optic for?

This is your starting point. This decision lays the groundwork for everything else to come. I guess the saying goes, “the right tool for the right job.”

What scope features will work for you?

The next thing to decide is which built-in features you prefer.

Do you want MOA or MIL adjustment turrets?

Do you want FFP or SFP?

I know I have probably inadvertently made your head hurt. Don’t worry; I have you covered.

To read an article explaining MOA and MIL, (Click Here).

To view a separate article explaining the difference between FFP and SFP, (Click Here).

What brand should you choose?

I am probably narrowing things down for you at this point, but here is where things get a little tricky.

There are a lot of low-quality products out there. Unfortunately, a large portion of optics are pieces of junk. The lowest bidder has supplied every part of the optic. Everything from the type of glass to how it tracks is entirely useless.

You will see companies advertise, “This scope is only $100, and you can easily shoot long-range!” Yeah, their long-range version is something the size of a garbage truck at 50 feet. Even then, it might be a stretch.

My best advice would be to buy from a company in which making optics is their sole purpose.

Keep in mind: If you hear claims of astounding accuracy for pennies on the dollar, please don’t do it. They are trying to rip you off.

Select your scope mount/rail

Your optics are more than just what you are looking through. Your scope mount/rail and rings need to be up to par. To have excellent performing optics, you need all three.

Selecting your scope rail/mount

This step is generally straightforward. Several companies will make scope rails for specific actions. Some actions even come with the scope rails included.

I will suggest buying a one-piece rail. Correct, a two-piece rail may work just fine, but you could be inadvertently introducing some issues.

Select your scope rings

I generally buy my rings from the company where I purchased my optics. Then you’re confident of having a good fit. For example, I have a Vortex Optics scope. So naturally, my rings are from the same company.

I am sure I will get the question: how do I know what size rings to get? No problem, I wrote an article to help you out.

How do you select the correct size shooting rings? (Click here) to read it.

You probably now have a better idea of what you are looking for and what you buy for optics. There are several articles in my Rifle Scope Series that cover everything about optic systems.

Back to Rifle Scope Series

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