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How to Compare Scopes

Placing a scope on your rifle, shotgun or handgun increases your accuracy and makes it easier to sight in a target. Choose a scope based the ranges where you shoot, and your typical shooting environment. If you primarily hunt game or shoot targets at a range of approximately 100 yards, a high-powered scope might not provide the performance you seek.

Instructions

- 1
  Check the eye relief of your prospective scopes. Eye relief is the distance required between your eye -- and the end of the scope -- for a good sight-picture. A relief of 3 to 4 inches is typically considered acceptable. Placing your eye too close to the scope can result in injury - particularly if you fire a high-powered rifle -- because the the recoil might cause the end the scope to strike you.
- 2
  Determine the level of protective coating applied to the surface of the scope's lenses. Protective coatings cut down on sun glare, enhance light transmission, help prevent light-loss caused by reflection, and give your siight-picture greater contrast. A coated lens has a single layer of protective coating on at least one side; a fully coated lens has a single layer on both sides. A multi-coated lens has multiple layers of protective coating on at least one side, and a fully multi-coated lens has multiple layers of protective coating on both sides.
- 3
  Compare the MOA click values of the windage and elevation dials on the different scopes. MOA is the minute-of-angle that the reticles change per click on the dials. It is practically used to determine the measure of change in inches of the projected point of impact for a target at 100 yards. A 1/8 MOA moves the reticles 1/8 inch, and a 1/4 MOA moves the reticles 1/4 inch. A smaller MOA value is more desirable in a long-distance scope.

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