Rifle Scopes

Scopes for your deer hunting rifle

Good, high quality rifle scopes are almost a must for you to become a successful whitetail trophy deer hunter when hunting with a rifle, shotgun, muzzleloader, pistol, or crossbow. A rifle scope will help you with identifying a deer. How big is the deer? Is it the type and size of trophy deer you would be happy with? You can check out the antlers; estimate a raw antler point score. Is there obstacles in the way that may deflect your bullet, slug or arrow? If so, you can identify them and adjust your shot timing and shot placement accordingly. While hunting, you will be able to pick a spot to shoot at instead of just shooting at the deer. A good rifle scope will aid in your decision to harvest that specific whitetail. When using a good hunting rifle scope you will be able to see clearly the whole deer; not just its outline.

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What To Look For In A Rifle Scope

Here are some things to consider when looking for a good, high quality rifle scope for your deer hunting rifle or shotgun.

1. Price; plan on spending at least $200 on a good basic hunting rifle scope. Oh yes, you can spend a lot less. But please believe me when I say, "you get what you pay for." You have to take in to account the many features of a rifle scope.

Rifle Scopes

2. Your rifle scope should be sleek, lightweight, and built with durable construction. A rifle scope that fits your hunting rifle. Your scope should be shockproof (if the scope is going to be mounted on a magnum rifle, make sure it is magnum proof), fog proof, waterproof, and carry a limited lifetime warranty.

3. You will want a rifle scope that offers fully multicoated optics that offer bright, clear views, for less eyestrain. One that offers a fast-focus eyepiece for greater resolution. A scope that offers good, comfortable eye relief with the widest field-of-view possible. A high quality rifle scope that offers better light transmission in low light situations.

4. A good rifle scope will have adjustable 1/4-MOA click elevation and windage adjustments or better. Some scopes offer finger adjustments and an audible click sound.

5. Choose a rifle scope for hunting that offers the reticle you want; you have choices here. Some of the choices are; a simple cross-hair, tru-plex, Mil-dot, ballistic-plex, duplex, dot-plex, post style, range finding, illuminating, or others offered by specific rifle scope manufacturers. Choose the scope reticle that fits your taste and your needs.

6. Rifle scopes that have a fixed power, say a 4X, is a perfect scope for hunting whitetail deer when using a shotgun, pistol, or muzzleloader. It is great for up to 100 yards or even a little farther. A 1X is ideal if you like to keep both eyes open when shooting. A fixed scope has fewer parts in it. Therefore, this type of scope may have very clear optics and is usually very durable. The price of a fixed power scope (same manufacturer) is less also.

7. A good, all around rifle scope to consider for deer hunting, where you may be shooting from 20 yards -- all the way up to 400 yards, would be a 2-7X or a 3-9X with a 36mm to 40mm objective.

Rifle Scope 3X9 40mm

When you start adding more magnification power and larger mm objective lenses to a rifle scope, two things happen; it usually will cost more and the rifle scope will weigh more. There may even be other negative trade offs. The point being; buy and use a quality rifle scope that fits your hunting needs and budget.