Blackhawk
Well-Known Member
IMHO
A trip to several gun shops is in order.
Listed below is my reasoning.
Since we are all individuals we all see objects differently , more so as we advance with age.
Different shades of colors.
Different levels of light intensity.
Different levels of clarity.
Different levels of our vision itself. (near sighted , far sighted , stigmatism, etc. )
Now I submit the following. ( admittedly much of this can be researched before hand )
First determine how much you are willing to spend.
Determine what name brand Scopes that you are considering as well as origin of manufacture
How much magnification, stadia wire , Dual X , German Post , BDC , Mil Dot , Modified Mil Dot , or Xmas tree , Style of reticle , Scope Weight , Scope Length , Objective Lens Diameter ( the larger the objective lens is the more light gathering capability's your scope will have ), Main tube diameter , FFP , SFP , Side Focus, Tactical or Conventual adjustment knobs , overall construction , how much and what kind of coating is on the lenses, what kind of glass elements( EDC ,Fluoride , Anti Scratch etc.) and how easily can you adjust the eyepiece itself to your eyesight while keeping the scope reticle crisp and clear.
Note:
Your scopes optical grade glass , it's country of origin , where it was ground , and coatings, as well as light transmission , color rendition, and the purity of the optical glass itself all have bearing on a rifle scopes performance. With a little digging this information can be obtained on the web. I advise that you research thoroughly as optical grade glass and it's multi coatings can either make or break a scope. A call to the company's technical department can be very beneficial as company techs are a virtual wealth of information. ( I have gotten technical information on Leupold, and Nikon scopes in this manner )
Determine if the scope is able to work in low light situations ( Resolving Power)
Determine if a lens shade is provided , or purchased separately .
Determine Brand as well as diameter of Scope Rings (country of origin)
Determine whether or not you want or need a one piece 20 MOA (again country of origin)
This information by way of research should have yielded to you a good starting point in your quest of purchasing a new riflescope.!
With all this being said the purchase of a scope is strictly an individual matter.
It should be determined by what your brain and vision is reveling to you, and you alone.
Take the opinions of others and weigh them against what your eyes are mind telling you.
Foremost the image that you view while placing the scope to your eye should speak volumes.
To me this is the most important factor.
Compare several scopes and draw your own conclusions!
Other Things to Consider!
Is the image that you are seeing the correct shade of color , or does it have a slight bluish , magenta .or yellowish Cass ?
If possible ask to take the scope outside as store lighting may influence this color shift.
Are the scope adjustment knobs and side focus to your liking ?
Is the zoom magnification ratio as much as you expected ?
Will the scopes construction as well as the over all finish fit your needs ?
The purchase of a scope is major investment with some manufacturer's scopes costings as much as 2 - 3 times, or more what you purchased your rifle for.
Luckily you will most likely pay $ 400.00 - $600.00 more or less as your needs and research indicate !
In that light ( no pun intended) I suggest that before you decide on one brand , determine for yourself what brands of scopes and features that they offer and examine them yourself!
The long and the short of what I' m saying here is read the reviews, listen to others , but ultimately you yourself and your eyesight will be the decisive factor regarding the purchase of a new rifle scope.
Some readers may find this text to be redundant , however I feel that others may find it pertinent.
Addendum:
There really are a lot of great responses as well as information from members regarding the question that you posed about determining rifle scope quality.
Since you already have in your possession several scopes which you wanted to test for resolution and edge to edge sharpness I suggest that you a purchase resolution chart from a photography supply house like B&H Photography and do not download one one line as the end result will only be as good as your printers resolution. (maybe 600DPI Dot Matrix) ( although a Laser printer will give better resolution ) and that still may not yield acceptable results, however you just might want to try it for the heck of it! )
If you live in a rural area you can try focusing your scopes on a bright orange target at 100 yards say at dusk and in this manner you will be able to determine how much light gathering ability each scope has The results may surprise you!
I will state that what one man hales , another man hates.
Remember:
"It's not about the price you pay for quality ,
but rather the quality you receive for the price !" p.j.t.
Caveat emptor
My 2 Cents Worth !
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