Scope Decision Guide: "You can't always get what you want!" —— Scope Performance Triangle #1

[JungleShooter]

When I shop for anything, I WANT IT ALL!!
E.g.: I want a full size SUV,
that gets at least 40 miles a gallon,
that I can drive at high velocities through steep turns in our crazy city of 11.000,
and that drives at least 300.000 miles without any major problems,
and costs under $20.000 new.

You laugh.
I cry.
When I buy a car.
And when I buy scopes.


BECAUSE:
You can't always get what you want!

➠ I need to decide on my priorities when buying a scope.
Because I can't always get:
➊ High magnification, and
➋ Wide field of view, and
➌ Compactness (light, short).




The following diagram illustrates this and can help you weigh your own priorities — in order to make a better scope purchase — a sort of scope purchase decision guide (for these 3 aspects only).


If you increase 1 of the 3 scope characteristics mentioned above, the other 2 will diminish....



What questions do you have?
How can I improve this?

Matthias


Attachment:
Scope Performance Triangle #1

 

[L.Leon]

Oh boy! My head is spinning, thankfully at the practical for me, sub 60 yards pesting and plinking that I do? The majority of budget price scopes suit. No need for to overly analyze what’s practical in practice, as opposed to in theory.

 

[Mr.H]

Oh boy! My head is spinning, thankfully at the practical for me, sub 60 yards pesting and plinking that I do? The majority of budget price scopes suit. No need for to overly analyze what’s practical in practice, as opposed to in theory.

Mine, too! I just ordered a light weight Maven yesterday, not in love with the reticle, but like you, pesting 25-60 yds should be good enough.

 

[JungleShooter]

Sorry, no head spinners intended!!


It's an aid for those people who have high demands on their equipment,
and those who want the most performance for their money.

Matthias

 

[Ignoto]

Personally the most bang for buck in optics for my elr shooting needs is translated in either an element titan 3-18 or a vector continental 3-18 with around 44mils for 600eur and clear glass. There are better off course but a lot pricier.
Paired with a good bc slug you got a toy to reach from 20 to around 800yds.

Best value glass alone i have tried was from every vector optic i tried.
Minotaur
Continental
Some cheaper low mag ones

Personally i have found difference only in sharpness/smoothness wich is a personal taste side by side with a theos/continental in a cloudy afternoon comparing at same magnification.
Being the theos is more smooth and continental more sharp. Not pulling opinions just giving mine while always taking price in consideration.

Thank you for the hard work on your list it served me well previously.

Cheers

 

[Ignoto]

I have also a zero eye relief scope that if you look at the technical sheet it can be a compact and very wide field of view so 2 sides of the triangle plus 60+ mrad adjustment.

Scope being a hawke airmax 30 touch 3-12 sfp

What the sheet doesn't tell you is that of those 60 mils you can use about 25 in good focus and without losing quality greatly.

 

[Hateful McNasty]

If they sold you exactly what you want then there not able to sell you a bunch of stuff you don't want trying to find the one you want . / Don't generate revenue...

 

[beerthief]

Scopes are engineered to do one aspect well OR several aspects well enough .

 

[JungleShooter]

What the sheet doesn't tell you is that of those 60 mils you can use about 25 in good focus and without losing quality greatly.

Yes, Ignoto, that is a good point!

We just discussed the optical disadvantages of short scopes (with a high magnification ratio) on another thread.
➠

Nightforce ATACR vs. the NX8: How big is the difference?

S7 what is the minimum yardage that you'll be shooting a lot? Don't discount the low parallax adjustment of 25 yards, as it works for most hunting and bench shooting. Unless doing field target competition with close parallax wheel ranging or 10 yard bench rest work a lot, a 25 yard parallax...

www.airgunnation.com

● Whenever I can coax my computer to allow me to use CorelDraw again () I will add that information to my Scope Performance Triangle.

Matthias

 

[drjjpdc78]

I notice that most of the scopes I see on the airgun websites are not the names I recognize from the choices I made from my powder burning rifles. I was not familiar with Hawke, UTG, Mantis, etc. I plan on getting a break barrel spring piston model so the spring action must shake the scope.

 

[JungleShooter]

I notice that most of the scopes I see on the airgun websites are not the names I recognize from the choices I made from my powder burning rifles. I was not familiar with Hawke, UTG, Mantis, etc. I plan on getting a break barrel spring piston model so the spring action must shake the scope.

Yes! That is hugely important for a springer gas-piston airgun — a scope that can withstand the harsh double recoil.

When you're getting ready for scope shopping, ask the forum which brands and models are spriner approved (and fulfill some of your other requirements).

Matthias