Choosing the correct riflescope

At Hawke Optics we strive to cater for every shooting discipline and have a wide selection of scopes to suit your every need.  From the heavy-hitting centre-fire rifle to the compact crossbow, Hawke Optics has a scope to cover it all.

With such a large range to choose from, selection can sometimes be a little overwhelming.  For this reason we've simplified our range in 2015 and made this helpful guide to make choosing the correct riflescope easier.

There are two main questions that need answering to help select the correct scope:

1. What type of shooting will it be used for?
2. What rifle is the scope being mounted on?

Broadly speaking these two points are very closely related... hunting large game cannot be done using an air rifle.  

In this guide we're going to look at the finer details of each scope to help identify what tailors a scope to your specific needs.

Scope Tube Diameter

All Hawke scopes have a diameter of either 1" (25mm) or 30mm.  Generally speaking a 30mm scope produces better optics for having a 30mm optical system.  The 30mm scopes are also more robust and designed to withstand higher recoil energies.  The 1" riflescopes are however much more lightweight and often more compact by design.  

To help identify a scope as 30mm all Hawke scopes will have the number "30" in their name:

Hawke 30mm Scopes include - Frontier 30 SF, Endurance 30, Endurance 30 SF, Sidewinder 30 SF, Airmax 30 SF and Vantage 30 IR.

Hawke 1" Scopes include - Endurance LER, Endurance SF, Panorama, Airmax and Vantage.

Magnification

The magnification (or zoom) power of a scope is a measurement of the scope's optical system.  It is the ratio between the apparent size of an object and its true size.  The process of magnification allows the user to see more detail, increasing resolution.  Many scopes have a variable magnification setting, so the power of the magnification can be changed from low to high.

e.g. the  Hawke Vantage 3-9x40 has a variable magnification setting from 3x up to 9x magnification (the "40" relates to the objective lens diameter, see Objective Lens section below).

There are many different optical systems available with magnification powers from 1x up to 32x and above.  Selecting the correct magnification power for your needs is a crucial part of scope selection.

In general, lower magnification scopes are more practical for close range targets, with a 1x magnification being the smallest magnification available.  A 1x magnification allows the user to use both eyes simultaneously with the added benefit of now seeing a crosshair for aiming.  Examples of optics with a 1x magnification include  Hawke Red Dot Sights, the Endurance 1-4×24 and the XB30 Pro 1-5×24.

As soon as the scope's magnification raises above 1x magnification the perspective between each eye becomes unbalanced.  This then requires concentration to focus between each eye; one for scanning the area and the other for viewing the target through the riflescope.

Having a higher magnification will improve detail seen and helps to improve accuracy, particularly when shooting at long range.  However, it can also be a hindrance when trying to hold the rifle steady as any movement will be perceived as being more severe and can be disorientating.  For this reason, the higher magnifications are more commonly used by benchrest and target shooters who have the aid of bipods or shooting stands to hold their rifle steady.  These aids will not always be available to a hunter.

Hunters will often source a riflescope with a magnification that matches their binoculars.  This way the difference in switching from binocular to riflescope is minimized, speeding up target acquisition.  As most binoculars are either an 8x or 10x magnification, the riflescope magnification range will be able to cover this power.  For this reason, and those stated above, a very popular magnification range is a 3-9x magnification, or something quite similar.

Objective Lens Diameter

The objective lens of the scope is the front most lens, nearest to the muzzle of the rifle.  Its diameter is measured in millimeters and can vary from as little as 24mm up to 56mm and above.  

A larger objective lens will allow for better light capture, which can be crucial when shooting in low-light conditions.  Having a larger objective lens will allow the user to continue hunting for longer as dusk approaches and visible light decreases.  A compromise of having a larger objective lens is that it increases the weight of the riflescope slightly.

Reticle / Crosshair

Turrets

All scopes have two turrets used for adjusting the point of aim.  One turret adjusts the vertical aim, called the elevation turret and the other adjusts the horizontal aim, called the windage turret.

Again, there are many different styles of turrets available, each with their own design considered for a specific need.  Here follows a breakdown of each turret style on  Hawke riflescopes:

Fingertip Turrets

Frontier 30 SF, Endurance, Panorama, Airmax and Vantage:

These low-profile turrets designed to be unobtrusive and not get in the way or snagged on brush while moving through the field.  They have a screw on cover which must is removed before making adjustment.

Exposed Locking Turrets

Sidewinder 30 SF - These exposed turrets work on a push-pull locking system.  You pull the turret away from the scope to unlock it and make adjustment, then push it back toward the turret to make it lock.  

This allows for quick in-the-field adjustments to be made without needing to remove any turret cover.

Airmax 30 SF - These exposed turrets work on a twist-lock locking system.  You twist the top locking part of the turret to unlock it and make adjustment, then twist back to lock it again.