Hello, I’m Mike Fellon, the founder and lead writer behind ScopesReviews. My journey with firearms and optics began in Dallas, Texas, where my passion was ignited by my father, John. His meticulous approach to hunting, emphasizing the dedication and patience required for a successful shot, deeply influenced me. From those early days, learning to shoot with his shotgun and accompanying him on hunts, I developed a profound love for the precision and focus involved.
This lifelong passion led me to a career where I could immerse myself in firearms and optics. For five years, I honed my skills in the firearms department at Bass Pro Shops, assisting countless customers in selecting the perfect rifles and optics for diverse needs. My commitment to safety and proficiency is underscored by my NRA Range Safety Officer certification and my status as a Certified Firearms Instructor.
Over the past 15 years, I’ve dedicated myself to the pursuit of precision shooting. I regularly compete in long-range precision rifle competitions and have extensively documented my experiences on countless hunting trips across Texas, Montana, and Wyoming, pursuing game from whitetail deer to elk. This hands-on experience has allowed me to personally test and evaluate over 200 different rifle scopes and optical systems in real-world hunting and competitive scenarios.
My goal at ScopesReviews is to translate this deep well of experience into comprehensive, practical, and relatable reviews. I provide all necessary technical data, but more importantly, I share insights into a scope’s true purpose, its performance in the field, and the user’s tactile experience. To ensure my reviews cater to a wide audience, I select a range of scopes, from budget-friendly options to high-end professional models.
When I’m not testing scopes or writing reviews, I enjoy spending time with my family—my wife Jane and our three sons. The shooting passion is being passed down, as my oldest son is already embracing the sport. I also find joy in fishing, riding my motorcycle, and unwinding with video games, particularly those that satisfy my competitive spirit, like Call of Duty and Battlefield.
Purpose of the the Website
I created Scopesreviews.com in 2017 with the aim to provide the best information for people looking to buy a scope for their gun.
The guides are created to provide readers with enough information to make an informed decision.
Unlike other websites, Scopesreviews.com is solely focused on rifle optics and the scopes for each guide has been thoroughly tested, to make sure accurate and correct information is presented to the readers of the site. Each and every suggestion has been carefully chosen to fit the certain caliber/rifle best.
How I Test and Review Scopes
Every scope that I purchase and review needs to go through a scrutinized test before I decide whether to recommend it.
How do I test my scopes? The process takes a few steps, which are:
- First, I look at the packaging, but not whether I like the design, but whether the scope is well protected.
- The next step is reading the manual. It’s vital for me (and you) to understand how to use the scope properly.
- After reading the manual, I take out the scope and check how it looks and how much it weighs.
- After the initial eye test, I mount the scope onto the rifle following the manufacturer’s instructions.
- When mounted, I sight in the scope to check how many bullets it takes to zero.
- Once I sight in the scope, I try it out, shooting from different ranges. While at it, I try to move the scope around to assure it stays at zero.
- I also try to test how the scope reacts in various situations and conditions.
Once I’m done with my tests, I write down my initial thoughts about the scope. What I liked and disliked about it, any fun features I enjoyed using, etc.
Also, while I don’t believe scopes are something you should try to save your money on, the price does play an important role in my rating. For example, if two scopes offer very similar features and experience, I’d always recommend the one that comes at a lower price.
Once I have all the information I want, I sit down and write my review.
You can read more about How I test scopes here.
Contact Me
If you have any questions regarding rifle scopes or shooting in general, feel free to write me.
I understand that I am not faultless, so please do write to me for any information you find incorrect on the website.
Feel free to contact me for every other inquiry as well, I am here to help.
You can reach me on my Contact Page.