Whether you are an avid hunter or a skilled marksman who loves competition, you want to make sure you’re using the most suitable riflescope for the right application. In your journeys, you may have wondered if there are any benefits to using one scope size over another.
In this guide, we’re going to show where there are two advantages of large scopes over smaller ones and why they matter. But first, let’s have a brief discussion on scopes, their sizes, and the difference they make.
Why Use Large Riflescopes?
If you’re a hunter or target shooter, you’ve probably heard of the difference between a large riflescope and a small riflescope. But what is that difference, and is there more than one? What are the benefits of each? And how can you decide which is right for you?
To successfully answer these questions, let’s start with large rifle scopes and work our way to their advantages.
What Is a Large Riflescope?
A large riflescope is a scope that is typically mounted on a larger caliber rifle. A large riflescope can be mounted to any rifle with the appropriate amount, but its size and weight may make it difficult to use with smaller caliber rifles.
The lenses in this type of scope are much larger than those in the smaller riflescopes. This increases magnification and therefore offers better visibility when targeting game at long distances.
The optics in large riflescopes are often more expensive due to their size and the high level of quality they offer. What’s more, the lenses also require better resources to produce, which increases production costs.
As a result, you can expect to pay significantly more for larger rifle scopes compared to the often budget-friendly prices of smaller scopes.
Different Parts of a Large Riflescope
Modern large riflescopes are very complex and intricate pieces of equipment. In the simplest terms, the scope is a magnifying lens that has been mounted to a rifle’s barrel. It lets you see things much more clearly from a distance.
The scope is comprised of a tube, a lens, an eyepiece, and an objective lens. The objective lens is what captures your target and projects it onto the lens where it can be seen in great detail.
The tube directs light from the objective lens to the eyepiece, which is located at the front of the scope. It focuses this light until it reaches your eye, which allows you to see everything in perfect clarity. Lenses are vitally important in all types of scopes because they determine how well you can see through them.
In general, larger scopes have higher magnification power than smaller ones. This is because they have bigger tubes and lenses that can take in more light and project it onto your eye with greater ease. Moreover, a larger riflescope will offer more magnification than a smaller one while still maintaining close focus at further distances. These factors combine to ensure there is no distortion or blurring while looking through the riflescope.
Benefits of a Larger Scope
A large riflescope is typically mounted on a high-powered rifle. These are often used by hunters because they are larger, brighter, and contain higher quality glass than small riflescopes. As we’ve already discussed, large scopes allow for greater magnification power, which serves to help you see your targets at farther distances.
While it’s nice to be able to see your target from far away, you also need to be able to see it with enhanced visual clarity. A powerful scope won’t do you much good if you can’t zero in on detailed areas of your target.
Large scopes help provide brighter image quality and therefore sharper visual clarity. This is absolutely essential when hunting game that you intend to eat, as you need to be sure to hit the animal in the proper area.
So as you can see, a large scope is definitely the way to go if you’re hunting from farther distances. A smaller scope would only serve to get you halfway, thus interfering with your hunting expedition.
How to Know What Size Scope Is Good for You
When it comes to riflescopes, there are two main sizes: small and large. The size you choose depends on what you are shooting.
A small rifle scope is best for close-range shooting since it will produce a larger field of view at 100 yards than a large riflescope. If you’re hunting small same in the woods or plinking in your back yard, a small scope is all you should need.
A large riflescope, on the other hand, shines in long-range shooting because it allows you to clearly see things that wouldn’t otherwise be possible to see in your viewfinder. It is absolutely imperative that you select the correct scope for your needs. Otherwise, your scope will cause you to struggle with your shots, and you’ll likely miss more than you hit.
So which one should you choose? If you’re looking for a riflescope for close-range shooting, go with the smaller size. But if you shoot long-range shots, go with the larger scopes.
In Closing
Whether you’re a hunter, a tactical shooter, or a competitive shooter, large riflescopes will get the job done. They offer a wide field of view and an enhanced ability to see in low light. But what determines the size of the riflescope you need? The size of the target and your distance to it.
For closer ranges, you want a smaller scope. For longer distances, you want a larger scope. But what happens if you plan on doing a little bit of both? No problem, as there are rifle scopes that are designed to offer close- and long-range shooting.
If you’re not sure what scope is best suited to your needs, find a good resource online that covers the magnification and distance of a particular scope. This will help you to better understand what the riflescope is capable of so you can determine if it’s right for you.
Mike Fellon is an experienced firearms enthusiast and optics expert. He delivers unbiased and detailed rifle scope reviews. Born and raised in Dallas, Texas. He inherited his hunting passions after his father John – he was fascinated by his stories, hearing how much attention, focus, dedication and patience he invested in shooting every animal. When he was old enough, his father first allowed him to shoot some cans and bottles with his shotgun, and then took him hunting – it was love at first sight. Mike has never stopped shooting ever since.