Optics Buying Guide

Show First

A laser-enabled scope like this Burris Eliminator allows you to place a perfect long-range shot without taking your eye off target.

Optics Buying Guide: Using A Laser Rangefinding Scope

THE SERIES Part 1: Optics Buying Guide: Iron Sights, Red Dots, and Scopes Part 2: Optics Buying Guide: Top Must-Know Terms for Picking the Right Scope  Part 3: Optics Buying Guide: Scope Mounts  Part 4: Optics Buying Guide: How To Properly Zero Your Scope Part 5: Optics Buying Guide: Finding Your Range with a Scope Reticle Part [...]

To find range to your target, you could make use of technology and use a scope with integrated laser rangefinder like the Burris Eliminator (bottom.) Or, with some basic math, you can use a scope with a graduated mil-dot or MOA reticle like the Burris Veracity (top.)

Optics Buying Guide: Finding Range With A Scope

You can figure out how far away an object is using your scope, provided its reticle has markings in mil dots or minutes of angle.

The test rifle for these examples was a Volquartsen 17 WSM Deluxe with a Burris Veracity 4-20x50 scope.

Optics Buying Guide: How To Properly Zero Your Scope

Simply put, the process of zeroing a scope matches the point of aim to the actual point of impact. Put differently, the process ensures that a bullet lands exactly where you put the crosshairs

These Burris XTR Signature Rings have various inserts that allow you to "ramp" the scope for long-range shooting.

Optics Buying Guide: Scope Mounts

Let’s take a quick look at scope mounts. This is important as your mounts must perfectly align the scope to the bore, and be able to take the abuse of recoil.

Different objective lens sizes should be compatible with magnification of the scope. Left to right: Burris Fullfield II 3-9x40mm, Burris XTR 2-10x42mm, and Burris Veracity 4-20x50mm.

Optics Buying Guide: Top Must-Know Terms for Picking the Right Scope

When it comes to buying a scope, it can be easy to be completely overwhelmed by all the technical terms you see. So, what do you do? Maybe take a look at a glossary?

The pattern inside is a lot more important than one might assume.

Optics Buying Guide: Scope Reticles

I’ll bet most of us tend to give only passing thought to reticle selection, but there’s a reason that there are somewhere over 96.2 billion reticle designs floating around out there. They’re designed for specific purposes.

The Burris XTR II on the right is designed for quick turret adjustments, while the Eliminator III and Fullfield E1 have reticles designed for hold over shooting.

Optics Buying Guide: Hold-Off Reticles vs. Adjustable Turrets

You have to account for two variables in long range shooting – distance and lateral movement from the wind and other factors.

What's the right answer? Fixed magnification, red dot or variable zoom scope? Or maybe a combination like the Burris AR-332 and FastFire 3 on the right?

Optics Buying Guide: Iron Sights, Red Dots, and Scopes

Choosing the right type of sights and optics can be a bit of a mystery. We’re going to take a look at iron sights, red dots, and scopes and break down their strengths and weaknesses. If you’re making a decision about sighting systems, start with this buying guide.