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Step 1
Figure out your price range. Scopes generally start around $100 and go into the thousands. Keeping your budget in mind, compare features to cost, and remember the reasons you are buying the scope.
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Step 2
Identify what you are going to be shooting. Target shooting and hunting scopes are different than the scopes used for tactical response. For practice shooting, a 3-9x is practical, while you would use a 6-24x for target shooting. If just need to see the target, as in hunting, a 4-14x will do. If you want to identify the target before firing, then you want a variable up to 20x.
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Step 3
Choose the lens size. The larger the lens the more light it gathers. If you are shooting at daybreak or dusk, a larger lens, say a 50mm, gives you better visibility.
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Step 4
Consider the accessories: bases, rings and covers. Choose a base that keeps the rifle and scope together the best. One piece bases do this better and have less flex. Choose high quality rings that won't strip when you change them out. Scope covers are a cheap necessity that can keep your scope scratch and lint free.
