How to Buy a Rifle Scope for Deer Hunting

By eHow Electronics Editor

Rate: (3 Ratings)

Get ready for deer hunting season by buying the right rifle scope. You can hunt without one, but you'll want to know for certain what it is you are shooting at. Get that young buck in sight and softly squeeze the trigger. Enjoy every hunter's dream of bringing back that big one. Follow these steps to buying a rifle scope for deer hunting.

Flag Article

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Step1

Choose the right magnification. For hunting big game, the 3x-9x is a satisfactory magnification that most hunters use on their hunting rifles. In other words, the scope can magnify 3 times at the lowest range and up to 9 times at the highest. However, you can use any magnification that feels right to you. Find a scope which allows you to adjust the magnification with an easy knob, so that you can change the power even with wet fingers.

Step2

Choose the right size lens. The larger the lens in milliliters, the more light enters the scope. This makes the image brighter and produces better resolution, therefore the deer's image is much more clear. However, scopes that have larger lenses are also more difficult to carry. A 40mm lens is the most common lens used for deer hunting.

Step3

Check the optics on the scope. You'll want them to be bright enough to see. Most come with the optics coated for the maximum light exposure.

Step4

Pick a finish. Scopes are always black, but they can have a gloss or a matte finish. Hunters tend to go with a finish that matches their rifles. Some like their rifles to look impressive and shiny, while others prefer a matte finish so their guns won't shine in spots of sunlight drifting down into the woods.

Step5

Choose a good cross-hair guide. The cross hair, also called a reticle or plex, are the guide lines that you see when you look into the scope. There are a few variations, but the standard cross with lines that thicken at the outside and narrow at the point where they cross is a great choice for a deer hunting scope.