How To Choose Rifle & Scope For Hunting?

Having a good rifle paired with scope to aim at the target is the primary requirement for good hunting. A rifle that enables you to shoot at the prey without much trouble and scope that lets you observe the object closely is the perfect match.

Both of these are crucial to having a satisfactory hunting experience. The requirement of the rifle & scope for hunting varies from the type of animal you are hunting and the prior experience you have.

Choosing the right rifle and scope to hunt is sometimes even hard for professional hunters. The features you need to look at before purchasing your rifle and scope are given here.

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How To Choose The Best Rifle To Hunt?

1. Do The Research

Purchasing a hunting rifle is really time-consuming, so knowing what kind of rifle you want can be helpful. The research includes deciding the purpose of using the rifle and gathering information about it. Then, you look at some of the models online that catch your attention and read about them.

You can even take this advice from any hunter friend you have or from a gunsmith. In addition, many gun manufacturers have provided their contacts online, which you can use. This information will help you save time and choose the right rifle for your hunting.

2. Have An Action Plan

Having your action plan regarding loading new bullets or cartridges and kicking out the fired cartridge can be really helpful in choosing the correct rifle for you. There are mainly two types of rifles you can get your hands on. The rifles that shoot only single shots are good to have an accurate shot resulting from buildup pressures.

The other rifles shoot repeated shots, which many new hunters prefer as they can shoot more than one bullet. If you want to know what is the best one for you, you can try both of these and decide which one suits you the best.

3. Set A Budget

If you purchase a rifle to shoot the animals, the rifle needs its attachment. As hunting is not always done in close range, a scope is required for you to look at far-away objects. A rifle without a scope may just be useless for a person who has just started hunting.

So you have to spend a couple of bucks on the scope as well. Thus, setting a budget can help you get an idea of how much money you can spend on the rifle.

4. Choosing The Cartridge

Cartridge, commonly called bullets, plays a significant role in the hunting process. However, the same bullet cannot be used to kill all types of animals. In addition, a single rifle can’t support cartridges of every caliber. So you need to choose the rifle that can be used for your hunting purpose.

If you have just got your feet in the hunting, it is recommended to go with light calibers such as .223 as there is no worry of recoil. If you are looking to hunt animals like deer or any other big animals, you can go with the cartridge .243, as it has been the most preferred caliber. There are higher caliber cartridges like .270 and .300, which are used to kill big animals.

5. Check The Material Before Purchasing

The lifespan of your rifle depends upon two factors, one being the material used in manufacturing and the other being the maintenance. Therefore, while purchasing the rifle, having the one with the best quality material is necessary to take your hunting experience to the next level.

The two most common materials used for the barrel are carbon steel and stainless steel. While stainless steel is more expensive than carbon steel, it is less prone to rust. However, if you choose a carbon steel barrel, regular maintenance is required to work fine.

For the stocks, the two choices of material are wood and fiberglass. As the wood gets damp in the rainy weather, making it lose its impact, it is recommended to choose stocks that are more durable. Another option you can go with for stock is fiberglass, which lasts long.

Now that you have the guide to follow while purchasing a rifle, here are some factors to consider while buying a scope.

How To Choose The Best Scope To Mount Your Rifle?

1. Objective Lens

An objective lens is set up on the scope at the very end to transmit light while a hunter is setting his aim. Usually, the size of the lens is directly related to the clarity and the brightness of the view. But having a big objective lens is not always better as handling it with the rifle becomes quite troublesome.

More and bigger objective lenses can even lead to some bad hunts due to the heaviness of the equipment. If your rifle becomes too heavy, you may not have the accuracy while taking the aim.

As bigger lenses have more area to reflect sunlight, a scope with more objective lenses becomes more prone to the reflection of light. Small scope rings do not work efficiently with more objective lenses, so taller rings are used.

The size of the objective lens is written after the x in numerical. For example, if you use a scope with 2x30mm written next to it, the number 30 represents the diameter of the objective lens in millimeters. The requirement of the size of the objective lens differs depending upon the range you are shooting from.

While hunting from a close range with a firearm with low recoil, it is suggested to use a lens of 28mm or even under. If the firearm has considerable recoil and hunting takes place in low light, you can use a scope with a 30 to 44mm lens. If you are looking for higher magnification while shooting from a long-range in a low light setup, opting for a 50mm or bigger lens is better.

2. Magnification

Magnification is the property of scope to magnify the object present in the surrounding. While hunting far away animals, it becomes necessary for a hunter to have a good view of the prey to aim correctly. Magnified objects tend to appear closer than seen with the naked eye.

Magnification comes in a big range, ranging from 1x to 12x. As the magnification power of the scope increases, the object starts appearing much closer. While many people think buying a scope with the highest magnification is good, it is not always the case.

The higher the magnification, the higher the price and the higher the requirements are to handle it. If a person is not good at handling the scopes of higher magnification, his chances of missing the target are higher.

Higher magnifications are very sensitive to movement, and thus, a person who is just getting started will lose his precision. Magnification powers are of two types, variable and fixed power. As the name signifies, the scope with one fixed magnification power will only let you magnify the object to that range.

For example, there are scopes that have 2×30 magnification; this scope has a magnification power of 2x. A scope with variable power of magnification gives a range in which you can magnify the surroundings. For example, a scope stating its magnification power 3-9×40 means that the magnification range is 3x to 9x.

3. Lens Coating

The lens used in the scopes comes with an invisible coating necessary to enhance the light and decrease the glare. All the objective lenses have only one type of coating from the below-mentioned types of coating.

1. Coated –if the scope says coated, it means that the surface of the lens has a single layer coating it.
2. Fully-Coated – a lens is said to be fully coated if only the exterior has a single layer as a coating.
3. Multi-Coated – if a surface of the lens has multiple layers coating it, it is multi-coated. Unfortunately, most lenses that have this coating are expensive.
4. Fully-Multi-Coated – if the external glass surface has multiple layers, then the lens is said to be a fully-multi-coated lens.

You do not have to worry about the type of coating your objective lens has, as the good ones have fully -multi-coating on them.

4. Reticles

The aiming point of the scope mounted on a rifle is called the reticle or the crosshairs. Reticle plays a huge role in shooting as it helps the shooter have an estimation of the distance to shoot at. Different reticles have different purposes of serving, and you can choose your ideal one depending upon your need. The three types of reticles are-

1. Duplex – This is the classic reticle and is beginner-friendly as this is easy to handle. It is only used for hunting or target shooting.
2. Mil-Dot – this reticle is best for the estimation of the distance at which the target is present. It is as simple as a duplex reticle, but this estimation feature makes it suitable for military and law enforcement.
3. Bcd – BCD is the best reticle if you want to shoot at long ranges as it gives the estimation of bullet drop. This reticle can be used to serve all the purposes of shooting.
4. Turrets

While aiming at the target, it becomes crucial to adjust the reticle accordingly, and to do that adjustment; turrets are there. There are knobs that allow you to adjust the reticle both vertically and horizontally. A knob on the side, called a windage knob, is responsible for horizontal adjustment. The other knob on the top is the elevation knob, which helps adjust the reticle upwards and downwards.

You should go for a turret that produces a click sound after being adjusted when choosing a turret. It helps you know if you can accurately take your aim or not. Another factor to consider is that the turret can be adjusted immediately. Having a reliable turret can help you better aim at the target.

There is also a parallax adjustment turret, but that is for the advanced shooters, while the turrets mentioned earlier are the essential requirement.

5. Durability

While looking for a scope, you need to get one that can last long. The scope has to withstand the recoil of the rifle for you to take better aim. If the scope gets too affected by the recoil of the shot, it can get displaced, leading you to lose your accuracy of the aim. A scope that needs to be constantly adjusted cannot help you take repetitive shots, thus doing the exact opposite of its purpose.

While hunting, you may have to go in some harsh climatic conditions, and in those conditions, the scope must do its work to help you have a better hunt. For example, in weather conditions like rain, if the lens of your scope accumulates water droplets on it, it is going to reduce visibility. So to ensure that this does not happen, anhydrous gas is filled inside the scope.

The gases filled inside the scope do not let any moisture get in. The two gases usually filled inside the scope are argon and nitrogen. Though argon has the property of being resistant to the changes in temperature, both gases fulfill the purpose of not letting the visibility decrease.

What Are MOA And MRAD?

Both MOA and MRAD are the units of measurement of accuracy. While MOA stands for a minute angle, MRAD is an acronym for milliradian. MOA is the most common measuring unit, and it stands for 1″ per 100 yards. The MRAD unit is not as common as the previous unit, but it can also help you judge if the aim is accurate or not.

Both the units are based on different systems; minute of angle is based on murica imperial system, and milliradian is based on the metric measurement system. You can use any of these units to measure as there is not much difference between them. Though the majority prefers to use MOA, if you find MRAD better, you can go with it as well.

Eye Relief

The distance at which the ocular lens is situated from your eye is called eye relief. Many rifles have recoil while shooting the cartridge, which makes both the rifle and scope jerk back. This sudden jerk of the scope can bruise a person’s eye if it is too close as the lens used is firm. So to save yourself from getting hit in the eye, it is recommended to have adequate eye relief.

Depending upon the recoil, you can get the amount of eye relief. The higher is the recoil, and the higher would be the eye relief. But if you determine an average of the range, getting relief of 3 – 4  inches can save you from bruising your precious organ.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What Kind Of Rifle Is Best For Hunting?

Accuracy matters a lot while shooting at the target, so a rifle that offers accurate and reliable performance is better for hunting. In addition, a hunting rifle should be easy to use and available at affordable prices.

2. What Should You Consider Before Purchasing A Hunting Rifle?

While purchasing a hunting rifle, determining the purpose of using the rifle is necessary. It will help you know about the caliber you should go for. If you are a beginner, choosing a rifle that is easy to use will be helpful.

3. What Is The Use Of Coating On The Lens Of Scope?

The coating on the lens is used to reduce the loss of light and glare. While hunting in the rain, the coating helps shed the water that has fallen on the lens. To have a better view in misty weather, this lens coating can give a clear view to shoot.

4. How Often Should You Clean Your Rifle Scope?

You should clean the rifle scope as soon as it gets dirty. However, gun scopes do not need to be cleaned regularly if they are kept in covers. So by proper maintenance, you do not have to clean the scope too often.

5. How Much Should You Spend On A Scope For A Hunting Rifle?

While aiming at your target, the scope is necessary, so invest a good amount to get the best quality scope. You can spend around half the amount you spent on the rifle to purchase a decent scope.

Conclusion

When purchasing a quality rifle to start hunting, investing in a durable and not too expensive rifle is recommended. In the beginning, going for equipment that is not too complex to handle is a good choice. With such equipment, your complete focus would be on the learning process rather than adjusting the rifle.

After purchasing the appropriate rifle, it is necessary to look for an adequate scope to take your shooting experience to new heights. For a scope, you need to understand what range you want to shoot at to get the perfect match for your rifle. By considering the factors mentioned earlier, you should be able to get the perfect pair of a rifle and the scope to mount it.