Rifle Scopes For Sale: Investigating Scope Zeroing, Bullet Drop, And Eye Relief

For experienced shooters, choosing between different rifle scopes for sale may seem like a simple process; however, for those who are new to hunting or target shooting, it is considerably more complicated. When it comes to the functionality, features, and characteristics of optics, there is much to consider and learn about before one could confidently call themselves an expert.

In this quick read, we will simplify some of the more confusing aspects of optic use and optimisation, including scope zeroing, bullet drop compensation, as well as eye relief and parallax. Understanding these practices and effects is integral if you want to ensure that you are getting the most out of your purchases, as effective use of your optics can make a world of difference to your overall shooting experience.

With Futurama, you have everything you need to guarantee success in the field, including a comprehensive selection of optics and accessories, tactical gear, bulletproof vests, gadgets, devices, and much more. If quality and variety are characteristics you value, we can say with certainty that our online store is ideal for you. If you’d like to find out more about the topics listed above, we encourage you to read along with us.

Rifle Scopes For Sale: What Bullet Drop Is And How To Account For It

To clarify, when we mention bullet drop, we are talking about ballistic drop, which is the parabolic trajectory that the projectile takes after being fired. As soon as a bullet is fired, it begins to drop off as gravity takes hold and attempts to counteract the bullet’s velocity, which it will continue to do until it hits something solid enough to stop it. The challenge then is to minimise and account for this pesky problem, and there are a few ways to do just that.

Aim Higher: The first, and most obvious, method of dealing with ballistic drop is aiming high. By doing so, the projectile is sent in a precise arc that, if done correctly, should counteract the dropoff and result in the shooter hitting their mark.

Velocity: Over time, ballisticians figured out that if the projectile is moving very quickly, the effects of bullet drop become less noticeable and easier to deal with. Hence why most modern firearms that are designed for long-range shooting emphasise projectile velocity and speed.

Bullet Shape: Modern bullets are long, tapered, and aerodynamic for good reason. Over the last few centuries, people began to realise that a round shape isn’t optimal when shooting at distance, which brought about the introduction of longer, conical projectiles. These high B.C. bullets are designed to reduce air resistance, retain energy, and mitigate wind deflection, which, ultimately, allows for a stable trajectory and enhanced accuracy.

The benefits of high-quality equipment should not be overlooked, as even the best marksmen in the world would struggle to perform with subpar optics and rifles. Many scopes have detailed measurements surrounding the reticle to help the shooter account for bullet drop off, so if you enjoy long-range shooting, a reliable, consistent optic is a must. If you want to go the extra mile, a laser rangefinder allows for pinpoint accurate distance gauging, making consistent compensation a breeze.

Once you are content with your setup and its performance, the rest comes down to practice and repetition. Meaning taking the time to shoot at various ranges to get a sense of your specific setup's velocity and drop off in centimetres. This way, you can precisely compensate for ballistic drop by memorising the pattern and mastering holdover.

Rifle Scopes For Sale: Unmissable Offerings From Our Online Store

As we always do, we will offer a few product recommendations to give you a sense of the optics at your disposal. At Futurama, we have one of the most comprehensive selections in the nation, and regardless of your preferences, you are sure to find the perfect scope for your purposes. Let’s get into a few options that are worth your consideration:

Rifle Scopes For Sale: Rudolph Optics VH 4-20x50mm Riflescope – T8 FFP

If versatility is a priority for you, the Rudolph Optics VH 4-20x50mm Riflescope could be an excellent option. It excels across many applications, including mid- to long-range shooting, target shooting, and hunting or vermin control. Considering that this optic will only set you back R19,899.00, the number of features becomes even more impressive. Some of these include an illuminated first focal plane (FFP) reticle, a large, 50mm lens which enables extraordinary light transmission, fully multi-coated lens, and more.

Like all Rudolph Optics products, the VH 4-20x50mm is built to withstand even the harshest conditions and terrain, which is further helped by the fact that it is waterproof, fog-proof, and shock-proof. If medium- to long-range shooting is your cup of tea, we cannot recommend this offering enough.

Rifle Scopes For Sale: Lynx LX3 4-25x50 Main Tube Riflescope – MRAD FFP

Lynx Optics is regarded as one of the finest optical manufacturers in the industry, and once you have a chance to use one of their offerings firsthand, you will quickly discover why. The Lynx LX3 4-25x50 Main Tube Riflescope was designed to meet the many challenges of extreme long-range shooting. To do so, Lynx introduced game-changing adjustment controls that allow for next-level finetuning and compensation.

Essentially, anything from 100m to 1,850m can be accounted for with the utmost precision (0.1 mils per click to be precise.) This makes accounting for ballistic drop simpler and more consistent than ever before. The LX3 also comes standard with an easy-to-engage zero stop, modern HD glass and coatings, excellent windage adjustments, an MRAD FFP reticle, and more. At R29,589.00, this optic is easily one of the finest options at this price point.

Rifle Scopes For Sale: Element Optics Theos 6-36X56 Riflescope – FFP

If you’re looking for an optic in the premium class, it truly doesn’t get much better than the Element Optics Theos 6-36X56 Riflescope. Element Optics went above and beyond when designing and manufacturing this masterpiece, and it includes just about every feature you could ever want when it comes to riflescopes: Capped windage with thread protection rings, illuminated FFP reticle, an aircraft-grade aluminium housing, tool-free resettable turrets, a hard mechanical zero-stop, and a 34mm main body tube, just to name a few.

If you are an experienced marksman looking to take your performance to the next level, the Theos 6-36X56 is the cream of the crop. Priced at R66,999.00, it is an investment, but it practically guarantees years of consistency and precision – Element Optics is known for creating optics that stand the test of time.

Rifle Scopes For Sale: Effective Scope Zeroing

Before getting to scope zeroing, we recommend covering a few other bases beforehand, namely mounting your optic of choice (this one seems obvious), torquing the base and rings, adjusting to account for proper eye relief, and levelling the reticle. Once you have completed the aforementioned tasks and collected a few sandbags and targets, you are good to go. We highly recommend zeroing on a dry, wind-free day, as this will ensure that there are few, if any, obstructing external factors.

To add to this, when zeroing it is critical that you use the same type of bullets throughout, as using different projectiles will cause inaccuracies and, ultimately, hinder the entire process. The purpose of dialling in a scope is to ensure that the point of aim matches the point of impact, which is essential if you want to encourage pinpoint accuracy. Generally, shooters choose to zero their scopes at a range of 90-100m, as it is distant enough to notice discrepancies but not so far away that bullet drop becomes a major consideration.

When dialling in your scope it is important that you use a rest of some form, like the sandbags mentioned earlier, so that the firearm is as stable as possible. Take your first shot and take note of the point of impact compared to the point of aim. In between shots, allow the barrel to cool sufficiently to ensure consistency. Take a second shot to check whether the first was an accurate indication of the discrepancy between the point of aim and impact.

Once you have a group, you can then begin to make gradual adjustments to inch your point of impact closer to your point of aim. Note that, depending on the scope in question, if you are adjusting the “Up” elevation dial, it will not affect the reticle itself, but rather the point of impact. With this in mind, it is necessary to take a few shots between minor adjustments, as this allows you to get a sense of how the dials are affecting the impact point. Continue this process until you feel that the bullet is impacting in the exact spot that your reticle is located.

Rifle Scopes For Sale: A Brief Breakdown Of Eye Relief And Parallax

Any experienced shooter will already understand that the riflescope is just as, if not more, important than the firearm itself. And one of the foremost indicators that an optic is of high quality is the way in which it addresses eye relief. For those who are unsure, eye relief refers to the distance the user’s eye needs to be from the lens in order to see the entirety of the optic’s field of view (FOV).

This is critical because effective eye relief allows you to clearly and precisely focus on your target while also being able to see each of the reticle’s elements and measurements. Without this, something known as “scope shadow” is likely to occur, which can be described as an optical effect that creates a dark ring around the target – this is often brought about when the user is too close or too far from the ocular lens.

If you are eager to encourage ultimate precision, efficient eye relief is non-negotiable. For these reasons, we recommend conducting thorough research on any new scope you are considering purchasing, as each manufacturer and model will bring unique pros and cons to the table. Many of the offerings on our Futurama online store facilitate limitless eye relief, making them ideal choices for shooters who emphasise precision.

Parallax is another term that comes up frequently in relation to optics, and it can also have a major impact on accuracy and performance. The parallax error occurs when the user’s eye isn’t perfectly aligned with the centre of the reticle, which often results in the crosshairs appearing off-centre or misaligned. Essentially, this makes it seem like there is a displacement between the target and reticle, making it unlikely that the shot will hit its mark.

Rifle Scopes For Sale: In Conclusion

With that, we come to the end of our comprehensive guide. For those who are new to shooting or perhaps needed a refresher, we hope that you have this information to be helpful and informative. If you have any further questions, get in touch with us and one of our in-house experts will get back to you in no time. At Futurama, we are all about helping our clients make the best purchase for their purposes.