Here's something that I didn't realize until I'd already gotten, as the saying goes, "ass-deep in alligators". In other words, I had been buying air guns and putting scopes on them for a while, spending more than I should in the process. (you know how that goes) Basically, I wanted steak for the price of hamburger. It took me a while to figure out why I wasn't very happy with my shooting experience. Turns out I shooting myself in the foot! What I was missing was something that only a good scope can give - a clear image with a usable reticle in a suitable power range for what I was doing with the gun.
So, I decided to change the way I built my rifles and came up with a formula that kind of encapsulates the way I shop now. That formula is:
Gun = 1/3 money spent
Scope = 2/3 money spent
That's right... the sweet spot for me is getting the right tool for the job and putting about twice that much into the optics. This has brought my fun factor from "enjoyable" to "blissful". Admittedly, it could go beyond that into the "heavenly" realm if I had a preposterous amount of money. But, alas, I'm retried and must be more judicious with my funds.
3 scenarios:
1) You're moving when you spot a moving target. You bring your gun up and quickly take the shot.
2) You are still and your target is not moving. There is time to adjust things for that "thread the needle" perfect shot.
3) The target isn't currently moving, but could. So, there's limited time for a shot.
Each of these requires a different view through the glass. Scenario 1 reticle needs to be thick enough for your eye to quickly pick it up and position it on the target. Scenario 2 reticle needs to be finely etched and highly detailed. Scenario 3 is somewhere in-between - not too heavy, yet not too cluttered.
To demonstrate what I've taken so long to figure out (and, hopefully, help you avoid wasting as much time, effort, and money as I have) compare the view through my current favorites. Arranged as (top left to bottom right):
UTG Accushot 10x50 SWAT MIL-DOT
UTG Accushot 4-16x44 SWAT Mil-dot_SFP
Athlon Argos BTR 6-24x50_FFP
Blackhound Genesis 6-24x50 MOA_FFP
Element Helix 6-24x50_FFP
Vector Optics 4-16x44_FFP
Vortex Diamondback Tactical 4-16x44_FFP
First group is on low magnification; second group is on high.
Only one pic of the UTG 4-16 reticle because as a Second Focal Plane (SFP) it doesn't change.
And the 10x50 SWAT is, of course fixed. So, only one view there.
NOTE: the rifles are not canted and the scopes are actually level. It's just the way I held the phone.
So, I decided to change the way I built my rifles and came up with a formula that kind of encapsulates the way I shop now. That formula is:
Gun = 1/3 money spent
Scope = 2/3 money spent
That's right... the sweet spot for me is getting the right tool for the job and putting about twice that much into the optics. This has brought my fun factor from "enjoyable" to "blissful". Admittedly, it could go beyond that into the "heavenly" realm if I had a preposterous amount of money. But, alas, I'm retried and must be more judicious with my funds.
3 scenarios:
1) You're moving when you spot a moving target. You bring your gun up and quickly take the shot.
2) You are still and your target is not moving. There is time to adjust things for that "thread the needle" perfect shot.
3) The target isn't currently moving, but could. So, there's limited time for a shot.
Each of these requires a different view through the glass. Scenario 1 reticle needs to be thick enough for your eye to quickly pick it up and position it on the target. Scenario 2 reticle needs to be finely etched and highly detailed. Scenario 3 is somewhere in-between - not too heavy, yet not too cluttered.
To demonstrate what I've taken so long to figure out (and, hopefully, help you avoid wasting as much time, effort, and money as I have) compare the view through my current favorites. Arranged as (top left to bottom right):
UTG Accushot 10x50 SWAT MIL-DOT
UTG Accushot 4-16x44 SWAT Mil-dot_SFP
Athlon Argos BTR 6-24x50_FFP
Blackhound Genesis 6-24x50 MOA_FFP
Element Helix 6-24x50_FFP
Vector Optics 4-16x44_FFP
Vortex Diamondback Tactical 4-16x44_FFP
First group is on low magnification; second group is on high.
Only one pic of the UTG 4-16 reticle because as a Second Focal Plane (SFP) it doesn't change.
And the 10x50 SWAT is, of course fixed. So, only one view there.
NOTE: the rifles are not canted and the scopes are actually level. It's just the way I held the phone.
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