Hunting is an activity that’s been a part of the lives of our ancestors since the dawn of time, and it continues to be a relevant sport to this day. Some of the reasons people mention being avid hunters include the responsibility for taking care of one’s food, experiencing nature with all its wild charm up close and personal, and the sense of power and achievement it brings about.
There are even more reasons that would convince any beginner to take it up as a hobby if we consider the benefit of staying fit as it takes physical effort to locate, kill, prep and carry your game, and staying socially active as you can meet up more hunting enthusiasts like yourself.
The learning opportunities as you get to choose and use your hunt gear, and find ways to improve your success rate are also part of the thrill which keeps hunters coming back to the wilderness for more. Take the use of shooting scopes as an example of a handy accessory that can significantly improve your hunting.
You would use a rifle sling to improve your hunting, so why not opt for enhancement with another practical and functional accessory? While many hunters didn’t find them to be a sheer necessity not so long ago when out and about looking for prey, especially not those who already counted on binoculars as part of their essential accessories kit, things started to change direction once the advanced scope design and its advantages became widely known.
What Is the Purpose of a Rifle Scope?
Think of it as the binoculars, or better yet telescope, made to be mounted on your rifle. It’s an optical sighting device containing one (e.g. fixed scopes) or various types of lenses (e.g. variable scopes) used for magnification so you can better see your game from a distance. Choosing specific designs of shooting scopes that would most benefit you comes down to your hunting style, the landscape, and the range.
If you hunt small game at a range of up to 90m (approximately 100 yds) or so, then you’d benefit from a fixed range model that has up to 1-4x magnification. In case it’s a bigger game, and from a bigger distance of say about 180m or so (approximately 200 yds) in forests or mountains, then you’d require magnification of 5-8x.
The 9-12x and upwards magnification is meant for hunters who usually go to open landscapes such as fields and need a scope with a range that would cover beyond the 180m. If you intend to change the locations and ranges, then be sure to choose a variable scope with more lenses. This would help you improve your precision and accuracy significantly, even if it means taking shots from a distance and enable you to spend much less effort, time, and ammunition on the game. The chance to shoot at a longer range would also provide you with varied hunting options as you won’t be limited by distance.
Not only is this beneficial for an avid hunter with experience but a beginner too who’s yet to gain the needed self-confidence and skills. Same as it’s useful to be at the top of your hunt with the most useful rifle as your main tool, having a functional riflescope as your extra tool would additionally boost your skills and self-confidence as a result.
So, if you want to become a better overall shooter, this customisation is highly recommended. Looking for a brand that would impress you with the quality of the optics, parts, materials, pricing, and the warranty would get you to Australian-owned Nightforce Optics, a subsidiary of Lightforce Performance Lighting.
Why Are Nightforce Scopes So Good?
Several reasons! They’re famous for the top-notch shooting scopes designs made from sturdy materials and coatings resulting in high-quality builds, as well as high accuracy – world record even in long-range bench rest competitions, glass clarity and light transmission. Although it’s difficult to single out their best scopes, there are some favourites when it comes to price, basics, compactness, and precision.
Affordable Nightforce Scope
If, as a beginner, you want an all-around rifle scope that’s variable, perfect for the different game at close and long ranges, that’s also affordable then your ideal model is within the Nightforce SHV range. The SHV 5-20x56mm model offers the precision the brand is famous for at a lower price tag and is perfect if you’re searching for unbeatable clarity, colour, and crispness no matter the magnification setting.
Moreover, it offers you flexibility with the mounting options and adjustments, so you have a say in what’s most suitable for you with the full 80 MOA of elevation adjustment, and side parallax adjustment. Depending on your shooting style, you can also have a say in the illumination.
Basic Nightforce Scope
If you want to ensure you get something top-notch, the kind of quality the US army would use, then you need to look into the NXS range. The NXS 5.5-22x50mm is a perfect example of what a basic quality scope looks like. With an easily adjustable brightness, 100 MOA of elevation travel, analogue illumination, amazing eye relief, and ZeroStop feature, it means it’s a convenient scope fit for mid to long-range targeting.
Compact Nightforce Scope
Looking for something compact that would easily be mounted on AR or AK rifles? What you need is in the ATACR range. The ATACR 1-8x24mm is a pretty compact riflescope and a very reliable option you can find, with an impressive and precise wide field of view, variable magnifying options, low-profile adjustments, intelligent reticle, ED glass, and bomb-proof construction.
Precise Nightforce Scope
When you’re in search of the scope with utmost precision, you need to focus on the Nightforce Benchrest range. The Precision Benchrest 12-42x56mm is known for the superior resolution fit for long-range fine detail, calibrated to true 0.125 MOA adjustment, and has extra-fine focus thanks to the adjustable objective. Furthermore, it’s got two glass-etched reticles, one of which is the NP-2DD for hunting, and the NP-R2 for long-range use. This model happens to be one of the used for setting world records!
