There’s a lot of confusion around rifle scope turrets — especially terms like locking, zero stop, and return to zero. They aren’t the same. Also note: turret features can be combined on the same scope (e.g., exposed “tactical-style” turrets that also lock and include a zero-stop). This guide sets out what each does, when it matters, and who it suits.
Turrets are the adjustment knobs on a rifle scope that control elevation (up/down) and windage (left/right). They let you zero the scope and, on advanced models, dial corrections for distance or wind. Choose based on how often you adjust and the environments you shoot in.
1) Capped (Standard Hunting) TurretsWhat they are: Low-profile knobs protected by screw-on caps.
Why & when to use: “Set and forget”. Ideal for hunters who zero once and rarely adjust in the field.
Who should use: UK stalkers, small game hunters, air rifle shooters.
Example models: Many entry/mid hunting scopes; check product pages for “turret caps”/“capped”.
e.g., Hawke Vantage 4-12x50 IR. Click the image to go see it
What they are: Uncapped, finger-adjustable knobs with click markings (MOA or MRAD). Frequently paired with locking and/or zero-stop.
Why & when to use: Quick, repeatable adjustments for distance and wind. Favoured for target or long-range shooting.
Who should use: Precision and range shooters, PRS competitors, advanced airgunners.
Examples on TacticalScope: Hawke Vantage 30 WA SF 4-16×50 — exposed, locking, resettable turrets (product spec lists “Exposed Locking Turrets”). Hawke Frontier 30 FFP 4-20×50 — exposed Zero Lock ’n’ Stop (Hawke’s locking + zero-stop design). WULF Hurricane 4.5-18×50 / 6.5-25×50 — locking turrets. Delta STRYKER ED 4.5-30×56 — zero-stop + locking turrets. Vector Sentinel/Sentinel-X 10-40×50 — target/tactical style with zero-reset; select variants include a zero-stop adjuster.
Hawke Vantage 30 WA 4-16x50 Exposed/locking and reset
What they are: Turrets with a push/pull, lift-to-unlock, or twist-to-lock to prevent accidental movement. Often paired with exposed/tactical designs and sometimes with zero-stop.
Why & when to use: Useful in the field where bumps or brush can shift settings.
Examples on TacticalScope: Hawke Vantage 30 WA SF 4-16×50 (exposed, locking); WULF Hurricane series (locking turrets).
WULF Hurricane 4.5-18x50 with locking turrets (great scope and very nice price)
What they are: A mechanical stop in the elevation turret that lets you return instantly to your original zero, even in low light or under pressure.
Why & when to use: Essential for long-range shooting where you dial multiple distances.
Examples on TacticalScope: Hawke Frontier 30 (Zero Lock ’n’ Stop); Delta STRYKER ED 4.5-30×56 (zero-stop + locking).
Delta STRYKER ED 4.5-30x56 HD zero stop lock turrets
What it is: Lets you set a reference mark at your zero. After dialing, you spin back to the mark. Not a physical stop — that’s zero-stop.
Example on TacticalScope: Vector Sentinel/Sentinel-X 10-40×50 (zero-reset style; certain variants include a zero-stop adjuster).
What BDC usually means: Reticles with pre-marked hold points for specific distances/ballistics — you hold, not dial. This is the common usage.
Less common: Some elevation turrets carry distance numbers (a BDC-style turret). These only track correctly if matched to your load/conditions.
MOA vs MRAD (MIL) – Click ValuesAny turret type can use either measurement system, be sure that the turret measures match the reticle. Example below from the Arken range that does the same scope models but with turrets and reticles in´both flavours, great scopes too.
Breifly, as this can be, and is the subject of many articles and Youtube videos!
- MOA: Imperial-based; 1 MOA ≈ 1.047" at 100 yards. Clicks often ¼ MOA.
- MRAD (MIL): Metric-based; 0.1 MIL click ≈ 1 cm at 100 m. Favoured in PRS/tactical and metric workflows.
Which to choose: Match your range cards and head-math. MOA pairs well with yards/inches; MRAD with metres/centimetres. Both track accurately when set up correctly.
Arken EP5 5-25x56 FFP - choose matched MOA or Mil Turrets and Reticle
Click and image to go see it
- Exposed = often marketed as tactical-style turrets (uncapped, finger-adjustable).
- Locking can be described as lockable, push/pull lock, lift-to-unlock, twist-to-lock.
- Zero Stop may appear as Zero Lock ’n’ Stop (Hawke), or simply Zero Stop.
- Return to Zero = Zero Reset, Zero Index (reference mark, not a hard stop).
- BDC usually refers to reticles; “BDC turrets” (distance-marked dials) are niche/special-order.
| Turret Type | Purpose | Pros | Cons | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capped | Set and forget | Simple, protected, reliable | Slow to adjust; not ideal for dialing | Hunting, air rifles, general use |
| Exposed / Tactical-style | Quick manual adjustment | Fast, precise, readable | Can be bumped; more complex | Target, PRS, long range |
| Locking | Prevents accidental movement | Secure in field use | Slightly higher cost | Hunting, tactical |
| Zero Stop | Quick return to base zero | No counting clicks; confidence | Higher cost | Long range, PRS, competition |
| Zero Reset (RTZ) | Reference mark to zero | Useful, simple | Not a mechanical stop | Mid-range tactical shooters |
| BDC (reticles) | Holdovers by distance | Fast; no dialing | Load/conditions sensitive | Hunting, quick shots |
- Entry level: Capped turrets – simplest build.
- Mid-range: Exposed/tactical-style or zero-reset.
- Premium: Locking and/or zero-stop — engineered for repeatability.
Pick turret features based on how often you adjust and how critical fast, repeatable settings are. Most UK hunters do well with capped or locking designs; long-range and PRS benefit from exposed turrets with zero-stop (and often locking). MOA vs MIL is just units — choose the one that matches your data.
Go see all our scopes HERE and use the Filter tool to "zero in" on a good choice. There is no option to filter by turret but you can for example, filter on Click Value (to get Mil or MOA) specialist discipline, FFP or SFP etc