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Featured
Prism Sights - What Are They? What Are The Benefits?
Prism rifle scopes, also known as prismatic scopes, are a type of optical sighting device used on rifles that utilize a glass prism to focus the image, rather than a series of lenses like traditional rifle scopes. Prism sights are also ideal if you cannot use red dot sights due to eyesight astigmatism isses that produce fuzzy dots. Here's an overview of what prism rifle scopes are and their key characteristics:
Key Characteristics of Prism Rifle Scopes:
Optical Design:
Prism System: Unlike traditional scopes that use a series of lenses to magnify and focus the image, prism scopes use a glass prism. This design allows for a more compact and durable optical system.
Fixed Magnification: Most prism scopes have a fixed magnification level, meaning they don't offer variable zoom like some traditional scopes. Common magnification levels are typically in the range of 1x to 5x.
Compact Size:
Prism scopes are generally smaller and lighter than traditional scopes with similar magnification levels. This makes them ideal for use on rifles where maintaining a low profile and reducing weight is important.
Etched Reticle:
The reticle (the aiming point inside the scope) is etched onto the glass, providing a permanent aiming reference that remains visible even if the illumination system fails or the battery runs out. Many prism scopes also offer illuminated reticles for better visibility in low-light conditions.
Eye Relief:
Eye relief refers to the distance from the eyepiece to your eye where you can see the full field of view. Prism scopes often provide generous eye relief, which can be beneficial for shooters wearing glasses or using the scope in dynamic situations.
Parallax-Free:
Many prism scopes are designed to be parallax-free at a certain distance, typically around 100 yards. This means the reticle stays on target regardless of eye position, which helps improve accuracy.
Durability:
The compact and simple optical design contributes to the durability of prism scopes. They are often built to withstand harsh environmental conditions and are resistant to shocks, making them suitable for tactical and outdoor use.
Field of View:
Despite their compact size, prism scopes can offer a wide field of view, allowing shooters to maintain better situational awareness and track moving targets effectively.
Advantages of Prism Rifle Scopes:
Compact and Lightweight: Ideal for carbines and lightweight rifle setups.
Fixed Magnification: Simplifies the shooting process and reduces the chance of failure due to fewer moving parts.
Etched Reticle: Always visible reticle ensures you have an aiming point even without illumination.
Clear Optics: Provides bright and sharp images for precise shooting.
Wide Field of View: Helps with target acquisition and tracking.
Durability: Built to withstand harsh conditions and rough handling.
Parallax-Free: Improves accuracy without the need for adjustments.
Applications:
Tactical Use: Suitable for military and law enforcement applications due to their durability and quick target acquisition.
Hunting: Ideal for hunters who need a lightweight, reliable scope for various lighting conditions.
Recreational Shooting: Popular among sport shooters for their ease of use and consistent performance.
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Featured
What is Rifle Scope Parallax Adjustment?
What is Rifle Scope Parallax Adjustment
There is a certain obsession over parallax “focus” for some scope users. Often justified, sometimes not!
But what is this parallax “focus” thing all about?
For starters lets get one thing technically straight right away. It is NOT parallax focus. It is Parallax Correction.
Often referred to as focus as it being incorrect will manifest as a focus issue. But it is NOT a focus tool. Be one of the pro team and start calling it parallax correction today!
Parallax effect is the term that describes the difference in angles between objects that are seen up close and those seen far away. When you look at telephone poles passing by on the side of the road, those closest to your car seem to pass very fast, while the ones far away seem to go very slow. That difference is due to the parallax effect.
The reticle in your scope is like a telephone pole that's very close. If you move your head on the stock while watching the target through the scope the reticle may seem to move, wobble or blur against the target. That affects where you perceive the aim point to be, and that affects your accuracy. Parallax correction adjustment reduces this phenomenon to the greatest extent possible.
Parallax correction therefore is a must for anyone attempting to use either a high magnification scope, shooting drastically different yardages with the same scope or anyone attempting to shoot at extremely close ranges or extremely long ranges. Especially so if it is a combination of these factors.
Important note on parallax adjustment versus regular ocular focus
A common mistake is to use the parallax adjustment in an attempt to focus the reticle. The ocular end (eye piece) has a focus for the reticle. That is the sole purpose of the ocular focus. Returns have been caused by users attempting to use the reticle focus as an image focus and or using the parallax adjustment as a reticle focus. If done incorrectly the result will be poor clarity and blurry vision.
First action - Use the ocular focus to focus the reticle and only focus the reticle while looking through the scope at the sky. This will keep you from trying to focus an object instead of the reticle.
Ocular Focus (eyepiece) adjusts the scope to the individual shooter's eye... this is a one time adjustment. (For wearers of prescription lenses this could be a multiple procedure event if new prescription arrive.) The purpose of this adjustment is to adjust the scope so that the image of the reticle (crosshairs) is properly aligned with the back of the shooters eye.
Parallax adjusts the target to the reticle (crosshair). The target image and the reticle must be on the same focal plane within the scope or there is room for apparent movement of the reticle on the target when the shooters eye moves (or is positioned differently at the scope).
Tactical style scopes are not usually supplied with parallax adjustment because the exact range of the target can never be anticipated. Scopes of lower magnification are not usually supplied with parallax adjustment either, because at lower powers the amount of parallax is so small as to have no importance for practical, fast target acquisition.
Parallax focus adjusts the target to the reticle (crosshair). The target image and the reticle must be on the same focal plane within the scope or there is room for apparent movement of the reticle on the target when the shooters eye moves (or is positioned differently at the scope).
Tactical style scopes are not usually supplied with parallax adjustment because the exact range of the target can never be anticipated. Scopes of lower magnification are not usually supplied with parallax adjustment either, because at lower powers the amount of parallax is so small as to have no importance for practical, fast target acquisition.
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Featured
Night Vision vs. Thermal Scopes for Hunting & Tactical
Night Vision vs. Thermal Scopes for Hunting & Tactical
What is your preferred device when it comes to hunting? While we all need a good rifle, great focusing on the target is required for accurate shots. Remember with hunting, all that is needed is a single clean shot. You miss, and the game is gone. That means more hours waiting to get a clear target on your way. This is why scopes are a must-have device for every hunting adventure. However, which is a better option between night vision and thermal scopes?
Both night vision and thermal scopes enable us to see things that our naked ours cannot see when the sun goes down. Night vision devices have been on the market for long and probably what you know well. However, thermal scopes have become a recent competitor and becoming popular among hunters. Let’s compare each of these devices and see what works best.
Night vision devices and thermal scopes meaning
Night vision devices
Night vision devices work by gathering light as we commonly say. However, NV devices don’t just gather light as we know it but make use of available light. These devices amplify any visible light in the dark and any light from your scope, allowing you to see in the dark. The light is transmitted and focused on the target to make you see clearly. NV devices come with an image intensifier tube. It is this tube that collects available light converting it to light energy and photons.
When using night vision, you see your target as a green image. There are a microchannel plate and screen coated with phosphors that lead to image creation. The microchannel plate enhances the electrons passing through the tube. When these electrons hit the screen, photons are released, creating an image where the light was focused.
Night vision devices did not just come to the market yesterday. They have been in use since World War II. You can imagine they were used since the 1940s. Of course, you’re not going to use the same NV device used in World War II. There have been several technological advancements in the devices. Nowadays, NV devices can be differentiated by advancement in technology. This is what we call NV Generations, and they include:
• Generation 1
• Generation 2
• Generation 3
• White Phosphor Technology, WPT
• CORE Ceramic Technology
As you can see, there have been several advancements in the development of night vision. There are several variations from the first generation the glass used, microchannel plate and additional ion coatings. The manufacturing process of NV is quite complex with hundreds of steps before you get the final scope in your hands.
Thermal vision scopes
Thermal vision scopes, on the other hand, detect thermal infrared light. This is light radiated by objects and on our case the game. Objects with more temperature emit more IR radiations. The images you will see on the screen are due to temperature variations. Some of the advanced thermal scopes detect objects ranging from -20 degrees C to 2, 000 degrees C.
In a layman’s language, you’re able to detect an animal in a thick bush due to temperature variation. Unlike NV devices, you will see the animal image but temperature variation of the animal and the surroundings. These devices feature a thermal sensor which plays a crucial role in the clarity of the image. You get clear thermal images when the resolution is high. When buying a thermal scope, make sure you choose one with a higher resolution. However, such devices will cost you more.
Thermal scopes are relatively new but fast becoming popular among hunters. There is little advancement in these scopes with only two types available on the market. These are the uncooled thermal imaging and cryogenically cooled thermal imaging.
Uncooled thermal imaging is the most common and features components that operate in room temperature. The scope does not require any extra equipment to cool the components. In addition, it features a built-in power source making it the best hunting scope.
Cryogenically cooled thermal imaging, on the other hand, is extremely expensive and requires keeping components cooled. You need to seal some of the internal components in a special container that maintains the temperatures below 32 degrees F. This extra cooling gives you high resolutions and high sensitivities. You can easily detect temperature differences of 0.2 degrees F.
What is best for hunting?
To answer this question, let’s have a look at each under different situations.
1. The hunting environment
Depending on where you will be hunting, a night vision scope or thermal scope makes sense. Thermal imaging scopes will not work properly when hunting in rainy or extreme coldness. You also cannot use thermal imaging via a glass window when taking a shelter. You have to be outside, which is also not possible because of the rain. In such environments, a night vision scope makes sense.
A night vision scope is our winner when hunting on extreme coldness or on rainy conditions. It is worth noting that thermal is not inhibited by fog or camo but only extreme cold.
2. Day or night hunting
While you can hunt without these devices during the day, night vision devices are specifically designed for night use. The best thing about thermal scopes is that you can use them during the day or night. Unlike NV devices, they don’t require any light to work.
Very few and advanced NV devices can work during the day. However, most are easily damaged by the bright light of the day. When you need positive identification of your target despite daylight clarity, a thermal scope is recommended.
So, for those that hunt during the day and night, a thermal scope is our winner since you can use it during the day and night.
3. Game identification
Are hunting in animals like deer that have strict parameters? Clear identification of the game before taking any shot is highly recommended. While a thermal scope can easily detect a live animal, it cannot identify the specific animal in question. Thermal images are usually displayed in black, white, or various other shades depending on the temperature. In such situations, a night vision is the preferred scope to use. Thermal scopes are good at detecting game but poor at identifying it. You need a night vision scope of Gen 2 or more to identify the game clearly.
The only situation when it is difficult to identify a game by night vision is when it is camouflaged and not moving. As a general rule, night vision is considered the best at detecting and recognizing game but only under ideal conditions. These are conditions that support easy NV device use like enough lighting, ideal distance, and a clear path without bushes.
4. Durability
Both scopes are considered durable, although thermal tends to be more durable. However, both scopes can easily withstand 30-caliber recoil.
5. Budget and Pricing
Lastly, when considering your budget and pricing, NV tends to be the winner since it affordable. Thermal scopes are newer in the market and still quite pricey.
Final Verdict
Well, there is no obvious winner as you can see. Each of these scopes plays a vital role in different situations. You need to understand your hunting environment, time of hunting, game to hunt, and budget before deciding on the best scope for your needs.
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Featured
Scoping Out the Competition: Choosing Your Reticle
Scoping Out the Competition: Choosing Your Reticle
Whether you’re experienced or just starting out in long-range shooting, you’ll be looking for the right scope. However, there’s more to a scope than magnification and knobs. The reticle is an essential component of your optic, so the choice is important. Here’s what you need to know.
Manufacturer Limitations
To help narrow down your choice, one of the easiest ways is to look at specific manufacturers. This is because some reticle designs are exclusive to a manufacturer, so if you have one in mind that you want to use this can be a quick way to find the right one for you.
Choose Wisely
Just like when looking for the perfect scope, it’s important to choose a reticle that you’re most comfortable with. Some designs are more complex than others, like the “Christmas Tree” compared to the duplex reticle.
The Horus reticle is meant for experienced marksmen that have learned how to use the bullet-drop mechanics and holdover points, so you may want to reconsider if you’re new to shooting or don’t have the time to put in to learn. That’s what makes the simpler designs so accessible for almost anyone.
Of course, it’s not just about experience level when choosing a reticle. Depending on what you’re planning to use it for, will the reticle get in the way of your shot? Target shooting requires a completely different reticle than hunting large game, for instance.
The holdover reticles are better suited for moving targets, but they’re not for everyone. Make sure to do your research and choose according to your skillset and intention.
MIL or MOA?
Most reticles have bullet-drop compensation built into the design, but one of the biggest differences is whether the marks are in MIL or MOA. MIL is short for milliradians and MOA is short for Minute-of-Angle.
MOA is easier to work with, since the measurement is close enough that it can be rounded down in a pinch, but MIL is more common for trained marksmen. Most of the time, shooters prefer the reticle to match the turrets. So, if you have turrets that click in MIL you might look for a reticle with MIL measurements.
Either one can be used to zero in your rifle, most commonly done at around 100 yards. At that distance, you can adjust accordingly. However, like choosing your weapon, sometimes the best way to find the reticle that works for you is to try a few at the range and go from there.
What Next?
After you’ve chosen your reticle and optic, the first you’ll want to do is zero your scope. Remember that MIL and MOA each have their own mathematical formula for adjustment and they have different values, so a shot high with a MIL reticle will require different clicks than a MOA reticle.
Once you’re done zeroing your scope and shooting, relax by cleaning your scope and rifle before locking it up for the day. This step is important if you have kids in the house or multiple firearms. Many experienced shooters like to shoot with “dirty weapons,” meaning that they don’t clean them until they’ve fired 300-500 rounds but it’s entirely up to you.
Author Bio:
Richard Douglas is a long-time shooter, outdoor enthusiast and technologist. He is the founder and editor of Scopes Field, and a columnist at The National Interest, Cheaper Than Dirt, Daily Caller and other publications.
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