If you are beginning to take a hunting hobby more seriously, optics accessories, such as rifle scopes, are probably high on your list of gear to purchase. Because scopes for hunting rifles are available in a multitude of different models, it is critically important that hunters take some time to learn about basic scope functionality before beginning to shop.

Should you choose a fixed or variable power scope? 

The first decision novice hunters will need to make when shopping for gun optics accessories is whether a fixed or variable power scope will best suit their needs at this stage in their hunting career. While both types of scopes are perfectly acceptable for many types of hunting, it is important to note that a fixed power scope only utilizes one magnification, whereas a variable power scope can be adjusted to several different magnifications. 

Hunters who will be hunting primarily from a single range, as many beginners do when learning the fine points of hunting, may find that a fixed power scope is the perfect choice as a first purchase. With only one fixed magnification setting, fixed power scopes are also typically much less expensive than variable power models. 

Hunters who are a bit more advanced will likely want to purchase a variable power scope as an initial investment in their hunting equipment. In addition to having the ability to adjust the magnification for various distances and target sizes, a high-quality variable power scope can often be utilized later on with other guns as the hunter adds additional weapons to their collection. 

How important is the objective diameter of the lens? 

Objective diameter is a term that hunters will likely encounter early in their search of the gun optics accessories selection. When looking at a scope for sale, the objective diameter refers to the end of the scope that you will be using to view your surroundings when preparing to shoot.

Larger objective diameters allow hunters to view a larger area than smaller ones with the additional benefit of being able to capture more natural light.  This increase in natural light helps to improve the hunter's ability to view their quarry, even from great distances. The actual objective diameter advised for each weapon will depend on gun caliber and amount of recoil, amount of light expected in the field and the expected range of the hunt. 

To purchase the best scope, hunters will also need to understand lens coatings, field of view and other basic information. Hunters who would like to learn more about gun optics accessories before making their first scope purchase should take time to discuss their situation with a reputable gun optics dealer in their area.