Add-on devices for scopes So why are add-on devices for scopes so useful? One of the biggest inconveniences when using a night-vision or thermal scope is that their performance during the day is never going to be as good as a traditional glass optic. Although several night-vision scopes now offer…
Scopes
Scopes are an essential shooting accessory for any stalker or target shooter who wants to achieve a more accurate shot.
Scopes work by magnifying an image and they put your eye on the same optic plane as the image you are viewing. A scope helps a rifle or target shooter to focus on the target, align the centre reference point where you want your bullet and pull the trigger!
Here we round up the best on the market for a variety of budgets, writing reviews and helpful articles including how best to lubricate a scope and using scopes for deer stalking.
The technology is changing all the time, with different capabilities being offered for different types of shooting, locations and quarry. We keep you informed about what you need to know with expert comment from our team of reviewers who have solid experience. All shoot regularly and so know the issues and problems that are likely to arise and how scopes can help to solve them.
How to choose a riflescope
You don’t actually need much kit to go deerstalking. Binoculars to spot a beast and a rifle to bring it down are essential, but I would argue that a telescopic riflescope is the most important part of the set-up. There’s a reason why most stalkers advise spending more on a…
The PANTHER PQ50L thermal riflescope from HikMicro
For several years now HikMicro have been a leading manufacturer of CCTV cameras and equipment and over the past few years have become a recognised name in the thermal market with their range of thermal spotters and with a good reputation for prompt customer service and reasonably priced products. An…
Thermal imagers: Mat Manning puts three popular models through their paces
Thermal imagers are fast becoming a key piece of kit for numerous shooting applications, from foxing on open fields to ratting around the farmyard. The ability to see an animal’s heat signature, even when it is partially obscured by undergrowth, provides a massive edge when trying to catch up with…
A V8 riflescope revolution with Chris Parkin
Optics expert Chris Parkin gets hold of the new V8 riflescope from ZEISS. After a thorough field test, we find out if this new scope is ready to revolutionise the ways stalkers and pest controllers shoot. Full kit list Optics: ZEISS 2.8-20×56 V8 riflescope – ZEISS ZEISS Victory LRF 8×42…
Thermal imagers for hunting – our top riflescope picks
Over the past few years, there has been an ever-increasing use of observation units and thermal imagers for hunting in the shooting world. An array of well-known and not-so-well-known manufacturers are dipping their toes into the market and releasing models. As the landscape of the shooting industry changes, the need…
Choosing riflescopes: what you should look out for
You don’t actually need much kit to go deerstalking. Binoculars to spot a beast and a rifle to bring it down are essential, but I would argue that choosing riflescopes is the most important part of the set-up. There’s a reason why most stalkers advise spending more on a scope…
Parallax adjustment – how much does it affect rifle accuracy?
Parallax problems may not be due to a scope.
Enlarged field of view: it’s just one of the features that is going to make the new ZEISS DTI 3/25 VERY sought-after
Stalkers and hunters know – and have been frequently frustrated by – the difficulties of hunting at night in woodland. The ZEISS DTI 3/25 thermal imaging camera is set to change all that by offering some long-needed features. Here’s why it’s going to be welcomed. It permits an enlarged field…
Tips for night vision shooting
Night vision shooting has seen tremendous technological advances in recent years, such as equipment becoming smaller and lighter. Although the equipment works in any weather, cold nights give the best results for night vision shooting; rainy nights can make the image seem pixellated or indistinct. (Read our review of the…
The InfiRay Eye II Series V3 – a compact and cost-effective thermal imaging monocular
Pocket-Sized Thermal Vision Monocular The InfiRayEye Ⅱ Series V3 is a pocket-sized thermal vision monocular with≤500g for exploring the outdoors. It helps to reveal your surroundings and see targets over 2000 meters away with ease. Simple to use, low learning cost. EYEⅡV3 is the perfect companion for thermal imaging hunting…
Best airgun scopes – our top picks for airgun-friendly optics
When it comes to selecting the best airgun scopes, there are many fantastic options on the market from some of the biggest names in the gun trade. But it can be tricky to find the right one for your specific needs. Thankfully, many of the very best scopes on the…
How to avoid getting a bruised face when shooting
Q: I really hope you can help me. I am tired of getting a bruised cheek from a shotgun. I am a regular clayshooter but find it very uncomfortable to shoot any more than 50 clay targets due to a very sore face. I have tried lots of different cartridge…
All day airgun action with the new ZEISS Conquest V4
The ZEISS Conquest V4 scope has already caught the attention of airgunners, thanks to its ability to parallax down to 10 yards. Versatile and useful, the Conquest V4 works round the clock, both outside on the range and inside for pest control. From dawn to dusk When the mist is…
The best rangefinding binoculars put through their paces
Rangefinding binoculars are becoming increasingly popular in the UK, which is likely a direct result of their widespread use in the US. Across the pond, where big men drive big trucks, rangefinding optics have long been established as an essential item. The landscapes people hunt in, over there, are vast…
The perfect airgun optic? 23 facts about the new ZEISS Conquest V4 scopes
Why the ZEISS Conquest V4 scopes will impress airgunners Parallaxes down to 10 yards Covers every airgunning discipline Conquest V4 scope range available in 4-16×44, 4-16×50 and 6-24×50 formats Multiple reticle configurations from conventional crosshair to tree-shaped setups Sophisticated aim-point layouts ensure precise pellet placement over varying ranges and in…
Our reviewer tries out two top thermal imaging scopes. What did he discover?
The cost of a top thermal-imaging scope could easily exceed that of your day scope or rifle. At the high end of its range, Pulsar offers two distinct options: the Trail XP50, which bolts to the Picatinny rail on a rifle for dedicated night operations, and the Core FXQ50, a…
Thermal imaging for airgunners – testing out some options
It wasn’t long ago that basic infrared night-vision optics were regarded as being too expensive, too complicated and too bulky to be a worthwhile proposition for airgun shooters. Just a few years later and thermal imaging for airgunners has become standard equipment for anyone who carries out regular after-dark pest…
Airguns and summer squirrel shooting
Come the summer months when the trees are in leaf you’re likely to find squirrel shooting with an air rifle rather trickier than in winter on bare branches. The dense foliage covering the tree canopy can make greys almost invisible. So what’s to be done about it? How can you…
Looking at the versatile ZEISS Victory V8 range
The Zeiss V8 range sports four models that utilise, as the name suggests, a power range of eight magnification, that is to say, 1.1-8x30mm, 1.8-14x50mm, 2.8-20x56mm or on test is their 4.8-35x60mm V8 model. A premium scope designed to be as capable in woodland at close range as it is reaching…