What Do The Numbers Mean On A Rifle Scope

Olivia Luz

The numbers on a rifle crossbow scope our top picks or spotting scope our top picks at first look confusing but they re really very easy to understand let s take an example from a mid range spotting scope 20 60 x 80 mm. The first number of rifle scope denotes the zooming power of it which can be different in different rifle scope depending on your budget and hunting type. The second power number to the right of the hyphen is the maximum magnification limit or level.

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The first number 20 means the minimum magnification level that the scope offers second number 60 the maximum magnification level because the first 2 numbers are.

The first two series of numbers which are 4 20 in this example refer to the power range so this scope has a power or magnification range that starts at 4x power and goes all the way up to 20x power. The first number on the rifle scope signifies its magnification power. A 6 x 32 sight would denote a scope with a six power magnification. With a rifle scope when you see numbers describing the attributes of the scope like 2 7 32 they tell you quite a bit about it s capability and what the scope can be best used for.

Throughout this discussion i will try to explain all the numbers associated with a rifle. Whenever you see rifle scopes they have numbers that give us information about them. For example a 4 x 32 sight means the scope magnifies the image four times. This means that the scope s magnification is somewhere between 3 power and 9 power.

What do these numbers mean. If you take a closer look at your scope you will notice some writing on the side of the scope for example 3 9 40. In a 3 9x40 scope the 3 means three power or 3x. The typical format is power power x objective diameter.

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The first power number to the left of the hyphen is the minimum magnification limit or level. In this example the scope has a range of 5x to 12x magnification meaning the image you see through the ocular lens will be at least five times larger than it would appear to your naked eye. This means that the image you see through the scope appears three times 3x closer than it does with your naked eye. The 9 means nine power or nine times 9x closer than it appears with your naked eye.

The first two numbers tell you the magnification settings for that particular scope. The numbers on a rifle scope mean different things from the magnifying capability to the distance it can cover while shooting using a rifle scope. This is the most important numerology on a rifle scope. Leupold vx 2 3 9x40 rifle scope.

The 2 7 means first that the scope is a variable power scope where the magnification can be adjusted from 2 power to 7 power. It describes the magnification and the size of the scope s objective lens. Perhaps this is the main reason why many shooting enthusiasts are somewhat desperate while asking what do the numbers mean on a rifle scope in this article i am going to make a comprehensive discussion explaining the numbers on a rifle scope. If you see a scope with a 6 24 then it has a power range that starts at 6x power and goes all the way up to 24x power.

Some scopes have variable magnification which you select by turning a power ring on the scope.