50mm scope vs 40mm/42mm etc...

[emmagator]

What is the main reason for going with a 50mm rifle scope? Is it really worth it? Will it help you shoot better?

[FEENIX]

50mm vs 42mm

40mm, 42mm, 44mm & 50mm Objective - Optical Question of the Year

40mm or 50mm?

[emmagator]

So basically tube diameter and glass quality are more important that objective size.

[Buano]

The larger the objective lens, the more light a scope can let in. Mid-day a large objective lens doesn't help unless using extreme magnification, but a 50mm can give you another 20 minutes of shooting light at dawn & dusk & also helps in crappy weather, where there isn't much light to see by. Assuming the same glass quality, a 50 mm objective lens lets 56% more light through than a 40 mm lens. That's the reason people choose a 50 mm scope.

The negatives of a large scope is easy: They are heavy & they cost more.

Tube diameter limits range of adjustments but does little to improve visual quality.

[adam]

The best polish to the lens is also in the center... The larger the lens, the more probability you have of getting a lens with a nice big area with high resolution, diminishing at the edges. This will probably only mean anything to you if you are trying to get a value priced scope for a lesser used rifle...... The high dollar stuff had better come with better resolution than i can discern with my eyes.

Resolution will also help you see later in the evening... lots of light will mean nothing if you cannot discern details.

[emmagator]

From reading around it seems that you have to have quality glass to transmit that light from the objective end to your eye. You could have a 40mm that transmits light well through the scope and a 50mm that gathers more light but doesnt transmit it to the eye well.

[J E Custom]

[QUOTE=Buano;440629]The larger the objective lens, the more light a scope can let in. Mid-day a large objective lens doesn't help unless using extreme magnification, but a 50mm can give you another 20 minutes of shooting light at dawn & dusk & also helps in crappy weather, where there isn't much light to see by. Assuming the same glass quality, a 50 mm objective lens lets 56% more light through than a 40 mm lens. That's the reason people choose a 50 mm scope.


+1

The quality of the scope makes a large difference. A cheep 50 mm objective scope may not do
as well as a high end 40mm retical scope.

Also the 30mm tubes have an advantage over the 1" tubes because of larger lens internally,
stronger tube because of diameter and a shorter overall scope length. Plus most 30 mm
tube body scopes have a side focus feature and can have more elevation in the turrets.

To me the best all round scope is a 4 to 6 x 14 to 20 x 50mm objective and a 30mm tube
with side focus.

J E CUSTOM