Scopes

A scope's job is to let you aim smaller and see what you are aiming at, and the second half is easy to forget. At long range magnification is as much about identifying the target as placing the shot, which for hunting is a responsibility rather than a preference.

Magnification range should follow the rifle's purpose: 3-9x is still the right answer for most hunting, 1-6x and 1-8x suit a general-purpose carbine, and precision work starts around 5-25x. Then match the reticle to the turrets — a mil reticle with MOA turrets means doing conversion arithmetic under time pressure, which is a self-inflicted problem and a common one.