Before explaining the main parts of a riflescope, let’s first know “What is a riflescope?”. The riflescope is a type of precision instrument. As to riflescope, how much do you know about it? Generally, it’s small but one of the most important tools of a rifle.
To learn about it, we have to first make clear the types of riflescopes. Briefly, there are three types: Telescopic Riflescope (Telescopic Sight/ Telescope), Reflective Riflescope (Reflective Sight) and Collimating Riflescope (Collimating Optical Sight ).
Among them, telescopic riflescope and reflective riflescope are the most popular. And we should note the telescopic type can “magnify” things in the distance. Today we are going to talk about the main parts of the telescopic riflescope in this post. So this is a guide to the telescopic riflescope.
What are the main parts of a riflescope?
Top Level Intl. manufactured many different metal parts of the riflescope. Most of them are custom CNC aluminum parts. In general, the riflescope is consisting of many different parts. There are different lenses, CNC metal parts and some plastic parts. The riflescope is briefly an assembled system including internal parts and external components.
Today we are talking about the main parts of a riflescope we can see externally. They are objective lens, ocular lens, objective bell, eyepiece, main tube, power ring, elevation turret, windage turret, parallax adjustment, eye relief, etc. In this post, I will analyze these parts one by one through a structural image.
1. Objective Lens
The objective lens is on the bigger side that is on the farthest side when you use the riflescope. And it’s situated in the objective bell.
The objective lens is one of the most important parts of the riflescope. Do you know the function of an objective lens? Its main function is to gather light from the natural environment and let you see the target and the surrounding environment clearly.
In terms of size, the objective lens is larger than the ocular lens. Please note the size of the objective lens mainly affects the brightness. The larger the objective lens, the better the brightness. As a result, if you would like to get a better view of the target, we suggest you choose a larger objective lens.
Normally, if you usually use the riflescope at small distances, we suggest you choose lower power and smaller objective lens; Once you mostly use it for a long distance, please try to choose a higher power and a bigger objective lens.
Tips: You can understand the objective lens size from the riflescope model. For example, 3-9×40 means the size of the objective lens is 40mm.
2. Objective Bell
Objective Bell here we are talking about is not a separated part but a reamed portion connected with the main tube. It is used to hold the objective lens in a right place. And the objective bell also works together with the objective lens to gather light to get a good image. It’s a significant portion of the riflescope system.
3. Ocular Lens
Wow, here we come to the ocular lens now. The ocular lens is on the smaller side and situated in the eyepiece. It’s closer to your eye when you use the riflescope.
Is it right to see the target from the eyepiece when we use a riflescope? It’s a good question! Normally, the main function of the ocular lens is gathering the light and view from the objective lens. We should see the target hundreds of yard away from the eyepiece, but should not touch the eyepiece directly with your eye. Do you know why? Well, we will explain it in the part called eye relief later.
Tips: Usually, the lens is coated. Because coating on the surface of the lens can reduce the reflection and light loss caused by the lens, and reduce the degree of eye fatigue.
Normally, the ocular lens comes with different levels of coating to make it waterproof and weatherproof as well as increasing light transmission. However, not all the riflescope may come with coating in the lens. So you will need to use them carefully.
4. Eyepiece
The eyepiece is one part of the riflescope. It’s a basic metal part of a riflescope. In the assembly, the ocular lens is situated in the eyepiece. It’s on the smaller side where your eye gets close to. In some models of riflescopes, the eyepiece has an adjustment section for you to adjust the focus of the reticle to get the best view of the target.
5. Main Tube
The main tube is actually the riflescope body, we also call it the scope tube. It’s usually made out of aluminum 6061 or 6063. And then anodized. Normally, there are two typical sizes, 1 inch and 30mm. The main tube works as the bridge of the objective lens and the ocular lens. Furthermore, it’s the base machined part for the assembly of erector lenses and different adjustments of the riflescope system.
Tips: For maximum light transmission, there are also some 34mm riflescope bodies in the market.
6. Power Ring
What is a power ring? Before answering this question, please allow me to explain one issue. That is, riflescopes are generally divided into fixed magnification riflescope and variable magnification riflescope.
The obvious feature of the variable type of riflescope is that it has a power ring. And the power ring is one of the adjustment parts of a variable magnification riflescope. It helps you to adjust the magnification levels of the riflescope. So it’s also named as magnification adjustment ring. As we can see, there are some numbers engraved on the ring to indicate the magnification level. When you turn the ring, the distance between the inner lens and the objective lens changes accordingly. Then the magnification level is changed to the corresponding magnification.
The power ring is an important part of a riflescope. You can use it to zoom in and out your target to get a better view. Please note that the magnification level range is usually indicated by the riflescope’s specification. For example, if a riflescope comes with the model number Trijicon 3-9×40。 It refers to its magnification level is 3x to 9x. Let’s say you can zoom in the target from 3 times minimum to 9 times maximum.
Tips: if you get a fixed magnification riflescope, then the magnification level is fixed but not adjustable. And there is no power ring assembled on that type of riflescope.
7. Elevation Turret
The elevation turret is also called the elevation adjustment or elevation adjustment knob. Usually, it’s a metal knob for precision adjustment. By turning this knob, you can adjust the reticle vertically, up or down. As you can see that, it’s normally assembled in the riflescope body.
8. Windage Turret
After studying the information on the elevation turret, I suppose you can understand the windage turret quickly. The windage turret is also a metal knob for precision adjustment. It’s an important part of the riflescope. By operating this knob, you can adjust the reticle alignment horizontally, right or left. It’s adjusted by hand and you will hear a CLICK every 100 yards. The windage turret is normally located at the right side of a riflescope.
Tips: Some riflescope requires a screwdriver or small coins for adjusting.
9. Parallax Error Adjustment
In the above structure image of the riflescope, we see the rifle scope comes with three adjustments in the middle place of the riflescope system. Here let’s come to the third adjustment. It’s parallax error adjustment. This adjustment aparts from windage turret and elevation turret. See, it’s at the left side, oppositing the windage turret.
The part parallax adjustment is of high importance when you shoot at a long distance. Do you know why? Normally, most of the riflescope factories zeroed the riflescope at 100 yards. However, some parallax errors would create when the riflescopes have adjustable magnification on a long distance. Under this situation, the parallax adjustment is necessary as it helps you to get rid of the error to achieve the accuracy of shooting.
Tips: The riflescopes used at short distances are usually zeroed at 50 yards.
10. Eye Relief
What is eye relief? Eye relief is the distance between the ocular lens and your eye when you use the riflescope in the right way. It’s a certain distance but not an actual metal part or plastic part.
Well, maybe you are confused why I am taking it as one part of the riflescope. Actually, eye relief is very important. It tells you the right distance you should keep your eye off the eyepiece.
why eye relief is necessary in the INSTRUCTION or Operation Guide of the riflescope? Firstly, you can get where you should place your eye and see the target in a comfortable status. Secondly, it protects your eyes against the injury which is produced by the recoil of the shooting tool.
The eye relief of different models or different riflescope manufacturers is usually different. Normally, it’s about 10 cm. The average eye relief is not less than 3 inches, usually, it’s 4 inches. When you have a riflescope, you can decide it according to the operation guide and the user’s experience. Generally speaking, the scope requiring long eye relief is always better.
Conclusion
The main parts of a riflescope are explained and shared in the above contents. It may take much of your time to understand this post well. Maybe you understand it by reading this blog more than one time. Anyhow, you will find it’s interesting and worthy.
And we suppose the information will help you with knowing better about the riflescope system. That’s also helpful once you would like to choose the right riflescope that suits you.
Reminder
Top Level Intl. is a manufacturer of optical parts. If you are a riflescope manufacturer and looking for a partner to process riflescope parts for you. This is a good chance to check our CNC machining services now. We have rich experiences in the manufacturing of different metal parts, including the main tube/body, power rings, windage turret, elevation turret, parallax adjustment, etc. Please feel free to Email Us for more details.
