Sights of various types are widely used in multiple fields of activity. They help protect the state's borders, neutralize dangerous criminals, protect essential objects, and hunt large and small animals. Each model of such optics has a unique marking. If you know how to decipher it, you can significantly simplify choosing a sight and quickly find the most suitable product for yourself.

How does the scope work?

Rifle scopes are a big focus of various optical instrument manufacturers these days. These products are compact metal tubes. Inside, there are several lenses. This design is standard, and on its basis, all existing types of sights are created.

The principle of operation of any sight is based on capturing light by the device, the source of which can be the Sun, the Moon, and various devices created by man (for example, lamps). Rays falling on any living or inanimate object are reflected and visible to optics. Particles of light emanating from the observed object inevitably fall into the lens. The latter is a massive lens to which manufacturers often apply a special coating. It has a special composition that helps to capture the maximum amount of light and reduce the likelihood of any defects (for example, glare).

After the lens, the light passes through the lenses installed inside the scope. They create an inverted image of the observed object and improve its quality. The sight provides the so-called erector system to return the picture to the desired position. It includes two lenses with which the image is flipped. Also, the erector system helps to adjust the location of the reticle used to simplify the aiming process.

All scopes have a specific magnification. With it, shooters can better view the target and choose the optimal point of the shot. The erector system is responsible for this function of sight. After the user performs simple manipulations, its lenses move along exceptional guides, moving away or approaching each other. The degree of magnification of the image depends on its location. The larger the distance between the lenses becomes, the stronger the magnification. It should be noted that the reticle remains fixed and does not change its size.

In the final stage, the light passes through the eyepiece lenses. They focus on the image and make it visible to the scope owner.

What do scope numbers mean?

Any sight produced has its marking. It tells the potential buyer about the device's features and characteristics and helps to understand its capabilities better. To know all this information in advance, you need to study the standard designations that manufacturers indicate in the name of their products.

Sights from different manufacturers have standard markings. It consists of two sets of numbers separated by an "x" in most cases. Also, the name of the optical device may contain additional symbols indicating that the sight belongs to a specific type of product.

Standard designations indicated on sight:

1. Increase. This indicator is the main one in the marking of any sight. It is located in the front (before the "x" symbol) of other numbers and is often the most important for the shooter. The value of this parameter indicates the ability of the sight to enlarge the actual image, visible to the naked eye, without significant loss of its quality. There are two options for specifying magnification. The first of them involves writing one number, which will indicate the diversity of the device. Such an inscription is characteristic only for sights with a fixed magnification. The second marking option is used for optics with adjustable magnification. In this case, the user will be able to see two numbers separated by a “-” sign on the device body. The first will indicate the minimum magnification value available to the sight owner, and the second will be the maximum.
2. Lens diameter. This indicator is also crucial when choosing any sight. It shows the size of the front lens (specified in millimeters or inches) that collects the light emitted by various objects. The higher the value of this parameter, the larger and more massive the sight will be. In standard optics markings, the diameter of the lens is indicated immediately after the “x” symbol. Its value varies widely, which makes it possible for a potential buyer to choose the most suitable option for himself.
3. Exit pupil diameter. This value is not indicated in the name of the sight, but its value can be easily calculated. To do this, the shooter needs to remember the rules for dividing numbers and dividing the lens's diameter by the magnification. The result will be expressed in millimeters or inches, but if necessary, it can be converted to other units of measurement. In the case of sights with adjustable magnification, the exit pupil diameter will be different at the minimum, maximum, and any intermediate value. The process for calculating the exact value remains unchanged.

Two standard numbers and the ability to calculate the diameter of the exit pupil are available to the buyer on any sight. However, in some cases, manufacturers indicate some additional parameters. This is done to distinguish your products from the general mass and provide the future owner of optics with more information.

The most common additional designations are:

1. Field of view. This parameter makes it possible to estimate the maximum distance that the owner of the optics can see through the sight, observing objects at 100 m or 100 yards from it. The names of some American-made scopes may contain the value of this parameter. It is abbreviated as FOV and, on most models, is shown in feet at 100 yards. In the case of sights of European companies, the field of view is specified in meters at a distance of 100 m.
2. Lens coating. In addition to many names, manufacturers indicate the type of lens coating of the lens. Anti-reflective coatings are marked «C,» fully coated models - «FC,» multi-coated - «M,» fully multi-coated - «FM.»
3. The distance between the eyepiece and the shooter's eye. This parameter is indicated in the name very rarely. Most often, this happens in cases where the distance is non-standard. Its value is written in millimeters or inches. The first option is popular in the models of European companies, and the second - is in American and Asian ones.
4. Tube diameter. This is observed exclusively in European and American manufacturers' modern optics models. They have a tube diameter of 30 mm. The value of this size appears in the name of the sight only in cases where the diameter deviates from the standard (is 1 inch).
5. Parallax. This parameter indicates the offset of the reticle position relative to the dot on the target. In some optics models, this value can be independently adjusted within certain limits, seeking to eliminate the problem. In such scopes, manufacturers often indicate in the name the minimum and maximum parallax value (for example, 5-10 yards).

Modern models of scopes often have many additional features. They help shooters to aim better and make the most accurate shots. Each of these options has its index, which is usually written in the name of the optical device.

Common indexes:

1. MD. Sights with this index in their names are supplemented with a mil-dot reticle. It consists of horizontal and vertical lines that intersect at right angles. Dozens of points are located on them, located at an interval of 1 milliradian from each other. This grid is used to determine the size of an object and its distance. Users also use it to make adjustments while shooting.
2. E or IR. This index is indicated in the name of models equipped with an illuminated reticle. The latter is a unique feature that will be useful at night. At this time, the backlight will make it possible to see the lines of the grid and will simplify the process of aiming before the shot.
3. AO. Many European and American optical manufacturers use this index. It is present in the name of models that allow users to adjust the focus to a certain distance. This option will be helpful when shooting from a long distance and will not be in demand during the destruction of nearby targets.

All sights produced today have a specific marking, consisting of numbers and letters. All these symbols carry information about the characteristics and features of each model of optics. Knowing their values, it is possible to determine the practicality of its purchase and the possibility of using it to achieve specific goals by one name of the product.