Scopes for Air Rifles

In this overview, we’ll cover some basic elements of scopes for air rifles you should consider that will help you get the most out of your gun.

Whether long-distance shooting or hunting, air rifles offer numerous benefits, and among the most prominent is their accuracy. Chances are, if you’re reading this, you’re looking to enhance your air rifle’s accuracy by putting a scope on top of the gun. Whatever activity you’re looking to engage in, there are a few basic elements you should know about scopes for air rifles that can help you maximize your gun’s capabilities. 

Among the biggest factors to consider regarding scopes for air rifles are magnification, reticles, internal elevation, parallax adjustment, and mounting hardware. 

Magnification & Objective Lens

The two main types of air rifle scopes are known as fixed and variable. Fixed air rifle scopes are just that – a scope with an unadjustable magnification setting. They are most useful for small game hunting or close-range shooting. 

Variable air rifle scopes provide the option to adjust magnification at a given range. A variable air rifle scope is the better option for long-distance shooting because it allows the shooter to change magnification as needed. 

When considering scopes for air rifles, a larger objective lens size is also ideal for shooting at longer distances. A larger objective lens means more light can enter the scope, creating a clearer image. 

Reticles 

When it comes to scope reticles for air rifles, MRAD air rifle scopes that offer high elevation adjustment are ideal, especially for long-distance shooting. Specifically, an MRAD scope with a “Christmas Tree” style reticle, like the TORIC UHD 4-25X50 34mm MRAD ELR FFP Rifle Scope (which also boasts an industry-leading 47 MRAD of total adjustment), can be effective for increasing accuracy and speed on the range. The Christmas Tree style helps enhance precision and speed by providing marks or hold points along the crosshairs for quick reference, which is particularly helpful when needing to shoot at numerous targets rapidly. When it comes to reticles, however, it’s really up to the shooter to determine which type serves them best. Our TORIC UHD 4-25×50 34mm MRAD ELR FFP Rifle Scope is also offered in MOA. 

The MRAD ELR reticle with and without illumination giving you the flexibility to shoot in any lighting conditions

Parallax

Parallax is another important factor when considering scopes for air rifles. Parallax is when an object (like a target or animal) appears to change spots when viewed from two different perspectives through the scope. 

Proper parallax adjustment keeps the crosshairs from moving off the object when moving your head or eyes, ensuring the target and the crosshairs are on the same focal plane for the most accurate shot. Generally, you’ll want to look for a scope with a minimal parallax adjustment of 10-15 yards. The TORIC UHD 4-25X50 34mm rifle scope has a side focus parallax adjustment that dials from as close as 15 yards to infinity, which can be especially beneficial for competition shooting. 

Having a scope that can focus down to 15 yards like the 4-25×50 is key to precision shooting at short-range.

Mounts

Considering the mechanics of scopes for air rifles, mounting hardware is an important component. Choosing between a one- or two-piece mount will depend on the gun’s recoil power. Generally, one-piece mounts are ideal for a higher power recoil, such as for spring piston or gas ram air rifles. Additionally, how high or low the mount should be usually depends on the objective lens size. The higher the objective lens size, the higher the scope should be mounted. 

Whether shooting competitively or hunting, the overall quality of whichever rifle scope you choose is key. Invest in a scope that offers quality optics suitable for your needs and mechanics to withstand the recoil of your gun. If you consider these basic elements as a guide, hopefully, browsing scopes for air rifles will be a little less daunting and will put you closer to zeroing in on the right one for your needs.