Rifle scopes or laser sights – the difference lies in the scope mounts!

Scopes, simply put, are optical instruments that make distant objects appear closer. Wildlife enthusiasts use spotting scopes for observation because of their better optical performance. Night vision scopes allow the user to see objects in the dark while rifle scopes are used by shooters to predict where a bullet will hit the target. Laser sights are more hi-tech alternatives to rifle scopes which are quite basic in their functioning Mounting devices called scope mounts help scopes and sights stay firmly in place. Rifle scopes as well as laser sights use scope mounts traditionally made of aluminum or steel.

The multi-coated optics in rifle scopes help to reduce the amount of glare from the sun rays and also give the user the benefit of looking at a clearer, brighter image. To ensure that the image that the shooter sees is clear and properly magnified, it is necessary that the scope mounts be fixed into place firmly. Rifle scopes were developed several years before laser sights and may be less hi-tech but are still a favorite among hunters. Of these, Burris scopes and Weaver scopes are hugely popular and employ the best optical technology available.

As compared to rifle scopes which depend on optics to acquire a target, laser sights emit a red laser beam that shows the user to see where the bullet will strike its target. The earliest laser sights were bulky, but as time passed they became smaller and more compact. Laser sights are also attached to rifles using scope mounts but are usually attached on the underside. They are not used extensively by the military and law enforcement anymore and are more popularly used for recreational shooting. We wish you happy hunting with your newly acquired knowledge of scopes, sights and mounts for your rifle.

                  Latest News