Understanding FOV (field of view) and other features of your rifle scope setting helped level up my accuracy and marksmanship.
Thanks to modern scope technology and a more sophisticated lens system, there’s never been a better time to be a hunter or a bird watcher than now!
Do you want to understand what field of view is without getting too technical about it?
I’ll try to break it down for you with less scientific stuff that usually comes with the study of scopes and optics.
Contents
What Is Field of View (FOV) and What Does It Mean?
Field of view is the measured area of the scene when you look through the scope from right to left.
In other words, it’s how much of the surroundings you can see through the scope.
The FOV is affected when you change the scope magnification.
If I put my scope on the lowest magnification setting, my field of view is HIGHER because I can see pretty much all of what the scope covers.
However, if I ZOOM IN on a target (like an animal), the field of view becomes SMALLER because the scope sees that target only and nothing else.
I realized that it’s similar to a camera! You see MORE when you zoom out and LESS when you zoom in.
Why is field of view important, you may ask?
This is because you want to be on the lookout for the tunneling effect, which is NOT a favorable occurrence when using rifle scopes.
The tunneling effect is when the field of view does not increase or decrease when you change the magnification.
To elaborate, what you see on the riflescope is like a tunnel. It remains the SAME even when magnification adjustments are made.
This can only mean that your scope is not high quality and will not be good for your aim.
When using two different rifle scopes, it is important to note that the field of view may still vary.
There are several factors that affect FOV in a rifle scope.
It could be the…
- Thickness
- Contour or shape of the optic
- Scope tube diameter
- Magnification
Magnification Explained
Even if you’re new to how riflescopes work, this isn’t so difficult to understand.
Magnification is how much closer an object appears to be compared to what the naked eye sees.
If the manufacturer says the scope has a 4x magnification, it means that the target will look 4 times closer than what the eye sees under normal conditions.
Magnification is important in rifle scopes because it helps you see a far-away target better!
I used to think that a high magnification always gives you a crisp and clear image, but that’s a common misconception.
This is NOT necessarily the case because it will depend on the intended scope magnification use.
Factors like distance to the target and type of range, whether open or closed, are taken into consideration.
There are no set rules when it comes to magnification, even with the commonly found configuration of your rifle scope.
I use these magnifications as a general guide when shooting with scopes.
- Up to 100 yards – 1-4x
- Up to 200 yards or closed landscapes – Between 5-8x
- Beyond 200 yards or hunting in open areas – Use magnification between 9-12x.
How Does Field of View Affect Rifle Scopes?
So, how does magnification affect the field of view? Their inverse relationship is simple.
Increase magnification → decrease field of view
It’s quite self-explanatory.
When you INCREASE the zoom level of the scope, you see more accurate details of the target, but you end up seeing less of the scene.
Meanwhile, the field of view will become WIDER when you adjust your scope to a LOW magnification.
As a result, the surroundings appear bigger in your view.
For example, a 3x scope will have a FOV of 30 feet at 100 yards versus a 9x scope having only 14.
Even if you have a larger objective lens diameter, it will remain as is. But achieving the perfect magnification scope setting is NOT an easy feat.
Similar scopes will not have the same FOV at the same level of magnification.
Sometimes, it can come down to the manufacturer of the scope!
Other Factors that May Affect Field of View in a Rifle Scope
Eye Relief
Any optic with an eyepiece requires adequate eye relief.
This refers to the distance between the scope’s ocular optic and your eye to see an unobstructed image of your target.
You’ll know that it is adequate because of the level of COMFORT it gives your eye to see the WHOLE FOV.
I prefer a long eye relief scope as it allows for a more natural shooting position.
My recommended amount of eye relief is around 3.5 – 4 inches.
Exit Pupil
The power of scopes is also affected by the exit pupil. It refers to the diameter of the light beam that passes through the scope to the eye.