“variable-power riflescope”

How much treestand or elk mountain cred is Trijicon due given how well its rock-hard battle-rifle sights have served U.S. troops at war? That was the obvious question when the company diversified into all-purpose riflescopes a few years back, and it remains a key issue with the recent introduction of the AccuPower, a four-scope collection largely geared toward big-game hunters.

The Swarovski X5(i) has the best dial-up system of any long-range scope Bryce Towsley has used, and without a doubt it’s the easiest one to learn. Of course, the optics are brilliant; after all it’s a Swarovski.

“Buy the best scope you can afford” is good optics advice because you almost always get what you pay for, but what if you have only a couple hundred dollars to spend?

Riflescopes with parallax adjustments, illuminated reticles, 8X zoom ranges and turrets dialing past 1,500 yards are impressive, but do we really need that to still-hunt whitetails in Ohio farmland or chase elk at 8,000 feet in Idaho? An optic like Leupold’s new VX-3i 3.5X-10X-40mm with the Boone & Crockett ballistic reticle is likely better suited for most hunters’ needs. This 12.6-ounce scope, a reengineered upgrade from the previous VX-3, is bright, sharp, slim and extremely reliable.

The TORIC UHD 30mm Hunting Rifle Scope was developed for use by today’s long-range hunters and designed to be lightweight and small enough to be at home on a hunting rifle, but is not out of place on a precision rifle, either.

If you're in the market for a solid “do-all” scope that will work for hunting, long-range shooting or even tactical applications, the Leupold Mark 5HD is a great choice.

The new GPO Passion 6X scope offers the kind of performance and optical quality persnickety hunters demand at a price point many will find agreeable.

The new SIG Sauer BDX app/rangefinder/scope system will show you exactly which aiming point to use for a direct hit out to 800 yards. As SIG advertises, just “connect the dot.”

Among all the world’s riflescope manufacturers, Nikon has arguably done the best job of making it easy to buy the right scope for specific shooting jobs.