SPOTLIGHT ON...
RIFLESCOPES
Rifl escope Survey Results
OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS…
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TOP-SELLING BRANDS
(ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
Bushnell
Docter
Hawke
Leupold
Meopta
Nikko Sterling
Steiner
Vortex
Zeiss
25
bottom post that can be used to line up your shot at
diff erent ranges. Military style MIL-DOT reticles
can be used to the same eff ect. Larger and/or fi ner
‘target-style’ reticle are also on the up according to
nearly 10% of the retailers questioned in our survey.
Bullet drop compensators help shooters reach
out with confi dence. Th is is another rifl escope
feature becoming more common. Many optics
manufacturers now off er some form of bullet drop
compensation by use of standard scaled elevation
turrets. Others off er the possibility for shooters to
optimise their long range performance by ordering
custom marked cams for their specifi c load, range,
the elevation they will use the load on.
In the aftermarket segment, laser engraved
elevation knobs are available for most target knob
equipped rifl escopes for all major scope brands.
Th ese custom laser engraved knobs are calibrated
to match bullet drop for any factory or custom load.
Further taking the sting out of long range
shooting are rifl escopes with a built-in laser
rangefi nder unit. Although these have been around
for quite some time on daytime rifl escopes, they
are increasingly fi nding their way into night vision
rifl escopes, such as thermal scopes, as well.
Size does matter, as our survey shows. Shooters
and hunters do like their scopes getting bigger
objective lenses and bigger main tubes. Whereas
56mm has been a classic objective lens diameter
off ering great light gathering capabilities, scopes
with a 60mm and even a 72mm objective lens
have already been spotted. Th ese scopes are fi t to
make clearly defi ned long range shots in even the
most challenging low light conditions.
Bigger main tubes of 34 and 36mm for example,
allow for more adjustment clicks than standard
25mm or 30mm tubes to let you take those extralong
shots with more ease and confi dence. Larger
body diameter is the most important rifl escope
feature, according to nearly 30 per cent of retailers
in our survey.
GAME NUMBERS ON THE UP
As numbers of game species such as wild boar,
feral hogs and deer keep growing and moving
into territories they were not present in before,
more and more hunters are coming on the market
looking for a suitable rifl e and scope setup.
Th is trend is also clearly visible in the night
vision segment. It is a defi nite indication that the
market for rifl escopes is not sitting still, at least
not in some parts of the world. Manufacturers and
retailers alike better take notice.
HOW MANY SCOPES
DID YOU SELL?
■ 0-50 72%
■ 51-100 18%
■ 101-200 10%
GTW
WHAT TYPE OF SCOPE
SELLS BEST?
MAIN FEATURES
BUYERS LOOK FOR
WHAT FEATURES ARE
GROWING IN POPULARITY?
SALES OF AIRGUN
SCOPES ARE:
SALES OF HUNTING
SCOPES ARE:
Price
Brand/Make
Build Quality
Optical Performance
Special Features
■ Up 10%
■ Down 18%
■ Same 72%
SALES OF RIMFIRE
SCOPES ARE:
■ Up 45%
■ Down 18%
■ Same 37%
■ Up 63%
■ Same 37%
■ Centrefire (hunting) 90%
■ Centrefire (tactical) 10%
Larger Body Diameter
Bigger Zoom Range
Illuminated Reticles
Target-Style Adjustment Turrets
Built-In Range Finder
Bullet Drop Calculator
Larger Objective Lens Scope
Other
SALES OF TACTICAL
SCOPES ARE:
■ Up 36%
■ Down 28%
■ Same 36%
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