Description
Last update on July 2, 2022 // Source: Amazon API
Rifle Scope Product Details
NightForce ATACR 4-16x50mm F1 ZeroStop .250 MOA DigIllum PTL Moar
NightForce ATACR 4-16x50mm ZeroStop Riflescope, Capped Windage, Digillum, PTL, MOAR, Black, C617
Rifle Scope Product Features
34mm main tube
First focal plane
Tactical MOA turrets
Waterproof and fogproof
Illuminated MOAR reticle with ZeroStop
About the NightForce Manufacturer
NightForce is a premium supplier for firearm scopes, optics, mounts, and other accessories used for guns like rifles and long guns. They design and supply their mounts and related products choosing elements which are long lasting and durable. This includes the NightForce ATACR 4-16x50mm F1 ZeroStop .250 MOA DigIllum PTL Moar by NightForce. For more shooting products, visit their site.
Rifle Glass Facts
Rifle scopes allow you to precisely aim a rifle at various targets by lining up your eye with the target over a range. They accomplish this through magnification by using a set of lenses within the scope. The scope’s positioning can be adapted for the consideration of different ecological factors like wind and elevation increases to make up for bullet drop.
The scope’s function is to help shooters understand exactly where the bullet will land based on the sight picture you are seeing through the scope as you line up the scope’s crosshair or reticle with the target. Many modern-day rifle scopes have around 11 parts which are arranged internally and on the exterior of the scope body. These parts include the rifle scope’s body, lenses, adjustment dials or turrets, objective focus rings, and other components. See all eleven parts of a scope.
The Styles of Rifle Scopes
Rifle scopes can be either “first focal plane” or “second focal plane” type of optics. Deciding upon the finest type of rifle optic is based around what type of shooting you plan to do.
First Focal Plane Scopes
First focal plane glass (FFP) come with the reticle ahead of the zoom lens. This triggers the reticle to increase in size based upon the level of magnification being used. The result is that the reticle measurements are the same at the amplified distance as they are at the non magnified distance. As an example, one tick on a mil-dot reticle at 100 yards without “zoom” is still the same tick at 100 yards with 5x “zoom”. These kinds of scopes work for:
- Quick acquisition, long distance types of shooting
- Shooting circumstances where calculations are minimal
- Experienced shooters who understand their aim point “hold over” as well as “lead” equations for their long gun
- Shooters who do not mind the reticle is enlarged and occupies more visual eyesight space than a SFP reticle
Info About Second Focal Plane Glass
Second focal plane scopes (SFP) feature the reticle behind the zoom lens. This causes the reticle to remain at the same scale in relation to the volume of zoom being used. The end result is that the reticle dimensions shift based upon the zoom used to shoot over lengthier distances due to the fact that the markings represent different increments which change with the magnification. In the FFP example with the SFP glass, the 5x “zoom” 100 yard tick would be 1/5th of the non “zoom” tick reticle measurement. These particular sorts of optics are useful for:
- Long distance types of shooting where shooters have more time to make ballistic computations
- Shooting where most shots happen within much shorter distances and ranges
- Shooters who choose a clearer optic sight picture without area taken up by the larger sized FFP reticle
Magnification for Glass
The quantity of magnification a scope provides is determined by the size, thickness, and curvatures of the lenses inside of the rifle scope. The zoom of the scope is the “power” of the scope.
Info About Fixed Single Power Lens Glass
A single power rifle optic uses a magnification number designator like 4×32. This means the magnification power of the scope is 4x power and the objective lens is 32mm. The zoom of this kind of scope can not fluctuate because it is a fixed power optic.
Adjustable Power Lens Rifle Optic Details
Variable power rifle scopes can be adjusted between magnification levels. These types of scopes will note the zoom amount in a configuration such as 2-10×32. These numbers imply the zoom of the scope can be changed between 2x and 10x power. This also utilizes the powers in-between 2 and 10. The power shift is accomplished using the power ring part of the scope near the back of the scope by the eye bell piece.
The Power and Range Correlation of Glass
Here are some suggested scope powers and the ranges where they may be efficiently used. Highly magnified scopes will not be as useful as lower magnification rifle scope glass because too much magnification can be a negative aspect depending on your shooting distance. The same concept relates to longer distances where the shooter needs to have adequate power to see exactly where to best aim the rifle at the target.
Lens Covering for Optics
All contemporary rifle scope and optic lenses are covered in special coatings. There are various types and qualities of glass lens finishings. When considering high end rifle scope systems, Lens coating can be an important element of defining the capability of the rifle. The lenses are one of the most vital components of the scope considering that they are what your eye sees through while sighting a rifle in on the target. The coating on the lenses shields the lens exterior and even improves anti glare capabilities from refracted light and color discernibility.
Info on Lens Coatings – HD Versus ED
Some scope suppliers also use “HD” or high-definition lense finishings that apply different procedures, chemicals, polarizations, and components to draw out different colors and viewable target definition through the lens. This high-def coating is typically used with more costly, high density lens glass which lowers light’s opportunity to refract through the lens glass. Some scope suppliers use “HD” to describe “ED” indicating extra-low dispersion glass. ED handles how certain colors are presented on the chroma spectrum and the chromatic aberration or deviance which is similarly called color distortion or fringing. Chromatic aberration is often obvious around items with hard edges and outlines as light hits the object from specific angles.
Info on Single Coating Versus Multi-Coating
Different optic lenses can even have various finishes applied to them. All lenses usually have at least some type of treatment or coating applied to them prior to being used in a rifle scope or optic assembly. Since the lens isn’t just a raw piece of glass, they require performance enhancing coatings. It is part of the carefully tuned optic. It requires a coating to be applied to it so that the lens will be efficiently usable in lots of types of environments, degrees of sunshine (full VS shaded), and other shooting conditions.
Single coated lenses have a treatment applied to them which is typically a protective and boosting multi-purpose treatment. This lens treatment can safeguard the lens from scratches while decreasing glare and other less beneficial things experienced in the shooting environment while sighting in with the scope. The quality of a single layered lens depends upon the scope maker and how much money you spent paying for it. Both the make and cost are indicators of the lens quality.
Some scope makers similarly make it a point to specify if their optic lenses are layered or “multi” coated. Being “better” depends on the maker’s lens treatment technology and the quality of materials used in developing the rifle scope.
Hydrophobic Lens Finish
Water on an optical lens doesn’t support preserving a clear sight picture through a scope whatsoever. Many top of the line or premium optic manufacturers will coat their lenses with a hydrophobic or hydrophilic covering. The Steiner Optics Nano-Protection is a good example of this type of treatment. It treats the exterior of the Steiner scope lens so the water particles can not bind to it or create surface tension. The outcome is that the water beads sheet off of the scope to keep a clear, water free sight picture.
Alternatives for Mounting Glass on Long Guns
Installing solutions for scopes are available in a few choices. There are the standard scope rings which are individually installed to the scope and one-piece scope mounts which cradle the scope. These various types of mounts also usually come in quick release versions which use throw levers which permit rifle operators to quickly install and remove the glass.
Hex Key Glass Rings
Basic, clamp style mounting scope rings use hex head screws to position to the flattop style Picatinny scope mount rails on the tops of rifles. These styles of scope mounts use a pair of detached rings to support the scope, and are normally constructed from 7075 T6 billet aluminum or similar materials which are designed for far away accuracy shooting. This type of scope mount is ideal for rifle systems which are in need of a durable, rock solid mount which will not shift no matter just how much the scope is moved about or jarring the rifle takes. These are the design of mounts you should get for a specialized scope system on a far away hunting or competition long gun which will pretty much never need to be altered or recalibrated. Blue 242 Loctite threadlocker can also be used on screws to keep the hex screws from backing out after they are mounted securely in position. An example of these rings are the 30mm style made by Vortex Optics. The set typically costs around $200 USD
Scope Mounting Solutions with Quick-Release Cantilever Rings
These kinds of quick-release rifle scope mounts can be used to quickly connect and remove a scope from a rifle. A wide range of scopes can also be swapped out if they all use a similar style mount. The quick detach design is CNC machined from anodized 6061 T6 aluminum and the mounting levers connect tightly to a flat top type Picatinny rail. This lets the scope to be sighted in while on the rifle, removed from the rifle, and remounted while keeping accuracy. These types of mounts are useful and practical for rifles which are hauled around a lot, to take off the glass from the rifle for protection, or for sight systems which are used in between multiple rifles. An example of this mount type is the 30mm mount designed by Vortex Optics. It generally costs around $250 USD
Optic Tube Sealing and Gas Purging
Wetness inside your rifle glass can wreck a day on the range and your pricey optic by resulting in fogging and producing residue within the scope tube. Many scopes protect against humidity from entering the scope tube with a series of sealing O-rings which are waterproof. Generally, these water-resistant optics can be submerged under 20 or 30 feet of water before the water pressure can push moisture past the O-rings. This should be ample humidity avoidance for common use rifles for hunting and sporting purposes, unless you anticipate taking your rifle boating and are concerned about the scope still working if it falls overboard and you can still salvage the gun.
Rifle Scope Gas Purging
Another part of preventing the accumulation of wetness within the rifle optic tube is filling the tube with a gas like nitrogen. Given that this area is currently occupied by the gas, the glass is less affected by temperature alterations and pressure differences from the external environment which might potentially allow water vapor to permeate in around the seals to fill the void which would otherwise be there. These are good qualities of a decent rifle scope to look for.
