How to Read Riflescope Numbers (Like 3-9x40)
3-9x40 isn't code once you know the pattern. Here's what every number on a scope actually tells you before you buy.
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Field Notes
Product guides, equipment care and buyer education from the D&R team.
Caring for Your Optics: Cleaning and Off-Season Storage
Good glass lasts decades if you treat it right. Here's how to clean lenses without scratching them and store optics through the off-season.
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How to Choose Binoculars for Hunting and the Outdoors
8x or 10x? 42mm or 50mm? Here's what the numbers mean and how to match a pair of binoculars to how and where you...
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How to Choose a Laser Rangefinder
The headline 'max range' is the least useful number on the box. Here's what actually determines whether a rangefinder ranges what you point it...
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Leupold VX vs Mark Series: Hunting vs Tactical
Leupold's two main scope families solve different problems. Here's how the VX hunting line and the Mark tactical line actually differ.
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The Best Optic for an AR-15: Dot, LPVO or Magnifier?
There's no single best AR-15 optic — there's the right one for your distances. Here's how red dots, LPVOs and magnifiers stack up.
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Co-Witnessing Iron Sights with a Red Dot
Absolute or lower 1/3 co-witness? It comes down to mount height and how much clean window you want. Here's the difference.
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What Is Parallax on a Rifle Scope, and How to Adjust It
If your reticle seems to float over the target when you move your head, that's parallax. Here's what it is and how to dial...
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Enclosed vs Open Emitter Red Dots: Which Is Better?
Open emitters are lighter and smaller; enclosed emitters are sealed against the stuff that blocks a dot. Here's how to choose.
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How to Choose a Hunting Riflescope
A hunting scope has a different job than a target scope. Here's how to pick magnification, reticle and glass for the game you actually...
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Understanding Reticles: Duplex, BDC, Mil-Dot and Trees
Duplex, BDC, mil-dot, Christmas tree — the aiming pattern inside your scope should match how you shoot. Here's what each one does.
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Building a Glassing Kit for Western Hunts
Western hunting is won behind glass, not behind the trigger. Here's the kit that lets you find and judge animals from a distance.
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