Rifle Scopes FOV specs of some rifle scopes and one that rules them all?

[KitchenMartin]

If you are a rifle scope enthousiast, you probably understand the importance of FOV. Either you're a hunter or a PRS guy, it helps you spot animal in the field, targets in your competition, spot your misses and impacts… It also reduces the need to zoom back a bit, clearly it helps you see better! That spec on a rifle scope is often underestimated, and I made that mistake in the past.

So lately, I found that list made by Richard Uting (YouTube, Sharp shooting UK) that I keep as a reference sheet… And would like to share with you today. Mainly, it shows the half FOV of some FFP scopes at 20X in mils. (Note: multiply the numbers by 2 to get the real numbers)

I also have those one to add to the list:
Burris XTR2 4-20x50 18 Mils
Vortex HST 6-24x50 19 Mils
ZCO 420 4-20x50 20 Mils
USO T20 2.5-20x50 22 Mils
Nightforce NX8 2.5-20x50 23Mils
Leupold VX-5HD 4-20x52 25.7 Mils (From Leupold spec sheet: 7.7ft at 100y=88.25 MOA=25.7Mils)

OK! I do not understand how could Leupold managed to get that much FOV on their VX-5HD 4-20x52!!!
Yes a 34mm tube helps with FOV... But that much?
What's so special about the eyepiece that gives that much FOV?
For me that's too good to be true and I did not have any chance to verify with my own eyes.
That's why I call this on this forum hoping for some answers… as I didn't have any leupold responce from the message I sent them last week.
Maybe that is a simple mistake Leupold did in their spec sheet?
Maybe that is not a true 20x power… a 19.5x that they call a 20x?
Any help here?



Thanks!

 

[supercorndogs]

Because your first list is at 20x and the others are probably at minimum power.

 

[supercorndogs]

34mm tube doesn't do anything for FOV.

 

[smoothy8500]

34mm tube doesn't do anything for FOV.

Whhaaaat??!! Next we'll hear that 34mm improves light transmission.

 

[KitchenMartin]

Using the markings on the magnification rings I have looked through and compared FOV to quite a few scopes in the last 4 or 5 months.

So far I havent found anything as good as the Burris XTR3. The closest to it is the 20x NX8. With both optics on 20x the NF was showing 10 mils per side versus 10.3 in the Burris. Oddly enough the 32x NX8 wasnt as close, I suppose there is variation in the magnification markings.

The VX 5HD is a typo. I have a good friend who loves his on his hunting rifle. Glass is nice, FOV is good, but it isnt that good. But it's a nice scope.

I've also compared to the USO B25, Both mag ranges of the Gen2 Razor, 25x and 35x ATACR, MK5 HD 25x and 35x, Cronus BTR, ZCO, S&B PMII, Kahles K25i, Gen2 PST, etc. I've missed a couple I bet.

I might get my hands on a XTR3 when they get here in Canada... Also curious to see the VX5-HD...
Thanks for your reply!

 

[Glassaholic]

Whhaaaat??!! Next we'll hear that 34mm improves light transmission.

Oh please don't

ILya has said the new March 4.5-28x52 High Master is getting 23 mils FOV at 20x, but this is a concept scope that hopefully will be executed extremely well and be a top alpha option when it is released. March is using new wide angle eyepieces in their recently released 5-42x56 High Master scope and this new 4.5-28x52. Outside of that, the NF NX8 2.5-20x50 and Burris XTR III 3.3-18x50 both have very impressive FOV, so does the Schmidt & Bender 3-20 scopes. I can't really recommend the NX8 2.5-20 because it has considerable edge distortion which IMO limits the usefulness of its FOV, but the XTR III has impressive edge to edge sharpness for a scope at its price.

Here's a pic of the XTR III at 18x, it looks to be about 11.3 x2 = 22.6 mils FOV at 18x, very impressive!

 

[KitchenMartin]

Oh please don't

ILya has said the new March 4.5-28x52 High Master is getting 23 mils FOV at 20x, but this is a concept scope that hopefully will be executed extremely well and be a top alpha option when it is released. March is using new wide angle eyepieces in their recently released 5-42x56 High Master scope and this new 4.5-28x52. Outside of that, the NF NX8 2.5-20x50 and Burris XTR III 3.3-18x50 both have very impressive FOV, so does the Schmidt & Bender 3-20 scopes. I can't really recommend the NX8 2.5-20 because it has considerable edge distortion which IMO limits the usefulness of its FOV, but the XTR III has impressive edge to edge sharpness for a scope at its price.

Here's a pic of the XTR III at 18x, it looks to be about 11.3 x2 = 22.6 mils FOV at 18x, very impressive!

View attachment 7220629

I like what I see so far! The picture talks by itself! Thanks! The reticle is slim and well graduated. FOV is in the alpha territory. I'll put that one on my check list.
So the eyepiece is the key for a wide FOV... Not the tube, as I've been told earlier.
Is there anything else in the mechanical side of things that helps with that also?

Martin

 

[koshkin]

Keep in mind that many scopes have markings on the magnification ring that are off. If you figure where real 20x is, the numbers change slightly.

Of the currently available high end FFP scopes, the widest FOV on 20x are TT and Minox. Two new March scopes (5-42x56 and 4.5-28x52) should be wider, and the prototypes I have seen are. However, until I am able to test production models, I will not release full reviews.

ILya

 

[Guthwine]

FOV also depends on how honest the marketing departments are. 24,5x gives you slightly more FOV than 25x.

 

[Denys]

I like what I see so far! The picture talks by itself! Thanks! The reticle is slim and well graduated. FOV is in the alpha territory. I'll put that one on my check list.
So the eyepiece is the key for a wide FOV... Not the tube, as I've been told earlier.
Is there anything else in the mechanical side of things that helps with that also?

Martin

Yes, the eyepiece is key to the FOV. The new March Wide Angle eyepiece is (if I remember correctly) 26 degrees compared to 20 or 21 degrees of a regular eyepiece. This provides an additional 25% to the FOV.

I looked through the early prototype of the March 5-42X56 at SHOT 2019 and I like what I saw and it was wider than the others at the same magnification. March has announced they are getting the 5-42X56 into production and I'm sure they will have a few at SHOT later this month. The WA eyepiece is also on the GENESIS 6-60X56 and the upcoming 4-40X52.

(In my photographer's view of optics, I think of the difference in eyepiece angle the same way as the difference in sensor size. I'm sure there's more to it but it helps my old brain.)

 

[KitchenMartin]

Here's a podcast from Vortex published on YouTube.
Dave talks about FOV... Interesting!
Listen from 26:45 to 30:15.