Rifle Scopes Why so hot for the shorty?

[Jack's Dad]

Why is everyone so excited about having the shortest scope possible? I understand being focused on weight. I don't know much about scope engineering but it seems that optical compromises are required to have a shorty when you could get a similar weight longer scope without sacrificing performance? Is it asthetics or do I not know what I don't know?

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

Much depends upon what your wanting the package to do. Bench/prone shooting w/o a days hump to the shooting spot is one thing. Humping everything for days on end, lite/small is right. Points on a scoring target vs just hitting the target? Everything depends upon your end task/goal an experience level prior to.

 

[Jack's Dad]

I get light weight. The shorter scopes I've used just seem more finicky in the eye box, parallax, and DOF. I guess I'm curious if this is true pretty much across the board?

 

[Covertnoob5]

I get light weight. The shorter scopes I've used just seem more finicky in the eye box, parallax, and DOF. I guess I'm curious if this is true pretty much across the board?

Not with the ZCO 420. It definitely keeps up with all the big scopes. Best short scope on the market bar none.

 

[stello1001]

Because 17 inch scopes look like shit lol

 

[magtech]

I thought everybody wanted a shorty Cause shorty wanna Fuhhhhh...

 

[7WSMShooter]

Only reason I can see having to have one short is for dual role with a clip on

Kahles 3-18 with KA PVS-30. On this particular setup of mine a longer scope would not
Work

 

[lancetkenyon]

What is not to love?
S&B PMII 5-25×56 DT

Vs.
S&B PMII 5-20×50US

Vs
S&B PMII 3-20×50 MTC/LT

Vs.
S&B PMII 3-20×50US

 

[theLBC]

Because short scopes are operator as fuck.

 

[BallisticPrimate]

Unless it's being paired with a short barrel there aren't many benefits to short scopes. Keeping the objective lens far away from the muzzle isn't a bad idea.

 

[theLBC]

short is also subjective. compared to what?

i might be old, but i'm slow.

 

[Supersubes]

Scopes have gotten huge imo, so I like the small stuff. Seems like a good direction to develop in anyway.

I have a 4-16x50 s&b on my go-to gun(AIAW). The package has some nostalgia for me and I just love it. My 4-16 ATACR F1 gives up nothing to the s&b, and is just an overall tidy package. If I had to chose between them today, I’d pick the NF.

 

[Steel+Killer]

Because a few guys on forums such as this say it’s the best thing since sliced bread so then other guys pick up on it....I mean you do want to sit at the cool guys table don’t you?

 

[wigwamitus]

As has been said, short is good for use with clipons as a primary use case for me ! I do 80% of my shooting at night. And mounting the SIMRAD 253 is easier on shorter scopes. I got this Mk6 3-18x in 2014, so not a "fad" for me It weighs 23.6 oz and is 11.9 inches long. I managed to get a sun shade for it from L&S !! My biggest problem is the diopter is tough to adjust. L&S says this is true and is due to trade-offs they worked thru when trying to make the scope this small. So, there will be trade-offs, as has been mentioned. But in terms of results, this scope has a slightly better record than all my other scopes for 100yds dots, with 65% center punches on the (3/4 inch) dots.

==

Then there is weight. I was trying to make this 7.62(20), based off REM700 SPS TAC AAC-SD barrelled action be MUCH lighter than my 7.62(22) AIAX ... and it is by 4 pounds ... but its still around 15 pounds when ready for the field (vs the AIAX 19 lbs). Need a lighter barrel ,but that would sacrifice ROF, so haven't gone there yet.

The NF 2.5-10x MIL-R weighs 20.8 oz and is 12 inches long. Its a great scope for night shooting with a large FOV. But can also keep up with the big scopes on first round hits on 12 inch steel out to 900yds during wind practice. Night or day (heated steel at night for the thermal).

==
That said, I also have a NF 7-35x ... so I'm not totally in on the shorty/light scopes ... about 50/50 is my current balance and that seems right.

 

[Burdy]

Why is everyone so excited about having the shortest scope possible? I understand being focused on weight. I don't know much about scope engineering but it seems that optical compromises are required to have a shorty when you could get a similar weight longer scope without sacrificing performance? Is it asthetics or do I not know what I don't know?

Because we mount NV and Thermal in front and can still reach the controls without breaking down our position. This is reason #1.

 

[Jack's Dad]

I hadn't thought of all the forward gizmos before. That's some bad ass gear.

 

[Jack's Dad]

So it seems that for most people it is a favoring of proportion. That is kind of what I thought.

 

[Alabusa]

Might as well make it match everything else I have.

"Long and thin goes deeper in but short and thick, now that's a dick. Call me tuna can."

 

[spife7980]

Might as well make it match everything else I have.

"Long and thin goes deeper in but short and thick, now that's a dick. Call me tuna can."