There are dozens of scopes on our website, and they're all great products. They're all at different price points, but choosing the right scope isn't just about price. More expensive isn't always better for your situation.
Budget is just one of the four things you should always consider when you're choosing a scope. Here are the others.
1.Terrain:
If you're in a market garden, you've got visibility over a good distance. And there shouldn't be any animals in the garden, so if you spot something, you're OK to shoot.
You can see just as far in a flat paddock, but you need to be more careful. That animal you spot could be cattle - or even a million dollar racehorse. (I've heard stories!) So now you need a scope for identification as well as detection.
What about thick scrub? A thermal scope picks up heat signatures at more distance, even through the scrub - but that doesn't mean you'll be able to get a good shot. Range is less important. And of course it's the same thing if you're in hill country.
2. Distance:
Most scopes these days have a range finder and a ballistic calculator. That'll help you aim correctly - but it's still a lot harder to hit something at 500m than it is at 200m. So think about what distance you can reliably shoot at.
Once you've picked a distance, you can work out what size lens you need. A bigger lens gives you more magnification, so you can identify your target before shooting.
3. Target species:
Remember the golden rule. Identify before you shoot.
It's pretty hard to misidentify a kangaroo or wallaby. Pigs have a distinctive walk. But what about other animals?
Remember, you can't tell distance with a thermal scope. How do you know if that's a horse far away,or a sheep or dog up close?
The scope you need to shoot foxes round the chook shed is nothing like the one you need for large animals at distance. But you still need to make sure you shoot the fox, not the chooks!
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Monoculars - Shaun's top picks: Best value options for various budgets