optics Archives - GrabAGun Blog

How to Improve Your Shooting Accuracy with a Gun Scope

August 4, 2017 | 0 Comments

Anyone who has ever owned a weapon knows the desire to be able to shoot with greater accuracy. The most basic way to improve your accuracy is through practice. However, sometimes that just isn’t the best way to improve your firearm handling. Taking your abilities to the next level sometimes requires improvement of your firearm to take your shooting to the next level. The addition of gun optics can be what you need to achieve the next level.

Handgun scopes and other scopes can all improve the weapons they were designed for. But how do you utilize this technology to help mold you into a better sharpshooter? Let’s take a look at some popular scopes, how to determine which one fits your needs, how to calibrate them, and how to maintain them.

Scopes and Gun Optics

No scope can perform well in every situation. Many scopes have their capabilities written on them that people can interpret, but unless you are well-versed in their meaning, you probably won’t have an idea what they mean.

Reading a Scope

A basic inscription on a scope could be 12 x 40. In this example, the 12 refers to the magnifying power of the scope and the 40 indicates the diameter in millimeters of the object lens (this is the end that you do not look through). When you use a higher magnification, less area can be viewed through the scope and the amount of light that enters the scope is limited. Working against the light restrictions of magnification is the diameter of the object lens, which allows more light to pass through the scope. This brightens the image.

Remember to consider the power ratio between power versus diameter. 4 x 32 is brighter than 12 x 40, even though the diameter is larger on the 40. Because of these problems, many scopes can now be found with variable power settings. This aspect helps adjust your optics on the fly so you can react to your environment as it changes.

The Reticle

Your crosshairs, or reticles, also play a vital role in the accuracy of your optics. They are generally one vertical and horizontal line that intersect. Where the lines cross should be the center point for where you are attempting to aim. The most common type of crosshair today is a duplex reticle, due to its ability to fit multiple needs. When you focus your scope, you will want to aim it at a light-colored wall and adjust the scope until the reticle is in sharp focus.

Buying a Scope

Ultimately, though, how do you select a scope that is right for you? Like other technologies, there always seems to be a better or different model available soon after you make your purchase that has some feature you would want to have. You must remember that scopes can always be adjusted and replaced, so you are not making a lifelong commitment.

Above all, remember to keep in mind the type of shooting you will be doing with your weapon. For target hunting, you will want a scope that is good for aiming at moving targets, like low-powered scopes tend to be. Target shooters might use a higher powered scope due to the lack of movement in the shooting style. No matter if you buy an EOTech scope or any other scope on the market, here is a short checklist of how to accurately use your new scope.

· Determine how far away pellets land
· Tune the elevation and windage for the particular condition
· Adjust the parallax
· Set crosshairs to the focal point of the target

Bore Sighting Your Rifle

At a range, set two targets at 25 meters and 100 meters respectively. Use a tripod or other securing mechanism to keep your rifle from resting on a hard surface. Remove the bolt or action. Adjust the rifle stand to center the 100-meter target when looking through the breech end. Without adjusting the position, make sure you align your cross-hairs in the center.

Enjoy your new optics and learning how to use them to increase your accuracy. Remember to practice all the other rules of responsible gun ownership once you have become a better shot. If you are looking for a night vision scope, make sure to check out this article on night vision devices.

Picking a New Gun Laser

March 19, 2014 | 0 Comments

Selecting a Gun Laser

My first gun laser was mounted on a 9mm carbine. I received a lot of comments along the line of, “if you can’t acquire a target you don’t need a gun.” One of these men lost every single calf born that year to coyotes. One Saturday after a group of us had been coyote hunting, and seeing how many more I was able to take down with a laser, half of them were soon on the internet comparing lasers and other gun parts and accessories.

When sighting with a scope to target one coyote the others are running at the sound of the first shot, leaving insufficient time to draw a bead on coyotes running the 30 to 50 ft. to the woods. The laser does not require me to sight my target, I simply point the laser on the target, fire, and have it on another before they can disappear into the woods.

A laser will increase your accuracy and target acquisition speed. Having a laser is no reason to stop practicing. Any equipment will eventually fail so keep plinking on the range, with and without the laser.

Multiple Options to Choose From

That said, with the large number of options available today, you will need to do some homework when making a choice. First, you will need to answer some questions before you begin your search:

What firearm are you mounting the laser on? The manufacturer, model, caliber, and length of the barrel will matter. How the laser sight will be mounted is all important.
Whether you will be shooting in the day or night will affect your laser choice and color.
Whether you will or will not be mounting a light or night vision will be a consideration.
If the weapon will be used in a holster will also be a factor.

Knowing these answers before you buy will avoid the mistake of a laser that’s insufficient, that you can’t mount on your gun, or that won’t fit into your holster.

Some pistols will accommodate red or green lasers while others are too small for anything but red. Holster fit may be another consideration. You can probably use the same holster with a grip or slide mount laser, but are almost certain to need another holster with a rail mount. I would recommend a laser to anyone considering one. If you are planning to customize a weapon with new gun parts and accessories I would definitely recommend a laser.

Installing Your Laser

Finally, you may be asking if you can install a laser yourself. That depends upon the weapon and laser, as well as your skills in installing gun parts and accessories. The best advice is to ensure a purchase of a laser made for your weapon, model, barrel length and caliber specifically.

Some lasers come with great instructions (and sometimes the tools) for mounting and adjusting. Other laser manufacturers require that you ship your unloaded firearm to their factory for mounting. Your warranty may be voided unless shipped to the manufacturer for the mounting of any gun accessories. The variables are going to depend upon the specifics of your weapon and your choice of laser.

Lasers at GrabAGun

If you are considering the purchase of a new pistol for sale or a rifle for sale, you can order a model with a factory installed laser. Once you try it, I have no doubts many more people will be impressed.

GrabAGun is an online gun dealer offering an extensive selection of guns for sale, and gun accessories. Give us a call if you need assistance, we will be happy to help you.

Great AR-15 Optics for Customization

January 20, 2014 | 0 Comments

Personalizing the Ar-15

Any gun owner’s list of things to do should include plenty of shooting, cleaning your gun, and familiarizing yourself with your gun. Knowing your weapon from the inside out provides you with a better understanding of how it works. Many AR-15 owners learn their guns’ ins and outs by upgrading it or even building an AR 15 from scratch.

Tricking out an AR 15 for sale means using AR-15 accessories to enhance its form or function. The sheer amount of compatible and aftermarket parts make the AR 15 one of the most easily customized guns available. It is truly a firearm you can personalize and make your own to the exact degree that you desire.

Optics and Scopes for the AR-15

One of the most common accessories AR-15 owners will want is optics such as rifle scopes or sights. With so many choices available, making a choice can be intimidating and there simply isn’t a “one scope fits all needs” option out there. A good guide to choosing optics is by making a selection according to how you will use it. Let’s look at a few of the most popular AR-15 optics for sale.

Leupold Mark 4 HAMR

leupold mark 4 hamr ar15 scope
The tough, compact and combat-ready Leupold Mark 4 HAMR is designed for precise mid-range distance and rapid target acquisition in bright daylight, low light, and at night. Leupold is a great brand with many optics options available depending on what you are looking for. GrabAGun’s great price is well below retail.

Leupold Mark AR 3-9×40

Another popular Leupold scope is the Leupold Mark AR 3-9×40. 2-9x. This scope is a great choice when you need a bit more magnification at the upper end and don’t expect close range firing. It is ideal for hunting or plinking at medium ranges. GrabAGun has great savings on all kinds of optics and scopes!

Laser Sights

If you have ever had to climb a tree because a wild boar is after you or get on top of a car while the bumper is being tore off by the dynamite porky, you will learn to appreciate lasers in low-lighting conditions as an assist in the take down of boar before they get out of the darkening woods. You can’t hunt after dark in many states, not even the vermin. Yet hogs and coyote often come no sooner than late afternoon and disappear just after the sun rises in many locations, providing a very narrow window of opportunity with wooded areas already darkening.

With so many great optics available, applying your intended use and considering your budget is the best guide for choosing optics. Tactical lights are also a great product useful for vermin control, and you will find the laser a great assist in low light conditions. Many people may prefer just having a red dot sight for easy-to-use fast acquisition as well.

AR-15 Accessories at GrabAGun

GrabAGun stocks picatinny rails, AR trigger assemblies, mounts, AR-15 upper receivers, lower receivers, and gun magazines. Browse our site often as new stock arrives several times a week, and feel free to give us a call for questions or inquiries into an item not shown. If you are looking for specific guns for sale or a specific brand of AR-15 for sale, but don’t find it listed on our site, give us a call. That is one of the GrabAGun advantages, our stock isn’t limited to what we carry. If the desired firearm is available, we will find it and apply the GrabAGun discount for you.