Generally you can rely on the feedbacks of other hunters and shooters who have used Leupold to direct you to the best for you. You can also buy from previous experience and get one matching your requirements. But, scopes are available in a large variety and you will have to pinpoint exactly what purpose you would like to use it for. This will automatically narrow down your choices and you can choose the Leupold rifle scope best for you.

When you go to buy the scope, you should first of all check and see if the serial # is black market or not. Alert customer service at once and get rid of it as there are high chances of it not being authentic. However, to go back to rifle scope selection, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind while choosing the scope of your requirement. These are length of the scope (how long it actually is), the eye relief (the distance at which a full image can be viewed by the hunter), field of view (distances that can be viewed at particular points, through it), weight of the scope, the diameter of the scope, the measurement of the tube, brand etc.

Also keep in mind the parallax adjustments that may be required to focus clearly on distant objects. The main thing that really matters which Leupold rifle scope you should buy is the lens make and the lens company. Since it is Leupold so you will get the best but if it is a fake Leupold then your lens will be completely trash.

To select the scope you want it is best to physically see them and feel what they are like. This will help you get to know their make and how things look through them at first hand. Also it will get you attracted to one whose make and style you like. The best amongst Leupold rifle scopes is generally the VX III scopes.

The VX III scopes have indexed measured lenses. Therefore these scopes afford maximum resolution to the hunter. It also has an easy turn adjustment that can be done by the finger. Adjustable windage is another feature of this model coupled with adjustments available for elevation. The VX I and the VX II are also great rifle scopes and worth a try.

Magnification

Most rifle scopes now come with magnification allowing you to see the target object from a closer distance than it really is. This is why rifle scopes are called telescopic sights. A rifle scope can have a fixed magnification power or a variable one. If you have a scope with fixed magnification power, you may lose out on a target that is very far to you. Therefore, it is probably better to invest into a scope that will allow you to adjust the magnification according to the distance between you and your target.

Also, for short range shooting, you can choose a 3 to 9 or 4 to 12 magnification range (the lowest power will make the target appear 4 times bigger and the highest power, 12 times). For long-range shootings, you will need even more powerful magnification. Otherwise, you can use a fixed magnification scope with very high power for they are simpler to use.

Reticle

The reticles are crosshair shapes superimposed on scope lenses, to help you aim at your target more precisely. Reticles can be either etched on made of wire. Also, reticle shapes can vary from the classic fine crosshair (‘+’) shape to the German shape, target dot or SVD type. If you are hunting in the forests, where there are lights and shades, you should choose a reticle that is thicker, such as a duplex crosshair, as it will not get lost in the background. In a snowy region, a fine crosshair shape will do just fine.

Light transmission

Since shooting is an outdoor activity, until you are doing indoor target practicing, weather condition can influence it a great deal. If you are shooting in a stormy weather or at night, it will be impossible to see your reticle unless the scope of your lens allows a good amount of light transmission. The light gathering ability of the lens depends on how much amount of light it allows to pass on to your eye through the scope.

The best of the scopes will have 98% light transmission, but anything above 90% is considered quite good. If you are hunting in low light condition, then you will need a scope with light transmission of 90% or above. Some scopes also provide LED-illuminated reticles to get rid of the light transmission problem altogether.

The first part is to choose a good mount and a base for your scope. You need a well-lit place in order to mount the scope. First, apply a coat of oil to all the screws that you are going to use. This will make them easy to fix. Fix the rifle base on your rifle according to the instructions. You will probably need to apply locktite while installing the base.

After this you will need to attach the scope rings on the base. One thing to remember is that rings will not be automatically aligned with each other. This is true even for the most expensive of the rings. You will have to make them align correctly before attaching the rifle scope to it. In order to do this, first fix your rings on the base and insert a pair of alignment tools inside them, which should face one another.

The alignment tools look like bullets with cone like shapes on their heads. When inserted into the rings, if the tips of the cones are perfectly aligned, then your rings are fitted well. Most of the time, you will have to re-fit one of the rings in order to make the cones align perfectly.

However, aligning your rings well is only half the task completed. Even perfectly aligned rings may have a very less amount of body contact with the scope, no matter how much you tighten your screws. The lesser the scope contacts with the rings, the looser will be the fitting. Lapping or reaming is a good solution to this problem. Different kinds of rings call for different leveling solutions.

Lapping simply means polishing the inside of the rings with an abrasive solution. Take care to remove this solution completely before attaching the scope the rings. You need to buy a reaming device in order to do a reaming or you can use sand paper as a cheap alternative.

Finally, attach the lower part of the rings on the base, mount your scope on it and place a piece of paper on the scope before attaching the top half of your rings. After fixing the ring tops snugly, simply take out the paper. You rifle with a scope is ready!

Ruger 10-22 3-9X40 Rubber Armored Rifle Scope and Mount    US $45.00

3-9X40 Rifle Scope W/ Mount & Rings For Ruger 10-22    US $39.95

Arma-Lite Flat Top AR Type Rifle 30mm Scope Mount    US $22.75

After choosing a suitable scope, you will also need to buy a few accessories including good rifle scope rings, which are circular clamps with which you need to attach your scope on the base on your rifle. A ring should be a perfect fit to your scope and set high enough to clear the barrel so that you can get an unobstructed view through the scope. A ring that is not compatible with your scope will render even the best of scopes useless. Here are some things that you need to check before you buy your rings.

Diameter

The inner diameter of the ring should match the outer diameter of your rifle scope. The sizes start from 19.05 mm and can go up to 34 mm. It is a good idea to purchase your scope and rings together or to take you scope along with you while you go to buy scope rings. Before finalising on the rings, make sure that they fit your scope perfectly. It is of utmost importance to have your scope mounted on your rifle properly. A poor fitting can ruin a scope permanenetly and can even be quiter dangerous for the shooter.

Height

The height of the rings will depend on the various factors such as the comfort of the user, barrel contour and scope length. An ideal height should enable the scope to clear the length of the rifle barrel and should be as comfortable for the shooter as possible. A heavy-barreled gun often needs very high rings, whereas a medium one will require a standard ring. Also, a 50mm scope should need a high ring and 42 to 45 mm scopes will do with standard ones.

Types of rings

There are various types of rings available in the market and you can choose one based on your specific need. Weaver style rings made of aluminum or steel are very common and inexpensive. Quick detachable rings allow you to detach your scope very quickly in order to carry the rifle or clean it. Mounts are combinations of bases and rings. You can choose any one of these according to your budget or requirements.

Leupold dove tail scope mounting rings    US $33.99

Thompson Contender TC Leupold 1" Scope Rings Base Mount    US $48.50

LEUPOLD M8-4X RIFLE SCOPE BLACK COMES W/ SCOPE RINGS    US $65.01