Noob question about optics.

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Kimio

New member
This may be a silly question, but is there such a thing as caliber specific optics?

I've been a little confused on this for a while and I can't seem to find a satisfactory answer. Some tell me certain optics will function better on other caliber rifles, chiefley between .308 and .223

Slapping an optic "usually" used on a .223 caliber rifle may have problems if used on a .308

This part I don't understand, since if the optic was worth its salt, it wouldn't matter what firearm it was put on as it should function flawlessly and not lose its zero do to recoil.

Can someone please clarify this? Am I being misinformed about this, is my assumption that it doesn't matter what firearm an optic is put on, that it should work fine regardless?
 
From my understanding, there are scopes being sold, mostly for AR length barrels (16 inch) in 223, with BDC reticles for a ceratain weight bullet. Even at that, one would have to double check to see if indeed the bullet hits to point of aim. All BDC reticles are just points of reference to give you a good approximation of holdover. No matter the scope or caliber, you have to shoot at different distances with your different loads to determine true point of impact.

Edit-- After re-reading your post, I am not sure if you are talking about the reticles or recoil. If you mean should a good scope handle the recoil of a 223 up to a 460 Weatherby magnum, then yes, a good scope should hold up and most nowadays will. Make sure you spend and least $200 for a decent scope and you will be fine regardless of caliber as far a recoil.
 
All scopes with a main tube diameter of at least 1" are suitable for almost all rifles - but the devil's in the details.

1) Some modern scopes, "compact" scopes in particular, have main tubes too short to mount on some rifles that require mounts (rings, actually) that are further apart than the tube reaches.

2) Some scopes have reticle construction that simply won't hold up to the recoil/pounding of very hard thumpers for more than a few shots.

3) Since most riflescopes (not all) have their parallax set by the manufacturers for centerfire rifle ranges, if one's mounted on a rifle used at very short range (like a .22) their could be some parallax issues (apparent reticle movement on target when the head/eye moves) if those scopes are mounted on a .22RF.

4) Some scopes, usuall those of higher power, have objectives (front bell) of such large diameter that they require extra-ordinarily high mounting so the bell will not touch the barrel.

.
 
Some optics (scopes) are caliber specific. Most often high end varmint or tactical models with bullet drop compensators built in where you set the range being shot and the scope makes sighting corrections, so a 308 will not work correctly on any other caliber. But in general any good quality scope (good can costs as much if not more then the rifle it is mounted on) will work for most. With exceptions like PetaW mentioned as well as others. Find a gun shop you trust and ask them what they carry and what would work best for what you are trying to set up. But remember buy cheap optics get cheap optics, that $40.00 special may break down soon of white or black out in low light or just be a pain to use.
 
Thank you for the clarifications.

I honestly was looking at optics from Aimpoint and Trijicon as a future investment (Aimpoint for my AR15 since that's what I train with for augmentee duty)

I was worried that I may damage an optic if I were to put it on a larger caliber rifle (An FN FAL or PTR91 to be exact), both of which I was thinking of putting an ACOG x4 on them.
 
Kimio, you will not hurt that Aimpoint by putting it on an FAL or any other .308 or .338 Lapua mag for that matter.

I have a friend who came out of a Humvee that had been hit by an IED which almost flipped after being shot airborne and his Aimpoint still held its zero...they are built to hold up to combat, and they are not loved by soldiers just for holding up to recoil.
 
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Some "cheap" optics, $150 and under, may hold up well enough on light recoiling rifles such as 22's, 223's, 243, 30-30 etc. Put those same scopes on a 300 win mag and they may not hold up to a box of ammo before going bad.

With a decent mid-grade scope or better you will likely never have an issue. Certainly not with an Aimpoint.
 
I honestly was looking at optics from Aimpoint and Trijicon as a future investment (Aimpoint for my AR15 since that's what I train with for augmentee duty)
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Trijicon is in a whole other league above Aimpoint.
 
Trijicon is in a whole other league above Aimpoint.
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Not necessarily. The ACOG is just in a whole other class of optic, you can't compare the two seeing as they serve two very different purposes. When you get into red dot sights, however, they are both respectable, but I will take an Aimpoint red dot over a Trijicon red dot (reflex sight) because I prefer the tube-style red dot sight.
 
I'm actually testing the cheap scope theory right now.

I mounted a Simmon's .22 scope to my 7mm rem mag. So far 40 rds no problems.

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