FAQ – Questions & AnswersCategory: Scopes FAQWhat do the numbers on a scope mean?
Jody Allison asked 2 years ago
How to read scope numbers?

4 Answers
Olson answered 2 years ago

The numbers on a scope represent the distance in millimeters between the two points where the crosshairs intersect.

When you look through a scope, you’re looking at an image of what’s happening at those two points.

The number on the left represents how far away the object is from the left side of the scope, and the number on the right represents how far away it is from the right side of the scope.

What do the numbers on a scope mean?

Jordan answered 2 years ago

The numbers on a scope represent the magnification of the scope.

The first number is the power (or magnification) and the second number is the diameter of the object that will be seen through the scope at that power.

So, for example, if you see a scope with these numbers 3-9X40, it means that at 3X magnification, you will see an object that is 40mm in diameter. And at 9X magnification, you will see an object that is only 10mm in diameter.

Lewis answered 2 years ago

The numbers on a scope represent the distance between the object being viewed and the lens of the scope. This is measured in millimeters.

For example, if you see a number that reads “3x,” it means that the object is three millimeters away from the lens. If you see a number that reads “10x,” it means that the object is ten millimeters away from the lens. This can be helpful when determining how far away an object is and whether or not it is in focus.

What do the numbers on a scope mean?

Cruz answered 2 years ago

The numbers on a scope represent the magnification power of the scope.

For example, a 3-9x40mm scope has a magnification power of 3x at its lowest setting and 9x at its highest setting. The “40mm” part of the designation refers to the diameter of the objective lens (the lens at the far end of the scope). Larger objective lenses gather more light, making for a brighter image.