Are you dealing with a mobile target a bit far and shooting with slugs? Using a rifle scope on a shotgun is a great help for the accurate target due to its outstanding magnification level.
Yes. A rifle scope on a shotgun works well if you are using buck shots, although it offers excessive magnification and power. When the magnification is too high, it may blur your field of view, especially for shorter distances.
A rifle scope on a shotgun increases the shooting range and the distance. Nevertheless, there is a difference between eye relief and parallax. The riflescope has slightly less eye relief.
On the other hand, a rifle scope parallax is adjusted at 250m or more while a shotgun can go to a maximum of100 meters. Due to this variation, the required magnification also differs. therefore, rifle scopes have higher magnification.
What Is the Difference Between Shotgun Scope and Rifle Scope?
There are a plethora of differences between a shotgun and a riflescope. Due to this, below are facts of rifle scope vs shotgun scope. This is not limited as you may experience other minor differences as you work on the two gadgets.
Magnification Ranges
This is one of the main differences between a shotgun scope and a rifle scope. A rifle scope has a better magnification for both far and small targets.
Distance Limitation
The distance limitation is the major difference between the shotgun scope and a riflescope. A shotgun shooting range is restricted to about 100 meters, while a rifle can fire up to 300 meters.
Eye Relief
The eye relief for a rifle scope is a bit complex since they are designed for long-range shooting. This makes it hard to get the position zero perfectly.
For a shotgun, it is easy to hold the position zero. This is enhanced by the recoil that makes it easy and comfortable to hold in the shotgun scopes.
Use of Power
The power used on a shotgun or the riflescope is directly proportional to the magnification range. A shotgun scope can work efficiently with low power since it has the small magnification and a short distance firing range.
Since a rifle scope has a large magnification, this implies that it needs high power for it to work as required.
Reticle Differences Between Riflescope and Shotgun Scope
To get accuracy when shooting with a scope, you use the reticle. If you are using a scope, you don’t only get the shooting point. It would be best if you also had other math calculations depending on the scope you are using.
A rifle scope is designed to shoot long distances. Typically, it provides an accuracy of three hundred yards or more.
This is because rifles are intended for shooting targets at such distances. Shotguns are designed to shoot targets at shorter distances.
Typically, a shotgun will shoot distances of about a hundred yards. This is why shotgun scopes have reticles that calculate accuracy at shorter distances than a rifle scope.
Apart from the shooting distance, the reticle of a shotgun scope will only show you the shooting points. This may be a round figure or just a dot.
Do You Need a Scope on a Shotgun, and Why?
There is no specific answer to this. You may or may not require scope on a shotgun, depending on your shooting range. For long-range shooting, a scope will be of great importance as it helps you hit your target with accuracy. For short-range shooting, the shotgun can work correctly without the scope.
Shotgun Recoil
You may wonder what recoil has to do with your range, but it goes without saying, the heavier the ammunition, the superior the recoil. Higher recoil will affect your scope.
The power of the recoil wobbles the scope, which with time, may interfere with the accuracy of your target.
If you are using a shotgun, you will require a given shotgun scope. A shotgun scope is powerful and is not affected by the recoil. To avoid destroying your scope or interfering with its accuracy, you should gauge the recoil to ensure your rifle scope is in place.
How Do You Adjust a Rifle Scope on a Shotgun?
You need to adjust several parameters to use a rifle scope on a shotgun. Below is a highlight on how to go about it.
Eye Relief
Eye relief is the space between the scope and your eye when in a full field of sight. The eye relief of a shotgun is larger than that of a rifle scope. The shotgun has more considerable recoil, and to sustain its effect, the distance between the scope and your eye must be longer.
The eye relief of a rifle scope is always shorter, and therefore, when intending to use a rifle scope, you may hit your eye due to the recoil impact.
Optimal Range
The optimal range is also known as the effective range. This is the distance at which your firearm can hit accurately. The optimal range is determined by the type of bullet and firearm in use. Under typical situations, shotguns can fire accurately for a maximum distance of 100 yards. A rifle may surpass this up to over 300 yards.
Parallax Adjustment
Parallax is an error that occurs when crosshairs on the objective lens and your target are not in line. This results in a blurred image.
Most rifle scopes come with fitted parallax adjustments, while in some, you need to adjust to5 use a rifle scope. Rifle scopes offer parallax adjustment for more than 100 yards, whereas shotgun scopes offer parallax adjustment for about 80 yards.
Adjusting Magnification
Magnification in and rifle and shotgun scopes differ significantly. Riflescope provides a high magnification level hence increasing the accuracy to shoot over a long-range. When shooting with a fixed scope with high magnification, it is tough to use such a scope over a shorter range.
Shotguns do not require a high magnification level since they are used for short-range shooting. This implies that shotguns need a little more magnifying power to target near objects.
It requires a magnification of about 4X, while a rifle scope may magnify up to 20X since they are designed for shooting over a long distance. Therefore, the level of magnification dictates the reticle complexion.
Shotgun Load
The shotgun load is the quantity of shots in a shell, and it is measured in ounces. Shotgun bullets differ in terms of length, gauge, the amount of powder in them, and the shot they produce.
Nevertheless, shell manufacturers rate the amount of powder in a shotgun by velocity. This means, the higher the speed, the more powder in it.
Shotgun Scope
Current firearms talks do not involve shotguns. Instead, a lot of weight is put on pistols, sporting rifles, and long-range rifles, but some shooters use shotguns. Shotguns are well known for hunting, competition, and home defense.
There are several equipment you can use to increase your speed and accuracy when using a shotgun.
Below we are going to look at the best shotgun ones that can help advance your shotgun marksmanship.
Best for Budget: Bushnell Trs-25
This product is top-notch due to its pocket-friendly price as it goes for as low as $50. The Bushnell TRS-25 offers you a crisp dot to keep you with an external view for quick shots. This helps you to hit the target while observing anything that may crop up.
Bushnell TRS-25 comes with an optic that is resilient to recoil, making it the best for shooting heavy 12 gauge shots in a shell.
It is also an all-weather gadget, so you should not worry about any fogging when in the field. Additionally, the Bushnell TRS-25 is suitable for any use a shotgun would.
Best Under $100: Truglo Riflescope
Truglo scope is the best for both value and performance as it offers everything you may require. It enables you to zoom between 1x-5x, giving you all you may need when hunting with a shotgun.
This product is made with a simple duplex reticle with a circle that helps you make any adjustments.
Again, it has a 30mm tube that gathers excess light, increases your firing duration, and a coating on the lenses to improve brightness and clarity in scope. Therefore, we highly endorse this scope for use with buckshot, sabots, and slug gun.
Best for Deer Hunting: Nikon Prostaff P3 Shotgun Scope
Nikon Prostaff P3 Scope has a magnification of up to 9x which offers the hunter the best hunting chance of deer. It has a designed 12 gauge reticle for hunting slug gun that has bullet drop firing of up to 200 meters.
However, we do not encourage shooting at a deer at that distance, but it is good that the manufacturer tried to help shotgun hunters that way.
Nikon has been producing guns for hunters for some years. The firearms from this company come with several features such as moisture resistance, lens coatings that improve image quality, fog-resistance, and shock resistance.
Best for Home Defense: Holosun HS510C
For home defense, you require a firearm to quickly get the target as you keep a full field. Holosun HS510C offers you all these benefits plus others.
This device has a powerful battery that goes for about 50,000 hours without a recharge. This means you can keep it beside your bed for several years.
Additionally, it has a solar panel that uses sunlight to improve the battery’s life. So, if you only use it daytime, you will always have enough power.
Best for Turkey Hunting: Truglo Gobbler Stopper
As the name suggests, Truglo Gobbler Stopper is designed with one objective; to help you shoot as many turkeys as possible.
You can find this product in both camouflage patterns and matte black. Truglo Gobbler Stopper gives you a 3 MOA spot reticle designed for shooting turkeys for about 30 meters.
Final Thought: Will a Rifle Scope Work on a Shotgun
To sum up, although you can use a rifle scope on a shotgun, this should not be the first thing to think about.
It would be best if you considered the power, shooting rage, eye relief, and magnification. It is mostly advisable for starters to use a shotgun scope for clear images and comfortable eye relief.
I would advise you to get a specific shotgun scope to avoid challenges like damaging a scope, but it depends on your choice. It is devastating to see an expensive rifle scope being destroyed by utilizing it on a shotgun.
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