Comparison Yukon Jaeger 1-4x24 vs Hawke Endurance 30 1-4x24

— Optical. Classic optical sights; in essence, telescopes of a special design with sighting reticles applied in the field of view. It is precisely these “pipes” that are traditionally used for sniper shooting - both high-precision and “fast”, for example, in hunting (however, “pipes” are placed in a separate category). They can have both a small and a very high degree of magnification (in many models this parameter is also adjustable), provide the ability to make adjustments vertically and horizontally, and the marking of many sighting reticles allows you to make such adjustments on the fly without reconfiguring the sight itself. But optics are not suitable for the fastest possible shooting offhand: aiming takes a lot of time, and the field of view is limited. In addition, using such a sight requires a certain skill - so, ideally, the shooter’s eye should be located on the optical axis (for more details, see “Parallax adjustments”) and at a strictly defined distance from the sight. Note that the sights themselves do not require batteries, but power may be required for some additional functions, such as illuminating the reticle. In the dark, the optics themselves are practically useless; only a few models are compatible with NVGs.

- “Penchor”. Closed-type optical sights, originally developed for driven hunting. Their characteristic feature is the ability to make quick shots offhand while maintainin...g a large field of view for the shooter. Externally, the “drivers” are often compact, and the size of their lens is most often no larger than the “landing size of the rings.” Such sights are equipped with the ability to adjust the magnification (on average 1x – 4x, but the maximum magnification can be higher, but the minimum magnification is not more than 2x). The main task of the “driver” is to guide a rapidly moving target during daylight hours, both at a short distance and at a medium distance, firing with target recognition (aimed shooting is ensured at a distance of 5 - 150 m). They are often equipped with a backlight module, which at 1x magnification turns the sight into a collimator sight and allows you to quickly target an object near the shooter and not lose the aiming mark in the thicket of the forest when searching for a target.

— Collimator. Sights based on optical systems in which the aiming mark is not fixedly applied to the lens, but is projected onto it using a special light source. Despite the external similarity of some of these models with traditional optics, collimators have actually the opposite specialization: they are designed for short distances and the ability to quickly fire offhand. Thus, such devices usually do not provide magnification or narrow the field of view (there are exceptions, but they are extremely rare), and the aiming mark always more or less coincides with the actual aiming point, regardless of the position of the working eye relative to the sight. From the shooter's perspective, it looks like when the head moves, the mark also moves, remaining on the target. True, despite the common misconception, the collimator design itself does not guarantee the absence of parallax (see “Parallax adjustments”); however, when this effect is present, it is usually weakly expressed and has almost no effect on shooting accuracy, and there are also completely parallax-free models. The main disadvantage of collimator collimators is that they require battery or battery power.

- Prismatic. At its core, it is a compact hybrid of an optical and collimator sight. From classical “optics”, such sights borrowed a lens system that provides slight magnification, and an engraved aiming reticle etched on the prism glass itself. However, unlike traditional optical sights, they have a more compact prismatic wrapping system. Externally, prismatic-type models are similar to closed collimator sights. They also use reflective illumination of the reticle and provide an integrated mount, mainly for the Weaver rail. Most prismatic sights have the ability to change the reticle and select the illumination color (usually red or green). Sights of this type provide quick target acquisition, and they are designed for accurate shooting at short and medium distances. — Magnifier. Optical devices installed in front of sights to increase the zoom ratio, thanks to which the shooter can see distant objects more clearly and aim at targets faster. Magnifers are mainly used in conjunction with collimator sights (see the corresponding paragraph). Their magnification ratio varies from 3x to 7x. Often such optical devices come with a special mount that allows you to instantly “throw” the magnifier to the side for aiming directly through the collimator.

The offset is the distance between the eyepiece lens and the exit pupil of an optical instrument (see "Exit Pupil Diameter"). Optimum image quality is achieved when the exit pupil is projected directly into the observer's eye; so from a practical point of view, offset is the distance from the eye to the eyepiece lens that provides the best visibility and does not darken the edges (vignetting). A large offset is especially important if the sight is planned to be used simultaneously with glasses — after all, in such cases it is not possible to bring the eyepiece close to the eye, and it must be at some distance from the glasses so as not to hit the glass due to recoil.

The diameter of the area visible through the sight from a distance of 100 m — in other words, the largest distance between two points at which they can be seen simultaneously from this distance. It is also called "linear field of view". This indicator is more convenient for many users than the angular field of view (the angle between the lines connecting the lens and the extreme points of the visible image) — it very clearly describes the capabilities of the device.

In sights with magnification adjustment (see above), both the entire range of width — from maximum to minimum — or only one value of this parameter can be indicated. In the latter case, the largest width of the field of view is usually taken, at the minimum magnification.

The division value of the turrets used in the sight to enter corrections.

The increment value for the correction turret is the angle that the point of impact shifts when rotated by 1 click (“click”). In this case, this angle is indicated in MOA — minutes of arc. For more information about this unit, see "Measuring units of the sight"; and the lower the division value, the more accurately you can set up the sight initially and make corrections in the future. For example, if this indicator is 0.5 MOA — each click will shift the point of impact by about 1.46 cm for every 100 m of distance (that is, 2.91 cm at a distance of 200 m, 4.4 cm at 300 m and so on); and 0.25 MOA will already give only 7.3 mm per click for every 100 m.

The smaller the step and the more accurate the adjustment system, the more expensive it is. Therefore, when choosing, it is worth taking into account the features of the planned application — first of all, the size of the targets and the distance to them; detailed recommendations on this matter are in various manuals on shooting. If we talk about specific values, then the mentioned 0.5 (1/2) MOA are typical mainly for inexpensive and medium scopes, 0.25 (1/4) MOA is a pretty good indicator, and the advanced optics itself allows adjustment in increments of 0.125 (1/8) MOA.

A type of coating used in scope lenses. Anyway, we are talking about the so-called antireflection coating, which is the thinnest film (single or multilayer) on the surface of the lens in contact with air. The properties of this film are chosen in such a way as to minimize the reflection of light from the glass surface. The meaning of this function is not so much to reduce the brightness of glare that can unmask the shooter, but to increase the light transmission of the optics and, accordingly, the quality of the image visible through it.

Modern sights can be equipped with the following types of coatings:

— Illuminating. In this case, the simplest option is implied — an incomplete single-layer coating. The term "incomplete" means that not all lens surfaces are coated (although there may be several coated surfaces). Such enlightenment is inexpensive, however, the image quality is relatively low — in particular, because a single-layer film is most effective only for a part of the visible colour spectrum.

— Full illumination. Fully coated means that all surfaces of the lenses that come into contact with air have a special coating; in this case it is single layer. Such a coating is more expensive than a simple anti-reflective coating, but the quality of the “picture” when using it is higher, because. light distortion at the transitions between glass and air is minimized.

— Multi-layered illuminating. Incomplete AR coating (see above)...using multilayer films. Thanks to multiple layers, the anti-reflective coating covers the entire visible spectrum, which allows you to achieve a brighter image with less colour distortion compared to single-layer coatings; However the price of such devices is higher.

— Full multilayer enlightenment. The most advanced option: multilayer coating on all lens surfaces used in the design of the sight. Features of full and multi-layer coating are described separately above. Here we note that their combination is typical for high-class sights, because. it provides the highest quality image, but it is not cheap.

The location of the reticle in the optical sight (see "Type").

Such a grid can be installed either in the first focal plane, FFP(roughly speaking, in the lens area), or in the second, SFP(in the eyepiece area). At the same time, for sights with a fixed magnification, the difference between these options is only in price, so they use only the simpler and cheaper SFP. But in models with multiplicity adjustment, this parameter directly affects the application features, and we will analyze this difference in more detail:

— In the 1st focal plane (FFP). The key advantage of reticles in the first focal plane is that their apparent size also changes in direct proportion with a change in magnification. In fact, this means that the angular dimensions of the individual mesh elements remain the same regardless of the set magnification. That is, for example, if a distance of 1 MRAD is claimed between two neighboring points, then it will be 1 MRAD in the entire range of multiplicity adjustment. This means that you can work with the grid for measuring distances and taking corrections according to the same rules, regardless of the selected degree of increase. Thus, FFP sights are much more convenient and easier to use than SFP. On the other hand, such models are noticeably more complex and expensive; and many hunting reticles — for example, a duplex or a classic cross (see "Reticle Type") — it makes...no sense at all to install in the first focal plane. In light of all this, this option is relatively rare and only in mid-range and top-level models designed for high-precision shooting.

— In the 2nd focal plane (SFP). The most common reticle placement option, including variable magnification sights. Such popularity is primarily due to the simplicity of design and low cost. However, the reverse side of these advantages are additional difficulties when using goniometric mesh elements. The fact is that in SFP sights, the apparent size of such elements remains unchanged when the magnification changes, which means that the dimensions of individual parts at different magnifications will correspond to different angles. More precisely, the angular dimensions in such systems change in inverse proportion to the multiplicity: for example, if at a multiplicity of 5x the distance between two adjacent points is 6 MOA, then at 15x it will decrease to 2 MOA. Thus, the “true” angular size indicated in the characteristics, the marking elements have only at a strictly defined multiplicity, in other cases, this size must be recalculated using special formulas. At the same time, it is worth noting that if the grid does not have special goniometric elements, then this disadvantage becomes practically irrelevant for it; examples are hunting nets of the "half-cross" type (traditional, not "stump") and "cross with a circle" (see "Net type").

The type of aiming mark (reticle) provided in the device. There are models for which several options are indicated at once: this implies the possibility of switching between them.

As for specific varieties, in collimators, all brands have a common specificity - they should provide the convenience of quick aiming at relatively short distances. But the reticles of optical and other similar sights can be divided into hunting and tactical (sniper) sights. The former are relatively simple and have a minimum of additional elements, as they are designed for short distances and relatively large targets; and the latter are designed for high-precision shooting, military and police use, and therefore must be supplemented with various elements for measuring angles and taking corrections on the go, including between shots.

Among the specific types of grids most popular in our time are the cross with divisions, BDC, duplex, cross, half-cross, cross with a dot, cross with a circle, herringbone, rangefinder, dot, circle with a dot and circle with 2 points. Here are th...e main features of each:

— Cross with divisions. One of the most popular types of "tactical" reticles used in optical sights. The key element is the crosshair, on the lines of which additional dots are applied. The distance between the points corresponds to a strictly defined angular size; initially it was 1 MRAD (1 "mil", hence the name), however, in modern sights, other values \u200b\u200bcan be found, they should be specified according to the instructions. In addition, such grids can differ in the number of points, the presence of thickening on the lines (as in the duplexes described below), etc. Be that as it may, such a grid is very convenient for estimating distances and making corrections on the fly, many professional shooters consider it almost ideal for high-precision shooting, including at long distances, besides, the original cross with divisions (Mil-Dot) is widely used by military and police snipers around the world.
We also note that there is also a collimator variety of "mildots" - in this case, the grid looks like a circle with a dot in the middle and several dots below it, with an interval of the same 1 MRAD. However, when using collimators, the real need for making vertical corrections rarely arises, and this option is not widely used.

- Duplex. Reticles for optical and night sights (see "Type"), which look like a classic crosshair with different line thicknesses: they are thin in the center, and noticeably thicker near the edges. The meaning of this combination is that thin lines do not “clutter up” the field of view at the aiming point, and thick lines remain visible even under adverse conditions (for example, at dusk) and allow you to aim at least approximately. In addition, the thickness of large lines and the distance between their edges can correspond to well-defined angles, which allows some of these sights to be used even as simple goniometers. However, these possibilities are very limited, and in general, "duplexes" are classic hunting nets.

- Half cross. Hunting net, the main elements of which are T-shaped. One of the varieties of semi-crosses - "German grid", it is also "stump" - consists of a vertical line from the edge to the center of the sight and two horizontal lines that do not reach it; the aiming point corresponds to the upper point of the central "stump", and the thickness of the lines and the distance between them can be specified in the documentation - this allows you to carry out the simplest measurements of angles. A more modern version of the half-cross is the crosshair, in which one line (from the center to the top edge) is much thinner than the rest, or even absent altogether.

- Dot. In its pure form, the dot is used exclusively in collimator sights (see "Type"). This is an extremely convenient option for such devices: there are no unnecessary details in the field of view of the shooter, only a mark that clearly shows exactly where the weapon is aimed - more is often not required when using collimators. The disadvantages of the dot in comparison with other marks in the sights of this type include less visibility, especially in bright ambient light. However, many sights allow you to set a fairly high brightness of the mark, and sometimes even increase its size, increasing visibility. Also note that for a point, the angular size can be specified, which can be useful for quick estimation of distances.
In addition, the dot can also be used in optical and night sights, but in such cases it is usually used as an addition to another scale - for example, it additionally highlights the intersection of lines in a semi-cross.

— Circle with a dot. Another type of marks, used in collimators as the main one, and in other types of sights - as an addition to a crosshair or other more traditional grid. However, the latter is rare, so let's focus on the first option. Compared to another popular "collimator" mark - a dot - the circle covers more visible space, however, it is very noticeable and often turns out to be more convenient when shooting offhand or sharply turning the weapon to the side. In addition, for both the circle and the dot, it often indicates the exact angular size, which gives extended (compared to the usual dot) possibilities for using the aiming mark as the simplest goniometric (rangefinding) scale.

- Circle with 2 dots. A variation of the circle with a point described on top, having a second, additional point - usually below the first, at a strictly defined angular distance from it. This expands the possibilities for using the sight as an impromptu rangefinder, and also allows you to "on the move" take an amendment when shooting at long distances - just aim at the second, lower point. However, such opportunities for collimators are extremely rarely required, so this option has not received much distribution either.

- Cross. Features of this type of brand depend on the type of sights in question - optical / night or collimator (see "Type"). In classical optics, a cross is the simplest crosshair of thin lines of the same thickness. Naturally, in terms of general specialization, such reticles are hunting, but they are also found in a fairly advanced variety of sights - sports models for benchrest (shooting from a machine gun at maximum range and accuracy). The convenience of the cross in such an application lies in the fact that the lines have a minimum thickness and practically do not block the view. In nightlights, this type of grid is usually one of several options available to choose from. But in collimators, the cross is in many ways similar to a circle with a dot - it is provided as one of the large, well-marked marks with a clearly defined angular size.

- Cross with a dot. A grid in the form of a crosshair of two lines (as a rule, quite thin), at the intersection of which a clearly visible point is applied. It is in this form, as a rule, that is used in collimator and other types of sights. In the first case, such a stamp is actually a slightly modified version of the usual cross (see on top). And in optics, the presence of a point allows you to additionally highlight the crosshairs, which is convenient in some situations; the general purpose of such sights is, of course, hunting.

- A cross with a circle. Stamp in the form of a cross, complemented by a circle. It can also be used in different types of sights and has its own specialization everywhere. In classical optics, such a grid usually has a hunting purpose, although there are also varieties with additional marks that expand the "tactical" functions. And even in the absence of such marks in the characteristics, the angular size of the circle is usually specified, which provides additional opportunities for impromptu measurement of distances. We also note that the cross itself can be both ordinary and duplex (see on top). The situation is similar in night sights, however, there a cross with a circle is usually only one of the available mark options. As for the collimators, they can use both a full-fledged crosshair in a circle, and a ring with “rays” protruding from it; in any case, such a mark is more noticeable than an ordinary cross.

— BDC. This reticle got its name from the English phrase Bullet Drop Compensation, which translates as “bullet drop compensation”. The BDC ballistic reticle allows for range correction based on the bullet's trajectory. It is calibrated for a specific ammunition and sharpened for quick aiming at various distances using the same type of bullets. Distance markers in a ballistic reticle are hash marks, circles, or dots. The main sign of their placement is that the vertical markings have different gaps, increasing towards the bottom. An additional distance scale is often placed in such grids on the "six" shoulder. In addition, the ammunition for which the reticle is calibrated is usually indicated (caliber, bullet weight, weight).

- Christmas tree. Informative reticle resembling a Christmas tree in its structure. Actually, this is where the name of this type of grid came from. Each array of dots on its "six o'clock" arm is longer than the previous one - the marks increase in width when viewed from top to bottom from the central crosshair. These markers are used to correct for wind drift, which is extremely important when conducting aimed fire at long distances. The most common herringbone reticle is found in hunting hybrids, tactical sights, and military rifle scopes.

- Rangefinder. This type includes all grids that do not belong to any of the types described on top and provide for special markings for measuring angles and distances. The specific design of such markings may be different, but the general principle of operation is the same everywhere: rangefinder marks allow you to determine the angular size of a visible object, and if the linear size of this object is known, you can easily estimate the distance to it (at least approximately). Each type of rangefinder reticle has its own rules for use.

The type of power used in the scope, in fact, describes the type of autonomous element (accumulator or battery) that the device is designed for.

The most popular elements in modern sights are CR2032 elements — characteristic "pills" with a diameter of 20 mm and a thickness of about 3 mm. Their shape fits very well into the layout of both optics and classical collimators (see "Type"), and the capacity, although relatively low, is quite sufficient for normal operation for a long time, because the power consumption of these types of sights is low. But in more “gluttonous” night, thermal imaging (see ibid) and holographic (see above) models, more solid batteries are usually used — most often either a pair of standard “finger” AA cells, or a 3.7 V CR123 element (diameter 17.5 mm, length 35 mm). In this case, the sight can be compatible with either one of these types, or both. It is also worth noting that AA and CR123 elements are also available as rechargeable batteries, which can be perfect for frequent use of the scope.

The weapon class that this scope can be used with.

Different classes of weapons differ in the energy of the shot and, accordingly, the recoil force that the sight must endure without consequences. It is the maximum allowable energy of the shot (muzzle energy) that in this case is the main criterion for classifying the sight into one of the categories: light pneumatics, rifles and shotguns, large caliber. It is worth saying that such a division is somewhat arbitrary — see details in separate paragraphs; here is their detailed description:

— Lightweight pneumatics. Sights designed for weapons that practically do not give recoil — such as air PCP rifles, spring-piston “breaks” with muzzle energy up to 7.5 J, carbines chambered for Flaubert, as well as airsoft drives. Such models are definitely not suitable for firearms: they do not tolerate even the recoil from small-caliber rifles, not to mention more serious use. And even pneumatics have their limitations — in particular, powerful (more than 7.5 J) spring-piston models give significant returns with strong vibrations, and in pistols with the Blow-back system, noticeable concussions occur not because of the shot itself, but from -for the work of automation. So it is better to equip these types of weapons with more durable and reliable sights.

— Rifles and shotguns. Sights that can be used with...rifles of small and medium calibers, as well as smoothbore weapons (shotguns). They have a solid construction that allows them to endure rather strong recoil and accompanying vibrations without consequences, but the specific restriction on the allowable muzzle energy (and, accordingly, the calibers and ammunition used) may be different. However, scopes in this category are usually able to safely carry at least 2500 J — this is enough for rifled calibers 5.45x39, 7.62x39 and .223, as well as for 12-gauge rifle cartridges with a standard weight of gunpowder. And in many models, the maximum allowable energy can reach 3500 J and even 4000 J (the smallest values \u200b\u200bnecessary for full-fledged use with .308 and 7.62x54R calibers, respectively). At the same time, for reinforced magnum ammunition, as well as for some powerful (though not large) calibers, such a sight may still not be enough.

— Large-caliber. The most durable and reliable sights, designed for muzzle energy of 4000 J and above. Because of this, they can be used even with large-caliber firearms, as well as with some powerful calibers that are not formally large — for example, .300 Win and .338 Lapua Magnum. The specific restriction on muzzle energy, again, may be different, but if you are looking for a sight for a caliber more powerful than 7.62x54R or for reinforced rifle ammunition like 12x76, you should definitely pay attention to this category.

Separately, it is worth noting that “firearm” sights, even quite durable and reliable, are not recommended to be installed on pneumatics with a spring-piston mechanism or a gas spring. The fact is that such rifles have a specific recoil, directed forward rather than backward, moreover, giving sharp vibrations in different directions; and although the force of such recoil is low, it can still adversely affect the sight, which was not originally designed for it.