Is glass quality in scopes actually a factor?

[cole96]

Yes it absolutely is. Maybe not for everyone. But as a primarily whitetail hunter the southeast it is a priority. Not that I want the rest ti be junk, but glass is at the top for me

 

[OneGunTex]

I will say i've gotten behind some buddies cheap scopes that I absolutely wouldn't tolerate the glass quality in though. One that sticks out is a vortex viper HSLR 4-16. I used to have a 4-16 PST g1 that i knew glass sucked but shooting my buddys viper was a good reminder - I wouldn't accept that now days.

This is funny to me, given that in my comment above I was extolling the virtues of Vortex Viper glass. ... when compared to a no-name Walmart combo scope. The Viper glass looks pretty similar to my Gen 1 SWFA 3-15. I'm looking forward to trying this new ZeroTech if it's really that much better

 

[Macintosh]

I think good glass on a rifle scope is as-important as good glass on binos or a spotter, there are just fewer criteria to take into account for observation optics. Ie most of the time mediocre is still plenty good, but there are always special cases where it makes a difference. But at least for me it’s not the “#1 criteria at all costs” for either. Like others Ive had a couple situations where conditions were such that I could not see an animal thru the scope that I could thru binos or with my naked eyes, and it cost me the opportunity, or I made it but was left with a noticeable impression of the shortcoming that made it more difficult.

I also think some people legitimately have “special case” situations more frequently than others just by virtue of where and how they hunt.
Shooting hrs a full hour before/after sun
Heavy timber/dark conditions as the norm
Extremely busy/thick brush as the norm
Difficult sun/shade conditions as the norm
Etc

Its just another thing to add to the priority list, which might rank slightly differently for different people.
Reliablility
Reticle
Glass
Weight/size (depends, maybe #3 sometimes)
Etc

 

[streamerfish]

I think good glass on a rifle scope is as-important as good glass on binos or a spotter. Ie most of the time mediocre is plenty good, but there are always special cases where it makes a difference. Like others Ive had a couple situations where conditions were such that I could not see an animal thru the scope that I could thru binos or with my naked eyes, and it cost me the opportunity, or I made it but was left with a noticeable impression of the shortcoming that made it more difficult.

I also think some people legitimately have “special case” situations more frequently than others just by virtue of where and how they hunt.
Shooting hrs a full hour before/after sun
Heavy timber/dark conditions as the norm
Extremely busy/thick brush as the norm
Difficult sun/shade conditions as the norm
Etc

Its just another thing to add to the priority list, which might rank slightly differently for different people.
Reliablility
Reticle
Glass
Weight/size (depends, maybe #3 sometimes)
Etc

I don't know first hand. But I can definitely see how legal shooting light being 1hr pre/post sun, could make a difference compared to the 30 minutes pre/post I am used to.

 

[ianpadron]

YES, but with a huge asterisk.

SWFA is the perfect example....there is nothing you can't do with a 3-9 HD

However, try shooting a fixed 6 or 10 with the sun immediately behind or in front of you and you're going to think you're the backcountry version of Ray Charles.

I don't believe anything at all is gained by having Swaro tier glass in a rifle scope, but managing sub-optimal lighting situations is one place where the "better" stuff is worth every penny over the "good enough" glass, IME