Is glass quality in scopes actually a factor?

[PathFinder]

On the extreme end it can be a deal breaker. I've had several experiences with a SWFA 12x where an animal could not be discerned from its surroundings with the scope when it was plainly obvious in good binoculars of the same magnification. Those were all deer in thick brush/trees/quakies where they were difficult to see even in top shelf glass (Swaro NL & STS 65), but in those conditions the glass quality of the rifle scope made it nearly impossible or completely impossible to shoot because the target could not be identified.
In similar/identical conditions with the SWFA 3-9 and 5-20, that hasn't been an issue. The 5-20 glass isn't amazing, but is adequate for identifying a deer even in really tough visual conditions.
Zero retention is still a higher priority though.

 

[RockAndSage]

Other than what's already been said, for big game, the only thing I can add is that in some extremely high-contrast situations, while looking into very deep, dark shadow, good scope glass can matter. Think, noon-day September Nevada sunlight, looking deep into brush. That's a situation where the glass in observation optics absolutely does matter, regularly, in finding mule deer in those conditions - but not enough to matter in a rifle scope to make any tradeoff with things like durability, reliability, reticle, etc. Wait long enough, that buck will move enough to be shootable.

 

[streamerfish]

For me its pretty much, is it good enough, ok then moving on.

I'm more worried about eye box/eye relief, reticle, and how functional the turrets, turning the magnification dial etc is.

IDK, I guess I'm just not a glass geek. Obviously I will take better glass everything else being relatively equal, but not high on priority list. But I'm not shooting at animals past a few hundred yards (until my skills improve), and i have never had a situation where glass cost me a shot at game at first/last light.

 

[180ls1]

Hard to say. I almost lost a great buck in part to a "poor" glass quality scope. I have had other scenarios where I may not have harvested if I had lesser glass but we are talking 2, maybe 3 in 25 years of hunting.

At the fringes it can make a difference but those are rare. They may also be the scarce opportunities at the giants who are smart and nocturnal where every second counts.

 

[Wrench]

What kind of surgery did you have? My astigmatism is a real problem and I’d love to get that corrected.

I had lasik. I hear they've come a long way since.

 

[nm.otter]

in some extremely high-contrast situations, while looking into very deep, dark shadow, good scope glass can matter. Think, noon-day September Nevada sunlight, looking deep into brush.

Right.

Also low angle, near-axis light (sun going/coming over a ridge/hill, target just below that same hill).

 

[North of 60]

I had lasik. I hear they've come a long way since.

LASIK is some of the best money i ever spent.

Another thing i'd toss in here is have a large enough objective for deep dark woods/timber if you hunt in that vegetation in low light.

 

[Salmon River Solutions]

Tracking the largest bull, in a bachelor group of similar bulls. Being able to see the best picture possible, makes a difference.

For example... A bull I was chasing after in a 200 count herd last year, had an arrow wound that was bleeding slightly. That was the easiest way to tell which one he was. say I was 1000 yards out, that would be pretty damn hard to tell which bull was which without great glass.

Ken

 

[hoooogan]

I ran into a situation where I had difficulty seeing antlers at 300y. Low light, big-ish objective 10x50mm VX-3HD but no parallax adjustment. Could easily see the animals, but seeing antlers against desert brush was extremely difficult. Didn't necessarily NEED better quality. Better quality would have made that situation easier, but I really just needed the ability to sharpen the image. Now I will never buy a scope without parallax adjustment. Just so happens that usually comes with better glass, so I'll take it.

 

[Wrench]

I watched a buck mount a doe through my leica 8x42s I had a leupold mark4 m3 and absolutely could not find the buck. I bounced from bins to scope trying to find it as the light failed but it was no use. I killed him the next day on the same spot in good light.....so it sure can be important.

One thing overlooked is the individuality of the optic. The current minox issue shows that you can have a great one or a dud even though they should be the same.

 

[wind gypsy]

Once you hit a certain level its fine. Agree that upgrades to eye box, FOV, depth of focus are bigger deal than absolute resolution for me.

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. Lots of people that need help at the public rifle sight in day at my local range, I wouldn't settle for some of that garbage.

 

[Formidilosus]

I watched a buck mount a doe through my leica 8x42s I had a leupold mark4 m3 and absolutely could not find the buck. I bounced from bins to scope trying to find it as the light failed but it was no use. I killed him the next day on the same spot in good light.....so it sure can be important.

One of the only times I couldn’t see an animal clearly enough was also with a Leupold Mark 4 m3- though this one was a 6x. The resolution was just too low in the setting sun against a red/brown wheat like grass hillside and a red/brown deer at 550 yards. Ended up killing him a couple days later in the same hill with a 10x B&L.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

In most cases, not a huge deal. The only time I've seen it be a problem is coues deer hunting and taking older hunters with deteriorating eye sight. Looking through nice glass just feels good though.

A bit off topic but coues deer hunting is also where I've seen a benefit to high end mag ranges which are often dismissed on here. Having that top end on my NX8 has helped several times picking those little dudes up cross canyon, making sure the deer you are shooting is indeed the one you intend too without getting out of the scope. A lot of times, you get out of the scope and they are gone.

 

[WoodlandCritter]

My girlfriend was unable to take a doe near the end of legal light (not after) last year due to being unable to tell what part of the deer she was aiming at. I strongly suspect she could have taken the shot with nicer glass.

 

[wapitibob]

I've slowed down to about 300/1 shots at the range vs hunting but yes, glass still makes a difference to me, as does the feel of the turret clicks.