Forgive my stupidity...

[send it_hit]

...But I am very interested in getting a rifle intended for longer range target shooting (500+ yds), maybe for hunting too, but mostly for target shooting. That being said, I'm rather illiterate when it comes to scopes and their workings. Realistically all I know is, for example a 3-9x40 scope represents 3-9 times magnification... 40 is the diameter of the bell? I honestly don't even know that... anyways, I want to get into ballistics and long range shooting, so does anyone know a good site for explaining all the workings and any tips on different scopes?

I've also noticed most high power scopes have THREE dials on the scope instead of the normal up/down left/right dials. What is the third one for?

Again forgive me, I'm sure my terminology is probably off, any help for a shooter on the beginner side of intermediate is appreciated. Thanks!!!

-Jacob

[Timberwolf]

Check the precision rifle section of this forum - there are several threads on this.

[send it_hit]

excellent thank you

[send it_hit]

also forgot to mention, I know very little as far as trig or physics... will this hinder my understanding of precision shooting?

[Fjold]

Your assumption of the meaning of 3-9x40 is correct. The third knob is usually a parallax or focus adjustment.

[send it_hit]

thanks frank... i'm doing as much research as possible right now... minutes of arc, microarcseconds, radians... my head may explode before i understand it all. thanks though