How much did a better scope improve your shooting?

[effex]

If at all...

I know the most important thing in shooting is the guy pulling the trigger and not the gear, just wondering where it starts to have an influence.

I've got a cheap 3-9x at the moment I'm looking to replace. Just wanting to give myself any advantage if that makes sense

[wrenchman]

Even the cheap ones gather light so we can get them shots at first or last light when most deer seem to be moving the most and it can be hard to see iron sights.

I don't knock a guy with a cheep scope if its working for him I have a Bushnell on my slug gun for over 10 years.

I think if you are going to spend the hi doller on a scope get one with a warranty Leopold or Burris are couple

[Spooner]

For the most part I'd say not at all.

Crappy scopes can have issues with consistency in returning to zero and things like that.

e.g. fire a shot at 100m and record point of impact, adjust out to 300m and fire a shot, return to 100m and fire a shot and the POI can have changed with a crappy scope.

In terms of putting the crosshair on the target and hitting it though, that's down to the shooter (like you said).

[V22C]

make sure ur marksmanship principles are down pat first . cheap equipmant in the hands of a good shot will still outperform a crappy shot with good kit

[MeccaOz]

I agree, if it works for you, keep it. The only things I'd be worried about, is the scope falling to bits, which happens, and light gathering, which as Chronos pointed out in an earlier post is a direct effect of the objective lens and zoom combination. Like everything else that says they are the best because they have some super coating on the glass, that can only take you so far. I like Leupolds simply because they have a great warranty and are tough as nails.

[tom604]

a better scope will improve your shooting, end of story. all things being equal, if your pulling your shots,heavy trigger,bad form ect and shooting ,say 3inch groups with a bad scope you will still get crappy groups with a good scope, (maybe marginally better) but if you have good form, light trigger ect your groups will go down,,why do you think people buy mega expensive scopes? so their shooting stays the same? you will get a lot of but this and but that (and im the same) but if you can see better you will shoot better

[V22C]

a better scope will improve your shooting if you have the fundamentals squared away first not before that

[artimu]

A cheap reticle might be a bit of a factor.

Moving from a thick reticle which blocks your target to a nice thing one could help. Assuming you're a decent shot anyway though.

[Lorgar]

if you can see better you will shoot better

Moving from a thick reticle which blocks your target to a nice thing one could help. Assuming you're a decent shot anyway though.

This is my experience also.

I had a crappy scope with a pretty thick crosshair way back when and after I swapped to my Bushnell I was definitely shooting better at the bench with the finer reticle and the clearer glass.

We're talking going from a bottom of the barrel scope to a $1,000 scope there though so I suppose that's expected. Going from anything 'half-decent' and upwards I wouldn't expect a large gain.

Also no difference for hunting, as that pinpoint accuracy obviously doesn't matter there.