wildfowler.250 Posted July 15, 2009 Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 (edited) hi, I was looking at some scopes and I was wondering what the different tube lengths available are? (I think you get a 30 mm and a 1 inch? ). I was just wondering which tube size is preferable for letting the maximum ammount of light available into the scope? Thanks in advance for any replies and sorry for such a simple question, ( asking more out of curiosity than anything ). Edited July 15, 2009 by CZ452 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted July 15, 2009 Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 that refers to diameter not length. the bigger the more light (in theory), but in practise, the higher quality the lense/coating etc makes more difference Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted July 15, 2009 Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 thats the diameter of the tube, and generally the bigger the better so go for the 30mm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted July 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 Thanks for that! The one I was looking at was a 1 inch tube so I'll keep looking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flytie Posted July 15, 2009 Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 There is an article in this months Sporting Gun, magazine in which George Wallace (former head of the BASC firearms dept) questions the validity of the claim that a wider tube gathers more light. But, and I think it's a big but too, why do the army/marines (UK and US) want to use scopes for longer distance shooting that have a 35mm body rather than the old 1" or the more modern 30mm. Accuracy International fit the S&B PMll to their .338AW and .50 rifles and it has a 35mm body. I bought a S&B 7x50 and am very pleased with its low light capability, it has a 30mm body. ft Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenshooter Posted July 15, 2009 Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 As I understand it, the only advantage of a 30mm tube is that there is more adjustment potential. They are obviously heavier and don't help (significantly, if at all) with light transmission. If you are dialing in for short to (very) long range shooting, I can see the argument but I use 1" scopes were I can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveK Posted July 15, 2009 Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 As I understand it, the only advantage of a 30mm tube is that there is more adjustment potential. They are obviously heavier and don't help (significantly, if at all) with light transmission. If you are dialing in for short to (very) long range shooting, I can see the argument but I use 1" scopes were I can. Bear in mind that some scopes marketed as 30mm have a 30mm outside diameter but an inner 1" tube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted July 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 Thanks for the replies! So some people prefer the 30 mm because it lets in more light but the 1 inch will be lighter in weight its a toughy! If i go for a varmint model gun i'll probably opt for a 30mm then Thanks for all the help! p.s. does anyone know a good website for buying scopes online? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveK Posted July 15, 2009 Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 www.mtcoptics.co.uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flytie Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 Thanks for the replies! So some people prefer the 30 mm because it lets in more light but the 1 inch will be lighter in weight its a toughy! If i go for a varmint model gun i'll probably opt for a 30mm then Thanks for all the help! p.s. does anyone know a good website for buying scopes online? These folks are where I got mine from (package with a rifle, mod, scope, rings cleaning kit etc) they are great to deal with and do secondhand scopes too; http://www.rmacleod.co.uk/index.htm ft Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flytie Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 (edited) Thanks for the replies! So some people prefer the 30 mm because it lets in more light but the 1 inch will be lighter in weight its a toughy! If i go for a varmint model gun i'll probably opt for a 30mm then Thanks for all the help! p.s. does anyone know a good website for buying scopes online? These folks are where I got mine from (package with a rifle, mod, scope, rings cleaning kit etc) they are great to deal with and do secondhand scopes too; http://www.rmacleod.co.uk/index.htm ft Sorry, I appear to have replied twice? must be a craft moment! Edited July 16, 2009 by flytie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cushat Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 S&B have stated themselves that the 30mm tube doesn't let in any more light, it just allows more adjustment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cushat Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 (edited) Edit: what's going on with the double posts??? Happened to me too! Edited July 16, 2009 by Cushat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glensman Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 That's interesting, I thought that a 30mm would allow more light & adjustment. I have 2 1" S & B's and I kinda regretted not getting 30mm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenshooter Posted July 17, 2009 Report Share Posted July 17, 2009 This might help - taken from the SWFA site. *************** 30mm scopes were first made in Europe years and years ago for two reasons. 1. Everything was done by hand and a large tube was needed to be able to build the scope. 2. They are on the metric system. When we started building scopes in the U.S. technology had advanced some and being on the Standard system we built our scopes with 1" tubes. The German scopes were and are superior because they use better glass, better coatings and better craftsmanship. Most people assume that bigger is better and that must be the reason why German 30mm scopes are brighter. It did not take long for U.S. and Asian scope makers to catch on to this and start offering 30mm scopes. It worked for a while but more and more people are learning the truth with the advent of the Internet. When Leupold first offered a 30mm tube in a hunting scope, they named it the Euro. 30. A competitor dissected one and said, B.S. that scope has 1" guts with a 30mm tube. Leupold's spin doctors quickly changed the name of the new 30mm line of scopes to LR or Long Range and released press releases stating that this new line of scopes has 1" internals with a 30mm tube to allow for more elevation adjustments. Bottom line is 30mm scopes are 30mm because of the Metric system, they can be brighter than a 1" scope with all other things being equal (# of internal lenses and diameter of objective especially) if the maker takes advantage of the larger internal lenses in a manner that manages the light better (cutting down on distortion and stray light loss). 30mm scopes are also stronger and usually heavier. Biggest advantage is more internal adjustment travel for long range shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted July 17, 2009 Report Share Posted July 17, 2009 I don't think it makes any difference at all but this explanation had me in stitches. 30mm scopes were first made in Europe years and years ago for two reasons. 1. Everything was done by hand and a large tube was needed to be able to build the scope. 2. They are on the metric system. Us dumb Europeans had to round up 25.4mm to 30mm to make it easier on ourselves Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v-max Posted July 17, 2009 Report Share Posted July 17, 2009 There is an article in this months Sporting Gun, magazine in which George Wallace (former head of the BASC firearms dept) questions the validity of the claim that a wider tube gathers more light. But, and I think it's a big but too, why do the army/marines (UK and US) want to use scopes for longer distance shooting that have a 35mm body rather than the old 1" or the more modern 30mm. Accuracy International fit the S&B PMll to their .338AW and .50 rifles and it has a 35mm body. I bought a S&B 7x50 and am very pleased with its low light capability, it has a 30mm body. ft The certian models of S&B PMII are 34mm tube for adjustment at long range 2000m etc & to mount such a scope on a rifle will costs £250 + due to the 34mm tube. As has been said its the coatings on optics that set them apart the 30mm tube might have a slight more light gathering but not much to notice. In low light use our estern europeans ie S&B/Ziess/Swarovski etc are the way forward as far my own experiance leupold are ok but not for low light etc they just dont float my boat from what iv looked through. I personally work a S&B & a swarovski on my cf rifles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted July 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2009 Thanks for all the replies These folks are where I got mine from (package with a rifle, mod, scope, rings cleaning kit etc) they are great to deal with and do secondhand scopes too; http://www.rmacleod.co.uk/index.htm ft thanks for that, I'll take a looky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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