Thread: Why are 4-20 scopes not more common/popular?

3-15x scopes can be had with 1inch tubes.
Once you step up to 4-20 power, you really need at least a 30mm tube to avoid dull optics - so suddenly 4-20 scopes jump up in size and become closer to the big boys, 5-25s etc then the 3-15s.


Once you step up to a 4-20 with a larger 30 or 34mm tube dia, the whole class of scope shifts- and comparable options become 5-25s class optics, and not 3-15 size.

Then we get to 4-20 vs 5-25 debate-
Both options will be fairly large, and if you go with the 4-20 you still have a big scope.
If you sacrifice 1x on the low end you get an extra 5x on the upper end if you go 5-25 over 4-20.
Often these large scopes go on heavy, long range guns which will rarely be used at close range, in bush, where 4 power would have any real advantage over 5x.

IMO this is why 4-20 isnt that popular. Its kind of stuck at the start of the big boy class. I think people generally fall into either "i need a lightweight hunting appropriate optic", or "I need a LR optic and size doesn't matter". 4-20 is at the start of the size doesn't matter class, where you may as well just go bigger again. Some of the new modern stuff is changing the game here a bit but unless we are talking $5k scopes then I think this general size class reasoning applies.

Personally, for a hunting rig I think the new Burris Signature HD Scopes look amazing.. there is a 2-10 option with a 1inch tube and 120moa elevation, and a 3-15 with 1inch tube, zero stops etc with 80moa elevation. Now that's getting into bigger tubed dedicated LR scope territory in a hunting package.