What does “3-9X40″ mean for a rifle scope?

I’m looking fοr a rifle scope аnd I want tο know whаt thеѕе numbers mean?
Alѕο, dοеѕ thе length οf thе scope mean anything?
Thank уου

Tags: 39x40, Mean, Rifle, scope

6 Responses to “What does “3-9X40″ mean for a rifle scope?”

1. Newell says:

   May 22, 2011 at 8:31 pm

   Variable three power to nine power with the diameter of the scope at 40 mm (which is wider than the normal one inch or 30mm, meaning you get more light gathering ability. )

   I think 50mm is about the widest you can get. Europeans shoot in bad light conditions, and 50 mm gathers a lot of light.
2. hysteria says:

   May 22, 2011 at 9:28 pm

   3-9 is the zoom/magnification
   40mm is the diameter of the lens furthest away when you put the gun to your shoulder
   i think the longer scopes are more likely to have a stronger magnification 4-12, 6-24 but im not to sure
3. Michael says:

   May 22, 2011 at 9:29 pm

   Numbers like that mean you have a variable scope, one with which you can change the magnification of, as opposed to fixed power scope which has only one magnification power.

   “3″ is the lowest magnification on the scope and “9″ is the highest magnification you can adjust to. The other larger number, “40″ is the diameter of the lens at the end of the scope (the one you are looking out of, not the one you look into). It means it is a 40 millimeter diameter lens.

   Generally, how long a scope body is does not mean that much. Longer scopes do tend to have higher magnifications powers on them. The mirrors and lens in the scope body work together to increase magnification, the more mirrors the higher the power.

   What you have is a fairly common variable scope that serves many hunters, plinkers, and target shooters very well.
4. ProHunter17 says:

   May 22, 2011 at 10:12 pm

   There is many different types of scopes but what they mean is you have 3 magnification – 9 magnification with a 40mm diameter scope.
5. METROPOLIS1 says:

   May 22, 2011 at 10:42 pm

   Look here for your answer. . . . . . . .

   http://www. opticsplanet. net/how-to-choose-riflescope. html

   http://www. opticsplanet. com/info/how_to_buy_riflescope. shtml
6. Ban says:

   May 22, 2011 at 11:19 pm

   3-9 is the magnification, and 40 means the diameter of the front lens. And the length doesn’t mean anything, every 3-9X40 will be the same, no matter the length. It’s just your preference of the length you want.