Recoil rating
How much rifle recoil the maker says the scope can take and still work and hold zero. Makers state it in different units, so compare carefully.
What it means
A rifle scope takes a sharp jolt every shot. The recoil rating is the maker’s statement of how much it can handle. Makers express it in several ways:
- Muzzle energy in joules. A figure like 6,000 J means the scope is rated for rifles producing up to that much energy at the muzzle, about 4,400 foot-pounds.
- Acceleration in g, with a duration, such as 1,000 g for 0.4 milliseconds. This describes the shock itself.
- A caliber list, such as “.375 H&H, 12 gauge”.
Some makers give two of these. A joule figure and a g figure cannot be converted into each other without knowing the rifle, so a scope rated in one is hard to compare with a scope rated in the other.
What it changes in the field
Most coyote rifles, from .22 centerfires through .308, recoil far less than any of these ratings. Reviewers commonly say basic thermal scopes work fine on .308 and below. The rating matters for hog hunters on magnums or big-bore rifles, for shotguns with slugs, and for short, light rifles that kick hard.
When a scope loses zero, the rating is rarely the cause. Loose mounts, a cross-bolt that doesn’t fit the rail slot, or a scope moved to a different slot are far more common.
What to look for
- A rating that names your caliber, or a joule figure above your load’s muzzle energy.
- For magnums, a stated rating, not silence.
- A solid mount torqued to spec. See mount.
How we use it on this site
We show the maker’s rating as printed for riflescopes. It is not scored, because the units differ.