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Pros - Uses Nikon’s patented BDC reticle with open circle markers - Side focus adjustment knob Cons - Scope rings not included - Limited windage and elevation adjustment range - Less-than-average light transmission - Short eye relief

Welcome to our review of the Nikon Buckmaster 4.5–14×40 BDC Riflescope. When it’s time to take down that prize-winning buck, you want a scope that will allow you to get up close and personal for perfect shot placement. Nikon makes some of the best scopes available, but is this one of them? That’s what we’re off to find out.

What Dimensions Of The Scope?

Make no mistake here, this is one hefty scope. It’s 14.4 inches long, and weighs in at 17.6 ounces. It contains a 40mm objective lens, but the full outside diameter is 49.3mm (1.94 inches) at the widest end. This might necessitate the use of high-profile scope rings, depending on your rifle’s rail configuration.

The glass’s eye relief is a bit short, ranging from 3.6 to 3.7 inches. If you have a rifle with heavy recoil, this just might slam the eyepiece into your head, so be careful.

The scope’s exit pupil is smaller than I’m used to, ranging from 2.9mm to 8.9mm.

How Much Power Do I Get From The Buckmaster?

This is a very powerful scope, with magnification from 4.5X to 14X. The image quality is quite good at all powers, offering plenty of contrast, clarity, and crispness.

How Is The Optics Quality On The Scope?

The optics on this glass are just multicoated, not fully multicoated. That might not sound like a big deal, but it dramatically decreases the scope’s ability to transmit light.

The reticle is Nikon’s patented BDC variant, which features open circles to allow you to see your target’s anatomy through the range compensation markers. Unfortunately, it’s neither illuminated or etched into the glass – it’s just a standard wire reticle.

The scope’s quick focus eyepiece allows you to instantly bring the reticle into sharp focus, and the side parallax adjustment knob lets you set parallax at 50 yards to infinity.

What’s The Light Gathering Capability Like On This Model?

Since its optics are only multicoated, transmittance suffers a bit here and the scope only transmits 92 percent of the available light. This means the scope isn’t as good for low-light shooting as it could be, especially since the reticle isn’t illuminated.

How Wide Will My Field Of View Be?

You can’t expect much of a field of view from a scope this powerful, but Nikon has gotten the most out of this model. The field of view is 6.8 feet to 19.9 feet at 100 yards, offering you plenty of viewable terrain to find and follow your target.

How Easy Is The Scope To Mount?

Mounting your scope isn’t too difficult with the Buckmaster, but remember that this scope is larger than most. You don’t get rings in the box, so make sure you order a set when you purchase the glass.

Any Tricks Or Tips About Mounting The Scope?

With its 49.3mm objective outside diameter, this is one of the bulkiest scopes on the market. You might find yourself needing high-profile rings to avoid clearance problems between the scope and the barrel.

How Easy Is The Nikon Buckmaster 4.5–14×40 BDC Riflescope To Sight In?

Okay, let’s get started with sighting in your scope. You should always start out with a laser bore-sighting tool, as this allows you to conserve time and ammunition. One-quarter MOA turns allow you to get your shot placement precise, but the maximum internal adjustment is only 50 MOA.

Once sighted in, the scope holds zero almost indefinitely.

How Durable Is The Scope?

This scope’s optics chamber has been nitrogen-purged, and the lenses are sealed with O-rings. This makes the kit waterproof and fogproof, and the rugged construction makes it shockproof to boot. If you really want to eliminate glare and keep dust and rain off the objective lens, the scope is sunshade adaptable.