It looks like more and more scopes are coming out with 50mm objectives and larger..They are heaverier, bulkier and usually cost more..What are the advantages of a larger objective?

Pretty much the same as the perceived advantages of a larger penis; that is, mostly in the mind of the owner.

Optically, the 50mm is of no advantage over the 40mm until the scope's magnification exceeds about 7 power, and then only when conditions severly limit the available light. Beyond about 7x, the larger exit pupil diameter of the 50mm begins to have some theoretical low light advantages; but those advantages are mostly in situations that are beyond the hours of legal hunting in most jurisdictions (European moonlight hunting and some U.S. hunting for non-game species excepted).

In practical terms, your target, like your female companion, will be more impressed by technique and execution than by size.

in really low light they are supposed to gather a bit more light, other than thay they allow you to carry around a bigger bulkier, scope, designed to catch on the brush, which means you can come in a night more tired allowing you to have an extra beer or two

Nothing wrong with a 50mm objective that an 80mm one can't fix. But can anybody tell me the advantage of a 40mm tube?

Like anything in life, there are advantages and disadvantages to most things. And personally I don't find 50mm offensive on a drilling or a night hunting outfit, but of course a lot has to do with what application you have in mind for it and the size of what you're putting it on. If you're on the move, in the mountains, etc, then I'd really pay attention to size & weight.
Advantages:
Light Gathering & night hunting
Larger view
Most higher end are also more forgiving on eye relief
Disadvantages:
Yes, heavier, tho nowadays they are making some nice pretty light outfits.
Larger, no comment.

And with the bigger tubes, you have more adjustment of the reticles, like in DMCI's case, he's probably tackling 1000m targets and needs just a tad 'bit more elevation than the average joe , Waidmannsheil, Dom.

quote:

Originally posted by Dom:

Advantages:
Light Gathering & night hunting
Larger view
Most higher end are also more forgiving on eye relief
Disadvantages:
Yes, heavier, tho nowadays they are making some nice pretty light outfits.
Larger, no comment.

Larger view? If by this you mean the field of view, then the diameter of the objective has nothing to do with it.

More forgiving eye relief? Again, the size of the objective has no bearing on eye relief (eye distance from the ocular lens), although the larger exit pupil will theorectcally allow a very small incremental increase in lateral eye placement.

Rather than getting a 50mm objective, I would suggest just stuffing a rolled up pair of socks in your crotch. It will cost less, be less uncomfortable to carry, and will provide the same psycological benefit.

it allows you to get your face off the stock due to higher mounts therby increasing your ability to get "ringged".

quote:

Originally posted by Dom:
he's probably tackling 1000m targets and needs just a tad 'bit more elevation than the average joe , Waidmannsheil, Dom.

Or,for a small charge, my Smith put a slight slope on the Weaver style bases of my target scope and got it just right.

Nice statement Stonecreek, but YOU ARE TOTALY Wrong

The advantage is to "collect" more light with those scopes and beeing able to aim in dark light conditions with rare light. Not everybody is pleased to shoot from dusk till dawn, there are some who only have a chance to hunt in the night: In Germany for example, pig hunting is more or less nightwork. I could shoot a pig with my 50mm lenses with the only light during night coming from the city light´s reflection on the clouds !!! Try that with a 40mm scope and You will be a heroe if you hit your target well everytime!!! For me a 40mm scope is waisted money.

And there is also the advantage of a 2000€/$ scope from Swarovski or Zeiss against the ceaper ones: The difference could be seen at the limit of light, there it makes the difference of shooting or not.

Klaus

www.titanium-gunworks.de

Here in Aust. the 50mm or 56mm? are popular with pro night shooters, but they also have bloody great search lights stuck on the top of the ute, so I doubt that they NEED them.

The main advantage of the larger diameter is increased light transmission for low light conditions with higher power scopes. Alot of the 50-56mm scopes also have the benefit of having 30mm bodies which will provide additional adjustment ranges. The benefits are clear and are apprecciated by those that use these products.
bigbull

Have one, love it, but the damn thing won't fit in a scabbard.
Grizz

quote:

Originally posted by JAL:
Here in Aust. the 50mm or 56mm? are popular with pro night shooters, but they also have bloody great search lights stuck on the top of the ute, so I doubt that they NEED them.

we are not allowed to use any artificial light source, so there are just those sources You can not stop working: City light immision and THE MOON...

scubapro,
Yeah,we know that, but with the quality of our shooters and our laid-back attutide, we'd be shooting sheep, horses, cattle, yer mates dog, and/or your mate, or anything else that moved. Hence the big light.

I saw a photo of a bloke with his German pig, and a large trumpet thing was nearby. Who blows that and why?? Or was it a listening device??

Well, the trumpet you mean was for sure a traditional device for "Giving the animal the last sound", blowing "pig dead" or soemthing else. Mostly used on big driven hunts after the hunt for making cermony.

Not my thing as I am not a traditionalist - I am just after meat, hunting mostly on my own and don´t like the big groups of hunters...

Well, I'm with you there so to speak. Two is a crowd for me especially if they insist on talking, shoot just behind your already ringing ears, kick your dog, fiddle with your rifle, see game first and shoot straighter. None of which I like.