I love gloss scopes and have not yet bought any matte rifle scopes. I am feeling lonely. Since I need to buy two more Leupolds, I thought I needed a reality check.

Will gloss scopes "scare game"?
Will I lose face and possibly be banned from AR.com if I buy two more gloss scopes?

Got to go now, Sears called and the wide white side wall tires for my Mercury Marquis just came in!

I liked matte scopes as they became more common. But it seems generally matte scopes scratch more easily, pick up ring marks more easily. And I have to wonder if they really scare game much.

I still have a couple of gloss scopes. And now when I pull them out they just plain look better to me. I recently purchased a scope for a Ruger #1, and was looking for gloss. Wouldn't you know it, the scope I needed was only available in matte.

So you aren't the only one.

To me, if I have a rifle with a stock having a gloss finish, and a deep shiny blue on the metal parts, a matt scope, just looks out of place. I like gloss scopes because my rifles, with the exception of my Model 94 Swede and it is not scoped, have gloss scopes and gloss rings. At the same time, a stock with a satin finish and metal work that is matt, demands a matt scope. Well, there's my two cents worth, for what it's worth. Tom Purdom

Confession - I did buy a matte scope for my turkey shotgun. It's a camo Mossberg and hopelessly ugly.

If you’re that worried about shine you can buy a can of dulling spray at just about any good camera store. Photographers use it to prevent “hot-spots†from light bouncing off glass, metal, etc.

It is totally benign and wipes off easily with a cloth and a little bit of alcohol. Just be sure to cover the lenses when you spray it on or your view will be a bit foggy!

"Glare" or reflection from glossy surfaces is not a significant game spooker. Besides, the rounded surfaces of the scope make it a poor reflector, especially compared to the semi-flat surfaces of the scope lenses, which ARE highly reflective and will make a "flash" that can be seen a half mile away if the sun catches them just right. Of course those lenses, which are the potential "offenders", are the same whether the scope body is finished gloss or matte.

If you happen to wear eyeglasses, they'll be far worse "game spookers" than anything else about your hunting equipment.

I like gloss scope finish if it matches the gun, and matte where it matches the gun. I think the popularity of matte reflects (if you'll pardon the pun) the popularity of synthetic stocks and dull metal finishes. It's something of a passing fad, just like the ultra-glossy California Weatherby's of the 60's.

But I think that the observation that the gloss finish is easier to keep looking nice is an accurate one. Like wide/narrow ties, just hang on to your glossy scopes and they'll be back in style in a few years. Can't say the same for Leupold's "composite" finish. Yucch!