Bulky or Not?

First off, you have to understand that with hunting optics, most things are a trade off. For example, many of the finest optics are so bulky and heavy that they affect the balance and aesthetics of the rifle.

A large objective lens allows for a brighter image in low light, but must be mounted well above the bore line, requiring the shooter to lift his head off of the stock. That is not conducive to accurate shooting. This is a disadvantage Redfield has managed to overcome with its low-profile oval objective design. On the other hand, an objective lens that is too small places the scope low on the rifle for a good cheek weld on the stock, but can be too dark at high magnification with fading light—yet another trade-off.