A magnification zoom sighting system, comprising: an objective lens group arranged to produce an image of a distant object at a first focal plane; a zoom lens element arranged to relay the image from the first focal plane to a second focal plane and vary an optical magnification of the image; an ocular lens group for viewing the image at the second focal plane; a magnification adjustment mechanism coupled to the zoom lens element for adjusting an optical magnification setting of the zoom lens element to adjust the optical magnification of the image; and a reticle having magnification indicia disposed proximate the first focal plane such that it is configured to be viewable through the ocular lens group in a field of view thereof and superimposed upon the image, wherein the magnification indicia convey the optical magnification setting of the zoom lens element; wherein: the magnification indicia comprise a series of concentric arcs, a series of hash marks, a series of lines, or a series of angles in a field of view of the ocular lens group, wherein the magnification indicia are arranged such that when the magnification adjustment mechanism is activated to increase the magnification of the magnification zoom sighting system, the image of the distant object and the reticle expand within the field of view of the ocular lens group such that the magnification indicia expand and disappear from an edge of the field of view of the ocular lens group, wherein each concentric arc, hash mark, line or angle has a corresponding numeric indicator that conveys the optical magnification setting of the zoom lens element, characterised in that the numeric indicator of the magnification indicium that is expanded to the edge of the field of view is the current optical magnification setting of the magnification adjustment mechanism. an objective lens group arranged to produce an image of a distant object at a first focal plane; a zoom lens element arranged to relay the image from the first focal plane to a second focal plane and vary an optical magnification of the image; an ocular lens group for viewing the image at the second focal plane; a magnification adjustment mechanism coupled to the zoom lens element for adjusting an optical magnification setting of the zoom lens element to adjust the optical magnification of the image; and a reticle having magnification indicia disposed proximate the first focal plane such that it is configured to be viewable through the ocular lens group in a field of view thereof and superimposed upon the image, wherein the magnification indicia convey the optical magnification setting of the zoom lens element; wherein: the magnification indicia comprise a series of concentric arcs, a series of hash marks, a series of lines, or a series of angles in a field of view of the ocular lens group, wherein the magnification indicia are arranged such that when the magnification adjustment mechanism is activated to increase the magnification of the magnification zoom sighting system, the image of the distant object and the reticle expand within the field of view of the ocular lens group such that the magnification indicia expand and disappear from an edge of the field of view of the ocular lens group, wherein each concentric arc, hash mark, line or angle has a corresponding numeric indicator that conveys the optical magnification setting of the zoom lens element, characterised in that the numeric indicator of the magnification indicium that is expanded to the edge of the field of view is the current optical magnification setting of the magnification adjustment mechanism. the magnification indicia comprise a series of concentric arcs, a series of hash marks, a series of lines, or a series of angles in a field of view of the ocular lens group, wherein the magnification indicia are arranged such that when the magnification adjustment mechanism is activated to increase the magnification of the magnification zoom sighting system, the image of the distant object and the reticle expand within the field of view of the ocular lens group such that the magnification indicia expand and disappear from an edge of the field of view of the ocular lens group, wherein each concentric arc, hash mark, line or angle has a corresponding numeric indicator that conveys the optical magnification setting of the zoom lens element, characterised in that the numeric indicator of the magnification indicium that is expanded to the edge of the field of view is the current optical magnification setting of the magnification adjustment mechanism.