This has become a topic of intrest lately. Fueled by the propensity of many folks that with most things, bigger must be better. By and large hunting here in the States, is a sunrise to sunset proposition. Having said that, giant objectives on quality scopes are really not necessarry. But it's what the consumers think that they need, so if manufacturers want good sales, you make what sells.
As Lloyd said, either of these scopes will very likely fit your needs for legal shooting hours. The size of the front objective does have an effect on the ability to allow light into or thru the scope. BUT the quality of the grind, polish and optical coatings have a far greator effect. The human eye only needs 4-6pm of lite thru the scope. The ambient light available during reg hunting hours is plenty for about any 100$ and up scope to allow you to see what you want to shoot. Better scopes make that clearer. This is much more apparent with variables. They have more glass in them. Every piece of glass takes a bit away from the lite passing thru it. Better quality glass less. Better quality glass with good coatings less still. Injustice diameter is a very small part of that equation.
Suffice it to say, buy a quality scope and don't worry about the size of the objective. IMHO you should buy the best scope you can afford. That's why I have Leupold scopes mounted on H&R rifles.
CW
