Choosing the best gun scope for you can be difficult if you are not familiar with the terminology, leading brands, and important features to look for. There is a steep learning curve but we have distilled down the mountain of information into the essential things you need to know to make a purchasing decision. A high-end gun scope can cost as much as $2,000 but there are several highly rated scopes in the low hundreds. This guide summarizes research from manufacturer’s websites, product manuals, customer reviews, and forums to save you time and money when shopping for the best rifle optics for you.
Before you start looking at options, decide on a budget and determine what you need the scope for. Whether it is for hunting deer, shooting competitions, or home defense will factor into which scopes to consider.
Some questions to consider when looking for scopes.
- Do you need magnification?
- What is your budget?
- What do you need the scope for primarily?
- Do you shoot at night or in low-light conditions?
- Do you want a lifetime warranty?
Our Top Picks
- Nightforce ATACR F1
- Vortex Optics Viper HS-T
- Nikon P-Rimfire
- Leupold FX-II Scout
- Vanguard Endeavor RS IV
- Swarovski Z8i
Nightforce ATACR F1
If money is not a limiting factor, the Nightforce ATACR F1 is one of the best high-end options for hunters or serious shooters. This 34mm tube diameter scope provides some of the best image quality available on the market although it is one of the most expensive options as well. The extra-low dispersion glass lenses provide an extremely high high fidelity image. The Nightforce Zerostop allows an instant return to zero from any distance. It will allow you to engage targets that are out of range for other scopes. The parallax can be adjusted from 45 yards to infinity. The power throw lever allows for quick magnification adjustments.
Pros: Capped windage adjustment to prevent accidental movement. Excellent for very long range targets.
Cons: It is one of the most expensive models available.
Magnification Range: 5-25x
Objective lens diameter: 56 mm
Tube diameter: 1.34 inches
Click value: 250 MOA or.1 MRAD
Parallax adjustment: 45 yards to infinity
Exit pupil diameter: 8.3mm at 5x, 2.3mm at 25x
Eye relief: 3.35-3.54 inches
Field of view at 100 yards: 5x: 18.7ft at 5x, 4.92ft at 25x
Overall length: 15.37 inches
Weight: 38 ounces
Vortex Optics Viper HS-T 6-24×50
The Vortex Optics Viper HS-T (Hunting Shooting Tactical) is a highly rated scope designed for accuracy over long distances. The extra-low dispersion (XD) glass makes the view crystal clear with very sharp images. It is constructed with aircraft grade aluminum and is designed to withstand tough conditions with a waterproof and fog-proof seal and lens coating to protect it from scratches, dirt, and oil. The hard anodized finish helps prevents glare and unwanted detection. Vortex scopes comes with a unlimited lifetime warranty for peace of mind. Owners liked the 4.0 inch eye relief, clarity for long distances, and the simple reticle.
Magnification: 6-24x
Objective lens diameter: 50 mm
Eye Relief: 4.0 inches
Field of View at 100 yards: 17.8-5.1 feet
Tube size: 30 mm
Adjustment Graduation: 1/4 MOA
Parallax Adjustment: 50 yards to infinity
Length: 15.5 inches
Weight: 22.6 ounces
Nikon P-Rimfire
A highly rated and affordable option for rimfire rifles is the Nikon P-Rimfire. It provides a very clear picture with thin crosshairs, excellent magnification, great eye relief, Nikon’s Rapid Action Turret system, and bullet drop compensator. The Nikon Rimfire is different than other BDC reticles because it has transparent circles. The great eye relief is useful with rifles with a strong recoil. This scope is also waterproof and fog-proof. The Nikon Rimfire offers great value for the cost and owners are highly satisfied.
Magnification: 2-7x
Objective lens diameter: 32 mm
Exit Pupil: 4.6 – 16 mm
Field of View: 6.4 – 22.3 feet at 50 yards
Eye Relief: 3.8 inches
Weight: 16.1 ounces
Overall Length: 11.5 inches
Parallax Adjustment: No
Reticle: BDC 150
Leupold FX-II Scout 2.5×28
This scope is intended for mounting on scout rifles and level action rifles. Leupold has been making optics for nearly 100 years and has a great reputation for well-built scopes. Leupold offers one of the best warranties in the business, and will repair or replace your scope if it doesn’t perform as promised even if you are not the original owner. Leupold designs and manufactures their scopes in the United States, unlike some other sellers.
The Leupold FX II Scout also features 1/4-MOA field-click adjustments, long eye relief, and a sight picture that fits the entire eyepiece. It is completely waterproof and fog-proof due to Leupold’s nitrogen sealing process.
Pros: Excellent for medium distances, 9 inches of eye relief, lightweight, waterproof, and great picture clarity.
Cons: It is not ideal for longer distances.
Objective Diameter: 28 mm
Weight: 7.5 ounces
Field of View: 22 feet at 100 yards
Eye Relief: 9.30 Inches
Nikon P-223 4-12×40
The Nikon P-223 is a popular scope with tons of glowing reviews on Amazon. It is one of the highest reviewed scopes by a major brand in the rifle optics market. It is also a very affordable scope with lots of practical features that make it a great value. Shooters love the BDC 600 reticle which is one of the most useful reticles available. Although it is compact, it has many of the features of larger scopes. The turrets allow you to reset to zero quickly and generous eye relief. It is available in a fixed 3 power, 3-9×40, and 4-12×40. The P-223 is known to have outstanding clarity for the price. Nikon scopes have a lifetime warranty against defects in material and workmanship for the original owner.
Magnification: 4 – 12 x
Objective Lens Diameter: 40 mm
Exit Pupil: 3.3 – 10 mm
Field of View: 7.3 – 23.6 feet at 100 yds
Weight: 17.5 ounces
Overall Length: 14.1 inches
Parallax Setting: 100 yards
Reticle: BDC 600
Nightforce NXS 5.5-22×56
Nightforce, a leader in the market for extreme long range variable power scopes, produces one of the most powerful scopes available. With a lens that can magnify up to 25 times, the Nightforce NXS provides a top option for shooting targets at very long range. A 56mm objective lens provides great clarity and resolution. Rugged toughness is a key attribute of Nigtforce scopes. The glass has a mil-spec bonding agent that prevents glass to metal contact and a tube thickness 2-3 times its competitors, helping it withstand heavy abuse and protecting the optics. Although it is one of the most expensive options on the market, serious shooters swear it is worth every penny. Owners love the extraordinary clarity at long distances and find the optional zero stop to be very handy. The zero stop allows for instant return to zero from any distance. A side parallax adjustment is adjustable from 50 yards to infinity.
Magnification Range: 5.5-22x
Objective lens diameter: 56mm
Tube Diameter: 30 mm/1.18 inches
Click value: .250 MOA
Parallax adjustment: 50 yards to infinity
Exit pupil diameter 5.5x: 10.2 mm, 22x: 2.5 mm
Eye relief: 99 mm/3.9 inches
Overall length: 15.2 inches/386 mm
Weight: 32 oz/907g
Leupold VX-5HD CDS-ZL2 3-15×44
The Leupold VX-5HD CDS-ZL2 offers a light-weight and practical option with terrific visibility. The 30mm diameter tube is crafted for strength with aircraft quality aluminum. The 1/4 MOA per click adjustment windage and elevation dials can be repositioned to align with the marked zero and it comes with a side focus dial that can set the parallax. The illumination automatically turns off after 5 minutes of inactivity and then reactivates when there is any movement of the scope which helps preserve the CR2032 lithium battery. Unlike other brands, it is waterproof even without the covers in place. Owners liked how well it returns to zero and how clear it is at long distances.
Pros: Provides up to 15x magnification for long distances. The CDS-Zl2 dials lock in place to avoid inadvertent movement.
Weight: 19.2 ounces
Field of View: 38.3 to 7.9 at 100 yards
Eye Relief: 3.70 to 3.82 inches
Objective Diameter: 1.7 inches
Exit Pupil: 2.9 mm
Swarovski Z8i 1-8×24
The Swarovski is one of the best rifle scopes that money can buy. It is great at both low light and high light conditions. It’s signature orange reticle sets it apart from other high-end scopes and is known for its versatility.
The Z8i’s 30-mm tube provides 8 times magnification and industry leading image quality. The Z8i 1-8×24 is the base model while the Z8i 2-16×50 P, Z8i 1.7-13.3×42 P, and Z8i 2.3-18×56 P are higher priced options that provide additional features. It provides a large 127.5 ft field of view on 1x magnification and 93% light transmission. The reticle is in the second image plane so that the size of the reticle doesn’t change when the magnification changes.
Pros: Elite clarity at long distances, excellent field of view.
Cons: It is one of the most expensive rifle scopes on the market with a cost well above $2,000.
Field of view: 127.5-15.9 feet at 100 yards
Light transmission: 93%
Length: 11.9 inches
Weight: 18.2 ounces
Vanguard Endeavor RS IV 4-12×40
If you are looking for a high-quality but affordable alternative, the Vanguard Endeavor RS IV is a highly rated choice. While it doesn’t have all the features as the most expensive scopes on the market, it does offer great visibility and dependability. It is fog-proof and waterproof and has an illuminated reticle for low light environments. It is designed for great durability and made with aircraft quality aluminum. Vanguard World is headquartered in Guangdong, China and also produces spotting scopes, gun cases, and accessories for hunting.
Magnification: 4-12x
Objective Diameter: 40 mm
Reticle: Duplex
Light Transmission: 88%
Field of View: 20.0 – 7.8 feet at 100 yards
US Optics SVS 1-6X
US Optics is a less well known brand that produces top-tier quality rifle scopes. The mil scale reticle on the SVS 1-6X is located on the second focal plane so that it doesn’t change in size when the magnification changes. It also features a true 1x magnification starting magnification, rather than starting at a higher magnification like other variable scopes. The capped turrets prevent inadvertent movement of the windage and elevation dials. US Optics headquartered and made in the United States and offers discounts for law enforcement and military.
Magnification: 1-6x
Objective Lens Diameter: 24mm
Field of View: 107.5 – 18.65 feet at 100 yards
Eye Relief: 3.5 Inches
Length: 10.13 Inches
Finish: Matte Black
Weight: 22.2 ounces
Battery: CR2032
Nikon P-TACTICAL .223 3-9×40 BDC 600
The new Nikon P-Tactical is an inexpensive but feature-rich scope with modern technology. There are various reticles available including the new MK1-MOA and MK1-MRAD. It has comfortable eye relief, and the main tube is made with aircraft-grade aluminum to endure rough conditions. Nikon also provides a free web application to calculate distances for your BDC reticle based on your scope, ammunition, and wind. Nikon has a strong reputation for providing great scopes at the lower price point.
Magnification: 3-9x
Objective Diameter: 40 mm
Weight: 16.9 ounces
Length: 12.4 inches
Barska Huntmaster Pro 3-12×50
Barska offers several low cost variable scopes including the popular Huntmaster Pro. It has many of the most common features like illuminated reticle, multi-coated lenses, 1/4 MOA adjustments, and black matte finish. Owners of this scope thought it was an excellent value for the price but noticed a significant difference between the Huntmaster Pro and a scope from a higher price level. It is blurry at the edges with a small field of view at higher magnification. It can feel heavy after hours of use. This scope could also work well as an inexpensive but serviceable scope for your backup rifle.
Magnification: 3-12x
Objective Lens: 50mm
Weight: 20.1 ounces
Length: 13 Inches
Tube Diameter: 1 Inch
Eye Relief: 2.7 Inch
Exit Pupil: 16.7 – 4.2mm
Click Value: 1/4 MOA
Field of View: 35-10 feet at 100 yards
Reticle Illumination: Yes
Capped Turrets: Yes
Focal Plane: Second
Lens Coating: Multi-Coated
Finish: Black Matte
Battery: CR2032
Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty
Burris Fullfield II 3-9×40
The Burris Fullfield II is a great scope at a reasonable price and designed with hunters in mind. It has capped turrets and the nitrogen-filled scope tubes ensure that the scope never fogs up in rainy weather. The reticle options include the “Plex” reticle which is a duplex pattern and the “Ballistic Plex” which is a simple drop compensating pattern. Reticle illumination is not available in this model. The Burris Forever Warranty will replace or repair your optic if it is defective or damaged at zero cost and the warranty can be used even if you are not the original owner. Owners of this scope thought it was great at keeping its zero after lots of use and found the picture to be very clear. The Burris Fullfield II shows that you don’t have to spend a lot of money for a good quality scope.
Magnification: 3-9x
Objective Lens Diameter: 48 mm
Length: 12.2 inches
Weight: 13.0 ounces
Field of View: 33 – 13 feet at 100 yards
Eye Relief: 3.1 – 3.4 inches
Click Value: 1/4 MOA
Vortex Diamondback 4-12×40
The Vortex Diamondback scope is one of the best values you can find for a scope around a couple hundred dollars. Owners love the performance of this model which compares favorably to scopes that are much more expensive.
This impressive video by Vortex demonstrates that the Diamondback can be used to hit a target at 1000 yards:
Magnification: 4-12x
Objective Lens Diameter: 40 mm
Length: 12 inches
Weight: 14.6 ounces
Eye Relief: 3.1 inches
Field of View: 32.4-11.3 feet at 100 yards
Tube Size: 1 inch
Turret Style: Capped
Adjustment Graduation: 1/4 MOA
Parallax Setting: 100 yards
CVLIFE Tactical Rifle Scope 2.5-10×40
A popular option for a very low cost scope with adequate features is the CVLIFE 2.5-10×40 Tactical Rifle Scope. It can be a great starter scope that is one of the most affordable options available. It also comes with a built in laser and illuminated reticle. Owners found it to be a very serviceable scope for the low price.
Advantages of a Scope
A scope provides several advantages over iron sights. Instead of having to line up your rear iron sight with the front sight, you can simply put the target into the crosshairs of the scope. This makes it much quicker and easier to acquire your target. The scope can also magnify the target to enhance your vision and help you improve your accuracy and precision of shots. The level of magnification varies by the model of the scope. A scope also helps adjust for variables in the environment like wind and elevation to help improve accuracy.
What are the Top Rifle Scope Brands?
Leupold is one of the most well known brands with a great reputation for producing very high quality scopes that last and won’t cost too much money. They are headquartered in Oregon where they design and assemble their products. They offer one of the strongest warranties in the industry which includes free repair or replacement if your scope doesn’t perform even if you buy the scope used from someone else. Learn more at Leupold.com.
2. Swarovski
3. Nightforce
4. Nikon
5. US OPtics
6. Vortex Optics
7. Bushnell
2. Swarovski
3. Nightforce
4. Nikon
5. US OPtics
6. Vortex Optics
7. Bushnell
Things to Look For in a Scope
- Accuracy of Turrets
Clarity of the scope doesn’t matter if the turrets are not accurate. One of the problems of cheaper scopes is the lack of accuracy of the turrets, which can have a major impact on the precision of your shots. Capped turrets are a useful bonus feature that come on some scopes and help you avoid accidentally moving your turrets and losing your zero.
- Reputation of the Brand
The best brands have a long reputation for producing quality optics and you can trust that your product will perform as promised. Top brands offer support and strong warranties if any issues come up. If you are buying your scope online, watch out for counterfeit products made overseas and sometimes look exactly like the real thing.
- Fixed or Variable Magnification
If you don’t need to adjust the magnification of your scope, you can get a lot more quality and value for the same price range by purchasing a fixed scope. A variable scope more moving parts which increases the cost to manufacture. A fixed scope with the equivalent level of quality and performance can often be found for a fraction of the price of a variable scope.
- Warranty
A strong warranty will give you peace of mind that if anything breaks down on your scope you can get it fixed or replaced at minimal or no cost. Many leading optics brands provide a lifetime warranty. Leupold will repair or replace a scope that doesn’t perform for the lifetime of the product, even if you are not the original owner.
- Ruggedness and Durability
A sturdy design with strong materials is essential for enduring tough conditions without breaking down or losing zero over years of repeated recoil. If a scope manufacturer has a strong lifetime warranty, that is an indication that the company is confident that their scopes won’t break down in normal or tough conditions. Also, fixed scopes tend to be more durable than variable scopes because there are fewer moving parts that have the potential to break.
- Matte or Glossy Finish
Matte finish is a common choice for hunters because it prevents a shiny reflection that can alert wildlife to their presence.
Which Scope Brands are Made in the USA?
There are very few brands that manufacture 100% of their scopes in the United States. Even American brands like Leupold source their lenses from Asia because they say they can not get the quantity of high quality lenses they need from US producers. However, the rest of their scopes are made in Oregon. According to Leupold, the lenses are the only part of the scope that is not made in the United States. To find a scope that is completely manufactured in the USA, you have to look closely at the small print.
- Terminology
BDC (Bullet Drop Compensator)
BDC or Bullet Drop Compensator helps you adjust your shot by predicting how much a bullet will drop before it reaches the target. Using a BDC scope can prevent errors from having to adjust the elevation knob and have gained widespread popularity. Most brands offer a scope with BDC.
- Reticles
Reticles are the crosshairs or target pattern that is displayed on the lens to help you focus on your target. Many scopes can illuminate the reticle so they can be viewed in low-light situations.
- Eye Relief
The distance from your shooting eye to the rear of the scope lens. A higher magnification scope usually has a shorter eye relief. Sufficient eye relief is important so that the scope doesn’t hit you in the eyebrow during recoil.
- MOA (Minute of Angle)
Minute of Angle is a unit of measurement is an angular measurement that equals 1/60th of a degree.
- Turrets
Turrets are knobs for adjusting the barrel of the rifle up, down, left, and right to compensate for environmental factors such as wind and elevation. Typically the turrets should have an audible click when adjusted. Turrets should allow you to rotate back to zero when you have sighted your rifle.
- Parallax
Parallax is the small shift of the target that you perceive when your eye moves away from the center of the eyepiece. This can affect accuracy, especially at long distances. A parallax dial can eliminate the parallax error and keep the reticle from moving when your eye moves.
- Red Dot
A red dot sight, also known as a reflex sight allow you to aim your rifle without closing one eye like you would with iron sights. With both eyes open you will have greater peripheral vision and be able to acquire your target more quickly.
- Lens Coatings
Lens coatings serve multiple functions including protecting the lens from scratches, smudges, and limiting light reflection. Some coating options include coated, fully coated, multi coated, and fully multi coated.
- Exit pupil
A formula to calculate how much light is being transmitted through your scope. The formula is the objective lens size in milimeters divided by the magnification level. So a 40mm objective scope with 10x magnification will equal an exit pupil of 4. Since the exit pupil is larger at low power, it is easier to see at low power in low light conditions.
- Objective bell
The end of the scope, opposite from the shooter’s eye.
- Erector Tube
The erector tube is a part of the scope that sits in between the focus lens and the objective lens. It contains the magnification lens and the reticle assembly.
Cons: The short eye relief is not ideal for powerful rifles.
Fixed Scopes Versus Variable Scopes
Fixed scopes have single level of magnification whereas a variable scope can have the magnification adjusted. Although it is less versatile, a fixed scope has several advantages such as a significantly lower cost, better durability and ruggedness, and it holds your zero better. A fixed scope has fewer components and lenses so it costs less for manufacturers to produce. As a result, you can get the maximum value from your dollars by purchasing a fixed scope. When you choose a fixed scope, you often get the same clarity of a much more expensive variable scope.
Online Shopping Tips
When shopping online, it is usually a good idea to read reviews of people who have bought the scope you are considering to learn about important insights that are not mentioned in the product description. Amazon also has a Q&A section where you can ask questions or read the answers to frequently asked questions. If the product is sold by third party sellers on Amazon, you can click on the seller name to find the seller’s contact information to call with any specific questions.
