You could aim your rifle at a distant object and hoping for the perfect shot. But without using a telescopic sight or scope, you are risking the perfection. But for someone like you who’s finicky about aiming and shooting right, you need help.
That’s when a rifle scope or a telescopic sight comes in handy. The accuracy these gadgets offer is so amazingly perfect that it has become the basic equipment of rifle shooters who fire long distances by increasing the target’s image.
These days, there are many brands of scopes vying for your attention, each claiming to be the Best Rifle Scope. So, to ease your homework we have strolled the market and sorted the best of the best.
Best Rifle Scope Reviews
Here are market’s 5 best rifle scope reviews to help you choose one that suits your purpose:
1. Bushnell Red Dot Sight
Are you looking for a small, red dot sight that’s lightweight too? If yes, you should opt for the Bushnell Red Dot Sight that’s also affordable and easy to use. Though limited in its scope, yet it is a good one to have on a tight budget. And it’s feature-rich, for all that, so let’s take a closer look at it.
One of the best hunting scopes today, the TRS-25 is very lightweight and weighs just 109 gm, adding to its portability feature. It is 100 mm long, 25 mm wide, and has an inherent self-regulating LED system inside its tube. It also has 11 lighting options for intensities that add to its flexibility.
The scope itself is extremely clear and produces a crystal-clear image. Windage, lens cap, and elevation are adjustable and easy to perform. It is also highly waterproof, shockproof, and fog proof, rendering it durable. Fog or moisture won’t reduce the clarity of the images. There’s also no limit on the time that you use this scope because this doesn’t affect its efficiency.
The images are sharp and clear, and it offers maximum accuracy, irrespective of long distances. Its overall strong construction, compatibility with several firearms, and versatility of use make it the most sought-after scope in today’s market.
Bushnell Red Dot Sight
Pros:
- It is attractively priced
- It has a clear reticle at appropriate settings
- Highly accurate
- Takes care of recoil well
Cons:
- Surrounding light conditions gives a distorted view
- Drains the batteries quickly
2. Vortex Optics Crossfire II Second Focal Plane, 1-inch Tube Riflescopes
Perfect for hunting and shooting, the 2-7×32 Crossfire II riflescope can be used at different ranges. This entry-level model from Crossfire offers long eye relief and an excellent eye box that offers a sight picture of your target.
With the fast focus feature of the eyepiece, the reticle focuses on the object quickly and easily. This riflescope has a comprehensive field view of a minimum of 42 feet and a maximum of 12.6 feet.
This riflescope is engineered to have a modern optical system with an anti-reflective lens coating for a clear, bright, and perfect view. Its magnification ranges from 2-7x which is amazingly powerful. Its eye relief is about four inches, which shooters find comfortable.
The aluminum tube is of high-quality aircraft grade and is hard and anodized. Steeped in nitrogen, it has an O-ring that makes it waterproof and fog proof.
It has a tailormade dot design that ensures corrections on windage and holdover. It works well for hunters and shooters at different ranges where it’s difficult to estimate a holdover.
This riflescope is easy to focus on and you can use it continuously without changing your position. It works well in the hands of novices and experts and is easy to use. The eyepiece is designed to focus quickly and causes the reticle to focus quickly. Regular users regard it as one of the best hunting scopes on the market.
Vortex Optics Crossfire
Pros:
- It’s a superb blend between great features and attractive pricing
- Great quality
- Sturdy construction and even with strong recoil they hold zero very well
- Sturdy and easy-to-use turrets
Cons:
- With higher magnification, it gives poor image quality
- Users complained that the reticle did not suit scout rifle apps
3. Vortex Optics Diamondback Second Focal Plane Riflescopes
If you’re a seasoned shooter or hunter and are looking for something high quality, then this is what you need. Its construction, image quality and overall touch of the turrets and quickly darting focus make it the ideal one for you.
It can be successfully used for the big game, slug shotgun, muzzleloader, slug shotgun, and brush hunting applications.
Its bespoke dot design is a sure shot where windage and holdover are concerned. Close to the eyepiece are the second focal plane (SFP) reticles which remain constant in size and appearance even after a change in magnification.
The deal-hold BDC type of reticle is perfect for shooting or hunting at a variety of ranges where hold-over might be difficult.
The lenses of the Diamondback are entirely multi-coated to provide clear and bright images all day. The eyepiece is characterized by its fast focus ability and for the reticle to focus quickly and easily.
Once you sight the object, you can set your metal turrets one on each other and offer a zero reset. Repeatability and accurate tracking are assured by the precision glide erector system feature.
This durable and shockproof scope is made out of a one-piece tube with an anodized finish which is of immense value when camouflaging the shooter or hunter’s position. This scope offers fog proof and waterproof performance thanks to being steeped in argon and having sealed O-rings.
For all its features and ease of use, the Diamondback is the best rifle scope for the money you’ll find today.
Vortex Optics Diamondback Riflescopes
Pros:
- Overall, an excellent product
- The reticle works brilliantly
- Entirely multi-coated optics
- Good value for money
Cons:
- Tracking facility on turrets needs improvement
- The mounting area falls short
4. ATN X-Sight 4K Pro Smart Day/Night Rifle Scope Ultra HD 4K technology with Superb Optics, 120fps Video, 18+ hrs Battery, Ballistic Calculator, Rangefinder, WiFi, E-Compass, Barometer, IOS & Android Apps
The very fact that the ATN X-Sight 4K is a day and night riflescope makes it a complete game-changer in its niche market. It comes to you with a 4K sensor and is accompanied by an Obsidian 4 Dual-Core Processor which gives you higher resolution, vibrant colors, and quicker optics.
With this combination, you can get unpixellated images up to any distance.
It also features a three-inch eye relief and is fitted with a ballistic calculator so that you hit your target each time. With this calculator, you can find the exact ballistics you need for perfect long-range shots.
While it can stream video clips to your mobile device using HD resolution, it can also simultaneously record the same to an SD card on the device. It can offer top-notch service for more than 18 hours of continuous use without dying when you need the device most.
With Recoil Activated Video, before and after you take a shot will be video graphed by the Obsidian 4 Dual Core Processor. So, just keep going while your scope takes care of the nitty-gritty. Mounts are also available, though consumers complain about their quality.
For all its modern and thoughtful features, this scope is very comfortably priced. In fact, seasoned users of scopes will find this a treat to use when out shooting and regard it as one of the best hunting rifle scopes they have ever used.
ATN X-Sight 4K Pro Rifle Scope
Pros:
- Can easily move it from weapon to weapon without any fuss or difficulty
- Nicely priced
- Transitions easily from day to night mode
- Convenient to use
Cons:
- Images are very grainy; difficult to see them clearly at 100 yards
- Software uploaded on android and IOS lack features given on the product page of the company website.
5. UTG 3-9X32 1″ BugBuster Scope, AO, RGB Mil-dot, QD Rings
Best Rifle Scope Reviews
Yet another scope that could well be termed the best rifle scope for the money, the UTG 3-9×32 is one of the better models of its group.
Generally used for airsoft assault rifles, its red dot is efficient enough to move from red to green when the light turns on. It can be mounted on a Picatinny 21 mm rail.
This scope is entirely sealed and filled with nitrogen. It is a hugely reliable device since it is rain, shock, and fog proof, particularly when mounted on your weapon application.
It is easy to use what with red and green lighting and good eye relief. It offers parallax-free vision from as near as three yards to as far as the eye can see.
This scope has been designed to be shockproof in all kinds of weather. So, rains and fog do not affect visibility. An innovative feature here is the True Strength Platform.
It contains a Smart Spherical Structure (SSS) that controls the interaction of the joints between the internal and external tubes of the scope. This makes the scope more reliable and guarantees responsive and precise windage.
Its superbly constructed turrets also contribute to giving precise windage consistently.
The red and green reticles work excellently even in harsh environmental conditions. This scope offers greater accuracy than others due to its feature of Tactical Range Estimating (TRE). This mil-dot reticle has nine different points to aim for either elevation or windage.
BugBuster Scope
Pros:
- TS platform is an innovative feature here
- Crystal-clear optics
- Turrets provide precise windage
- Robust construction
Cons:
- Insufficient eye relief
- Warranty untested
Just knowing the name of the best ones only won’t do the trick. You need to know some basics of a rifle scope and its operation too.
How Does A Rifle Scope Work?
A riflescope works like a tiny telescope which helps rifle shooters shoot with great accuracy. A scope works just like a telescope or a device for sighting, based on the principle of a refracting telescope.
It contains a reticle or a graphic pattern of an image that is placed in the system to present an accurate aiming point.
Applications of Rifle Scopes
Riflescopes are used in various situations. For instance, hunters use it to see their prey from afar. They are also used by the military, long-range shooters, and action shooters.
It’s not uncommon for rifle scopes to be part of the weaponry in homes for self-defense and by hobbyists or people indulging in plinking or target shooting.
Choosing a Rifle Scope – What to Look For
Whether you’re a novice or a highly seasoned hunter you know that selecting the best rifle scope is a tough job. That’s because of the number of variables you need to consider too. However, if you aren’t experienced, don’t worry because, with the practical knowledge outlined here, you can choose a good one.
Here are the factors that should influence your buying decision:
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What and Where Will You Use the Rifle Scope?
At the outset, you must ask yourself what use the riflescope is to you and where you will use it. Also, bear in mind that extreme weather conditions, humidity, and other environmental conditions can affect the use of a rifle scope.
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Magnification
Magnification for use in a rifle scope is a wonderful tool as it makes the target bigger and clearer. If you have a large magnification, you can see your target clearly and shoot it perfectly. Generally, low magnification is inversely proportional to a clear target image. This makes for the ideal magnification.
Apart from this, you also need to consider whether you’re going to do target shooting or hunting? For target shooting, you will need a high magnification based on support and range. However, hunting calls for low magnification based on the distance of the target and its size.
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Objective Lens Diameter (OLD)
This is the size of the glass at the OLD is the size of the glass at the top end of the scope. It tells you how much light has been allowed into the scope. Normally, OLD measurements stand at 30 or 32, 36, 40 or 50. For good user experience, scopes with higher magnification require larger OLD. But this can increase costs, so if you’re on a tight budget, be careful.
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Eye Relief
This refers to the distance between your eye and the scope as you shoot. If you don’t determine this beforehand, you could injure yourself and cause your eye serious damage. Usually, eye relief for high-powered rifles stands at 4”. However, for pistols and sniper rifles, it could range between 16” and 20”.
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Parallax Adjustments
You can get the best view to hit your target with the help of a parallax since it cancels out the parallax between the target and the reticle.
The fact that the scope can correct itself in terms of the target is called Parallax. Higher magnification scopes should ideally have inbuilt parallax settings because lower ones can’t move if there’s a small reticle. This is one important feature that makes the best hunting scope.
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Reticles
Several configurations of reticles are available today. You may not know how to use the more complex reticles. In such a scenario, use only the duplex type. There are two important features of reticles that you should bear in mind:
• Mil-dots: With this dotted reticle, you can find out the distance of the target and its size.
• BDC: An acronym for Bullet Drop Compensator, this comprises a set of lines that help you determine bullet drop to target at several distances.
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What’s the Best Magnification for A Hunting Scope?
The answer to this lies in your need for a scope. For instance, if you need it for:
- Self-Defence: Generally, a scope will cut your speed and get in your way of self-defense.
- Target Shooting: Decide if your range is 100 yards or long distance.
- Hunting: This depends on what you hunt and where. If you’re a small game hunter, you generally won’t need a zoom more than 10x, but for the big game, you might want more.
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How Important Is Eye Relief on A Scope?
Eye relief refers to the shortest distance from the scope’s lens to the shooter’s eye from where he or she can still see clearly.
Importance of Eye Relief
Without adequate eye relief in your scope, you will not be able to enjoy using it. Adequate eye relief can give you the clearest and largest virtual picture, whatever the distance.
If the optic device is either too far or too near you, you will spot dark circles surrounding the image. Only when the optic has the right eye relief will you be able to see clear and large images.
Even if you wear spectacles, eye relief is vital. Though it may be uncomfortable to set the optic device’s lenses on your spectacles, you do need to have enough eye relief, preferably in the range of 14mm-23mm.
Spectacle wearers must ensure that they have a longer relief than others or they will not be able to see the entire image in the scope.
Eye relief is a No. 1 consideration for the safety of shooters and hunters. With short eye relief, there can be a cut on the skin between the scope and the eyebrow due to the recoil, which is also known as idiot cut.
Conclusion
Each of the five scopes here is built with much forethought and several useful features. So, if you’re going to choose from among these, it’s going to be a tough call for you. However, it’s always best to choose based on your need for a scope. For you, that will be the best rifle scope.
Also Read:
Best Night Vision Scope Reviews
Should You Buy a Straight or Angled Spotting Scope?
How To Choose a Tripod For Your Spotting Scope
The Way to Maintain Spotting Scope Vibration from Digiscoping
