The Best Rifle Scope Review Guide in 2024

Optic Terminology To Understand

It’s likely that if you are looking for the best rifle scopes and reading the best rifle scopes reviews to figure out which rifle scope is the best for your rifle, that you may have come across some terminology that is new to you. Optics have very specific terms that is important to understand.  Let’s get started on some

Field of View (FOV) – The area you can see through your scope. It’s typically the distance measured from left to right. For example, a FOV of 100 yards means that you can see 100 yards from left to right through your scope.

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Turrets – These are the circular objects that are mounted on the top and the side of a rifle scope. You can adjust these for both wind and elevation. You can use turrets to made adjustments and to zero an optic.

Zero – To zero refers to your rifle and rifle scope being sighted in. You zero your rifle at a particular range and this can refer to a particular distance. For example, you can have 500 yard zero if your rifle is sighted in at 500 yards.

Coatings – Coatings are used to reduce light loss and reflective glare. There are a lot of different coatings that are used on the lens. The better the coating, the better it offers a higher contrast image that can reduce eye strain. The following coatings are ranked in quality from best to worst:

• Fully Multicoated
• Muticoated
• Fully Coated
• Coated

Scope Rail – Often referred to as Weaver and Picatinny rails, scope rails are a section of a rifle scope that is dedicated to mounting the optic. Most optics can mount to both Weaver and Picatinny rails.

First Focal Plane (FFP) – Scopes where the reticle is placed in the front of the optic. Reticles will grow and shrink as the optic’s magnification changes.

Second Focal Plane (SFP) – Scopes where the reticle is placed in the back of the erector tube. The reticle doesn’t change as the magnification changes.

Minute of Angle (MOA) – A unit of measurement of a circle. MOA is referred to 1 inch for every 100 yards. So MOA is 1 inch at 100 yards, 2 inch at 200 yards, 3 inch at 300 yards, etc. Technically, MOA is 1.0472 inch at 100 yards, but only 1 inch is used for simplicity’s sake.

Bullet Drop Compensator – A compensator is built into a rifle optic to give aiming points and holdovers for specified ranges. They are designed to be used with a specific barrel, barrel weight, rifle length, caliber, and loading for accuracy.

MIL – A unit of measurement that is used to express dots or hash marks on a rifle optic’s reticle.

Scope rings/Mount – These are rings that act as the platform between the rifle and the scope. Rings are used to separate the bases and a mount is considered a one piece base.

Power – Power is the level of magnification that a rifle scope has. For example, a 10 power scope (10x) has a magnification factor of 10.

Windage – This is the horizontal adjustment of a rifle scope.

Elevation – This is the vertical adjustment of a rifle scope.

A Brief Overview of 3 Different Sights

Here is an overview of the 3 different types of sights:

• Iron Sights
• Laser Sights
• Red Dot / Reflex Sights

Iron Sights

​Iron Sights are the old standard for firearms. Iron sites had a place on every rifle, handgun, and shotgun for hundreds of years. Every rifle should have a set of iron sights.

Honestly, a quality set of iron sights are very hard to break and a perfect back up for a rifle scope.

Iron sights are typical on rifles and a variety of models come available with iron sights that can flip up and down so that they don’t get in the way of your rifle scope.

Iron sights offer a number of advantages over optics.

Advantages:

• More dependable due to its durability over optics
• No need for batteries
• No glass to break
• Completely waterproof
• Not affected be extreme conditions
• Can be used for both short and medium range
• AR 15 iron sights can reach out to 500 yards and hit a man sized target

Disadvantages:

• Not as effective or as quick as an optic
• 500 yard shot with iron sights will require lots of adjustments, potentially taking a long time to hone in the sights for an accurate shot.
• Can be obstructed by the environment and difficult to see at close range
• Low light situations make iron sights difficult to see without tritium inserts.

Laser Sights

Laser sights are not like traditional sites that you look through. With laser sights you are looking for the sight. Laser sights emit a laser that the user places on the target. They are especially good for low light situations.

With lasers, you don’t need to use the sights on the gun. A laser allows a shooter to take a sure and confident shot in the dark.

On rifles, lasers are a bit less common, but are still used routinely by some. A good laser on a rifle can work hand in hand with night vision optics as a hunting tool.

The downside of the laser is the face that it is nearly impossible to see during daylight. It’s purely limited to nighttime shooting or hunting. Lasers, like anything electronic can also fail and if a shooter trains themselves to only use the laser dot to hit their target, it will have major setbacks

Also, when considering costs, lasers are much more expensive.

Red dot / Reflex Sights

The red dot optic is a solitary tube that uses a simple red dot as a reticle. It’s perfect to use any time of the day as the red dot is very simple to use and is one of the best choices for close range shooting and hunting.

Red dot sightings on optics are the quickest and most effective close range optics. They rely on a very simple concept and are east to use with little instruction and training. Though it’s very difficult, you can hit targets within 200-300 yards, but at close range the red dot makes it as simple as putting the dot on the target and firing.

You can get red dot sightings in optics in a variety of sizes and can be used on nearly every rifle imaginable. Some red dot sights act as the primary optic on a rifle.

Small red dots can be mounted on handguns too for both defensive shooting and hunting. Even crossbows!

The simplicity of the red dot sights make them a limited application and restrain them to close range as home defense or tactical uses. At long range, the red dots are pretty hard to use, because they don’t have a correct reticle made for medium or long range shooting.

3 More Types of Scopes

• Variable Scopes
• Fixed Power Scopes
• Holographic Optics

Variable Scopes

Variable scopes are the classic rifle scopes. These are the rifle optics that are most often found on the rifles of hunters and marksmen. They allow the user to find tune the magnification for the job and range at hand. These scopes typically vary from short to long range as well as size. Size will usually determine the power level of the variable scope.

You can find a very wide variety of power selections, which can range from 10 to 40 power down to 1 to 4 power. Variable scopes allow users to shoot accurately at a variety of different ranges while seeing the target very clearly.

Variable scopes come in two different sight planes​:

• First Focal Plan
• Second Focal Plane

First Focal Plane – Have reticles that will grow and shrink as the scope’s magnification is changed. What this does is keep the measurement accurate for the entire magnification range. First focal plane scopes also allow shooters to accurately measure and utilize distances and compensate for bullet drop and windage at any range.

Second Focal Plane – The reticle does not adjust as the magnification is increased and decreased. This affects the scope’s use of MIL dot or bullet drop compensators and means that they are only accurate at one specific magnification level. Second focal plane scopes are usually cheaper and more common and are best used with known distance courses or environments.

The biggest problem with variable scopes is the fact that they are very fragile when compared to other options. High-quality variable scopes are also very expensive ranging from several hundred dollars to several thousand.

Variable magnification scopes (far more popular nowadays), as opposed to fixed magnification are shown as: minimum magnification – maximum magnification x objective lens. A classic variable power scope for long rifles of 3-9×40 means that the minimum magnification is 3 times, the maximum magnification is 9 times, and it has a 40mm objective lens.

Fixed Power Scopes

Fixed power scopes are magnified optics that feature a single level of magnification. This magnification can be used as both a rifle combat optic or as a sniper scope. Some example scopes include:

• Bushnell Elite G2 – a 10x fixed power optic
• Trijicon ACOG – a 4x fixed power optic, used by the Marine Corps

With fixed power optics, the focal plane doesn’t really matter since the magnification range isn’t an issue at all. What this does is allows for a high-quality scope to be available and affordable.

The lack of variable magnification allows the rifle optic to be effectively sealed and much tougher overall.

The only issue with a fixed power scope is that it is not as versatile as a variable optic.

Holographic Optics

Holographic optics is another variant of the red dot sights. The difference is that they are square in shape rather than a tube design like the red dot sights. They are also more open and can have more of a complicated reticle.

These reticles are designed to do specific positions and are often proprietary between scope companies.

Holographic optics are identical in almost every way to a red dot sight. And even though the more complicated reticle makes the holographic optic much more versatile, they have a battery that drains much faster than a traditional optic.

Holographic optics are also a lot less durable and can’t be submerged as deep in water or exposed to extreme temperatures.

Advantages of Shooting and Hunting with a Rifle Scope vs Iron Sights

I get this question all the time, “Should I use iron sights, or buy a scope for my rifle?” Now, before getting carried away and buying a $500 Leupold, make sure you are comfortable using iron sights and shoot confidently at 100 yards.

It would be awfully embarrassing to be out in the bush on a hunt with the guys only to have your scope fail and not be able to make a routine 75 yard shot at the prized target with the ol’ irons.

And honestly, using iron sights builds confidence and helps a shooter understand the basic mechanics of shooting and lining up your target using angular measurements which will help when you finally do decide to buy a riflescope.

A scope improves accuracy and allows you to see your target with clarity, even at long distances. Technology and improvements in rifle scope design have allowed even entry level scopes to improve accuracy at longer distances possible. With the increased confidence, you will find yourself more productive on hunting trips and having more fun target shooting.

Rifle Scope and Spec Guides

Let’s back track for a moment. If you are new to shooting and want to know even more basics, I have a few guides that may be of interest to you:

• Sighting in your rifle scope doesn’t have to be a challenge. I get a lot of viewers asking for tips and tricks for sighting in their rifle scope. See more on how to properly sight in a rifle scope.
• Some people aren’t aware at all of gun safety. If you are brand new to firearms or even if you are an experienced shooter in a need of a safety refresher course, I have a guide of gun safety rules made just for you.
• There is a big variety of scope rings to choose from and it can get overwhelming. But I’ve got you covered. I’ve written a guide to help you choose the right scope rings too!
• With so many different types of rifle scopes, it’s no wonder that there are a wide variety of different objective lenses as well. Choosing an objective lens all depends on how you plan on using your rifle. What size of objective lens is right for you?
• Magnification is another one that can get overwhelming. How do you choose the right rifle scope magnification? I’ve written a guide on choosing the right magnification as well.
• Nikon is a big rifle scope company, one of my favorites actually. With so many different options, how do you know which reticle to choose? I’ve written a guide for this as well. Learn which Nikon BDC reticle is right for you.

Considerations for Choosing Your Rifle Scope

Determine the Application

Is this your first riflescope and you’re interested in getting into sport target shooting? Are you an avid hunter looking to take down larger game at longer distances? These types of questions help determine where to begin to find the best rifle scope for you and it’s important to be realistic with yourself! A fixed magnification scope may be just fine for you if you are shooting small varmint or plinking, whereas some of you hunting folks may require some magnification and possibly an adjustable objective.

Determine Rifle Size

Will you be mounting the optic on a .22 or a 7mm – 300 Win Mag? The size of the rifle will impact which scope (and price range) will fit your needs. Low recoil firearms don’t require the same quality of scope as the force of the bullet exiting the barrel doesn’t dislodge or loosen the scope rings. Shooting at shorter distances also doesn’t require the same magnification as shooting at long distances. As you increase magnification, you decrease field of vision. Less is usually more when it comes to riflescopes.

Determine Your Budget

Determine your budget and set your expectations. You can get a good quality scope for $300-$500. And there are manufacturers who produce solid riflescopes for under $200. And if you want to invest in an outstanding rifle scope, consider spending a little bit more for something nicer. Rifle scopes up to $1,000 are expensive but worth it, especially for more experienced shooters.

Determine the Optic Brand(s) You’d Consider

There are dozens of rifle scope brands from all over the world producing rifle scopes. Most of them create a product that is solid and “you get what you pay for” while some you may want to flat out avoid. Check out some of the most popular and best rifle scope brands here.

Other Things To Consider When Choosing A Scope or Optic

The most important factor when choosing your rifle optic is what you intend to use it for.

Once you’ve decided what you plan on using your rifle for, you can then get the correct right rifle optic.

Outside of choosing the right type of optic, there are some other things that you will need to remember. For example, is the rifle optic designed for your rifle and caliber? There are some scopes that are actually designed to be used with certain types of rifles and with a certain caliber, barrel length, and loading length.

So be sure you get a rifle scope that is compatible with the rifle you have.

Other things to consider are:

• Durability​
• Coated Lenses
• Warranty
• Batteries and battery Life

Durability

One of the most important things when choosing the perfect optic is its durability. Look at the reviews of the scope. What have other users said about it? Also, if you are going to be using your rifle optic more seriously than recreational plinking, you really need to invest in a quality optic. When purchasing an optic, take note of a few things:

• Is it shock proof?
• Fog proof?
• Waterproof?
• Any special batteries?
• etc.

If your optic isn’t durable and can’t withstand the types of use you plan on using it for, you will need to invest in a quality scope as it will last much longer. This is more of a concern with cheaper and lower priced optics. Mid and high range optics from manufacturers like the ones stated above are rarely a concern in terms of durability.

Coated Lenses

Coated lenses are something you should definitely look for when choosing a rifle optic, especially fully multi-coated glass. This coating helps the scope capture more light and help in low light situations.

Another feature is the size of the objective lens.

Warranty

Optics can be fragile, some more than others. Remember that you are really just using pieces of glass and aluminum. So a huge factor to consider when buying the best rifle scope is to look at the warranty. What kind of warrant does the company or manufacturer offer on the optic? A good warrant can protect you from losing out on your investment.

Batteries and Battery Life

Your optic might require batteries. If it does, what kind of batteries does the optic require? Some optics with an illuminated reticle may also be glass etched and not require any batteries at all to work, but some rely entirely on batteries to work properly.

Top 8 Rifle Scopes Reviews

Now that you have a good understanding of scopes, including their construction and features as well as access to a list of some of the most popular brands, it’s time to review my top rifle scopes on the market today.