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Best Long Range Rifle Scopes Reviewed & Rated for Quality
The scopes on this list have lots of cool features that are sure to get you excited for your next trip out into the bush. It will make it much easier for you to reach your goals when it comes to the next hunting trip. There are lots of options to look at, so get down there and find what you like.
Standout Picks
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Accuracy
This may surprise you, but the most important thing about buying a scope is how accurate it is. this rating is here to let you know just how each of these options is. It is all about how those fine-tuned adjustments equate to making the shot that you want. There are lots of other little things they can do, too.
Some options have been designed with smaller adjustments than others, which is a great way to get it dialed in exactly how you want. It is also important for how much you can adjust it in total. If you want to make a really long shot, you are going to need a scope that can compensate for all those extra minutes.
Features
Long gone are the days when a scope was just made out of two lenses focusing themselves for each other. There are tons of extra pieces of technology that go into these options that make them so great for making your shooting as simple as possible. This category is here to let you know just how many quality of life improvements have been thrown into each option on the list.
Some things that you should look for are things like the extra contrast brought about by some lenses. It makes it almost like you are looking at an HD TV. There are also options that come with the ability to make larger adjustments so you can quickly move to where you need if you know things are going to be a bit further off than you imagined.
Effectiveness
This is another important category to think about. You want something that can handle all kinds of conditions, and this category is here to let you know where you are going to find that. Hunting outdoors is not quite like taking the rifle down to the range. There are going to be lots of different sorts of conditions that you are firing in. This category is here to let you know how well you will be able to do that.
Scopes have been designed to handle all kinds of conditions. They can do a good job of keeping you in the hunt in all kinds of conditions. There are protection from the fog and rain, which can blur your lens with all that moisture that is in the air. There are also options that you can use to do something like see better in all kinds of low light conditions, too.
Durability
This is another important one. These things cost money, so it is important that the one you buy is going to be the one you can rely on for a long time. The amount of time it is going to last has a lot to do with how much extra effort has been put into the strength of the materials making up the scope. It takes a lot of force for a rifle to propel a bullet out of it, so the scope has to be able to handle that.
Things that can affect the durability are things like the construction of the scope's tube. It can be made out of tons of different materials. They can range from aluminum to steel, and each will last for a different amount of time. Another thing that can affect these options is how the reticle and lenses are housed in the tube. The reticle needs to remain zeroed after long trips and after every shot so that your accuracy isn't affected.
Value
This list tries to represent a few different kinds of prices that you could reasonably spend on your scope. The truth is that your scope is just as important as the rifle that it is attached to. That is because it is the only way you are going to be able to use your rifle as effectively as you want to. The difference in price between these options usually has a lot to do with how many extra features there are with the rifle, and how much range you have for your firing.
This category is here to let you know how much you are getting for your dollar. It is a good idea to spend as much as you think that you can on your next rifle, as it will be following you around for a long time to come.
10 Best Long Range Rifle Scopes
1. Leupold 3X-Vi
The Leupold is a very versatile option that is designed to be able to handle all kinds of terrain without there being a chance of anything getting in the way of it working properly.
Durable Design
The Leupold is a great piece of equipment that you can easily use in tons of different environments. It is chiefly designed to give you the clarity to see any targets that you are aiming at down the range. To do this, it has been built to do a good job of keeping the image clear over all kinds of weather and elevation.
Other Features
The pother great thing about this choice is that it is designed to do a good job in all kinds of weather. It is waterproof and will do a good job of letting you still see clearly on a foggy day, as it would on a sunny one. It is also built to last through all the changing temperatures that can occur throughout a long day in the bush.
Cost and Value
The Leupold is a cool choice for those who are looking for something that is built to withstand all the versatility that they can hope for. It makes it an easy choice for making sure that you are ready to handle any kind of environment. It is also very affordable for the very high quality that you are going to get out of it.
2. Vortex Razor HD Gen II
If you are looking for something that is packed with cutting edge technology that will make it easy for you to have total control over your rifle's accuracy, look no further.
Options Options Options
the name of the game with the Razor is options in how you check your accuracy. It is designed so that you can have tons of options for how you use your range finding. It can be used to check your range for a huge distance. it is also designed with tons of ways to change the illumination of the scope, so you can make it work for your particular situation.
Other Features
The Razor has lots of other great features going for it, too. It is designed so that you will have an easy time figuring out how to aim correctly in all kinds of light settings. It can't be used in total darkness, but it has lots of features for keeping targets clear in all kinds of other lighting settings, including dusk, dawn, and fog.
Cost and Value
The elephant in the room when it comes to the Razor is that it costs quite a bit more than some of the other options here. This is a truly prestige rifle scope that is a good idea if you consider yourself an avid hunter, and that you have the money to spend on the best.
3. Swarovski X5(i)
This is another prestige choice that gives you tons of options for where you are going to be able to shoot it, including night time.
All Types
The X5 is designed so that you can use it in all kinds of conditions. The big difference here is that this option gives you the ability to use it during the evening. It has a reticle that works in total darkness, which is great for any time your trip is going on a little later than you though it was going to.
Other Features
There are tons of other things about the X5 that make it worth your time. It is designed so that you can make quick adjustments at any time. It has lots of elevation that you can work off of, but it has a cool feature that lets you drop by ten minutes at a time when you want to.
Cost and Value
The X5 is designed so that you will have a great time using it in all kinds of situations. It lets you move quickly, and it lets you shoot in all kinds of conditions. It also has a high level of durability. This is another of the more expensive options on this list, though, so make sure you are willing to put the money in.
4. Vortex Diamondback
Vortex is already making another appearance on this list, which is just a testament to the high level of quality that goes into their products. This is their budget friendly option.
Budget Friendly
A brand as strong as Vortex comes in here with another option, but at a price that almost anyone can afford. It still has all the quality of the other options on the list, but just pares it down to something a little simpler for those shooters who just need something that works.
Other Features
This option keeps it much simpler than a lot of the other ones, but that is perfect for those who want something that still does a good job. It is great for its accurate adjustments, as it can be moved in increments of a quarter of a minute at a time, which is great for getting pinpoint accuracy.
Cost and Value
The Diamondback is great for lots of reasons, but the biggest selling point is how much it sells for. It is one of the cheapest options on this list, which makes it perfect for those who are in the market for their first scope, and perhaps don't know exactly what they are in the market to buy. This one won't treat you wrong.
5. BSA Sweet .17
This is an option that is specifically designed for HMR rifles. The smaller caliber makes it a good choice for those who are more in the business of shooting smaller pests.
Small Caliber
The BSA is a great choice for anyone who wants a little more accuracy on their smaller rifle. It does a good job at making it easier for you to catch any pests that you might find are bothering your property. It is also a good choice for anyone who is looking for something that is perfect for newbies.
Other Features
There are some other cool features about this option that are worth getting excited about. it is all about minute changes in the elevation, so you can feel right on target every time. It also has a durable case that it has been designed into. The reticle is also the perfect color for good visibility.
Cost and Value
This is another budget option that is great for anyone who is looking for something simple that will work as expected. It does a good job for those who want something for their smaller rifle, like those who hunt smaller animals, or those who want something to liven up their target shooting.
6. Swarovski Optik Z3
The Optik Z3 is designed as a lightweight option that will keep you feeling featherweight on your trips out into the bush.
Lightweight Option
The Optik does a bunch of different things to make it a lightweight choice for anyone. In comparison, it is much lighter and smaller than the other options on this list. It does this by keeping itself a bit smaller than the competition and through the aluminum composition of its housing.
Other Features
The Optik has tons of other good features going into it, too. It is designed with a very cool site that gives you a wide range of vision when you look down it. It makes it much easier to find your target. It is also great for the strong visual acuity that is made by its lenses.
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Cost and Value
The Optik is a different sort of option that is still a bit expensive, but not as much as a lot of the other options. It is more a middle of the road option for those who want to spend a bit of money, but not a new car money. It is great for those who want to feel effortless in their movements with their rifle.
7. Nightforce Optics ATACR
Nightforce enters the fray with an option that does a great job of giving you something with tons of precise instrumentation, so you are always right on target.
Precise Aiming
This option is great because it has so much going for it in terms of what you can measure for with your knobs. It has tons of minutes of variation in both the elevation and windage knobs, and moves in very small increments of .25 minutes with each click. It makes for a very precise level of control over your scope.
Other Features
The Nightforce has tons of other things going for it, too. It is one of the only options that give you labeled markings for all the measurements of your elevations and such. That makes it a very good option for those who want to know exactly what it is they are doing. It is designed for those who want to be precise and knowledgeable in every shot.
Cost and Value
The Nightforce is another of the more expensive options on this list, but it has been packed to the brim with cutting edge technology that is very easy to get excited about. It means that you are going to have an easy time knowing exactly what is about to happen before every shot.
8. Nikon BLACK FX1000
The Nikon is a lightweight scope option that is designed for quick target acquisition, which makes it a good choice for less precise long range shooting.
Quick Acquisition
The scope zoom on the Nikon is not as much as some of the other options on this list, but it makes up for it with the ability to quickly zoom to exactly how you want it. It makes it easy to look down the sights and then immediately be ready to catch onto any targets you might be trying to find.
Other Features
There are some other design elements that make it such an easy choice to pick up this scope. It is designed with an aluminum casing that you can easily use to keep that fast target acquisition even quicker. It is also designed so that you have good contrast between everything that you see down the sight of the scope.
Cost and Value
The Nikon is another mid-range option that you can use if you are someone who wants a scope that they can use from the hip, so to speak. It makes the process of target acquisition and clarifying your magnification into a total breeze. This is a great option for those who want something easy to use.
9. Bushnell Forge
The Forge is a great scope for feeling like you can take your hunting anywhere and still find yourself with that clear image that you need to be successful.
Durable and Reliable
The Forge is designed so that you will have an easy time of using it in just about any sort of environment or weather. It has been built up to be completely waterproof, including the lenses. No matter if it is snow or fog, the Forge will be able to keep your sights zeroed on the target with ease.
Other Features
The Forge is a great option for tons of other reasons, too. It does a great job of making it easy for you to get everything that you need to be done through the great assembly on display. It is designed to work just as well in low light settings, and you will still have good contrast when shooting it like that, too.
Cost and Value
The Forge is another option that falls comfortably in that mid-range of rifle scopes. It gives you a good picture in all sorts of environments, and it does it at a low and reasonable price. It is a good option for those who are planning on taking their scope out into the bush.
10. Zeiss Conquest V6
The Conquest is a good option for giving you something right down the middle. It makes things easy when trying to get your aim just right, but also makes it easy to pop off a quick shot, too.
Balanced Design
The Conquest is balanced in all the ways that it is designed. It does a good job of giving you just enough zoom for long range, but still enough to see something that is relatively up close. It rocks a 6x zoom, which is great for all kinds of shots.
Other Features
It is also great in tons of other ways, too. It is designed so that you will have an easy time trying to get your reticle right on the target. It has simple to use and understand adjustments in windage and elevation, which means that you can shoot much further than you would think with a scope like this.
Cost and Value
This is a bit of a more expensive option, but it has such simple design that it is still highly recommended. It is closer to the upper end of prices you are going to find here, but it does it all so simply and easily. It strikes a good balance that makes it a good option for all kinds of shooting.
Sources
- , How to Perfectly Mount a Riflescope, Article
- , How Do Rangefinders Work, Article
- , The Anatomy of a Scope, Article
