I tapped the button on my rangefinder to send a laser at a group of three bedded rams. I was 465 yards away. Caught off-guard by the rams, I had to approach them from below and this was as close as I was going to get without being busted. The shot was well within my range, and the broken fog that socked in parts of the mountains hung dead in the air, so adjusting for the wind would not be an issue. Dialing my custom turret to 4.6, I eased up on my belly to a comfortable shooting position. The familiar “thunk” of a solid hit followed the report of my rifle. The ram stood up, only to fall right back over.

Adjustable sights date back to late 1900s. The old 1874 Sharps buffalo rifles were some of the first to have them. Turret adjustment has had a renaissance amongst hunters in the last decade. Dialing for proper windage and elevation has helped make us better long-range shots and more precise, which makes our kills clean. When I was a kid, I used a fixed or variable power scope, and zeroed it 2 or 3 inches high at 100 yards. If I wanted to shoot past 300 yards, I had to estimate the yardage and memorize the drop chart on the back of the ammo box. For most applications, a hunter can be effective with “holdover,” especially if he or she owns a scope with a holdover reticle. But it still leaves plenty of room for mistakes. Dialing your turrets properly allows you to settle the crosshairs on your intended target and make a smooth trigger pull.

I was first introduced to sight adjustment in my service rifle competition days, though riflescopes with adjustable elevation and windage turrets have been around for much longer. For hunting, I have used Leupold’s CDS (custom dial system) turrets on a VX-3 riflescope. I quickly realized the value in being able to adjust elevation for distance, and hold on target. It took the guessing out of how high to hold over the back of a sheep or caribou. Now, I can’t justify not having an adjustable turret on any rifle I might want to shoot beyond 250 yards. Custom and non-custom turrets are available in a wide variety of riflescopes. But if you’re just beginning to dabble, there are a few basics you need to know about turrets.

How Turrets Work

First, whether you’re ordering a custom turret or just plugging data in to generate a drop chart for a standard turret, you need to know the exact bullet and chronograph its velocity out of your rifle if you want to be able to make accurate adjustments in the field. A custom turret is typically made for one particular load. You send the manufacturer the data and zero range of your rifle, and they build a turret to match the exact trajectory of your bullet. You will simply need to range your target and turn the dial to the appropriate yardage listed on the turret. Factors like temperature and elevation can also have impacts on cartridge trajectory, so be sure to account for those as well. If you’re unsure of what those factors do to your bullet, talk to the ammunition manufacturer. They should be more than willing to help. Once you generate the calculated data, it’s also important to verify it on the range. Use the rangefinder you will be hunting with, and note any differences in impacts versus your calculations.

The Importance of a Zero Stop

Another important thing to know about your scope is whether it has a zero stop, zero lock, tracking, or other adjustment-locking mechanism. Some scopes have adjustable elevation and/or windage turrets that are fully adjustable both up and down and left to right with no way of fixing them in one place. This isn’t a problem when your rifle is sitting in the gun closet, but while you are hunting, your turret can easily be caught on something and get twisted. And you might not be able to tell if the rifle is zeroed or a full revolution off, which will cause your shot to be way off line.

If you have a zero stop, that means from any given elevation change, you can twist the dial all the way back down till it stops, and you’re back at your basic zero distance every time. Some scopes like Leupold’s VX-3HD, have turrets that lock onto zero, and you have to push a small button to manually make an elevation adjustment, which eliminates accidental adjustment. Many scopes also have reference marks to tell you if you’re more than one revolution up from your zero, so make sure to familiarize yourself with your scope to ensure that you understand how to determine where you’re at.

You Still Have to Practice

Practice making adjustments, shooting, and coming back to zero with your scope. Generally, your impact will adjust in the direction you’re moving your turret. Elevation impact is adjusted up with a counter-clockwise turn, and down with a clockwise turn. Windage is usually moved right with a counter-clockwise turn and left with clockwise turns. However, there are some makes of riflescopes that have opposite directions of adjustment, so make sure you pay attention to what you’ve got. There’s no substitute for range time and learning wind conditions and how they affect your impact, but also practice interpolating between marked yardages on your chart or turret, so that you can make a more accurate shot at any reasonable distance. A good drill is to shoot out to a set yardage, say 200 yards, and then shoot at closer target between 100 and 200 yards or one between 200 and 300 yards. You can increase these distances as you become more proficient with your rifle.

Read Next: Riflescopes: MOA vs. Mils

Finally, don’t use your turret as an excuse to skip out on range time or shoot at an animal beyond ranges you would not be comfortable with if your turret was not dialed for a specific load. A turret is a wonderful tool, and can make hunters much more precise within reasonable shooting ranges. It can also help experienced shooters be more accurate at longer distances. Buy you have to practice. Know your rifle and scope, and how to evaluate hunting scenarios so you can make an ethical shot.

The post Adjustable, Custom Turrets Are the Hot Trend. Here’s How to Use Them On Your Riflescope for Better Accuracy appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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Best All-Around		Leupold VX-3HD 3.5-10×40 CDS-ZL	SEE IT
Best for Low-Light		Meopta MeoSport R 3-15×50	SEE IT
Best Tactical		Sig Sauer Tango-MSR 1-10×28	SEE IT

In these days of conspicuous spending in the firearms category, dropping $1,500 on a best-in-class rifle scope is as easy as spending $3,000 on a rifle. Or $100 on a box of ammo. That’s fine if you’re mating a bespoke rifle to a very specific scope and load, but most of us end up swapping scopes between rifles, and we’re more interested in optics that can perform on a range of platforms, guiding an assortment of projectiles in a wide variety of shooting situations. I’ve rounded up nine do-everything scopes with basic reticles, usually in the second focal plane, simple controls, and good class. They generally lack illumination, parallax, or large magnification ranges. If you don’t have unlimited resources, and want a hard-wearing, versatile, affordable scope, read on for the best rifle scopes for under $500.

• Best All-Around: Leupold VX-3HD 3.5-10×40 CDS-ZL
• Best Budget: Vortex Crossfire II 3-9×40
• Best Lightweight: Maven CRS.1 3-12×40
• Best Throwback: Bushnell Elite 4500 2.5-10×40
• Best for Low-Light: Meopta MeoSport R 3-15×50
• Best Rimfire: Athlon Argos HMR 2-12×42
• Best First-Focal Plane: Sightmark Presidio 3-18×50 LR2
• Best Tactical: Sig Sauer Tango-MSR 1-10×28
• Best .223/.308: Hawke Vantage 30 WA 4-12×42

Best All-Around: Leupold VX-3HD 3.5-10×40 CDS-ZL

Leupold

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Why It Made the Cut

Tough, reliable, simple, and versatile, the bright VX-3HD is as useful on a precision rimfire as it is mounted on a high-end sheep rifle. The duplex reticle is fast, and minimal controls means fewer moving parts to fail over time or in duress.

Key Features 

• Weight: 13.1 ounces
• Magnification Range: 3.5-10-power
• Objective Lens Diameter: 40mm
• Tube Diameter: 1-inch
• Turret Click Values: 0.25 MOA
• Reticle Focal Plane: Second
• Illuminated Reticle: No

Pros

• Liberal mounting dimensions
• Duplex reticle aids fast aiming
• Push-button locking elevation turret
• Customers can order ballistic-specific elevation dial
• Premium glass and coatings
• Excellent low-light performance

Cons

• Duplex reticle not suited for long-range holdover shots
• Parallax fixed at 100 yards
• Turret clicks are mushy

Product Description

An American classic, the VX-3HD is extremely versatile and one of the best rifle scopes in this review. I have different iterations of this 1-inch model on a half-dozen different rifles, and in each instance, the scope is reliable and durable. It performs the simple, single task that we require of a rifle scope: It guides our bullet to the target, consistently and with style. The shortcomings of this scope are that it doesn’t have elaborate hold-over references, so it’s not a great choice for long-distance hunters.

For shooters and hunters who want to increase the range and capability of this accessible scope, consider buying a custom CDS elevation dial that conforms to the specific bullet dynamics of your pet load. With that addition—free for the first dial and $80 for additional dials—this simple scope can give shooters and hunters a boost in mid-distance precision. But even with the standard dial, this is a bright, simple, and extremely versatile optic.

Best Budget: Vortex Crossfire II 3-9×40

Vortex

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Why It Made the Cut

A very affordable scope, this simple optic has just enough windage and elevation references to give shooters the tools to make precise mid-distance shots.

Key Features 

• Weight: 14.8 ounces
• Magnification Range: 3-9-power
• Objective Lens Diameter: 40mm
• Tube Diameter: 1-inch
• Turret Click Values: 0.25 MOA
• Reticle Focal Plane: Second
• Illuminated Reticle: No

Pros

• Accessibly priced
• Generous mounting dimensions
• Parallax fixed at 100 yards
• Large eyebox
• Excellent warranty

Cons

• Substandard glass
• Parallax fixed at 100 yards
• Mushy controls

Product Description

A bare-bones, do-everything rifle scope, this entry-level Vortex can guide bullets capably and consistently. Highlights include a handful of references on the horizontal stadia—for windage holds—and four holdover references on the vertical stadia. These simple hashes in the second-plane duplex reticle allow shooters a measure of precision in a platform that’s really built for speed, meaning it gives shooters the capability of making a fairly accurate shot in short order.

Besides the very appealing price, the element that recommends this 1-inch scope to this roundup is its excellent lifetime, fully transferable warranty. So even if this scope fails in its promise to guide your bullet with consistent precision, you can probably replace it with little liability. But my guess is that it will give shooters years of reliable service.

Best Lightweight: Maven CRS.1 3-12×40

Maven

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Why It Made the Cut

With a winning combination of optical quality, athletic build, and accessible price, this charming scope has throwback attributes of reliability, simplicity, and durability. It’s not a precision optic; instead, it’s a contemporary classic that can perform several tasks adequately.

Key Features 

• Weight: 14.2 ounces
• Magnification Range: 3-12-power
• Objective Lens Diameter: 40mm
• Tube Diameter: 1-inch
• Turret Click Values: 0.25 MOA
• Reticle Focal Plane: Second
• Illuminated Reticle: No

Pros

• Light and compact
• Parallax fixed at 100 yards

Cons

• Fixed parallax limits long-range work
• Bold styling too blingy for some hunters

Product Description

A stylish, no-frills scope from a direct-to-consumer brand, the CRS.1 is the bare-boned version of a new Maven platform. If you want side focus and a little more magnification, consider the 4-16×44 CRS.2, which also costs $100 more. For those who want to minimize moving parts but still have a bright, simple aiming aid, the CRS.1 offers a ton of mounting dimension on its 1-inch tube, responsive turrets tuned to ¼ MOA click values under protective caps, and a velvety power-changing dial that has just enough bling to add some pizazz to your rifle. 

To my eye, this is a perfect companion to a flat-shooting ultralight mountain rifle and a hunter who intends to get within range to hold right on the target with the center of the classic German 4 reticle. But in case you need some holdover references for mid-distance shots, the CRS.1 provides three hashes that should get you on target out to 500 or 600 yards.

Best Throwback: Bushnell Elite 4500 2.5-10×40

Bushnell

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Why It Made the Cut

A bare-bones scope built on a 30mm tube with good glass and decent controls, this Bushnell is compatible with just about any general-purpose firearm, including lever guns and muzzleloaders.

Key Features 

• Weight: 19.7 ounces
• Magnification Range: 2.5-10-power
• Objective Lens Diameter: 40mm
• Tube Diameter: 30mm
• Turret Click Values: 0.25 MOA
• Reticle Focal Plane: Second
• Illuminated Reticle: No

Pros

• Appealing price
• 30mm tube provides wide adjustment range
• Duplex reticle delivers fast aiming
• Excellent optical coatings
• Ample 4.3-inch eye relief

Cons

• Underwhelming glass
• Lack of illumination limits utility

Product Description

In your father’s age, the standard variable-power scope configuration was 3-9×40. With a slightly wider magnification range, a beefier tube, and Bushnell’s excellent coatings, the Elite 4500 can be considered as a capable upgrade to the classic.

The Elite 4500 has more positive and responsive turret controls than many of its peers, and the glass is adequate for most near- and mid-range shooting tasks. Its greatest attribute may be its versatility; with the Multi-X reticle of our sample, the Elite 4500 is a suitable companion to just about any rimfire or traditional centerfire rifle, but its capability can extend to lever guns, slug guns, and even muzzleloaders, where magnified optics are allowed.

Best for Low-Light: Meopta MeoSport R 3-15×50

Meopta

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Why It Made the Cut

For the same price you might pay for a stripped-down rifle scope, Meopta offers a larger objective lens, side focus, and pin-point illumination. The cumulative effect is performance that you might expect in a scope costing twice as much.

Key Features 

• Weight: 23.1 ounces
• Magnification Range: 3-15-power
• Objective Lens Diameter: 50mm
• Tube Diameter: 30mm
• Turret Click Values: 1 centimeter/100 yards
• Reticle Focal Plane: Second
• Illuminated Reticle: Yes

Pros

• Excellent glass for the money
• Best-in-class low-light performance
• Expansive 90 MOA internal adjustment
• Exposed pull-to-turn turrets
• 10-yards-to-infinity focus
• 30mm mounting rings included

Cons

• Some shooters want covered turrets
• Duplex reticle overly simple

Product Description

This excellent Meopta scope does just about anything you’d ask of a basic scope. It has a wide magnification range and very good glass and coatings. Its re-zeroable pull-to-turn exposed turrets turn without fuss or slop, and its center-point illumination and excellent side focus give it a range of utility that punches way above its pay grade.

The side focus, which brings targets from 10 yards to infinity into crisp focus, makes this a scope to consider for rimfire precision shooting matches, where targets can range from close-in to way-out. The 30mm tube adds a touch of European sophistication, and the 50mm objective lens soaks up light like a sponge. The MeoSport R is a little heavy, but its wide utility makes it one of the best rifle scopes under $500 for low-light conditions.

Best for Rimfires: Athlon Argos HMR 2-12×42

Athlon

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Why It Made the Cut

Packed with features, including illumination, side focus, and responsive turrets, the Athlon is at home on just about any centerfire rifle, but with the BDC reticle, it makes a very effective precision rimfire scope.

Key Features 

• Weight: 19.8 ounces
• Magnification Range: 2-12-power
• Objective Lens Diameter: 42mm
• Tube Diameter: 1-inch
• Turret Click Values: 0.25 MOA
• Reticle Focal Plane: Second
• Illuminated Reticle: Yes

Pros

• Versatile magnification range
• Illuminated reticle
• Side focus
• Capped turrets
• Good warranty

Cons

• Underwhelming glass
• Controls are mushy
• Limited mounting dimensions

Product Description

Similar to Meopta’s capable MeoSport, the Athlon has more features than most scopes at this price point. Its best attribute is side parallax control that brings targets as close as 10 yards into sharp focus, a feature that’s useful for rimfire shooters who are often engaging close-in and far-out targets. The illumination is also worth a look. The second-plane scope is available with a standard duplex reticle, but opt for the BDC 600A reticle, which gives shooters holdover hashes out to 600 yards when the scope is on its highest power. The glass in the Argos HMR isn’t the best, but for most shooting situations it will provide a decent image and capably guide bullets of just about any caliber.

Best First-Focal Plane: Sightmark Presidio 3-18×50 LR2

Sightmark

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Why It Made the Cut

The rare long-distance precision scope that retails for under $500, this feature-packed option from Sightmark will get shooters of just about any budget ringing distant steel.

Key Features 

• Weight: 30.8 ounces
• Magnification Range: 3-18-power
• Objective Lens Diameter: 50mm
• Tube Diameter: 30mm
• Turret Click Values: 0.1 MRAD
• Reticle Focal Plane: First
• Illuminated Reticle: Yes

Pros

• First-plane tree-style reticle
• Exposed tactical-style turrets
• Throw lever
• Zero stop
• 6-step illumination
• 25 mils of internal adjustment

Cons

• Disappointing optics
• Very stiff controls
• Limited warranty

Product Description

Shooters of limited financial means should give their attention to this full-featured precision scope from Sightmark that retails for around $400. The Presidio has everything that the major brands offer shooters, from a very capable first-plane reticle with plenty of elevation and windage references, oversized exposed turrets to make field adjustments easy, and a zero-stop that allows shooters to return to their zero without tools. Other noteworthy features include a 15-yards-to-infinity focus, 6-step illumination, and a throw lever to make magnification changes easy. How does Sightmark deliver so much utility for such an accessible price? The glass is flinty and shows lots of optical aberrations. You can expect to get some flaring and peripheral distortion. However, the center of the lens—where most shooters spend most of their time—is clear and sharp. In a field with mostly second-plane, hunting-style scopes, this is a full-featured standout.

Best Tactical: Sig Sauer Tango-MSR 1-10×28

Sig Sauer

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Why It Made the Cut

You might have to hunt a bit to find this one for under $500, but for a scope that offers excellent close-in and precision aiming and mates up with just about any Modern Sporting Rifle, this battle-worthy optic has lots of utility.

Key Features 

• Weight: 20.4 ounces
• Magnification Range: 1-10-power
• Objective Lens Diameter: 28mm
• Tube Diameter: 34mm
• Turret Click Values: 0.5 MOA
• Reticle Focal Plane: Second
• Illuminated Reticle: Yes

Pros

• Monster magnification range
• 100 MOA internal adjustment
• Daylight-bright reticle
• 11-illumination settings
• References for long-distance work
• Mates with any 34mm unimount

Cons

• Second-plane reticle limits utility
• 34mm tube is bulky

Product Description

When we got this sample, its retail price was quoted at right at $500. It’s gone up in price since, but it makes an appearance in this roundup because it offers so much utility for a reasonable price. Configured for Modern Sporting Rifle platforms (hence, the MSR in its name), the Tango can engage targets at extremely close range, especially with the illuminated half-horseshoe reticle providing a fast aiming point, almost like a red-dot optic.

But what gives the Sig added value is the tree-style reticle that offers six holdover references and windage holds. When tuned to the trajectory of a standard .223 or .308 load, the Tango lets shooters move from personal-defense work out to mid-distance precision shooting. The 11-step illumination is extremely useful, the platter-sized turrets are precise and easy to turn, and the throw lever makes zooming from close-in magnifications to 10-power a cinch, even with gloves.

Best for Mid-Distance .223 and .308 Rifles: Hawke Vantage 30 WA 4-12×42

Hawke Sport Optics

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Why It Made the Cut

Light, bright, affordable, and with a second-plane reticle tuned to the trajectory of standard .223/.308 loads, this scope gets shooters and hunters into mid-distance precision without a lot of cost or fuss.

Key Features 

• Weight: 19.9 ounces
• Magnification Range: 4-12-power
• Objective Lens Diameter: 42mm
• Tube Diameter: 30mm
• Turret Click Values: 0.25 MOA
• Reticle Focal Plane: Second
• Illuminated Reticle: Yes, red and green

Pros

• Holdover references tuned to standard loads
• 130 MOA internal adjustment range
• Wide-angle optics
• Exposed tactical turret option
• Lightweight

Cons

• Turrets can turn inadvertently
• Reticle utility is limited

Product Description

This is a scope purpose-built for shooters who want to engage mid-distance targets with a minimum of adjustment. Instead of a first-plane reticle, with tons of elevation and windage references, Hawke’s “Marksman” reticle in the second plane offers aiming points that can step shooters out to 600 yards, using standard .308 and .223 loads. In order for the geometry of the reticle to work as designed, it must be ramped all the way up to 12-power, which is a lot of magnification for some shooters, but not nearly enough for the longest-distance steel target shooters. That “Goldilocks” nature of the Vantage is its defining feature. It’s just right for a number of tasks but not really perfect for either close-in or way-out shooting.

Still, the scope is light and nimble enough to fit a wide variety of rifle platforms, and the red-and-green illumination is bright and useful. The reticles are flinty but turn with assurance. In all, it’s a very capable rig that costs well under $400.

Things to Consider Before Buying a Rifle Scope Under $500

If you’re in the market for a rifle scope under $500, your first consideration is to make sure you’re not buying low-priced junk. I say that because some brands deliver scopes at this price point by stripping them of features and building them around sub-standard glass. The scopes in this roundup all have high-value elements, just maybe not all the features you’d expect on a scope costing twice as much.

Among the features you need to insist on at the $500 level: fully transferable lifetime warranties. You want to ensure that your investment is protected in case of some performance failure. Second, make sure it’s a scope that you can swap between firearms. The real value of this class is its versatility, and it’s nice to be able to move from hunting rifle to rimfire plinkster to slug gun.

FAQs

How I Picked the Best Rifle Scopes Under $500

Some of the scopes in this roundup are new for 2022 and were included in the rigorous evaluations of Outdoor Life’s annual optics test. For those, which include all but the Leupold VX3-HD and the Vortex Crossfire, I measured optical resolution on my resolution range, scored low-light performance against their peers, and measured the precision and repeatability of the reticle and turrets. For the Leupold and Vortex, I have been hunting and shooting with both scopes for several years, and base my evaluation of their merits on my significant time with them in the field.

But for each scope, I rate their ability to perform a series of shooting tasks, engaging targets at 20 yards, then at 100, and in 100-yard steps out to 600 yards. For each distance, I evaluate the reticle, image, and turret controls.

I also make a subjective determination of optical quality, looking for distortions, optical aberrations, and any distracting jags of light. And I determine how quickly and precisely I can use the reticle.

Lastly, I assessed the extras, including the accessories that it ships with and each submission’s warranty.

Final Thoughts

You don’t have to spend a ton of money to get a capable rifle scope. The best rifle scopes under $500 in this roundup all have good glass, capable controls, and reticles that can place bullets from close to pretty far. They may not have all the elaborate references of a precision scope, or the battle-proven turrets of extreme tactical optics, but these should provide years of service for hunters and target shooters alike.

The best aspect is that these scopes are so utilitarian that you can easily swap them from one firearm to the other, which to my mind is the very definition of versatile.

The post The Best Rifle Scopes Under $500 of 2023 appeared first on Outdoor Life.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Best High-End		Leica Amplus 6 3-18x44i	SEE IT
Most Versatile		Riton X3 Primal 3-15×44	SEE IT
Best Lightweight		Maven CRS.1 3-12×40	SEE IT

Because every deer hunt is unique in its details, a single rifle scope that can cover the close-in terrain of a Midwest whitetail hunt and precisely place a bullet across the open plains of mule deer country is a unicorn. The fast reticles and bright glass of woodland whitetail hunters won’t do for prairie mule deer hunters, who want precision reticles and lightweight scopes.

Given the divergent needs of America’s deer hunters, we’ve divided our group into two classes, those configured for classic whitetail hunting situations and those engineered to make long shots in challenging terrain. Each scope in this roundup has features that elevate it above its peers. For some, that’s best-in-class glass, for others, it’s extremely useful reticles. The rest have a combination of optics and controls that will increase your success during deer season no matter where or how you hunt. Here are the best rifle scopes for deer hunting from the Outdoor Life 2022 optics test. 

• Best High-End: Leica Amplus 6 3-18x44i
• Best First-Plane: Trijicon Tenmile HX 3-18×44
• Best for Low-Light: GPO Spectra 7.5x50i
• Best Mule Deer Scope: Tract Toric Ultra HD 2.5-15×44
• Most Versatile: Riton X3 Primal 3-15×44
• Best Lightweight: Maven CRS.1 3-12×40
• Best for Blacktail: Leupold Patrol 6HD 1-6×24
• Best for Low-Light (Whitetail): Meopta MeoSport R 3-15×50 RD
• Best Budget: Hawke Vantage 30 WA IR 2.5-10×50
• Best for Big-Woods: Primary Arms PLX Compact 1-8×24
• Best for Treestands: Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8×24
• Best Throwback: Bushnell Elite 4500 2.5-10×40

Western Deer Rifle Scopes

Open-country deer hunters have specific requirements in a rifle scope. They want it to be light enough to carry for miles over rugged country. They want it to be fast, in case the buck of a lifetime busts out of a coulee before they can range distance and dial the turrets. And they want plenty of reticle references to place precise shots over longish distances. These five scopes have attributes that will put the muley or Coues deer of a lifetime on the wall. And they’re pretty good for antelope and Western predator hunting, too.

Best High-End: Leica Amplus 6 3-18x44i

Leica

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Why It Made the Cut

Built around Leica’s legendary bright and crisp glass, the Amplus 6’s reticle and controls make this an essential deer hunting scope. The hash reticle offers 20 MOA of elevation and windage references, and the exposed turret makes dialing for distant hits fast and simple.

Key Features

• Weight: 23.6 ounces
• Magnification: 3-18X
• Objective Lens Diameter: 44mm
• Tube Diameter: 30mm
• Reticle Type: MOA hash in second plane
• Turrets: .25 MOA click values
• Illumination: Yes, 10 intensity levels
• Parallax: Yes

Pros

• Available in MOA or MRAD versions
• European style
• Excellent glass and coatings
• Precise parallax focus
• Abundant elevation and windage references
• Capped windage turret
• Center-point illumination

Cons

• Matte finish shows mars
• Busy reticle obscures view

Product Description

An elegant, extremely useful rifle scope, Leica’s Amplus line combines European glass and styling with precise reticle and turret combinations. Our sample was tuned to MOA references, but Leica also has a mil-based version of the Amplus. The scope is also available in higher magnification ranges (all are in the 6X zoom range, hence the 6 in the Amplus name) and larger objective lenses, but our relatively lightweight 3-18×44 is just about perfect for a Western deer rifle. The ability to re-zero the elevation turret without tools is a great feature, and the turrets turn with positivity and precision.

The reticle gets mixed reviews. Long-distance precision shooters will love the 20 MOA of elevation and windage hashes, but hunters used to clean, clutter-free reticles will complain that it’s overly busy and image-obscuring. Either way, the illuminated center aiming point can be muted or daylight-bright, depending on light conditions. It’s not cheap, but this is an heirloom-quality deer hunting optic.

Best First-Plane: Trijicon Tenmile HX 3-18×44

Trijicon

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Why It Made the Cut

A true crossover hunting/target scope, the Tenmile HX and its first-plane reticle will dominate just about any mid- to long-distance shooting situation.

Key Features 

• Weight: 24.4 ounces
• Magnification: 3-18X
• Objective Lens Diameter: 44mm
• Tube Diameter: 30mm
• Reticle Type: MOA hash/dot in first plane
• Turrets: .25 MOA click values
• Illumination: Yes, red and green
• Parallax: Yes

Pros

• Liberal mounting dimensions
• Precise first-plane reticle
• Exposed re-zeroable elevation turret
• Capped windage turret
• 15 yards to infinity parallax focus
• Low-profile mounting
• Ships with integral lens caps

Cons

• Busy reticle for holdover shooters
• Exposed turrets can inadvertently turn
• Pricey

Product Description

We debated whether to put this very capable 30mm scope in our precision or our versatile scope categories. That’s how much of a fence-rider this optic is, between a full-on steel-ringer for long-distance target shooters and walk-about Western hunters. Our best description of its place in the market is that this is the perfect hunting optic for a shooter who is familiar with first-plane reticles and turret dynamics of the long-distance target crowd but who wants a slim and capable hunting scope.

That describes an increasing number of Western deer hunters. They want all the precision aiming components of their big 5-25×56 target scopes with the portability of slim and nimble hunting scopes. The Trijicon satisfies both populations with a bright and precise scope that can cross over from long-range steel to open-country mule and Coues deer.

Best for Low-Light: GPO Spectra 7.5x50i

GPO

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Why It Made the Cut

A classic German configuration updated for Southwest Coues deer and open-country mule deer hunters, this simple fixed-power scope places bullets with consistent precision and gathers light like few others in its class.

Key Features 

• Weight: 21.7 ounces
• Magnification: 7.5X
• Objective Lens Diameter: 50mm
• Tube Diameter: 30mm
• Reticle Type: German 4 duplex in second plane
• Turrets: .1 milliradian
• Illumination: Yes, red center-point
• Parallax: No

Pros

• Extremely simple aiming dynamics
• Infinitely adjustable illumination
• Durable
• Fast aiming platform
• Turrets move with repeatable precision
• Fixed power increases brightness

Cons

• Fixed power limits utility
• Limited reticle references

Product Description

An extremely capable modern variation on a classic fixed-power hunting scope, the GPO Spectra cuts out all the nonsense of reticle references and turret dialing. This is a bright, durable fixed-power 7.5, a perfect pairing with a flat-shooting bolt rifle when you want to concentrate on hunting, not fiddling with your scope.

The glass is very good, the center-point illumination extremely variable, and the turrets turn with repeatable precision. For hunters who want to concentrate on making short- to mid-distance shots every time, this is a good choice. Extreme long-range hunters and shooters may want more focal control, a more sophisticated reticle, and tactical turrets. But for the rest of us, this is a very capable close- to mid-range scope that performs best in low-light hunting scenarios. It’s nice to see this style of scope back in the American marketplace.

Best Mule Deer Scope: Tract Toric Ultra HD 2.5-15×44

Tract Optics

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Why It Made the Cut

The most capable cross-over target-to-hunting rifle scope in this year’s Outdoor Life optics test is a bright, tight, and precise first-plane scope that can reach out for both distant steel targets and open-country deer.

Key Features 

• Weight: 28.3 ounces
• Magnification: 2.5-15X
• Objective Lens Diameter: 44mm
• Tube Diameter: 30mm
• Reticle Type: Hash-style in first focal plane
• Turrets: .1 milliradian
• Illumination: No
• Parallax: Yes, 10 yards to infinity

Pros

• Wonderfully responsive turret clicks
• First-plane reticle rare in this configuration
• Bright, distortion-free Schott glass
• Capped windage turret
• Versatile first-plane reticle
• Wide parallax range
• Handsome graphite finish

Cons

• Reticle utility begins at about 5X
• Needs clear center aiming point
• Illumination would help with close-in aiming

Product Description

The top cross-over scope of 2023, this bright and tactile first-plane hunting scope can put Western deer hunters on target out to 500 yards and beyond, depending on how familiar they are with reticle references. The robust pull-to-turn elevation turret and capped windage turret are both tuned to .1 MRAD click values, and the hash-style reticle offers 10 mils of drop and 8 mils of windage hold on either side of the non-distinct center aiming point.

This Tract Toric is a relatively light scope with abundant mounting options, making it a good pairing for a long-range hunting rig or even for many flat-shooting ultralight hunting rifles. Surprisingly, it’s also an excellent precision rimfire optic, with close-focus to 10 yards and a capable first-plane hash-style reticle that can put shooters on target at a wide range of magnifications and distances.

Most Versatile: Riton X3 Primal 3-15×44

Riton

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Why It Made the Cut

A basic scope with just enough attributes to appeal to precision shooters, this is a scope that you can swap between platforms and seasons.

Key Features 

• Weight: 24.8 ounces
• Magnification: 3-15X
• Objective Lens Diameter: 44mm
• Tube Diameter: 30mm
• Reticle Type: Hash-style in second plane
• Turrets: .25 MOA
• Illumination: No
• Parallax: Yes, 15 yards to infinity

Pros

• Capped, zero-resettable turrets
• Removable throw lever on magnification ring
• Versatile PDTR reticle
• Magnification range suited to open-country hunting
• Decent mid- to long-range target scope
• 25 MOA of holdover references

Cons

• Mild peripheral distortion
• Could use distance wind references

Product Description

A basic but versatile scope built around a clean second-plane reticle that enables hunters to make longish holdover shots, the Riton X3 Primal can also do solid work on mid-distance steel and most precision rimfire courses of fire. As befits an optic that expects to see rough country, the re-zeroable turrets are capped. But the fast and precise hash-style reticle, which has 25 MOA of elevation holds and 15 MOA of windage holds on either side of the center aiming dot, is designed for hunters who don’t have time to dial the turrets for an aiming solution. Pronghorn antelope, broken-country elk, mule deer just about anywhere, Coues deer, and even Western coyote hunters can benefit from the simple efficiency of this scope.

Deficiencies include slightly squinty glass that lost light before its 44mm peers and lack of illumination. I’m not sure that latter point is a demerit; I’ve rarely used an illuminated reticle in hunting situations.

Whitetail Deer Rifle Scopes

I’m guilty of a gross generalization here, but the woodland and farm-country deer hunter wants a rifle scope that delivers good low-light performance and can assist with fast shooting. Big, exposed tactical turrets don’t belong here, and neither do complicated reticles. These seven scopes all have some combination of optical superiority and fast aiming.

Best Lightweight: Maven CRS.1 3-12×40

Maven

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Why It Made the Cut

While this charming little scope has plenty of attributes for a mountain hunter—light weight, bright glass, with just enough reticle references for mid-range work—it’s actually a wonderful whitetail scope. I’d stick with the CRS.1 for the widest utility, but if you want a little more magnification plus parallax focus, then go with the 4-16×44 CRS.2, which costs an extra $100.

Key Features 

• Weight: 14.2 ounces
• Magnification Range: 3-12X
• Objective Lens Diameter: 40mm
• Tube Diameter: 1-inch
• Turret Click Values: .25 MOA
• Reticle Focal Plane: Second
• Illuminated Reticle: No

Pros

• Light and compact
• Parallax fixed at 100 yards

Cons

• Fixed parallax limits long-range work
• Bold styling too blingy for some hunters

Product Description

A stylish, no-frills scope from a direct-to-consumer brand, the CRS.1 is the bare-boned version of a new Maven platform. If you want side focus and a little more magnification, consider the 4-16×44 CRS.2, but most whitetail hunters want a simple, durable, versatile scope, and the CRS.1 is just the ticket. The CRS.1 offers a ton of mounting dimension on its 1-inch tube, responsive turrets tuned to ¼ MOA click values under protective caps, and a velvety power-changing dial, and just enough bling to add some pizazz to your rifle. It’s also one of the best rifle scopes under $500.

To my eye, this is a perfect companion to a flat-shooting ultralight mountain rifle for a hunter who intends to get within range to hold right on the target with the center of the classic German 4 reticle. But in case you need some holdover references for mid-distance shots, the CRS.1 provides three hashes that should get you on target out to 500 or 600 yards. In other words, you can still make that long shot across the bean field at that whitetail of a lifetime.

Best for Blacktail: Leupold Patrol 6HD 1-6×24

Leupold

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Why It Made the Cut

This scope isn’t really intended for deer hunting. It’s designed for a wide range of firearms: AR platforms, or maybe dangerous-game rifles in Africa’s thickest thornbush, or even straight-wall lever guns. But its combination of low magnification, bright glass, and a laser-sharp illuminated aiming point make it an ideal treestand or whitetail brush scope.

Key Features 

• Weight: 16.2 ounces
• Magnification: 1-6X
• Objective Lens Diameter: 28mm
• Tube Diameter: 30mm
• Reticle Type: Duplex in second plane
• Turrets: .25 MOA
• Illumination: Yes, 8-step intensity
• Parallax: No

Pros

• Extremely light weight
• Fast and open duplex reticle
• Durable
• Smart illumination system
• Excellent glass and coatings

Cons

• Not a precision scope
• Limited distance utility

Product Description

Let’s start with what the Leupold Patrol 6HD is not. It’s not a precision scope. It won’t help you win long-range steel-target competitions or even precision rimfire matches. But it’s one of the best of a new generation of low-power variable optics that can absolutely put venison in your freezer. Paired with a straight-wall lever gun or an AR, a slug gun, or just about any centerfire rifle, this is a workhorse of an optic that enables fast shots, quick follow-ups, and decent performance at the first and last light of the day. 

The low-profile push-button center-point (that’s a lot of hyphenated terms) illumination is one of the Leupold’s best features. It’s dimmable for low-light conditions and can intensify to bright visibility in full sunshine. If you want to increase the utility of this platform, consider a custom elevation dial tuned to the ballistics of your favorite load. Otherwise, go with the out-of-box talent of this durable, athletic, and versatile scope.

Best for Low-Light (Whitetail): Meopta MeoSport R 3-15×50 RD

Meopta

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Why It Made the Cut

A scope designed for the German “hochsitz,” or high stands used by shooters in driven-game hunts, this scope’s low-light performance makes it a great choice for whitetail hunters who need to connect in the very first and last light of day.

Key Features 

• Weight: 23.1 ounces
• Magnification Range: 3-15X
• Objective Lens Diameter: 50mm
• Tube Diameter: 30mm
• Turret Click Values: 1 centimeter/100 yards
• Reticle Focal Plane: Second
• Illuminated Reticle: Yes

Pros

• Excellent glass for the money
• Best-in-class low-light performance
• Expansive 90 MOA internal adjustment
• Exposed pull-to-turn turrets
• 10-yards-to-infinity focus
• 30mm mounting rings included

Cons

• Some shooters want covered turrets
• Duplex reticle overly simple

Product Description

An affordable, supremely versatile scope, the main asset for deer hunters of this Czech-made rifle scope is its low-light performance. The German 4 duplex reticle has been around since the original Mauser rifles were doing duty on behalf of the armies of the Reich, but Meopta has added a smart center aiming point that enables holds in just about any legal light conditions. To be sure, this isn’t a long-distance precision scope, but it’s not intended to be. Instead, it’s a light-hungry optic that can conjure game out of the gloam and enable confident shots with your best deer hunting rifles. It’s also one of the great bargains of this year’s Outdoor Life optics test.

Best Budget: Hawke Vantage 30 WA IR 2.5-10×50

Hawke Optics

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Why It Made the Cut

Bright, affordable, and extremely versatile, this scope won’t win long-distance shooting medals, but it will place bullets in deer country with confidence.

Key Features 

• Weight: 21.1 ounces
• Magnification Range: 2.5-10X
• Objective Lens Diameter: 50mm
• Tube Diameter: 30mm
• Turret Click Values: .25 MOA
• Reticle Focal Plane: Duplex in the second plane
• Illuminated Reticle: Yes, red and green center dot

Pros

• Simple aiming system
• Durable capped turrets
• Red and green center-dot illumination
• 60 MOA internal adjustment
• Extremely affordable

Cons

• No side focus
• Indistinct turret clicks
• Meh glass

Product Description

The Outdoor Life optics test team still doesn’t know how Hawke packs so much performance in such an affordable package. This is one of the best all-around scopes in the 2022 test. If it’s not built for long-distance (or even mid-distance) precision, it’s fast, bright, and nimble in many close-in and moderate distances. The best feature of the Vantage is the bold reticle with a precise, illuminated (red and green) center aiming point. We also like the low-light performance of the big 50mm objective lens.

The basic Vantage 30 WA is a good value, but if you want more mid- and longish-distance performance, consider the tactical version of this scope, with exposed high-profile turrets and a holdover reticle tuned to the ballistics of standard .223 and .308 loads. That version is maybe the ultimate deer scope.

Best for Big-Woods: Primary Arms PLX Compact 1-8×24

Primary Arms

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Why It Made the Cut

A personal-defense scope that can hold its own in ground-blind and treestand hunting situations, the Primary Arms is fast and surprisingly precise with the right loads.

Key Features 

• Weight: 16.9 ounces
• Magnification Range: 1-8X
• Objective Lens Diameter: 24mm
• Tube Diameter: 30mm
• Turret Click Values: .1 MIL
• Reticle Focal Plane: Open-horseshoe in first focal plane
• Illuminated Reticle: Yes

Pros

• Close-quarters illuminated reticle
• Reticle zooms out to offer precise aiming points
• Reticle tuned to 5.56/.308 ballistics
• Night-vision compatible
• Extremely light and bright
• Ultra-wide field of view
• Useful dovetail throw lever

Cons

• Expensive
• Limited low-light performance

Product Description

Along with the Leupold Patrol 6HD, this is a new breed of deer scope—a low-power variable optic with plenty of chops for close to mid-range hunting. The best feature of the Primary Arms PLX, which is really designed for use on personal-defense AR platforms, is its first-plane reticle that zooms from close-quarters 1-power out to reveal a very useful holdover reticle at 6- to 8-power. That reticle is tuned to the bullet drops of standard 5.56 and .308 loads. 

Combined with excellent illumination (which is compatible with night vision) and sharp and bright Japanese glass, this is a scope that can easily be swapped between deer rifles, slug guns, AR semi-autos, and even big-bore dangerous-game rifles. Don’t laugh, but at a shade over a pound, I wouldn’t be shy about mounting this to a sheep rifle, especially if my approach passed through bear country.

Best for Treestands: Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8×24

Vortex

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Why It Made the Cut

Along with the Primary Arms PLX, this is the leading edge of a new type of close-quarters deer scope that is a perfect match with a AR, slug gun, or straight-wall cartridge rifle.

Key Features 

• Weight: 23.9 ounces
• Magnification Range: 1-8X
• Objective Lens Diameter: 24mm
• Tube Diameter: 30mm
• Turret Click Values: .25 MOA
• Reticle Focal Plane: Open-horseshoe in first focal plane
• Illuminated Reticle: Yes

Pros 

• Wonderfully versatile illumination
• Reticle offers useful holdovers at higher magnifications
• Short stature fits carbine rifles
• Tons of internal adjustment for turret dialers
• Battle-hardened hardware
• VIP warranty

Cons

• Limited to short- to mid-distance shooting
• Not great low-light performance

Product Description

You can pretty much copy what we said about the Primary Arms PLX to recommend this wonderful close-quarters scope from Vortex. It has best-in-class rapid target acquisition inside 50 yards, but its first-plane reticle enlarges to reveal some sweet and useful aiming points that make it useful for 400-yard precision. This is really an AR scope that can engage targets inside houses and then place precise shots across a field. Those attributes make it great for Midwest whitetail hunters (or Canadian bear hunters) who expect to see game right under their stand but need to be prepared to take shots out across a clearing. Paired with any number of firearms platforms, this has very positive and precise controls, from turret clicks to the power-changing dial.

Best Throwback: Bushnell Elite 4500 2.5-10×40

Bushnell

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Why It Made the Cut

This is your father’s deer scope, with some sweet Gen Y updates. Simple, reliable, and fast, the Bushnell has the benefit of excellent coatings and decent glass.

Key Features 

• Weight: 19.7 ounces
• Magnification Range: 2.5-10X
• Objective Lens Diameter: 40mm
• Tube Diameter: 30mm
• Turret Click Values: .25 MOA
• Reticle Focal Plane: Second
• Illuminated Reticle: No

Pros

• Very appealing price
• 30mm tube provides wide adjustment range
• Duplex reticle delivers fast aiming
• Excellent optical coatings
• Ample 4.3-inch eye relief

Cons

• Underwhelming glass
• Lack of illumination limits utility

Product Description

This is one of the best rifle scopes for deer hunting for every shooting situation. Want to put a scope on your kid’s new .243, this will place bullets reliably. Want a durable scope for your old .300 Win. Mag.? This will get the job done. It’s a workaday scope without a ton of flash, but the Elite 4500 is a smart update from the durable Bushnells that owned the whitetail woods 20 years ago. 

The bold duplex reticle in the second focal plane is fast, and for those shooters who want to dial for distant shooting solutions, the capped turrets turn with precision and positivity. The glass is a little disappointing, owing to the Elite 4500’s placement as a budget scope, but unless you’re shooting in the very last feeble light of day, you’ll hardly notice.

Things to Consider Before Buying a Rifle Scope for Deer Hunting

Deer hunters don’t really need a ton of features in their rifle scopes. A clear and clean reticle that lets them place bullets quickly and with mid-range precision. A bombproof build that will endure the hardships of the field. And versatility that will help hunters succeed in the deep woods or the open fields where you’ll find deer everywhere. That’s about it.

If deer are similar in their habits across their range, hunting styles differ by geography and species. The needs of an Eastern whitetail hunter (or Cascades blacktail hunter) are vastly different from those of an open-country Western mule deer or Coues deer hunter. For the former, fast reticles and the ability to make quick, reactive shots inside 100 yards are key. For the latter, lightweight builds that offer plenty of reticle references will enable shots that can stretch out to 400 and 500 yards will put bucks on the pole.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Just as no two deer hunts are the same, no two deer hunters will have the same needs for their rifle scopes. But the requirements for an Eastern or Midwestern deer hunter are so wildly different than those of their Western brethren that we divided this class in half, with scopes for Western hunters showing their long-distance precision capabilities, and those for woodland hunters having simpler reticles and fast, intuitive builds.

You may want a scope that splits the difference and offers a reticle that zooms from close-in visibility to mid-distance precision. We have a few low-power variable scopes in this mix that you should consider. And for those who want a scope that can reach way out to a distant buck and serve as a long-range target scope, consider the first-plane, tactical-turret models in this group. Regardless of your tactics or where you hunt deer, you’ll have no problem finding one of the best rifle scopes for deer hunting in these capable contenders.

Methodology 

Some of the scopes in this roundup are new for 2022 and were included in the rigorous evaluations of Outdoor Life’s annual optics test. For those, which include all but the Leica Amplus 6, I measured optical resolution on my resolution range, scored low-light performance against their peers, and measured the precision and repeatability of the reticle and turrets. I based my perspectives of the Leica’s merits on a rugged year of field work

But for each scope, I rate their ability to perform a series of shooting tasks, engaging targets at 20 yards, then at 100, and in 100-yard steps out to 600 yards. For each distance, I evaluate the reticle, image, and turret controls. I lugged all these scopes into a ladder stand and evaluated their abilities to make quick snap shots at close ranges.

For each, I make a subjective determination of optical quality, looking for distortions, optical aberrations, and any distracting jags of light. And I determine how quickly and precisely I can use the reticle.

Lastly, I assessed the extras, including the accessories that it ships with and each submission’s warranty.

The post The Best Rifle Scopes for Deer Hunting of 2023 appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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Best Overall		EOTECH EXPS3	SEE IT
Best for Competition		Vortex UH-1 Gen II	SEE IT
Best Magnifier		EOTECH G43	SEE IT

Finding a holographic sight that best suits your needs depends on your intent with your rifle or carbine. As a firearms instructor for Fieldcraft Survival, I travel the country and see shooters from all walks of life training with holographic sights. Many of my students just hit the range to shoot and learn new techniques, but the majority of Fieldcraft’s clientele either carry a gun to work or for self-defense. With this goal in mind, users should discern whether their equipment is reliable and durable enough to perform when they need it.

Holographic sights are a dramatic improvement over traditional iron sights, and they allow you to incorporate other capabilities like magnification or night vision. Selecting the correct sight from the get-go will not only save you headaches in training, but it can save you money in the long run. Take the time to think through what you need your carbine to accomplish and select a holographic sight that supports that mission.  Below is a list of the best holographic sights I’ve used during my career in law enforcement and as a shooting instructor, and I wouldn’t hesitate to depend on any of them during patrol or a day at the range.

• Best Overall: EOTECH EXPS3
• Best for Competition: Vortex UH-1 Gen II
• Best Magnifier: EOTECH G43
• Best Budget: Holosun AEMS
• Best for Beginners: EOTECH 552
• Best Used Buy: Leupold LCO

Best Overall: EOTECH EXPS3

EOTECH

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Why It Made the Cut

The extremely durable EOTECH EXPS3 pairs well with both night vision and magnifiers, thanks to its intuitive side-mounted controls. With a large field-of-view, aluminum protective hood, and 7mm raised, quick detach base, the EXPS3 offers a great heads-up display for two-eyes-open shooting.

Key Features

• Night vision compatible
• Water resistant
• 30 brightness settings
• 1,000-hour battery life
• Operates in temps from -40 to 140 degrees
• Parallax free

Pros

• Extremely rugged
• Three reticle options
• Standard and night vision modes
• Quick-detach lever

Cons

• Expensive
• Lacks the battery life of other competitors

Product Description

I’ve been using the EOTECH EXPS3 as my primary duty optic since 2018. Whether bouncing around the front seat of my vehicle on fugitive apprehensions or on SWAT callouts during Colorado blizzards, both EXPS3 sights I’ve used perform almost flawlessly.

Featuring an aluminum hood to protect the sight from impact damage, the EXPS3 attaches to your Picatinny rail via a crossbolt and quick-detach lever. The large window and full field of view reduces tunnel vision and allows two-eyes-open vision while shooting, with no protruding knobs or compartments to clutter your view.

This holographic sight offers three reticle options; the 1-Dot, 2-Dot and 4-Dot reticles. I prefer the 1-Dot and use the center 1 MOA dot for my 50/200 meter zero. One of my favorite features of the 1-Dot is the 68 MOA ring with lower hash mark, which you can use as your point of aim at seven yards. When I enter a structure, I instantly make the mental shift to use the bottom hash, which negates having to consider my height-over-bore offset when time is of the essence. While even the best holographic sights will exhibit some parallax, the EXPS3 comes as close as you can get to parallax free. And within short range distances, it’s non-existent.

Best for Competition: Vortex UH-1 Gen II

Vortex

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Why It Made the Cut

The second gen UH-1 remedies design flaws from the original, primarily replacing the internal battery with a CR123A and tool-less battery cap. Vortex also added night vision modes to the UH-1 Gen II and kept the huge field-of-view and clear glass from its predecessor.

Key Features

• Unlimited eye relief
• 1 MOA Dot
• Multiple anti-reflective coatings
• 15 brightness settings
• Parallax free

Pros

• Large field-of-view
• EBR-CQB reticle
• Dedicated night vision button
• Clear glass

Cons

• Night vision settings are slightly dim compared to competitors

Product Description

I’ve used the UH-1 Gen II on students’ guns at courses, and I have one on my 11.5-inch BCM carbine. While zeroing at 50 yards, I immediately noticed the enormous window and clear glass. Attached via an integrated quick release mount, the UH-1 includes a tool-less battery cap for its CR123A battery which runs the sight for 1,500 hours, slightly outperforming the EXPS3.

The reticle on the UH-1 is extremely bright and reminded me of other premium Vortex offerings like the Razor HD but with the added benefit of having the EBR-CQB holographic reticle. The EBR-CQB features a 1 MOA dot, with a 65 MOA outer circle for fast target acquisition. At the bottom of the outer circle there’s a CQB triangle, which gives you point of aim, point of impact at 10 yards, like the EOTECH EXPS3. With competition in mind, I started working target transitions and shooting while moving, and the UH-1 performed admirably at both.

I spent subsequent range days with the UH-1 under night vision. Passive aiming through the sight was easy thanks to the large field-of-view, but the settings were noticeably dimmer than its competitors. At times, the reticle appeared to wash out with ambient light present, which made accurate shots difficult. I have no reservations running the UH-1 at a two-gun match but prefer other options for a defensive carbine under night vision.

Best Magnifier: EOTECH G43

EOTECH

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Why It Made the Cut

Eotech’s venerable G33 magnifier has been miniaturized into the G43, reducing the overall length buy more than an inch. Without sacrificing magnification (3x), the G43 frees up rail space for backup iron sights or a secondary red dot sighting system.

Key Features

• Fixed 3x magnification
• Weight: 11.3 ounces
• Eye Relief: 2.5 inches
• Fog resistant internal optics
• Ambidextrous (adjustable for left and right-handed shooters)

Pros

• Fast transition from 1 to 3x
• Quick-detach lever
• Tool-less adjustments
• Adjustable diopter

Cons

• Carbon dirties the front lens of the magnifier when ran on the right side

Product Description

I ran the G33 magnifier behind my EXPS3 since I bought both in 2018 but since replaced it with the G43, which offers all the same great features with a reduced footprint. The 3x magnification makes 500-meter shots realistic for ARs, and the instant transition from 3x to 1x makes it the perfect accessory for a defensive carbine. This magnifier attaches via a quick-detach lever and has vertical and horizontal adjustments to center your sight’s reticle inside the magnifier. Once you center the reticle, it’s best to re-zero the holographic sight now that you have a more defined sight picture and point of aim. This prevents a perceived zero-shift when you transition between magnification settings. It also makes zeroing easier than when you shoot with your bare eye.

You can also attach the G43 to shift either right or left based on preference. I run my magnifiers to shift right so they don’t obscure my left eye while shooting but understand that this method places the magnifier behind the ejection port where carbon will coat the lens during high round count training sessions.  

Best Budget: Holosun AEMS

Holosun

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Why It Made the Cut

The solar failsafe and shake awake technology housed inside the 7075 aluminum of this Holosun sight make it a serious contender at an affordable price.

Key Features

• Motion On with last setting recall
• Solar-powered failsafe
• Multi-reticle system
• Shake Awake technology
• Lower 1/3 co-witness mount included

Pros

• Three reticle options
• Parallax free
• Solar and battery power
• IPX8 Submersion Rating
• Lightweight

Cons

• Not a true holographic sight

Product Description

For the past year I’ve used the 510C red dot sight on my truck gun. The 510C has been just as reliable as my other sights, but at a much lower price point. I recently swapped my 510C for an AEMS, which works even better for a bag gun. For under $400 the AEMS provides shooters on a budget a reliable and robust open reflex sight.

The AEMS comes out of the box with a lower 1/3 co-witness mount, clear flip-down lens covers, and has an amazing 50,000-hour battery life with a single CR2032. The Solar Failsafe function keeps the battery running from solar power in adequate light conditions. The AEMS’s Multi-Reticle System allows you to cycle through three reticle options (2 MOA dot, 65 MOA circle, Circle-Dot). Despite not being a true holographic sight, the AEMS is one of the best red dot sights for those on a budget, and the battery life alone makes this a reliable and affordable option.

Best for Beginners: EOTECH 552

EOTECH

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Why It Made the Cut

With its user-friendly design and ubiquitous AA battery, the 552 is one of the best holographic sights for beginners, and it provides users with a durable and night vision compatible optic at a cheaper price point than the EXPS3.

Key Features

• Night vision compatible
• EOTECH One Dot Reticle
• Runs on two AA Batteries
• 1-inch Weaver or MIL-STD 1913 rail mount
• 20 daylight settings/ 10 night vision settings

Pros

• Batteries widely available
• Snag-proof design
• Robust aluminum hood
• Large windage/elevation adjustments

Cons

• Rear controls difficult to use with magnifier

Product Description

The 552 has been a mainstay of EOTECH’s holographic sight line-up for years. I specifically bought this sight for my father due to its simplicity. I also own a 552, due to the global availability of the AA battery, which is a popular feature for those working overseas or doomsday preppers alike.

The 552’s ample brightness settings and night vision compatibility are on par with EOTECH’s most recent models, and the battery compartment is even easier to access than the CR123A compartments on the EXPS series. The 552 also features the same robust aluminum hood and internal adjustment knobs to keep your view less cluttered, along with the popular EOTECH reticle and universal attachment rail.

While earlier models of the 552 exhibited parallax or significant thermal drift in extreme hot or cold temperatures before 2016, EOTECH has long since remedied these issues, and you can expect this optic to perform without skipping a beat.

Best Used Buy: Leupold LCO

Leupold

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Why It Made the Cut

With a lifetime guarantee, aircraft-grade aluminum housing, and an open field of view, this sight offers greater light transmission and clarity than most of its competitors.

Key Features

• Second focal plane
• Motion sensor technology
• Night vision compatible
• Waterproof

Pros

• 1 MOA dot
• Wide field of view
• Motion sensor technology preserves battery
• Clear glass

Cons

• Discontinued
• Not a true holographic sight

Product Description

Like their best rifle scopes, Leupold’s other optics possess solid glass quality. I’ve had the LCO on my Fieldcraft training carbine for the last year, and it has endured the abuse of travel, inclement weather, and heavy use during demonstrations. You turn on the LCO by pressing the power button on the center of the illumination dial and adjust it by turning the dial in either direction. But when the sight doesn’t detect motion for more than 15 minutes, the LCO switches to sleep mode and immediately fires up when any motion is detected.

The first thing I noticed about the LCO is the glass clarity and precise dot size. To top it off, Leupold uses a DiamondCoat scratch resistant lens and blackened lens edges, which helps ensure that the LCO maintains that clarity in harsh conditions. This is another option that isn’t a true holographic sight, but its glass clarity and dot brightness put it in conversation with the Vortex UH-1 and EOTECH EXPS3 (if you can find one).

Things to Consider Before Buying a Holographic Sight

While budget plays a big role in choosing a holographic sight for your firearm, reticle design, battery life, and durability should also be at the forefront of your criteria. Whether you’re plinking, competing, or depending on your firearm for self-defense, buying cheap accessories leads to cheap results. High quality holographic sights are expensive, but it’s the interface between the firearm and shooter that you’re paying for, and it plays a major role in your accuracy and round accountability.   

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Remember, equipment is only part of the equation, and even the best rifles with the best holographic sights won’t mask poor performance. Proper training is paramount. No matter how hard you try, you cant buy proficiency, so find a reputable trainer and make sure you’re getting the most out of your optics.   

Methodology

For this review, I included options that I’ve either used on my personal firearms or had experience with during training. I evaluated these holographic sights based on durability, reticle design, battery life, night vision capabilities, and their compatibility with magnification.

The post The Best Holographic Sights of 2023 appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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We take optics seriously and review binoculars, spotting scopes, rangefinders, and rifle scopes each year at our optics test. We know good glass is expensive, but you can save serious money on binoculars from Maven, Zeiss, Steiner, Burris, and Bushnell during the final hours of Prime Day.

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The post Prime Day 2023 Binocular Deals: Maven, Zeiss, Steiner, and More appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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Maven makes great binoculars and spotting scopes for affordable prices and on Prime Day, they’re even more affordable. Several of their models have won awards at our annual optics test and one of those winners is on sale this Prime Day.

Maven Optics on Sale During Prime Day 2023

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Maven C1 10X42 is 25 percent off and now under $350.

The post Prime Day 2023: Maven Binoculars and CS.1 Spotting Scope appeared first on Outdoor Life.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Best Overall		Trijicon RMR Type 2	SEE IT	LEARN MORE	Summary Distinct features that set it apart from the rest of the field.
Most Versatile		Burris Fastfire 4	SEE IT	LEARN MORE	Summary The Swiss Army Knife of red dot sights.
Best Enclosed Emitter		Aimpoint ACRO P-2	SEE IT	LEARN MORE	Summary A rugged and reliable red dot.

Narrowing down a list of red dot sights is like determining the best flavor of ice cream. There are a ton of options out there. Most perform really well. Some are excellent. And, rarely, you’ll find a dud among the bunch.

I spent the last few months shooting and evaluating a host of red dots for this review. To help simplify things, I focused on red dots for handguns rather than open the field to those that are purpose-built for other firearms. Even with that fence around the project, it was an enormous undertaking. I’ll cover the Trijicon MRO, Bushnell Trophy TRS-25, Sig Sauer Romeo 5, and other red dot sights for carbines down the line.

One thing that’s clear is that the best red dot sights for you comes down to three main factors. First, what is your intended use? For recreational plinking at the range, it’s difficult to go wrong with any of the sights out there. But when your needs are more specific and demanding, the field narrows. For deep concealment, micro sights are the way to go, but they are more difficult to use than sights with wider windows. If you need your sight to endure extremely harsh environments, then you might need to choose an enclosed emitter unit, which tends to be a bit bulkier and more expensive than open emitters. If competing at a high level in shooting competitions is your thing, you won’t want to cut corners on objective lens size, dot sharpness, and other features.

This dovetails into the second factor, which is your budget. You can pick up a reasonable sight for about $100 or so, including one to mount on a defensive pistol that you’re counting on to potentially save your life. But as you spend more, you’ll get better feature sets, improved quality, and more sophisticated engineering. While you can spend more than $400 on a red dot—and some of the best run in that $400 to $600 range—there are a lot of great sights to be had between $300 and $400.

Lastly, there’s the X-factor of what looks cool to you. As the saying goes, what separates humans from the rest of the animal kingdom is our ability to accessorize. And when we add something new to any of our guns, most of us want it to look good. By that yardstick, some of the best red dot sights have a greater visual impact than others—and it doesn’t always correspond to the price.

• Best Enclosed Emitter: Aimpoint ACRO P-2
• Best for Competitive Shooting: Trijicon SRO
• Lightest Weight: Sig Sauer Romeo Zero Elite
• Great Field of View: Sig Sauer Romeo1 Pro
• Best High-End Concealed Carry Sight: Trijicon RMRcc
• Best Overall: Trijicon RMR Type 2
• Most Versatile: Burris Fastfire 4
• Best Budget: Crimson Trace CTS-1500
• Best Micro: Swampfox Sentinel M
• Best Shotgun/Pistol Crossover: Holosun HE509T-RD
• Best Low Profile: Leupold DeltaPoint Micro
• Best for Fast, Close Shooting: Leupold DeltaPoint Pro 6 MOA
• Excellent All-Around Sight: Vortex Venom
• Ultra-Rugged: Steiner MPS
• Best for an AR-15 Pistol: USO DRS 2.0
• Best RMSc Enclosed Emitter: Holosun EPS Carry

Things to Consider When Buying a Red Dot Sight

Red-Dot Skills

If you haven’t shot with a red dot, you will need to sharpen your skills. Shooting with a red dot sight seems intuitive, but there’s definitely a learning curve. Plan on doing a lot of dry-fire practice if you want to become proficient.

Mounting Red Dot Sights

Then there’s the matter of the different mounting standards, called “footprints.” There are numerous footprints out there and you can usually get a plate that will connect your specific firearm to a given red dot reflex sight, but be sure to do your research before buying one.

For the best handguns, some of the most common patterns include the Docter/Noblex, Trijicon RMR, and Shield.

Battery Life

Most red dots run on either CR 2032 or CR 1632 3-volt batteries. The run times you see published will range from a few hundred hours to several years. What to make of this? The fact is that battery life will vary depending on the reticle size and brightness setting you use, along with other factors. As a rule of thumb, you should swap out the batteries on your red dots once every year, just to keep them fresh and make sure they don’t conk out on you at an inopportune moment.

Best Red Dot Sights: Reviews and Recommendations

Best Enclosed Emitter Red Dot: Aimpoint ACRO P-2

John Snow

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Key Features

• Weight: 2.1 ounces
• Objective Lens Size: 15x15mm
• Reticle: 3.5 MOA dot
• Adjustments: 10 settings, four for NV
• Battery Life: 50,000 hours        
• Battery: CR 2032

Why It Made the Cut

The Aimpoint ACRO P-2’s enclosed frame and waterproofing capabilities make this a rugged and reliable red dot.

Pros 

• Extremely rugged
• Great optical clarity
• Excellent ergonomics

Cons

• Pricey

Product Description

When I was putting together a new handgun for bear protection, I topped it with this sight. The Aimpoint ACRO P-2 checks all the boxes I needed and excels in terms of reliability and survivability.

The main virtue of an enclosed emitter is that it is protected from the environment. I spend a lot of time in grizzly country, both in the mountains and in low-lying river bottoms. Between the snow that’s typical at elevation and the mud and debris that’s part of any river system, there are a lot of ways for a red dot to get clogged with gunk. The ACRO P-2 has flat windows on either side of the unit that can easily be wiped with a shirt sleeve to clear the glass.

The ACRO also has best-in-class waterproofing: it is submersible to 35 meters (115 feet) so you can dunk it without harming it in any way. The P-2 also has much improved battery life over the original ACRO and can deliver up to five years of service on a single CR 2032.

The 3.5 MOA dot has round, crisp edges, though when the intensity level is jacked up to the max (there are 10 settings, four of which are for night vision), the dot has a fair bit of blooming. On the plus side, there isn’t any lighting situation where the ACRO’s dot will wash out. The buttons that control the dot intensity give very positive feedback, which allows them to be manipulated while wearing gloves.

The optical clarity of the unit is among the best in the field. There is very little color distortion and no optical distortion while looking through the sight. Picking up the dot and recovering it while shooting is a snap. It is very forgiving.

All this performance, however, comes at a cost. The ACRO P-2 is among the most expensive red dots out there, but it is a serious professional-grade tool that is well worth it.

Best for Competitive Shooting: Trijicon SRO

John Snow

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Key Features

• Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Objective Lens Size: 26mm
• Reticle: 1, 2.5 or 5 MOA dot
• Adjustment: 8 brightness levels, two for night vision
• Battery Life: 3 years
• Battery: CR 2032

Why It Made the Cut

The Trijicon SRO’s 26mm objective lens makes it easy to reacquire the dot during rapid shooting competitions. 

Pros 

• Generous sized objective lens
• Great ergonomics
• Tough

Cons

• Spendy

Product Description

Looking through the Trijicon SRO is like staring out of a large picture window with mountain views. It’s a thing of beauty. The generously sized objective lens measures 26 mm in diameter making it easy to find and reacquire the dot during rapid shooting. That quality is a big part of the reason why the SRO is my top choice for competition.

In addition to that is the bomb-proof construction and top-notch engineering of all Trijicon’s red dot offerings.

The SRO is offered with three sized dots depending on your needs: 1 MOA, 2.5 MOA, or 5 MOA. I opted for the 2.5 MOA model, which strikes a great balance between size and precision and handles any shooting chore well.

For a larger sight, the SRO manages to sit relatively low on the slide. That makes sighting through the window that much faster and helps the sight co-witness with irons more easily.

The SRO has a tiny bit of optical distortion, but not enough to detract from the sight’s performance. In fact, with its large objective lens, the SRO handled tracking and target transitions better than any other red-dot in the test.

The ergonomics on the unit are fabulous as well. The windage and elevation adjusters have medium-sized slots that can accommodate a regular screwdriver bit or thin coin and offer positive feedback with each click. The sight has 150 MOA of w/e travel with each click moving the sight 1 MOA. The battery tray is easy to access and doesn’t have to be removed from the pistol when putting in a new one.

It has eight brightness levels, two of which are for night vision. The sight can be set to automatically adjust brightness levels as well if you choose.

And, for those of you who want to take your guns underwater, the SRO is rated waterproof to three meters (10 feet) and has drain holes in the side of the housing.

Lightest Weight: Sig Sauer Romeo Zero Elite

John Snow

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Key Features

• Weight: .5 ounces
• Objective Lens Size: 20mm
• Reticle: 3 MOA dot
• Adjustment: Eight settings
• Battery Life: 20,000 hours
• Battery: CR 1632

Why It Made the Cut

The Romeo Zero Elite is a wisp of a red dot, tipping the scales at a dainty .5 ounce. Its compact profile makes it a good choice for smaller concealed carry handguns.

Pros

• Light weight
• Good value

Cons

• Inconvenient control button

Product Description

I’ve been running a Romero Zero Elite on a Glock 19 for a while now and it has stood up to some rough use and a lot of rounds.

It’s a basic unit with a 3 MOA dot with eight brightness levels. It’s also offered with a 2 MOA dot within a 32 MOA circle for those who want a larger reticle. A small button just behind the objective lens controls the unit. While unobtrusive, the button is a little hard to reach, especially if you have sausage fingers, and a bit of a pain to manipulate. If my fingers were dirty—from doing a lot of shooting, say—I had difficulty adjusting the brightness without getting a greasy smear on the inside of the objective lens. Not a deal killer by any means, but it is pesky.

Other than that, I had no complaints with the Romeo Zero Elite. The optical quality of the sight is pretty good. It has a metal shield you can install to give the polymer-framed unit more protection if you like. The zero is easy to adjust via the recessed windage and elevation controls that use a tiny hex key wrench.

Another thing in its favor is its affordability. It’s one of the best red dots for the money. With a CR 1632 on board, it delivers up to 20,000 hours of run time.

Great Field of View: Sig Sauer Romeo1 Pro

John Snow

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Key Features

• Weight: 1 ounce
• Objective Lens Size: 28x17mm
• Reticle: 3 or 6 MOA dot
• Adjustment: 12 settings, 2 for NV
• Battery Life: 20,000 hours
• Battery: CR 1632

Why It Made the Cut

The Sig Romeo1 Pro is a great all-around red-dot sight that can function well for either personal protection or competition/recreational shooting duties. Its generous window dimensions—28mm wide and 17mm tall—make it one of the faster red dots to shoot. It’s easy to pick up the dot on the initial gun presentation and reacquire it under recoil.

Pros 

• Very shootable 
• Good ergonomics

Cons 

• Not rated for 10mm Auto

Product Description

I’ve been using a Romeo1 Pro on my Sig P320 for a couple years, and it has served me well. The housing is made of machined aluminum and has withstood daily use and abuse with only a couple scratches to show for it. The aluminum forms a bit of a lip in front of the sight’s window, so you can bang the housing against hard surfaces without touching or damaging the glass. The molded aspheric glass lens is multi-coated to reduce distortion. The optical clarity of it is very good, though the image does have a slight blue tinge, which is common with many reflex sights.

On the unit’s left hand side are two buttons to pick among the Romeo1 Pro’s 12 brightness settings, two of which are for night vision. The sealed electronics on it are rated to IPX7 waterproofness, which means it can be submerged to 1 meter for 30 minutes.

The battery compartment is located right behind the object lens and can be opened with a slot-head bit or coin. This allows the shooter to change batteries without messing with the pistol’s zero. It uses a CR 1632 and has a published run time of 20,000 hours. To conserve battery life, the unit will power down after a period of time and turn back on when moved.

The sight has a whopping 100 MOA of windage and elevation travel. If you find yourself needing all that, you might want to double check and see that your pistol’s barrel isn’t bent. The sight uses two small slot-head adjusters that move the dot 1 MOA with each click.

The Romeo1 Pro is also available with a 6 MOA dot. It’s worth noting that this particular unit isn’t rated for 10mm Auto use. For that you’ll want to upgrade to Sig’s Romeo2 1x30mm enclosed emitter.

Best High-End Concealed Carry Sight: Trijicon RMRcc

John Snow

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Key Features

• Weight: 1 ounce
• Objective Lens Size: 13mm
• Reticle: 3.25 or 6 MOA dot
• Adjustment: 8 brightness levels, 2 for NV
• Battery Life: 4 years
• Battery: CR 2032

Why It Made the Cut

The Trijicon RMRcc is a beautifully engineered micro red dot with best-in-class ruggedness, and a smart suite of electronic functionality. It’s an expensive, professional-grade sight designed to take you to hell and back, should the need arise.

Pros 

• Extremely rugged
• Smart electronic features

Cons

• Small window
• Expensive

Product Description

The Trijicon RMRcc comes with dots that subtend either 3.25 or 6.5 MOA. For a dedicated defensive pistol, the 6.5 MOA dot would be hard to beat, though a 3.25 MOA dot makes the sight a bit more versatile for precision work.

It has eight brightness modes that can be cycled through with the generously sized buttons on either side of the aluminum housing. The top level of brightness has a retina-burning intensity that allows the sight to function well in the brightest possible conditions. The bottom two are meant for night vision gear.

The electronics allow the user to either lock in a particular brightness level, which is useful for competition and certain hunting scenarios, or it can operate in an automatic mode where the reticle brightness rises and dims in relation to the available ambient light.

The unit is sealed against the environment and is submersible to 20 meters (66 feet), which is one of the reasons that many armed professionals gravitate toward it and its bigger brother, the RMR Type 2. It comes with drain holes on the side of the housing so that water drains away.

The window is a little cramped, which makes the sight a little harder to acquire (and reacquire) while shooting. That means it might not be the best pick for someone with beginner-level skills who isn’t as committed to mastering the platform.

Changing the battery requires the user to remove the sight from the pistol, so checking and possibly readjusting the sight’s zero will be necessary.

The adjustments on the Trijicon RMRcc are more coarse than many other units, with each tick mark moving the point of impact 3 MOA. At 25 feet, that amounts to about ¼ inch shift per click. The slots in the windage and elevation adjusters can accommodate standard size slot-head bits easily or even the back edge of a knife, so no special tools are needed.

This sight uses the Trijicon RMRcc mounting standard.

Best Overall: Trijicon RMR Type 2

Trijicon

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Key Features

• Weight: 1.2 ounces
• Objective Lens Size: .83 x .63 inches
• Reticle: 1, 3.25, or 6 MOA dot
• Adjustment: Eight settings, two for NV
• Battery Life: 4 years
• Battery: CR 2032

Why It Made the Cut

The Trijicon RMR Type 2’s distinctive features set it apart from the rest of the field and justify its lofty price tag.

Pros

• Built for hard use
• Good ergonomics
• Great engineering

Cons

• Expensive

Product Description

After spending months testing this whole field of red-dots, I had to pick one as the winner. It’s a Sophie’s Choice scenario for sure—but rules are rules, and the Trijicon RMR Type 2 got the nod as the overall best red dot sight.

For starters it’s difficult to find anything to criticize about this sight, other than perhaps its price. But you get what you pay for, and when you slap your money down for one of these, you’re getting a hell of a unit.

The RMR sights have a couple of distinctive features compared to the rest of the field. One is the drain holes on either side of the housing that keep water and other debris from collecting around the emitter. The other is the curious shape of the housing, with its concave top. Both these elements hint toward the end users that Trijicon had in mind when developing the sights: serious professionals who rely on them for their lives.

The utility of the drain ports is obvious. Whether Marines are on patrol in a swamp or a Special Operations unit is using scuba gear, they want their sights to be clear and good to go at all times. The shape of the housing mitigates hard impacts and protects the glass from damage. The Trijicon RMR Type 2 is rated waterproof to 20 meters (66 feet).

There are a couple dozen different variants of the Type 2 to pick from with various mounting systems and dot sizes. It can be had with 1, 3.25, or 6.5 MOA dots. Mine, a 3.25 MOA dot, is bright and crisp. The unit has minimal optical distortion (though the glass does have a noticeable blue tinge), eight brightness settings to pick from (including two for night vision), and a four-year run time from a CR 2032 battery. If desired, the sight can be set to an automatic mode that adjusts reticle brightness based on ambient light.

If you’re looking for a pistol or small arms sight that can do it all—personal protection, concealed carry, target shooting, hunting—the RMR Type 2 is it.

Most Versatile: Burris Fastfire 4

Burris Optics

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Key Features

• Weight: 1.7 ounces
• Objective Lens Size: 27x18mm
• Reticle: Four user-selectable options
• Adjustment: 3 brightness levels
• Battery Life: 26,000 hours
• Battery: CR 1632

Why It Made the Cut

The Burris Fasfire 4 is the Swiss Army knife of red-dot sights. 

Pros 

• Multiple reticles
• Versatile design

Cons

• Some optical distortion

Product Description

With the push of a button on the right side of the unit’s housing, you can cycle through four reticles. The reticles include a 3 MOA dot, an 11 MOA dot, an 11 MOA dot surrounded by a 50 MOA circle, and a 3 MOA dot surrounded by a 50 MOA circle with the addition of two “wings” that effectively form a horizontal crosshair.

Each of these reticles has useful applications. The 3 MOA dot is good for precise shot placement and general handgun use. The 11 MOA dot is good for bright lighting conditions and would work well for turkey hunters and slug-gun hunters. The 11 MOA with a circle is good for personal defense and CQB scenarios, and the 3 MOA circle with wings can handle close and mid-range shooting. It can also be a good option for wingshooting as well. The intensity of these reticles is controlled by a button on the left side of the unit, which has three levels of brightness.

As the late-night TV pitchmen say, but wait, there’s more! The Fastfire 4 is also the only sight in this roundup that converts from an open to closed emitter design. It comes with an environmental shield that screws on to the back of the unit and encloses the emitter. While this won’t make the Fastfire waterproof against submersion, it will prevent rain, snow and dirt from clogging the LED.

The Fastfire 4 comes with a cross-slot base so you can easily screw it on to a Weaver or Picatinny pattern mounting surface. With the weather shield installed the weight of the unit is right at 2 ounces. With the base removed the Fastfire has a Docter/Noblex footprint, so with an adapter you can mount it to a handgun and it won’t be too bulky.

The wide objective lens makes reticle acquisition easy, but the glass does have noticeable optical distortion.

Best Budget: Crimson Trace CTS-1500  

Crimson Trace

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Key Features

• Weight: .65 ounces
• Objective Lens Size: 21x15mm
• Reticle: 3 MOA dot
• Adjustment: Automatic
• Battery Life: 20,000 hours
• Battery: CR 2032

Why It Made the Cut

Not only is the Crimson Trace CTS-1500 budget friendly, but it could also win an award as the most idiot-proof ultra-compact red dot sight on the market.

Pros

• Simple design
• Affordable 
• Light weight

Cons

• No frills

Product Description

The 3 MOA dot on the CTS-1500 is a perfect size for general defensive pistol use, and thanks to the unit’s polymer frame it tips the scales at a scant .65 ounces even with the CR 2032 battery on board.

The CTS-1550 doesn’t come with much in the way of bells and whistles, but it does serve its primary function well. The dot auto adjusts to lighting conditions for hassle free use and the battery has a published run time of 20,000 hours. I’ve had one mounted on my Kimber Mako R7 for nearly a year and it’s still going strong.

One nice element of the CTS-1550 is the notch cut into the rear of the housing, which allows the shooter to more easily co-witness with their iron sights. This can help with dry-fire training while getting used to working with a handgun-mounted red dot and also serves as a useful backup should the sight fail for some reason.

It has a J-Point / RMSC footprint, allowing it to attach to any compatible pistol. Since this is a micro compact, the dot can be a bit trickier to pick up in the objective lens, but that’s the tradeoff for its high degree of concealability.

The lack of a gasket between the unit and mounting surface means you need to be careful when using it in wet conditions as moisture can seep into the battery compartment. It’s an easy thing to check, however, by removing the two fasteners that secure the sight to the pistol. You’ll just need to check zero after remounting the sight. Fortunately, adjusting the point of impact is a simple and painless process.

Best Micro: Swampfox Sentinel M

Swampfox Optics

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Key Features

• Weight: .82 ounces
• Size 16x16mm window
• Reticle 3 MOA dot, manual adjustment 10 levels
• Adjustment: Manual
• Battery Life: 12,000 hours. active, 50,000 hours stand-by
• Battery: CR 2032

Why It Made the Cut

Competition among micro-sized red dots is stiff as there are a lot of good options to choose from. In this crowded field, the Swampfox Sentinel M strikes an attractive balance between features, optical quality, and price.

Pros

• Sleek, minimalistic profile

Cons

• Some optical distortion

Product Description

Like other micros, the Sentinel M has a minimalistic profile that will fit well on smaller pistols with narrow slides. Among those are the Glock 43X and Glock 48 MOS, Sig P365XL, Springfield Hellcat OSP, Canik Elite SC, S&W Shield 2.0 Optics Ready, Walther PPS M2 Optics Ready—basically any pistol with an RMSc footprint can accommodate one.

Shooters will argue about the merits of exposed controls on red dots for concealed guns, but I like the easy-to-use buttons on either side of the Sentinel’s aluminum housing, which cycle through 10 different brightness settings. It also has well-marked windage and elevation dials that adjust with the tool that ships with the unit or a small slot-head driver.

It runs on a CR 2032 battery and has a published run time of 12,000 to 50,000 hours. The Sentinel M comes with smart electronics. It will go into battery saving mode after four minutes of inactivity but reilluminates when the unit detects movement. If you turn the unit off, which you do by holding down the “-” for three seconds, the Sentinel returns to your previous brightness setting when powered back on.

Like other micros, the Sentinel M has an exposed battery compartment on the underside of the housing. To help seal it from the elements, it ships with a thin rubber gasket that you place between the base of the sight and the slide. That provides it with an IPX7 waterproof rating (one meter for 30 minutes).

It’s thoughtful touches like these that make the Sentinel M an appealing choice and one of the best red dot sights of its type.

The unit’s optical quality is good—not great—but certainly up to the standards of other micros. And the quality of the dot is clean and sharp enough for the defensive pistol work that it is designed for.

Not that aesthetics are the most important consideration for a micro red dot, but they are a consideration. The finish on the metal, the sharp lettering on the logos, and the attractive shape of the housing are nice elements too.

Best Shotgun/Pistol Crossover: Holosun HE509T-RD

Holosun

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Key Features

• Weight: 2.25 ounces
• Objective Lens Size: 16x23mm
• Reticle: 2 MOA dot or 2 MOA dot in 32 MOA circle
• Adjustment: Automatic or manual with 12 levels to choose from.
• Battery Life: 12,000 or 50,000 hours
• Battery: CR 1632

Why It Made the Cut

The dual reticle options on the HE509T-RD make it a viable option for both pistols and shotguns and even rifles, for that matter.

Pros

• Dual reticle options 
• Enclosed emitter
• Solar backup power

Cons 

• Some image distortion 
• Heavy

Product Description

Holosun has a devoted following among many top-level competitors who run red dots on their guns. The company makes no-nonsense task-driven sights that are rugged and incorporate useful technology at reasonable prices. Many other brands of red dots are manufactured by Holosun, in fact, which is a testament to their quality.

The Holosun HE509-T is an enclosed emitter in a titanium housing. The titanium has a few benefits, including reduced weight, improved strength when compared to aluminum, and resistance to saltwater corrosion.

It has two user-selectable reticle options, a 2 MOA dot or a 2 MOA dot surrounded by a 32 MOA circle with four “positioning points” located at 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-o’clock. Depressing the “-” button for three seconds toggles between the two. When running the circle/dot reticle, the HE509-T will last for 12,000 hours, while running the dot alone bumps that to 50,000 hours.

These reticles make the HE509T useful for both pistol and shotgun applications, and rifles too, for that matter. It’s a fine red dot for shotguns, especially with the reticle on the circle/dot setting.

The sight can be operated in two modes: automatic and manual. On automatic, the sight adjusts the intensity of the reticle based on ambient lighting conditions, while in manual the shooter sets the reticle brightness. In manual mode, the sight has 12 levels to choose from, two of which are for night vision.

About the only issue with the sight is its optical quality, which has a bit of distortion at the edges.

The sight uses a CR 1632 battery that is in a tray that slides into the right side of the unit and is secured by a single slot-head fastener. This allows the battery to be changed without removing it from the firearm. When the battery runs low the reticle slowly blinks to let you know, which is a nice feature.

Despite its titanium housing, the emitter weighs 2.25 ounces, making it one of the heavier in the roundup. The HE509T comes in two versions, with either a red or green reticle. The green bumps the price by about $35. It has its own mounting dimensions but comes with a RMR pattern plate and an adapter for the Glock MOS system.

Read Next: Best Red Dots for Turkey Hunting

Best Low Profile: Leupold DeltaPoint Micro

Leupold

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Key Features

• Weight: 1 ounce
• Objective Lens Size: 9mm
• Reticle: 3 MOA dot
• Adjustment: Eight settings
• Battery Life: 30,000 hours
• Battery: CR 1632

Why It Made the Cut

The DeltaPoint’s low profile makes it an excellent option when deep concealment is desired.

Pros 

• Low profile
• Enclosed emitter

Cons 

• Limited to Glocks and Smith & Wesson M&P pistols

Product Description

When the DeltaPoint Micro appeared, it challenged the conventional wisdom concerning micro red dot sights. It mounts on the rear sight dovetail the pistol and most of the electronics hang off the back of the slide. The sight itself is a small tube—only 9mm in diameter—that acts like a ghost ring with respect to the pistol’s front sight.

It’s an ingenious design, but one that shooters were a bit leery of because of the small sight aperture. Would it be difficult to pick up the dot on presenting the pistol and after recoil?

Those are valid questions. The answer is that the system works very well. Because the DeltaPoint Micro employs the geometry of the pistol’s iron sights, it is very easy for the shooter’s eye to align with the optic. As a bonus, should the sight go down, the tube can be used as a ghost ring with the front sight.

Among current red dots there isn’t another out there that has such a low profile, making the DeltaPoint Micro ideal for carry where deep concealment is desired and one of the best red dot sights for this purpose.

The system isn’t without its limitations however. The biggest is that it’s currently only available for two types of pistols: the Smith & Wesson M&P and the Glock. Of course, those two account for a huge chunk of the worldwide handgun market, so there’s no lack of potential customers. But if you rock a different model, the Micro isn’t an option for you at the moment.

The other issue is that installation is a bit more involved than with many other red dots, as you have to remove the rear sight to gain access to the dovetail. That’s not a huge deal, but it isn’t as simple as just screwing it onto a mounting plate.

One thing I like about the Micro is that it is an enclosed emitter, so you don’t have to worry about dust and lint getting into the works and gumming it up.

The sight has a 3 MOA dot. I don’t know if it is a function of the sight’s design, but this dot isn’t as sharp and round as other DeltaPoint offerings, but it isn’t so much of an issue that it affects how the sight performs.

The elevation adjustments on it are generous. The DeltaPoint Micro has 100 MOA of elevation and 180 MOA of windage on tap. The point of impact adjusts via two small Allen key fasteners that are recessed into the housing. It has eight brightness settings that the user toggles through with the large button on the battery housing.

Best for Fast, Close Shooting: Leupold DeltaPoint Pro 6 MOA

Leupold

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Key Features

• Weight: 2 ounces
• Objective Lens Size: 20mm
• Reticle: 6 MOA dot
• Adjustment: 8 settings
• Battery Life: 1,600 hours
• Battery: CR 2032

Why It Made the Cut

When it comes to getting lead on steel and paper quickly, no sight performed better in the test than the Leupold DeltaPoint Pro 6 MOA. Its large, bright dot and exceptional optical clarity make it a no-brainer for this kind of shooting.

Pros

• Excellent optical quality
• Large, bright aiming point
• Convenient battery compartment

Cons

• Expensive
• Sits high on the pistol

Product Description

Like all Leupold DeltaPoint’s, this model is wonderfully engineered. The toolless battery compartment/adjustment button is convenient and clever. Pushing on the button allows the shooter to cycle through eight different brightness settings.

The coin-slot windage and elevation adjustments have 60 MOA of travel. They adjust in 1 MOA clicks and give excellent tactile feedback when turned.

The battery life figures that Leupold gives are much lower (and more realistic, to be honest) than you’ll see with other sights, but it’s worth keeping the dot brightness to a lower setting or making a point to turn off the sight when not in use to get more from the battery.

To harden the sight, Leupold encloses it in a metal shield that wraps over the optic. This bumps the weight to 2 ounces, making it one of the heavier open-emitter sights in the test.

Excellent All-Around Sight: Vortex Venom

Vortex Optics

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Key Features

• Weight: 1.1 ounces
• Objective Lens Size: 20 mm
• Reticle: 3 or 6 MOA dot
• Adjustment: 10 settings
• Battery Life: 30,000 hours
• Battery: CR 1632

Why It Made the Cut

The Vortex Venom is one of the most popular red dot reflex sights currently offered—and for good reason. It’s a solid, all-around red dot that works well on handguns, shotguns, AR-15s, and other rifles.

Pros

• Jack of all trades

Cons

• Humdrum styling

Product Description

The Vortex Venom doesn’t bring any fancy technology to the party, but what it does have is a generous window, a crisp 3 or 6 MOA dot that can be adjusted to any of 10 brightness levels, controls that are easy to manipulate and a solid housing made of aluminum that can take a beating.

You can also switch the sight to “auto” mode where it adjusts the reticle brightness according to the ambient light.

The slot-head windage and elevation adjusters are easy to dial in. The sight has 130 MOA of elevation travel on tap and 100 MOA of windage elevation, with each click of the adjusters moving the POI by 1 MOA.

One feature that has attracted a lot of shooters to Vortex’s products is their generous no-questions-asked warranty program. Basically, if you manage to break it, Vortex will replace it. Critics say that’s borne of necessity because the company doesn’t make optics as durable as others. Be that as it may, however, the fact that Vortex does stand behind their offerings and they’ve earned a lot of loyal customers because of it.

Ultra-Rugged: Steiner MPS

Steiner-Optics

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Key Features

• Weight: 2 ounces
• Objective Lens Size: 20x16mm
• Reticle: 3.3 MOA dot
• Adjustment: 8 levels (2 NV)
• Battery Life: 13,000 hours
• Battery: CR 1632

Why It Made the Cut

The Steiner MPS is a rugged enclosed emitter that also has exceptional aesthetics.

Pros 

• Rugged 
• User friendly

Cons 

• Can be tricky to mount on different platforms.

Product Description

The Steiner MPS is arguably the sexiest pistol reflex sight out there. It has head-turning futuristic lines that visually set it apart from this crowded field of the best red dot sights. For that reason, any gun owner who values the aesthetic impact of their gun will want to consider the MPS.

But this sight is more than a pretty face. It’s a rugged and capable enclosed emitter with user-friendly ergonomics and a distortion-free sight picture. And, while not cheap, it runs about $100 less than the Acro P-2, so it has that going for it as well.

The 3.3 MOA dot is round and crisp—one of the sharpest in the test. The MPS has eight brightness settings on tap (two for night vision), that are actuated by the “+” and “-” buttons on the unit’s left side.

The MPS’s battery compartment sits on top of the metal housing and takes a CR 1632 battery that provides enough juice for 13,000 hours of run time. To conserve battery life, the MPS automatically shuts down after 13 hours.

To enhance the MPS’s survivability, Steiner added two beefed-up panels on either side of the sight and recessed the objective lens in the housing. With this added degree of protection, the sight only weighs 2 ounces.

The slot-head POI adjusters give excellent feedback with each click. The unit has 90 MOA of travel in both windage and elevation with each click moving the dot 1 MOA.

The MPS fits an ACRO footprint and comes with a Docter adapter plate. Plates for other mounting patterns are available as well.

Best for an AR-15 Pistol: USO DRS 2.0

USO Optics

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 Key Features

• Weight: 1.9 ounces
• Objective Lens Size: 24x16mm
• Reticle: 6 MOA dot
• Adjustment: 10 brightness settings
• Battery Life: 2 to 3 years
• Battery: CR 2032

Why It Made the Cut

The USO DRS 2.0 is the easy-button for equipping your AR pistol—or any firearm with a Picatinny rail—with a red dot. It comes with a nicely constructed base that has a cross pin that will secure the sight into a Pic rail’s slots.

Pros 

• Simple to use
• Good optical clarity

Cons 

• Need to re-zero after changing the battery.

Product Description

Once mounted, adjusting zero on the DRS 2.0 is simple. It has two well-marked adjustment dials for windage and elevation that offer 1 MOA of reticle movement per click. Click is a relative term, though, because the recessed slot-head dials operate with friction and not with any type of audible or tactile feedback.

The 6 MOA dot is easy to pick up and see in the sight’s objective lens and can be adjusted to any of 10 brightness settings. The dot intensity is controlled with two easy to manipulate buttons on the unit’s left-hand side. The DRS 2.0’s optical clarity really impressed me. It exhibits minimal distortion.

The housing is made of aluminum and to trim a bit of weight it is skeletonize on the sides. Even with the Pic rail mount adapter, the sight only weighs 1.9 ounces. You can ditch the Pic rail mount if you want and get adapters that will let it mount on Glocks, S&W M&Ps, HK VP9, and others. Its base footprint is the Vortex Viper pattern.

The DRS 2.0 runs on a CR 2032 and has a 2-3-year run time depending on how it is used and the dot intensity setting. To conserve battery life, the unit shuts off after 12 hours of inactivity.

Best RMSc Enclosed Emitter: Holosun EPS Carry

Scott Einsmann

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Key Features

• Weight: 1 ounce
• RMS Shield Footprint
• Battery: CR1620
• Max Battery Life: 5,000 hours
• Length: 1.62 inches
• Width: .95 inches
• Height: 1.07 inches
• Window Size: .58 x .77 inches
• Eight brightness settings and four night vision settings
• Dot Size: 2 moa, 6 moa, 2 moa dot with 32 moa ring 
• Red or green reticles available 

Pros

• Bright, crisp dot
• Easy to change battery
• Good option for concealed carry or turkey gun

Cons

• Can bloom if setting is too bright

The Holosun EPS Carry mounts on guns with RMSc, Holosun K, Leupold DeltaPoint Pro, and Sig Sauer RomeoZero optic cuts or mounting plates. It comes with screws of various lengths (use the longest that will work) each with Blue Loctite already on them. Holosun recommends torquing the screws to 15 inch-pounds. 

The battery door is located on the right side of the optic and is accessible without removing the red dot. Holosun says the battery life is 5,000 hours, which is about 200 days. It’s not the five-year battery life of the Holosun 507 K, but changing a battery once every six months is still pretty damn good. 

The 6 moa dot on my EPS Carry is crisp and round. This is exactly how a dot should look, but many red dot sights come up short in this feature. The EPS Carry’s glass has a slight blue hue, which is common on red dots. 

I slammed the front of the EPS Carry into my tailgate ten times to rack the slide on my empty XMacro. Then I dropped the unloaded gun from chest height so that it landed, red dot down, onto a gravel road. I picked up the handgun, loaded it, and confirmed my zero at 25 yards. The only evidence of this round of battery was some slight character marks on the housing. It held zero and functioned great throughout the rest of my range session. After a few hundred rounds, I repeated the test, and once again it was unfazed. 

This isn’t a torture test meant to see if I could break the EPS Carry or to see if it’s worthy of use in the apocalypse. It’s a test that gives me confidence that if the optic takes a hard hit, it will keep its zero and continue working. -Scott Einsmann

Read the full Holosun EPS Carry review to learn more about the optic and see how it held up against the Trijicon RMR in a down pour.

FAQs

Final Thoughts on the Best Red Dot Sights

The best red dot sights bring a lot of benefits. They increase accuracy at all ranges but they’re especially effective beyond 10 yards. Red dots make shooting on the move easier and they’re also helpful for shooters with aging eyes who have trouble keeping the front sight in focus. But to be effective with any red dot sight, you need to practice with it.

The post The Best Red Dot Sights in 2023 appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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Best for Mountain Archers		Vortex Diamondback 2000	SEE IT
Best for Whitetail Hunters		Bushnell Broadhead	SEE IT
Best Budget		Hawke LRF800	SEE IT

Bow hunting is a close-quarters game, a description that might suggest that knowing the specific yardage to your target is less important than precision-rifle competitions where shooters often engage targets out to 1,200 yards. But, rangefinders are critical for both disciplines.

The reason is that arrows travel much slower than a bullet. First, most bowhunters zero their sights for around 20 yards and the 50 inches of arrow drop out to 50 yards is the equivalent of a bullet zeroed at 200 yards dropping a whopping 15 feet by the time it gets to 500 yards. Given that slope, any bowhunter—or long-distance rifle shooter—needs to know the precise yardage to their target.

Rangefinder manufacturers have been engaged in a sort of distance race, boasting increasingly astonishing ranges. Sig’s KILO10K rangefinding binocular advertises a range of 10,000 meters on reflective targets. Most rangefinders calibrated for rifle hunters have the capability to detect deer-sized targets out to 1,000 yards, much farther than any hunter can ethically make a kill shot on game.

However, manufacturers are dialing back this reach, recognizing bowhunters’ need for close-range precision, delivering distance readings in fractions of yards. Thankfully, the best rangefinders for bow hunting incorporate these features and allow bowhunters to know the arc of their arrow’s flight, so they can detect deflecting limbs and even the energy of their arrow at various distances. 

• Best Overall: Leupold RX-FullDraw 5
• Best for Mountain Archers: Vortex Diamondback 2000
• Best for Whitetail Hunters: Bushnell Broadhead
• Best Budget: Hawke LRF800
• Best for Elk Hunters: Nikon CoolShot ProII Stabilized
• Best for Binocular Rangefinding: Leica Geovid Pro 32
• Best for Crossbow Hunters: Sig Sauer KILO 1600 BDX

Evaluating Laser Rangefinders

I tested each of these units in the manner that I hunt. I took each to my elevated treestand and ranged a variety of targets at various distances and angles and used each of their target modes (most have a combination of first, last, and best target modes) and both their angle-adjusted and line-of-sight modes. Then I tested their display in full sunlight, in mixed shadows, and at twilight. I measured their scan and return rates, or the speed at which they deliver ranging results. And lastly, I considered their attributes, ergonomics, versatility, price, and warranty. The best of the bunch deliver a ton of versatility—delivering fast, precise ranges at the farthest and the closest targets, while also giving users readings in fractions of yards for close targets.

Best Rangefinders for Bow Hunting: Reviews & Recommendations

Best Overall: Leupold RX-FullDraw 5

Leupold

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Key Features

• 6x22mm monocular
• Customizable arrow ballistics
• Flightpath technology
• Archer’s Advantage

Why It Made the Cut

Leupold has adapted the ballistic inputs that long-range rifle shooters use to guide bullets to archers and their arrows. Both the company’s “Flightpath” technology and two modes that define arrow dynamics help archers make shots in just about any conditions or angle. This unit can be used for just about any other ranging requirement but is configured for precision archery.

Pros

• Selectable reticles
• Customizable arrow dynamic inputs
• Compatible with low-velocity arrows
• 6- to 1,200-yard range

Cons

• No tripod mount
• Ballistics input process is tedious

Product Description 

The most precise archery-specific rangefinder on the market, the new RX-FullDraw 5 builds on the attributes of the FullDraw 4, which introduced integrated Archer’s Advantage software that allows bowhunters to shoot a range and then compensate for limbs and other obstacles that might impede their arrow. It also removes the need for a cut chart when shooting extreme angles. The angle compensation makes this a must-have rangefinder for anyone hunting sheep, mule deer, or aoudad in the cliffs.

The FullDraw 5 has a 20-yard pin solution that improves the Flightpath technology, a rain/fog mode that enables close shots, Leupold’s excellent DNA ranging engine, and new ranging software that accounts for lower arrow velocities, a feature that will appeal to traditional archers or compounders trying heavy arrows.

Read our full review of the FullDraw 5 to learn more.

Best for Mountain Archers: Vortex Diamondback 2000

Vortex

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Key Features

• 5-yard minimum range
• Angle-compensating, line-of-sight, and scan modes
• Tripod mount

Why It Made the Cut

With capability to range deer-sized targets out to 1,400 yards, but with enough close-in precision to range 5-yard targets, the Diamondback 2000 makes the case for a one-and-done hunting rangefinder.

Pros

• Excellent high-definition glass
• Red OLED display easy to see in all light conditions
• Premium carry case
• Wide ranging latitude

Cons

• Single circular reticle
• Blocky in-hand feel

Product Description 

A great all-around laser rangefinder, the Diamondback 2000 is at home in a wide variety of conditions, from steep-angle mountain hunting to low-light whitetail hunting. Key features are its portability, thanks to a premium carry case, lanyard, and pocket clip, along with its powerful laser and ranging engine. The unit ranges targets as close as 5 yards and all the way out to 2,000 yards. Good glass, fast scanning rate, excellent angle-adjusted software called HCD (Horizontal Component Distance), and lifetime warranty make this rangefinder a versatile powerhouse.

Best for Whitetail Hunters: Bushnell Broadhead

Bushnell

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Key Features

• ActivSynch display automatically adjusts to ambient light
• Tripod mount
• 0.3-yard accuracy

Why It Made the Cut

A laser rangefinder configured for bowhunters, the Broadhead combines many of Bushnell’s proprietary features, including the angle-compensating ARC technology for both bow and rifle hunters, close-in precision of .3-yard accuracy, and a ActivSynch reticle that adjusts for ambient light.

Pros

• Angle-compensating ARC technology
• Fast and precise scanning mode
• Palm-swell ergonomics

Cons

• No connectivity to ballistics app
• Deer-target range limited to 500 yards

Product Description 

An archery-configured laser rangefinder, this Bushnell unit has three features that make it an essential tool for archery deer hunters. The first and most important is the Angle Range Compensation (ARC) technology that is dialed down for hunters who post up in the best tree stands. The Broadhead’s precision (it measured with 0.3-yard sensitivity out to 150 yards) is the best in this class. Add the scanning mode, which allows hunters to track targets through veiling limbs, and the light-sensitive reticle, and you have a rangefinder that will serve mid-distance hunters through a wide range of environmental conditions. Lastly, the 8-power magnification makes this one of the most powerful monoculars in the field.

Best Budget: Hawke LRF800

Hawke Sport Optics

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Key Features

• 6x magnification
• Multi-Coated lenses
• Three target modes

Why It Made the Cut

Given that you can spend up to $1,000 on a rangefinder, it’s refreshing to find one for a fraction of that price. The Hawke LRF800 sells for closer to $150 but contains most of the modes and features you want in an archery rangefinder.

Pros

• Lanyard and carry case
• Black LCD display
• Minimum range of about 7 yards

Cons

• Glass is pretty dark
• Flimsy feel

Product Description 

For hunters looking for a basic rangefinder that won’t break the bank, the LRF800 will give you plenty of utility. With ranging capability from six to 800 yards (I actually got far readings closer to 900 yards), the 6×25 monocular covers most hunting situations. Its 4.6-ounce weight makes it ideal for backcountry hunts, though its lack of angle-compensating ranging will hold it back from many steep-country uses.

Best for Elk Hunters: Nikon CoolShot ProII Stabilized

Nikon

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Key Features

• Stabilization mode reduces hand shake
• Fast scanning mode
• Two-tone LED display

Why It Made the Cut

While this particular unit is configured for golfers, the Nikon CoolShot Pro II Stabilized has plenty of attributes for bowhunters. If you’ve ever tried to trigger a rangefinder when a bugling bull is closing the distance, then you know how your trembling hand can sour the deal. The CoolShot’s stabilization feature makes sure you get an accurate range reading even when you’re delaminating with the pressure of the shot.

Pros

• Gyroscopic stabilization
• Crisp OLED display
• Fast return rate
• 8-1,200-yard range

Cons

• Game-spooking white finish
• Configured more for golf than hunting

Product Description 

A previous iteration of this stabilized unit configured for hunters had a low-glare black finish. That unit is no longer manufactured, but that vibration-dampening feature is the CoolShot ProII’s best asset. The guts of this 6×21 monocular are fairly standard, with 8- to 1,200-yard ranging, a variety of target modes, and either line-of-sight or angle-compensated ranging. And its stabilization, which locks onto targets that might be hard to acquire in a strafing wind or when an approaching bull jangles your nerves, makes it one of the best rangefinders for bow hunting.

Best Rangefinding Binocular Rangefinding: Leica Geovid Pro 32

Leica

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Key Features

• Connects to Leica Hunting App
• Custom ballistic compatibility
• Weight: 1.9 pounds

Why It Made the Cut

While the Geovid Pro 32 is really configured for long-distance rifle shooters, it has a ton of attributes that make it an ideal bow hunting optic. They include an open-bridge design that is easy to use with a single hand, a 10-yard minimum range, and a very precise reticle.

Pros

• On-board environmental sensors
• GPS tracking feature
• Wide field of view
• Compact size for a ranging binocular

Cons

• No built-in tripod mount
• Expensive

Product Description 

While bowhunters won’t tap the vast reservoir of attributes the Geovid Pro 32 provides to rifle hunters and shooters, it has so many capabilities for archers that it belongs in this conversation. Apart from its ranging talents, it has a GPS-enabled tracking feature—it’s called Leica ProTrack—that provides the precise GPS coordinates from your previously measured distance. Combine that with a digital mapping service, and you can begin your recovery of game from the very spot you sent your arrow. Besides its best-in-class optics and wide field of view, the Geovid has 10-yard minimum ranging, a very precise reticle, and on-board environmental sensors that provide temperature, air pressure, cardinal direction, and altitude, making them some of the best binoculars for hunting.

Best for Crossbow Hunters: Sig Sauer KILO 1600 BDX

Sig Sauer

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Key Features

• Connects to BDX-compatible optics
• 6-yard close ranging
• Ranges up to a mile

Why It Made the Cut

Back in 2019, when Sig partnered with Mission to bring an integrated crossbow and distance-compensating scope to the market, it also reconfigured the KILO 1600 with BDX (Ballistics Data Xchange) technology so that the rangefinder could talk to the scope through a Bluetooth connection. It remains the most elegant (and deadly) integrated optics platform in crossbow hunting.

Pros

• Bluetooth connectivity
• Clear red OLED display
• Premium carry case

Cons

• Tripod mount must be purchased separately
• Fairly complicated mode menu

Product Description 

Crossbow hunters face the same dilemma as vertical bow hunters: they must know the precise yardage to their target since the ballistics of crossbow projectiles are every bit as affected by gravity and wind as compound-bow projectiles. While crossbow bolts shoot flatter in the first part of their trajectory, beyond about 40 yards, they drop at an alarming rate, which simply means that crossbow hunters need to know the drop at every yardage. That’s where Sig’s BDX system comes into its own.

Integrated with a BDX-enabled crossbow scope, a hunter can range a target, and the holdover appears as a lighted dot inside the scope, showing precisely where to hold to make a bullseye at any distance. Add the regular attributes—angle compensation along with line-of-sight modes, three different target modes—with ballistics information that tells users how many MOA and mils to dial their scope, and you have a unit that can pull double duty for crossbow hunters and rifle shooters.

Things to Consider Before Buying a Bow Hunting Rangefinder

First, do you really need a rangefinder that’s engineered for bow hunting? Many models that you might use for rifle hunting or shooting are fully compatible with bow hunting. Just make sure that the minimum distance ranges around 10 yards and that they have angle-compensating modes as well as line-of-sight ranging. Beyond those basics, here’s what you need to consider before buying a rangefinder for bow hunting:

One-Hand Operation

How easy is it to deploy the rangefinder with a single hand, assuming your other hand will be occupied with holding your bow?

Arrow Flightpath Technology

Does the unit have software that calculates your arrow’s trajectory? This feature can help you shoot over or under limbs or other obstructions.

Precision

The best archery-specific rangefinders range in fractions of yards.

FAQs

Final Thoughts on the Best Rangefinders for Bow Hunting

Serious bowhunters know that in order to make an ethical shot with archery gear, they need to know the precise distance to their target. And they also realize that they must know exactly where their arrow will go at each distance. Those two considerations make a laser rangefinder an essential piece of a bowhunter’s kit, to the degree that most wouldn’t consider hunting without one.

But not all rangefinders are configured for bowhunters. In this roundup, I gathered the best rangefinders for bow hunting on the market. Some, like Bushnell’s Broadhead and Leupold’s FullDraw-5, are archery-first units. Others, like the Coolshot Pro from Nikon and Leica’s remarkable Geovid Pro 32 binocular, aren’t really intended for bow hunting, but they have so many relevant features that I included them here. In the final analysis, any rangefinder is better than none, but if you want to increase your lethality and success, make sure you have one in your bowhunting backpack.

The post The Best Rangefinders for Bow Hunting of 2023 appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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Most Versatile		Leupold VX-3HD 3.5-10×40	SEE IT	LEARN MORE	Summary A no-frills, no-fuss rifle scope with the versatility to fit a wide range of rifles.
Best Budget Scope		Hawke Vantage 30 WA IR 2.5-10×50	SEE IT	LEARN MORE	Summary An entry-level-priced scope that’s fast and easy to deploy.
Best Crossover Scope		Vortex Razor HD LHT 4.5-22×50	SEE IT	LEARN MORE	Summary Brings a versatile first-plane reticle to the game with Vortex’s best-in-class glass and controls.

Rifle scope designs follow trends in the rifles that they’ll be paired with. The 3-9×42 scope, one of the best all-around hunting optics mounted on generations of bolt-action rifles, held sway until rising sales of ARs convinced shooters they needed a short-range optic for home defense. Then long-range precision shooting, and the big chassis rifles that enable those super-long shots, became popular, and the optics industry cranked out big 5-25×56 scopes with supersized turrets and first-plane milling reticles to serve this new market of shooters.

This year’s trend in rifle scopes is a return to smaller configurations and wider versatility to pair with ARs and carbines that might be used for close-quarters shooting but require precise aiming points for mid-distance shots. And we’re seeing lightweight scopes intended to mate with the new generation of semi-custom ultra-light hunting rifles.

There are two patterns in the 2022 optics market: for that first species of gun, a flood of low-power variable optics (also known as LPVOs) that are configured in the 1-8 or 1-10x magnification range with 24mm objective lenses. These rigs are at home on ARs, but also on short-range carbines, shotguns, and even dangerous-game rifles. And for that second type or gun, we’re seeing a return to the versatile hunting scope, only this new crop borrows attributes from the precision-shooting world. These have magnification ranges from 3-to-12-power, or 4-to-16-power and are built on 1-inch or 30mm tubes behind modest-sized objective lenses.

These new versatile hunting scopes are meant to be paired with lightweight mountain rifles and offer tons of optical horsepower in small packages that are designed to place bullets with great precision—and confidence—when the trophy of a lifetime hovers in the thin air of a distant ridge. I tested a wide range of rifle scopes for their features, optical performance, and turret tracking. When the dust settled, I made my picks for the best rifle scopes for a wide range of uses and host rifles. 

• Best Precision Hunting Scope: Zeiss LRP S5 3-18×50
• Most Versatile Hunting Scope: Leupold VX-3HD 3.5-10×40 
• Best Budget Scope: Hawke Vantage 30 WA IR 2.5-10×50 
• Best Crossover Scope: Vortex Razor HD LHT 4.5-22×50 
• Best LPVO: EOTech Vudu 1-10×28
• Best Budget Precision Rimfire Rifle Scope: Athlon Midas HMR 2.5-15×50
• Best Compact Rifle Scope: Maven CRS.2 4-16×44
• Best Long-Range Hunting Scope: Tract TORIC UltraHD 2.5-15×44
• SIG TANGO-MSR 1-10×28
• Trijicon Tenmile HX 3-18×44 
• GPO Spectra 6x 4.5-27x50i
• Meopta MeoSport R 3-15×50 RD SFP 

How We Tested the Best Rifle Scopes

I started by collecting test samples of scopes that are readily available on the market. Some are new for the year, others have been in circulation for several years; note that I did not test every single scope on the market, but rather a representative sample of what’s available. I then measured the optical attributes of each entry, giving each an optical resolution score and testing their low-light performance by viewing a black-and-white resolution target as evening came on my test site in eastern Montana. Unlike the low-light testing that I subject entries in Outdoor Life’s rigorous annual test of new optics, I subjected rifle scopes in this roundup to only one night of testing.

Finally, I strapped all these scopes to slave rifles and shot them at a battery of targets of various sizes and distances. I use Bergara’s B-14 R, one of the best rimfire rifles, for this portion of the test, because I shoot about 60 rounds per scope, and center-fire rifles tend to beat up the test team. Thanks to my friends at Federal and Remington for supplying match .22 ammo.

The shooting portion tests the ability of each scope’s turrets and reticle to track up and down and then return to zero. I also test the precision of turret and reticle references. The one thing I don’t do is submerge, freeze, and then thaw scopes. I’ve learned through many years of optics testing that only a vanishingly small percentage of scopes will fail this kind of torture testing, and I’d rather spend my time with more meaningful evaluations.

Best Rifle Scopes: Reviews and Recommendations

Best Precision Hunting Scope: Zeiss LRP S5 3-18×50

Zeiss

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Key Features 

• Magnification: 3.6 to 18 power
• Field of view at 100 yards: 30 to 6 feet
• Adjustments: .1 MRAD or .25 MOA
• Weight: 32.8 ounces
• 34mm tube
• Massive amount of internal adjustment
• Extremely tactile turrets
• Precise first-plane reticle

Pros

• Extremely bright and high-contrast glass and coatings
• First-plane turret available in MOA or MRAD values
• Precise, positive turrets
• Internal adjustment range enables shots from 100 to 1,500 yards

Pros

• At over $3,000, this is a pricey scope
• The illumination module on my sample didn’t work

A serious precision hunting scope from one of the members of European optical royalty, Zeiss’s LRP S5 combines the best attributes of long-range precision shooting with a smaller, more versatile configuration. At 2 pounds, this is still a whale of a scope, but its relatively short (13-inch) length and 50mm profile allow for versatile mounting options.

The guts of the scope—my test sample had the ZF-MOAi Reticle 17 tuned to MOA references—is smart and useful. From 3.6 to about 10-power the first plane reticle features a fast, intuitive German 1 bold duplex, but from 10- to 18-power, the precision references come into view, offering 40 MOA of holdover and hold-off windage references with 1 MOA hashes. The scope is also offered in an MRAD version that has a modified Christmas tree design with holds represented in 0.2, 0.5, and 1.0 MRAD increments. Both versions are designed to enable shooters to dial holds from 100 to 1500 yards without using the reticle’s holdover references.

This is a big, serious, purpose-built rifle scope that was years in the making. Zeiss has a winner on its hand, though unfortunately, there’s a small subset of hunters who will use the LRP S5. 

Most Versatile Hunting Scope: Leupold VX-3HD 3.5-10×40 

Leupold

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Key Features 

• Magnification: 3.5 to 10 power
• Field of view at 100 yards: 29 to 11 feet
• Adjustments: .25 MOA
• Weight: 13.1 ounces
• 30mm tube
• Locking exposed elevation turret
• Elevation turret compatible with custom CDS dials
• Simple duplex second-plane reticle

Pros

• 40mm objective allows for low mounting
• Custom Dial System (CDL) enables shooters to match elevation turret to their specific load
• Removable throw lever makes magnification changes easy and fast

Cons

• Second-plane duplex reticle could use some elevation references
• Fixed parallax focus at 100 yards makes near and far targets slightly fuzzy

The best rifle scope for hunting will vary depending on your purpose, but if you need to make a snap 50 yards shot one day and a 300 yard precision shot the next, the Leupold VX-3HD is a great option. With few moving parts to break or tweak, this simple, durable workhorse will deliver years of reliable, if unflashy, service to shooters. It’s remarkable for what it isn’t. The VX-3HD is not a precision scope. It doesn’t have lots of dials and illumination modulation. It isn’t going to help you ring steel at 2,000 yards. But what it does have is restrained simplicity. If you add a custom turret, you simply range your target and dial to the distance, then hold right on and shoot. It doesn’t have any batteries or connect via Bluetooth to a mobile app.

Instead, it’s a straight-ahead rifle scope, with a duplex reticle in the second plane. Weighing only 13 ounces, this is the perfect companion for an under-6-pound mountain rifle.

The VX-3HD is fully functional right out of the box, but to get the most out of its somewhat pedestrian turret, spend the time to blueprint your load, and then order a custom dial. With the right CDS turret, this is a fast, close-enough hunting scope that is both affordable and durable enough to last longer than the rifle you mount it on.

Read Next: Best Thermal Scopes

Best Budget Scope: Hawke Vantage 30 WA IR 2.5-10×50 

Hawke Optics

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Key Features 

• Magnification: 2.5 to 10 power
• Field of view at 100 yards: 50.4 to 12.6 feet
• Adjustments: .25 MOA
• Weight: 21.2 ounces
• Second focal plane
• Red and green center-dot illumination
• Capped turrets tuned to MOA click values
• Simple duplex reticle in second focal plane

Pros

• Center-dot illumination displays aiming point in variety of light conditions
• At 21 ounces, light enough for mountain rifles
• Close focus is configured for .22 matches

Cons

• Elevation turret indexing hard to see
• Lack of reticle references frustrates holdover and hold-off aiming

Compare the Hawke with the Meopta (at over $100 more). Both feature similar duplex reticles and both are configured for all-around hunting and mid-range shooting. In terms of brightness and image quality, the Meopta is the better optic, but the Hawke has some sweet shooting attributes. They include the 10-yards to infinity parallax focus, a feature that makes this a good rimfire scope. I also like the relatively light weight of this unit, and the silky positivity of its controls.

The Hawke’s glass is also better than I expected for such a modest price. In all, it’s a scope with lots of versatility that performs with peers costing twice as much. The Hawke Vantage is also one of the best air rifle scopes for your PCP small game or big bore rifle.

Read Next: Best Rimfire Scopes

Best Crossover Scope: Vortex Razor HD LHT 4.5-22×50 

Vortex Optics

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Key Features 

• Magnification: 4.5 to 22 power
• Field of view at 100 yards: 23.5 to 4.7 feet
• Adjustments: .25 MOA
• Weight: 21.7 ounces
• First-plane precision reticle
• Locking exposed elevation turret, capped windage turret
• Push-button illumination control
• 25-yard-to-infinity parallax

Pros

• Ability to focus as close as 25 yards makes this a decent rimfire scope
• XLR-2 MOA-based reticle is useful without being cluttered
• Push-button illumination is smart and both bright and subdued

Cons

• The elevation turret turns a little too easily
• Like to see a MRAD version of this reticle

The Razor HD line has Vortex’s best glass and controls, but the LHT (it stands for Light Hunter Tactical) brings a versatile first-plane reticle to the game. The MOA-based reticle has abundant elevation and windage references for shooters who like to hold for long shots. For those who prefer to dial turrets for their aiming solution, the locking elevation dial is nicely indexed. 

Vortex has done a nice job of offering a hunting scope that will feel like a precision tactical scope for long-distance target shooters, and like a precision target scope for long-range hunters. It’s the ultimate crossover scope, with a first-plane reticle tuned to MOA references, a low-profile locking elevation turret that’s easy to dial, along with a capped windage turret, and a rock-solid turret zero stop. By combining features from hunting and long-range precision shooting, the Razor HD LHT is precise without being ponderously heavy and big.

At 21.7 ounces, the 30mm scope is not a featherweight, but would be right at home on a lightweight hunting rifle. And it keeps its trim figure by combining the illumination module inside the parallax dial. Inside, the Razor HD LHT features 75 MOA of total elevation adjustment and 45 MOA of windage adjustment. The glass is bright, coatings make the image pop, and it has great durability along with Vortex’s legendary lifetime transferrable warranty.

Read our full Razor HD LHT review to learn more.

Best LPVO: EOTech Vudu 1-10×28

Eotech

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Key Features 

• Magnification: 1 to 10 power
• Field of view at 100 yards: 116.6 to 11.7 feet
• Adjustments: .25 MOA or .1 MRAD
• Weight: 21.3 ounces
• 34mm main tube
• Pull-to-turn elevation turret
• First-plane LE-5 reticle
• Magnification dial throw lever

Pros

• Battle-hardened durability
• 34mm tube contains 29 MRAD of elevation travel and 23 MRAD windage travel
• Pull-to-turn elevation turret is precise and tight
• Scope is available in MOA reticle/turret configuration
• Push-button illumination is smart and precise

Cons

• At 21.3 ounces, this is a tank of a scope
• Configuration limits utility to ARs, shotguns, and carbines

EOTech’s Vudu has long been on the leading edge of innovation in the low-power variable optic category, and the 1-10×28 version continues the legacy. The first-plane LE-5 reticle, based on MRAD values, functions as a close-quarters red-dot scope from 1x to about 6x, but from 6-10-power its precision references come into full view.

This year’s best argument for a versatile rifle scope, this hybrid optic from EOTech serves marvelously as a close-quarters scope for a variety of platforms. It’s a great personal defense optic for ARs, can serve as a ranch-rifle scope for a straight-wall carbine, and would be a great partner on a dangerous-game rifle in search of African buffalo or elephants.

But the EOTech’s true capabilities shine at magnifications above 6-power, when the first-plane reticle enlarges to reveal its precision references. My test model was a LE-5 tuned to MRAD references, and at powers above 6x, it reveals a Christmas-tree design with 12 mils of drop and 12 mils of windage hold, with 6 mils on either side of the crosshair center aiming point.

The push-button illumination module is precise and easy to turn on, off, and vary the intensity of the center aiming point. With a 34mm tube, this is a large scope for close-quarters work, but because it has so much capability in its 1-10-power magnification range, it’s at home on a wide variety of rifle platforms.

Best Budget Precision Rimfire Rifle Scope: Athlon Midas HMR 2.5-15×50

Athlon Optics

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Key Features 

• Magnification: 2.5 to 15 power
• Field of view at 100 yards: 22.7 to 3.6 feet
• Adjustments: .25 MOA
• Weight: 26 ounces
• Second-plane hash reticle
• 6-step illumination intensity
• 30mm tube
• 10 yards to infinity parallax

Pros

• Close focus makes this a good rimfire precision scope
• MOA-based reticle and turrets appeal to hunters
• 50mm objective is suited for low-light hunting

Cons

• Red illumination could use less intensity
• Hash-style reticle could use a few more windage references

Product Description

Once they graduate from the simple duplex reticle, most hunters want reticle references that give them holdover (elevation) marks and holdoff (windage) marks. But they also want a scope that won’t bog them down. Athlon’s Midas HMR is a good choice. It has decent second-plane reticle references inside a versatile package at a fair mid-range price. It has liberal mounting dimensions along its 30mm tube, and it has pretty good glass for the price.

Where the Athlon shines is delivering performance for an accessible price. In the case of the Midas HMR, performance items include resettable turrets with surprisingly tactile click values, parallax that focuses as close as 10 yards—making this a good rimfire scope—and a fairly useful reticle. While I’m on the reticle: it could use some additional reference points, and the alternating hash configuration is a little confusing. But for a scope that can serve every shooting pursuit from rimfire to big-game, there’s a lot to like about this Athlon.

Best Compact Rifle Scope: Maven CRS.2 4-16×44

Maven

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Key Features 

• Magnification: 6 to 16 power
• Field of view at 100 yards: 25.6 to 6.4 feet
• Adjustments: .25 MOA
• Weight: 16.93 oz
• Second-plane duplex reticle with 3 elevation references
• 1-inch tube

Pros

• Extremely lightweight
• Simple controls boost durability score
• Bright glass
• 1-inch tube

Cons

• Lack of reticle references may frustrate precision shooters
• Capped turrets could use more tactile click values

While many brands are moving to specialist rifle scopes, specifically configured for long-distance steel targets or for AR-mounted close-quarters target engagement, Maven has introduced a useful throwback: a versatile hunting scope. The magnification range and 44mm objective make the CRS.2 a great fit for Western hunters or Midwestern whitetail hunters who might have to make longish shots.

If second-plane duplex SHR (Simplified Holdover Reticle) isn’t designed for long-distance precision work, its design enables both quick shooting and mid-range holdover shooting, by utilizing its three elevation references. With some work, a shooter can match those holdover hashes to the specific ballistic drop of their load, and then determine how much holdover to allow at specific magnifications.

While the turrets are nothing fancy, the glass and tight controls of the Maven are worth considering, along with the very accessible price from this direct-to-consumer brand.

Best Long-Range Hunting Scope: Tract TORIC UltraHD 2.5-15×44

Tract Optics

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Key Features 

• Magnification: 2.5 to 15 power
• Field of view at 100 yards: 41.7 to 7.1
• Adjustments: .1 MRAD
• Weight: 28.3
• Available in MOA or MRAD first-plane reticle
• 30mm tube
• Oversized locking elevation turret

Pros

• Turrets have very positive, tactile clicks
• Handsome graphite finish
• 10-to-infinity parallax focus
• Excellent SCHOTT high-definition glass

Cons

• Oversized elevation turret can get hung in scabbards
• Finish shows mars and scratches

This pleasing scope is squarely aimed at hunters who expect to take long shots. The scope’s configuration enables low mounting on rifles and the magnification range is perfect for just about any Western hunting scenario. But the aiming system—from the oversized exposed elevation turret to the first-plane reticle that’s available in either MRAD or MOA configurations—can be used with equal success by hunters who want to hold for an aiming solution or who prefer to dial. The windage turret is smartly capped; the elevation turret has bold indexing and Tract’s Multi Rotation Zero Stop.

My test sample came with the MOA-based Hunting Reticle—it’s also available in the FFP MRAD version—that features .25MOA turret click values and 1 MOA hash marks with larger 5 MOA marks for quick holdover and wiing holdoff. Though the scope is built on a 30mm tube, it features a whopping 100 MOA (30 MRAD) of total elevation adjustment. For close-in work, the scopes have a parallax focus that zooms in to just 10 yards, making this a great choice for those entering the fast-growing .22 precision target competition.

SIG TANGO-MSR 1-10×28

Sig Sauer

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Key Features 

• Magnification: 1 to 10 power
• 34mm tube
• Capped turrets tuned to ½ MOA click values

Why It Made the Cut

The name of Sig’s TANGO-MSR scope gets at its purpose: as a short- and medium-range optic optimized for AR platforms. But the scope’s surprisingly precise reticle has tons of versatility, and makes the TANGO a serviceable shotgun or dangerous-game rifle scope.

Pros

• 11 illumination intensity levels
• Inverted horseshoe second-plane reticle has useful references
• Ships with 34mm cantilever mount
• Magnification throw lever enables fast power changing

Cons

• 34mm tube adds to weight and bulk

Product Description

At its lowest magnifications, this billy club of a scope is one of the best true 1x scopes on the market. With the center aiming point illuminated and the eye directed by bold duplex arrows, the TANGO performs as a non-magnified red dot, enabling very fast target acquisition in close quarters. From about 5x to 10x, the second-plane reticle’s precision aiming points come into play.

With an inverted horseshoe center aiming point, the reticle has 6 holdover references and windage dots for both 5 and 10mph crossing winds, making it a surprisingly useful precision scope. The capped turrets deliver ½ MOA click values, and the scope has a whopping 100 MOA of total internal adjustment, enabling shooters to dial for far-out shots if they don’t want to hold over.

The TANGO-MSR ships with a 34mm cantilever mount, which should make mating to the rail of almost any AR a cinch. The scope also has a “racing stripe” on the left barrel to help reduce canting introduced by a cockeyed mounting job.

Trijicon Tenmile HX 3-18×44 

Trijicon

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Key Features 

• Weight: 24.4 oz
• 30mm tube
• Green and red illumination
• First-plane MOA reticle

Why It Made the Cut

Another in a growing class of cross-over scopes, the Tenmile HX has the bones of a hunting scope with the guts of a precision target scope. The first-plane “Precision Tree” reticle is both fast and precise for shooters who prefer to hold for aiming solutions or who would rather dial turrets.

Pros

• Exposed elevation turret and capped windage turret turn with precision
• 44mm objective lens makes for low-mounting options
• 10-step illumination intensity shows up in any light condition
• 15-yard-to-infinity parallax focus makes this a good rimfire scope

Cons

• At over $2,000, it’s a spendy optic
• Reticle visibility reduced after about 15-power

Product Description

Trijicon has done a marvelous job delivering a scope for hunters who might have to reach out to deliver their bullets but who don’t want the bulk and weight of a precision target scope. The Tenmile HX is slim and mates nicely with a walk-about rifle but has marvelously precise aiming attributes. They start with the exposed elevation turret, tuned to .25 MOA click values, and extend to the first-plane “Precision Tree” reticle that has a series of hashes for elevation holds and dots for windage references. The scope has 60 MOA of total internal adjustment and what Trijicon calls its “exposed zero stop.” The elevation turret is compatible with customized dials from Kenton Industries.

The illumination module delivers good reticle visibility in a wide variety of light conditions, and I like the off settings between intensity steps. The glass and coatings are excellent, the magnification range is just about right for a wide variety of hunting scenarios, and the 30mm tube has generous mounting dimensions.

GPO Spectra 6x 4.5-27x50i

German Precision Optics

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Key Features 

• 34mm tube
• First-plane milling reticle
• Exposed locking turrets

Why It Made the Cut

A high-magnification extension of GPO’s Spectra 6x line, this 4.5-27x version is configured for a hunter who wants to dial for far-distant aiming solutions. It has tactile controls, a hash-style milling reticle in the first focal plane, and infinitely adjustable illumination.

Pros

• Rheostat-based illumination
• Huge magnification range
• 34mm tube enables lots of internal reticle adjustment

Cons

• Reticle isn’t readily visible until about 8x
• Oversized turrets snag easily

Product Description

GPO has gone all in to service the rising number of Western hunters seeking a precision reticle inside a hunting scope. In fact, the Spectra 6x has so many attributes of a precision target scope—34mm tube, oversized uncapped tactical turrets, and a whopping magnification range—that it might be a bit much for many walk-about hunters. But for those who want to dial their scopes to deliver bullets to distant targets, there’s a lot to like.

The pull-to-dial turrets turn with satisfying precision and tactile responsiveness. The parallax, which ranges from 25 yards to infinity, makes images crisp at any distance, and the infinitely adjustable illumination is easy to customize to any light condition. The turrets are tuned to 0.1 MRAD click values, and the indexing and revolution indicator are both first-rate and should minimize tendencies for shooters to get “lost” in the turrets.

The glass is good, and the reticle is simple but useful in the middle of the magnification range, from about 8 to about 20X.

Meopta MeoSport R 3-15×50 RD SFP 

Metopa

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Key Features 

• German 4 duplex reticle in second plane
• 30mm tube diameter
• Center-dot illumination

Why It Made the Cut

A wonderfully versatile entry-level scope, the MeoSport R is as home on a whitetail-deer rifle as it is on an AR-15 intended for coyotes or mid-distance target shooting. In addition to tasty center-dot illumination, focus from 10 yards to infinity, and good glass, the MeoSport R ships with 30mm rings.

Pros

• Wide versatility, from bolt-action hunting rifles to ARs
• Ships with 30mm rings
• Pull-to-turn re-zeroable turrets are fast and precise
• Close-focus makes this a great .22 scope

Cons

• Illumination creates lots of stray light
• Exposed turrets can allow moisture and debris into scope

Product Description

What a value for under $500. The MeoSport R delivers an excellent image and decent durability in a package that serves most deer hunters east of Kansas. The illumination is precise and handy in a wide variety of light conditions, and the 10-to-infinity focus makes this an excellent choice for .22 precision competitions.

I’d like to see a few more references, for both holdover and hold-off, but the simple duplex reticle in the second plane will get your shots on target whether mounted to a bolt-action deer rifle, a fast-shooting AR, or even a shotgun or carbine.

Equally attractive is the price. At well under $500, this is an affordable scope that should deliver years of service as it’s traded from one rifle to another.

Things To Consider Before Buying a Rifle Scope

The first is cost. Quality rifle scopes can cost more than even the best rifles. On the other hand, you can find good-quality scopes for under $400. Your price range and what type of scope performance you need are linked. The quality of glass, the repeatability of the turrets, magnification dial, build quality and other moving parts all shift price. If you’ll be shooting inside 200 yards, and never touch the turrets, you don’t need a $3,000 scope. But, if you’re dialing to shoot 1,300 yards and need all the low light performance money can buy, then you do need that $3,000 scope. 

The heart of any rifle scope is its reticle, or the geometry of the lines in the guts of the optic that help you place your shot. The first decision is: First focal plane or second focal plane? First-plane reticles deliver the same subtensions, or aiming points, regardless of magnification, but some hunters don’t like them because the reticle gets bigger as magnification increases, potentially obscuring small, distant targets. On the other hand, second-plane reticles stay the same size regardless of magnification, which means that those subtensions change depending on the magnification. So you should consider how you’ll be using your scope. Hunters generally like second-plane reticles while precision shooters like first-plane reticles.

Lastly, consider the warranty. Rifle scopes have a lot of moving parts, between the turrets, the parallax and illumination controls, and the variable magnification dial. Plus, they get pounded with the punishment of shooting and other abuses of the field. You’ll want to make sure your purchase is fully covered with a quality warranty. Luckily, most optics these days have fully transferable lifetime warranties, which means you’re protected whether you are the original purchaser or you got the scope secondhand.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Rifle scopes have such variability (of magnification, size, reticle type, and turret design) that picking a purpose-built optic for multiple uses is fraught with problems. On the other hand, expecting a do-everything versatile scope to perform the specific tasks of mile-long steel-plate shooting or low-light, close-quarters combat shooting has just as many problems.

The idea of this roundup is to introduce readers to a wide variety of scope types, and discuss their attributes for specific shooting tasks as well as their ability to solve a number of diverse shooting challenges. Ultimately, you should pick a type of scope—whether a long-range precision scope, a low-power variable optic, or maybe an all-around hunting scope—that suits your needs and then compare models within that niche.

The post The Best Rifle Scopes of 2023, Tested and Reviewed appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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