In this post, we will delve beyond the surface when it comes to the best sniper scopes. Not only are we going to look at the best options, but the nuances that set them apart. These high-performing optics are not mere accessories; they are the eyes of the expert marksman, offering insane clarity, accuracy, and unwavering reliability.
In pursuing perfection at extended ranges, selecting the best sniper scope is extremely important. Sniper scopes are designed for sports shooters and hunting enthusiasts looking for real range. They are not the conventional hunting model glass sighting systems.
With the right equipment, you can be sure to achieve the best long-range rifle shooting. Finding the best equipment is not at all easy, especially for a first-time buyer. We are here to ensure that you get it right the first time. We have listed the high-ranking options to help you find the one that suits you best.
What Is a Sniper Scope?
A sniper scope is a telescope fixed atop a rifle’s barrel so that shooters can use a reticle to match their barrel with the target. It assists shooters in lining up their target with the point of impact while considering natural elements, including gravity, windage, bullet drop, and the earth’s curvature.
The reticle of a sniper scope lets the shooter focus on where they want the bullet to go and often shows how far the target is. The need for long-range accuracy has only increased recently, and long-range optics have kept up with the demands.
The engagement distances between shooters and targets are so great that conventional sights aren’t even close to providing the magnified views that sniper scopes can provide.
6 Best Sniper Scopes
Whether you are a long-range enthusiast, a seasoned sniper, or someone indulging in precision shooting, this article displays the finest optics made to meet and surpass the exacting demands of those who thrive in the pursuit of distant targets.
Without much ado, let’s skip to the models.
1) Vortex Viper HS-T 4-16x44mm Riflescope
Vortex Viper HS-T 4-16x44mm is packed with multiple features that make it versatile, durable, precise, and a long-range performer.
Right off the bat, the 44mm objective lens is fully multi-coated to advance light transmission, giving extra time during dismal lighting conditions. The XD elements increase color fidelity and resolution for superb image quality.
This second focal plane riflescope features a MRAD/MOA reticle hashmark for accurately holding the scope at extended distances, along with repeatable target-style windage and elevation turrets for dialing. The scope enables you to make range calculations and shooting adjustments fast and accurately with subtension marks that match the reticle.
In addition, the scope ships with Vortex’s Zero Stop system, a precision force spring system, and a precision glide erector system. A fast-focus eyepiece makes reticle focus swift, while the Armortek treatment on the lenses protects against dirt, debris, and scratches.
Recoil, impact, and harsh elements will not bother the scope because it is 100% shockproof, waterproof, and fogproof.
Grab the Vortex Viper HS-T for a great way to ensure you are working with some of the best optics the industry has to offer.
Features
- Weighs 20.8 oz
- Second focal plane reticle
- The objective lens size is 44mm
- 4 inches of eye relief
- XR fully multi-coated lenses
- Waterproof, fog proof, and shockproof
- 30mm tube
- Hard anodized construction
- XD lens elements
- 75 MOA adjustment range
- 4x to 16x magnification
Pros
- The warranty is unbeatable
- Outstanding light transmission and clarity
- Rock-solid build
Cons
- Parallax adjustment issues
2) Trijicon AccuPoint TR-23 5-20x50mm Riflescope
Trijicon Accupoint TR-23 5-20x50mm makes the cut because of its innovative features. Its flawless long-range accuracy and practical application in low or no light make it easily one of the best sniper scopes.
Its first outstanding highlight is the dual illumination system, which automatically adjusts depending on your prevailing lighting condition. The fully multi-coated lenses also make the scope a low-light performer, guaranteeing clear images regardless of the time of day.
The scope’s performance is all-weather and shielded by its hard-anodized aluminum body, which allows you to dependably use it whether in the desert sun or in humid conditions. You can rest easy knowing the scope will take a beating.
Adding to the good stuff the unit brings is the uniquely comfortable eye relief that protects your eyes from recoil when using high-caliber rifles.
You also get generous windage and elevation adjustment for maximum total travel. No tools are required to change the windage and elevation. Besides, capped or zero-stop adjusters ensure no unintentional shift.
Features
- Allows shooting with both eyes open
- Edge-to-edge clarity
- Repositionable throw lever
- Easy-focus eyepiece
- Battery-free illuminated reticle
- Waterproof, fog proof, and shockproof
- Matte finish
- 30mm tube diameter
- Eye relief of 3.8 inches
- The optical system is fully multi-coated
- Parallax turret
Pros
- Top-tier build quality
- Remarkable optical clarity
- A bright dot that is easy to focus on
Cons
- Expensive
3) Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25x56mm Riflescope
Another premium sniper riflescope that is worth giving a try is the Leupold Mark 5-25x56mm. Placing this scope on your weapon awakens a whole new beast ready to make your long-range action one of a kind.
The scope is designed with the Twilight Max HD Light Management system, which provides an additional 30 minutes of shooting light on sunny days. The 56mm objective lens offers a sweet spot between decent vibrance and clarity, even in weak light.
Scratch-resistant lenses protect the pristineness of your lenses, ensuring you have an optic that performs without issues for years to come. The scope is made with waterproof and fogproof capabilities, ensuring reliability when the weather is not gentle.
What’s more, the scope survives 5,000 impacts on the Punisher, Leupold’s recoil simulation machine. You can be sure it will stand up to your rifle’s powerful blasts with each trigger pull.
Adding a fast-focus eyepiece makes acquiring the reticle a breeze, while a side focus parallax adjustment ensures accurate aiming at extended ranges. The reticle is on the first focal plane and has mil hash marks that simplify range estimation and provide precise holdover points for windage and elevation.
Features
- Side focus
- 5:1 zoom ratio
- The magnification range is 5x to 25x
- Gigantic 56mm objective lens
- The reticle is positioned on the first focal plane
- Scratch-resistant lenses
- A fast-focus eyepiece
- Punisher tested
- Generous eye relief of 3.6 to 3.8 inches
Pros
- Terrific light transmission
- Clarity
- Illuminated reticle
- Build quality
Cons
- Dents your pocket
4) Primary Arms 6-30x56mm Riflescope
There is nothing not to like about the Primary Arms PLx 6-30x56mm riflescope. First of all, it comes with a massive 56mm objective lens that grabs plenty of light, resulting in incredibly bright and clear target images from suntop to sundown.
The top-of-the-line Japanese glass makes the scope a high-quality model with excellent craftsmanship and optical clarity in mind.
The high-strength 34mm tube is waterproof, fog-resistant, shock resistant, and bolstered by a hard anodized finish. A lifetime warranty covers it to sort out any defects or replacements.
Another reason you should get the PLx is the convenient side focus adjustment knobs and easy access controls. The turrets are resettable to zero and have 0.1 mil click adjustments that are precise, tactile, and audible.
The reticle is on the first focal plane and stays true across all magnification levels. The lowest setting on the full red reticle illumination is compatible with night vision, while the highest is daylight bright.
Enhance your sniper shooting skills with this gem that brings an array of features not found anywhere else.
Features
- Aerospace aluminum formation
- Multi-proof technology
- Turrets have a zero-resettable function
- Made in Japan
- The exterior is hard-coated and anodized
- 34mm tube
- First focal plane
- 6x to 30x magnification
- Advanced Japanese glass in the lens system
Pros
- Five-star reticle
- The glass is exceptionally clear
- Robust construction quality
Cons
- Heavy
5) Bushnell Banner 6-18x50mm Riflescope
Another option that is really good for you is the Bushnell Banner 6-18x50mm riflescope. The Banner is one of the brand’s most popular series of scopes and makes the cut because of its outstanding durability and stunning optical performance.
One major strong point for the sniper scope is the Dusk & Daen multi-coated lenses that maximize brightness and clarity on the line between night and day. The size of the objective lens is enormous, standing at 50mm, and it lets in just enough light when in dark environments, thus contributing to the amazing images cast.
The 6x to 18x magnification is impressive, and the mil-dot reticle on the rear focal plane ensures accurate range estimation and holdover adjustments for greater shooting accuracy.
Another feature is the fast-focus eyepiece that aids reticle focus, adding convenience during dynamic shooting scenarios.
Durability is important for any scope, and the Bushnell Banner doesn’t disappoint. Its one-piece tube is o-ring sealed and nitrogen purged for complete waterproofing, fogproofing, and shockproofing. This level of durability makes it one of our contenders for the best sniper scopes.
These features reveal its precision and practicality, so investing in the scope is one of the wisest decisions you can make.
Features
- 1/4 MOA fingertip windage and elevation adjustment
- Filled with dry nitrogen gas
- Dusk & Dawn multi-coated optics
- Multi-X reticle
- The magnification range is 6x to 18x
- Matte finish
- Fast focus eyepiece
- Fully shockproof, fog proof, and waterproof
- One-piece tube
Pros
- Crystal-clear glass
- Built to last
- Easy to set up and use
Cons
- The reticle is not lighted
6) Vortex Viper PST Gen II 5-25x50mm Riflescope
We close off with the Vortex Viper PST Gen II 5-25x50mm riflescope. Affix this scope on your weapon platform for the incredible tactical edge that snipers demand. Its bells and whistles ensure you have a partner you can rely on regardless of what you use it for.
The scope’s rock-solid formation is a marvel. Aircraft-grade aluminum constructs it and is topped with a hard anodized finish that safeguards the tube from corrosion while providing a low-glare matte surface for maximum concealment as you look for dinner.
O-ring seals and argon gas purging in the tube ensure that rain or snow does not affect your scope. You can confidently use it in unfavorable weather conditions, knowing it will not fail you at any moment. The shockproofing capability allows the unit to handle powerful recoil from your firearm.
Armortek coatings protect the lenses from oil, dirt, and scratches. XR fully multi-coated lenses combine with the extra-low dispersion glass to yield refreshingly clear and bright images with high resolution.
Another great thing about this product is the fast-focus eyepiece that helps with reticle focusing, increasing the target acquisition speed.
Moreover, the RZR zero stop is integrated into the laser-etched into the turrets and parallax is adjustable. Even in low light, turret positions may be tracked with the aid of a fiber optic rotation indicator.
The scope also ships with the precision force spring system and precision glide erector system. More than that, the reticle is glass-etched and illuminated making it suitable for tackling various lighting conditions.
Features
- 30mm tube
- Fast focus eyepiece
- Single-piece, aircraft-grade aluminum tube
- Tactical-style turrets
- XR fully multi-coated lenses with Armortek treatment
- Argon gas purged for fog proofing
- Waterproof because of the o-ring-sealed tube
- XD lens elements
- Glass-etched illuminated reticle on the first focal plane
- RZR Zero Stop
- 4 inches of eye relief
Pros
- Extremely clear
- Flawlessly accurate
- Build quality
Cons
- Sighting is a bit challenging
Choosing the Best Sniper Scopes
When buying a sniper scope, ensure you put the following considerations in mind:
Magnification
Magnification is one of the major things when selecting the best sniper scopes. A higher zoom means farther locking into your target. A good sniper scope should have high and variable magnification settings to support long-range shots, letting you change views quickly and precisely.
Look for a range between 6x and 24x or more, as this allows you to see the target as if you were standing in front of them despite the extended distance.
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Objective Lens Diameter
The next thing to consider after magnification is the objective lens. Sniper rifles need long-range shooting, meaning the scope you buy must be able to generate clear images at high zoom levels.
This is why you need to get a scope with a large objective lens. This lens will capture plenty of light, making the sight picture clearer.
Lens Coatings
Lens coatings are the next important thing, as they can either make or break your shooting experience. The coatings are applied to the lenses, and it is always advisable to go for multi-coated or fully multi-coated lenses. However, that can mean spending more, especially if you are looking at premium sniper scopes from reputable brands.
Durability
Sniper scopes are specialized equipment used in various conditions. Demanding conditions are inevitable, so your scope should be built for anything. The best sniper scopes are constructed from aircraft-grade aluminum and are further anodized to make them resistant to bumps and corrosion.
The scopes also have tightly sealed O-rings and argon/nitrogen gas purging to prevent fogging and penetration of moisture.
Ensure the scope you choose is made of high-grade materials that can withstand the environment’s heavy hitters and still give you the perfect shot placement.
Turrets
The turrets are what you use to hold for elevation and windage. This is a parameter many budget brands compromise on, which is immediately noticeable once you begin using the scope. Turrets are essential as they help with adjustments. They should click on each rotation so that you can easily keep track of them. Decent turrets have caps and may even include a locking mechanism that will keep them in position even if you bump into a barrier.
Eye Relief
Last but not least, consider eye relief when scouting for the best sniper scopes. Long-range rifles typically have high recoil, which means the shooter is at risk of harm. This type of injury is known as scope kiss, and it happens when the gun’s recoil forces the scope backward and hits close to the eye.
A scope with enough eye relief is necessary to avoid unwanted injuries.
How Does a Sniper Scope Work?
Most scopes basically have the same algorithm, so they function the same. First, the objective lens at the far end of the scope allows light to enter. There, it is filtered and focused for transmission through the rest of the scope.
Then, light enters the erector system, which is housed in the main tube and contains the reticle and magnification lenses.
After that, the light enters the optical system housed within the eyepiece. There, it travels through the optical lens where it is cast into your sight picture.
Can A Sniper Scope Be Used for Hunting?
Yes. Sniper scopes are mostly utilized for military operations, law enforcement, and competitive shooting, but they also make perfect companions for hunting and target practice.
Just like any other scope, a sniper scope lets you see and land shots at targets that are far away when hunting. Owing to their high-quality lenses, they even work admirably in challenging light and yield crystal-clear images. This makes them handy in the critical hours of dusk and dawn when lighting is low.
Final Words
The best sniper scopes are instruments of mastery, made with meticulous attention to detail and designed to deliver unmatched performance at extended distances. It is apparent that there are many options available on the market. From a myriad of options existing, we hope this post has served its purpose of making it seamless for you to find your shooting partner for the next outing. Which sniper scope are you picking?
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