If you are looking for the best hog hunting scopes for AR 15, you are in the right place. This post will provide an in-depth analysis of the best hog hunting scopes to help you find a perfect fit to complement your hunting AR-15 rifle.
Successful hog hunting calls on patience, tact, determination, and appropriate gear. Hogs are always on the move. Besides, they come out of their hiding places at night. This implies that you need a scope with superb low-lighting capabilities. The magnification also needs to suit the behavioral aspects of these elusive animals.
The best hog hunting scopes guarantees a fruitful hunting trip. In a market flooded with hunting rifle scopes, selecting the best optic for your shooting needs can be a taxing process. We probed the market and found a collection of hog hunting scopes.
Let’s take a look, shall we?
Best Hog Hunting Scopes for AR-15
1) ATN ThOR 4 4.5-18x Riflescope
ATN ThOR 4 4.5-18x boasts an array of astounding features to make your hog hunting experience unforgettable. It is a favorite among many nighttime hunters. It also excels during the day.
With a magnification of 4.5-18x and a range of around 1800 yards, the ThOR 4 is not a close-up scope but has the ability to peer out to where the pigs are gathering.
It is a smart scope with a myriad of connectivity features. Once a microSD card is installed, you can record videos and take images. The scope can also be connected to your phone. Each function works effectively.
When mounted on your hunting rifle, this digital scope offers one-shot zero, making sighting in a snap while saving you ammo and, more significantly, time and hassle.
By eliminating all the mental calculations and doing the laborious work for you, the built-in ballistics calculator enables you to dial in your shot accurately at a distance. For those who like taking long shots, ATN also offers a 1,000-yard rangefinder side clamp.
The Smart Mil Dot reticle is dynamic and changes with magnification over the entire magnification range. Regarding color, there are many different ways to represent thermal. You can change the colors of the reticle or even the entire reticle to ensure that it matches your preferred color palette.
High-grade hardened aluminum alloy is used to construct the scope. This connotes that it will endure the rough environments and general wear and tear you are likely to encounter. It is impact-resistant, waterproof, and fog-proof to protect the internal components.
The recoil pressures from a high-caliber weapon will not do anything to this scope. This unbeatable durability makes it qualify as a great hog hunting scope.
Features
- Smart Mil Dot reticle
- Recoil Activated Video
- Tough aluminum alloy body
- Smooth zoom functionality
- A ballistic calculator
- Live streaming
- E-compass and GPS feature
- Smart range finder
Pros
- Crystal clear image
- Reliable battery life
- Long-lasting construction
- Commendable refresh rate
Cons
- Weight
- Occasional image freezing
2) Pulsar Thermion 2 LRF 2-16x Riflescope
Pulsar Thermion 2 LRF 2-16x is the other top contender among the best hog hunting scopes for AR-15. This thermal scope combines state-of-the-art optical system and unrivaled thermal imaging to create a reliable hog hunting solution.
The thermal rifle scope features cutting-edge image sensors and, under optimal conditions, it can detect heat signatures as far as 2,000 yards away. It is recoil-rated to withstand the shocks and vibrations making a perfect choice for use with calibers that produce a lot of recoil.
It boasts a 640×480 pixel pitch, and a wide zoom range of 2-16x, making it ideal for long-range shooting and maintaining good images even at long distances.
Another notable attribute that makes the Thermion 2 rifle scope shine among the best hog hunting scopes for AR-15 is unrivaled accuracy. This is made possible by a second focal plane reticle that is perfect for hunting applications.
To enhance long-range performance, this thermal scope is fitted with a laser rangefinder that can sight targets that up to 875 yards. This further boost your shooting accuracy as you can make the necessary elevation and wind drift corrections if you know the exact distance of the target.
In addition, it gives you more than 10 hours of juice without worrying about the battery kicking the bucket. This is sufficient for most hog hunting excursions.
It incorporates the added features you’d expect from a high-end scope, including Wi-Fi connectivity and built-in recording. Since it is entirely waterproof and has an IPX7 rating, you can use it in harsh weather.
Features
- IPX7 waterproof rating
- Five shooting profiles
- Laser rangefinder with a range of 875 yards
- Integrated photo and video recorder
- 1024×768 display
- Picture-in-picture mode
- Ambidextrous lens focusing
Pros
- Remarkable resolution
- Robust build quality
- Excellent dynamic range
Cons
- Pricey
3) SightMark Wraith HD 4-32×50 Digital Riflescope
SightMark Wraith HD 4-32x50mm is a winner when it comes to solid quality and exceptional performance. Besides, it comes at an approachable price making it one of the best hog hunting scopes under $500.
With this scope, you can use HD color imaging during the day and switch to night vision for a stunning view of the nocturnal animals. With a 50mm objective lens, you get bright and clear images in any lighting condition.
High-resolution and high contrast glass used on the lenses delivers stunning images across the zoom range. With a wide field of view, you will clearly without experiencing significant image degradation because of the included high-resolution sensor, display, and 850 nm IR flashlight.
Considering its affordable pricing, this scope doesn’t compromise on quality features. The Wraith HD digital rifle scope can execute color, green, and black/white displays pretty well.
Also, you can change the display’s brightness, select one of ten different reticle patterns, pick a reticle color from nine selections, and make digital changes to zero in on the target. This gives you the ability to adapt to different lighting and environmental conditions.
You can capture the moments with the built-in HD video recording and sharing capabilities when out hog hunting. The recording can be played again on the scope, saved to the microSD card, and uploaded to a device when you choose the resolution level between 1080 and 720 quality.
The scope lacks the bells and whistles that could result in a heavy scope. This gives you fast execution on the field, which is essential for a fruitful hunting expedition.
Features
- Nitrogen filled hence fogproof
- 8x digital zoom
- HD image or video recording
- 4 AA batteries with 4.5 hours of power
- Color mode for daytime use
- Removable eyecup
- Ten reticle choices
- Removable IR illuminator
Pros
- Multiproof properties
- Side mount
- Affordable
- A-grade image quality
- Easy-to-use buttons
Cons
- Poor battery life
- Heavy
4) Trijicon ACOG 3.5×35 Riflescope
Trijicon ACOG 3.5x35mm Riflescope ticks all the boxes of perfection. Hog hunting buffs looking for accuracy, precision, and unmatched quality in a scope should look no further. The 3.5x magnification is ideal for many hunters as it falls in the 50 to 100-yard range.
The scope’s engineering is one of its biggest perks. It has a robust body made of 7075-T6 aircraft aluminum alloy that makes it virtually indestructible.
The Bindon Aiming Concept, which is Trijicon’s aiming system, is another remarkable feature. It supports both eyes open shooting. This enhances awareness of the surroundings, making target acquisition a breeze.
Furthermore, the glass quality is outstanding. It is top-notch and fully multi-coated to boost light transmission. There is practically no edge or clarity loss or distortion. As another best hog hunting scope, it won’t fog up or fail to provide clear visibility. It is also dustproof, and waterproof. You can hunt no matter how challenging the conditions are.
The elevation and windage turrets are finger-adjustable for smooth operation. The reticle illumination is also excellent. Fiber optics are used to make it usable during the day, while tritium is used for nighttime shooting.
Features
- Capped adjustment turrets
- Highly durable aluminum construction
- Fully multi-coated glass
- Bindon Aiming Concept
- 4 inches of eye relief
- Waterproof, fogproof, and shockproof
- BDC that is easy to understand
- Wide field of view
Pros
- Battery-free
- Solid build
- Accessories are included
- Reticle illumination with automatic brightness adjustment
- Accurate shots
Cons
- Heavily priced
5) ATN X-Sight Pro Edition 5-20x Smart HD Day/Night Riflescope
Another candidate on our list of the best hog hunting scopes for AR-15 is the ATN X-Sight Pro Edition 5-20x Smart HD Day/Night Riflescope. The scope’s image shooting and video-recording capabilities make it outshine competitors. This allows you to take down your targets that are far away headache-free.
Since scopes are designed to enhance accuracy, the ATN X-Sight doesn’t disappoint in this department. It includes a mechanism that enables amateur hog hunters to shoot proficiently.
The X-Sight Pro gives an extremely sharp and clear image that is distortion-free and bright in full color. The integrated IR imaging technology gives you a superior view of your target, so you don’t have to worry about the color image fading during night hunting.
The scope provides more than 18 hours of battery power for a reliable hog hunting experience. Being interrupted in the middle of your hunt will be a thing of the past.
Nevertheless, the scope is water-resistant, fogproof, and shockproof for relentless performance no matter the condition. It is also toughly constructed of aircraft-grade aluminum for longevity.
One Shot Zero is also a highlight of the scope. It supports bullet compensation and easy and quick zeroing. The ballistic calculator facilitates precise point-of-aim impacts. Moreover, there is a customizable mil-dot reticle. Depending on the load you’re using, you can adjust the mil separation between the hashmarks to match your needs.
Features
- Recoil activated video
- More than 18 hours of battery life
- One Shot Zero
- Smart range finder
- Ballistic calculator
- Fogproof and shockproof
- 60 Hz refresh rate
- Records and streams videos simultaneously
Pros
- Digital image sensor results in top-of-the-line images
- Quick target acquisition, even at night
- Ideal for newbies
- Super accurate shots
- Incredible battery life
Cons
- Some technology issues
- Weight
6) Leupold FX-II Ultralight 2.5x20mm Riflescope
Leupold delivers the FX-II Ultralight 2.5×20 in a compact package to allow hassle-free execution while using it. The fixed 2.5x magnification makes it the perfect hog hunting scope. The eye relief is generously positioned at 4.9 inches. With this, you can shoot comfortably with both eyes open.
Since excellent light transmission is necessary for the best hog hunting scopes, this Leupold scope doesn’t disappoint. This is supported by the Index Matched fully multi-coated lenses that draw in plenty of light.
You get clear images even for hogs that are on the move. Besides, the Twilight Management System found on Leupold scopes is present here. This gives you more than 20 minutes of shooting time when the night sky creeps in.
The scope’s durability is also worth pointing out. It is waterproof, fogproof, shockproof, and scratchproof. This makes it an ideal companion regardless of how challenging the conditions are.
Regarding the reticle, the FX-II uses a simple Wide Duplex reticle that is etched on the glass. This enhances visibility in dismal conditions. This works exceptionally well coupled with the excellent light transmission and facilitates simple, accurate sighting when hog hunting at night. The reticle also supports fast target acquisition.
All these features cement the FX-II as one of the best hog hunting scopes for AR-15.
Features
- 5x magnification
- Twilight Management System
- Fully multi-coated optics
- Weatherproof
- 9 inches of eye relief
- The turrets have 1/4 MOA clicks
- Wide Duplex Reticle
- Weighs 6.5 ounces
Pros
- Solid turrets
- All-weather reliability
- Lightweight
- Generous eye relief
Cons
- Glass quality
What Magnification Do You Need?
Given their high level of excitability, the optimal shooting distance for wild hogs is between 50 and 100 yards. There is no evading the fact that hogs are cunning and swift on short, stumpy legs.
While pursuing wild boar, a scope with a fixed magnification is sufficient. However, you must evaluate both your hunting prowess and optical acuity.
An experienced hunter with good vision might be able to take down a boar at 20 yards without using a scope. A rookie hunter with poor vision might need a 4x scope for the same kill.
The best hog hunting scopes for AR-15 should have a magnification range of 1x to 4x. This can accommodate the majority of wild boar hunting circumstances.
What Size Scope Is Best for Hunting?
The 3-9x variable has been the go-to option for hunters for many options now. There is a good reason for this. The 3x setting provides a reasonably good and large field of view for close, running shots while 9x is a ton of magnification for shooting elk or deer at 300 yards.
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How to Choose the Best Hog Hunting Scopes for AR-15
There are some pertinent considerations that you need to have in mind before purchasing the a hog hunting scope for AR 15. These include:
Magnification
This is the first factor to have in mind when shopping for the best hog hunting scopes for AR-15. If you have acute vision and don’t plan to hunt hogs farther than 50 yards, a fixed power scope will do. Yet, a scope with power variations will provide superior acquisition speed and precision due to the unpredictability of wild hogs.
Lens Quality
You need a lens with high performance. The best hog hunting scopes for AR-15 should have a large objective lens that enables effective light transmission and gathering. With the help of high-quality optics and appropriate coatings, the target can be clearly seen from a distance.
Reticle
The role the reticle plays cannot be overlooked. Wild hogs are agile and hide in dense brush. You may be unable to discern fine details of the hog’s surroundings if your reticle contains multiple elevation and windage markings.
Keep in mind that most of your hunting will take place at night. Moreover, wild hogs are dark in color. They become exceedingly elusive as a result. It may be challenging to sight the hog if the reticle has too many markings. A simple red dot or Duplex crosshair is frequently enough for hog hunting.
Night Vision Capability
Hogs are mostly active when darkness creeps in. As a result, the best hog hunting scopes for AR-15 should enable you to focus on your prey’s thermal or infrared signal.
A rifle scope with built-in night vision technology is an option, as is a handheld night vision gadget. The former option is always preferred for ease by serious hog hunters.
Best Hog Hunting Scopes FAQs
Q: What Size Scope is Ideal for Hog Hunting?
Hogs are cautious animals; therefore, spotting them from a distance is critical. Higher magnification and objective lenses support plentiful light and detail at a distance. For long-range hunting, the 10×42, 12×50, or 15×56 are excellent choices.
Q: Between Red and Green, Which is Better for Hogs?
Hogs usually are darker in color, therefore, green lights contrast and illuminate their bodies more easily than red lights do, making them the favorite option among hog hunters.
Q: Is Thermal or Night Vision Better for Hog Hunting?
Thermal is unquestionably superior for hog hunting. You can see far further out while seeing through light brush, rain, and fog.
Moreover, thermal removes the need for an IR attachment for lighting. Thermal scopes are also widely used during the day. The heat signature can be used to find downed animals if necessary.
Final Thoughts
Hog hunting is pretty different from other hunting types. The creatures tend to be active at night. This said, your scope choice determines whether or not you make the kill. We hope you have found an ideal hog hunting scope from this enlightening review.
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