Best Rifle Scopes of 2020
Rifle scopes come in countless styles, configurations, and price points. Finding one that fits your budget and your needs really depends on your preferences. Do you need a short-range scope for home defense and close-up targets? A long-range scope for hunting and competition? A scope that fits various situations? No matter what, there is a scope for your rifle at a price you can afford.
If you’re looking for a quality scope to fit your needs and budget, here are the best scopes available.
5. Schmidt & Bender PMII 5-25×56
The Schmidt & Bender PMII 5-25×56 long-range scope is costly, but it’s also considered to be the best scope available in 2020 and worth every cent.
A 56-millimeter objective lens and 5 to 25x range of magnification mean this lens can gather plenty of light for long-range shots. The reticle is on the first focal plane. The field of view is fantastic between 5.3 and 1.5 meters, depending on the zoom level. The reticle’s illumination has 11 settings, and the lenses deliver nearly 100% light transmission.
You get excellent eye relief (3.5 inches) even with maximum zoom.
The scope is durable, and the flat black matte finish won’t give away your position. Windage and elevation adjustment turrets are excellent, and the separate parallax turret allows you to compensate from 10 meters to infinity.
The elevation knob is color-coded, so you have instant reference to your elevation setting, and you can quickly compensate if your target moves up or down, such as when you are hunting on a mountainside.
The Schmidt & Bender PMII 5-25×56 long-distance scope is an excellent choice for anyone who can afford it.
4. Burris Optics Veracity 5-25×50
Here’s a good scope for up to 1000 yards, and excellent for up to 700. The magnification on the Burris Optics Veracity is a fantastic 5 to 25x. The objective lens measures 50 millimeters, and you can easily zoom up to five times with the dial next to the eyepiece.
There is one small problem with the turrets, though: no visible markings for the setting. Otherwise, the turrets are great. They turn smoothly and with audible clicks so you can keep track of your position.
The lenses present a fantastic sight picture with unbeatable brightness and clarity regardless of the time of day, particularly suitable for long-distance shooters. They can easily spot targets far away and in shadows.
The Burris Veracity has excellent lens quality and overall functionality, especially if you don’t need to keep track of turret position.
3. Leupold VX-3i LRP 6.5-20x50mm
Leupold is a well-respected name in scopes, with good reason, as the VX-3i LRP 6.5-20x50mm scope demonstrates.
Eye relief is 3.7 to 5.3 inches. It is fog-proof, waterproof, and shock-resistant. The reticle (it’s on the first focal plane) magnifies with the image, so you can estimate the target’s range and track it at long distances. The scope is light, so that you can pair it with lots of rifles. It disperses recoil better than most scopes, so it works well with high-powered rifles good for shooting up to 1000 yards.
This scope features Leupold’s Twilight Max Light Management System.
exceptional lens clarity combined with full-spectrum lens coatings to give you 20 extra minutes of light for shooting. That additional light is convenient when shooting at dusk or dawn.
The Leupold VX-3i LRP 6.5-20x50mm rifle scope is an excellent choice for long-range shooting.
2. Vortex Optics Crossfire II 6-24×50 AO, SFP
Vortex Optics is a high-quality and high-value scope manufacturer. The Crossfire II line is perfect for new and experienced shooters.
The Crossfire II scope has a 50 mm objective lens and magnification settings from 6 to 24x. It has plenty of eye relief and a fantastic eye box. You can pair it with a high-recoil rifle without getting your eye blackened.
It functions in fog and inclement weather. Also, you can use the adjustable objective lens to eliminate parallax. The multicoated lenses are durable and offer clear views.
If you are a long-distance shooter, you will appreciate the BDC (Bullet Drop Compensation) reticle. It is on the second focal plane, so it remains the same size when you change the magnification. But hash marks on the bottom of the reticle help you estimate your shot placement over long distances. This is the easiest bullet-drop estimator ever, making this an excellent scope for long-distance shooting. The only drawback is that recoil may cause the reticle to offset.
Overall, the Vortex Optics Crossfire II 6-24×50 AO, SFP rifle scope is an affordable scope that is excellent for long-range shooting and easy bullet-drop estimation.
1. Primary Arms 1-6x ACSS
Why would you choose a 1-6x scope? Because it’s suitable for long distances (like big game hunting) and close shooting (like an indoor shooting range).
Primary Arms’ Advanced Combined Sighting System reticle integrates bullet drop compensation, moving target leads, wind holds, and range estimation. The sighting system is intuitive, fast up to 300 yards, and accurate between 300 and 800 yards.
The reticle is on the second focal plane, so it stays the same size at all magnifications, allowing fast target acquisition at low power and advanced reticle functionality at maximum power.
The Primary Arms 1-6x ACSS is an award winner, too! It has received the Silver-tier rating from the National Tactical Officers Association.
Test Your Rifle Scope at The Range 702
Overall, 2020 offers some great scopes, no matter what your needs or budget might be. If you’re new to shooting and are unsure of what scope might work best for you, The Range 702 in Las Vegas has sniper rifles in our gun vault you can test out. Once you get a better idea of what you want, you can invest in your own rifle scope to get the most out of every shooting experience. Also, you can always bring your own rifle and scope to The Range 702 to work on your accuracy!
