A rifle is only as good as the shooter makes it, more or less. In order to be truly accurate, rifle shooters look to finder scopes for sighting in the target. Whether you are using a rifle for hunting or for target sports, the best rifle scope brands will allow you to accurately aim, thus getting the most out of your rifle.
A rifle scope is basically a small telescope mounted on your rifle. The overall quality of the optics and features have as much impact on the usability of the scope as the features themselves.
Top 15 Best Rifle Scope Brands (For Hunting Addicts)
1. Nikon
Some of the best optics for any purpose come from Nikon. The Nikon X1000 6-24x50SF illuminated rifle scope is one of the best rifle scopes you can buy. It’s somewhat expensive, but the best quality optics usually are, regardless of application. Nikon makes a wide range of models at various price points. Even their lower cost rifle scopes are extremely good.
Nikon started in Japan in 1917, making optics for everything from scientific and medical instruments to photographic lenses for their own and other brand’s cameras. Nikon sport optics include their rifle scopes as well as rangefinders, spotting scopes and binoculars.
Nikon is associated with gun sports by means of their superior optics and cutting-edge features. Nikon Sport Optics continues to improve and innovate rifle scope designs in order to maximize the benefits of their superb optical manufacturing for rifle users.
2. Vortex
Vortex Optics makes outstanding rifle scopes, rangefinders, spotting scopes, and binoculars. Some of their rifle scopes cost about as much as certified pre-owned automobile and are as close to perfect as possible for a rifle scope. Other scopes of theirs, such as the Viper, Strike Eagle, and Diamondback series of rifle scopes have more down to earth prices while maintaining the Vortex optical excellence.
Vortex Optics was founded in 2004 in the USA, its parent company was founded in 1989. Though a relative newcomer, Vortex Optics started out making superior optical equipment for law enforcement and military. Their current line up of sports optics runs the range from modest and affordable to extremely high end.
Vortex optics is associated with hunting, sports, and tactical shooting through the design, engineering, and manufacture of sports optics and other items used in hunting and other shooting applications.
3. Zeiss
One of the giants in the world of optics, Zeiss makes photographic lenses, scientific instruments, binoculars, and other sports optics. Scopes like the Conquest V4 series show how good a rifle scope can be.
Carl Zeiss was founded in Germany in 1846. They made some of the world’s best optics for a variety of cameras. Their sports optics division makes world class binoculars and other sporting glass.
Associated with the rifle industry through their excellence in design and implementation, Zeiss continues to make some of the best rifle scopes for military, law enforcement, hunting, and sport shooting.
4. Nightforce
The Nightforce NXS series of scopes exceeds the needs of major military organizations and will meet the needs of the most demanding hunters and recreational shooters. Their other scope series are among the best scopes available, too, just for slightly lower prices than NXS.
Established in the USA in 1992, Nightforce makes spot lights, spotting scopes, and several series of very good rifle scopes.
The company goal is to continue to design and make sports optics and other equipment to the highest level of specification. This results in consumers benefitting from the rifle scopes, too, provided they are willing to ante up the costs.
5. Leupold
The VX-Freedom line of rifle scopes from Leupold provides hunters with some down to earth options for high quality rifle scopes. Their Mark IV HD military scopes put Leupold in the top tier of the best rifle scope brands.
Specializing in optical manufacturing, Leupold has been operating in the USA since 1907. They also make hand held thermal trackers, a valuable tool for hunters and law enforcement.
Associated with rifle scopes through advanced design and continual research into how to better adapt technology to the needs of rifle users.
6. Redfield
For shooters on a more modest budget, the Redfield brand of rifle scopes and other sporting optics is a great alternative. Available scopes include the fine Redfield Revolution 3-9x50mm waterproof riflescope with amazing features and performance for the modest price.
Made in the USA and the Phillipines, Redfield is closely associated with its parent company of Leupold, but operates independently.
The main focus of the Redfield brand is to provide rifle scopes that are for serious shooters who have more modest budgets than those buying the multi thousand dollar rifle scopes. On this point, they have done rather well.
7. Sightmark
Sightmark makes some very good modestly priced rifle scopes as well as night scopes, and laser sights. One of the outstanding rifle scopes they make is the very reasonably priced Core HX 2-7×32 HHR Hog Hunter rifle scope.
Made in Texas, USA, since 2007, Sightmark provides shooters with a whole lot of options for accurate aiming. They make sights and pointers for handguns as well.
Associated with shooting by means of their company goal to provide the core market of hunters and shooters who desire accuracy. They are approved by organizations such as the North American Hunting Club and the National Tactical Officers Association.
8. Burris Optics
The Eliminator III Laser Scope is a very versatile hunting finder. It combines optical finder with laser rangefinder and pointer for extreme accuracy. A little higher than moderately priced, the Eliminator series is complemented by their more modest series of scopes such as the Fullfield and Droptine line ups.
Made in Colorado, USA for over 40 years, Burris also makes sights for bow hunting and a fine group of binoculars.
Associated with shooting sports through supplying a large and varied catalog of sights and other equipment. Their optics are useful for all levels of shooting experience.
9. Bushnell
Bushnell is a manufacturer of a wide range of optics for all sorts of outdoor and sporting uses. Their Nitro series of rifle scopes are very high magnification, up to 24 power.
Bushnell was founded in Japan in 1948 and is now headquartered in the USA as part of Vista Outdoor. Most of their optical products are targeted to outdoors lovers and sports enthusiasts.
Associated with rifle shooters by providing high quality optical solutions at prices ranging from budget to moderate. Bushnell also offers multiple programs for assisting recreational shooters.
10. Barska
The Huntmaster 3-9X50 rifle scope is truly budget friendly. Their other rifle scopes cover the needs of various shooters and hunters. They also make microscopes, telescopes, and sports rangefinders.
Located in California, USA, Barska optics are manufactured by a variety of optical companies around the world.
Barska is associated with rifle sports through its modestly priced optics and accessories which bring accuracy to all levels of shooters who desire modest prices.
11. UTG
The UTG 3-9X32 BugBuster rifle scope is a very modestly priced sports optic. UTG makes many different accessories besides their rifle scopes, including mounts and shooting stands and tripods.
With many of their products made in the USA, UTG provides shooters with choices to match their needs with their monetary budgets.
Associated with shooting sports by means of providing options to shooters of all levels and also by engaging shooters in programs of safety and support.
12. Swarovski
Another one of the pricier, extremely high grade optics manufacturers, Swarovski makes binoculars, rifle scopes, and other sports optics. Their Optik Z5 rifle scope is a fine example of the high quality equipment they manufacture.
Founded in Austria in 1895, Swarovski is well known in non optical circles as a maker of fine crystal art and glassware. Optics they make include some of the better binoculars from any brand.
Associated with shooting sports because of their excellence of design and manufacture which benefits any user of finder scopes and sports optics.
13. Steiner
Special lens coatings provide enhanced views of the scenes transmitted through the eyepiece, though the slightly off colors and contrast may take some getting used to. The GS3 4-20×50 rifle scope is one of the most useful scopes for bad weather, lower light shooting applications.
Founded in 1947 in Germany, Steiner makes a wide variety of optics for various uses, including photographic lenses, scientific instruments, and binoculars.
One of the premier optical companies of the world, Steiner is associated with shooting sports by designing finders with ever increasing features and capabilities.
14. Simmons
Simmons scopes are great for beginning shooters wanting to gain more accuracy than is possible with the line of sight guides built into the rifles. They are extremely budget friendly, being available for shooters stepping up to optical finders for the first time. The Simmons 560520 Truplex rifle scope is an example of this.
Founded in 1983 in California, USA, Simmons is available through discount stores and online. Simmons products are manufactured by various different optical companies worldwide.
Associated with rifles and shooting sports, Simmons Optics is great for novice shooters and anyone stepping up from simple sights.
15. Trijicon
One of the better optical companies for sights and finders, Trijicon rifle scopes like the AccuPoint series of illuminated reticle scopes that don’t require batteries but are lit by fiber optics.
Founded in 1981 in the USA, Trijicon began as a supplier to the US military. Their current line up of scopes and finders is a fine example of how good some scopes can be.
Associated with shooting needs by means of designing and engineering superior sighting technology for military, law enforcement, and hunting. You can learn more about trop brands here.
What are some factors that differentiate one rifle scope from another?
- Magnification power – This is indicated by a number. For instance, a 10X scope has optics that magnify the image as seen through the scope ten times over the naked eye.
- Field of view (FOV) – In addition to magnification, how much of the scene in front of you actually shows in the rifle scope is important. High magnification coupled with a narrow FOV is more difficult for most shooters than a wider field of view.
- Fixed or zoom – Just as with lenses, a scope can be one set magnification or focal length, or it can be variable like a telephoto zoom lens on a camera. Common ranges are 4X-10X, 5X-25X, etc…
- Light gathering capability – The objective lens of the scope figures into the equation to tell you how bright an image is displayed. Similar to binoculars, it’s the end number of the spec. In other words, a 10X50 scope is a ten power scope with a 50mm objective. The larger the number, the brighter the image.
- Reticle – The lines or markings inside the scope. Crosshairs, dots, scales, concentric circles, are some of the types of sighting aids seen in the best rifle scope brands. Some reticles may also be illuminated.
- Adjustment – You want to fine tune your scope to your rifle. Also, conditions change. Windage, range, type of cartridge, may impact the accuracy of your shooting and need to be compensated for in some way.
- Weather proofing, anti-glare, eye relief, fine focus – are additional features to look for.
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