If you’re looking for the best long-range scope and wish to hit a target at more than 1000 yards, you’ve come to the right place. To assist you narrow down your alternatives, we’ll go over the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Long-range shooting is an activity that demands precision that only a good-quality scope can provide. Modern shooters are looking to advance their shooting skills and take on new challenges by shooting long-range targets. This has made the long-range scope demand go up.
The current market is filled with various long-range scopes from different manufacturers that differ in price, specs, and features to meet this demand.
What Scope Should I Use for Long-Range Shooting?
The best long-range scope is characterized by a combination of features and qualities that enhance accuracy, clarity, and precision at extended distances.
For starters long-range scopes have higher magnification levels such as 5-25x, allowing you to zoom in on distant targets. These scopes also have a larger objective lens for more light to enter the scope, resulting in brighter images, crucial for shooting at long distances, especially in low-light conditions.
Long-range scopes often feature specialized reticle designs, such as mil-dot or BDC (Bullet Drop Compensator), which help compensate for bullet drop and windage at extended ranges.
These scopes also feature tactical or target-style turrets with audible and tactile clicks making it easier to dial in the required adjustments. Long-range scopes need to be rugged and durable to withstand harsh environmental conditions. Waterproof, fog-proof, and shockproof features are essential.
Adequate eye relief is crucial, especially for high-recoil firearms, to prevent scope eye injuries. Long-range scopes often have longer eye relief to accommodate this. Long-range scopes can have a first or second focal plane reticle. First focal plane reticles change in size as you adjust magnification, while second focal plane reticles remain the same size. The choice depends on your preference for holdover or precise measurements.
Here is our list of top-rated and high-quality scopes that are designed for long-range shooting available on the market today.
Best Long Range Scopes
1) Vortex Crossfire II AO 6-24x50mm Riflescope
The Vortex Crossfire II AO 6-24x50mm Riflescope is the best long range scope, its combination of long eye relief, fast-focus eyepiece, fully multi-coated lenses, resettable MOA turrets, rugged construction, and waterproof/fog proof capabilities make it a reliable and versatile option for various shooting applications.
One standout feature of the Crossfire II is its long eye relief, ensuring that shooters can maintain a comfortable and consistent shooting position without straining their eyes. The fast-focus eyepiece allows for quick and easy reticle focusing, ensuring rapid target acquisition. The fully multi-coated lenses deliver exceptional light transmission and clarity, enhancing your ability to spot targets in various lighting conditions.
When it comes to adjustments, the Crossfire II offers resettable MOA turrets. This feature enables you to make precise and repeatable adjustments to your point of impact, making it an excellent choice for precision shooting and long-range engagements.
The Dead-Hold BDC (MOA) reticle is an added advantage for shooters looking to compensate for bullet drop and windage at different distances.
Durability is a key consideration, and the Crossfire II doesn’t disappoint. Its single-piece aircraft-grade aluminum tube is hard anodized, ensuring exceptional strength and resistance to wear and tear. This rugged construction is shockproof, and capable of withstanding recoil and impact, making it suitable for various firearms and shooting conditions.
Furthermore, the riflescope is nitrogen purged and o-ring sealed, providing waterproof and fogproof performance. This feature ensures that your optics remain clear and functional in adverse weather conditions, allowing you to shoot confidently in rain, snow, or fog.
With a magnification range of 6-24x and an adjustable objective lens diameter of 50mm, the Vortex Crossfire II AO 6-24x50mm Riflescope offers versatility for both short-range and long-range shooting scenarios. Its capped turret style adds an extra layer of protection to your adjustments, preventing inadvertent changes while in the field.
Pros
- The adjustable objective provides image focus and parallax removal
- Anti-reflective and fully multi-coated lenses for bright and clear views
- Versatility for both short-range and long-range shooting
- Waterproof and fogproof performance
- Hard anodized finish
Cons
- Non-Illuminated
2) NightForce NX8 Rifle Scope 2.5-20x50mm
The NightForce NX8 Rifle Scope has an impressive 2.5-20x50mm magnification and is an ideal rifle scope for long range targets. The scope will almost outperform all others in the field. It maintains remarkable clarity, resolution, and brightness across the whole magnification range.
At the heart of the NX8 lies an Advanced DigIllum reticle illumination that ensures precise aiming even in low-light conditions, empowering shooters to maintain accuracy regardless of the environment. Meanwhile, Nightforce ZeroStop technology provides the reassurance of returning to zero with uncompromising reliability, a feature indispensable for precision shooters.
Customization is key, and the scope offers a choice between MOA or Mil-Radian adjustments, catering to individual preferences and shooting styles. Whether dialing in for long-range engagements or rapid target acquisitions, the scope adapts effortlessly to the shooter’s needs.
Additionally, it maintains a sleek, streamlined profile, measuring a mere 12 inches in length. This compact form factor enhances maneuverability without sacrificing performance, making it a versatile companion for any shooting endeavor.
Features
- 5x to 20x magnification
- Second Focal Plane reticle
- 50 mm objective lens with ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass.
- 12 inches length Compact design
- 30 mm body tube
- Adjustable parallax setting from 11 yards to infinity
- ZeroStop elevation adjustment system
- 10 MRAD/20 MOA Turret adjustments with 32 MRAD/110 MOA total elevation adjustment
- Integrated Power Throw Lever.
- locking diopter adjustment
Pros
- Exceptional optics in long-range
- DigIllum reticle illumination
- Nightforce ZeroStop Technology
- Customizable Adjustments
- Reliable return-to-zero functionality
- Compact design
Cons
- None
3) Vortex Venom 5-25x56mm FFP Riflescope
The Vortex Venom 5-25x56mm FFP Riflescope is one of the best long range scopes, it features exceptional optical clarity, durability, and ease of use.
The Vortex Venom features Extra-low Dispersion (XD) glass elements, which enhance resolution and color fidelity, resulting in incredibly crisp and sharp images. This means that even fine details are vividly rendered, allowing for precise aiming and target identification.
With anti-reflective coatings on all air-to-glass surfaces, there is maximized light transmission, ensuring optimal clarity and exceptional low-light performance. The first focal plane reticle is designed to maintain its size and proportions relative to the zoomed image. This feature ensures that the subtensions on the reticle remain accurate at all magnifications, enabling precise holdover and ranging. This is especially valuable for long-range shooting and range estimation.
The riflescope is built with a single-piece tube, which maximizes alignment for improved accuracy and visual performance. This construction also enhances strength and waterproofness, making it suitable for various environments and conditions. Crafted from a solid block of aircraft-grade aluminum, the Venom is incredibly strong and rigid. This ensures that it can withstand the rigors of field use and recoil without losing its zero.
Vortex Venom 5-25x56mm FFP Riflescope combines advanced optical features, rugged construction, and user-friendly conveniences to deliver a high-performance riflescope suitable for a wide range of shooting applications. Whether you’re a precision long-range shooter or a tactical enthusiast, the Venom is designed to meet your needs with exceptional clarity and reliability.
Pros
- Waterproof and Fogproof
- Shockproof to withstand recoil and impact, maintaining its performance and zero even after repeated shots
- The exterior lenses of the riflescope are coated with an ultra-hard, scratch-resistant ArmorTek coating
- Fast-focus eyepiece allows for quick and easy reticle focusing
- Guard-Ion Rain Shedding Optical Coating
- Exposed turrets provide quick, accurate, and easily readable elevation and windage adjustments
Cons
- Quite expensive
4) Leupold VX-6HD 3-18x50mm Rifle Scope
Leupold VX-6HD 3-18x50mm Rifle Scope is a top-tier long-range scope engineered for hunters and shooters who demand exceptional clarity, durability, and precision. Its innovative features ensure superior performance in any shooting scenario, making it an excellent choice for those who seek the perfect shot, even in challenging conditions.
The VX-6HD is constructed with a robust 30mm main tube, offering incredible strength and allowing for a generous range of windage and elevation adjustments. Crafted from 6061-T6 aircraft-quality aluminum, this scope is designed to withstand the harshest conditions and recoils.
The powerful 6:1 zoom ratio delivers crystal clear images from edge to edge throughout the entire magnification range. The Twin Bias Spring Erector System, featuring beryllium/copper alloy leaf springs and 30% more holding force, ensures that the scope can endure intense recoil and abuse without compromising image quality or accuracy.
The VX-6HD offers longer eye relief and a generous eye box, even at higher powers. This provides shooters with remarkable head position latitude, edge-to-edge brightness, and a full clear-sight picture that fills the eyepiece completely, making target acquisition faster and more accurate.
Leupold’s Twilight Max Light Management System maximizes light transmission in blue and red wavelengths, balances colors for high contrast, and controls glare. This means you can spot details like antler tines in dark shadows long after the competition has packed up and gone home.
Another incredible feature is the Zero Lock Windage Adjustment prevents unintended adjustments and guarantees an accurate return to zero, providing a fast and user-friendly solution for maintaining shooting consistency.
Pros
- Thermal Shock Resistance
- 6061-T6 aircraft-quality aluminum construction
- Elevation Adjustment and ZeroLock
- Generous eye box
- Guard-Ion rain-shedding coating
- Motion Sensor Technology (MST)
- Side focus parallax adjustment allows for fast and easy parallax focusing
- Twilight Max Light Management System
Cons
- None
5) NightForce SHV 5-20x56mm Rifle Scope
The NightForce SHV offers unprecedented accuracy at long ranges thanks to the high 5-20x magnification. It also provides superior image clarity, crispness, and color fidelity throughout the magnification range for easy target acquisition.
Featuring an ultra-large 56mm objective lens, the scope maximizes light collection and provides a massive field of view for easy target location. It also has a ZeroSet system for rapid and easy return to your chosen zero even after several elevation adjustments and a center illuminated reticle for easy aiming and precision shooting in low light settings.
The scope has a rugged construction, making it reliable and tough enough to stand the high recoil that heavy caliber weapons produce.
Pros
- Wide 5x-20x magnification
- Center illuminated reticle
- Rugged housing
- Superior clarity, crispness, and color fidelity
- Large 56mm objective lens
- ZeroSet system
Cons
- Expensive
6) Sightron SIII 6-24x50mm Long Range Rifle Scope
Next up, we have the Sightron SIII 6-24x50mm Rifle Scope. This high-quality rifle scope is specially designed for long-range shooting. It is simple to use and ideal for both beginners and professional shooters.
This rifle scope is renowned for its excellent optical performance. It features an exclusive optical design that provides outstanding color accuracy and best-in-class resolution. Additionally, it has Zact-7 Revcoat fully multi-coated lenses, which offer excellent light transmission for bright and crisp image production.
With the variable 6-24x magnification, you can use the scope to shoot targets at both intermediate and long ranges. Furthermore, it has a lightweight design for easy carrying to and from the shooting range and a parallax adjustment from 40 yards to infinity for greater long-range accuracy.
Another good thing about the scope is the high-quality construction. It has a single-piece tube crafted from industrial-grade aluminum for ultimate durability. It is also shockproof to stand against accidental impact and high-caliber recoil, and IPX7 is waterproof and fog proof, so you can use it in any weather condition.
Pros
- Second focal plane illuminated reticle
- Long eye relief
- Single piece tube
- Zact-7 Revcoat multi-layer lens coating
- High-quality optical glass
- Lightweight design
- IPX7 waterproof and fog-resistant
- Durable and shockproof aluminum construction
- Variable 6-24x magnification
Cons
- None
7) Mueller Optics Eraticator 8.5-25x50mm Long Range Red Dot Rifle Scope
This is it if you are looking for the best scope for long-range shooting for the money. It is a favorite among rimfire shooters who need a scope that has both short-range focusing and long-range capabilities.
You can use the scope for long-range shooting of small targets and big game hunting. It features a micro-fine crosshair reticle with an illuminated micro-dot for precise shooting in low-light settings. The dot can be fine-tuned with 11 different brightness settings for greater accuracy and to suit your situation.
Furthermore, the scope features unparalleled craftsmanship, giving you many years of field use. It is fully waterproof and fogproof for all-weather use and shockproof to withstand rough handling. It also has a fast-focus eyeball for quick and simple reticle focusing and fully multi-coated camera-quality lenses, providing outstanding image brightness and clarity.
Pros
- Wide field of view
- Fast focus eye bell
- Waterproof, fogproof, and shockproof
- Micro-fine crosshair reticle
- Fully multi-coated camera-quality lenses
- Matte black finish
- 1-inch main tube
- An illuminated red dot with 11 brightness intensity settings
Cons
- None
See Also
How to Choose the Best Long Range Scopes
Magnification
To hit a target at long ranges, you must have a long-range scope whose magnification is up to par. You will need a scope with a high magnification of at least 10x. With high magnification, you will bring the distant targets closer for easy target identification. It will also give you the richness of every detail, which is what you need to shoot accurately at long ranges.
Objective Lens
The further you shoot, the more light the scope should collect to form clear, sharp images. This calls for a scope with a large objective lens. Generally, the larger the objective, the better, especially if you shoot in poor light settings.
However, ultra-large objective lenses make a scope bulky, cumbersome, and expensive. A tip to get a scope with a 40 to 50mm objective lens to find the perfect balance between size and weight.
Image Quality
A scope with a high magnification will be counterproductive for long-range shooting if it provides blur image views. With such a scope, you will have difficulty identifying your target and knowing where to shoot.
To get the best out of your long-range shooting expedition, look for a scope made with ED glass, HD glass, or better. Such scopes provide high-resolution and color-rich image views. It is also wise to get a fully multi-coated lens scope for the best optical clarity.
Reticle
Scopes for long-range shooting have different reticle styles. Some models only have vertical and horizontal graduations, while others have more complex reticles with extra aiming points to the left, right, and center aiming point. A tip is to get a scope whose reticle is simple, depending on your shooting skills.
Durability
The durability of your long-range scope will determine how long it will last and how reliable it will be. Investing in high-end models ensures it is built with premium-grade materials. The last thing you would want is to invest a large sum of money on a scope only for it to fall apart after a few shooting expeditions.
Go for scopes that are made with aircraft grade aluminum or aluminum alloy. Such scopes will last long and give you great value for your money. Also, ensure you get a scope that is resistant to water, fog, and shock damage.
See Also
- 4 Best Magnetic Flashlight For Mechanics
- Best Bike for 60 Year Old Man
- Best Shoes for Weight Training and Running
FAQs on the Best Long Range Scope
What magnification range is ideal for long-range shooting?
The ideal magnification range for long-range shooting often falls between 10x and 25x, although it can vary depending on the specific application. Higher magnification provides more detail but can reduce the field of view.
How much magnification is needed for long-range shooting?
Typically, the magnification power you need depends on your preference, caliber, and shooting purpose. A variable power scope with more than 10x magnification is usually sufficient for most long-range shooting needs.
How much should I spend on a scope for long-range shooting?
This will certainly depend on how much you are willing to spend. If money is not an object, you can spend more than $1000 for a high-end scope that will give you unprecedented long-range shooting performance. However, if you are a budget buyer, you should choose a scope under the less than $500 category.
What is the objective lens diameter, and why does it matter?
The objective lens diameter is a crucial factor in light-gathering ability. A larger objective lens (e.g., 50mm or 56mm) allows more light to enter the scope, improving clarity and performance in low-light conditions.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, selecting the best long range scope is a critical decision for shooters and hunters who demand precision and accuracy at extended distances ideally more than 1000 yards.
The ideal scope will depend on individual preferences, budget constraints, and the specific shooting application. Whether it’s a high-end model with advanced features or a more budget-friendly option with reliable performance, the key is to find a scope that suits your needs, offers clear optics, and can withstand the rigors of long-range shooting.
By considering factors like magnification, reticle style, durability, and warranty coverage, shooters can make an informed choice and enhance their long-range shooting capabilities, ensuring they consistently hit their targets with precision and confidence.
See Also