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Sniper scopes are geared towards hunters and sports shooters looking for real range. Making the right choice, especially if you’re buying for the first time, can be difficult. There are many viable entry-level choices, but if one is looking for quality, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Vortex Optics Viper PST Gen II 5-25×50 First Focal Plane
One of Vortex’s best offerings, in our opinion. The Viper PST Gen II offers superb quality in both optics and build.
Overall Winner
The Vortex Optics Viper PST Gen II has become a popular choice among serious hunters for its top-of-the-range build quality, optical clarity, and features. This versatile scope is an easy choice for our top pick.
Best Budget Option
Bushnell’s Banner 6-18x50mm provides durability and clarity in a moderate-ranged scope that costs less than $100. If you’re on a budget, the Banner provides the comforts often found only in more expensive scopes.
Premium Choice
While not cheap, the Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25x56mm M5C3 is a premium scope with outstanding performance and function. It operates well in low-light conditions and features a versatile range of between 5 and 25x.
Now, if you’re already an experienced outdoorsman, chances are you know your sniper scopes and know what you’re looking for. If that’s the case, you can skip right to our best sniper scopes list below and see which one suits you best. However, if you’re only buying your first sniper scope now, you’ll be happy to know that we’ve also got a pretty informative buyers’ guide. We’ll cover what the numbers in the model name mean, what all the coatings indicate, etc.
Without wasting more time, let’s dive into our buyers’ guide and see how to choose sniper scopes when you need one.
1. Vortex Optics Viper PST Gen II 5-25×50 First Focal Plane
First on our list is the Viper PST Gen II from Vortex Optics. This is an excellent option if you’re looking at premium sniper scopes, and it comes with all the bells and whistles of a great scope. With a 5-25x magnification power, this is a very versatile scope. From close-range to long-range scenarios, you’re pretty much covered in any situation.
The turrets are laser etched with adjustable parallax and an RZR zero stop. There’s a fiber optic rotation indicator that helps you keep track of the position of your turrets even when there isn’t a lot of light. The reticle gives you ten intensity levels to choose from to get it right. You also have extra-low dispersion glass combined with XR fully multi-coated lenses with Armortek coatings.
On the outside, the Viper PST is built like a tank. There is a single-piece construction, O-ring sealing, and argon purging, so the weather can’t do anything when you’re out using the scope. It is an excellent option if you can spend a bit more on your purchase.
2. Bushnell Banner 6-18x50mm
The Bushnell Banner 6-18x50mm forms part of one of Bushnell’s most popular series of rifle scopes and stands out for its durability and high-quality optical performance.
It features a 6-18x magnification range and a 50mm objective lens, providing you with precision at range. Its fully multi-coated optics ensure clear imaging, even in low-light conditions. The mil-dot reticle on the second focal plane enables accurate range estimation and holdover adjustments, enhancing overall shooting accuracy. Built with a sturdy one-inch tube, this riflescope is nitrogen-purged and O-ring sealed, making it fog-proof and waterproof (rated IPX7).
Its durable construction ensures reliable performance in challenging weather conditions. The fast-focus eyepiece allows quick reticle focusing, adding convenience during dynamic shooting situations.
In summary, the Bushnell Banner 6-18x50mm Riflescope offers reliable long-range performance without compromising on quality. Its practical features make it an excellent choice for hunters and shooters seeking precision and durability in a compact package.
3. Nightforce Optics NXS 5.5-22×56
If you’re looking for something with quite a bit of range and a large objective lens to let in plenty of light, the Nightforce NXS might be the right scope for you. It covers all the basics, and then some, and performs admirably in a variety of conditions.
To begin with, you’ve got a magnification of 5.5x at the low end and 22x when you want to get close. Pair this with the 56mm objective lens, and you’ve got one of the most versatile sniper scopes, even when there isn’t too much light.
The illuminated reticle will help you during those darker scenarios, and the glass is really, really good. Optical performance is flawless, and you won’t be left asking for more. You’ll also appreciate the 100 M.O.A. of internal adjustment, which should have you covered in terms of versatility.
Last but not least, with a 6061-T6 aircraft grade aluminum build, this is a sturdy scope that’s meant to stand the test of time. However, there’s no mention of weather resistance, so we would advise being careful when using it and keeping it out of bad weather.
4. Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25x56mm M5C3
Leupold’s Mark 5HD 5-25x56mm M5C3 riflescope is a premium sniper scope with exceptional performance.
The versatile 5-25x magnification range caters to almost all situations, while the 56mm objective lens provides good vibrance and clarity, even in low-light conditions. The mil-hash marked reticle on the first focal plane simplifies range estimation and offers precise holdover points for windage and elevation adjustments. Adding a side focus parallax adjustment ensures accurate aiming at extended distances.
It has a sturdy 30mm one-piece construction, and the riflescope is sealed with O-rings and nitrogen-purged, making it weatherproof and fog-proof. It comes with a 3-inch sunshade to reduce glare on bright days. Leupold’s limited lifetime warranty adds value and assurance to your investment.
In summary, the Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25x56mm M5C3 riflescope doesn’t come cheap, but it provides exceptional clarity and reliability for shooters, hunters, and tactical professionals, making it a standout choice in the premium optics market.
5. Monstrum G3 6-24×50
The Monstrum G3 is a relatively affordable scope that offers 6-24x magnification and a large 50mm objective lens, which provides clear images, even in low-light conditions. The optics are multi-coated, which provides better light transmission.
The illuminated reticle makes targeting easier and more precise, even in situations where there may be limited visibility. The adjustable brightness adds an additional layer of control, to ensure you have the best reticle for your environment. It has an eye relief of 4.0 – 4.5 inches.
The G3 is a remarkably durable scope that can be used in almost any condition. It is nitrogen-purged, and O-ring sealed, making it fog-proof and waterproof for consistent performance.
This scope features a side parallax adjustment for quick focusing and generous eye relief for a comfortable shooting experience.
In summary, the Monstrum G3 6-24×50 Riflescope offers versatility and clarity. Its magnification range, illuminated reticle, and user-friendly features make it a valuable addition to any long-range rifler.
Buyers’ guide
Please make no mistake. Many brands, especially budget-oriented ones, will try to push you towards buying their products with marketing. Even though there are often claims that hold, chances are a brand like that is usually exaggerated. If you aren’t familiar with the terminology of sniper scopes and what matters, you can easily make a mistake. We’ll discuss all the important things, starting with the key ones – magnification and objective lens diameter, and then discussing a few others.
Magnification and variable vs. fixed power
Regardless of what kind of sniper scopes you’re looking at, they all come with a particular magnification level. The higher that magnification level, the closer you’ll “be” to your target. If you’re closer to your target, you can see it more clearly and fire a more accurate shot.
This isn’t as simple as “bigger is better,” though. If you’re using your scope in a smaller environment, a high magnification factor can only mean you’re stuck with a narrow field of view and a semi-useless scope.
So, how do you recognize the magnification before you buy? Well, there are two numbers when you’re looking at scopes, for example, 3-9×42. The first number (or set of numbers in this case), 3-9, indicates the magnification power. The second is the objective lens diameter, but we’ll get to that in a second.
Now, we mentioned numbers and a set of numbers. When discussing magnification, there are two types of sniper scopes – ones with variable magnification and ones with fixed magnification. In the example above, we’ve got a scope with variable magnification, from 3 to 9x. Depending on the conditions and environment you’re hunting in, you can stop anywhere from 3x to 9x. For example, there are fixed ones, 10×42, which only come with a single, fixed magnification. This is a matter of personal choice and convenience, but note that scopes with a fixed magnification have fewer moving parts and are usually better performers, at least optically.
Objective lens diameter
The objective lens diameter is the second number in the sniper scopes’ name and is the other important factor that greatly impacts optical performance. It’s pretty simple here as well; a larger objective lens diameter allows the scope to have more light enter inside the tube. Consequently, you’re getting better clarity, contrast, sharpness, and an overall better image.
However, “bigger is better” doesn’t apply here either. With a larger objective lens diameter, you also get a much larger and significantly heavier scope. This isn’t practical, especially if you’re going to be carrying your rifle for extended periods.
The perfect compromise would be to settle on magnification and see what kind of objective lens diameter lets in enough light without being too large and heavy. Once you’ve got this settled, you can choose from our list of best sniper scopes and get the one that’s closest to what you need.
Lens coatings and their importance
While the magnification and the objective lens diameter are the key things determining how usable a sniper scope is, the coatings can make or break the entire experience. The coatings are applied to the lenses, and depending on the type of coatings, you could have them on one or all elements and in different types.
The basic anti-glare coatings will collect light from the surroundings and prevent extra glare from entering the scope and distorting your image. You also have some Bushnell scopes that come with a Rainguard HD coating, which is a water-repellant coating that prevents fogging, resulting in a much better image even when it’s raining.
There are a couple of terms that you’ll find when you’re looking at coatings, and here they are, ranging from the best to the worst:
- Fully multicoated lenses have multiple coating layers on all surfaces that are air-to-glass
- Multicoated lenses have more than one layer on at least one lens surface.
- Fully coated lenses come with one layer on all air-to-glass surfaces
- Coated lenses only have a single layer on at least one lens surface.
If you can afford it, we’d always advise going for multicoated or fully multicoated lenses. However, that can command a significant price increase, especially if you’re looking at premium sniper scopes from reputable brands.
Tube diameter and turrets
The scope’s tube diameter is another factor you’ll want to consider. Now, with a larger tube, you can have a more flexible scope. However, this also results in a heavier scope, which may be a burden. Then, you also know that a larger tube may be difficult to find mounts for. If you want to stay on the safe side, we’d recommend going for a tube between 30 and 35mm in diameter.
The turrets are what you’ll use to hold for windage and elevation. This is an area where many budget brands tend to cut corners, which will be immediately apparent when you start using the scope. The turrets are necessary for all adjustments to the scope. You’ll want them to click on each rotation so that you can keep track of them more easily. Good turrets will be capped, and they may also have a locking mechanism that’ll keep them in place if you bump the scope into something.
Build Quality and Weather Resistance
Last but certainly not least, we’ve got the build quality and weather resistance of sniper scopes. Everything from the best sniper scopes to the worst ones is meant to be used outdoors, so it must have at least some degree of durability. If this isn’t the case, you’ll damage it easily and end up with a useless scope.
Single-piece design is usually an indicator of a quality scope, and you’ve got things such as a rubberized contact surface and lens caps. That rubberized surface will ensure the scope won’t slip out of your hands. And even if it does, it acts as a shock absorbent. The lens caps will keep scratches off your lenses when you aren’t using them, which is another key feature.
The weather resistance is the last piece of the durability puzzle. You’ll want a completely sealed scope with O-rings, and there’s no chance of water getting inside. Also, while there is an argument between argon and nitrogen purging, you’ll want at least some purging. This will ensure that you won’t get any fogging when you have a significant temperature change impacting your experience.
Wrapping things up
Now that you’ve got a good understanding of what matters with sniper scopes and what some of the best sniper scopes on the market today are, all that’s left is to choose which one works best for you!
Vortex Optics Viper PST Gen II 5-25×50 First Focal Plane
One of Vortex’s best offerings, in our opinion. The Viper PST Gen II offers superb quality in both optics and build.
