Top 5 Best Rifle Scopes 2018: Hunting Scope Reviews

Having the best rifle scope you can means the difference between hitting your target or not, and that can really hold a lot of weight for a lot of people. While some people pride themselves in being able to take a shot with only the sights that come stock on a rifle, not everyone is blessed with that level of marksmanship. In cases such as those, we are thankful that there are some great scopes out there that make it practically impossible to fail.

There are many different features that could be important to you. Some might be more important than others might, while you might not need them all, you do want to be aware of the differences between them.


What is the Best Rifle Scope?

It is with that in mind that we are laying out five of the the top rifle scopes for you here today in hopes that we can help you choose just the right one for your very own personal needs. Take a look with us now, at these five top brands and see for yourself.


Nikon ProStaff 4-12X40 Rifle Scope Review

best rifle scope under 500Our first item is the Nikon ProStaff 4-12X40 Rifle Scope. This compact scope is imported and made of polymer and aluminum. The Nikon’s fully multicoated optical system transmits and utilizes up to 98% of available light. Other features include a zero-reset turret with a spring-loaded adjustment knob and 3.7 inches of eye relief.

The scope is filled with nitrogen and the housing is sealed with an o-ring, which makes it completely fog proof for absolutely no worries, no matter what the weather decides to do. Even if temperatures and weather circumstances change drastically, you will still be able to rest assured knowing that you Nikon scope will not let you down when it matters the most. This scope will easily put any shot right into your comfort zone. Hunter’s absolutely love the patented BDC reticle, which allows a shooter to hold “dead-on” at ranges that were once thought impossible to attain, bringing even the longest range shot up close and personal for a comfortable shot.

Aside from the great specs on this particular scope, you can also have the peace of mind in knowing that Nikon is a world leader in the optics world, having set new standards of product design around the world, time and again. The company has an unwavering devotion to quality, performance, technology and innovation, which translates into a wonderful piece of equipment for you.


UTG 3-9X32 1-Inch BugBuster Scope Review

best rifle scope under 300Our next item is the UTG 3-9X32 1-Inch BugBuster Scope. This scope features a one-inch tube with an emerald coating for the maximum amount of light transmission, a premium zero lockable and resettable turrets with ¼ MOA per click adjustment.

The UTG also features a red or green dual illumination for various hunting scenarios as well as a large field of view so that you do not miss a single thing in your surroundings. Complete with two-inch sunshade, a flip open lens and detachable rings, you will be able to sight in your target with quickness and accuracy. This scope is sealed and completely filled with nitrogen, which makes it immensely fog proof and it is also shock proof and rain proof, which allows you to have the utmost confidence in its reliability.

With a truly innovative True Strength (TS) Platform and a Smart Spherical Structure (SSS), the design is sure to be long lasting, reliable, precise and responsive. All these scopes have been tested based on the input of people who actually use the product. With information like that at the heart of every scope, you can rest assured that it is top quality.


Leupold VX-2 3-9X40mm Rifle Scope Review

best scope under 500Next is the Leupold VX-2 3-9X40mm Rifle Scope. This scope comes in a matte black finish, measures 14X3.2X3 inches and weighs in at just over 11 ounces. It fits great on rifles such as the 30-30 or 35 Remington and other models of the same size.

For hunters, it is important to know that this scope works very well in low light conditions, especially around dawn and dusk. This can be a very important aspect for deer hunters, knowing that these are the main movement times of deer. This is a scope that was created with all the important things in mind, such as tactile power indicators, finger-adjustable click windage and elevation dials as well as rugged construction while being completely waterproof.

The brightness, clarity and contrast available, even in low light situations, set the Leupold apart from the competition. You simply cannot beat this scope for high performance, durability and value thanks to a lens system with lead free glass and edge blackened lenses. Factor in the finger adjustable windage and elevation adjustments that allow for precise zeroing and a custom dial system that provides accuracy even at long range and you have a scope that is certainly worth trying out.


Bushnell AR Optics Drop Zone-223 BDC Reticle 3-9X40mm Rifle Scope Review

best long range scope for the moneyOur next scope is the Bushnell AR Optics Drop Zone-223 BDC Reticle 3-9X40mm Rifle Scope. This scope was built on the bedrock of optical precision, reliability and performance and then pushed past them for absolute mastery in scope technology.

This BDC reticle has been calibrated especially for 55-62 grain, 223 REM/5.56 loads and zeroes at 100 yards for aiming points up to 500 yards. Multicoated optics gives you incredible brightness and the eyepiece, which features fast focusing, delivers maximum accuracy and reliability.

This scope is completely sealed to give maximum protection against the elements, dust and moisture, is rustproof and scratch proof and embellishes any firearm it is attached to.


UTG 3-12X44 30mm Compact Scope Review

best hunting scopeFinally, we have the UTG 3-12X44 30mm Compact Scope. This scope features the True Strength Platform, which makes it durable in design. It is completely sealed and filled with nitrogen making it shock proof, fog proof and rain proof so that you will not have to worry even when you take this scope out for use in any manner of weather you might happen upon.

Turrets are lockable and resettable and allow for a consistent and precise capability for maintaining a proper zero. The Mil-Dot reticle is thoroughly complemented by ¼ MOA click adjustments. Ready right out of the box, this scope will meet all of your shooting requirements with ease. All of these scopes are tested based on people who have actually used the product and all the possible information is analyzed in order to give you the overall performance that you deserve, under any conditions.

Measuring 10.4X1.6X2.1 inches and weighing just over two pounds, this scope is not available for international shipping. It also comes equipped with two lithium metal batteries even though they are not required to get a cross hair.


My Vote for Best Rifle Scope for the Money

After having gone over the five best gun scopes on the market, my top pick for personal favorite is going to be the Nikon ProStaff 4-12X40 Rifle Scope.

To start with, Nikon is one of the leading names in optics all around the world and can be trusted above and beyond many others in this field. Their camera’s alone are top notch and rarely depreciate in value for years. In addition to this, it is a compact, yet still very powerful, scope that does not add a lot of weight to your rifle.

While it is imported, it does have features such as a zero-reset turret with a spring loaded adjustment knob, 3.7 inches of eye relief and it is sealed with an o-ring and filled with nitrogen so weather doesn’t throw this scope off at all.

This scope will be just as effective on a foggy, rainy day as it will in the crisp spring sunlight and with a BDC reticle and quick focus eyepiece, the precision will be hard to beat by the competition.