Best Rifle Scopes

Top Rifle Scope Choices

Leupold Mark 5 HD 5-25X56 - Best For Long Range

Vortex Viper PST Gen 2 - Best Price

Vortex Razor 1-6X24 - Best LPVO

Primary Arms SLX 1-6X24 - Best LPVO For The Money

Trijicon ACOG 3.5X - Best Mid Range Prism Sight

Scope Buying Guide

Determine Your Shooting Applications

There are 3 popular rifle scope types:

• Long range scopes - Shoot accurately much further
• Low power variable scopes - Bridges the gap between CQB and long range
• Prism sights - Glass etched reticle with much more clarity than a red dot sight

Pick The Right Focal Plane 

There are two types of focal planes, First Focal Plane (FFP) and Second Focal Plane (SFP). They ultimately works different relative to magnification changes.

Second Focal Plane has the magnification lens in front of the reticle, which means the reticle with range estimator is only true at the highest magnification setting. 

First Focal Plane is the most desirable for long range shooting. The reticle inside the scope is in front of the magnification, which means the reticle increases in size to match the distance, and the reticle holds true on any magnification setting.

Magnification

For every 100 meters, you need 1X more magnification on your scope.

• What’s your preference?
• What’s your shooting application?

These factors are an important link between you and the target. Having a higher power isn’t something we used to do, and it’s not a must. You just need higher magnification power for extremely long distances.

If you can see better, then you can shoot better. 

Reticle Type

There exists a wide variety of reticle designs, each offering unique features and benefits. However, it is important to note that the most advanced and technologically advanced reticle may not necessarily be the most suitable for the user, if they lack the understanding and knowledge to properly utilize it.

Christmas Tree reticle is highly recommended for long range shooting. It's not a bullet drop compensator reticle, and it offers these capabilities:

• Range estimation
• Windage and distance holdover
• Shooters must understand DOPE for the rifle and ammo to fully take advantage of this reticle
• Works based on ballistic data
• Works with various rifle calibers

BDC Reticle - Bullet drop compensator reticle already takes a specific ballistic performance into account. This is great for mid range applications where being pin point accurate isn't the priority.

Trijicon ACOG prims scopes feature reticles like that to engage fast moving target with range estimation capability.