In the world of hunting and shooting, having the right rifle scope can make all the difference as hunting and shooting success often hinge on having the right equipment. With so many options on the market, finding the right scope can be overwhelming, especially if it’s as common as the 3-18 power scopes.
We have taken the time and narrowed the list down to the top 6 power scopes for the 3-18 range. These scopes offer exceptional clarity, accuracy, and durability to take your shooting game to the next level. Whether you’re a seasoned marksman or just starting out, these scopes are sure to exceed your expectations.
So, let’s dive in and discover the best of the best.
Best 3-18 Power Scopes Review
1) Athlon Optics Ares BTR 3-18x50mm Riflescope
The Athlon Optics Ares BTR 3-18x50mm Riflescope is a top-performing optic designed for long-range shooting and hunting. This riflescope features a versatile magnification range, from 3x to 18x, allowing for accurate targeting at various distances.
One of the standout features of the Athlon Optics Ares BTR is its first focal plane reticle, which allows for accurate holdovers at any magnification. The reticle remains proportional to the target at all times and is also illuminated, providing better visibility in low light conditions.
The Ares BTR also features a user-friendly turret system, known as the Best Turret System. The low-profile turrets provide quick and precise adjustments, allowing for easy zeroing and target acquisition. They are also lockable, ensuring that your zero stays in place even after repeated recoil.
The 50mm objective lens provides a wide field of view and allows for good light transmission, even in low light conditions, ensuring clear and bright images.
Key features
- Magnification range of 3x to 18x
- It has a 50mm objective lens
- First focal plane reticle allows for accurate holdovers at any magnification
- Best Turret System (BTR) for quick and precise adjustments
- Illuminated reticle offers better visibility in low light conditions
- Lockable turrets ensure zero stays in place
Pros
- Large objective lens provides a wide field of view and good light transmission
- Illuminated reticle
- Multi-coated lenses provide bright and clear images
Cons
- Higher price point compared to other riflescopes with similar features
2) Vortex Razor HD Gen II 3-18x50mm FFP Rifle Scope
The Vortex Razor HD Gen II 3-18x50mm 34mm Tube First Focal Plane Rifle Scope is a high-performance riflescope designed for long-range shooting.
It features a 34mm main tube, which provides a wide field of view and allows for a greater range of adjustment for windage and elevation. The scope has a magnification range of 3-18x, which makes it ideal for both close-range and long-range shooting.
The first focal plane reticle allows the user to have holdovers accurate at any magnification, making it a versatile option for hunting or tactical use. The 50mm objective lens provides a clear and bright image with a wide field of view, and the multi-layer coating on the lens enhances light transmission and reduces glare.
The scope features a durable and compact design, with aircraft-grade aluminum construction, and is shockproof, waterproof, and fog proof. It also has a zero-stop elevation turret, which allows for quick and easy adjustments, and the capped windage turret protects the adjustments from accidental bumps or changes.
Key features
- Durable Construction (Aircraft-grade aluminum)
- Objective Lens Diameter is 50mm
- Main Tube Diameter is 34mm
- It uses a First Focal Plane Reticle
- Waterproof, Shockproof, and Fog Proof
- Multi-layer Coating on Lens
- Zero-stop Elevation Turret
- Capped Windage Turret
Pros
- Wide magnification range (3-18x) allows for both close-range and long-range shooting
- Large objective lens provides a clear and bright image with a wide field of view.
Cons
- The 34mm main tube can be heavier and bulkier than smaller diameter tubes.
3) Leupold VX-6HD 3-18x44mm Rifle Scope
The Leupold VX-6HD 3-18x44mm Rifle Scope is a high-end riflescope ideal for long-range shooting. It features a magnification range of 3x to 18x, allowing for versatile target acquisition in a variety of shooting situations.
The scope is constructed from durable materials and is built to withstand tough conditions. It is also nitrogen purged, which helps prevent internal fogging in humid conditions. The scope has a 44mm objective lens which provides a wide field of view and a HD lens system for superior clarity and light transmission.
The VX-6HD also features an illuminated reticle, which allows for quick target acquisition in low light conditions. The reticle is located in the first focal plane, meaning that it remains the same size regardless of the magnification setting, providing a more consistent point of reference.
Leupold’s proprietary Twilight Max Light Management System maximizes usable light in any conditions, providing the user with a clear sight picture from dawn to dusk. The scope also has a fast focus eyepiece, which allows the user to quickly adjust the focus for clear, sharp image.
Key features
- Durable construction
- It has a 44mm objective lens
- It uses HD lens system
- Illuminated reticle in first focal plane
- Twilight Max Light Management System
- Fast focus eyepiece
- One-piece main tube
- Low profile, lockable turret system
Pros
- Versatile magnification range
- Superior clarity and light transmission
- Reliable performance in harsh weather conditions
- Precise and reliable adjustments
Cons
- A bit pricey
4) Meopta Optika6 3-18x56mm 30mm Tube Rifle Scope
The Meopta Optika6 3-18x56mm 30mm Tube Rifle Scope is a high-performance, variable power rifle scope designed for hunters and tactical shooters. The 3-18x magnification range allows the user to adjust the magnification to suit the shooting situation.
The scope features a 56mm objective lens which provides a wide field of view, even at high magnification, and a 30mm tube which provides a larger internal light path for improved clarity and brightness.
The Optika6 is equipped with Meopta’s advanced MeoBright lens coatings, which provide superior light transmission and clarity in low-light conditions. The scope also features MeoShield protective coatings on the exterior lenses to prevent scratches and improve durability.
The Optika6 has a first focal plane reticle, meaning that the reticle size changes with the magnification, allowing for accurate holdovers at any magnification setting. It also has adjustable turrets for windage and elevation, allowing for precise adjustments in the field.
The scope is built to withstand harsh conditions and heavy recoil, with a durable, aircraft-grade aluminum body and shock-proof construction. It is also waterproof and fog proof, allowing for use in a variety of weather conditions.
Key features
- It offers a 3-18x magnification
- It has a 56mm objective lens
- It is built with a 30mm tube
- Meopta Illuminated Z-Plex reticle
- First focal plane reticle
- 90 MOA of windage and elevation adjustment
- Multicoated lenses for improved light transmission
- Waterproof, shockproof and fog proof
Pros
- Large objective lens provides a wide field of view
- Illuminated reticle helps improve aim in low light conditions
- Adequate adjustability for windage and elevation
Con
- It has a learning curve
5) Steiner T6Xi 3-18x56mm
The Steiner T6Xi 3-18x56mm is a high-performance rifle scope designed for long-range shooting. It features a first focal plane reticle, which means that the reticle size changes as the magnification is adjusted. This allows for more accurate holdovers and range finding at higher magnifications.
The T6Xi 3-18x56mm has a wide magnification range of 3-18x, providing the shooter with a clear view of the target at close and long distances. It also features a high-resolution, fully multi-coated lens system for bright and clear image transmission, even in low light conditions.
In addition, this scope is equipped with Steiner’s advanced Dual Use Precision Adjustment (DUPA) system, which allows for fast and precise adjustments without having to remove your eye from the scope. It also has a rugged, shock-resistant design that can withstand heavy recoil and tough hunting conditions.
Key features
- It features a 34mm main tube and 56mm objective lens
- First focal plane reticle allows for more accurate holdovers and rangefinding at higher magnifications
- Wide magnification range of 3-18x
- Fully Multi-Coated Lens System provides bright and clear image transmission, even in low light conditions
- Dual Use Precision Adjustment (DUPA) System allows for fast and precise adjustments without removing the eye from the scope
- Rugged, Shock-Resistant Design can withstand heavy recoil and tough hunting conditions
- Advanced optics technology which gives exceptional image quality and clarity
Pros
- Accurate reticle
- Fully multi-coated lens system provides bright and clear image transmission
- Durable construction
Cons
- A bit costly for some users
6) Trijicon AccuPoint TR-34 3-18x50mm Rifle Scope
The Trijicon AccuPoint TR-34 3-18x50mm Rifle Scope is a high-end riflescope designed for long-range shooting. It features a 50mm objective lens, providing a large and clear field of view. The 3-18x magnification range allows for versatile use in a variety of shooting scenarios, from close range to long distance.
The scope has a reticle with a dual-illumination system, utilizing fiber optics for daytime use and tritium for low-light conditions. The reticle is also adjustable for windage and elevation, allowing for precise shot placement.
The AccuPoint TR-34 is constructed from aircraft-grade aluminum, making it durable and able to withstand tough shooting conditions. It is also nitrogen-filled and O-ring sealed, making it waterproof, fog-proof, and shockproof.
The scope has a locking diopter to maintain the focus of the reticle, and a fast-focus eyepiece to quickly adjust the reticle focus. It also features an adjustable objective lens, which allows for parallax correction and fine-tuning of the image.
Key features
- Constructed from aircraft-grade aluminum
- It has a 3-18x magnification range
- It features a 50mm objective lens
- Dual-illumination reticle (fiber optics and tritium)
- Adjustable for windage and elevation
- Waterproof, fog-proof, and shockproof
- Locking diopter and fast-focus eyepiece
- Adjustable objective lens for parallax correction
Pros
- Versatile magnification range suitable for close and long-range shooting
- Large objective lens provides a clear field of view
- Dual-illumination reticle provides good visibility in various lighting conditions
- Adjustable features for precise shot placement and image tuning
Cons
- May be heavy for some users
Advantages of Using 3-18 Power Scopes
The advantages of using 3-18 power scopes include:
Versatility– With a magnification range of 3-18, these scopes are ideal for a wide range of shooting situations, from close-range shots to long-distance shots.
Improved accuracy– The higher magnification range of 3-18 scopes allows for more precise shots and improved accuracy, especially at longer distances.
Clarity– The high-quality optics in these scopes provide clear and bright images, even in low-light conditions.
Durability– These scopes are built with high-quality materials that can withstand harsh shooting conditions and rough handling.
Ease of use– Many 3-18 power scopes are designed with user-friendly features, such as easy-to-use adjustments, making them ideal for both experienced and novice shooters.
Choosing the Best 3-18 Power Scopes
There are considerations you need to have in mind when looking for a 3-18x scope for your rifle. They include;
Optics quality
The clarity of the image is crucial for accuracy, so look for scopes with high-quality lenses and coatings that reduce glare and enhance image brightness.
Magnification
A 3-18 power magnification range offers versatility for different shooting scenarios, but make sure the scope provides a clear and stable image at all magnifications.
Durability
A good scope should be able to withstand recoil, impact, and exposure to the elements. Look for scopes with high-quality materials and sturdy construction.
Adjustability
Being able to make quick and precise adjustments to the scope is important for accuracy. Look for scopes with user-friendly adjustments, such as finger-adjustable turrets and zero-stop elevations.
Eye relief
Eye relief is the distance between the eyepiece and the shooter’s eye. Long eye relief is especially important for shooting with high-powered rifles.
Reticle options
Different reticle styles can be used for different shooting scenarios. Consider what type of reticle you prefer, such as crosshairs, dots, or etched glass.
Budget
Scopes can range from affordable to high-end, so consider your budget and choose a scope that provides the features and quality you need at a price that fits your budget.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for a versatile scope that will allow you to engage with your targets at different ranges, then you are right on track with the 3-18x scopes. These scopes provide accuracy from close to long distances, with easy to use features that make shooting an adventure.
The best 3-18 power scopes are the best choice for different shooting applications regardless of the user’s expertise. They are a great choice for any hunter.
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