Some shooting operations require you to have the best rifle scopes to achieve the desired results. The best high-end rifle scopes have high-performance state-of-the-art features that efficiently enhance output.
Military-based operations, as well as high-profile target hunting, require such scopes. Some are designed to make hunting in the dark possible, while others like the Steiner T5Xi Tactical Rifle Scope have a throw lever for easier magnification.
These scopes are reliable, high-performance, and might require you to dig deeper into your pockets. They include;
High-End Scopes Review
1) Vortex Optics Golden Eagle HD 15-60×52 Riflescope
The Vortex Optics Golden Eagle HD 15-60×52 Second Focal Plane Riflescope features a Golden Eagle HD, particularly made for F-class competitive shooters who require a fine reticle with repeatable tracking for fine-tuning.
This scope also features a bench rest and a 2nd focal plane reticle that is finely demarcated with known target images. It delivers high-definition target images thanks to the optically indexed apochromatic lens as well as the fast-focus eyepiece.
The Vortex optics scope features plasma tech with XR, an antireflective coating that provides unmatched lens protection with maximum brightness, performance, and durability for high-contrast target images.
Made of an aircraft-grade aluminum alloy, this scope’s durability and versatility are guaranteed as well as impact resistance. The lenses are protected by Armortek coating that creates resilience to oil and dirt. They are also water and fog-resistant due to the O-ring sealing and Argon-purging.
The side focus adjustment guarantees target acquisition and shot reliability by efficiently eliminating parallax by broadening the hunter’s field depth, while the scope’s aperture stop ring enables wind indicator and mirage observation with a target in focus.
Key features
- Aircraft-grade aluminum main tube
- Water, fog, and shockproof performance
- It features ultra-fine (1/8MOA) resolution turrets
- It has a 10 MOA accessory windage turret
- It has a Premium aluminum lens cap on the objective lens
- It has a Plasma Tech coating in addition to Armortek lens coating
- It has a fast-focus eyepiece with eyepiece covers
- It has a side focus adjustment for parallax elimination
Specifications
- Magnification: 15-60x
- Objective lens diameter: 52mm
- F.O.V: 6.3-1.7ft/100yds
- Tube diameter: 30mm
- Weight: 29.7oz
- Length: 40.90cm
- Eye relief: 99.06mm
- Click value: 0.125MOA
- Windage and elevation adjustment: 40MOA
2) NIGHTFORCE ATACR 5-25x56mm F1
This NIGHTFORCE ATACR 5-25x56mm scope features fully multi-coated ED glass optics that deliver unparalleled light transmission for high-end target images with optimum brightness and clarity.
In addition to high 5-25x power magnification, this scope has extensive elevation travel that ensures fast and guaranteed target acquisition at distances considered out of range. Featuring unmatched Zero-stop technology, the windage and elevation adjustment turrets ensure resettable and lockable zero despite the number of adjustments or shots taken.
The scope is made of a two to three-times thicker 6061-T6 aerospace-grade aluminum alloy main tube, that provides great thermal stability and impact resistance, as well as provides a shield for the interior precision optics.
All air-glass optical lens surfaces are broadband multi-coated for abrasion resistance. They can withstand ¼ wave depositions for color contrast and target image brightness in poor-lighting conditions.
Additionally, this scope is fitted with an NXS-titanium windage and elevation spring designed to last for a lifetime, with optimum performance without hitting its fatigue limit or memory establishment, in the case of prolonged dormant settings.
Key features
- It features NXS-Titanium, Windage, and elevation lifetime spring
- It has broadband multi-coated optics for clarity
- It features optical lens indexing
- It has extreme speed adjustments
- It features the Zero-stop technology
- It features 1st focal plane reticle technology
Specifications
- Magnification: 5-25x
- Objective lens diameter: 56mm
- Weight: 30oz
- Tube diameter: 34mm
- Length: 36.3cm
- F.O.V: 18-4.9ft/100yds
- Reticle: Mil-R/MOAR
- Click value: .250MOA
- Eye relief: 90mm
- Exit pupil: 8.3-2.3mm
- Parallax: 45yds-infinity
3) Swarovski Z5 5-25×52 BT Riflescope
The Swarovski Z5 5-25×52 BT Riflescope is a slender lightweight highly accurate riflescope, with a large field of view and a 5-25 high magnification power. The scope has a 52mm objective lens that delivers bright crystal clear optics with optimum accuracy at long ranges. It is suitable for hunting in any environment, under diverse conditions.
This scope features a rugged SureGrip design that is impact-resistant, with comfortable windage and elevation adjustment knob turrets that offer reliable zero settings for precise target image acquisition and shot accuracy.
For optimum operation in the hunter-shooting position, the scope is fitted with a lateral parallax turret ensuring relevant target distance despite range for easier distance determination. The main tube has a scratch-resistant, anodized finish that protects the scope from corrosion for reliable performance and guaranteed durability.
This scope features a microstructure surface with accurately marked-out ribbing that protects the scope against residual reflection in the tube to facilitate bright high contrast target images under any lighting condition.
Key features
- It has a rugged SureGrip tube design
- It has a scratch and corrosion-free anodized finish
- It features a lateral parallax turret
- The ballistic turret offers better impact at any distance
- It has a patented coil spring system
- It features extended eye relief
Specifications
- Magnification: 5-25x
- Objective lens diameter: 52mm
- Eye relief: 94.99mm
- Length: 37.1cm
- Weight: 17.5oz
- Tube diameter: 25.4mm
- Click value: 0.25MOA
- F.O.V: 21.9-4.5ft/100yds
- Exit pupil: 95mm
- Parallax: 55yds –infinity
- Windage and elevation adjustment: 43-25MOA
4) Steiner T5Xi Tactical Rifle Scope
The Steiner T5Xi Tactical Rifle Scope is particularly designed for competition, featuring a special competition reticle with extended 7-day and 4-night illumination levels.
Its optical lenses are ground and polished then multi-coated to deliver brightness-appropriate and high-contrast target images even in poorly lit environments. The coating also protects against sunlight glare for unparalleled sight image clarity.
Located in the 1st focal plane, the SCR-reticle features a 0.2MOA hold-off and 0.5 windage holdover lines in addition to a 0.1MOA accurate distance range. The scope provides hard precise stops as a result of the resettable low-profile windage and elevation.
The Steiner exclusive, never-lost turrets have a rotation indicator that facilitates mil-number change after the first 120-clicks rotation, enabling hunters to achieve their preferred zero without getting lost in their dial.
It also features a throw lever that facilitates efficient magnification changes and a Tenebraex optical lens cover for protection against dust particles or moisture molecules that distort the target image view.
The Dioptric adjustment is set to the range +2 to -3 providing a user-friendly sight view for hunters with myopia and hypermetropia thus less use for spectacles.
Key features
- It is supported by a heritage lifetime warranty
- It features a Tenebraex lens cover
- It uses an Illuminated Special Competition Reticle (SCR)
- It has a second rotation indicator
- It has a throw lever for easy magnification changes
Specifications
- Magnification: 5-25x
- Objective lens diameter: 56mm
- Reticle: illuminated SCR
- Weight: 59.2oz
- Length: 24.1cm
- F.O.V: 21.5-4.3ft/100yds
- Eye relief: 88.9-109.2mm
- Tube diameter: 34mm
- Exit pupil: 2.3-11.2mm
- Parallax: 50yds-infinity
5) Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25x56mm Riflescope
The Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25x56mm Riflescope features twilight max high definition, a light management system responsible for providing an additional 30 minutes of shooting light as well as unparalleled glare reduction for optic lens clarity.
This scope is also fitted with a PR-1MOA, Front Focal reticle which magnifies together with the target image enabling target estimation for quick focus and precise shooting. It is sealed to tolerate adverse temperature changes and shocks thus preventing moisture from building in the scope’s optics for crystal-clear target images.
In an addition, the Leupold Mark scope is impacted resilient i.e. designed to tolerate more than 5000 impacts from its recoil simulation which is three times that of a .308 rifle.
Key features
- It is made of aluminum material
- It features the Twilight max High Definition light management system
- It has a PR-1MOA Front Focal reticle
- It has a push-button zero-locking turret
- Water, fog, and shockproof performance
- It is resilient to adverse temperatures (-40 to 160 degrees)
- It has 0.25MOA M1C3 turrets with a revolution indicator
Specifications
- Magnification: 5-25x
- Objective lens diameter: 56mm
- Tube diameter: 35mm
- Weight: 30oz
- Eye relief: 91.44-96.52mm
- F.O.V: 20.4-4.2ft/100yds
- Length: 39.8cm
- Click value: 0.25MOA
6) Trijicon ACOG Dual Illuminated Rifle Scope
Unlike the precision group shooting scopes, the Trijicon ACOG Dual Illuminated Red Horseshoe Rifle Scope is a fast acquisition close combat scope. It is a dual illuminated (SDO), Squad automatic-weapon Day Optic that features a fast target acquiring Red-Dot reticle with fiber optics for day hunting, and tritium for night hunting.
The scope can be zeroed at 100 yards using the top of the scope’s reticle as the aiming point, the bottom of the reticles therefore 300, and its center 200 yards with each harsh mark being an additional 100 yards.
The red horseshoe dot reticle effectively improves the target sight picture to 400 yards from 200 since it’s thin with a red dotted center that obscures less.
This scope is forged from strong durable aluminum for versatility and impact resistance, with an additional anti-reflective device that protects from sunlight glare that may distort the target image
Key features
- It is Aluminum forged
- It has a Red-Dot Horseshoe reticle
- It features optic-protective flip caps
- It has a dual-illuminated reticle
- Fiber optics and tritium for night and day hunting
Specifications
- Magnification:3.5x
- F.O.V: 28.9/100yds
- Weight: 1.3lbs
- Objective lens diameter; 35mm
- Eye relief: 60.96mm
7) Burris Eliminator 4-16x50mm Scope
The Burris Eliminator 4-16x50mm Laser Rangefinder Scope is a precision scope that determines target image distance through reliance on the scope’s eliminator to factor in the trajectory while illuminating the perfect precise holdover.
The scope features a long-range laser rangefinder with more than 1,200 yards ranging capability that makes hunting efficient by increasing the shot distance and eliminating guesswork and variables that may interfere with target image acquisition or shot accuracy.
The Burris scope also has state-of-the-art optics fitted with an in-built inclinometer that adjusts up to 45 degrees, for precision in diverse terrains. It is fitted with a push-button for target distance calculation with 750+ yards of non-reflective targets.
In addition, the scope has an enhanced remote cable ballistic advanced software, suited for centerfire cartridges and several rimfires including slug guns and muzzleloaders.
It offers hunters additional wind information about the anticipated bullets outcome as well as the X96 reticle that delivers a perfect shot of 500 yards with 0.9hold off wind value on moving the holdover dot to the accurate hold-off.
Key features
- It features an in-built inclinometer for down-hill shooting
- It has a 1,200-ranging capability
- It has a push-button for target distance calculation with 750+ non-reflective targets
Specifications
- Magnification: 4-16x
- Eye relief: 10.5-3.5mm
- Weight: 26oz
- Length: 33.02cm
- Objective lens diameter: 50mm
- F.O.V: 25-9ft/100yds
8) Zeiss Conquest V6 Reticle w/Hunting Turret
This Zeiss scope features a lightweight design and a ballistic turret for ideal medium-long-range target image shooting. Its precise long-range shooting features are ideal for sitting and stalking versatility.
It is forged from a strong durable anodized main tube that is resilient to impact and corrosion. It also features LotuTec rain and trail-grime shedding lens coating as well as an optional drop bullet compensator.
The Zeiss Conquest scope offers up to 92% light transmission as a result of its multi-layer T-coating technology which delivers high-contrast and crystal-clear target images even in poor lighting or adverse environmental conditions.
The scope features an unparalleled fine illuminated dot reticle with minimal target coverage, due to the 3.3mm extra-thin fiber optics that offer high-end accuracy for long distances and the smallest targets.
Key features
- It features T-coated and LotuTec coating
- It offers high-end precision in adverse conditions
- Water, fog, and shockproof performance
- It is resilient to corrosion
- It features a 3.3mm illuminated dot reticle
- It has 92% efficient light transmission
Specifications
- Magnification: 3-18x
- F.O.V: 37-6ft/100yds
- Tube diameter: 30mm
- Length: 33.8cm
- Weight 22.2oz
- Objective lens diameter: 56mm
- Exit pupil: 9.5-2.8mm
- Eye relief: 90mm
- Diopter adjustment: +2.0-(-3)
Choosing the Best High-End Rifle Scopes
Reticle
The best high-end rifle scopes should be accompanied by high-performance reticles for guesswork and extra variable elimination. Reticles such as the red horseshoe dot and the X96 are highly efficient in target image acquisition and range estimation as well as bullet drop compensation.
Impact resistance
High-end rifles have heavy recoil that may cause loss of target image or zero. Scopes such as the Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25x56mm Riflescope are tested and proven to be impact resilient with the ability to withstand more than 5000 impacts on the scope’s punisher. This generates reliability and thus confidence in the scopes.
Optic coating
Most high-end rifle scopes have advanced optic lenses coating technologies like the LotuTec and T-coating. They are additionally fitted with flip covers such as the Tenebraex lens covers and the Optic-protective flip caps, which provide additional protection against sunlight glare and other elements such as moisture or dust particles that can cause target image distortion.
Best High-End Scopes FAQs
- Are these scopes waterproof?
Most high-end scopes feature water-resistant techniques such as O-ring sealing and inert-gas purging/filling especially, Argon. Some feature technologies such HydroShield coating protects the optic lenses from moisture accumulation thus clearing target images.
- Are the high-end rifle scopes expensive?
There are a number of scopes that are quite affordable to the greatest part of the general population. They offer great performance and value for money.
Final Thoughts
For high-profile outputs as well as features, the best high-end rifle scopes are the way to go. They have advanced features resulting in great unparalleled performance thus offering memorable hunting experiences. They should be part of any hunter’s shelf.
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