So you just purchased a new rifle and you are wondering about the best scopes for beginners to pair it with. Well, worry no more because you have come to the right place. In this review, we will explain all the things you need to know before purchasing your first rifle scope.
From the meaning of different parts of the scope to what to look for in scope, we will discuss it all here. We will also discuss the top 6 best rifle scopes for beginners stating their features, pros, and cons.
Why Is A Rifle Scope Important?
Imagine this, with a rifle scope that can be dialed down to 1X or no magnification, you will be able to do similar work as with iron sights or red dot sights. A good rifle scope offers you a wider field of view and better awareness of your surroundings hence a necessity in hunting or shooting operations.
Choosing the Best Rifle Scopes for Beginners
There are several factors you need to consider when choosing an optic for your rifle. From your budget to the features, here are some of the most important things to keep in mind;
Durable Construction
The material used in making any scope can give the user an idea of how durable the scope is. High-quality materials such as aluminum alloy or aircraft-grade aluminum are used in making the most long-lasting scopes on the market.
Cost
You should have a rough idea about how much you want to spend on your first scope and what you buy should fall within that range. Your budget will dictate the type of scope you buy but it should not be a reason to compromise on the quality of scope you get.
Range
The scope you buy is also determined by the far you intend to shoot. If you want to engage in mid-range shooting, go for a scope that’s compatible with mid-range shooting. Most riflescopes for beginners have smaller magnification power which is ideal for close to mid-range shooting.
Lens Coating
Your rifle scope should have its lenses multi-coated at the very least. Fully multi-coated lenses ensure maximum light transmission to give you bright and clear image views. Most coated lenses also come with anti-glare features for a clear view in all lighting conditions.
Eye Relief
Eye relief creates safety for the user and makes it comfortable to view the images through your scope. Scopes to be used with high-recoil rifles should have generous eye relief to keep your eyes and brows safe. The average eye relief for any scope is at least 3 inches.
Precision Power
Always go for a scope that gives optimum precision in all shooting applications and ranges. High precision power is ideal for any beginner riflescope as it complements your accuracy skills and enhances your overall locking target efficiency.
Compatibility
This is with regard to where you intend to use your scope. Your scope should match the rifle it will be attached to for accurate locking in of the target. It should also be able to withstand the rifle’s recoil if any.
Best Rifle Scopes for Beginners Reviews
1) Vortex Optics Crossfire II Riflescope
The Vortex Optics Crossfire II is built to offer great performance with clear, bright images in all lighting conditions. It is made of a single-piece tube constructed from aircraft-grade aluminum for strong and shockproof performance.
The scope features a fast-focus eyepiece and fully multi-coated lenses that provide the best shooting experience. The scope’s Capped reset turrets are finger adjustable with MOA clicks that can be reset to zero after sighting in.
It comes with a Dead-Hold BDC reticle which is good for hunting/shooting at varying ranges where estimating holdover is a concern. The long eye relief allows you to quickly get a sight picture of your target while still keeping you safe from recoil.
Key features
- It comes with an ultra-forgiving eye box
- It has a fast-focus eyepiece for quick and easy reticle focusing
- It features anti-reflective, fully multi-coated lenses for bright and clear views
- The max elevation adjustment is 60 MOA
- It is O-ring sealed and nitrogen purged for waterproof and fog-proof performance
Pros
- It has a long eye relief
- It has resettable MOA turrets
Cons
- Small magnification settings range
2) Simmons 3-9x32mm .22 Waterproof Riflescope
The Simmons 3-9×32 riflescope offers stunning on-game performance, reliability, and value thanks to its incredible features which include fully-coated optics and a complete set of 3/8″ dovetail mounting rings.
The scope features SureGrip adjustments which allow for easy adjustment, even while wearing gloves. It also has a quick target acquisition eyepiece that delivers a constant 3.5 inches of eye relief through the entire magnification range.
It comes with Simmons’ patented true zero adjustment system and QTA (quick target acquisition) eyepiece thus delivering unparalleled performance. Included with this scope’s package are a set of Rimfire rings that allow quick and easy mounting.
In addition, this Simmons scope is designed with waterproof and shockproof materials and is completely sealed for maximum fog-proof performance.
Key features
- It features high-quality optical glass and fully-coated optics
- It has a HydroShield lens coating that maintains a clear sight picture in all weather conditions
- Parallax correction preset from 50 yards to infinity
- Weight: 10.8 ounces
- Field of View: 31.4/10.5 ft. @ 100 yds.
- Eye Relief: 3.75 inches
- Exit Pupil: 10.7 – 3.6 Millimeters
- Click Value: 1/4 MOA
- Adjustment (Range): 60/60
Pros
- Waterproof, fog-proof, and shockproof
- Easy to mount
Cons
- It is a bit heavy compared to other scopes with similar features
3) Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Multi-X Reticle Riflescope
Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn 3-9X40 rifle scope is among the most popular and economical rifle scopes on the market. It is designed with Dusk & Dawn Brightness (DDB) multicoated lenses that provide optimal focus, sharpness, and clarity even in low light conditions, making it ideal for both terrain and darkness use.
The strong construction used for this scope ensures that you can conveniently use it without worrying about damages in case of drops. It has a one-tube design which makes it lightweight yet strong enough to face the rugged outdoors.
With the 6 inches of eye relief, you are assured that your eyes and eyebrows are safe even during recoil.
The Banner rifle scope has a Multi-X reticle, which features a very simplistic design and a smaller crosshair meeting point. This reticle is located on the second focal plane, hence perfect for the available magnification settings.
Key features
- It has quality optics that provide stunning HD clarity
- It has a variable 3-9x magnification
- It has a 40mm objective lens diameter
- It has multicoated lenses for maximum light transmission in low-light conditions
- It has an illuminated Multi-X reticle and 1/4 MOA fingertip windage and elevation adjustments
- It is O-ring sealed to keep it dry even when totally immersed in water for a few minutes
- It has multiple layers of anti-reflective coating on all air-to-glass surfaces for bright, high-contrast images
Pros
- It offers 6 inches of eye relief
- It is weather and shockproof
- Affordable
Cons
- The scope’s reticle has no holdover points for windage or elevation
- It does not come with mounts
4) PINTY Rifle Scope 2.5-10×40 with Red Laser Sight
Pinty Rifle Scope 2.5-10×40 is a quality complete set laser scope, made of a solid aluminum alloy construction with a quick and easy-to-secure attachment for all Picatinny or Weaver rails.
It has a 40mm objective lens diameter that allows you to have a wide field of view and easily monitor your target from anywhere within the viewing range.
In addition, the scope is designed with a multi-coated green objective lens that provides clearer, brighter images by allowing for higher light transmission than a blue objective lens would allow.
The Pinty scope features a red and green illuminated reticle with 5 brightness settings for all environments.
Key features
- Durable metal construction
- It is nitrogen-filled and O-ring sealed for waterproof and fog-proof performance
- It offers a wide field of view: 100 yards of 32.5′ @ 2.5x – 8.9′ @10x, laser range up to 100 yards
- It has a 2.5-10× magnification
- It has a 40mm objective diameter
- Red laser sight that allows for the quick acquisition of close-quarter targets
Pros
- It allows quick and secure attachment to all Picatinny or Weaver rails
- It is affordable
- Highly durable
Cons
- Small magnification range
5) UTG 3-12X44 30mm Compact Scope
UTG 3-12X44 compact scope is a 36 colors Mil-dot that offers great precision to hit your targets. With the choice of different colors, you will be able to personalize the scope for a more comfortable feel.
It features a 30mm tube paired with high-quality multi-emerald coated lenses that provide maximum light transmission for the best clarity. The innovative EZ-TAP illumination enhancing (IE) system includes a red/green dual-color mode for all weather/light conditions.
It also has a 1-Click high-tech illumination memory that gets you right back to the color/brightness setting last used.
This UTG scope features a special circuit and housing design for minimal illumination interruptions even under heavy recoil. The premium zero-locking and zero-resetting target turrets give off the most consistent and precise 1/4 MOA per click windage/elevation adjustment.
Key features
- It features a side wheel adjustable turret (SWAT) for Parallax adjustment
- It is sealed and nitrogen filled for fog-proof, and rain-proof performance
- It has multi-emerald coated lenses with flip-open lens caps
- Magnification: 3 – 12x
- Tube diameter: 30mm
- Objective diameter: 44mm
- Field of view at 100 yards: 32′ – 10′
- Exit Pupil: 13.0mm – 3.9mm
- Click value at 100 yards: 1/4″
- Length: 264mm
- Weight: 23.2 oz.
- Parallax setting: 10 yds. to infinity
Pros
- Great eye relief: 3.4″ – 3″
- Lightweight
- Supported by a lifetime warranty
Cons
- Requires a battery
6) Monstrum 3-9×32 Rifle Scope
Monstrum 3-9×32 is a tactical rifle scope that provides crystal clear targeting at 3-9x magnification. It has a 32mm objective diameter that creates a wide field of view with bright, clear images.
The scope has an eye relief of 3.5-3.8 inches that offers eye safety during use, even with heavy recoil. This scope is equipped with a glass rangefinder reticle that provides on-the-fly range estimation and long-distance targeting.
It also has dial-controlled reticle illumination in both red and green with multiple brightness intensities.
Key features
- It is crafted from aircraft-grade aluminum
- It offers 3 to 9 times magnification for close to mid-range shooting
- It has a detachable throw lever for quick magnification adjustment
- It has a multi-layer lens coating that protects your scope lens from scratches
- It is nitrogen-filled and sealed for water and fog resistance
- It is 9. inches long, 2 inches high, and 2 inches wide
Pros
- It has a set of standard profile scope rings for easy and reliable scope placement
- It comes in two color options; black and flat dark earth
- It is lightweight
Cons
- The small magnification range is not ideal for long-range shooting
Best Rifle Scopes for Beginners FAQs
- What do the numbers 3-9×40 mean on a scope?
Rifle scopes are named by numbers, for example, 3-9×40. These numbers represent the power and objective lens size. In 3-9×40, 3 and 9 represent power, meaning that the image seen through the scope can appear between three times (3x) to nine times (9x)closer than it would with your naked eye. The number 40 is the objective lens diameter in millimeters.
- What size scope do I need for 100 yards?
When shooting a small-sized target from a distance of a hundred yards, then magnification is a must. A scope with a 3x magnification will be enough for most people.
Read: Best Rifle Scopes for 100 Yards
- What magnification do I need for 200 yards?
Scopes with a 4x-12x magnification range are ideal for shooting at 200 yards.
Read: Top 10 Best Rifle Scopes for 200 Yards
- How much should you spend on a rifle scope?
You do not need to break the bank for a rifle scope. However, remember that cheap is always expensive. It is advisable to spend at least twice the cost of your rifle on the optics. High-quality scopes tend to be more costly but worth every penny.
Final Thoughts
You do not have to worry about your first rifle scope. As long as you get a scope with good features, your experience will be a breeze. The above-discussed rifle scopes are made by professionals, some of who have used scopes for years, hence you are sure to be using the best in the market.
Choose a scope that best suits your shooting/hunting needs and enjoy the experience!