Riflescopes are designed to help you get the most out of your air rifle. The best rifle scopes help improve your accuracy and allow you to zoom in for the easy acquisition of long-range targets. The Best riflescopes review is meant to give an insight into the best scopes currently available in the market.
Most of them are designed with quality materials and high recoil resistance to withstand the heavy recoil produced by high-power air rifles.
There are many riflescope brands in the market and one can only wish to own each one of them. Choosing the best from them all is a hectic task and that is why we compiled the list of the best riflescopes you will come across.
Types of Scopes
The different types of scopes can all be placed in three categories, which you should be familiar with before purchasing your riflescope. They are;
Variable Scopes- these are the most common. They are useful when magnification is key for a clean shot. These scopes allow the shooter to adjust the magnification of the target as they like. They are mostly used with sniper rifles.
Fixed Scopes- although these scopes are less complicated than variable scopes, their magnification is not adjustable as in variable scopes. They are only recommended on certain occasions and for certain types of firearms.
Night Vision Scopes- these are specialty scopes. They can either be a variable scope or a fixed scope. These scopes are special as they are used for shooting at night or during the day when there is a small amount of light to naturally see the target. These scopes are bulky and expensive.
Best Air Rifle Scopes by Brand
Below are the top 10 best rifle scopes by brand;
Vortex
1) Vortex Optics Crossfire II Second Focal Plane Riflescope
The Vortex 2-7×32 riflescope is one of the configurations in the Crossfire II line. It comes with a Dead-Hold BDC reticle which is ideal for hunting/shooting at varying ranges where estimating holdover is a concern.
The single-piece tube construction of aircraft-grade aluminum ensures maximum strength and shockproof performance. It is also O-ring sealed and nitrogen purged for waterproof and fog-proof performance.
The scope has a long eye relief and an ultra-forgiving eye box, meaning you can be able to quickly get a sight picture and acquire your target. It has a fast-focus eyepiece which allows quick and easy reticle focusing. The scope’s anti-reflective, fully multi-coated lenses provide bright and clear images for better accuracy.
Another feature is the capped reset turrets which are finger adjustable with MOA clicks that can be reset to zero after sighting in.
Key features
- Has anti-reflective, fully multi-coated lenses
- It is waterproof and fog proof
- The scope has a fast-focus eyepiece for quick and easy reticle focusing
- Has a long eye relief and an ultra-forgiving eye box
- Max Elevation Adjustment: 60 MOA
2) Vortex Optics Diamondback Tactical Riflescope
Vortex Diamondback Tactical First Focal Plane 4-16×44 offers both precision and value and comes packed with numerous desirable features. It is made with extra-low dispersion glass and fully multi-coated lenses that transmit a crisp, bright sight picture.
The single-piece 30mm tube is shockproof and ruggedly built to withstand recoil and impacts. It is also strongly O-ring sealed and nitrogen purged for waterproof and fog proof performance.
This Vortex scope features a first focal plane, a glass-etched reticle that keeps subtensions accurate throughout the 4x zoom range. Its precision-glide erector system uses premium components in the zoom lens to ensure smooth magnification changes under the harshest conditions.
This scope also has exposed tactical turrets and a side parallax knob that gives you an easy time with long-distance precision shooting.
Key features
- It is waterproof and fog proof
- Has a shockproof and rugged construction
- Has exposed tactical turrets and a side parallax knob for long-distance precision shooting
- It features a fast-focus eyepiece for quick and easy reticle focusing
Leupold
3) Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9X40mm Riflescope
The VX-Freedom 3-9x40mm Riflescope is designed for hunters and shooters who demand performance and dependability. It is designed with a rugged design and a matte finish for maximum durability.
This scope offers the shooter best-in-class optics, unbeatable accuracy, and a wide variety of reticles. It is also O-ring sealed and nitrogen purged for waterproof and fog-proof performance.
This model is made with scratch-resistant lenses which have extreme military-standard scratch resistance for added protection. Its lightweight Aluminum housing offers excellent durability and ruggedness without adding unnecessary weight.
Key features
- Ultra-lightweight design
- It has an advanced optical system for clear pictures
- Features an ergonomic power selector
- 3:1 zoom ratio
- It has a fast-focus locking eyepiece
- Scratch-resistant lenses
- Features standard finger click adjustments
- High-contrast adjustment markings
4) Leupold VX-3i 4.5-14x50mm Riflescope
The VX-3i 4.5-14×40 is a lightweight scope made with 6061-T6 aircraft quality aluminum and then punisher tested to guarantee maximum durability even under the harshest recoil.
It is designed to offer you outstanding performance in low-light conditions. The scope is waterproof, fog proof, and has a tough design that makes it shockproof.
The VX-3i has a DiamondCoat 2 – Ion-assist lens coating for high light transmission and a high level of abrasion resistance. This scope features the Leupold Twilight Max Light Management System which allows you to see tiny details even in crucial low-light situations at dawn or dusk.
Apart from having a duplex reticle and matte finish, this scope also features precision 1/4 MOA finger click adjustments for windage and elevation for absolute repeatability and dependability over a lifetime of extreme use
Key features
- 100% waterproof, fog proof
- Shockproof
- Magnification Range: 4.5x-14x
- Weight: 16.5 oz.
- Length: 12.2 in.
- Maintube Diameter: 1 inch
- Eye Relief (in) – Low: 4.4
- Eye Relief (in) – High: 3.6
- Linear FOV (ft. /100 yd.) – Low: 19.1
- Linear FOV (ft. /100 yd.) – High: 7.4
Bushnell
5) Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 Red Dot Sight Riflescope, 1x20mm
The Bushnell red dot features a 3 MOA Dot reticle with 11 adjustable brightness settings which illuminate the reticle inside for better target acquisition. Choosing lower brightness settings helps to prolong the red dot’s battery life.
The scope is nitrogen-purged to prevent fogging up when the humidity or temperatures rapidly change. It is also O-ring sealed making it waterproof even when fully immersed in water.
The TRS-25 is easy to mount on most Picatinny rails and is compatible with pistols, shotguns, rifles, and muzzleloaders. It comes in a strong, precision-engineered housing that protects it from the rough-and-tumble environment of the field.
Key features
- Shockproof construction ensures maximum durability
- Matte black finish
- It is easy to mount and use
- Waterproof and fog proof
- Parallax – 50
6) Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Multi-X Reticle Riflescope
Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Multi-X Reticle Riflescope features quality optics with stunning HD clarity. The low-light rifle scope has a 3 to 9x magnification and a 40-millimeter objective lens.
It has a Multi-X reticle that ensures a classic sight picture and a second focal plane (SFP), a Multi-X crosshair reticle for easy target acquisition even at dusk and dawn.
The scope features Dusk & Dawn Brightness (DDB) fully multi-coated optics for clarity and brightness. It also has a waterproof construction that prevents fogging and ensures a crisp, clear image.
This scope is suitable for hunting during the low-light conditions of dusk and dawn. Its fast-focus eyepiece allows you to quickly adjust the reticle to your eye, for easy focusing.
Key features
- 100 percent quality materials used and tested extensively
- It is 100 percent waterproof/fog-proof performance
- Has 3.3 inches of eye relief
- It provides 3 to 9x magnification
- 40-millimeter objective lens
- Dusk & Dawn Brightness (DDB) multi-coated lenses
- Multi X reticle
- 1/4 MOA fingertip windage and elevation adjustments
- Measurements: 12 inches long
Simmons
7) Simmons 3-9x32mm .22 Riflescope
The Simmons 3-9x32mm features Simmons’ patented true zero adjustment system and quick target acquisition eyepiece (QTA) that delivers a constant eye relief of 3.5 inches for the entire magnification range.
It comes complete with a set of Rimfire rings that allow easy and quick mounting. The SureGrip adjustments allow for easy adjustment, even while wearing gloves.
This Simmons’ scope is made with high-quality optical glass and fully-coated optics to deliver bright, sharp images. It also has the Hydro-Shield lens coating which helps prevent fogging for a clear sight picture, regardless of weather conditions.
Key features
- Waterproof, fog proof, and shockproof
- HydroShield coating ensures a clear sight picture
- Black matte finish
- Truplex Reticle
- Rimfire 3/8″ dovetail mounting rings included
- Description: 3 – 9 x 32 A/O
- Field of View (ft. @ 100 yds.): 31.4/10.5
- Eye Relief (inches): 3.75
- Exit Pupil (Millimeters): 10.7 – 3.6
- Weight (ounces): 10.3
- Click Value (MOA): 1/4
- Adjustment (Range): 60/60
8) Simmons 510513 Truplex Riflescope, Matte, 3-9x40mm
The 8-Point riflescope offers many high-quality features including fully coated optics for a brighter, higher-contrast image, and 1/4-MOA SureGrip audible-click windage and elevation adjustments for effortless adjustment.
It is also equipped with a triplex reticle and the QTA eyepiece that allows easy target acquisition.
This Simmons riflescope is waterproof, fog-proof, and recoil-proof, which makes for outstanding precision in a basic riflescope. It is easy to mount on your rifle with an included mount system.
Key features
- Waterproof, fog proof, and recoil proof
- Magnification & Objective (mm): 3-9x 40
- Weight: 70 ounces
- Field of View (ft. at 100 yds.): 31.4 / 10.5
- Eye Relief: 95 mm; 3.75 inches
- Exit Pupil: 10.7 / 3.6 mm
- Click Value (in at 100Y): 0.25
- Adjustment Range (in at 100Y): 60
UTG
9) UTG 3-12X44 30mm Compact Scope
This UTG Red dot is a 36 colors Mil-dot that offers great precision to hit your targets. The choice of different colors gives you a personalized and more comfortable feel. It features a 30mm tube with best-in-class multi-emerald coated lenses that help to achieve maximum light transmission for the best clarity.
It has an innovative EZ-TAP illumination enhancing (IE) system with red/green dual-color mode to accommodate all weather/light conditions. A 1-Click high-tech illumination memory feature gets you right back to the color/brightness setting last used.
This UTG scope is built on a true strength platform, and is completely sealed and Nitrogen filled, for shockproof, fog-proof, and rainproof performance. It also features a special circuit and housing design for minimal illumination interruptions even under heavy recoil.
The premium zero-locking and zero-resetting target turrets offer the most consistent and precise 1/4 MOA per click windage/elevation adjustment.
Key features
- It has a side wheel adjustable turret (SWAT) for Parallax adjustment
- It is sealed and nitrogen filled to make it shockproof, fog-proof, and rain-proof
- It features 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′
- Eye relief: 3.4″ – 3″
- Exit Pupil: 13.0mm – 3.9mm
- Click value At100 yards: 1/4″
- Length: 264mm
- Weight: 23.2 oz.
- Parallax setting: 10 yds. to infinity
10) UTG 4X32 1″ Crossbow Scope
The UTG 4X32 1″ Crossbow Scope is built on a robust true strength platform with a smart spherical structure (SSS) that helps to ensure maximum accuracy and precision. It features windage/ elevation adjustment zero lockable and resettable target turrets and tough recoil resistance.
It has a unique pro-5-step red/green illuminated reticle designed for crossbows and other applications that need variable velocity. The scope also has 5 horizontal lines that are calibrated for 300fps crossbows for quick aiming at 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50-yard distances.
This UTG scope is designed with superior-quality precision broadband lens coating that offers the brightest image and a generous field of view. Other features include flip-open lens caps and low-profile quick detach rings. This scope is ideal for hunting purposes.
Key features
- Has quick-detach ring mounts for easy mounting
- Parallax Pre-adjusted at 50 Yards
- It offers a generous field of view @ 100 yards: 27. 2′
- Fixed magnification: 4X
- Tube Diameter: 1″
- Weight: 12. 3 oz.
- Length: 208mm
- Objective Diameter: 32mm
- Eye Relief: 3. 8″
- Exit Pupil: 8mm
- Click Value @100 yards: 1/4″
Choosing the Best Air Rifle Scopes
- What is the importance of eye relief and light transmission in a scope?
The small circle of light that appears in the scope’s eyepiece when holding the scope in front of you is the exit pupil. This is extremely important because the larger the exit pupil is the less important head positioning is. Eye relief is the distance that your eye can be from the ocular lens of the scope and still allow you to have a full and clear picture of your target.
- What is the ideal objective lens size?
Most medium variable scopes have a standard object lens size is of between 40 and 44 millimeters. Some objective lenses on the market are larger, they are mostly not necessary. A large objective lens also makes the scope heavier and harder to use.
- Is big and more expensive a better option?
It is good to choose a scope depending on what you will be shooting at. If it is for deer hunting, a scope over 3-9x or 4-12x would be overkill and could be a hindrance to your performance. This is the average scope size for hunting.
- What do the numbers on a scope mean?
Assuming your scope is a Simmons 3-9x32mm .22 Waterproof Fogproof Matte Black Riflescope. What is most important when choosing a scope are the 3-9×32 numbers. In this example, the 3 refers to the magnification of the object, and so does 9. It means you can see the object up to 9 times closer than with the naked eye. The 32 on the other hand refers to the objective lens diameter in millimeters.
Final Thoughts
Having a good scope attached to your rifle increases your chances of a perfect shot. This is mainly thanks to the numerous features these scopes have to offer. The market is flooded with many brands that make different types of scopes with the hunter and shooter in mind.
However, the brands we have reviewed in this review stand out due to their versatility, durability, and reliability among other features discussed above. The scopes can be used by all, from beginners to professional shooters.
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