Choosing the Best SKS Scopes for Hunting can be challenging but, you are in the right place. We will review the best scopes to use on your SKS rifle as well as the factors to consider when looking for the best SKS scope.
The SKS is one of the most popular rifles in the industry, especially for shooters who like to tweak and customize their guns. The rifle was developed to tackle shots at ranges of about 100 to 400 yards. This range together with its lightweight makes the rifle ideal for a wide range of shooting applications.
Let us look at the best SKS scopes for hunting.
Best Scopes for SKS Rifle Review
1) Vortex Optics Strike Eagle Second Focal Plane Riflescopes
Vortex Optics Strike Eagle Second Focal Plane Riflescope offers quickness and adaptability which makes it very popular and likable. The scope allows you to quickly engage targets at close ranges or at long distances thanks to its real 1x low end that adjusts to a variety of settings.
The scope magnification ring has been upgraded to include a thread-in throw lever. This means that the magnification indicators can be seen without taking the scope off. It also comes with the new illuminated BDC3 reticle, which sharpens the shooter’s eye to the target more quickly.
The scope has a fast focus dial on the eyepiece which enables quick and simple reticle focusing. It also has holdovers that enable immediate use out to 650 yards for targets of known distance.
This Vortex scope has anti-reflective coatings on all air-to-glass surfaces to increase light transmission for better clarity and low-light performance is another significant feature.
Key features
- It is made of high-quality materials for durability
- It is Nitrogen purged and O-ring sealed for water and fog-proof performance
- It has anti-reflective coatings on all glass surfaces for maximum light transmission
- It features an illuminated BDC3 reticle for easy target acquisition
- It has holdovers for immediate use out to 650 yards for targets of known distance
- It has a fast focus dial on the eyepiece for quick and easy reticle focusing
Pros
- It is affordable
- Weatherproof
Cons
- Low magnification power
2) Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9x40mm Riflescope
The Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9x40mm Riflescope is designed to offer unbeatable performance and dependability for hunters and shooters regardless of experience. It is made with strong Aluminum material which offers extra strength, ruggedness, and durability to last you a lifetime.
Leupold VX-Freedom scope offers you the best-in-class optics, unbeatable accuracy, and a wide range of magnification. It provides 3 times more magnification at high power than at low power, giving you a wide field of view with clear, bright pictures.
The scope features Leupold’s Custom Dial System (CDS) allows you to customize your turret/adjustment dial to the settings that best suit your environmental conditions.
Key features
- It features an ergonomic design for lightweight and easy handling
- It has a traditional eyepiece lock ring that allows you to lock in a focus setting that is best for your eye
- It has a 3:1 zoom ratio
- Magnification Range: 3x-9x
- Weight: 12.2 oz.
- Length: 12.39 inches
- Eye Relief (in) – Low: 4.17
- Eye Relief (in) – High: 3.66
- Linear FOV (ft. /100 yd.) – Low: 33.7
- Linear FOV (ft. /100 yd.) – High: 13
Pros
- It is lightweight
- It has a great eye relief
Cons
- Costly
3) UTG 3-9X32 1″ BugBuster Scope, AO
UTG 3-9X32 1″ BugBuster Scope is made of a 1-inch tube with an emerald coating to provide maximum light transmission for bright images. It has premium zero lockable & resettable turrets with 1/4 MOA Per Click Adjustment, as well as a range estimating mil-dot reticle for optimal aiming and shooting performance.
The 3-9x UTG scope comes with an adjustable objective (from 3 yards to infinity) and features an innovative EZ-TAP illumination enhancing (IE) system with Red/Green in dual-color mode and 36 colors in a multi-color mode that is suitable for different applications.
The scope also comes with an easy-to-fix mount that can be used on a Picatinny 21 mm rail and is perfect for Airsoft assault rifles.
Key features
- It has a great eye relief
- It has an emerald-coated lens for clarity and maximum light transmission
- It comes with high-quality flip-open lens caps for lens protection
- It is completely sealed and Nitrogen-filled for rain and fog proofing
- It comes with a 2″ sunshade and quick-detachable rings
Pros
- It is shockproof
- It offers a large field of view
Cons
- None
4) Pinty 3-9X40 Red Green Rangefinder Illuminated Optical Rifle Scope
From Pinty, the 3-9X40 Illuminated Optical Rifle Scope is designed in a rugged structure, boasting a 40 mm multicoated objective lens that provides a wide field of view, characterized by sharp and clear images for quick target acquisition.
The rangefinder reticle offers green and red illuminations with 5 brightness settings for great visibility in all lighting conditions. The intuitive design also gives you tool-free elevation and windage adjustment with perfect precision for accurate aim for each hit without losing zero.
Key features
- It is made of durable materials
- It has a rangefinder reticle that offers fast, simple aiming points for various shot distances
- The scope is O-ring sealed and nitrogen filled for great water and fog-proof performance
- Field of view: 14′-25′ @ 100yards
- It offers a 2.7”-3.3” eye relief
- Windage & elevation click value: 1/4 MOA 1/4″ @ 100yards
- It comes with two 1’’ complementary scope rings that allow easy mounting onto any 20mm Picatinny or Weaver mount rails
Pros
- Affordable
- Weatherproof
Cons
- We couldn’t find one
5) Primary Arms SLX 1-6×24 SFP Rifle Scope Gen III
Primary Arms SLX 1-6x24mm SFP Rifle Scope is made for close and medium-range shooting. It offers a variable 1-6x magnification, with an ACSS Standard reticle which combines BDC, quick range estimation, wind holds and moving target leads for both 300AAC supersonic and subsonic loads, plus 7.62×39, in an easy-to-use sighting system at 6x power.
The scope comes with a brightness knob to the left side of the tube that uses a CR2032 battery to illuminate the center reticle through 12 brightness settings.
Key features
- It is made of a 6063 aluminum scope body and matte black anodized finish
- It features partial red illumination with 11 brightness settings
- It has IP67 weatherproofing
- It uses a second focal plane ACSS reticle designed for 300 BLK and 7.62
- It is BDC accurate at the highest magnification setting
Pros
- A lifetime warranty supports it
- Waterproof and fog-resistant
Cons
- None
Choosing the Best Scope for SKS Rifles
Durability
This is one of the most important factors to look into when purchasing a scope. Your rifle scope should be made from durable materials to ensure its longevity. A sturdy construction will also ensure recoil and impact resistance.
Eye Relief
This refers to the distance between the frontmost lens and your eye. The best scope comes with eye relief that can be adjusted based on the magnification. This helps keep your eyes and brows safe from heavy recoil.
Lens Coating
The best scopes for SKS rifles should have lens coating to reduce the amount of glare when using the scope. It helps to improve light transmission for clearer images that make it easy to acquire a target.
Weatherproofing
As part of durability, a good scope should have waterproof and fog-proof features to keep it safe from harsh weather. It is important to buy a scope that can handle everything nature throws at it.
Magnification
Your SKS scope does not need to have a high magnification because of the SKS shooting range. The scope you buy should, however, be able to provide you with ample magnification to magnify targets that are up to 400 yards away.
Objective Lens
It is another important aspect as it affects the image quality as well as the field of view. A larger objective lens gathers more light giving you clearer images that are color accurate.
Price
It is always good to stay within your budget. It is good to note, however, that higher-priced scopes tend to have more features when compared to cheaper models. Therefore, the price should not be an obstacle if it fits your shooting needs.
Final Thoughts
The SKS rifle is an ideal choice for close to medium-range shooting. You do not require a very complex scope to achieve the best results with this rifle. Accuracy is guaranteed if your pair it with one of these scopes discussed in this review.
As mentioned above, also consider your expertise, your shooting needs as well as durability features of the scope in order to get the best match for your rifle.