Best Sniper Scope – 2021 Complete Buyer’s Guide

If you’re trying to decide on the best sniper scope for your sniper rifle, you’ve come to the right place. We’re going to give you our honest opinions on some of the highest quality sniper scopes on the market.

Purchasing a sniper scope is an exciting experience, but it may also feel a little bit intimidating. With so many different features to consider, you’ll want to make sure the one you choose ticks all your boxes. If this is your first one, you must do your research to make sure you find the most awesome sniper scope for you. 

IMAGEPRODUCT 
  • Best overall
  • Lightweight feel weighing just 1.4 pounds using high-quality aluminum
  • Provides excellent eye relief with forgiving eye box
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  • Best value for the money
  • Includes a bullet drop compensator
  • Includes up to a 3-9x magnification
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  • Best scope for 308 sniper
  • Completely waterproof, shock-proof and fog-proof
  • Features a 6-24x magnification range
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  • Best FSI sniper 6-24x50mm scope
  • Features multi-coated optics
  • Includes red, green, and blue illumination options
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  • Shock-proof, fog-proof and rain-proof
  • Includes 36-color mil-dot reticle
  • Works well for both large and small prey
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When Would I Use A Sniper Scope? 

While a sniper scope may not be something you get to use every day, it can be useful for those who want to enhance their long-range shooting game. 

Here are some of the most common things to use a sniper scope for.

More Accurate Shooting For Hunters

If you’re a hunter, a sniper scope could improve your long-shot. Sniper scopes help give you a more accurate aim and hit your target more frequently. For hunters, the end-result of your day is all about timing and accuracy. Using a sniper scope will make hunting easier, and will help you bring home more game. 

Shooting for Hobby 

Just like some people are into dirt-biking and others into ballet, some are into going to the range and practicing their long-shot. Sniper scopes are useful for hobby shooters who want to learn more about shooting from long-range distances. 

We all remember our first time at the gun range, shooting our first shot. It probably didn’t hit the bullseye for most of us that time, but that’s the fun of shooting for a hobby. 

No pressure, just an enjoyable activity to challenge yourself and track your improvement. A sniper scope can be a useful tool in creating that ideal long-shot you’ve been dreaming of shooting. 

Military Personnel 

If you are currently serving, or are a vet, thank you for your service. Military personnel can use sniper scopes to get more accuracy at their shooting to meet requirements and prepare for war.

What Makes a Great Sniper Scope? 

When picking out your sniper scope, you should pay attention to some key features. You don’t want to invest in something that is going to give you poor performance or be uncomfortable for you to use. 

Eye Relief 

When shooting, you want to make sure that your sniper scope provides you with ample space to protect your eye from recoil. Selecting a sniper scope with quality eye relief will keep you safe, and still get your shot. 

Turrets 

If you want to make sure you get your target, you will want to look for a sniper scope with turrets that are adjustable using your finger. The turrets are going to be your key to getting the most exact shot. 

Multi-Coated Lenses 

This feature is a must-have to ensure you are seeing your target clearly, day or night. Multi-coated lenses will create an even light distribution, and give you a full, clear image of your target.

Review of the Best Sniper Scopes

Now that you have a better idea of what you may need a sniper scope for, as well as qualities you should be looking for, it’s time to dive into the best sniper scopes on the market. 

The scopes we selected are some of the most high-quality and best for your buck products out there. Let’s get into it. 

Top Pick

Vortex Optics Crossfire II Second Focal Plane

Vortex Crossfire II 3-9x40 Rifle Scope, V-Brite Reticle , black

PROS

CONS

What Recent Buyers Report

Buyers love that the Vortex Optics Crossfire II comes with a great warranty that gives them peace of mind with their purchase. Upon reading multiple reviews, the recurring compliment on this scope was its high-quality glass and its ability to be set to zero and remain there. 

Why It Stands Out to Us

This scope boasts many positive attributes. We chose it for our top pick because it has a combination of impressive features. From its potential to be of use at different ranges to its large eye relief space, this scope has a lot to offer. 

We are confident that you will get clear images because of its anti-reflective and fully multi-coated lenses, which will set you up for an accurate shot. 

The Vortex scope can be fine-tuned to focus on your target, and the process is simple. The materials are high quality to make this scope last. 

Bottom Line

You won’t be disappointed with the Vortex Optics Crossfire II. Vortex is a well-known and trusted brand that uses superb materials to make its scopes. It’s going to give you a bright image and exact range adjustment to create a seamless shot. 

Best Budget Option

NcSTAR Mark III Tactical Series 3-9x42mm Rifle Scopes

PROS

CONS

What Recent Buyers Report

Customers are satisfied with the quality they get with the NcSTAR Mark III for the price point. Some of the features that stand out to buyers include the variable zoom and the well-lit reticle that work together to provide a clear vision of the target.

Why It Stands Out to Us

If you’re looking to buy a sniper scope and want to have good quality but without the hefty price tag, the Mark III is an excellent choice. 

You still get lots of features, such as fully multi-coated lenses, and fog, water, and shock proofing at a lower price than some of the more premium scopes. We also like the blue and green illumination feature with this scope to shed some light on your target. 

This scope also comes with batteries to get you started and lens covers to keep your gear scratch-free. 

Bottom Line

The NcSTAR Mark III is a superb scope option for customers looking to get a great quality scope for less. It has those great standard features of higher-priced scopes and comes with accessories including batteries and lens protectors too. 

Best Scope for 308 Sniper

Lucid Optics Advantage 6-24×50 Riflescope

PROS

CONS

What Recent Buyers Report

What buyers love about the Lucid Optics Advantage is how well the adjustments work for distances exceeding over one thousand yards. They also boast about their durability in situations with rough handling and accidental dinging. With clear glass, you get a good look at your target. 

Why It Stands Out to Us

This scope is our top choice for those shooters using the 308 sniper rifle. It’s an awesome match for hunters looking to up their game. Its L5 reticle works like a measuring tape for the MOA to help with long-distance shots. 

This scope has a broad magnification range as well. Its sleek matte finish is aesthetically pleasing, but don’t let that fool you, it’s made with sturdy materials like aluminum. We also love that its turrets can be re-zeroed and they are also lockable. 

Bottom Line

The Lucid Optics Advantage is a strong competitor among other scopes. With amazing features such as the infinite yard focus range, heavy-duty aluminum make-up, and everything-proof features, it is a tough one to beat. It even looks cool with its black matte finish. 

Best FSI Sniper 6-24x50mm Scope

FSI Sniper 6-24x50mm Scope W Front AO Adjustment

FSI Sniper 6-24x50mm Scope W Front AO Adjustment. Red/Blue/Green mil-dot Reticle. Comes with Extended Sunshade and Heavy Duty Ring Mount

PROS

CONS

What Recent Buyers Report

Users report that this scope does excellent with long-distance shots in particular. For close distance, you can see fine details on your target with a clear and vivid picture. 

Customers also claim that when and if this scope gets knocked over accidentally, it not only survives the fall but is good to keep on shooting with no major damage. 

Why It Stands Out to Us

The Lucid Optics Advantage packs a punch for those looking to purchase a sniper scope on a budget. It includes some unique features such as its blue, red, and green illumination light options. 

Even for a budget scope, it still has multi-coated lenses and is said to be relatively durable. It is very shock-resistant, which is always a great feature to look for when purchasing a sniper scope. It allows shooters to aim for targets at a wide-distance range and works well for short and long-range shots. 

Bottom Line

Overall, this sniper scope is a solid choice. For those looking to save, you are not compromising quality with this one. 

We recommend this as our top pick if you need an FSI Sniper with these measurements. It has impressive standard features such as water/fog/shock-proofing and a few notable ones like its tri-color illumination option.  

Leapers UTG 6-24x50mm Hunter Rifle Scope

PROS

CONS

What Recent Buyers Report

While the Leapers UTG is a fairly decent sniper scope, some customers have reported that when they are aiming at distances higher than eighteen that the image quality changes for the worse. 

That said, this scope is supposed to be good to go up to twenty-four. Other buyers had more positive things to say about this product. Many buyers have reported that this scope has clear optics and that they think it has an easy adjustment system that does not require much movement from the operator. 

Why It Stands Out to Us

We like that the Leapers UTG is a lightweight option. While some customers had their fair share of complaints, this scope remains a best-rated product based on buyer reviews on Opticsplanet.com. 

It includes lens caps and batteries in addition to some other useful tools meant for cleaning and adjusting. It also comes in an attractive matte color. We also think that its EZ-TAP illumination feature and its emerald-coated lenses are useful and unique.

Bottom Line

Overall, the good outweighs the bad for the Leapers UTG. It includes some neat features, and most people do not report having too many severe issues. It comes with great standard features as well as a few nifty perks. 

What Do I Need To Know Before Buying a Sniper Scope? 

Surely you have got a few scopes in mind after checking out our list of the best, but before you click the confirm button on one, you should consider these aspects. 

What are you planning to use your sniper scope for?

 This is a factor you should consider before selecting the scope you want to purchase. Depending on how you intend to use your new scope, you will want to consider the features. 

For example, if you are going to be using your scope for hunting, you may want to consider scopes that have weather-proofing to ensure your product stays safe from damage. 

What specific features are important to you? 

Are you wanting this scope to have complete clarity regardless of if you are shooting at a close target or a far one? Some features are better than others, but oftentimes scopes with top-notch features come with a heftier price point. 

Consider which features are non-negotiable and which ones aren’t super relevant to your personal use of the scope. 

Are you a beginner or an advanced user? 

For those purchasing their first scope, it may be a smart idea to start with something less expensive and easier to operate. Looking for features such as EZ-TAP illumination, and things that will make some of the smaller tasks more simple is a great way to pick out your first scope. 

Conclusion 

When shopping for a sniper scope, you should consider your experience level, your intended use, and the features that you most desire. Take your time to assess what scope will be the best for you, and don’t compromise on the features you love. There are many options, and starting with our best picks is a great way to get more familiar with the scopes on the market.  

Joseph Fox

Joseph Fox

Joseph Fox writes on a variety of topics ranging from reloading ammunition to gun cleaning. He has been featured on various publications like thetruthaboutguns, Sofrep & many more. Joseph is also the founder of Gunloading, where he reviews different types of reloading & firearm products available on the market.