Menu
Many hunters equip their hunting rifles with scopes to increase their effective range, allowing them better shots and cleaner kills. Today, we’ll be discussing everything you need to know about adding a rifle scope to your preferred hunting rifle, including which options might be best.
At A Glance: Our Top Picks For best rifle scope for deer hunting
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
Top pick
 |
| View Latest Price → |
Best Budget option
 |
| View Latest Price → |
 |
| View Latest Price → |
 |
| View Latest Price → |
 |
| View Latest Price → |
 |
| View Latest Price → |
Just like any skill or technique, practice makes it better. It can be challenging for hunters to feel comfortable using a rifle scope if they’ve never used one before or are still growing accustomed to it. However, that doesn’t mean that rifle scopes are tricky to master.
One of the best upsides of learning how to use a rifle scope is that you’ll need plenty of experience. This requirement means more hunting trips or shooting range visits, which typically also means way more fun.
Choosing the right-sized rifle scope can get a little tricky. Not only do you need to consider your scope attachment type, but you’ll also want to think about the scope magnification and weight. The higher the magnification potential of any scope, the heavier it’s likely to be.
When you’re working with a heavier hunting rifle, getting the best shots can be challenging. The added weight of the scope could cause the tip of your weapon to dip down slightly, resulting in low aim. As such, it’s often best to stick with lightweight scopes that have a 3x to 9x range and a sturdy attachment site.
After figuring out your ideal magnification, you’ll want to begin browsing for your ideal deer-hunting rifle scope. However, if you’re not entirely sure what you’re looking for, you could spend hours attempting to select the best option.
When choosing a rifle scope for deer hunting, you’ll want to take a moment to consider:
Let’s explore these factors in greater detail to understand how they might impact your purchasing decision and hunting prowess.
As we mentioned above, deer hunters don’t typically need or benefit from scopes with magnifications higher than 9x. In most cases, you’ll only need a 3x or 4x magnification. Anything beyond these limits might add too much weight to your rifle.
The higher the magnification, the more weighty the scope. Before purchasing a new rifle scope, be sure that your preferred option is lightweight enough for smooth aiming and shooting. It might also be worthwhile to double-check the scope’s attachment type.
Mounting a rifle scope is a relatively straightforward affair. However, there are several different types of mounts. Before you spend any money on a new scope, make sure your rifle and potential scope share the same mount type. Otherwise, you might be making a quick return.
Hunters that plan on hunkering down in the bushes or the treetops might experience inclement weather from time to time. Choose a scope made of durable materials that aren’t likely to rust or reflect light. This way, you can enjoy your scope for several years and avoid scaring away deer with a super-shiny attachment.
A complicated scope that’s challenging to master may only cause you frustration. It’s crucial to choose a scope that attaches quickly, stays connected, and is simple to control. Otherwise, you may spend most of your hunting time adjusting your scope rather than staring through it.
Now that you’re more familiar with the features to look for when choosing a rifle scope for deer hunting, you can begin your search for the best scope.
Hunters who’ve purchased this scope have reported that it’s effortless to install and mount, wonderfully precise even after multiple rounds, and wonderfully low-key enough to avoid drawing attention.
This riflescope offers a low-key design and a high-quality performance power. You can use it for so many different kinds of hunting trips, not just deer hunting.
It’s not too heavy, and it’s not wickedly long, so it’s an excellent fit for most rifle frames. The quality of the lenses, superior magnification variability, and sturdy mounting ability contribute to making this one of the best overall rifle scopes on the market today.
If you’re ready to invest and forget the rest, then this riflescope could be the best choice. It’s ideal for many different hunting situations, relatively light and short, impervious to fog, water, and sudden shocks, and made of durable, exceptionally-made materials.
When it comes to the Bushnell Banner 3-9×50 Rifle Scope, there’s one thing that buyers cannot seem to stop talking about: the value. This scope is one of the highest-quality options for its price range, and buyers love the durable materials and crystal-clear lenses.
If you’re more interested in purchasing a utilitarian rifle scope than a glitzed-out gadget, then magnification range and extra features might not mean very much to you. But applicability and price might be exceptionally important. The Bushnell Banner 3-9×50 Rifle Scope understands and adheres to these needs.
If you’re hoping to purchase a budget-friendly rifle scope that can still hold its own out in the woods, then you might want to invest in this option. It’s affordable, but that affordability doesn’t mean it can’t survive mud, water, fog, and accidental plummets from the nest.
This product is covered by a lifetime warranty, which some buyers have had a challenging time enforcing. However, most hunters who bought this scope had reported smooth sailing thanks to clear lenses, improved low-light visibility, and easy focus adjustments.
This sleek scope might not be the lightest of the bunch, but it is one of the best for low-light locales. Thanks to an open design that allows more light into the lens than shaded options, this scope could help hunters spy deer during the early morning hours or late evening twilight.
When you need a rifle scope built for dawn or dusk, it’s not as crucial to choose one with a cap or a hefty amount of shade. This scope might be too bare for hunting in the full sunlight, but it’s a wonderful choice for dark days and locations.
Those who’ve invested in this riflescope have reported superior daytime and night vision. This improvement is likely thanks to a clear set of lenses. Most are impressed with this scope’s reticle, although a handful of buyers seemed disappointed about the crosshair’s perpendicular alignment.
This scope deserves its place within this ranking thanks to its smart, non-reflective camouflage coloration, lightweight design, and improved eye relief. One of the most notable aspects of this model is its ease of use. It is challenging to find a hunter-friendly riflescope that’s easier to install, use, and benefit from. Whether you’re gunning for bucks or aiming for wild turkeys, this option has your back.
Should you go looking for a compact, camouflaged scope with plenty of viewing power, then you might find that the TruGlo 4x32mm Shotgun Scope is the optimal option for you. It’s short, light, and mighty, making it ideal for most deer hunting excursions.
Most buyers report needing to attach some type of shade to avoid glare. There are also quite a few reports of consistent aiming and tracking, superior magnification range, and improved clarity. Many also comment on the side focusing feature, noting that it often improved aiming accuracy.
The excellent eye relief for recoil certainly caught our eye, but it’s the magnification that this scope offers that’s really worth mentioning. It may be a tad too much for the standard deer-hunting expedition, but that aspect also makes it a fantastic multipurpose solution. If you’re planning on hunting deer next week, but bear the next, you can keep this scope mounted without worrying about accuracy.
Though this scope is a bit heavier than the rest, it’s also a heavy-duty option with better magnification than your standard deer-hunting scope. This allows it to work for multiple hunting ventures, including larger game such as bear or elk.
Buyers have reported superior tracking ability, easy tuning, and fast mounting capabilities. A handful have complained that the life expectancy of this model isn’t as long as they’d hoped, but the majority of users seem to feel as though this LED-illuminated scope is right on target in terms of quality and price.
The LED illumination for the reticle is the first thing that stands out. However, when you begin taking in the entire scope, it’s easy to see that there are other features worth mentioning. For example, the 2x to 7x magnification range is ideal for shorter ranges, and the adjustment knob placement makes for fast focus adjustments.
A great option for those wanting a little extra guidance for their low-light shots. The LED illumination is entirely optional and fully adjustable. Additionally, this scope’s lower magnification spectrum may help it perform in tighter, shorter-range situations.
Even the best things in life can present a few problems from time to time. To keep your scope (and yourself) in tip-top condition, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with some of the most common rifle scope issues and failings.
For example, the average rifle scope may exhibit problems with:
Most of these issues could be solved with a little due diligence. Riflescopes naturally focus on objects that are far into the distance. If you’re changing your shot to something in the foreground, you’ll likely need to adjust your scope to compensate for the change.
Hunting deer without a rifle scope can be challenging whether you’re spot and stalking or stand hunting. Selecting the right scope for you and your rifle means considering various factors, including scope magnification, weight, size, compatibility, material, and ease of use. We’ve presented our top picks for rifle scopes to help save you time and ensure you end up with the highest-quality scope.
Below, you will find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding rifle scopes and their relation to deer hunting.
The best magnification for a hunting scope depends on the hunter. Individuals who prefer to hunt in smaller forests or wooded areas may do well with a standard 3x or 4x scope.
However, those hoping to score game from a greater distance may need to upgrade to a stronger magnification.
Generally, a 3x to 9x scope is best-suited for deer hunting. You may use a more robust and more powerful riflescope, but unless you’re hunting from a vast distance away, the extra power may go unused. As to the diameter of the lense, that depends on how much weight you’re trying to save!
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.
Gunloading.com is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
About Us | Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Amazon Affiliate Disclosure
Copyright © 2022 Gunloading.com All Rights Reserved