Best rifle scope for deer hunting
Although every deer hunting differs depending on the terrain, it is a given that using the best rifle scope will increase your chances of success.
There are many different rifle scope options on the market right now, and a new scope is virtually always introduced every day, each promising the user the best possible experience. This often leaves everyone confused, even the pros who have experienced years of hunting.
So, this article looks at some of the scopes that have stood the test of time without unnecessary ‘upgrading’ these scopes have been used again and again, in all types of terrain. They have shown dependability and delivered excellent performance according to the pros.
Best Rifle Scope for Deer Hunting
| Product | Image | How To Buy |
| Maven CRS.1 – 3 – 12X40 SFP Lightweight Hunting Rifle Scope |  |
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| Vortex Viper HS LR 4-16x50mm |  |
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| Trijicon AccuPoint TR-22 2.5-10x56mm Rifle Scope |  |
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| NightForce SHV 5-20x56mm Rifle Scope |  |
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| Burris Fullfield E1 3-9x40mm Rifle Scope |  |
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Athlon Optics Ares BTR GEN2 HD 4.5-27×50 |
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The detailed reviews….
1. Maven CRS.1 – 3 – 12X40 SFP Lightweight Hunting Rifle Scope
It stands out for being lightweight weighing only 14 oz. It’s stripped down and appears simple with just the important controls visible. Things like the exposed turrets and the simplified holdover reticle make the 0.25 MOA unit adjustments simple and quick.
The Maven has also been built to withstand the harshness that comes with tracking down deer over difficult terrain with inclement weather. It’s waterproof fog proof and the glass lens is scratch resistant.
The lens gives you a clear image enhanced by the use of a phase correction coating. It misses out on a parallax adjustment, which has been fixed at 100 yards. But parallax error isn’t a common issue once you have properly zeroed it in at 100 yards. Overall, this rifle scope will give you best dependability throughout your deer hunting exploit, and it’s bound to leave you satisfied.
Features
- Magnification range: 3x – 12x
- lens diameter: 40mm
- 50MOA elevation and windage adjustments
- 52-82mm eye relief depending on magnification
- Weighs 402 grams.
Pros
- It is simplified and easy to make adjustments
- Lightweight, weighing only 14oz
- The 3-12x magnification is sufficient for most distances
- It’s robust and will last a long time
- Has a low profile that doesn’t interfere with your accuracy
Cons
- Once fully zoomed in the field of view is only 1 degree.
2. Vortex Viper HS LR 4-16x50mm
The Viper Hs has exceptional glass in addition to an outstanding capability for long-range targets located over 500 yards out. The glass is multicoated to give the shooter superior brightness, further enhanced by the wide 50mm objective lens diameter.
The rifle scope stands out for its generous eye relief of 4 inches, and a sleek profile accentuated by a capped turret. The cap also prevents any unintentional modifications when you bump your rifle scope and maintains your turret’s setting after you have dialed it.
It goes to great lengths to assure your accuracy. The windage and elevation adjustments are easy to make, yet you still get a custom reticle with BDC hash marks, to eliminate guesswork when shooting at varying distances. The reticle does the estimation for you and each hash mark gives a holdover for a particular distance.
Features
- Magnification 4-16x
- Objective Lens Diameter 50 mm
- MOA reticle
- Eye Relief: 4.0 inches
- Field of View 27.4-7.4 ft/100 yds
- Weighs 21.2 oz.
Pros
- The adjustments are easy to make
- A slim profile that doesn’t interfere with your accuracy
- A generous eye relief
- Delivers good quality bright images
- The BDC is really useful with varying targets
- Fairly lightweight (21.2 oz)
Cons
- It isn’t the best for close targets.
3. Trijicon AccuPoint TR-22 2.5-10x56mm Rifle Scope
The Trijicon TR-22 is the finest choice if you require exceptional performance when the light in the wilderness becomes dim. Utilizing one of the largest objective lenses yet, with a diameter of 56mm, it has remarkable light-gathering capabilities. This does not, however, come without drawbacks. The scope is large and may be tough to use if you move about a lot when hunting.
The scope also strives to provide you with a remarkable degree of accuracy. With the use of a feature like dual fiber optic illumination, that adjusts the brightness of the aiming point in relation to that of the surrounding. Moreover, you are able to make quick adjustments for windage and elevation, beneath a capped turret, with a generous amount of travel. The scope is recommended for its dependability under low-light conditions and also the ruggedness verified through numerous tests using military standards.
Features
- 56 mm Objective Lens Diameter:
- Magnification: 2.5 – 10 x
- Second Focal Plane (SFP)
- 18 – 1.94 degrees Field of View.
- 8 – 4.1 in Eye Relief.
- Dimensions: 8 x 2.6 x 2.6 in
- Weight: 22.1 oz
Pros
- Has a generous eye relief
- Excellent performance under low light
- Dual fiber optic illumination illuminates the reticle without a battery
- Generous amount of windage and elevation travel
- Easy to make the adjustments.
Cons
- Has Bulky dimensions.
4. NightForce SHV 5-20x56mm Rifle Scope
The large magnification that can be used to zoom in on a deer at a far distance is what makes the Night Force SHV stand out from the competition. The glass lens not only excels at magnification but also makes it simple for the shooter to recognize those far-off targets. Additionally, a sizable number of adjustments are provided, including 80 MOA of elevation, a side parallax knob, and a rapid return to zero for the next target.
It gives you the option to choose from a variety of reticles, some illuminated, to give you a contrasted view from your target. The scope was clearly made with hunters in mind, and the maker put a lot of thought into their work, as evidenced by features like a low-profile machined body and a simple reticle. Its durability and dependability also match some of the priciest options on the market.
Features
- Magnification Range 5-20x
- Second Focal Plane
- Mounting Length 5 in/165 mm
- Eye Relief: 3.5 in/90 mm
- Weights 29.1 oz
Pros
- Several adjustments for the hunter
- A high magnification
- A wide objective lens allows in more light
- Optimized for hunting
- Illuminated reticle
Cons
- Doesn’t fair well with very close targets.
5. Burris Fullfield E1 3-9x40mm Rifle Scope
The Burris E1 is a stand-out alternative for those hunters with little to spend. It comes at a budget price of less than $300 but still tries to match up with the big boys. It’s obvious that the quality doesn’t exactly match up but, it’s really close. The rifle scope is designed to be used in all kinds of terrain, with a rugged housing that will also withstand recoil and a substantial amount of impact. It’s also waterproof and will resist fog.
The rifle scope uses a glass lens that gives acceptable clarity, I mean it isn’t the best, but a proprietary Hi-Lume multicoating does well to reduce reflective loss. It’s noteworthy that you get a reticle with cascading windage and elevation dots to help you with long-range shots. The adjustments are also easy to make and taking out a dear at 500 yards wouldn’t be a problem.
Features
- Objective Lens Diameter: 40 mm
- Magnification: 3 – 9 x
- Second Focal Plane (SFP)
- Field of View, 13 – 33 ft at 100 yds
- Eye Relief: 3.1 – 3.4 in
- Weight: 13 oz
Pros
- Lightweight at just 13oz.
- Robust and will withstand harsh conditions
- Easy to make all the adjustments
- Budget price of less than $300
- A cascading reticle assists with the long-range shots
Cons
- The light gathering isn’t as good when it gets dark.
Best rifle scope for deer hunting-Buying Guide
These are the things that one should consider before buying a scope that one intends to use for deer hunting.
Magnification
What magnification is best for deer hunting? is the first question most hunters ask themselves.
Most scopes come with variable magnification, that’s indicated using two digits like 3-10x. The smaller digit represents the lower-end magnification while the other represents the higher end.
Lower-end magnification is useful for close targets 2x, 3x, or 4x magnification is perfect for a target that is less than 100 yards away. Any larger than that and you probably will not get to see enough of the animal.
Just like the lower-end magnification higher-end magnification brings a distant target closer
Here is where everything gets tricky…
There exist two types of reticles the first focal plane and the second focal plane. The latter, which is more widely used since it is less expensive, has a static reticle at all magnifications, and it is only accurate at a specific magnification, typically the highest magnification.
The reticle on the FFP, on the other hand, varies with the magnification, and these scopes are more expensive.
In short, there isn’t a perfect magnification for hunting a deer. It will all depend on the distance to the deer, the type of reticle, as well as the skills of the shooter.
Skills come into play when choosing the magnification that’s ideal for long-range targets, most pros will be fine with a 10x magnification or slightly less. But others will need an 18-power scope to be able to get a hit on the target, 500 yards out.
Objective lens diameter
Wider objective lenses allow for more light to enter the lens, which in turn produces a brighter image of the target. A bright image also depends on the quality of the glass and the amount of coating used on it. Multiple coatings on high-quality glass will reduce light reflection loss and permit more light to pass through.
It’s also crucial to remember that a large objective lens diameter makes the rifle scope unwieldy and difficult to maneuver if you need to move it frequently.
Field of view
This is the total area that can be seen at once through the scope, expressed either in degrees or feet at 100/1000 yards. A larger field of view is beneficial when pursuing a deer, but it is not necessary for engaging a stationary target.
Reticle Adjustments
When hunting, one needs to compensate for the bullet drop and other factors like windage. These scope adjustments should all be quick and efficient.
Additionally, it should be simple to sight in the scope and make any necessary adjustments for parallax issues, which are frequent at great distances. Adjustments on the best rifle scope should also be accurate and repeatable
Eye relief
This is a measurement of the overall distance between the shooter’s eye and the scope at which the target can be seen in its entirety and with clarity. A greater eye relief provides you more flexibility on how you are going to position yourself and the ability to place your eye farther away from the scope.
It’s also a safety precaution if you’re using a firearm with strong recoil, which tends to fly rearward with each shot.
FAQs
Who makes the best quality scopes for hunting?
We have different manufacturers of scopes some of the top tier brands include; Vortex, Leupold, Nightforce, Steiner, Eotech and Zeiss. Brands such as Bushnell and Simmons provide cheaper alternatives. The quality of a rifle scope, however, depends on the specific type that you are getting.
Is Vortex a good brand?
Yes vortex makes reliable scopes and has been doing it for a while now.
CONCLUSION
This article gives the most detailed review of the best rifle scopes for deer hunting, it should however be noted that not every rifle scope will appeal to everyone. In addition, every rifle scope is priced differently to accommodate different budgets.
Success in hunting will depend on the skill level and the characteristics surrounding the hunting. If you are hunting in a difficult terrain that encompasses frequent movements you’ll need a light rifle scope, that will make your movement easy without a fuss. Hunting inside dense thickets also requires a scope with great light permeability, because of how dark it is in there.
The scopes we have reviewed, however, will stand out for a variety of purposes, and it is up to you to look at their characteristics. Then choose what you consider the best, depending on how you are going to use it.
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