The Best Scopes of 2017

Remember the old days, when a riflescope was an accessory to a rifle, an aiming device that was interchangeable between guns? You can still buy those basic scopes with duplex reticles in the second optical plane. But if submissions to this year’s riflescope test are any indication, those simple optics are being displaced by task-specific scopes that have sophisticated—and sometimes caliber-specific—reticles optimized for defined shooting challenges and dedicated rifles.

This trend toward specialization has been building for some time. But we’ve never seen more scopes with first-plane reticles and aiming systems (which we define as the interplay of turrets and reticle) designed for long-range shooting as we saw in this year’s Outdoor Life Optics Test. These are serious precision instruments, and they’re often seriously big hunks of glass and metal. Four scopes in this year’s test are built on 34mm tubes, and their average weight of 2 ½ pounds makes them a poor choice for a walkabout rifle.

Luckily, there’s a riflescope for every shooter in this year’s test—high-priced precision scopes alongside inexpensive 1-inch riflescopes. You’ll find a few with attributes to appeal to long-range shooters, but with the versatility to be useful in a wide range of shooting situations.

Nightforce Atacr 7-35X56 — With this gargantuan scope, Nightforce has built the ultimate long-range precision optic. Get a load of these specs: 35X top magnification, 100 MOA of elevation adjustment inside the 34mm tube, 2 ½ pounds. It is a supremely precise and extremely durable scope built for…a very narrow niche. This iteration of the ATACR is designed for shooters who are reaching out a mile or more and need powerful magnification and tons of elevation adjustment. For the rest of us, Nightforce's 5–25x56 ATACR is more versatile. But if you have $3,600 lying around for the most powerful precision optic on the market, this 7–35X is a great choice.
**Score:** 86.5
**Price:** $3,600Nathaniel Welch

Sig Sauer Whiskey5 3-15X52 — Let's start with the sweetness of this scope in a configuration that can pull double duty on AR platforms as well as hunting rifles. The optics are stunning—the Whiskey5 tied for best resolution score. The second-plane Triplex reticle is sharp and aids in fast aiming, and the illuminated cant indictor is useful. Now for the sourness: The reticle is primitive for a precision scope—the lack of holdover references requires shooters to "get on the knobs" to dial in their dope. It's easy to get lost in the windage dial. I'd swap out the production elevation turret—which features a smart revolution indicator—for a custom ballistic turret.
**Score:** 85.6
**Price:** $1,650Nathaniel Welch

Swarovski Z8I1-8X24 — Because of its configuration, ultra-bright glass, and smart illumination, this scope would be a top pick for a dangerous-game optic. But there's a surprising amount of precision work that can be done with the second-plane 4A-IF reticle inside the 30mm tube of this 1–8X beauty. At 8X, the center-dot aiming point and outer ring can be used to calculate holdovers out to several hundred yards. The eyepiece illumination module gives shooters the choice of two intensity settings and infinite brightness adjustability. The glass is up to Swarovski standards: The Z8i tied for the best resolution score.
**Score:** 84.9
**Price:** $2,610
**Contact:** swarovskioptik.comNathaniel Welch

Bushnell Elite Tactical DMRII-I 3.5-21X50 — The first thing you'll notice about the latest version of Bushnell's battle-hardened tactical optic is its length. At only 13 inches, it easily fits on almost any AR or carbine. Next you'll notice the platter-sized controls—the elevation turret measures a whopping 1 ½ inches across, and its eyepiece is almost a quarter of its length. The large controls and magnification-control lever make manipulating the scope a cinch, even with heavy gloves on. Look through the 34mm tube at any power and you'll appreciate the precise and uncluttered references of the illuminated G3 milling reticle.
**Score:** 84.5
**Price:** $1,600
**Contact:** bushnell.comNathaniel Welch

Kahles 624I 6-24X56 — Kahles is the oldest riflescope maker on the planet, but there is nothing backward-looking about the Austrian company’s bright, tight, innovative precision scope. In a field that includes scopes with layered-on features that increase the price without adding much performance, Kahles’s 624i stands out, with thoughtful attributes that make it one of the most shooter-friendly scopes on the market and the consensus pick for our Editor’s Choice award. It would have been tempting for Kahles to chase the magnification rabbit, offering this scope in 30X or even 36X. But because increases in magnification have a cost—in narrowing fields of view, an inability to keep the target in view under recoil, and in image distortion from heat waves—serious precision shooters prefer their top-end magnification at 24X or 25X. Kahles serves this market with a useful magnification range behind a 56mm objective lens that can be mounted low on a rifle but has ample mounting latitude along its 34mm tube.Nathaniel Welch

Cabela's Covenant FFP 6-24X50 — I have no idea what sort of witchcraft the optics buyers at Cabela's are practicing, but there's no rational way to explain how they are able to pack so many features into this first-plane scope at such a rock-bottom price. For $300, you get a serviceable optic based on MOA adjustments, a resettable turret, and a side focus built on a 30mm tube that has ample room for mounting. We wish the non-illuminated TAC32 reticle had a few more references, and that the optics were better—the Covenant's resolution score was on the low end of the 18-scope field—and we worry about the durability of the exposed turrets. But for a scope that can serve capably on a precision rifle or a hunting gun, this is one of the most insane deals we've seen in a long time, and it's hugely deserving of our Great Buy award.
**Score:** 76.8
**Price:** $300
**Contact:** cabelas.comNathaniel Welch

Eotech Vudu1-6X24 — A first-plane reticle in a short-range scope? We scratched our collective heads at first, wondering about its utility. Then we shot with this fun and versatile optic, and slapped our foreheads in a "duh!" moment. At 1X to 4X, the Speed Ring, made up of two illuminated circles—a small center circle and a larger outer circle—provides very fast aiming. But at 5X and 6X, the center circle expands to become a holdover reticle, with clear and fast references for holds out to 600 yards. The sweet little 1–6X would be at home on a 3-Gun competition carbine, a home-defense gun, a dark-timber elk rig, or even on a dangerous-game rifle.
**Score:** 83.2
**Price:** $1,300Nathaniel Welch

Leica Magnus 2.4-16X56I — Optically, this german-made Leica is the cream of this year's crop of riflescopes. The astonishingly wide and bright image produced by the plasma-coated lenses inside the lustrous 30mm tube is first rate. The dual-intensity illumination system is smart and practical, and the Magnus' 6.7-times magnification covers a wide range of shooting situations. But the aiming system of this scope, which has been available in Europe but is just coming to America now, is disappointing. We could get only one revolution out of the elevation turret, and we wanted more references than the second-plane duplex reticle provides.
**Score:** 81.1
**Price:** $3,000Nathaniel Welch

Leupold VX-6HD-18X44 — This feature-packed Leupold is suited to a variety of shooting situations. The illuminated MOA reticle in the second plane has a blizzard of holdover and holdoff references, and the 6-times magnification range and low-slung 44mm objective bell on a 30mm tube make it a capable addition to any rifle. The ¼ MOA turrets have locking buttons that do double duty as revolution indicators; a custom elevation turret is free with purchase. But this latest iteration of the VX-6 is trying to do too much. The cluttered reticle gets lost against a busy background. But for a do-it-all scope, this lightweight Leupold is a winner.
**Score:** 81.0
**Price:** $1,500Nathaniel Welch

GPO Passion 3X 4-12X40 — What a delight—in a field of riflescopes each pushing to cram in more features, magnification, and reticle adjustment than the next—to find this reinvented classic. This is the first entry from newcomer GPO, which stands for German Precision Optics. The name seems odd given that the Passion 3X is made in Japan, but the principals of GPO are alums of Zeiss, which has created a market sourcing optics from Asia. The Passion has a simple second-plane duplex reticle inside a 1-inch tube. The glass is very good, the controls are sprightly, the mounting dimensions are excellent, and the price is eye-catching.
**Score:** 79.2
**Price:** $350Nathaniel Welch

Nikon Black X1000 6-24X50 — If you are searching for a scope that can pull duty on a precision rifle or a hunting rig, give this new Nikon a hard look. Features designed for longer-range shooting include an illuminated milling reticle in the second plane, and very precise .1 MRAD adjustments with the exposed turrets. Hunters will appreciate the uncluttered reticle that is tuned to 18X, or they can optimize aiming points for any magnification by using Nikon's Spot On ballistic program. The 30mm tube will balance on most rifles. The long mounting dimensions of the scope make it easy to ring up on standard- and even magnum-length rifle actions.
**Score:** 78.7
**Price:** $650Nathaniel Welch

Tract Tekoa 3-12X50 — There's nothing particularly new about this tight, bright scope built on a 1-inch tube and featuring a BDC reticle in the second plane. But the quality of the construction is remarkable, especially considering the price. Tract stormed the optics world last year with products that are sold online and shipped directly to customers. The sophomore Tekoa features premium Schott glass, crisp turrets, a pull-to-turn focus control, and a simple BDC reticle—with smart holdoff marks for windage adjustments—that can be tuned to any load at any magnification when it's used withTract's online ballistics program.
**Score:** 78.4
**Price:** $594
Buy It Now!Nathaniel Welch

Athlon Cronus 4.5-29X56 — This entry from a relative newcomer to the optics trade is a feature-rich tactical scope built around a useful, if derivative, first-plane milling reticle. The Cronus has everything a precision shooter demands: precise and positive dials, subtle illumination, a zero stop on the elevation turret, and a whopping 110 MOA of elevation adjustment inside the 34mm tube. We wanted more visible reticle references at lower magnifications and more pronounced index numbers on the turrets, but the Cronus' optics and tight controls are so good that we expect to see Athlons in more shooting competitions.
**Score:** 76.8
**Price:** $1,800Nathaniel Welch

Vortex Diamondback Tactical 4-12X40 — You can fiddle with $2,000 scopes and not find better elevation and windage controls than you'll find on this $400 Vortex. The exposed turrets move with the crispness and precision of machined gears. The rest of the scope is pretty average. Inside the 1-inch tube is a non-illuminated holdover reticle in the second plane that features MOA references. Vortex hopes this scope appeals to entry-level tactical shooters who also intend to hunt with the optic, and the Diamondback Tactical should serve both purposes. The scope might also spoil shooters, who will come to expect this high quality of a turret on other optics in this price class.
**Score:** 74.3
**Price:** $400Nathaniel Welch

Meopta ZD 6-24X56 — The ZD departs from Meopta's stylish aesthetic with controls that appear to have been designed by committee. The turrets are strangely protrudent; the left-side focus wheel is larger than a silver dollar. But those awkward-looking features have real performance virtues. The overlarge focus wheel turns easily with a fingertip. The knobs are easy to grab and turn, to adjust the reticle through an impressive 83 MOA of travel inside the 30mm tube. These features befit the ZD's purpose: to be a sniper's optic tuned to NATO rounds. The heart of the scope is the ranging mil-dot reticle in the second plane. It's a sharp optic built with a narrow mission.
**Score:** 73.9
**Price:** $1,900Nathaniel Welch

Hawke Frontier 30 SF 2.5-15X50v — This is a basic versatile hunting scope with a duplex holdover reticle in the second optical plane built on a 30mm tube. The holdover references—two hashes below the illuminated center dot—are designed to conform to the ballistics of a standard centerfire cartridge when the scope is set at 8X. So far, so good. But the capped MOA-based turrets are mushy, the mounting dimensions are a little stingy, and the optics are middling, though the Hawke did perform well in our low-light test. If you're looking for an all-around scope with a simple holdover reticle, this isn't a bad choice.
**Score:** 68.7
**Price:** $720Nathaniel Welch

Vanguard Endeavor RS IV 1.5-6X42 — There are some fine touches on this low-mag scope from a brand better known for its tripods and binoculars. The German 4 reticle's center-dot illumination is subtle and precise—the controls smartly turn the light off between each intensity setting—and the mounting dimensions of the 30mm tube are generous. The crisp crosshair is suited to driven game or longer precision aiming. But the controls are spongy, and a scope of this magnification range is better served with a 24mm objective. Still, for an affordable dangerous-game scope or an optic for a shotgun or AR, there's a ton of value here.
**Score:** 67.8
**Price:** $430Nathaniel Welch

Oculus Phaze 6-24X50 — To find a first-plane precision scope for under $1,000 is a rarity. This stylish optic delivers a ton of features for half that price. The MOA-based aiming system is solid, though precision shooters may gripe that the reticle doesn't have enough ranging references. Other dings: The exposed turret dials are a little mushy, and the ED glass was optically disappointing. But the Phaze has a useful (if complicated) locking zero-reset feature, the mounting dimensions of the 30mm tube are generous, and the first-plane configuration is suited to cross over from precision-shooting games to most hunting scenarios.
**Score:** 66.6
**Price:** $500
**Contact:** oculusoptics.comNathaniel Welch

Riflescopes	Kahles 6241	Nightforce Atacr	Sig Sauer Whiskey5	Swarovski Z8	Bushnell Elite Tactical DMRII-I	EOTech Vudu
Price	$3,000	$3,600	$1,650	$2,610	$1,600	$1,300
Configuration	6-24x56	7-35x56	3-15x52	1-8x24	3.5-21x50	1-6x24
Image Resolution	7.0	9.5	10.0	10.0	7.8	8.3
Low-Light	9.2	9.3	8.8	7.9	6.9	6.1
Image Quality	8.8	8.5	9.0	8.5	8.3	8.3
Mechanics	9.5	9.0	8.5	8.0	9.0	8.5
Reticle	9.3	8.3	8.3	8.3	9.0	9.5
Aiming System	9.5	8.5	8.3	8.0	8.8	9.0
Construction	8.8	8.5	8.3	9.0	8.3	8.5
Durability	9.3	9.5	8.5	8.8	9.3	8.8
Meets Purpose	9.0	8.3	7.8	8.3	8.5	8.5
Value	7.3	7.3	8.3	7.3	8.5	7.8
Score	87.7	86.5	85.6	85.6	84.5	83.2

Riflescopes	Lecia Magnus	Leupold VX-6HD	GPO Passion 3X	Nikon Black X1000	Tract Tekoa	Cabela's Covenant FFP
Price	$3,000	$1,500	$350	$650	$594	$300
Configuration	2.4-16x56	3-18x44	4-12x40	6-24x50	3-12x50	6-24x50
Image Resolution	6.7	6.7	6.9	6.1	6.4	6.4
Low-Light	9.5	9.3	8.8	7.6	8.3	7.9
Image Quality	8.8	8.3	7.8	8.0	7.3	7.8
Mechanics	9.0	8.0	8.0	8.0	8.0	8.3
Reticle	8.3	7.5	7.8	7.8	7.8	7.0
Aiming System	7.3	7.8	7.5	8.5	8.0	7.5
Construction	9.0	8.5	8.3	8.3	8.3	7.5
Durability	8.8	8.8	7.8	7.8	7.8	7.0
Meets Purpose	7.3	8.3	8.0	8.0	8.5	7.8
Value	6.8	8.0	8.5	8.8	8.3	9.8
Score	81.1	81.0	79.2	78.7	78.4	76.8

Riflescopes	Athlon Cronus	Vortex DiamondBack Tactical	Meopta ZD	Hawke Frontier 30	Vanguard Endeavor RS IV	Oculus Phaze
Price	$1,800	$400	$1,900	$720	$430	$500
Configuration	4.5-29x56	4-12x40	6-24x56	2.5-15x50	1.5-6x42	6-24x50
Image Resolution	8.0	6.4	8.7	5.7	5.5	6.1
Low-Light	8.8	5.7	5.4	7.4	7.2	5.8
Image Quality	7.8	7.3	8.5	6.8	6.8	6.5
Mechanics	8.0	8.3	7.3	6.3	6.3	7.0
Reticle	6.8	7.8	7.3	7.0	7.0	7.5
Aiming System	6.8	8.0	7.0	7.0	7.3	6.5
Construction	8.3	7.0	8.0	7.5	6.8	6.5
Durability	8.3	7.8	7.8	7.5	6.8	7.0
Meets Purpose	6.8	7.8	6.8	6.8	7.0	6.5
Value	7.5	8.5	7.3	6.8	7.3	7.3
Score	76.8	74.3	73.9	68.7	67.8	66.6