Scope reviews from Reddit
Summary
We analyzed 206 Reddit reviews across 32 subreddits and 81 posts to rank the best Scope brands recommended by redditors, including communities like r/AR10, r/longrange, r/Hunting, r/22lr, r/canadaguns. Top-rated brands include Vortex (4.4/5), Athlon (4.2/5), Bushnell (4.3/5).
Stats
Reviews206
Subreddits32
Posts81
Brands43
Products68
206 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Vortex
4.4
(69)
"Vortex has always treated me well both with products and support."
"Vortex all day every day if you have the money."
"Vortex Crossfire 2-7x is your best bet. Specific rimfire version and it’s perfect for a 50 yard zero"
"PST 2 is amazing! I have one in my 457 at one"
"If you can find a used Vortex Viper PST Gen 2 1-6x, do it. It's a fantastic scope with great glass."
"I’ve been using them for a few years, they’re great (other than the windage turret and illumination switch)."
"Check out athlon or vortex’s venom line I’ve had great experience with both"
"Vortex Viper PST 5-25x50 is another great option."
"Vortex Viper PST 5-25 x50 is my go to. Better optics over the strike eagle."
"I've used this for the past 4 years and been extremely pleased with it."
#2
Athlon
4.2
(16)
"I have a couple athlon midas tac they are great"
"Athlon Argos BTR Gen2 6-24X50 and a 30 MOA rail. Scope is currently $255 on Amazon."
"I put an Athlon Ares ETR 3-18x50 on my 457 Varmint."
"Arken and Athlon are quite good at the lower price ranges"
"Or an athlon of similar price"
"Agree with all of these and have the helos and ep5.. I’d give the nod to the ep5 or the bushnell match pro."
"Dog you can get like new used Athlons for great prices"
"Best bang for your buck under $500-$600 is going to be either bushnell match pro, burris rt25 scr2, or Athlon midas tac/helos btr gen2"
"Athalon Argos BTR Gen2 6-24x50 is a good budget option if you’re new to long distance shooting."
"I bought one for my CZ 457 Varmint, my first Athlon scope and I’m impressed."
#3
Bushnell
4.3
(15)
"I've used a vortex venom and currently a Bushnell MPED on my cz. Both excellent for the money but obviously the MPED is the better of the two."
"About the best value under $1000 you can get."
"Love the Bushnell."
"I'm a big fan of my match pro 6-24."
"Add 50 and buy the best."
"I've used a vortex venom and currently a Bushnell MPED on my cz."
"Bushnell MPED with vortex PMR rings."
"Bushnell Match Pro"
"Chuck a Bushnell MPED on it, get some good rings."
"Very good list from the other guy. I'd have the DMR3 myself."
#4
Leupold
4.4
(12)
"The Leupold Mk5 5-25 seems to be far and away the most popular NRL hunter scope at the matches I’ve been to."
"I rock Swarovski binos and Leupold scope. Both work amazing in low light."
"For scope I can recommend the Leopold and the Panorama."
"Any low power scope from Leupold with low rings would be my go to."
"Planning on mounting one of these."
"For me it was between a MK5 3-18 and a Vudu 5-25, both around 29oz iirc."
"Leupold VX Freedom 1.5-4x."
"Leupold or Vortex both have nice options that won't break the bank."
"Simple and light for me with scopes on lever guns."
"NX8 2-20, ATACR 4-16 (used), MK5 3-18, Bushnell DMR3 all good options"
#5
Primary Arms
4.2
(10)
"The PA 1-6 are great scopes, I have two, on a CZ 455 and a 10/22."
"I’m a big fan of the Primary Arms scopes that are setup for the .308 round."
"Just bought a primary arms 1-6x lpvo for $150 off r/gafs"
"Cheapest budget but good AR10 optic is the primary arms 4-14 SLX FFP."
"I have the older version of this, happy enough with it"
"Primary arms. Get an lpvo or mpvo with whatever magnification you prefer."
"Look into Primary Arms, some of the best scopes I've used for the money."
"Primary Arms SLx 1-6x W/ ACSS Nova reticle"
"Some good ones from primary arms and swampfox. Good 1-6x and 1-8x options."
"Primary Arms or Vortex."
#6
Hawke
4.4
(8)
"Hawke Airmax compacts are my go to scopes"
"Hawke air max or Wulf Hurricane. I have both on different HW rifles and are great and can take the beating springers give."
"I've owned many Beeman R's and put Hawke Airmaxes on several. I'm a fan."
"Hawke Vantage or Airmax."
"Hawk vantage 3-9x40 ao or the vantage 2-7x32 ao."
"+1 for a Hawke Vantage. Save the extra and get a side focus model because twisting the entire front end of the scope to focus it gets really annoying really quickly."
"Save a few more pennies and buy hawk vantage."
"Check out the Hawke Vantage range."
#7
Meopta
4.3
(7)
"I have a Meopta 20-60x80 MeoPro. I love it and it is less the Kowa or Swarovski."
"I’ll say it every time meopta."
"I would try and look for a used Meopta"
"Meopta meopro is great for the money"
"Meopta Optika 6 might be worth a look."
"Another option in that price range would be the Meopta Optika6."
"Meopta make good affordable scope with impressive glass, they were oem for ziess."
#8
Kowa
5.0
(4)
"The KOWA."
"Kowa is what I have. They are expensive, but worth it."
"I can confirm the Kowa has been great."
"I have a Kowa 553 and they’re both great spotters."
#9
Zeiss
5.0
(4)
"Another good option is Zeiss."
"Zeiss, Trijicon, leupold, NightForce. Try them and lick the one you like best."
"I would take a hard look at the zeiss conquest v4 4-16."
"In any zoom and lens size you’d like."
#10
Victoptics
4.8
(4)
"Hands down one of the best scopes i've seen, and pretty cheap too."
"I have a Victoptics 1-6x LPVO and i absolutely love it. It's the best optic i ever owned."
"I currently use this one on my dmr and it's amazing even on higher zooms"
"This: the VictOptics S6 1-6x24"
#11
Burris
4.3
(4)
"Burris make some very nice scopes."
"Burris XTR3 3.3-18x50"
"Get the Burris over the Crossfire. The Crossfires eye relief isn't that good for a scout scope."
"If you go scout, spend slightly more to get the Burris over the Vortex."
#12
Arken
4.0
(4)
"I love my Arkin"
"Arken and Athlon are quite good at the lower price ranges"
"Arken are actually using a relatively common Chinese OEM to make their scopes."
"The scopes are decent enough to have sold on their own"
#13
Swarovski
5.0
(3)
"It is hard to beat Swarovski."
"Yep, if you've got swaro money, they are epic scopes. Atc line could be worth a look if packability is a concern."
"I have a Swarovski 65 and a Kowa 553 and they’re both great spotters."
#14
Ares
4.7
(3)
"Ares ETR and some seekins rings."
"It's definitely worth the extra to save and buy the Ares ETR."
"Ares ETR from midway"
#15
Maven
4.3
(3)
"I run a Maven with Wharne mountaintech rings and really like it."
"I am buying Maven optics."
"Check out Maven built. They seem well reviewed on here."
#16
Vector Optics
4.3
(3)
"Vector optics. Continental lineup. Awesome scopes and glass"
"The veyron range get good reviews for the price too."
"I have the Orion 6-24x50 SFP on a BSA R10. Really happy with it not quite as good as my hawke scopes but Incredible for the price."
#17
Heritage
4.0
(3)
"If you want something cost effective that is in-between, I would go for a table top dob. Heritage 150 most likely would be my pick."
"You could get the Heritage 150P and pair it up with a Sky-Watcher AZ5 Mount."
"I think the heritage 150 and a small portable table might be a good setup to think about."
#18
Sig
4.0
(3)
"Romeo MSR gen 2"
"I like my sig romeo and juliet combo"
"Sig buck master 4-16x44"
#19
Tangent Theta
5.0
(2)
"Tangent Theta gets my vote!"
"Tangent 7-35 would be a no brainer for me."
#20
Trijicon
5.0
(2)
"I have a trijicon credo 2.5-15x42 and it is fantastic for what you're talking about."
"RCO w/ backup red dot. Superior in every way and I’ll die on that hill."
#21
Vortex Strike Eagle
4.5
(2)
"I bought a Vortex Strike Eagle with mount from Scheels and really love it."
"I just snagged a nice Vortex Strike Eagle for ~250 with the mount and all on PSA daily deals."
#22
Nightforce
4.0
(2)
"Got an NX8 2.5-20 up for sale on r/gunaccessoriesforsale that would be great for NRL."
"The Nightforce NX8 2.5-20x and the 4-32x are both around 28oz"
#23
ATN
3.5
(2)
"I currently have 3 ATN scopes."
"I’ve been shopping as well. My research says ATN but I have zero real world experience."
#24
Simmons
3.5
(2)
"I was very happy with both of them. Bright. Sharp. Light."
"Simmons are an easy to find cheap scope at Walmart."
#25
Monstrum
5.0
(1)
"I have it and love it. It's a good enough scope for airsoft, has an illuminated red and green reticle. And is inexpensive so if you break it, it's no problem."
#26
Vortex Crossfire II 2-7x32
5.0
(1)
"And absolutely love the thing. Dirt cheap and decent quality."
#27
Vortex Venom 3-15x44
5.0
(1)
"Has a parallax that adjusts down to 10 yards and works great for my tikka T1X."
#28
Vortex Diamondback II
5.0
(1)
"My Diamondback II is a fucking ripper on my .308, love that thing to death."
#29
Vortex Venom
5.0
(1)
"The warranty is pretty great."
#30
Aimpoint
4.0
(1)
"For red dots, look at the low end aimpoints (they are still quite good - durable and reliable, just shorter battery life than the more expensive ones). Primary Arms will be cheaper, as will a Bushnell TRS-25."
#31
Arken EP5 5-25-56
4.0
(1)
"Im using vortex 34mm low rings and it fits fine but will still require a cheek riser for sure."
#32
Holosun
4.0
(1)
"Holosun 509T. RPP sells a dedicated receiver mounting plate for it."
#33
LaRue
4.0
(1)
"I did spring for a LaRue mount, but the American Defense mounts are solid too."
#34
Leupold Mk3HD 1.5-4
4.0
(1)
"Didn’t cost me an arm and a leg and it’s a very nice optic."
#35
Tract Toric
4.0
(1)
"I’ve used the one with the "eagleman" article out to 1000 yrds.. I’m far from an expert, but 1000yards was easy with that scope."
#36
Arken Optics
4.0
(1)
"Is a great budget option."
#37
Burris Droptine 3-9 Rimfire
4.0
(1)
"Are both really nice and both are under $200."
#38
Vortex Crossfire
4.0
(1)
"Crossfires are perfect for this."
#39
UTG
4.0
(1)
"Scopes are a good option for springers."
#40
Arken 4-16x50
4.0
(1)
"And it works great."
#41
Bushnell Match Pro ED
4.0
(1)
"It's a great scope for the money, even better so when it's on sale."
#42
Bushnell Match Pro
4.0
(1)
"Very nice for the $400 price tag."
#43
Arken SH-4J
4.0
(1)
"I ended up going Open class and getting a cheap KRG Bravo with an Arca rail and adjustable cheek weld."
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