Most shooters know the immediate impact that a quality optic can have on accuracy and precision in your shooting. With more and more technological innovations in the optics market and the access to quality materials that have increased as the shooting market has increased, it’s now easy to find excellent quality optics for a reasonable price point. We decided to write this article on the best long range rifle scope under $500 because we feel you can get the best range of scopes for the best value at this price point.
Sure, there are reasons to buy a $2500 scope if you have the needs in your shooting scenario, but for the most part, you aren’t getting a whole lot at the top end of the market that you cannot also get for right around $500.
Let’s clarify one thing: you can get the same magnification, the same lens diameter and light introduction; the same materials (for the most part) and the same options. The only difference for most top tier scopes compared to a sub $500 scope is the quality of manufacture, the glass quality (not magnification, but coatings and finishing) and the proprietary bits.
We have no complaints about shooting with top tier, high-dollar glass, but we also feel comfortable shooting on a budget rig and we use the sub $500 glass more often than not.
Besides, do you really want an accessory that costs more than your firearm? Do you really want to worry what would happen to your $2800 German rifle scope if you slid down a hill accidentally on a hunting trip during heavy rain and sleet? It’s a matter of understanding the needs you each have, to pick the best fit for you.
At $150-500, you can find a sweet spot for long-range rifle scopes (you’ll see in a bit) for anyone that doesn’t need the absolute best of the best and is using the scope for recreation and not for tactical precision shooting or sniper work.
The guys using those $3000+ scopes for that kind of work are limited in what they can use by government or departmental guidelines, and they don’t buy their own equipment, so there isn’t really a carryover.
The important part is this: You can find incredibly good quality optics at the under $500 price point. So, if you want to know how to select the best options and find the best long-range rifle scope under $500, keep reading…
Our Top 5 Best Long Range Rifle Scope Under $500 in 2021
No products found.
Reviews of Best Long Range Rifle Scope Under $500 on the Market Today
1.Athlon Optics Helos BTR 6-24×50 FFP Riflescope Review
HD video recording and many more
image credit atncorp.com
Durable For Different Shooting Conditions
The top feature of the scope is the illuminated APMR FFP IR MIL reticle that enables convenient and fast target locking even when you are in low light conditions. The multi-coated anti-glare lens also stands out because they provide superior quality images. The lockable turrets make focusing on moving targets easier. The scope is made from aircraft-grade aluminum that allows it to withstand impact or recoil.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Reasonable price
- Locking turrets
- FFP Mil reticle
- Illuminated reticle
- Argon gas
Cons:
- No extra glass treatment
What it’s good for: For shooting in different light conditions and weather conditions, the scope is durable with fog-resistance and water-resistance. Multi-coated lenses, locking turrets, and illuminated reticle combine to offer outstanding performance for the price.
No products found.
2. Athlon Optics Midas HMR HD 2.5-15×50 Review – Â EDITOR CHOICEÂ
Best Long Range Rifle Scope Under $500
image credit nikonsportoptics.com
Budget Price Premium Quality
The large diameter capped turrets offer the flexibility of 15 MOA of adjustment per revolution, which is more superior to regular turrets. They are also stiff, tactile which makes using them more enjoyable, mainly thanks to the audible click. The 92.5 MOA of adjustment in elevation and windage. The focus and parallax adjustments are smooth. The scope features a positive illumination switch and a convenient off position between each level of brightness.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Price
- HD Glass for brighter and sharper image
- Illuminated reticle
- Multi-coated optics
- High precision erector system for high accuracy
Cons:
- No scope caps included or available
What it’s good for: A budget scope offers a combination of amazing features that make this scope the right choice for anyone. The Midas HMR has impressive glass clarity, especially for the price bracket it is in. It can compete with many other scopes of a slightly higher price range. It is durable and provides high accuracy thanks to the High precision erector system.
No products found.
3. Vortex Optics Crossfire II 6-24×50 AO Riflescope Review
Best Long Range Rifle Scope Under $300
image credit vortexoptics.com
This is where the scopes start getting a lot better glass quality (around $300), and this Vortex has great clarity up to about 16x magnification. It begins to get a bit grainier after that and even though it will put you at 24x, it’s not the clearest picture. Still, this scope, while massive, is a great bargain for what you get. It will take you out to 600+ yards. You can get to 800 with the right rifle, but you might be close to the extreme limitations of the optical clarity aspects of this scope.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Great glass to 16x.
- Good price point considering glass quality.
- Exceptional warranty, almost worth the price of admission, alone.
Cons:
- Some spotty quality control at times.
- Not made for particularly heavy shooting/recoiling guns but… that warranty though!
What it’s good for: Putting on a mid-ranged rifle that needs to go out to about 400-500 yards consistently. This is an excellent choice for longer range rifles with flat-shooting cartridges that are actually used at 300 yards more often than they are used at 600. That said, this would be an excellent coyote scope for 500+ yards with something like a .22-250, where you need the optics and have the round that can match the optical power.
No products found.
4. BARSKA 8-32×50 IR AO Excavator IR Target Dot Riflescope Review
Excellent value for the money
image credit barska.com
For the money, it is an excellent value. It is not, however, a super quality scope. It has some concerns at the higher end of the power scale, where the quality of the glass is lacking enough to manifest it on the viewport. Most people shooting this price point for scope are mounting it to a gun that isn’t capable of actually using the full power of this scope by the numbers anyways. That isn’t an indictment on the buyer or user, but rather the point that this scope offers a lot for the money.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- High-end numbers even if they are unusable at the highest levels.
- Good accessories package included with it.
- Excellent price.
Cons:
- It shows its quality at the top end of the spectrum in use. That is to say: it is not as quality as it needs to be to fully be capable of the specifications it touts.
What it’s good for: Those who need a simple, capable scope out to 300 yards or so, and don’t want to have to apply for a second mortgage on their house. The all-in value of this optic is very high, but it does have its limitations. Know what to expect and don’t try to put this on a $5000 counter sniper rifle and you will likely be pleased with the performance. It can generally keep up with any mainstream value-priced gun on the market without a bunch of hurdles.Â
No products found.
5. Simmons Truplex Riflescope (3-9X40, Matte) Review
Another good scope for the budget
image credit bsimmonsoptics.com
Seriously good scope for a budget rifle build, this is a straightforward easy choice for those who need a bargain price point with good quality to 150-200 yards without all the perks of the more expensive rifle scopes. Yes, the glass is not amazing, but it’s usable. Yes, the build quality is not amazing, but it’s very good; and that’s before you include the fact that it’s priced at the same price as less than a week’s worth of coffee at your local Starbucks to buy one of these.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Low cost.
- Good adjustment.
Cons:
- Glass quality is lower end.
- Not the best durability.
What it’s good for: Budget rifle builds about which, you aren’t sure yet what you want to invest heavily on a scope but still need an optic to have some fun with it. The quality is seriously amazing for what you pay for it.
No products found.
Best Long Range Rifle Scope – Buying Guide
Components of a Scope
- Power – as in the magnification of the glass to show the target to the shooter.
- Objective lens size – The amount of light (corresponding to the diameter of the lens – the bigger the better the light gathering is) that is let into the view on the scope.
- Tube size and mounting – the size of the actual mounting tubes that allows the scope to be put onto the rifle (we left pistol scopes out of this article).
NOTE: The objective lens and the mounts are important because you have to be able to fit the scope onto the rifle, so you’ll need to know the height of the scope at the mounting location and the tube size to get the right mounts and rings for putting the scope onto the gun.
What is Magnification?
It’s a relatively simple calculation. The magnification number is usually first in the technical name of the scope. For instance, we will take our first scope in the list as an example: Nikon Buckmasters II 4-12x40mm Scope with BDC Reticle in this example the magnification of the scope is from 4x to 12x (4 times the size as actual ranging up to 12 times the size as actual, in the scope).
The second part of the technical specification is the 40mm objective lens. This means that the objective lens is 40mm across its face. The larger it is, the more light it can capture, to reflect back onto the image, giving more detail and better attenuation to the eye of the target.
Most scopes are listed for sale in this way. If they aren’t, it’s an easy bit of research to find out the two most important pieces of information.
Please note: Not all optics or glass for that matter, are created equally. Premium glass will perform better than cheaper glass. But that does not mean you cannot get very good comparative value for much less money if the general parameters are close/match.Â
What is the Field of View?
FOV or field of view is the amount of the target area you can see at different magnifications at different distances. The further away the target is, and the closer you want the details to be in the FOV, the smaller the FOV will be.
The field of view is the reference information that frames the target, in conjunction with the target. From a practical perspective, with higher quality scopes you’ll see more and with greater clarity.
What is Eye Relief?
Eye relief is the amount of distance it takes to position your eye to see a full view of your scope’s objective lens. This means it is how close your face will need to be to see the complete projection of the target in your lens. The eye relief will have some effect on the mounting and placement of your scope.
What is the Difference Between Focal Planes?
The focal plane is the reference to your reticle size relative to the magnification in the scope.
FIRST FOCAL PLANE:Â The first focal plane is where the reticle size changes based on the increase or decrease in magnification.
SECOND FOCAL PLANE:Â The second focal plane allows for the reticle to stay the exact same size in the viewport regardless of the amount of magnification that is applied to the scope.
Knowing this basic information will give you the tools you need to make a more informed decision about which scope will perform best for you and your needs.
If you are unsure about how a specific scope fits into the grand scheme of things, you can view each of our listings “What it’s good for†section. What follows, is a list of our favorite scopes for long-range shooting that is also under $500.
Conclusion
When you need to find an optic that can take you out to extreme distances, but you aren’t ready to spend 3 times what you would on a top tier rifle on just the optics, the $100-$500 range is a very nice place to be. Some of our best choices in this price range are actually closer to 100 than they are to 500. That’s an interesting point because it proves that for basic utility, when the optical clarity at super long distances and the proprietary perks aren’t the main focus, you can get very good value at the lower price points.
Note: These aren’t scopes that can barely handle a .22LR at 100 yards; this list of the contenders for the Best Long Range Rifle Scope Under $500 is a list of capable, versatile scopes that can legitimately provide value in the field going after big game or on the competitive circuit for competition and target shooters.
