Choosing the right rifle scope can be an intimidating task, but it doesn’t have to be. We’ve compiled the most comprehensive guide to help you find the best rifle scopes under $200.
This blog post is designed to give you all of the information that you might need when choosing a new scope for your favorite hunting rifle. Whether this is your first time shopping for one, or simply upgrading your current scope, this informative breakdown will cover all of your optics needs. Of course, the first thing that you need to decide is what purpose do you want your rifle scope to serve?
Take a look below the list of 8 best rifle scopes with their rating, if you don’t find your targeted riflescopes please have a look my previously published article.
A Quick Comparison
[table “38” not found /]The 8 Best Rifle Scopes Under $200
Vortex Optics Crossfire Riflescopes
- Magnification: 12x
- Lens Diameter: 44 Millimeters
- Item Weight: 1.1 Pounds
- Item Dimensions: 14.4 x 3.1 x 2.6 inches
- Style: Dead-Hold BDC
This is an outstanding scope for any hunting rifle. The optics on the Crossfire Riflescopes are outstanding. This is a top-of-the-line model that provides an unparalleled level of clarity and resolution. What makes this scope so special is the price point. This scope provides exceptional value for your dollar, which can’t be said about many other riflescopes on this list.
The Vortex Optics Crossfire Riflescopes score high in terms of image quality, but also comes with an exceptionally capable tube design. For a budget hunter, this scope is a serious contender for the best rifle scope under 200 dollars.
The exterior of this scope is built with a single-piece aircraft aluminum body, which increases the overall strength and durability of the product. The O-ring seal around the exterior of the tube makes this scope suitable for any weather conditions.
Read more if you looking to have long-range shooting scopes.
Bushnell Multi-X Reticle Riflescope
- Magnification: 3-9x
- Lens Diameter: 40 Millimeters
- Item Weight: 0.81 Pounds
- Item Dimensions: 16.3 x 2.5 x 3.12 inches
- Eye Relief: 3.46 Inches
The Bushnell Riflescope is a fantastic mid-range scope that is probably the best rifle scope for target shooting.
The multi-X reticle provides users with an option that doesn’t require any learning or memorization, which means that it is simple to use. This is a great option for those who are just starting to shoot, or who may be unfamiliar with it.
The multi-X reticle is another great reason why this scope is an excellent choice for target shooting. It provides shooters with several different options that can help them focus on different aspects of their game. For instance, you can adjust the reticle to help with shots at an angle, or even with shots outside of the field of vision due to eye-relief concerns.
Vortex Optics Diamondback Riflescopes
- Magnification: 12x
- Lens Diameter: 40 Millimeters
- Item Weight: 0.91 Pounds
- Item Dimensions: 13.6 x 3.4 x 2.4 inches
This Vortex Optics Diamondback Riflescope is a great choice for those who are looking for a scope that is lightweight but not necessarily on the budget. The Diamondback Riflescope is an extremely lightweight scope that provides more than enough magnification to perform at its peak.
The Diamondback Riflescopes are made with an aircraft aluminum alloy, which means that it is both strong and durable enough to handle basic hunting situations. This scope can handle recoil directly from your rifle without degradation of image quality or magnification power.
The image quality on this scope is absolutely exceptional. The lenses are fully multi-coated to ensure that the user is getting the highest amount of light transmission possible. This scope has an O-ring seal to ensure that it can be used in any weather scenario without the worry of impacting performance.
Hawke Airmax Airgun Riflescopes
- Magnification: 9x
- Lens Diameter: 40 Millimeters
- Item Weight: 0.52 Kilograms
- Item Dimensions: 15.1 x 4.6 x 3.1 inches
Most airgun scopes are not built with the same level of rigidity that they are on more expensive models, but the Hawke Airmax Airgun Riflescope is built to exceed expectations. The quality of construction alone is reason enough to purchase this scope.
The Hawke Airmax Airgun Riflescope has a single-piece aircraft aluminum body that is extremely lightweight and extremely durable. This makes it an excellent choice for target shooting, but also makes it a powerful scope that can be used with airguns in general. The 9x magnification is more than sufficient for most targets in your field of vision.
16 layer fully multi-coated optics for the highest light transmission possible.
Athlon Optics Talos 4-16×40 Riflescopes
- Magnification: 4-16x
- Lens Diameter: 40 Millimeters
- Item Weight: 1.04 Pounds
- Item Dimensions: 12.9 x 1.8 x 1.9 inches
The Athlon Optics Riflescope is a nice intermediate option that provides a slight upgrade from the standard model. The optics are quite impressive for an optic of this price range and provide crisp, clear images.
The optics on this scope provide 1/2x and 1/4x adjustment options to help you focus on the area of your shooting field. The prismatic prism design provides enhanced clarity and resolution compared to traditional lenses.
Not everyone needs or desires the same level of magnification, so there is an included 10 power zoom lens. This way you don’t have to buy an additional lens to achieve the level of magnification that you desire. and fully multi-coated lenses ensure the highest light transmission possible.
Bushnell 756185 Trophy 6-18x50mm Rifle Scope
- Magnification: 12x
- Lens Diameter: 50 Millimeters
- Item Weight: 1.14 Pounds
- Item Dimensions: 17.7 x 3.5 x 3.2 inches
- Eye Relief: 3.5 Inches
Bushnell Riflescopes is one of the most trusted names in riflescopes on the market, and the Trophy series is a budget-friendly option that performs just as well as its more expensive counterparts.
The optics on this scope provide a 12x magnification and 50mm objective lens, which gives it excellent image quality.
The optics are built with an aluminum alloy body for strength and durability. The fully multi-coated lenses work to reduce glare and light reflection, which helps to maximize the amount of light that comes through them. This makes them ideal for use in all types of conditions.
Fast-focus eyepiece and 1/4 MOA fingertip windage and elevation adjustments. It 100% waterproof and fogproof.
BARSKA Varmint Mil-Dot Riflescope
- Magnification: 4-16x
- Lens Diameter: 50 Millimeters
- Item Weight: 1.31 Pounds
- Item Dimensions: 15.5 x 3 x 2.63 inches
- Eye Relief: 3.5 Inches
The BARSKA Varmint Mil-Dot Riflescope also has a multi-coated lens to help it gather as much light as possible. In addition, the BARSKA Varmint Mil-Dot Riflescope provides a fast-focus eyepiece for easy adjustments.
The BARSKA Varmint Mil-Dot Riflescope is a budget-friendly scope that is built to provide an exceptional level of clarity and resolution. It’s a good option for target shooting who want to get the most value possible from their dollars when it comes to riflescopes.
This is a great choice for those who want a little bit more versatility out of their scope. The combination mil-dot reticle helps shooters to adjust based on distance, whereas the crosshair provides them with traditional ranging.
This scope also has a fast-focus eyepiece and 1/8 MOA fingertip windage and elevation adjustments to help users achieve the most accurate possible shot every time.
Bushnell Trophy Rifle Scope with Multi-X Reticle
- Magnification: 9x
- Lens Diameter: 40 Millimeters
- Item Weight: 0.89 Pounds
- Item Dimensions: 16.25 x 3 x 2.4 inches
- Eye Relief: 4 Inches
Bushnell Optics is one of the most trusted names in riflescopes on the market, with a reputation built on providing high-quality optics for an affordable price.
The Bushnell Trophy Rifle Scope features an impressive 9x magnification, which helps users to get extreme precision shots when they need it most.
It’s also quite strong for a scope of this price range, which makes it capable of handling both airguns and rifles alike with relative ease. Fully multi-coated optics and rain guard HD lens protect the lenses from damage and help to ensure that your shots are always accurate.
The 1/4 MOA fingertip windage and elevation adjustments help you adjust from shot to shot without any problem. This helps to ensure that your shot is always on target
Steps to select better ones
We already listed what you need to know when buying a rifle scope in general, but we can’t stress enough that not all scopes are created equal.
The 5 most important things to think about when choosing a rifle scope:
1) Magnification Power: The first thing you need to decide when buying a rifle scope is what kind of magnification power you want. Some people buy high-powered scopes for hunting purposes, while others prefer medium and low-powered scopes for target shooting and plinking. The magnification power listed in this article is for target shooting and plinkers.
2) Objective Lens Diameter: The objective lens diameter covers how bright your target will appear through the lens. A higher diameter gives you a brighter image, but can also give you diffraction errors.
3) Eye Relief: Eye relief is the distance between the scope’s pupil and your eye. A longer eye relief allows you to put more pressure on your scope without having issues seeing the image through it.
4) Reticle: Your choice of reticle is up to you, but we’ve listed some of our favorites below for reference:
5) Durability Factor: Depending on what materials and construction method is used for optics, there will be different durability factors. Find out which materials your preferred optics are built from, and try to find a scope that stays true to the materials used.
The last words
Your choice of the riflescope is a big investment. Don’t get stuck on the first options you see, and think about the benefits you want from your new rifle scope. If you know what to look for in scope, you can find a great-looking scope that performs great after some research.
A department store rifle scope will typically cost around $100 at most, so spending more on a quality scope may be worth it in the long run. It might even be cheaper in the long run, depending on how much you shoot and hunt with your gun.
For our readers that have any questions regarding this article please drop us a comment below and we will be happy to help!
