Best 3-Gun Scope & Top 8 Best 3-Gun Scopes Review

"RangeFinder Today is reader supported. When you purchase through links on our website, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you."

Compared to traditional shooting disciplines like skeet or bullseye shooting, one can best describe 3-Gun competitions as dynamic, fast-moving, practical, or combat-style shooting. As its name says, 3-Gun matches involve using three different types of firearms: a pistol, rifle, and shotgun.

Short on time? Our Best Picks for 3-Gun Scopes

1. Aimpoint Pro Red Dot Sight
2. Leatherwood Hi-Lux CMR4 1-4x24mm
3. Vortex Venom Red Dot Sight
4. SIG SAUER Romeo5 X Compact Red Dot Sight
5. Kahles K16i 1-6×24 SM1
6. Vortex Crossfire Red Dot Sight 2
7. HOLOSUN HS503GU
8. Burris Fastfire III

A little about 3-Gun Shooting and Scopes

Though you can find throughout local 3-Gun clubs many different classifications with different rules and regulations, there are generally three categories used as a standard across the country.

These are Factory, Tactical, and an Open Division category. Each of them has different limiting factors on what gear, guns, calibers, ammo capacity, and optics are allowed.

In the early days of 3-Gun competitions, red dots, holographic sights, and 1x prism scopes were the only allowed devices since the 3-gun stages were adapted. Later, with more proficiency and mastery demonstrated by the shooters, the organizers were forced to extend ranges, making them more distant and smaller.

Usually, 3-Gun stages include various targets set up at different distances requiring from competitors not only excellent shooting skills but also flexible optics that will work well in all kinds of situations.

Rather than the usual red dot or 1-4X scope typical to stages in the 1980s and ’90s, today, new shooters mostly start with the 1-6x or 1-8x optics.

As the 3-Gun matches usually encompass long-range precision shooting and ultra-close situations, some classes allow shooters to use a high-powered rifle scope and a second optic for the close targets.

While the Low Power Variable Optic (LPVO) is almost an ideal scope for the primary sight, for the second optic, most shooters choose a red-dot reflex sight.

In the next part, I will present you with some top-of-the-line scopes and a few moderately priced models that offer excellent usability for the price.

Best 3-Gun Scopes Review – New Products Updated

  1   Aimpoint Pro Red Dot Sight

This Aimpoint Pro red dot sight is a 3-gun scope with features you can use for your rifle, shotgun, and handgun. It’s a military-grade scope that will withstand the recoil from your handgun, shotgun, and rifle, no matter which gun you choose to mount it on.

One of the best features of this Aimpoint sight is the red dot. It is a 2 MOA red dot that is visible in both bright conditions and lowlight conditions.

When shooting at night, there are four night vision settings and six daylight settings you can choose from, but the best part might be the extra-bright feature you can choose when shooting in bright light conditions. The battery will run for approximately three years or 30,000 hours before it needs to be replaced.

It comes with a Picatinny mount that makes it easy to mount to your firearm. It also includes a spacer that you can use when you want to mount the Aimpoint Pro on your rifle. The scope will co-witness without the riser. However, installing the riser will create a ⅓ co-witness, so keep this in mind when you use this scope.

---

  2   Leatherwood Hi-Lux CMR4 1-4x24mm Rifle Scope

One of the more affordable 3-Gun scopes on our list is the Hi-Lux Optic upgraded CMR4 version of their popular CMR 1-4×24 rifle scope.

Besides 3-Gun competitions, the Hi-Lux Leatherwood CMR4 model is also designed for the tactical role using a donut+dot close-range style reticle.

As the second generation of CMR (Close-Medium Range) line, this higher-end model features a half-inch shorter length tube than the older CMR, less weight, and improved reticle illumination over the CMR.

The CMR4’s advanced illuminated reticle lights up both of the open-circles (inner and outer), providing the shooter with precise pre-calibrated aiming points for the 5.56mm (.223 Remington) loads for this CMR4-556 R model, out to 600 meters.

The new Hi-Lux Leatherwood CMR4 features quality lenses with fully multicoated outer surfaces for optimum light transmission and superior clarity with zero distortion.

This compact tactical scope comes with one unusual feature, a left-sided windage adjustment. This modification is made upon request of many tactical users and competitors to allow right-handed shooters to make windage adjustments without taking the rifle scope off the target.

The CMR4’s capped turrets feature the “ZRO-LOK” System and they are available only in Mils, where each click represents 0.1 Mil.

The Hi-Lux CMR4 rifle scope is built with a tough 30mm one-piece aluminum main tube to be shockproof and sealed for weather resistance.

---

  3   Vortex Venom Red Dot Sight

Vortex makes some of the best firearm scopes, and the Venom red dot is no exception. It is undoubtedly one of the best 3-gun scopes you can add to your rifle, shotgun, or handgun for many reasons.

First, it has a large 3 MOA red dot that you can see in rapid time when looking through the sight, and you can adjust the brightness and intensity of the red dot using the controls on the left side of the sight.

You can choose between 10 different levels of brightness and intensity depending on the conditions in which you’re shooting. You never have to worry about the sight being too dark or too bright.

If you don’t want to adjust the brightness yourself, you don’t have to! It has an auto-brightness function that will automatically adjust the brightness of the sight based on the light that comes through the sight.

Other functions on the sight include windage and elevation controls. Each adjustment will move the red dot one MOA.

The Venom red dot comes with a Picatinny mount making it easy to mount to your rifle, shotgun, or handgun.

---

  4   SIG SAUER Romeo5 X Compact Red Dot Sight

Red dot sights are still an attractive choice for 3-Gun competitors, especially those shooting in Open and Tactical classes.

Another battle-ready gun sight comes from the Sig Sauer Romeo5 red dot series. This closed type, compact 1×20 sight offers a 2 MOA brilliant red dot ideal for modern sporting rifles, carbines, or shotguns.

The lenses sport Sig Sauer proprietary SpectraCoat anti-reflection coatings to provide superior light transmission.

The precise red dot has eight illumination settings for daytime and 2 for night vision. Additionally, this compact red dot boasts MOTAC (motion-activated illumination) for powering up and down the reticle depending on the weapon angle and movement level.

The Sig Sauer Romeo5 1x20mm Red Dot Sight is shipped with two Picatinny mounting options supporting either a co-witness 1.41-inch riser mount or 1.63″ 1/3 lower co-witness sight height.

The Sig Sauer Romeo5 1x20mm is made of a single aluminum piece and rated for complete waterproofness and fogproof performance.

---

  5   Kahles K16i 1-6×24 SM1

One of the most advanced low power variable scopes on the market comes from the Austrian Kahles under designation 1-6×24 K16i Riflescope.

Without a doubt, the Kahles K16i series of rifle scopes is world-class optics delivering features like the largest field of view, excellent edge sharpness, and true daytime illumination.

The Kahles fully multicoated optical system has lenses treated with an OILPHOBIC coating and AMV achromatic coating to protect exterior lenses and provide maximum light and image transmission.

With an integrated magnification throw lever, ultra-wide field of view and the 2nd focal plane SM1 illuminated reticle, Kahles K16i 1-6×24 is favored for IPSC and 3 Gun shooting.

The Kahles K16i class of rifle scopes is well-made optics optimized for the tactical operator and the toughest of conditions. Featuring unparalleled durability, it is based on a 30mm aluminum main tube, which is nitrogen purged and sealed with O-ring for fogproof and waterproof capabilities.

---

  6   Vortex Crossfire Red Dot Sight 2 – MOA Dot

As the very popular Vortex Sparc II successor, the Vortex Crossfire Red Dot Sight promotes all features shooters need in close-quarters scenarios and 3-Gun competitions.

A vital feature of the Vortex Crossfire Red Dot rifle scope is its 2-MOA daylight-bright dot, perfect for an accurate point of impact regardless of lighting conditions or background.

Combining fully multicoated lenses and the 2 MOA dot, this ultra-compact sight provides sharp image quality and improved accuracy at extended ranges.

Crossfire Red Dot is always clearly visible, allowing an adjustment through the 9 daily and 2-night vision brightness levels.

This tube-style red dot has a body constructed of 6060 aluminum with Nitrogen gas purged housing and O-ring-seals for fogproof and waterproof performance.

The Vortex lightweight tactical sight is packed with two height options for 1/3 co-witness mount making it compatible with AR-15, shotguns, pistols, and revolvers.

The red dot is powered by a CR2032 battery with a 50,000-hour runtime.

---

  7   HOLOSUN HS503GU Circle Micro Red Dot Sight

While the exterior resembles the Swedish Aimpoint Micro red dot sights, Holosun HS503GU Circle Micro Red Dot is a famous Chinese sight featuring a single-piece housing made out of aluminum.

As its name says, the Holosun HS503GU comes with a circle dot reticle. In fact, there are two reticle options to choose from; one is a regular 2 MOA dot and the second is a 2 MOA dot surrounded by a 65 MOA circle.

The circle dot with the reticle pattern has 12 illumination intensity levels, including 2 Night vision compatible settings.

This small tube sight comes with buttons for the illumination control on the top, whereas the windage and elevation knobs are shrouded on two sides of the unit.

Unlike some other Holosun models with dual power, this Holosun 503GU red dot uses one CR2032 battery with expecting a life of up to 20,000h with a circle dot and 50,000 with a single dot.

---

  8   Burris Fastfire III with Picatinny Mount

Although you can mount the Burris FastFire III Red-Dot Reflex Sight on any of your favorite weapons, Fastfire 3 is one of the best shotgun 3-Gun optics.

While compact and lightweight, the Burris Fastfire 3 red dot sight features sturdy shockproof construction to withstand the heavier recoil of 12-gauge scatterguns.

Since this full-sized red dot optic weighs only 0.9 oz and measure 1.9″ in length, it is perfect for mounting not only to the shotgun but also the FastFire III will match up well with handguns, AR-style carbines, or lever guns.

This Burris reflex sight offers unlimited eye relief and is available with a 3 or 8 MOA dot, so you will be able to shoot your favorite hunting rifle with accuracy out as far as 200 or 300 yards.

The Burris Fastfire III red dot comes with a Picatinny mount and high-grade glass treated with Hi-Lume multi-coating for excellent brightness and superb low-light performance.

The sight is powered by 1 CR1632 lithium battery with an expected service life of 10,000 hours.

---

Final Thoughts

Having a scope that is adjustable between 5 and 500 yards is a demanding task for any newcomer to 3-Gun shooting matches.

There is no best scope for everything so that one might choose the LPVO scope, the other will opt for old school, choosing a simple red dot, while the third might combine both of them in 3-Gun classes where it is allowed.

The above represent some really great options for the 3-gun shooter.