Best 3-Gun Scope – Top 10 Best 3-Gun Scopes Review

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.

Our Picks for 3-Gun Scope

• Trijicon Accupoint TR24G
• Leatherwood Hi-Lux CMR4 1-4x24mm
• Bushnell Elite Tactical II Pro SMRS 1-6.5×24
• Athlon Optics Midas BTR PR41 4×34 Prism Scope
• SIG SAUER Romeo5 X Compact Red Dot Sight
• Weaver Tactical 1-5x24mm
• Kahles K16i 1-6×24 SM1
• Vortex Crossfire Red Dot Sight 2
• HOLOSUN HS503GU
• Burris Fastfire III

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 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, we’ll try to present you with 10 top-of-the-line scopes and few moderately priced models that offer excellent usability for the price.

Best 3-Gun Scopes Review – New Products Updated

  1   Trijicon Accupoint TR24G

Trijicon is well known for its battle-proven aiming systems using reticles illuminated by tritium. This time Trijicon has offered AccuPoint scope series featuring 24mm objective, fully multicoated lenses and fiber-optic illumination.

The TR24 is available with three different reticle patterns, but our model TR24G sports a simple post and triangle with a green illuminated aiming triangle at its tip. This is a big 4.2 MOA at 4X triangle, placed on top of a post, with a center of which you can see through.

The Trijicon TR24 AccuPoint 1-4x is very popular among 3-gunners. The shooter can use the reticle at 1x with two eyes open like it’s a red dot enabling shooters the close in rapid target acquisition paired with an increased hit potential at distances.

Along with Japanese made glass that provides an excellent light transmission, this variable rifle scope has a straight 30mm tube made of 6061-T6 aluminum, water, fog and shock-resistant.

  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 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’sCMR4’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’sCMR4’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   Bushnell Elite Tactical II Pro SMRS 1-6.5×24

The Bushnell Elite Tactical II Pro SMRS (Short Midrange Rifle Scope) 1-6.5x is one of the best 3-Gun scopes because it was made with input from experienced shooters and seasoned 3-Gun competitors.

The 1-6.5×24 configuration enables you fast target acquisition, making it perfect for shooting close- and mid-range targets. Thanks to the folding ThrowDown PCL (power change lever), this low power variable optic (LPVO) allows lightning-fast magnification changes.

The SMRS II has a sleek design due to the low-profile capped turrets designed with a T-Lok locking mechanism for secure and repeatable adjustments in any environment.

Bushnell Elite Tactical SMRS rifle scope comes with a high-quality optic made in Japan. The SMRS II Pro fully multicoated glass is treated with Bushnell’sBushnell’s exclusive EXO Barrier protection against oil, debris and fingerprints.

This 1-6.5×24 model comes with an illuminated Close Quarters Ballistic Drop Compensation (CQ BDC) reticle set in a second focal plane.

The Tactical II Pro SMRS is built of a 30mm aluminum tube and has a standard for the class 24mm objective lens. This waterproof and shockproof scope is also argon-filled optics for the ultimate fog-proof protection.

  4   Athlon Optics Midas BTR PR41 4×34 Prism Scope

The next device is Athlon Optics Prism Sight 4×34, which combines the simplicity of a fixed powered rifle optics with a two-eye open shooting style to help you shoot accurately and quickly at both short and medium ranges.

This sight type utilizes a unique prism construction for shorter overall length without sacrificing optical quality, making it perfect for owners of AR-15, SCAR and similar semi-auto rifles.

The compact Midas BTR PR41 4×34 Prism Sight includes the company’s APSR 41 reticle in both red or green illumination. The glass-etched reticle comes in the form of a sizeable ¾ quarter circle with a 1 MOA dot in the middle and a long vertical MOA-based line for ballistic compensations.

Using this fine target circle-dot arrangement and a fixed four power magnification, you will be able for precision aiming up to 500 yards.

The Midas BTR PR41 features fully multicoated optics and a robust and durable aluminum housing with an integrated rail mount bracket for Picatinny rails.

The Athlon Midas Prism sight is nitrogen-filled fog proof, waterproof, and shock-resistant.

  5   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 fog-proof performance.

  6   Weaver Tactical 1-5x24mm

Another LPVO mainly designed for tactical applications that gained massive popularity in 3-Gun circles is a 1-5×24 Tactical Rifle scope by Weaver Optics.

As a part of the new Weaver Super Slam series, the 1-5x24mm Tactical rifle scope is manufactured to the strictest tolerances and features required for tactical work.

With a beneficial magnification range of 1-5x, this Weaver Tactical scope helps you shoot targets at various ranges. It gives you true 1x magnification for fast two-eyes-open shooting, while the 5x is more than enough magnification for mid-range shots.

The main selling feature of these serious glasses is glass-etched, Weaver’sWeaver’s design “Close-Intermediate Range Tactical” (CIRT) reticle. It features a solid center dot that covers .5 mils (roughly a size of a human head at 200 yards) and brackets around the center dot that measures a human head size at 100 yards.

The first-focal-plane reticle comes with red or green illumination with 5 levels of intensity for each color.

The Weaver Tactical is provisioned with fully multicoated lenses and the windage and elevation turrets with a ¼ MOA click value adjustments.

As an ideal optic for an AR carbine and 3-Gun matches, the scope has a 30mm, single-piece tube construction making it waterproof, fog proof, and shockproof design.

  7   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 fog proof and waterproof capabilities.

  8   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 fog proof 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.

  9   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 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 regular2 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 circle dot and 50,000 with a single dot.

  10   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 shotguns 3-Gun optic.

While compact and lightweight, the Burris Fastfire 3 red dot sight features sturdy and a 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 thought

Having a scope that is adjustable between 5 and 500 yards is a too demanding task for any newcomers 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.