Best Scout Scopes in 2022

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With today’s optics selection, you are almost spoiled for choice when it comes to scout scopes. Choosing the right scope can be a challenge but for most people, all you need is something with a modest amount of power to meet your goal. This is where the best scout scopes come in.

We aren’t talking about the long-range game here. We are talking about adding better precision and speed to your short range shooting game. If this appeals to you, you’re in the right spot. We have a solid guide on what to look for and some of the best examples on the market right now!

Short on time? Our 10 picks for the Best Scout Scope

Who Uses Scout Scopes?

There are three types of shooters who typically find scout scopes to be the best option for their needs. All of these shooters have one thing in common: Speed. They need to be able to recognize and get on target as quickly as possible. The scout scope is the natural tool for this task.

Hunters are among the most common users and these low-powered optics are perfectly suited to the task. When you have to worry about seeing through dense vegetation and hitting a moving target, low power is your best friend. While a little added accuracy is just a bonus.

For years competition shooters have used these types of scopes in 3-gun competitions and other short to medium range shooting sports. These are timed events so getting on target fast and getting an accurate shot off is key to placing well. The scout scope is a solid answer to these problems.

Home defense and CQB tasks are the reason the scout scope exists. They take a rifle best suited to the task of close quarters and allow you to extend its accurate range by double or more. The best options do this without compromising the short range engagement. Red-dots have become very popular for this task but have yet to fully replace the highly useful scout scope.

What Type of Firearm?

Scout scopes are my favorite optics choice for most situations. I have dedicated long range guns but most rifles I have with magnified optics have low magnification. You will find that most guns unless they are specifically made for precision shooting, are good options. But here are some specific choices I prefer.

Rimfire rifles are top of the list for my first pick. I love a .22 with an optic around 6 power or so. These allow you to get a little extra accuracy when picking off varmints around the farm. It also makes plinking much more fun. Great times for challenging shots and good practice for your other rifles.

Lever guns, especially larger models like those shooting .45-70 and similar calibers tend to really benefit from this type of optic. Most scout scopes have longer eye relief making it safer to use them on firearms that have heavier recoil. That aside, most of these guns are made for hunting and that is always a good match-up.

AR-15s and similar tactical weapons are naturals here. The military uses them with low-powered optics for extending range. Often these will be on designated marksmen’s rifles who are charged with the duty of getting a little more reach at longer targets. While it will work on any variant of these rifles, it’s best suited to ones with a longer barrel and a little additional accuracy.

Shotguns can also benefit from optics such as these. Usually, this is for slug guns which are common sights around turkey and deer seasons. Again the long eye-relief is a big benefit here to deal with the old 12ga. Sometimes red dots are used but from experience, I will take the lower-powered magnification any day!

What Makes a Good Scout Scope?

Magnification

The hallmark of a good scout scope is magnification. While there is some debate on just what levels constitute this type of equipment, all agree that it is the lower power. Generally, anything with a max power of 7 or less is acceptably classified here.

Some will have very low magnifications. On a fixed power scope, this could be as low as 2 or 2.5x.  Just enough to get you a little more precision at moderate ranges. On variable power, some can go down in power to 1x, meaning they have no magnification on the lowest setting. This can increase precision but is typically not as useful as those with a better range of magnifications. My personal favorites go from 2x to 7x or somewhere close to this.

In addition to power, there are a few other things you may want to look for. These are guidelines that I use in my personal selection process. Depending on what you want from your optic, some of these may be less important to you and some may be very important to you.

Eye Relief

Depending on the weapon I want to use it on, the eye-relief will be different. For a low-recoil rifle, it can differ very little from a standard scope. The 2” to 3” range is a good bet. This makes it easier on rifles like the AR-15 to get your cheek placed correctly on the stock and your eye right where you want it.

For shotguns, I do want more buffer but with a good recoil pad, I don’t find even a 12ga to need that much extra eye relief. I am comfortable at 3” to 4” as a minimum. Some shotguns do require the scope to be mounted farther forward. In this case, you may need a much higher eye relief.

Rifles with a stiff recoil like the .45-70 and other big-bore cartridges can have very stiff recoil depending on the load. These are a perfect match for a scope with long eye relief. I am good with going as high as 7” on these rifles. More if the scope sits really far forward as it does on some Winchester models.

Reticle Patterns

While the standard crosshair works well, it may not be the best choice for you. There are a variety of patterns and many of them have merit on a low magnification scope. If you like the standard crosshair, stick with it. It will serve you well. If you want something a little different, here are some good options.

My personal favorite when it comes to hunting and other tasks requiring speed is the circle reticle.  These are unsuitable for getting precision accuracy but they are great for getting on target quickly and making a good, solid hit at closer ranges. Some will have a dot in the center which does help with getting better accuracy on smaller targets.

There are duplex reticles that are basically crosshairs with slightly thicker lines that make them easier to see. This also improves shooting speed. These are a good option and if you hunt the deeper woods, they can make a big difference in getting on target and getting your shot off.

BDC reticles are a good option on more powerful rifle scopes but many are just not necessary for a low powered model. The additional markings make things very complicated and sometimes harder to get a good point of aim. The exception to this is BDC scopes that only have a small number of markings below the crosshair for bullet drop. Those can be quite effective.

Some reticles are illuminated in whole or in part. This can be a great feature to add if the price is right for your budget. It does wonders to make it easier to see in low-light situations and can improve target acquisition speed.

Weight and Durability

Another great feature of most of these scopes is their low weight and comparatively high durability. Since most of the weapons we use for these low powered scopes are lightweight to begin with, you don’t want to add too much on top of them.

Durability is a little easier to get on these smaller optics. The shorter size makes them more rigid to begin with and smaller lenses are harder to crack than larger ones. That said, you still want all the best durability features like water and shockproofing.  Some fogproofing is also a great idea if you plan on hunting.

Now, let’s choose a great Scout Scope!

Best Scout Scopes Review –  Products Updated

  1   DB TAC 3-9×42 Scout Scope

DB TAC is a great firearm accessory company that specializes in various tactical equipment, including scopes. The 3-9×42 scout scope has everything you need a scout scope to have for a reasonable price.

What makes a scout scope a scout scope is the extra-long eye relief and forward position on the firearm that you get to mount the scope to, but some other features set scout scopes apart from one another.

For the DB TAC scout scope, it is a wide-angle scope that has a large field of view. This is important with scout scopes because of how forward the scope will be on your firearm and away from your eye.

It has pull-up turrets that you can pull up to adjust for windage and elevation. Each click on the turret will adjust for windage and elevation by ¼ MOA. The turrets will lock into place when they are not being adjusted.

It has a MIL-DOT reticle that makes it easy to sight your target. It includes low-profile mounting rings that you can mount to a Picatinny or Weaver rail mount.


  2   Primary Arms Silver Series

Before Vortex hit the scene a few years ago, Primary Arms was already making waves for producing stellar quality optics at an affordable price. Though all of their optics tend to be quite good, their silver series is simply amazing and for an outstanding price! They may not top our list but with the features they have, it’s a very close call.

This particular model is a variable powered 1-6x scope with an illuminated chevron reticle. This combination is fast, accurate, and made to be battle ready. If you want a step up from your iron sights, you can’t do a whole lot better. This scope’s reticle is designed for the .300 Blackout or 7.62mm. It will do best with those calibers but I have used them on .308. Other models exist for other calibers.

With a sealed battery compartment and full waterproofing, you shouldn’t need to worry about using this in the field. The lenses are fogproof and the whole scope is shockproof to pretty much any caliber you would ever put a scout scope on. It may be designed for CQB but it works very well as a hunting scope. Definitely, one to consider.


  3   Burris Scout

Though Burris lacks the popularity of other long-time scope manufacturers, they are right up there with Leupold and Nikon while being a little better generally than Bushnell. Likely their lack of popularity is due more to marketing than any other factor. Every Burris scope I have ever owned has been high quality and durable for the cost.

This is a fixed power scout scope that is designed with the hunter in mind. The magnification is a constant 2.75x which does the job of getting you the extra range, accuracy, and speed without being overpowered. It is on the low end of scope power but for a scout scope, this is a good average point. Combined with a very thick ‘Heavy plex’ crosshair, this is a unique and quick combo.

Durability is not what I would call Burris’ strong suit but they are no pushover either. I wouldn’t want one of these to be standing between me and the enemy in combat but I would be fine with one on a hunting rifle. Even for a potential home defense optic, this would do fine. It is waterproof and shockproof but is a little light so you have to watch banging it around too much.


  4   Hammers 2-7x Pistol Scout Scope

The Hammers pistol scout scope is ideal for handguns because of its shorter overall body length of just 10 ½”, but it can also be mounted onto rifles as well.

It has a 4Plex reticle that makes it easy to sight targets when your eye is far away from the scope. It has a quick-focus ring on the eyepiece that allows you to quickly and easily focus the lens of the scope. When you want to magnify up to 7x, just turn the magnification dial on the scope.

You can also adjust for windage and elevation by using the windage and elevation knobs on the scope. Windage and elevation will be adjusted ¼ MOA per click.

The scope includes a set of matching silver mounting rings for you to mount to a Weaver rail.


  5   Vortex Optics Diamondback

It seems strange to ever see Vortex this low on the list and maybe they should be higher. It’s hard when the quality is so close. For the money, this is probably the best buy on this list. Depending on when and where you get it, these are often under $200.00 and probably worth twice this amount when it comes to quality and durability.

I like this 1.75-5x magnification range for AR15 style weapons and other smaller calibers that really aren’t intended to shoot more than 300 or 400 yards. At a larger-sized target, you do have enough magnification to get out that far. For smaller targets, the dead-hold BDC reticle does wonders out to 100 yards or so. This isn’t the fastest combination but it’s quicker than iron sights, especially at smaller targets and longer ranges.

When you start to look at durability, this is where Vortex really begins to shine. Not only is this purged and sealed to prevent moisture, condensation, dust, and fog from getting in but the O-ring seals keep everything remarkably stable. The whole scope is scratch-resistant and tough as nails. I would take and use this scope in any environment out there with no hesitation.


  6   Viiko Long Eye Relief 1-5×24 Scout Scope

The Viiko 1-5×24 scout scope has the look and feel of a high-end scope without the price tag. For less than $100, this is a great long eye relief scope for you to add to your scout rifle.

First, it has top-of-the-line optics with lenses made of XC high-density glass that provides superior light transmission of 95%, which is 5% higher than the competition. The lenses are multi-coated to provide a crystal clear view while also reducing light reflection and refraction. You truly get the optics of a high-end scope at a fraction of the price with this scout scope.

The reticle is wire-thin with a half-Mil dot reticle that helps zero in on your target. It has a substantial eye relief of 7 ½ inches. When you want to adjust the scope’s magnification, just turn the magnification dial on the tube of the scope. You can also adjust for windage and elevation by turning the finger knobs on the scope one-click for ¼ MOA.

The body of the scope is made of 6066T6 aircraft-grade aluminum for a lightweight yet durable design. It is nitrogen-purged and sealed with O-rings to make it rugged and durable enough to withstand moisture, recoil, oil, and dirt.

It requires a Cantilever mount that is not included with the scope.


  7   NcStar 2-7×32 Long Eye Relief Scout Scope

NcStar is a firearm accessories company that has been around since 1997. They make a variety of quality scopes, including scout scopes. For an affordable price, NcStar combines value with quality in their equipment, and this scout scope is no exception. The lens of the scope is multi-coated to create a clear and bright visual when looking through the scope.

It has an illuminated plex reticle that lights up red when you are shooting in low light conditions and need to see the reticle against your target.

The 2-7×32 long eye relief scout scope does exactly what it describes; it gives you long eye relief while also allowing you to magnify between 2x and 7x. The total eye relief is estimated to be between 8 and 11 inches.

You can also adjust for windage and elevation by turning the finger knobs on the scope. Each click will adjust for ½ MOA.


  8   Vortex Optics Crossfire II

This is just a wonderful piece of kit for the price. You can often find one for under $250.00 and it is well worth that price. That could be said for most Vortex products out there but for a scout scope, this is doubly true. All things considered, this is probably about the best bang for the buck out there. It has a good mix of everything you could want.

Still, in that 2-7x range with this scope, the optics are near perfect. It uses Vortex’s take on the duplex reticle which is one of the better ones out there. The thinner section is very small allowing you to get a good point of aim even when you can’t see it clearly. But that isn’t the best part! The best part is the almost 9.5 inches of eye relief. I use this scope on a .45-70 frequently with no worries. It’s mounted well forward of anywhere it could hit me.

All Vortex scopes are made to the same specifications. This one may be one of their low-end models but it has all the same features as the high-end models. Waterproof, fogproof, shockproof.  The full deal. What it lacks is the same quality control. This may sound bad but with the Vortex VIP warranty, there is no worry. You will be taken care of on the rare chance you get a dud.


  9   Feyachi Falcon 2-7×32 Long Eye Relief Scout Scope

Feyachi is a relatively new company that has entered the firearm accessories industry, but they are already making a name for themselves.

The Feyachi Falcon is full of features and specifications that make it a great choice for scouting. Plus, it’s got one of the best price tags on our list.

We’ll start with the optics first. It has a fully multi-coated optics system with multiple anti-reflective coatings layers to reduce glare while transmitting light. This gives you a bright, vivid image when looking through the lens every time.

It’s a second focal plane with a BDC reticle that makes it easy to target your object when scouting. The reticle is wire-thin at the crosshairs and thicker towards the perimeter of the reticle.

There are finger knobs that are easy to grip and turn when adjusting for windage and elevation. Each click will adjust ¼ MOA.

Finally, the tube of the scope is made of aircraft-grade aluminum that is shockproof, waterproof, and fogproof. It does not come with a mount, but it can be mounted to your rifle using standard 1” rings.


  10   UTG 2-7×44 Long Eye Relief Scout Scope

The UTG 2-7×44 long eye relief scout scope is one of the pricier options on our list but for good reasons. It has a large 44mm objective lens that increases light transmission while reducing glare and reflection, giving you an extremely clear and bright image every time you look at the reticle through the scope.

The reticle is an etched black reticle with a mil-dot reticle, making it easy to zero in your target. There are several reticle colors you can choose from instead of the typical green or red, which is nice if you prefer a color that’s easier on the eyes.

It’s not night vision compatible, but the optics gives you a little extra daylight when shooting at dawn or dusk conditions, which is nice. Plus, the illuminated reticle helps you see where you will be shooting your target if you take a shot in low-light conditions.

The eye relief is also great. It has a substantial 9 to 11” eye relief which is perfect for scouting. You will need to purchase a mount or rings separately for you to mount the scout scope onto your rifle.


Final Thoughts

Some people dream of long-range shooting, for them the high-powered scopes are really what is called for. For those who need something to make things a little more efficient at moderate ranges, this is the realm of the scout scope. The design and format are tried and proven time and again by hunters, competition shooters, and even the military. If you haven’t tried one of these scopes on your favorite mid-range rifle, it’s about time you did.

L.P Brezny has been writing and reviewing products as well as how to projects for the past 50 years. He has authored four books on shooting with three on long range, and one covering shotgunning. With 26 years on a metro police department as a street officer and the rank of SGT / training L.P. has covered all the bases regarding weapons and street survival.

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