Buyers Guide - The Best Rifle Scopes to Buy in 2020
When it comes to choosing the best optic for your rifle, there are a few considerations to keep in mind. For example, are you building an everyday hunting rifle, a mid-weight mountain rifle or a long-range bench rifle? In this article we will explore some of our favorites for these unique shooting scenarios.
Everyday Mid-weight Hunting Rifle
For an everyday mid-weight hunting rifle, we like a scope with mid-range power for off-hand shots, a 30mm tube and a 40-45 mill objective lens, which allows for optimal light transmission in low light conditions, without getting too bulky, and a second focal plane reticle. One of our top choices is the Zeiss Conquest V4 4-16x44 with a ZMOA-2 reticle. If you look hard enough, you may be able to find it with an illuminated reticle, even though it is not offered on Zeiss’s website, a few select dealers do have them in stock. Between December 2019 and February 2020, Zeiss Canada (Gentec Intl.) is offering a FREE custom yardage turret with the purchase of any Zeiss V4 or V6 scope, through Ballistix.ca for Canadian customers.
Another excellent choice for an everyday rifle is the Leupold VX-5HD 3-15x44. This scope offers a 30mm tube for excellent light transmission, a variety of reticles, illumination, a CDS turret and Leupold’s lifetime guarantee. Our favorite feature, that sets this scope apart from the competition, is the locking zero-stop turret. You never have to worry about keeping an eye on your turret in case it gets bumped and rotates a few clicks off of its zero.
Lightweight Mountain Hunting Rifle
If you are building a lightweight mountain hunting rifle, we would recommend the Vortex Razor HD LH 3-15x42. This scope offers Vortex best glass, a 1 inch tube, compact design with a 42mm objective lens, and it weighs in at a mere 16oz. This scope is custom yardage turret capable ($50 off or free turret decal with the promo code VTXREWARD at Ballistix.ca) and boasts the best unlimited lifetime warranty on the market, no questions asked!
Another excellent option for a lightweight rifle is the Swarovski Z5 3.5-18x44 with a 4W reticle. This is a 16oz, low profile scope with excellent glass, and is custom turret capable as well. Swarovski offers a BT 3 dot turret, or a fully custom yardage turret as well, but the custom turret comes at a hefty price, directly through Swarovski.
Long Range Bench Rifle
For a long-range bench rifle, we’re very impressed with the Kahles k525i. This scope was designed for tactical and long range shooters. It has a 5-25x magnification, a 34mm tube and a 56mm objective for maximum light transmission, and is made with some of the best glass on the planet! This scope offers innovative design, such as right or left windage dials with twist guard, second revolution indicator, and patented parallax dial under the elevation turret. Ballistix also offers custom yardage decals for these rifle scopes, and we’re aiming to offer laser etched turrets in the near future.
Another excellent option for a long range bench rifle is the Vortex Razor HD Gen2 4.5-27x56 FFP. The Vortex Razor AMG and Gen 2 are staples in the long range community, and are used by many professional competition marksmen. The HD Gen 2 is one of the most rugged scopes on the market, offering excellent light transmission, locking turrets and Vortex’s bulletproof unconditional warranty, all at a price much lower than many of its competitors. Ballistix currently offers our waterproof turret labels for these rifle scopes and will be offering laser etched yardage turrets for these scopes, in the near future.
Unfortunately, there is no one perfect scope for all applications, but these are some exceptional models that stand out in a sea of optic options. As always, if you have any thoughts on this topic, our custom yardage turrets or just want to say hi, feel free to reach out by clicking the contact us link in our page footer.
Everyday Mid-weight Hunting Rifle
For an everyday mid-weight hunting rifle, we like a scope with mid-range power for off-hand shots, a 30mm tube and a 40-45 mill objective lens, which allows for optimal light transmission in low light conditions, without getting too bulky, and a second focal plane reticle. One of our top choices is the Zeiss Conquest V4 4-16x44 with a ZMOA-2 reticle. If you look hard enough, you may be able to find it with an illuminated reticle, even though it is not offered on Zeiss’s website, a few select dealers do have them in stock. Between December 2019 and February 2020, Zeiss Canada (Gentec Intl.) is offering a FREE custom yardage turret with the purchase of any Zeiss V4 or V6 scope, through Ballistix.ca for Canadian customers.
Another excellent choice for an everyday rifle is the Leupold VX-5HD 3-15x44. This scope offers a 30mm tube for excellent light transmission, a variety of reticles, illumination, a CDS turret and Leupold’s lifetime guarantee. Our favorite feature, that sets this scope apart from the competition, is the locking zero-stop turret. You never have to worry about keeping an eye on your turret in case it gets bumped and rotates a few clicks off of its zero.
Lightweight Mountain Hunting Rifle
If you are building a lightweight mountain hunting rifle, we would recommend the Vortex Razor HD LH 3-15x42. This scope offers Vortex best glass, a 1 inch tube, compact design with a 42mm objective lens, and it weighs in at a mere 16oz. This scope is custom yardage turret capable ($50 off or free turret decal with the promo code VTXREWARD at Ballistix.ca) and boasts the best unlimited lifetime warranty on the market, no questions asked!
Another excellent option for a lightweight rifle is the Swarovski Z5 3.5-18x44 with a 4W reticle. This is a 16oz, low profile scope with excellent glass, and is custom turret capable as well. Swarovski offers a BT 3 dot turret, or a fully custom yardage turret as well, but the custom turret comes at a hefty price, directly through Swarovski.
Long Range Bench Rifle
For a long-range bench rifle, we’re very impressed with the Kahles k525i. This scope was designed for tactical and long range shooters. It has a 5-25x magnification, a 34mm tube and a 56mm objective for maximum light transmission, and is made with some of the best glass on the planet! This scope offers innovative design, such as right or left windage dials with twist guard, second revolution indicator, and patented parallax dial under the elevation turret. Ballistix also offers custom yardage decals for these rifle scopes, and we’re aiming to offer laser etched turrets in the near future.
Another excellent option for a long range bench rifle is the Vortex Razor HD Gen2 4.5-27x56 FFP. The Vortex Razor AMG and Gen 2 are staples in the long range community, and are used by many professional competition marksmen. The HD Gen 2 is one of the most rugged scopes on the market, offering excellent light transmission, locking turrets and Vortex’s bulletproof unconditional warranty, all at a price much lower than many of its competitors. Ballistix currently offers our waterproof turret labels for these rifle scopes and will be offering laser etched yardage turrets for these scopes, in the near future.
Unfortunately, there is no one perfect scope for all applications, but these are some exceptional models that stand out in a sea of optic options. As always, if you have any thoughts on this topic, our custom yardage turrets or just want to say hi, feel free to reach out by clicking the contact us link in our page footer.
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