Best Rifle Scopes

The performance of your rifle scope can make a substantial difference, so it’s not an area you can skimp on when it comes to hunting. But when shopping, it’s easy to run into foreign-made products that don’t give the level of quality necessary to make a reliable and accurate rifle scope. To help you find the best of the best, we did the research to find the best rifle scopes made in the USA. Below are our findings.

Our Findings

Overall, we found 4 manufacturers who are making good rifle scopes here in the USA, but the problem is that none of them get 100% of their materials locally. However, the products we really like below are all made in the USA and have over 70% of their materials sourced here, so we felt comfortable including them.

We know that not everyone has the same needs when it comes to picking out a rifle scope, so we’ve divided our choices into six major categories with different specializations: long range, tactical, fixed power, muzzleloaders, short range, and Malcolm style!

Top Recommendations

Recommendations: Going Deeper

Below are tons of additional details on each of our top picks – features, what we liked, what we didn’t like, and where to get them. Be sure to check out our guides on the best hunting bows made in the USA, American made tree stands, and gun safes made in the USA as well.

Best Long Range Rifle Scope

Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25x56mm Riflescope

Starting our list is the Leupold Mark 5HD, which has an impressive range of applications. We found that the 5-25x magnification capabilities make an excellent choice for anyone that does long-range shooting – especially if you want high levels of accuracy and precision. This rifle scope goes above and beyond what you might ever really need while hunting, and that’s part of what makes it so appealing. Competition shooters can also get some excellent use out of the specs. Between the hyper-specific adjustment levels and the ability to see even in low light conditions, the Leupold 5HD is a definite winner. Just be aware that the enhanced ability on this scope comes with a hefty price tag that, while not the most expensive piece of equipment on the market, it certainly isn’t cheap by any means.

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Things we like:

• Clear image quality in low light
• Increased adjustment range
• 1/10 MIL adjustments
• High power

Things we don’t like:

• A pricey option

Best Tactical Rifle Scope

Trijicon VCOG 1-6×24 Riflescope Ballistic Reticle

Not all rifle scopes are suitable for use in both long-distance and close quarters shooting, but that’s we chose Trijicon’s VCOG 1-6×24 scope as our top tactical pick. No matter what magnification level you use, you’ll find that you have clear sight. Aside from the design of the scope doing the job, the brightness settings also help you adjust to your conditions. While there’s the risk of high-powered scopes being complex, the Trijicon’s VCOG 1-6×24’s ease of use impressed us. When you go to mount it to your gun, the process goes by quickly without sacrificing security and adjusting the settings as you need them is much the same. The durable materials also ensure this scope with last getting put through the paces. That durability is excellent because this rifle scope is another one with an expensive price tag. And while you’re paying for the quality you get, the lack of any lens covers with the project is a bit of a letdown considering how stellar everything else in the package is.

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Things we like:

• Six brightness settings
• Shoots well at both long range and close targets
• Easy to mount and setup
• Clear sight on all magnification levels

Things we don’t like:

• High price tag
• Doesn’t come with any lens covers

Best Fixed Power Rifle Scope

Trijicon ACOG 4×32 Scope

Since Trijicon gave us our best scope for tactical rifles, it’s not surprising that this brand has made another rifle scope that makes it onto our list, this time as the best choice for fixed power rifles. One of the most standout features on this product is the battery-free illuminated reticle, which is perfect when you don’t want to worry about your battery power dying in the middle of a critical shot. Of course, that alone isn’t enough to make this scope stand out. We’re also a fan of the multiple available reticles, which allow you to make a setup that perfectly matches your sight needs between closer and longer range sights. Just like the VCOG 1-6×24, this scope also has impressive durability that’s reliable. While this rifle scope is overall stellar, the short eye relief of only 1.5 inches can be tough on your eyes and give you issues with reacquiring targets.

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Things we like:

• Durable build
• Multiple available reticles
• Don’t require a battery

Things we don’t like:

• Short eye relief

Best Muzzleloader Scope

Leupold VX-Freedom Muzzleloader 3-9x40mm Scope

Another brand to repeat on our list is Leupold, this time with their entry-level VX-Freedom model. While the other scopes that we’ve recommended so far are all worth the investment, this product gives you a much more affordable price point without having to sacrifice in the realm of quality. We found that the VX-Freedom lives up to what you’d expect from the Leupold name. Within this scope’s range, you can count on clear sight when using all its setting. Additionally, the scratch-resistant lenses and glare preventing coatings will prevent any unfortunate marks that will get in your way, and the eye relief is decently sized to give comfort and clear vision at all times. Customer service for this brand is also dependable. As you may have guessed since this scope is our top pick for muzzleloaders, you’re not going to get the same long-distance sight range as you can from some other options on our list. But for the situations it’s suitable, the VX-Freedom delivers.

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Things we like:

• Affordable price
• Clear sight
• High-quality entry level scope
• Scratch-resistant lenses

Things we don’t like:

• The shorter range not suitable for all situations

Best Short Range Rifle Scope

U.S. Optics TS-6X

We know that not everyone needs long-range performance from their scopes, so a quality short range model was part of our priorities for this guide – and we found the winner in U.S. Optics’ TS-6X model. U.S. Optics may not get as much attention as they once did, but this company can still make a reliable scope that can serve both hunters and competitive shooters. We like the night vision compatible settings for handling different lighting conditions, and the five-hundred-hour battery life for the reticles gives you plenty of use without needing to worry about constantly recharging. The included lens caps are also the perfect addition for when it comes to storing your scope while on the go. Unfortunately, this rifle scope is a little bit heavier than what you’ll find on average. We think this is a fair trade-off for its performance, but it’s something you need to stay prepared for when you first attach it to your firearm so that it doesn’t throw you off guard.

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Things we like:

• Night range compatible settings
• Comes with lens caps
• 500-hour battery life
• Suited for both competitive shooters and hunters alike

Things we don’t like:

• Somewhat heavy

Best Malcolm Style Scope

D.Z. Arms 8x Scopes 20″ long OAL

To round out our list, we’ve chosen D.Z. Arms’ 8x scope to represent the Malcolm style category. While resembling the older-styles, this product still performs as a top contender in modern expectations, which D.Z. Arms was shooting for all along. “The Hepburn built its reputation on accuracy and won numerous international Creedmoor long-range Black Powder matches,” says Dan Zimmerman from D.Z. Arms, who we had the pleasure of chatting with over email. Everything you could want to adjust does so quickly and without any issues, making it easy to get a clear view of your target. We were also fans of the size of the crosshairs; while you want them to be visible so you can aim accurately, you also don’t want them too large to be distracting, and D.Z. Arms knows how to hit that balance. For those who need the complete mounting package, you can purchase them all in one set, and there are even left-handed rear mounts you can select if you need them. As a result, picking up the total package can be more expensive than other options out there, but we still think the deal is worth it, especially if you want a scope to match the style of your rifle.

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Things we like:

• Comes in a scope-ready package
• Left-handed rear mounts are available
• Simple adjustments
• Crosshairs strike a right balance in size

Things we don’t like:

• Higher price

Recap: Best Rifle Scopes Made in the USA

• Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25x56mm Riflescope – Long Range
• Trijicon VCOG 1-6×24 Riflescope Ballistic Reticle – Tactical
• Trijicon ACOG 4×32 Scope – Fixed Power
• Leupold VX-Freedom Muzzleloader 3-9x40mm Scope – Muzzleloader
• U.S. Optics TS-6X – Short Range
• D.Z. Arms 8x Scopes 20″ long OAL – Malcolm Style

Factors We Considered

Construction

The construction of the scope has an impact on its performance, but you need to consider the right balance. The size of the main tube will impact the range of adjustment, with larger areas allowing for more components. However, with more significant housing comes the need for unique mounting rings, which can potentially be expensive.

Our picks include a variety of sizes to let you get the best fit for your needs. Additionally, we looked for scopes that are shockproof, waterproof, and have argon or nitrogen purging to keep fogging from the lens from fogging.

Magnification Range

Different types of rifles can shoot different distances, and a high-quality scope will be able to zoom appropriately. We took into consideration the zoom ratio of our top picks, especially for the various categories so that it’s simple to see the distance you need to best hunt in your area of choice.

Eye Relief

Without the proper length of eye relief on a scope, you run the risk of injuring yourself from the recoil of firing. When researching our products, we made sure the eye relief matched up with the best need for their niche firearms, so you don’t have to worry about accidents as you aim.

Turrets and Adjustments

When using a scope, you want to make adjustments accurately and without much effort to give you the best view as quickly as possible. And while part of that comes from practice, the other part is how well the scope handles this aspect. We looked at our picks to make sure they provide a near seamless experience that holds up in all conditions!