Introduction
You don’t need me schooling you on how scope can maximize the potential of hunting with a scout rifle. It is pretty obvious. Even in the short-range, a scope is almost always good to take a precision shot than otherwise.
I hope, you get my point. I won’t write at length about the benefits of the scout scope. Rather, I am here to help you buy one for your rifle.
Let us begin.
If you are looking for the best scout scope, and by the best you mean one-fits-all-sizes scope, I am sorry. There is none out there. Otherwise, I would have listed only one product and that’s it.
We are definitely spoilt for choice when it comes to optics. And, to steer clear of bad choices, we must have relevant knowledge and valuable insights about them. Also, we need a small pool of top-notch products, as we have neither the time nor the will to assess all of them.
I will provide you both in this article and will do so out of my passion for scopes.
Product Comparison
Product Reviews
Leupold FX-II Scout 2.5x28mm Duplex
- Leupold Model #58810 - FX-II Scout 2. 5x28mm with Duplex reticle and Matte finish
- 100% Waterproof, fogproof, shockproof, and backed by Leupold's lifetime
- Twilight Max Light Management System - Adds up to 20 extra minutes of shooting light and reduces glare for premium edge-to-edge image quality
- Lightweight Design - Disperses recoil energy for unrivaled durability and performance with ultra-lightweight construction
- Provides just the right eye relief for scout style rifles
This long eye-relief scope is specially made for the scout and lever-action rifles. It checks all boxes of key parameters that I discussed earlier. The two most striking one of these is Twilight Max Light Management System and BDC Duplex reticle.
Twilight Max Light Management system is a patent technology of the Leupold that is responsible for projecting a clear picture in all light conditions, and especially in low light. The BDC Duplex Reticle has cross-hairs that are thick at the edges and tappers to become extremely thin at the center. The BDC or Bullet Drop Compensation is not of much help, as with 5x magnification the rifle could only shoot a maximum of a 100-yard away target. Finally, I would like to mention the sturdiness of this scope. It is water, shock and dustproof and is made up of light, yet pretty tough, material. All these factors contribute to the long life of the scope
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- Magnification Range: 5x
- Duplex Reticle
- Lightweight yet tough
- 100% Waterproof, fogproof, shockproof
- Lightweight
- Durable
- Sophisticated
AIM SPORTS 2-7X 42 30mm Scout Scope
- 2-7X42 30mm long eye relief scout scope
- Magnification is 2X-7X
- Tube diameter is 30 mm
- Objective is 42 mm
- Length is 11.25"
The affordable price isn’t the only advantage of this scope. Rather, it has all the qualities to be fit for a scout rifle except for the length which is pretty large for it.
To start with, the scope can be adjusted to different magnification power ranging between 2x and 7x. With this range, you can shoot a max of 150 yards away target with a satisfactory level of precision. Secondly, a 42-inch objective lens project a crisp and clear image that is on the same level as that of several premium scopes.
However, the large objective lens has a major drawback: it increases the weight of the scope which is highly undesirable as far as the scout scopes are concerned. Last but not least, it comes with ring mounts which when tightly adjusted on the top of the rifle keep hold of zero for a long time during recoil. However, they are not the best ones in the market. The rail mounts are much more superior to ring alternatives, and you can certainly buy a separate pair with the scope if you need your scope to snug fit on the rifle.
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- Adjustable Magnification
- Affordable
- Includes mount
- A little heavy
Burris Scout Riflescope
- Burris 200269 Scout Riflescope
- 2.75x20mm, heavy plex, matte, 1 inch
- Tube, free at 100 yds. This product is manufactured in United States
There is not much to talk about the magnification of the rifle. The 2.75x power works fine for the target under 100 yards, but if I were to tell you truth, magnification power is not the most exciting feature of this rifle.
If we come to the strength, the rifle has surely an impressive feature to show. It is made up of aircraft-grade aluminum which, as I explained in the buying guide, is the gold standard. Not only lightweight, but it is also one of the toughest materials which are used in making scope.
Moreover, this scope is specially made for scout rifles. The long eye-relief and large field of view coupled with the Duplex Reticle of the scope can validate this claim. It can acquire targets pretty fast and allow for high situational awareness.
The scope works fine in bright light with its anti-glare lens providing a pretty sharp image to the users. Whereas, the situation is absolute opposite in low light in which the performance is this scope is downright abysmal.
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- Durable
- Backed by warranty
- Quick target acquisition
- Poor low-light performance
Nikon Force XR 2.5-8x28 EER Matte with BDC
- This scope is built for handguns not rifles
- Long Eye Relief
- Will hold up to the strongest recoil (field tested against the Sand W 500)
- Ultra Clear Coat Optical System providing up to 95-Percent light transmission
- Waterproof, Fog proof and Shockproof
Although this scope can comfortably be used for a scout rifle, it is designed for the short guns. I have added this product partially due to the immense popularity of Nikon and partially due to all fact that it meets all the essential requirements of a scout scope.
It is made up of high-strength polymer so the weight will not be an issue. Plus, its long eye-relief and BDC reticle are both ideal for the scout rifle. If that has not been enough, the scope can have an adjustable magnification power, so you can use it for a variety of purposes: hunting, target shooting and pickling.
Few companies can meet the standards of Nikon when it comes to lens quality. The fully multi-coated lens is the gold standard, for they maximize the light transmission across the scope. Furthermore, the scope is Nitrogen-purged and O-ring sealed to make it Waterproof, Fog proof and Shockproof. Except for the compatibility, nothing can go wrong with this scope.
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- Durable
- High-quality lens
- Sophisticated Design
- Made for short guns, not rifles.
Vortex Optics Crossfire II 2-7×32 Scout, V-Plex Reticle
- The 2-7x32 Crossfire II Scout Riflescope is perfect for Use on your Scout rifle, The V-Plex reticle is a popular all-purpose hunting reticle intended for a wide variety of hunting applications
- With 9. 45" of eye relief and an ultra-forgiving eye box, you'll be able to quickly get a sight picture and acquire your target, The fast focus eyepiece allows quick and easy reticle focusing
- Anti-reflective, fully multi-coated lenses provide bright and clear views for the user
- Capped reset turrets are finger adjustable with MOA clicks that can be reset to zero after sighting in
- A single piece tube constructed from aircraft grade aluminum ensures strength and shockproof performance, O-ring sealed and Nitrogen purged, the Crossfire II delivers waterproof and Fog proof performance
This affordable scope is a little bit controversial owing to the fact both its advantages and drawbacks are pronounced.
Like all scout scopes, it allows for a long eye-relief and a relatively large field of view, coupled with the company’s patented V-plex reticle which is quite similar in performance to a standard Duplex reticle. The magnification power is adjustable and can be increased to 7x. However, at high magnification, the image blurs due to chromatic aberration—a major con in this scope.
Although its lens quality is up-to-par with other top-notch scopes, the performance of the scope really suffers in low light conditions. In the full light, the high-quality lens provides high transmission of light with an anti-glare effect thanks to fully multi-coated layers. The image quality of the lens is far beyond satisfactory: the image has the right balance of brightness, hue, and contrast. Lastly, the only feature that can be overlooked is the life-time warranty with the scope which makes a serious case for this scope.
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- Reasonably Priced
- Backed by warranty
- Adjustable magnification
High-quality lens
- Chromatic aberration at high magnification
Bushnell Trophy Scout Rifle Scope with Multi-X Reticle
- Fully multi-coated optics and rain guard HD offer 91% light transmission in any weather
- 100% waterproof, Fog proof and shockproof 1 inch one-piece tube construction with integrated saddle
- 2-7X magnification with multi-x reticle and 7.9 inch eye relief
- Fast-focus eyepiece and 1/4 MOA fingertip windage and elevation adjustments
- Backed by Bushnell no Questions Asked Lifetime Warranty
This scope is essentially a budget scope that has unfortunately compromised on certain key aspects in order to perform really well in others. Don’t get the point? Well, you will in a moment.
The scope has strictly followed the requirements of a scout scope: it has a low magnification power, is light in weight and has extended eye relief. Furthermore, the magnification is adjustable so you can use the rifle for both hunting and target shooting.
As far as the quality of the lens is concerned, the company did a pretty good job. All the lens are fully multicoated so you will get the most of light transmission, 91 percent to be exact. Also, there will be little difference in the performance of scope in low light conditions and even in humid condition thank HD rain guard coating. It is shockproof and fog proof due primarily to the nitrogen purging.
In addition to that, the scope allows for windage and elevation adjustment via capped turrets. The adjustments can be easily made using fingers. In the end, I would like to mention the most subpar feature of the scope—construction material. It is not appropriate for the rugged usage which is basically how a scout rifle is used. But then, there is no-question asked lifetime warranty on its back which really makes it a tempting choice for tight-budget users.
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- Adjustable magnification
- High-quality lens
- Backed by warranty
- Cheap manufacturing material
Burris Ballistic Plex Scout Scope
- Adjustment System is steel on steel; repeatable; with audible clicks
- Double internal spring force
- Posi-lock is a coil-spring Assisted Retractable steel post that firmly and & securely locks accuracy into place
- Fog, water and shockproof
- Ultra-fast target acquisition with both eyes open
I have also enlisted a similar scope by the same company earlier and if a comparison is drawn between the two, the Burris Ballistic Plex scope is far superior.
A lot of its features are in accord with the requirements of a scout rifle. For instance, it has a long eye relief to give you more situational awareness and a low powered magnification in line with the range of the cartridge. The magnification is adjustable to extend the maneuverability of the rifle.
One feature that you will hardly find in other scopes is the posi-lock screw which, in the laymen term, can fairly easily hold the zero for heavy recoils and for multiple rounds. All the turrets are of high-quality stainless steel and can be finger adjusted.
The scope is featuring a multi-coated lens which despite projecting an excellent image are no match for a fully multicoated alternative. The scope’s tube is nitrogen purged, multiple times, with each nitrogen cycle absorbing airborne and residual surface moisture and evacuating it from the scope to make it recoil, water and fog-proof.
Finally, there is a Transferable Lifetime Warranty to hold your back if something goes wrong with the scope.
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- Backed by warranty
- High-quality lens
- Durable
- Performance suffers in low light
Redfield Revolution Scout Scope
- Versatile 2x-7x magnification range has you covered in almost all situations
- Excellent light transmission due to outstanding lens quality, especially for "colder" colors that dominate the critical time near dusk and dawn
- Fully waterproof and shockproof for reliable use out in the field
- 65 MOA of windage and elevation adjustment; 1/4 MOA per click
Before we move on to the certain run-of-the-mill feature that every single scout scope has, let us discuss the most striking feature of Redfield Revolution Scout Scope: Accu-Range Reticle.
This reticle is a little different from the classic Duplex Reticle design with a small center in the middle and a single dot between the lower edge of this circle and the top of the bottom post. This offers a number of possible aiming points along the vertical wire that can also be used to compensate for bullet drop.
Another prominent feature of the scope is the supreme light transmission of the lens which remains unaltered even in low light condition: time near dusk and dawn. You will definitely be at advantage with this scope as it will buy you extra 20-25 minutes while hunting at early morning and late evening.
Like other standard scout scopes, this one is also passed through a variety of tests to check its resistance to water, dust, and shock before finally reaching the market.
Last but not least, the Redfield Revolution is offering lifetime warranty with this scope which given its low standard on toughness is something to rely on.
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- Adjustable Magnification
- Excellent light transmission
- Backed By warranty
- Falls short of toughness criteria
Brand matters. It is simply easier to trust a time-tested brand than a new-comer in the market no matter what edge it has in terms of technology.
In our case, Nikon Force XR Scope has both the brand popularity and technological edge on its side. It can be magnified to 8x, has long eye relief and a BDC reticle. When it comes to the lens, this scope is second to none. It is light-weight and highly durable which, along with the features discussed, makes it an ideal choice for the scout rifle.
The only major downside is the price of the scope, which is a little higher than the other scopes and is might off the limit for the buyers with a tight budget.
Buying Guide
What to look for in a Scout scope?
As a rule of thumb, you should be looking for three key parameters in a scout scope: weight, magnification, and durability. While weight and magnification can be measured directly, durability is a byproduct of the material used in the scope’s construction. The stronger the material, the durable is the scope.
Forgive me for not explaining the above parameters in detail. The purpose was to give you a general idea about what parameters to especially look into while buying a scout scope. So, without further ado, let’s delve deeper into the key parameters.
Durability
A scout rifle is made to go through a lot of abuse. Therefore, a fragile scope is a highly incompatible choice for it.
Durability is one of the foremost criteria to be met, and you can ensure it by assessing the construction of the scope. The scope made up of Aircraft-grade aluminum is gold-standard in this respect. Plus, it is always better when the scope is shock, water and dustproof.
To keep you further on the safe side, I would recommend buying only those scope which has a warranty and a hallowed brand name on their back.
Weight
Scout rifle is a light-weight fire-arm. Furthermore, its scope is mounted on the front. You should, therefore, be extremely cautious of the weight of the scope. As the rifle is often carried along by hunters on foot, and for a considerably long time and distance, a Light-weight scope is the most desirable choice.
A light scope keeps the overall weight of the rifle to the minimum: it does not take away a critical advantage of the rifle—portability. Plus, it does not imbalance the forward-mounted rifle: a major nuisance with the heavy scope while taking shots.
Magnification
You don’t need a scope with high magnification power for a scout rifle. It would definitely be a waste, given the range of the cartridge.
I would recommend buying any scope with a magnification power between 3x and 9x depending upon the need for the gun. For pro users, it is quite obvious that with 9x magnification you can shoot a target about 450 yards away which is, in fact, the maximum range of the rifle.
Lens Coating
I have already mentioned earlier that the scope, and by that, I meant lens, should be water and scratch-resistant. It can be achieved by coating the lens of the scope.
There are four types of lens and the best among them is fully multi-coated ones. The rest, in the order of performance from ordinary to supreme, includes coated, fully coated and multicoated lenses.
Eye Relief
For a scout rifle, the eye relief of the scope should be particularly long to not defeat the practical purpose of the rifle: high situational awareness and quick aiming at targets.
A generous eye relief means that that you can take aim with both eyes open, thus will have high situational awareness. Also, you won’t have to eye into the ocular to take the aim, thus maximizing efficiency in target acquisition.
Reticle
The scout rifle is way out of the league of the long-range rifles. It is at best a multipurpose fire-arm which can be used for hunting, self-defense and target shooting at a modest distance. For that reason, a BDC (Bullet Drop Compensator) reticle scope should not your top priority.
One important consideration should be the thickness of the cross-hairs. Since the scout scope is mounted forward with relatively longer eye-relief, it will be quite difficult to use if you happen to buy one with thin cross-hairs.
Mount
You should always go for the scope which comes with the mount in the deal.
The type of mount is really important and the decision to choose one is as important as buying the scope itself. The detachable mounts are quite easy to set up, but they are also quite quick to lose zero. The fixed mount, be it ring or the rail, is a preferable option for scout scopes.
