Best Rifle Scope Under 300 in 2018 – Buyer’s Guide

Upgrade Your Rifle With These Impressive Scopes

Riflescopes are sold in lots of place throughout the country, but many have become fond and acquiring them online since there’s oftentimes more available than what could be given at your favorite sports store. Most customers want something that will allow them to make accurate shots but won’t burn too big of a hole in their pockets.

Luckily, there are rifle scopes that cater to such demands, and some even have features that are only seen in those that would cost you the equivalent of a down payment on new automobiles. Below are five of the best scopes under $300. After you’re done reading the reviews, check out more valuable info in the Buyer’s Guide. The last portion shows which two products are picked as the most recommended of them all.

Comparison Table

Take a moment to go over some of the primary specifications of each scope and how well they compare with one another. It’s brief but does cover the field of view and weight. Magnification stays about the same with each but is also dependent on the rifle you’re mounting it on.

Top 5 Of The Best Rifle Scopes Under $300

1. Nikon P-223 – Best Rifle Scope For Wet Conditions

Nikon’s Powerful P-223 is Built For the Outdoors

It’s all black and has a traditional looking shape. There are marks inside of the lenses which will help shield you from ultraviolet light from the sun. This is commonly known as polarized lenses. But don’t worry, it won’t obstruct your view. Some even say polarization brightens the lens visuals when used, even in conditions that have less than favorable light.

This is the scope you want if waterproof and fog proof abilities are important to you. It doesn’t get any better than this. No matter how long you’re out in the field, range, or wilderness, no fog should envelop around the inside. Cold weather is the same, so feel free to take it with you if you live in a region that receives lots of snow during the colder months of the year. And since it’s shockproof, the reaction to recoil or even damage from drops should be minimal.

Know the Crosshairs

But there are a few things that could be improved, as with every product. Upon unboxing, get ready to spend some time adjusting. Of course, this is expected with all scopes but it’s guaranteed that nothing will be set to the standards you need with this one. And the crosshairs are very thin, which could give you issues when attempting to use in darker environments or under rainfall. It’s a little ironic that the crosshairs would be so small, being that the clarity and range are pretty high. You might even increase your long-range accuracy with this.

Overall, the P-223 is a well-made scope that’s well served for all rifle owners. If you like to hunt, you’ll really love how it holds up to changing weather conditions. Field of view is excellent and eye relief views at an exceptional level. Just be sure that you’re okay with the crosshairs above all else. If so, make this product a top choice to add to your collection of weapon accessories.

2. Vortex Optics Crossfire II – Best Rifle Scope Daytime Use

Strong Anti-Glare Technology

The Vortex Optics Crossfire II (or the number 2) is another great piece that’s well made and suggested for anyone that has can’t see perfectly. There are indicators throughout the exterior for the windage knobs and magnification lens. The size is of a large font and one strain your eyes when you need to adjust quickly in between shots.

Crystal Clear Visuals

The clarity remains very well and should help you see most objects clearly at medium range. Longer range is okay but may fuzz up a little when going over 500 yards. And the crosshairs are easy to see this time. They are just the right size but aren’t large enough to block out too much from your field of view. If there are any downers, the subject will go back to the focus at distance ranges again. Things can get pretty sensitive in this situation, so don’t plan on making far away shot easily if you’re planning on getting this scope. But for everything else, it’s safe to say that you’ll be satisfied.

3. Nikon Prostaff 5 BDC – Best Rifle Scope For Focus Adjustments

The Prostaff 5 locks on Target Quickly

Another Nikon product, the Prostaff 5 BDC looks about the same as the last product shown from the manufacturer but there are a few changes this time around. For one, there’s an eyepiece situated on the scope that helps bring on focus very quickly. Doing this will lower the amount of time you spend fumbling to lock on to the target. It’s also very strong against recoil and won’t loosen up quickly. You can place this on most compatible weapons without worry of adjusting the mount when you’ve just finished shooting multiple targets in succession. It also maintains it’s target when you’ve locked on, so if you don’t plan on altering the magnification or focus for most of the time it’s aimed, you’ll appreciate this one a lot.

About the Knobs and Reticles

Improvements could be made to the parallax knob. It feels like it doesn’t belong in the product.

You could find a replacement if you wanted, so if you have had problems with your knobs in the past, consider getting additional pieces or looking at the other products reviewed on the list. And the crosshairs are a little too big this time. While this is left up to what you prefer, anyone that’s accustomed to using thinner crosshairs might feel that this scope blocks their view when aiming at any given target. But if this isn’t of concern to you, try out the Prostaff 5 for its excellent focus.

4. Vortex Diamondback – Best Rifle Scope For Fast Zooming

It’s lightweight, easy to hold, and has a high-quality throw lever in place for fast magnification. For this alone, it’s a useful accessory if you hate using zip ties to keep your fingers from slipping out of zoom when adjusting. And it will stay on target a medium range well, good enough to where nothing should move when you’re preparing for a shot. But visuals will get a little blurry when you’re at a long range. And if you’re the type that shoots in odd positions, the eye relief is poor. You will find yourself spending more time worrying about recoil (hitting your eye) than aiming. But if you don’t plan on taking awkward shots with this scope, it’s a great tool to have lots of different rifles.

5. Leupold VX-2 3-9X40 – Best Rifle Scope For Low Visibility

The VX-2 will Brighten your Sight

The Leupold VX-2 is last but certainly not least.

Range Quality

You can also aim up to 500 yards without any worries of your visuals becoming fuzzy. One problem is the exterior portion of the scope, which doesn’t have any scratch resistance to it. It could become inundated with bruises and bumps over time. While the lenses will work still, the outer aluminum casing may resemble one of your older scopes after a few months of use. Regardless, try out the Leupold if you need one for use in low light settings.

Buyer’s Guide

Scopes might be sold in lots of different places but that doesn’t mean they’re abundant enough to collectively be of good quality. They can sometimes be found in places you may not expect them to be at all. Many are great, but some are subpar. It’s important to know what you’re buying before you order anything. As such, view the information up next so you’ll get a better feel for which type of scope you want.

Cosmetics

Of course, you want a rifle scope that made well, that’s without a doubt. But even with a well-made exterior, you should also look into the lenses and whether or not the scope is waterproof. Some will have water resistance while others come fully protected from the elements. If you do use a scope that doesn’t have some protection against rain and debris, you could end up damaging the lens inside, depending on where you use it.

Another visual feature to check is the rifle’s reticles, also called referred to as crosshairs. These can be different with every scope. Some of them are quite thick and will nearly take up what you can see in the image. But others can very extremely thin, making it hard to see. Those with visual impairments would probably be better off with thicker crosshairs. Most brands (including those reviewed above) will show you a life-size depiction of the reticle shape so that you’ll have a feel for the size before you purchase.

Compatibility with Rifles

Rifles can take lots of different scopes. There’s really nothing that could stop you from placing them on any weapon of your choice. But you should still know your rifle. For example, if you have a light rifle, you should stick to lighter scopes. Adding too much weight to your weapon could hinder your ability to aim properly since the top could have an awkward distribution of weight. But since most of these issues are heavily dependent on personal preference and weapon type, there’s no easy way to determine this without understanding the weapon in question. You probably already know your weight specifications or needs. If not, check with the rifle’s manufacturer to see what works best for your product.

Range

The rifles listed in the reviews section have a range that averages approximately 400 yards. Your weapon quality and range will also have an effect on how far you’ll be able to shoot with the scope. With a decent scope, you may even be able to hit a target at pinpoint accuracy from distances as far as 600 yards. Higher magnification translates into longer range overall, so if you do want something that will take your shot further, be sure to know the limits specified by the brand in question. And don’t forget that scopes with longer ranges tend to be heavier, which means you’ll again want to mount it on a heavier rifle.

Region of Use

Most rifles will hold up well in bad weather but not all carry the same strength to avoid getting damages later in use. You shouldn’t have any issues for the most part but still, find out if the brand lists any recommendations for where the scope would be most effective. For instance, in wet climates, you would be well served to have a scope with a throw lever, which is made to help you zoom on target quickly when the exterior of the scope of the scope of a little wet. You may have been to the range before and seem people using zip ties for this.

Eye Relief

In plain terms, eye relief is the distance that your eyes should be in order for you to see through the scope at full view. Setting up your rifle with this feature is very important in keeping your eyes (and the rest of your face) from hitting the scope. Being too close to the eyepiece may cause injury when your weapon recoils, so make sure to set it at a good distance. Eye relief is also measured by range, so if you need to so see more with good space between yourself and the lens, try to pick a scope that has a longer distance in yardage.

Conclusion

Riflescopes, when cared for properly, could last you a lifetime. Those shown above are proven to be the best in overall user satisfaction and durability. But there are two which stand out a little more than the rest. Nikon P-223 and Crossfire II by Vortex Optics earn high marks for having great range, controls, and weather resistance. However, the rest should definitely be looked into, especially if you want something that has specific attributes that aren’t featured on the top two picks. It’s safe to say that whatever scope you end up with, you won’t regret your purchase one bit.