www.GunsandOptics.com Tactical & Hunting Gear Review
Buying a budget deer hunting scope (i.e., under $500) can be a tad bit tricky. For starters, there are hundreds of options to leave you confused. Plus, as a newbie hunter, you might not know of the basics to check in a quality scope.
Contrary to what many would like to think, never invest in cheap scopes only because you’ve spent a lot on the rifle. You see, good glass is an integral part of a quality scope. There’s a great deal of engineering there, ensuring you get a parallax-free image. That sure doesn’t come cheap.
Fret not! In this post, we mull over five budget deer hunting scopes high on performance and worth every penny.
Read on!
Vortex Diamondback 4-12×40
The Vortex Diamondback is the first budget rifle scope on our list, and rightly so. Made from one-piece aircraft-grade aluminum alloy, this little buddy is a mighty one. Solid build, highly resistant to magnum recoil, and fog and waterproof, sharp images, this one doesn’t look and perform like it’s under $500.
Weighing 14.6 ounces, this hunting scope is moderately lightweight. It sports a second plane deadhold BDC reticle and offers a 100-yard parallax. The capped turrets are tuned to a default .25 MOA. The turret tracking is spot on and will be appreciated by all newbie hunters.
However, as most budget deer hunting scopes, it struggles under low light, and the reticle could use a few more definitions. Honestly, this is nitpicking at the price it comes. Not to forget Vortex’s excellent customer service and lifetime warranty that will give other budget scopes a run for the money.
Who is it for: Anyone who’s a new hunter looking to explore into medium and long range shooting for the first time using a target style scope.
Price: $299.99
Leupold VX-3HD CDS-ZL 3.5-10×40
One of the leading hunting gear makers, Leupold’s VX-3HD is a successor to the VX-3i. A compact and lightweight budget scope, the Leupold VX-3HD CDS-ZL has a 1-inch main body tube that promises effortless mounting. Made of 6061-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum, the tube is sealed with an Argon/Krypton gas blend, offering excellent protection against fog and rain. With 4.5x magnification at the low end and another 14x magnification at the high end, this scope strikes the right balance for close and long-range shots.
This budget hunting scope comes with a coupon that can be redeemed for a custom elevation turret (Custom Dial System Zero Lock) to match your preferred hunting load. All you need to do is install the custom dial, range the target, and then turn the dial to the specific number and shoot away. The zero-lock system also does away with accidental movements on the dial. There’s also the Twilight Max Light Management System with blackened lens edges to offer high-definition images seamlessly across dusk and dawn.
Who is it for: Anyone who prefers a wide range of magnification and objective sizes.
Price: Starts at $399.99
Sig Sauer Buckmasters 3-9×40 scope
If you live in North America, there’s a good chance you’ve heard about Buckmasters. They are a pioneer deer hunting organization known for their dedication to wildlife management and the prevention of deer hunting as a pastime. Buckmasters founder and CEO Jackie Bushman inspired the Sig Sauer scopes.
One of the standout features of the Sig Sauer Buckmasters 3-9×40 has to be the custom Bullet Drop Compensation Reticle that comes with holdover dots for 500 yards. Sig Sauers scopes are known for their accuracy and fast ranging, and this model is certainly no different with a bright red highly illuminated display. It also features Buckmaster mode, equipped with eight onboard ballistic groups.
Who is it for: Any newbie hunter who wants top notch clarity and smooth controls on a budget hunting scope.
Price: $199.99
Vortex Optics Crossfire II
Are you looking for a no-frills, entry-level rifle scope under $500? The Vortex Crossfire II is what you need.
This budget scope is readily available with the Vortex Dead-Hold BDC reticle and has an MOA ranging from 1.5-8. It comes pre-filled with nitrogen, which makes it fog and water-resistant. The multi-coated lens allows effective light transmission and promises unmatched clarity under changing light conditions. Like every other Vortex rifle scopes, this one, too, comes with the company’s winning lifetime warranty.
Who is it for: Anyone who has a lever action rifle and wants to get his hands on a great glass that also promises good eye relief.
Price: $129.99
Burris Signature HD Rifle Scope
Even though this list features scopes under $500, this one’s priced slightly above. Nevertheless, given its promising specs as an entry-level hunting scope, it’s worth including.
The Burris Signature HD rifle scope comes with fully coated glass, push-pull turrets, quality micro-adjustments, and secure locking to keep it safe from accidents during transport. Plus, some selected models of the Burris Signature series promise a super quick return to zero, along with side parallax adjustment to lock your target in just any shooting position. Like other scopes on this list, the Burris Signature HD can seamlessly withstand moderate to heavy shocks, fog, and downpours. The company also has a” no questions asked” lifetime warranty, which is always a plus.
Who is it for: Anyone who prefers a premium-looking product with stand out features, like this one with illuminated reticles/
Price: Starts at $519.99
Closing Thoughts
So, there you go with our top 5 choices for budget deer hunting scopes. Clarity, performance, reliability, the rifle scopes mentioned in this list check all boxes. If you are someone who’s got a taste of deer hunting only recently, you can pick anyone from this list.
Which one would you like to pick from the list? Let’s hang out in the comments below and share your thoughts.
