When it comes to long-range shooting, having the right rifle scope can make all the difference. The Best Rifle Scopes for 1000 Yards offer exceptional clarity, precision, and durability. From high magnification levels to advanced reticle designs, these scopes are designed to help you hit your target with pinpoint accuracy. In this article, we’ll explore some of the top rifle scopes on the market, helping you find the perfect optic for your long-range shooting needs.
What Magnification Do I Need for 1000 Yards?
For shooting at 1000 yards, the recommended magnification range is typically between 16x and 25x, although this can vary depending on factors like target size and atmospheric conditions. A scope with a magnification of 16x to 20x is often sufficient for most shooters to effectively engage targets at this distance, providing enough detail to make precise shots while still allowing for a wide field of view to track targets and observe the surrounding area.
What is The Minimum Scope for 1000 Yards?
While a scope with a 10x magnification can theoretically allow for 100-yard target engagement, it may not provide enough detail for precise shots at 1000 yards. A scope with at least 16x to 20x magnification is generally recommended for consistent and accurate shooting at 1000 yards, as it allows for better target identification and adjustment for factors like windage and elevation.
How To Choose The Best Rifle Scopes for 1000 Yards
Choosing the best rifle scope for shooting at 1000 yards requires careful consideration of several key factors Here are some important considerations to keep in mind:
- Adjustment Turrets: Look for scopes with exposed, tactical-style turrets that provide audible and tactile clicks for easy and precise adjustments. The turrets should also be reliable and repeatable, allowing you to return to zero after making adjustments.
- Durability: Since shooting at 1000 yards often involves rugged conditions, choose a scope that is built to withstand shock, recoil, and harsh weather conditions.
- Optical Quality: Look for scopes with high-quality, fully multi-coated lenses that provide excellent light transmission and clarity. This is essential for sharp, clear images at long distances.
- Budget: Set a budget based on your needs and requirements, and look for scopes that offer the best features and performance within your budget range.
- Magnification: Look for scopes with high magnification levels, typically starting from 10x and going up to 25x or more. This level of magnification is necessary to see targets at long distances.
Best Rifle Scopes for 1000 Yards
1) Vortex Viper PST 6-24x50mm Riflescope
The Vortex Viper PST 6-24x50mm riflescope is a high-performance optic designed for precision shooting and long-range hunting.
It features a versatile magnification range from 6x to 24x, thus allowing shooters to easily transition between close and long-range targets.
One of the key features of the Viper PST is its precision-machined, single-piece aircraft-grade aluminum tube, which provides a rugged and durable platform that can withstand heavy recoil and rough handling.
Also has an O-ring sealed and nitrogen purged, making it waterproof, fogproof, and shockproof, ensuring reliable performance in any environment.
With a high-quality glass etched reticle, it allows for detailed holdovers and ranging. The reticle is illuminated, with adjustable brightness settings, making it ideal for low-light conditions.
Specifications
- Magnification: 6-24x
- Objective Lens Diameter: 50mm
- Eye Relief: 4 inches
- Field of View: 17.8-5.1 feet/100 yards
- Tube Size: 30mm
- Turret Style: Tactical
- Adjustment Graduation: 1/4 MOA
- Max Elevation Adjustment: 65 MOA
- Max Windage Adjustment: 65 MOA
- Parallax Setting: 50 yards to infinity
- Length: 15.5 inches
- Weight: 23.4 ounces
Pros
- Has sharp and clear images even at high magnifications.
- Durability
- Versatility magnification range
- Warranty: Vortex offers a lifetime warranty on their products, providing peace of mind to the buyer.
Cons
- At 23.4 ounces, the Viper PST is relatively heavy, which may be a concern for shooters looking to minimize the weight of their rifle setup
2) Vortex Strike Eagle 4-24×50 Rifle Scope
The Vortex Strike Eagle 4-24×50 Rifle Scope is a versatile and high-performance optic designed for long-range shooting and hunting.
Features a magnification range from 4x to 24x, allowing for precise target acquisition at various distances. The 50mm objective lens ensures excellent light transmission, resulting in bright and clear images even in low-light conditions.
Has a fast-focus eyepiece that allows for quick and easy reticle focusing, ensuring you can acquire your target rapidly. The illuminated reticle is ideal for low-light shooting, providing better visibility of your aiming point.
Constructed from a single piece of aircraft-grade aluminum, the Vortex Strike Eagle is incredibly durable and can withstand heavy recoil.
It is also nitrogen-purged and O-ring sealed, making it waterproof, fog-proof, and shockproof, ensuring it performs reliably in any environment.
Specifications
- Magnification: 4-24x
- Objective Lens Diameter: 50mm
- Eye Relief: 3.5 inches
- Field of View: 26.2-4.3 feet/100 yards
- Tube Size: 30mm
- Turret Style: Tactical, exposed
- Adjustment Graduation: 1/4 MOA
- Travel per Rotation: 15 MOA
- Max Elevation Adjustment: 85 MOA
- Max Windage Adjustment: 85 MOA
- Parallax Setting: 20 yards to infinity
- Length: 14.6 inches
- Weight: 25.6 ounces
Pros
- Versatile magnification range of 4-24x, suitable for various shooting distances and applications.
- Large 50mm objective lens for excellent light transmission and bright, clear images.
- Illuminated reticle with holdover points for easier long-range shooting and better visibility in low-light conditions.
- Durable construction
- Tactical, exposed turrets for easy and quick adjustments in the field.
- Good eye relief of 3.5 inches for comfortable shooting.
- Vortex’s lifetime warranty, ensuring the scope’s durability and quality
Cons
- Some users may find the scope’s weight (25.6 ounces) to be on the heavier side, especially for long hunting trips or extended shooting sessions.
3) Vortex Viper PST Gen II 5-25x50mm Rifle Scope
The Vortex Viper PST Gen II 5-25x50mm rifle scope is a high-performance optic designed for long-range shooting and tactical applications.
It features a 30mm tube, which provides increased strength and durability, ensuring it can withstand the rigors of heavy recoil and harsh environments.
Has a first focal plane reticle which allows for accurate ranging and holdover corrections at any magnification setting, making it ideal for precision shooting.
With a magnification range of 5x to 25x, the scope offers a wide field of view at lower magnifications for quick target acquisition and a high level of magnification for precise, long-range shots.
Also has tactical turrets with audible and tactile clicks, allowing for easy and precise adjustments to windage and elevation. The scope is also equipped with a side parallax adjustment knob, which helps eliminate parallax and ensures the reticle remains focused on the target at different distances.
Specifications
- Magnification: 5-25x
- Objective Lens Diameter: 50mm
- Tube Diameter: 30mm
- Eye Relief: 3.4 inches
- Field of View: 24.1-4.8 feet/100 yards
- Turret Style: Tactical, RZR Zero Stop
- Reticle: EBR-2C MRAD illuminated
- Length: 15.79 inches
- Weight: 31.2 ounces
- Adjustment Graduation: 0.1 MRAD
- Max Windage Adjustment: 10 MRAD
- Max Elevation Adjustment: 20 MRAD
- Parallax Setting: 25 yards to infinity
Pros
- Optical Performance
- First Focal Plane Reticle
- Durable Construction
- Tactical Turrets
- Wide Magnification Range
- Waterproof, Fog-proof, and Shockproof
Cons
- Weight: At 31.2 ounces, the scope is on the heavier side, which may be a concern for some shooters, especially those looking to keep their setup lightweight.
4) Leupold VX-5HD 3-15x44mm Rifle Scope
The Leupold VX-5HD 3-15x44mm rifle scope is a premium optic designed for a wide range of shooting applications.
With a magnification range of 3x to 15x, it offers versatility for close to mid-range shooting, making it suitable for hunting and target shooting.
The 44mm objective lens provides excellent light transmission, ensuring bright and clear images even in low-light conditions. The Twilight Max HD Light Management System further enhances image quality by minimizing glare and maximizing contrast in low-light situations.
Also utilizes a second focal plane (SFP) reticle, which means the reticle size remains constant relative to the target at all magnification levels.
This feature is advantageous for shooters who prefer a non-changing reticle size for quick and consistent target acquisition. The scope’s Twilight Max HD Light Management System further enhances image quality by minimizing glare and maximizing contrast in low-light situations.
Specifications
- Magnification: 3-15x
- Objective Lens Diameter: 44mm
- Tube Diameter: 30mm
- Eye Relief: 3.7-3.82 inches
- Field of View: 38.3-7.7 feet/100 yards
- Turret Style: CDS-ZL2 (ZeroLock 2) elevation dial, capped windage dial
- Reticle: Multiple reticle options available
- Length: 13.53 inches
- Weight: 19.2 ounces
- Adjustment Graduation: 1/4 MOA
- Max Windage Adjustment: 75 MOA
- Max Elevation Adjustment: 75 MOA
- Parallax Setting: Side focus, 75 yards to infinity
Pros
- Optical Clarity
- Versatile Magnification
- Custom Dial System (CDS)
- Second Focal Plane Reticle
Cons
- None
5) Primary Arms SLX 4-14x44mm Riflescopes
The Primary Arms SLX 4-14x44mm First Focal Plane Riflescope is a versatile optic designed for a variety of shooting applications.
Has a magnification range of 4x to 14x, and this scope offers flexibility for close to mid-range shooting, making it suitable for hunting, target shooting, and tactical use.
One of the key features of the scopes is its first focal plane (FFP) reticle, which means the reticle size changes relative to the target as the magnification is adjusted. This feature allows for accurate ranging, holdover, and windage corrections at any magnification setting, enhancing the scope’s usability for long-range shooting.
Features tactical turrets with audible and tactile clicks, thus allowing for easy and precise adjustments to windage and elevation. The turrets are also resettable to zero, making it easy to return to your original zero after making adjustments.
Constructed from a single piece of aircraft-grade aluminum, the Primary Arms SLX scope is rugged and durable, able to withstand heavy use in demanding conditions.
Specifications
- Magnification: 4-14x
- Objective Lens Diameter: 44mm
- Tube Diameter: 30mm
- Eye Relief: 3.14-3.22 inches
- Field of View: 27.2-7.85 feet/100 yards
- Turret Style: Exposed tactical turrets
- Reticle: Multiple reticle options available
- Length: 13.2 inches
- Weight: 23.1 ounces
Pros
- First Focal Plane Reticle
- Versatile Magnification Range
- Tactical Turrets
- Durable Construction
- Side Parallax Adjustment
- Fully Multi-Coated Lenses:
Cons
- None
FAQS
- What is a good budget for a scope for 1000-yard shooting?
The budget for a scope for shooting at 1000 yards can vary depending on the features and quality you’re looking for. In general, you can expect to pay anywhere from a few hundred dollars to over a thousand dollars for a high-quality scope for 1000-yard shooting.
- What are some reputable brands for scopes for 1000-yard shooting?
There are several reputable brands known for their quality and reliability in rifle scopes, including Vortex and Leupold.
Conclusion
With a focus on features like high magnification, quality optics, and durable construction, the scopes highlighted in this article offer exceptional performance and reliability. Investing in a quality rifle scope can take your shooting to the next level.
Consider your specific shooting needs and preferences, and choose a scope that best suits your requirements to enhance your long-range shooting experience.
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