I’m not made of money, and I have to watch every penny to make ends meet. But I take my hunting seriously and get the best I can afford. The old adage of spending as much for a scope as the rifle just doesn’t fly in my house. However, with a little research, I discovered I could swing a scope costing half the price of my rifle. But is spending $300 in the field of optics a viable option? The best budget hunting scopes make it so.
Best Budget Hunting Scopes for Riflemen
I consider a 3×9 variable to be the minimum magnification I would want mounted on my deer rifle. It needs to have good clarity, which means good glass. And while 30mm scope tubes are all the rage, it also drives up the price of the scope dramatically. In the past I have experienced several scope failures from frozen reticles, broken crosshairs to countless bent tubes. No more bargain scopes for me.
I have owned each of the scopes listed below and have never had a minute’s trouble with any of them.
Leupold Freedom
The Leupold Freedom 3x9x40 offers all the quality Leupold is known for rolled up into an affordable hunting scope. Its Advanced Optical System offers excellent light transmission and glare reduction, as well as extraordinary resolution and clarity hunters have come to expect from Leupold. The Hunt Plex reticle is straight forward.
The ¼ inch clicks allow you to dial in on target and the 6061-T6 Aluminum body saves weight while providing strength to give you assurance this one’s built to last. All Leopold scopes are sealed to ensure waterproof, fog proof, & shockproof and are backed with Leupold’s lifetime guarantee.
For more information, please visit leupold.com.
The Burris Fullfield IV
I was introduced to Burris scopes more than 35 years ago while in gunsmithing school and I’ve owned one ever since. Always known for its lens quality, the Burris Fullfield IV continues to shine. While several models come in under budget, the 3x12x42 would be a great pick. The standard plex gives the hunter simplicity.
Personally, I do not care for a cluttered reticle. I prefer a basic plex reticle and a bit higher magnification like the 3x12x42. The Fullfield IV is more compact than most scopes in its class. Burris guarantees their scopes with their well-known Forever Warranty, which has been giving hunters peace of mind for more than 50 years.
For more information, please visit burrisoptics.com.
The Vortex Crossfire II
The newcomer to the quality optics party is Vortex. The Vortex comes in with many models under my $300 threshold, but I really like the Crossfire II. I currently have it mounted on my deer rifle and having hunted an entire season with it, I give it high marks.
Recently, I have been eyeing the 4x12x50mm AO with the combination of the extra magnification and the 50mm adjustable objective to allow as much light in as possible. It may be time for a trade up. Old, senile bucks usually don’t come through at high noon when the sun is high, but instead at the waning last glimpses of light. The Crossfire II features a 1-inch aluminum tube, ¼-inch click turrets and the Dead-Hold BDC (MOA) Reticle which is unobtrusive and easy to use.
And as with all Vortex scopes, it features Vortex’s VIP unconditional lifetime warranty. It rates up there with the best of the warranties.
For more information, please visit vortexoptics.com.
You can’t go wrong with any of the three scopes. They are the trifecta of budget hunting scopes. As is the case with most hunting items, often a better deal can be had by looking at the big box stores or online retailers. The scopes featured had a MSRP of $300 or less.
