Best Air Rifle Scopes of 2024

At present’s airguns shoot tiny teams at 50 yards and have a variety of functions, calibers, and energy vegetation. That’s why there’s not a single greatest air rifle scope. As an alternative, there’s a greatest scope for every of the several types of air rifles. 

For instance, spring-piston rifles may be notoriously powerful on scopes, and require particular scopes to deal with their recoil impulse. Normal caliber pre-charged pneumatics may be laser correct, however want high quality optics to comprehend this potential. No matter whether or not it’s a .22 PCP rifle producing 30 ft-lb, a .72 caliber huge bore producing 1300 ft-lb, or a standard .177 springer topping out at 14 ft-lb—all will profit from having a top quality scope mounted. Listed here are my decisions for the most effective air rifle scopes that match essentially the most kinds of rifle and functions. 

Greatest Air Rifle Scopes: Opinions and Suggestions

Greatest for Precision Air Rifles: Vortex Viper HD 5-25×50 FFP 

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Key Options

• First Focal Airplane
• Reticle Choices: VMR-4 MRAD (examined) or VMR-4 MOA
• 10 illumination settings
• Eye reduction: 3.4 inches
• Area of view at 100 yards: 23.6 toes at 25 energy and 4.7 toes at 5 energy 
• RevStop zerostop 
• 30mm tube
• .1 MRAD or 1/4 MOA changes 
• Max elevation: 18.9 MRAD or 68 MOA
• Journey per rotation: 10 MRAD or 25 MOA
• Parallax: 20 yards to infinity
• Weight: 25 ounces 
• Free custom turret
• Worth: $900

Professionals

• Tactile elevation adjustment
• Nice zero cease
• Good glass for the cash
• Focuses at shut vary

Cons

• Windage adjustment is a little bit mushy

I examined the Viper HD 5-25 on my FX Affect M3, which is an air rifle that may shoot 1-inch teams at 100 yards, which is accuracy that rivals most of the best .22 rifles. I selected it as my check gun as a result of the Viper HD 5-25 is a perfect scope for precision .22 rifles and airguns. The important thing characteristic that makes this an awesome rimfire scope is that the parallax adjusts from 20 yards to infinity with loads of reference factors for shut vary capturing. I did the majority of my testing at 25 and 50 yards with zero points getting a crisp picture. The primary situation with the parallax adjustment is that it sits proper subsequent to the knurled knob for switching on the illumination. Their proximity makes it attainable to activate the illumination once you need to alter parallax. 

One other characteristic that makes the Viper HD best for precision rimfire is its reticle. I shot 100 pellets at a KYL rack at 25, 50, and 75 yards on a windy, prefrontal day. Whether or not I used to be holding elevation, wind, or each, the reticle gave me all the knowledge I wanted with out feeling cluttered. I discovered the wind subtensions to be particularly intuitive with small dots each .1 MIL and a daring dot each .5 MIL. 

The zoom has sufficient stress that it received’t slip off a setting, but it surely’s nonetheless straightforward to make fast changes. The one factor that might make it higher is including a Switchview throw lever. 

The locking elevation turret is a pleasant characteristic for stopping errant clicks. It unlocks by pulling the turret straight up, and the elevation changes are tactile and audible. Sadly the windage clicks weren’t as crisp on my check mannequin. 

I’ve used the RevStop zero cease on a number of Vortex scopes, together with a Razor HD LHT that I took elk searching. It’s a easy system that may be set in a couple of minutes. In the event you’re seeking to push a rimfire to 300 yards, or past, you possibly can take away the RevStop ring to get essentially the most elevation out of the scope. 

I’ve discovered the glass to be vivid and clear from edge-to-edge. I may clearly make out element on a 3D goal 100 yards away quarter-hour previous authorized capturing mild. I in contrast it to my Athlon Ares ETR and it held on a couple of minutes longer into the fading mild. The Ares makes use of a 34mm tube and a bigger goal, which makes that tight race spectacular for the Viper HD.    

The Viper HD 5-25×50 is about 6 ounces lighter than the Viper PST 5-25. In the event you add in the truth that it has a locking elevation turret and a capped windage turret, you will have a wonderful open-country searching scope. —Scott Einsmann, gear editor

Greatest Lengthy-Vary: MTC King Cobra 6-24X50 F1

Key Options

• Magnification: 6 to 24X
• Weight: 1.64 kilos
• Size: 14.4 inches
• 30mm tube
• Goal lens diameter: 50mm
• First focal aircraft reticle
• Etched reticle
• Facet parallax adjustment 
• Shut focusing to fifteen yards 

Professionals

• Good glass
• The Small Caliber Ballistic reticle is straightforward to make use of
• Good turrets
• Parallax correction from 15 yards to infinity

Cons

• Pretty costly
• Some shooters desire a second focal aircraft scope

That is one other one in all my go-to scopes; the King Cobra is an virtually excellent optic for long-range capturing when mounted on a .25 or .30 caliber PCP rifle. The daring and easy-to-see reticle presents the suitable steadiness of a number of aiming factors whereas remaining clear and uncluttered. I particularly like this scope for long-range capturing functions, akin to prairie canines out to 150 yards, as a result of it permits for exact shot placement.

The King Cobra is an ergonomic and well-proportioned scope that gives click-stop changes actuated by locking, finger-adjustable turrets. The scope makes use of MTC’s SCB2 multi-aimpoint reticle, offering quite a few aiming factors with out being cluttered. The central crosshair may be illuminated to optimize shot placement within the low-light situations encountered when searching at daybreak and nightfall. To maximise mild transmission and keep a vivid sight image, the King Cobra’s 30mm tube has been matched to a 50mm goal lens that’s been specifically coated.

Most Versatile: Element Titan 3-18×50 FFP

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Key Options

• Magnification: 3-18x
• Tube Diameter: 34mm
• Goal Lens Diameter: 50mm
• Eye Aid: 4 inches
• Parallax: 10 yards to infinity
• Size: 14.57 inches
• Weight: 34.4 ounces

Professionals

• Wonderful low mild functionality
• Good reticle
• Parallax is well-suited to air rifles

Cons

I used my FX Affect M3 for small recreation searching and capturing tiny teams at 50 to 100 yards. My optic of alternative for each these functions is the Component Titan 3-18×50 FFP. It has the sunshine gathering and extensive area of view I would like for capturing squirrels and the high-end magnification for printing small teams at 100 yards. An awesome characteristic for searching or capturing metal targets, is the intense, crisp illumination of the whole reticle. The glass and magnification enable me to identify my very own hits. The turrets have optimistic and exact clicks with loads of adjustment vary for reaching out nicely past 100 yards. The zero cease may be very straightforward to set and is a must have characteristic for dialing elevation.

The Component Titan is a superb all-around scope that can excel in something that requires glorious glass, turret monitoring, low-light efficiency, and an awesome reticle. -S.E.

Key Options

• Magnification vary: 6 to 24X
• Size: 14.25 inches
• Weight: 26 ounces
• 30mm tube
• Goal lens diameter: 50mm
• Second focal aircraft
• MOA reticle
• Area of view at 100 yards: 19 to 4 toes
• Parallax adjustment: 10 yards to infinity
• Toolless turrets
• Detachable throw lever

Professionals

• Mild and compact
• Wonderful reticle configuration for searching
• Wonderful picture high quality

Cons

• Some shooters desire FFP 
• Aggressive shooter could desire a totally different reticle 
• Magnification is just too excessive for some functions 

I’ve discovered this scope rugged and secure, and mine has stood as much as tough use and by no means drifted from zero as soon as locked down. I actually like Component Optics Helix’s uncluttered MOA reticle for my all-around searching rifles. The flexibility to right for parallax right down to 10 is an asset for a gun that you simply may shoot in your basement vary someday, and at a groundhog 100 yards away the subsequent.

The Helix from Component Optics is in style with hunters and opponents who desire a high-quality scope at a reasonable value level. That includes tool-free chrome steel turret housings and a real zero cease, the turrets present precision and consistency when adjusting the scope. The second focal aircraft (SFP), EHR-1C reticle is calibrated at 24 energy, permits correct holdover adjustment for each 12x and 6x magnifications, and is designed to estimate holdover when capturing within the area. Three distinct markings alongside the windage and elevation strains let the shooter discover their holdover shortly with out confusion.

The reticle is intuitive and uncluttered which I discover helpful when you want to line up and make your shot shortly and precisely. And whereas not cheap, the worth delivered by this scope is superb. The Helix offers me all the things I would like in a searching scope and it does these issues nicely. It has excellent picture high quality, glorious sighting by a clear utilitarian reticle, responsive adjustment controls, and general ruggedness put this one on the high of my record.

Key Options

• Magnification vary: 3 to 9X 
• Size: 12 inches
• Weight: 18.3 ounces
• 40mm goal lens (adjustable goal)
• 1-inch tube
• 1/4 MOA changes
• 7.5 yds to infinity parallax adjustment
• Spring piston airgun rated

Professionals:

• Rugged, spring-piston rated
• Compact
• Nice reticle for a searching gun
• Enticing pricing

Cons

• Not sufficient elevation adjustment to shoot prolonged ranges

The Airmax Sport Optics line is sensible, no-nonsense scopes that present good optical efficiency at a price range value. The low mild capabilities of this scope are good, and the AMX reticle presents sufficient goal factors whereas remaining uncluttered. The Airmax scopes are strong and get up to make use of on highly effective spring piston rifles. They’re light-weight and compact, representing an awesome resolution for small recreation searching within the woodlands. I particularly like this scope when paired with a compact rifle, because it supplies an simply transportable rig.

Maybe not as well-known within the USA, Hawke Sport Optics has earned a popularity as being the most effective producers of airgun scopes. The glass on the Airmax line is of a stable high quality, providing readability and lightweight transmission that punches above its value level. The Airmax 4-12×40 AO scope delivers a considerably wider area of view than normal riflescopes at a comparable value. The AMX reticle used on the Airmax scope is definitely calibrated to work with airgun trajectories, together with high-powered springers. This Reticle supplies a number of goal factors based mostly on mil spacing; further half-mil spacing supplies holdover goal factors.

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Greatest Large Bore Scope: Leapers Integrix 1x8X28 34mm FFP Scope

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Key Options

• First Focal Airplane
• 1-8x Magnification
• Multi-coated lenses
• Outsized lockable and 0 resettable turrets
• Etched glass vary estimating reticle
• 34 mm tube

Professionals

• Wonderful optical efficiency
• Wonderful tactile responsiveness of controls
• Superior low-light efficiency
• An intuitive and quick sighting reticle

Cons

• Restricted greater magnification for some functions
• Restricted variety of mounting choices out there (no 11mm mounts)

The Integrix scope has been mounted on a number of of the big-bore air rifles I’ve hunted over the past a number of months and has impressed me with its efficiency. First off, the scope is ergonomic and compact, has glorious person controls, and supplies the right magnification vary for giant recreation on the 50–100-yard vary. After all, this could be meaningless if the optical high quality wasn’t there, however the readability, low mild efficiency, and extensive area of view this scope presents make it my favourite alternative for magnum huge bores.

The Integrix scope is constructed on a 34mm tube, providing a excessive diploma of adjustability. It’s compact and supplies an excellent match on a big selection of big-bore weapons, from compact carbines to longer barrel rifles. The windage and elevation controls are straightforward to work with whereas carrying gloves, and the throw lever for the magnification is the smoothest I’ve ever used.

Greatest Excessive Magnification Looking Scope: Vortex Razor HD LHT 4.5-22×50 

Key Options 

• Magnification: 4.5 to 22 energy
• Area of view at 100 yards: 23.5 to 4.7 toes
• Changes: .25 MOA
• Weight: 21.7 ounces
• First-plane precision reticle
• Locking uncovered elevation turret, capped windage turret
• Push-button illumination management
• 25-yard-to-infinity parallax

Professionals

• Means to focus as shut as 25 yards makes this a good rimfire scope
• XLR-2 MOA-based reticle is helpful with out being cluttered
• Push-button illumination is sensible and each vivid and subdued

Cons

• The elevation turret turns a little bit too simply
• Wish to see a MRAD model of this reticle

Vortex has accomplished a pleasant job of providing a searching scope that can really feel like a precision tactical scope for long-distance goal shooters, and like a precision goal scope for long-range hunters. It’s the final word crossover scope, with a first-plane reticle tuned to MOA references, a low-profile locking elevation turret that’s straightforward to dial, together with a capped windage turret, and a rock-solid turret zero cease. By combining options from searching and long-range precision capturing, the Razor HD LHT is exact with out being ponderously heavy and large.

At 21.7 ounces, the 30mm scope will not be a featherweight, however can be proper at residence on a light-weight searching rifle. And it retains its trim determine by combining the illumination module contained in the parallax dial. Inside, the Razor HD LHT options 75 MOA of complete elevation adjustment and 45 MOA of windage adjustment. The glass is vivid, coatings make the picture pop, and it has nice sturdiness together with Vortex’s legendary lifetime transferrable guarantee. – Andrew McKean, optics editor

Learn our full evaluation of the Razor HD LHT to be taught extra.

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Key Options

• Magnification: 3 to 9X
• Size: 12.7 inches 
• Weight: 17 ounces
• 1-inch tube 
• 40mm goal lens with adjustable goal
• 1/4 MOA changes
• Quick focus eyepiece and easily-adjustable zoom ring
• Adjustable goal for parallax from 10 yards to infinity
• 100 MOA of elevation and windage adjustment
• Aluminum development

Professionals

• Performs above its value level
• Clear picture
• Good low mild efficiency
• Good reticle
• Mild and streamlined design

Cons

• The optical high quality is nice, however not nice
• The parallax focus is mounted
• 1-inch tube limits elevation
• Not rated for spring-piston airguns (PCP solely)

The Vantage line is Hawke’s budget-friendly providing, which consists of an in depth vary of scopes to go well with all calibers and disciplines, each firearms and airguns. All Vantage riflescopes characteristic Hawkes H2 optics in a wide range of configurations. There are each 1 inch and 30 mm tube variations, and extra just lately, FFP fashions have been added.  

The Vantage 3-9×40 mannequin I selected as my greatest price range decide is constructed on a 1-inch tube and is a second focal aircraft scope. I’ve discovered the capped turrets responsive, straightforward to regulate, and maintain zero after a season’s use. 

At round $150, there are inexpensive scopes available on the market, however for my part, they don’t supply the efficiency or options to match the Hawke Vantage. This scope is a type of uncommon situations within the optics world the place the efficiency is healthier than the worth tag would counsel. This can be a low-cost scope that can work nicely for you over the lengthy haul, and I don’t suppose you’ll discover higher glass for the cash.

How you can Select the Greatest Air Rifle Scope for You

As with most gear, once you get able to scope your air rifle, ask your self the way you’ll use it and which gun you’ll mount it on. These solutions present a very good begin on figuring out the must-have options and specs.

For example, when searching for a scope for my squirrel and rabbit searching rig the place I usually maintain photographs inside of fifty yards and use magnification within the 6 to 8x vary. For that scope, excessive magnification isn’t a precedence for me. Nevertheless, on the gun I take advantage of for capturing prairie canines out to 125 yards, there’s a requirement for top magnification that enables me to see a prairie canine’s very small kill zone. In both case, optical high quality, a usable reticle, tactile and responsive turrets, and good low mild transmission are all the time excessive priorities for me. I like an illuminated reticle, however can reside with out it. There are different issues akin to the size of the scope, the load, and adjustment options. 

I’d counsel that you simply take note of sure options, akin to whether or not a primary focal aircraft or a second focal aircraft fits you higher. Don’t get caught up within the hype and the web debates about which is healthier. Take the time to grasp the professionals and cons of every, after which once more weigh these in opposition to your projected use case.

After you determine on the vital options, you want to work out the price range. I sometimes price range round $300-800 when shopping for a top quality scope as a basic rule. That value vary is the candy spot for good glass, options, and sturdiness. You may spend much more, however I don’t suppose that’s essential for most individuals. And if you’re price range constrained, remember that some respectable decrease priced optics can be found within the $100-200 value.

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FAQs

Last Ideas on the Greatest Air Rifle Scopes

Whether or not you’re kitting out a yard plinker or a heavy-hitting huge bore air rifle, your air rifle deserves a top quality scope, and I’ve made that straightforward for you with my picks for the most effective air rifle scopes. As a last tip, ensure you spend money on high quality mounts to your new scope and take the time to torque the scope mounts correctly.