Best Long Range Rifle Scopes 2024 [Hands-On Tested] - Pew Pew Tactical

Editor's Note: This article was updated in August 2024 with all new recommendations based on new testing conducted at the range.

“Spend as much on glass as on your gun” is something long-range shooters take to heart.

Good quality glass, proper magnification, and a reticle that works with you can distinguish between making a hit at a distance or missing by a few inches.

I’m going to highlight and review some scopes that I and others have used to shoot at 800 yards or further.

Keep in mind that while this list serves as a great starting point for long-range scopes, there are many more out there, some worth considering and many that are not.

Before jumping in and making an expensive purchase, do your homework, vet the sources, and make sure it is what you want.

Bushnell Match Pro ED 5-30×56

Bushnell Elite Tactical 6-36×56 XRS3 with EQL Reticle

Primary Arms GLx 3-18×44 with ACSS Athena BPR Reticle

Vortex Razor HD Gen III 6-36×56

Nightforce ATACR 1-8×24 F1

Schmidt & Bender 6-36×56 PMII with Gr2ID Reticle

Table of Contents

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We tested six scopes received from their respective manufacturers. So that there was consistency in the review, all scopes are first focal plane with MIL reticles.

The scopes all fell within the 4-36 magnification range (with one exception noted below), as this is generally the range that works best for shooting out to about 1,000 yards.

I want to add that it is possible to shoot to 1,000 with lower top-end magnification (I started with a 3-15 scope); however, more magnification generally makes it easier to be consistent.

All shooting was done at a temperature of 55 degrees F, 29.98 barometric pressure, and 2,510 feet above sea level.

One of the tests each scope was put through was tracking.

This measures two different metrics with one test and is something many serious shooters look for in a scope. The test is fairly straightforward, you pick a point to aim at, then dial a certain number of clicks on the vertical axis, and then a certain number of clicks on the horizontal axis.

You fire a shot and check the point of impact based on your point of aim, comparing the deviation to the reticle to see if the amount you dialed matches the marks on your reticle. You then dial back to your original position and check the point of aim and point of impact to see if the turrets cause any deviations.

For my testing, I had the gun braced on a rear bag with an Armageddon Gear game changer on top of it, resting the end of the chassis in the valley of the bag.

At the end of the test, I rated all the scopes based on clarity, eye box, magnification, and value. For more on how we developed our rating standards and an in-depth look into each model’s rating in each category, scroll down to our By the Numbers Section.

Bushnell Match Pro ED 5-30x56

Prices accurate at time of writing

Prices accurate at time of writing

Pros

Cons

Specs

The Match Pro ED is a newer scope for Bushnell in the sense that it is a redesign of their 2019 Match Pro Scope. Bushnell reached out to competition shooters running their scope and requested feedback on what needed to be included, removed, changed, and reimagined.

The Match Pro ED was the result, and the claim is that it was developed to be the most advanced optic at its price point.

The main tube was expanded to 34mm from the 30mm original design. This allowed for the elevation to be beefed up, allowing for a full 30 MRAD of travel and a full 14.5 MRAD of adjustment for windage. This is a huge change over the original, which offered only 18 MRAD of elevation.

The objective lens was bumped up from 50mm to 56mm, allowing more light and a crisper sight picture. The Extra-Low Dispersion Prime (ED) glass is another stellar upgrade; it is much crisper than the original Match Pro glass, with very little distortion, even at the outer edges. The outer surfaces feature Bushnell’s EXO Barrier, which is designed to keep the glass free from moisture and debris.

The turrets on the Match Pro ED are one of the best parts of the scope. The large turrets have a very positive feel when moving from one click to the next. The base 10 system is easy and fast to use, with the Rev-Indicator being an ingenious idea.

Two-stage indicators tell you the revolution you’re on when dialing on your elevation turret. The zero stop is easy to set and effective. The Match Pro passed the tracking test, which isn’t surprising as Bushnell has prided itself on being amongst the most consistent tracking scopes on the market.

Bushnell Elite Tactical 6-36x56 XRS3 with EQL Reticle

Prices accurate at time of writing

Prices accurate at time of writing

Pros

Cons

Specs

The Elite Tactical has been a constant in the Bushnell scope lineup for over 20 years. The scopes were designed with direct feedback from professional shooters and incorporated both reticle designs and features on the scope that aid in their use without feeling cumbersome.

Machined from a single piece of billet aluminum, the 34mm tube is rugged enough for hard use. The 56mm objective lens is multi-coated to offer increased light transmission over the XRS II (the previous generation of the Elite Tactical).

Additionally, the XRS3 has a greatly improved eye box over the XRS II. The XRS3 also features a locking diopter, which is useful for moving from stage to stage or hunting in the woods. This ensures that if you smack your scope against something, your diopter adjustment has not moved, leaving you with the same clear view you had previously.

The turrets on the XRS3 have crisp, defined clicks for adjustment. The turrets have large markings that are bright enough to see in dim conditions but aren’t glaring. The Revlimiter zero stop is easy to set, robust enough to ensure your zero is easy to return to, and requires only minimal tools to set or adjust. The XRS3 passed the tracking test with 100% accuracy on both the amount of adjustment being true and the return to its original position.

In terms of looking through the scope, the XRS3 does not disappoint. With a generous 4-inch eye relief, you don’t feel crowded when setting up on the optic, and the eye box is equally as robust. Bushnell claims that at 36x magnification, the eye box is the same on the XRS3 as it was on the XRS II at 30x.

There was minimal tunneling when scaling the magnification down from 36 toward the lower end, and the EQL reticle did not feel crowded or cumbersome. The multiple floating dots along both axes were a pleasant surprise, as I found them making the reticle feel like it obscured less of the target.

Primary Arms GLx 3-18x44 with ACSS Athena BPR Reticle

Prices accurate at time of writing

Prices accurate at time of writing

Pros

Cons

Specs

Primary Arms has been constantly improving its line of scopes over the years. Their GLx line, though advertised as their mid-tier offerings, is the place you want to begin looking if Primary Arms scopes are of interest to you.

The SLx line, while inexpensive, lacks the quality necessary to compete in the long-range world. The GLx line, on the other hand, is worth a look for entry-level scopes that are packed with features that make sense, don’t carry unnecessary fluff, and can get the job done without breaking the bank.

Of the two scopes I tested from Primary Arms, the GLx 3-18 and the GLx 4.5-27, the latter is my go-to. I did a full write-up on it, and I encourage you to check that out. The 3-18 is what I’ll cover here.

The main tube is 34mm and is less than 14 inches long. Its turrets are robust and offer distinct feedback on adjustments. They contain 180 MOA elevation of adjustment and have a locking mechanism to guard your zero as well as an intuitive zero return.

The glass on the GLx line is one of the biggest upgrades from the SLx scopes. Primary Arms calls it “premium glass,” and compared to their lower-tier line, I’d say it is the case. The 3-18 does have a bit more edge distortion than the 4.5-27, but most of the view is crystal clear (I will note that this could be a one-off issue; the 4.5-27 had edge-to-edge clarity).

The ACSS Athena BPR reticle is something that caught me off guard. On their LPVO scopes, I found the reticle clunky and difficult to use quickly. The exact opposite is the case with the scopes for longer-range shooting.

The chevron at the center, once you adjust to aiming with the point, is precise and easy to adopt. The layout of the reticle allows for ranging, using holdovers with confidence, and can be used in conjunction with a ballistic calculator to do some truly nifty math.

I do want to note that between the two, the 4.5-27 would be my choice for a long-range scope if there were no restrictions. The 3-18 would only be something I’d consider if I were restricted by divisional rules, especially considering that the 4.5-27 is only $100 more.

Vortex Razor HD Gen III 6-36x56

Prices accurate at time of writing

Prices accurate at time of writing

Pros

Cons

Specs

Vortex is going to be my dark horse for the article. While I’ve used several of their riflescopes throughout the years, I’ve mostly considered them a middle-of-the-road item. The quality ranges with the price point, but they have some of the best customer service in the industry.

I’ve neither been disappointed nor blown away by any of their offerings up until a few years ago. Then they dropped the Razor HD 1-10, and my attention was fully grabbed. Vortex’s Razor HD line, for me, put them on the map as a serious contender for high-end scopes. The Razor HD Gen III 6-36 solidified that mindset and then some.

There is no beating around the bush; the Razor is an investment. It is the most expensive scope on this list, with an MSRP of $4,800. That’s going to be a tough pill to swallow for a lot of folks, but what that investment gets you is just as substantial.

Everything on this scope is designed to elevate the user’s experience without having a bunch of bells and whistles that feel unnecessary. Compared to other Vortex scopes, this thing is a tank. The exposed locking turrets are robust without feeling clunky.

One feature that is a game changer is the infinite zero locking, allowing you to set a zero between turret clicks to dial in accuracy. The 15.25-inch body is constructed of aircraft-grade aluminum with an ArmorTek coating. The marked .1 MRAD adjustment was accurate, and the Razor passed the tracking test with flying colors.

Glass on this scope is amongst the clearest I have ever looked through. There was absolutely no distortion to be found, even at the very edges of the view. The glass is so clear I could see the haze of dust in the wind on full magnification (keep in mind this can also be a detriment if your target is obscured).

The EBR-7D reticle is well laid out. The windage tree design allows for accurate ranging as well as holdovers. At 6x magnification, it is spaced out enough to use without feeling cramped, and at full 36x magnification, you have a grid layout that makes for easy follow-up shots.

The illumination makes the reticle easy to use in any lighting condition as well.

What do you think of Vortex? Rate them below.

Nightforce ATACR 1-8X24 F1

Prices accurate at time of writing

Prices accurate at time of writing

Pros

Cons

Specs

If you have ever seen me talk about scopes online, it should be no secret I’m a huge fan of Nightforce. I was going to include my personally owned ATACR 5-25 in this article until Nightforce got back to me with a 7-35 to keep the magnification ranges like other scopes tested.

Despite my best efforts to persuade them, I did have to send the 7-35 back.

The ATACR line is one of the most durable, high-quality scopes on the market. There is a reason that the U.S. Military used the ATACR line for many years, with very positive results.

That durability does come at a cost, though, as the ATACR is one of the heaviest scopes that I tested and is second only to the Schmidt & Bender in terms of overall length at 16 inches.

The exposed turrets are beyond tough. You could probably use this thing to hammer nails and then slap it back on your rifle (though I do not recommend that). The ZeroStop system makes maintaining your zero a breeze, and returning to zero is second nature after doing it a few times. Its adjustments were true to their advertised .1 MRAD adjustment, and the ATACR had no issues passing the tracking test.

The ED glass on the ATACR is amongst the finest on the market. At all magnification ranges, the image you see is clear as you can see, with virtually no distortion (there may be just the slightest of edge distortion at full magnification when compared to the Razor or the PMII, but not enough to say it impacted my shooting).

Its Mil-XT Reticle has been the gold standard in grid layouts for many years. With a .2 mil radian hold, there is an easily identifiable difference between increments and whole radians for easy and fast holdovers. The layout allows for easy ranging and holding at any magnification range.

I will note that there is a small amount of scope tunneling with the ATACR. This isn’t as noticeable as with one other scope on this list, but it is present. If that is an issue for you, be aware of it. To some, that won’t be a turn-off, though.

Schmidt & Bender 6-36x56 PMII with Gr2ID Reticle

Prices accurate at time of writing

Prices accurate at time of writing

Pros

Cons

Specs

No list of quality rifle scopes is complete without an offering from Schmidt & Bender. This company and the scopes it produces are legendary amongst discerning long-range shooters across the globe.

The mere fact that S&B would be willing to allow me to test and evaluate one of their scopes was a huge honor, as it was my first time handling one. To say that I was impressed is an understatement.

The PMII is a monster of a scope. In terms of sheer size and weight, it is second only to the ATACR in length and weight. With that size comes a scope that will withstand even the most brutal conditions you could use it in.

Manufactured to meet MIL-STD-810G, the PMII is stress-tested under varying atmospheric pressures, temperature ranges, saltiness, humidities, and more. To put it plainly, S&B did everything it could to try and break this scope under the harshest conditions, then scaled it up to meet those demands.

This is another scope that the U.S. Military has used to achieve some pretty stellar results in combat, and anything that can outlast a combat application is something that can survive civilian use.

One of the main selling points of all Schmidt & Bender scopes is the clarity of their glass. I’d heard talk about how much of a difference there was comparing them to many other high-end scopes, but to look through one is to understand it is something you have to experience to fully grasp.

The PMII was neck and neck with the Razor HD in terms of optical clarity, and I would have needed to enlist some professional scientists to quantify the degree to which one edged out the other. Schmidt and Bender advertise that their PMII allows for 90% light transmission, and looking through this scope doesn’t feel like an embellishment on their part.

The GR2ID reticle brings a lot to the table. Clearly defined whole radians indicate major holdovers, while alternating red and black elevation lines allow for quick calculations and adjustments. Along with this, LPI (Leuch-Parallaxe Integriert, or German for “Illumination Parallax Integrated”) is new for the PMII.

The combination parallax and illumination knob allow the user to adjust parallax and illumination in an intuitive manner that requires only minimal thought after a bit of practice. This combined feature also makes the PMII very compatible with left-handed rifles, as it has freed up space on the tube and allowed for more mounting options when compared with older S&B scopes.

One unique feature of the PMII is the turret controls. The exposed turrets have what seems like three different settings from which you can choose. The user can lock the turrets in place, which is useful for travel or for shooting at known distances and using holdovers, or they can be set to two different “click” feels. The first is standard, though still easy to feel. The last is much more of a tactile click, providing easily the most definite feedback I’ve felt on a turret adjustment.

The PMII does have two distinct things that may cause users to shy away from it. There is no getting around the price of the scope. With the level of quality put into the PMII, the $4,800 MSRP price tag is justified but still hefty. While this will price out many shooters, those who choose to invest will find that the scope delivers time and time again.

The second drawback is that the PMII suffers from scope tunneling more than the ATACR. When dialing down from higher magnification, it is very noticeable that the field of view does not get bigger.

Comparing this to the ATACR, it is noticeable, but compared to the Razor HD, it is night and day. This is a known critique of most Schmidt & Bender scopes, and it may or may not bother you as a shooter, but it is something to be aware of.

Two other brands frequently come up in discussions about scopes that find success in long-range shooting: Zero Compromise (ZCO) and Tangent Theta.

Both ZCO and Tangent Theta expressed their willingness to be included in this article; however, due to staffing levels and supply issues, they were unable to. I was able to check out both brands at the SHOT Show this year, and I wholeheartedly agree that both brands deserve to be on any list of great scopes.

I cannot do a full breakdown, as I was only able to spend minimal time with each one, but I would highly recommend including them in your research if you are comparing scopes and brands for consideration.

The six scopes we tested were rated side-by-side on clarity, magnification, eye box, and value.

We made our rating assessments after testing and evaluating each scope at the range. When rating, we used our standard metrics to determine the most suitable rating from 1-5, with 1 being the lowest rating and 5 being the highest rating.

Clarity refers to the quality of the glass and how clear the picture is.

A value of 1 would be glass that is difficult to see through, with muddied images and lots of distortion. A value of 5 would be glass that offers a crisp picture with minimal distortion.

Magnification refers to how much closer the target appears than the naked eye. We evaluate magnification based on the picture as well as how easy the adjustments are to make.

A value of 1 would refer to a scope that tunnels to a degree that it muddles clarity or radically changes the eye box when dialed down and/or its adjustments are difficult to make. A value of 5 would be a scope that has easy magnification adjustments and does not tunnel.

The eye box (the area around the line of sight where you can see the picture in full) is determined based on how easy and quick it is to obtain the entire picture.

A score of 1 would mean it is extremely difficult or cumbersome to get a good visual at any magnification, while a score of 5 would indicate that it is quick and easy to see the full picture on all levels of magnification.

Finally, value is determined based on how much the user is getting in terms of features versus cost. Overall price tag is weighed against the scope’s specs, features, and performance.

A score of 1 would indicate an extremely high price tag with little to no features and a mediocre to low-performance level, while a score of 5 would see excellent features paired with great performance at a good price point.

This is a final representation of the average score for each of the scopes based on the metrics above.

A score of 1 means we don’t think this is a great overall scope, while a score of 5 means that we highly recommend the scope.

Todd Gimian was the lead evaluator and writer for this article. Todd is a writer who covers long-range shooting and tactical topics for Pew Pew Tactical.

As a gunsmith, range officer, NRA instructor, and avid long-range shooter, Todd has plenty of time behind guns and knows what gear is needed to get the best results.

For this article, Pew Pew Tactical had six manufacturers send scopes to Todd to conduct hands-on testing, including shooting at the range.

Our experienced team of reviewers is run by Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings, a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association.

Jacki has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years. She uses her professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards for Pew Pew Tactical.

The market for high-quality scopes is a constantly changing field, with everyone trying to eke out more and more detail, including new and better features, and carve out a name for themselves as the gold standard to use.

I hope that this article will help you to make an informed decision on any future scope purchases you might be making.

What is your favorite long range scope? Let us know below. For rifles that can reach out and go the distance, check out our article on the Best Long Range & Precision Rifles for Beginners.