10 Best Cheap Rifle Scopes 2025 in the United States

The Vortex Optics Crossfire II 2-7x32 Rimfire riflescope offers a versatile magnification range from 2x to 7x, making it suitable for various shooting distances common in rimfire hunting and target practice. The 32mm objective lens provides a good balance between brightness and compactness, ensuring clear images without adding too much bulk. Featuring a V-Plex reticle, this scope is designed for general-purpose hunting, helping you aim at targets with straightforward, easy-to-understand aiming points. With 3.9 inches of eye relief, it offers a comfortable distance between your eye and the scope, reducing the chance of recoil impact and allowing quick target acquisition.

The turrets are finger-adjustable with MOA clicks and can be reset to zero, making sight-in adjustments user-friendly, although they might lack the precision of more expensive models. Built from aircraft-grade aluminum, this scope is strong, shockproof, and designed to withstand tough outdoor conditions. It is also waterproof and fogproof thanks to O-ring seals and nitrogen purging, so it performs well in bad weather. While the scope doesn’t have night vision capabilities and the second focal plane reticle means holdover points don’t adjust with magnification, it still covers the essentials for most rimfire shooters on a budget.

The included lens covers and lifetime warranty add extra value and peace of mind. This scope represents a solid choice for those seeking a reliable, affordable optic that balances durability, decent optics, and ease of use for hunting or plinking with rimfire rifles.

The Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40 riflescope is a solid choice for those seeking an affordable option without sacrificing quality. Its 4 to 12 times magnification offers good versatility for various shooting distances, making it suitable for hunting and general shooting. The 40mm objective lens collects enough light to provide bright, clear images during most daylight hours, supported by fully multi-coated lenses that improve clarity and reduce glare. The Dead-Hold BDC reticle is designed to help with hold-over at different ranges, which is helpful if you don’t want to spend time estimating bullet drop manually.

The scope features metal turret adjustments that allow for precise zeroing and easy resetting, which is important for accuracy and convenience in the field. Its one-piece aluminum tube with a hard anodized finish makes it durable and lightweight (around 14.6 ounces), plus it is fogproof and waterproof thanks to argon purging and O-ring seals. This means it can handle rough weather and remain reliable over time. The field of view is moderate at 32.4 feet, which is reasonable for a scope in this price range but not as wide as some higher-end models.

This Vortex Diamondback scope combines solid optical performance, durable construction, and useful features like the BDC reticle and precise turrets, making it a great value for budget-conscious hunters and shooters who want reliability without a high price tag. The inclusion of a lifetime warranty also reflects the manufacturer’s confidence and provides peace of mind for buyers.

The Leupold VX-5HD 3-15x44 riflescope offers a versatile magnification range from 3x to 15x, making it suitable for a variety of shooting distances, from close to medium-long range. Its 40mm objective lens is slightly smaller than the spec sheet mentions (44mm) but still provides good light transmission for clear images in most conditions. The illuminated FireDot Duplex reticle is helpful for aiming in low light, and the side focus parallax adjustment allows quick and precise focusing, which is useful for maintaining accuracy at different distances.

The turrets include the ZeroLock 2 system that prevents accidental changes to your elevation setting, paired with the Custom Dial System that can be tailored to your specific ammunition, which is a great feature for those wanting precise ballistic adjustments. The scope is built tough with waterproof, fogproof, and shockproof qualities, plus a hydrophobic coating on the lenses to repel water and dirt, making it reliable in various weather conditions. Weighing just 1 pound, it’s lightweight and won’t add much bulk to your rifle.

This scope is not the cheapest option on the market, so it might not fit a very tight budget if you're strictly after the lowest price. However, it delivers excellent durability, clarity, and customizable features usually found in higher-end models. This makes it a solid choice for serious hunters or shooters who want a dependable, easy-to-use scope with good adjustment options and a lifetime warranty, rather than just a basic entry-level scope.