10 Best Cheap Rifle Scopes 2025 in the United States

The Vortex Optics Crossfire II 3-9x50 riflescope is a solid choice for hunters and shooters looking for an affordable yet reliable scope. It offers a versatile magnification range from 3x to 9x, making it suitable for medium-distance shooting. The large 50mm objective lens provides bright and clear images, especially helpful in low light conditions. This model features a Straight-Wall BDC reticle designed specifically for popular straight-wall cartridges, which helps in estimating bullet drop without complicated calculations. The scope has a generous eye relief and an easy-to-use fast focus eyepiece, making target acquisition quick and comfortable. It also offers a decent field of view at 32 feet, which aids in tracking moving targets.

Turrets for windage and elevation adjustments are precise and responsive, helping you fine-tune your shots. Durability is a strong point here; the scope’s aircraft-grade aluminum body is shockproof, waterproof, and fogproof, ready to handle rough outdoor conditions. However, the 1-inch tube diameter is on the smaller side compared to some competitors who use 30mm tubes, which can affect light transmission and adjustment range. Also, the reticle is not illuminated, which might be a downside in very dim lighting. While it doesn’t support night vision, the anti-reflective lens coatings improve clarity during the day.

Backed by an excellent lifetime warranty, this scope offers great value, especially for entry-level shooters and hunters who want dependable performance without spending a lot.

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.

The Vortex Diamondback Tactical 6-24x50 is a solid choice for anyone looking for an affordable tactical riflescope with good quality features. Its 6-24x magnification range offers excellent flexibility for both close and long-range shooting, while the large 50mm objective lens ensures a bright, clear image even in low light. The first focal plane EBR-2C MOA reticle stays accurate at all zoom levels, which is especially helpful for precision aiming over varying distances. Adjustments are easy to make with exposed turrets and a side parallax knob, allowing fine tuning for accuracy in different shooting scenarios.

The scope’s eye relief and field of view are suitable for most users, providing comfort and situational awareness. Durability is another strong point here, with a shockproof aluminum tube, waterproof and fogproof sealing, which means it can handle tough outdoor conditions without problems. It weighs about 1.5 pounds, so it’s not the lightest, but still manageable for most rifles.

One small drawback is the mounting type specified as a cantilever mount, which may require additional compatibility checks depending on your rifle setup. This scope provides many features usually found in higher-end models, backed by Vortex’s excellent lifetime warranty, making it an attractive option for shooters wanting good performance without a high price tag.