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Best Scope for High Recoil Rifle

Best Scope For High Recoil Rifle

It’s no secret that high recoil can have a serious negative impact on accuracy and grouping.

Some of this can be down to the shooter (who amongst us has never flinched when we know we’re about to get kicked liked a mule?). But quite often high recoil can play havoc with your optics; whether that’s as simple as loosening your base and rings or more serious such as damaging the scope itself.

So if you’ve been experiencing issues, it’s definitely worth ruling out non-scope issues before spending 100s or even 1,000s of dollars on a new scope. Even the best scope for high recoil rifle isn’t going to solve a loose screw…

That said, if you are looking for the best scope for a high recoil rifle, this is the article for you. Because at the end of the day, having a heavy duty optic that you can rely on is both a great long term investment as well as confidence boosting.

6 Best Scopes for High Recoil Rifle

NameSepcsToday's Price
Burris Xtreme Tactical8-40x50Click Here
Burris Handgun Hunting Scope2-7×32Click Here
Bushnell Banner3-9x40Click Here
Leupold VX-3i3.5-10x40Click Here
Nikon Prostaff P3 Predator Hunter3-9x40Click Here
Redfield Revolution3-9x40Click Here

1. Burris Xtreme Tactical XTR II 8-40x50mm

Precision Rifle Scope with 5x Zoom and Zero Click Stop Adjustment

Burris Xtreme Tactical XTR II

Built for the grave,  technical, long-range precision rifle shooters, both tactical and competitive. This 1.96 pounds power scope with a 34mm body tube is available in two reticle styles, F-Class MOA and F-Class DCH. 

It constitutes a blend of materials that provides durability. The magnification of the scope ranges from 8 to 40. 

Burris Xtreme Scope is compatible with Rifle. It is suitable for Hunting, Tactical, and Military scope type. 

Pros

  • The multi-adjustment knobs with ⅛-MOA adjustments
  • Versatile 5X zoom grants a bigger view field
  • Easy target acquisition
  • Zero Click Stop allows quick and easy revert to the original settings
  • Ergonomic side focus
  • Easy-to-reach parallax adjustment from 50 yards
  • High-grade durable optical glass 
  • Offers excellent brightness and clarity 
  • 11 brightness settings
  • A convenient battery-saver position between each setting
  • A triple internal spring-tension system allows the scope to withstand heavy recoil
  • Nitrogen-filled body tubes prevent internal fogging

Cons

  • The illuminated reticle may cause difficulty for some people 
  • The fine reticle lines may camouflage with the dark background

2. Burris Handgun Hunting Scope

With an objective PA and PosiLock system

Burris Handgun Hunting Scope

A scope made up of aluminum and weighing a light 1.19 pounds comes with a matt black ballistic plex reticle. Its 2x low-end magnification provides rapid target acquisition and a vast field of view. 

The 7xzoom at the top offers precision for targeting even at stretching distances. PosiLock™ is a Burris system that uses a retractable steel pole. 

Furthermore, the normal adjustment springs tightly lock the turret adjustments exactly as they were set earlier to taking the shot. It also offered us extra security when firing large caliber handguns which are known to produce significant recoil.

The Burris handgun Hunting Scope is compatible with handguns and is suitable for hunting and fishing. 

Pros

  • Long eye relief, optimal for hunting with a powerful handgun
  • High-grade optical glass for excellent brightness, clarity, and durability
  • Larger precision-ground lenses for better light transmission
  • Nitrogen-filled tubes prevent internal fogging
  • Positive steel-on-steel adjustment ensures consistent precision
  • Durable, stress-free, 1-inch body tube that can withstand heavy recoil

Cons

  • Expensive as it is the only scope or high power handguns
  • Slightly heavy from the other scopes of the same category

3. Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn 

Multi-X Reticle Riflescope with 3.3-inch Eye Relief, 3-9X 40mm, Black

Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn

Created for the early-morning and late-evening light, and weighs 0.81 pounds.

Even though made of high quality and durable plastic, its quality optics and stunning HD clarity are its USPS. The magnification range for the Bushnell Banner scope is 3-9x and has a 40mm objective lens. 

Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Multi-X riflescope is compatible with rifles, shotguns, or muzzleloaders. A perfect shotgun scope, suitable for hunting & shooting, and any sport that involves early morning or late evening times call for this scope to be on top of your rifle.

Pros

  • DDB Coating, i.e., Dusk and Dawn Brightness
  • Multi-Coated Optics
  • 100% shockproof/ fog-proof/ waterproof
  • Fast focus
  • ¼ M.O.A. fingertip windage and elevation adjustment 
  • Dry – Nitrogen filled

Cons

  • At times, difficult to adjust zero
  • The scope does not come with mounting hardware

4. Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10x40mm Riflescope

Leupold VX-3i Riflescope

Leupold’s VC-3i riflescope is a 0.78 pounds lightweight beast, made up of aluminum. The magnification power of the Leupold VX scope ranges from 3.5 to 10.00. 

The diameter of the objective lens in these Leupold is 40 millimeters. This scope is compatible with rifles at large, both, low-powered and high-powered.

The scope is suitable for hunting. The twilight max light management system makes it a good fit for dusk and dawn hunting just like Bushnell. But honest to God, cross our heart’s truth, we found Leupolds to be much better than Bushnell Banner Dawn and Dusk.

Pros

  • Eliminates 85% more of the glare-producing stray light than other scopes
  • Gives 20 extra minutes of shooting time
  • Supreme military – standard scratch-resistant lens
  • Ultra-lightweight design
  • Disperses heavy recoil energy for unmatched durability
  • Argon/ Krypton waterproofing
  • Durable lens cover for protection in both field and storage
  • Twilight Max Light Management system
  • Excellent edge-to-edge lens clarity

Cons

  • The turret cannot be reset to zero in some cases

5. Nikon Prostaff P3 Predator Hunter BDC Predator Riflescope

Nikon Prostaff P3 Predator Hunter BDC Predator Riflescope

The magnification range in a Nikon Prostaff P3 is from 3 to 9 and the diameter of the objective lens is 40 mm. Nikon Prostaff P3 Predator riflescope comes with a BDC reticle. 

The total eye relief is 91.0 mm in both the magnification ranges. Suitable for hunting in a dense forest or a wide-open field. 

Pros

  • 98% light-transmission provided by a fully multicoated optical system
  • Long, consistent eye-relief and shockproof
  • Precise, hand-turn, and positive click reticle adjustment even with heavy recoil
  • Spring-loaded adjustment knobs
  • Provides simple field adjustment
  • Instant zero-reset turrets
  • Quick focus eyepiece
  • Rugged one-inch aircraft-grade aluminum main tube
  • Nitrogen filled and O-ring sealed
  • Sunshade working for 40mm and 50mm objective diameter model 

Cons

  • The eye relief might not be enough for some folks
  • A bit heavy compared to the contemporary riflescopes

6. Redfield Revolution 

3-9x40mm Riflescope with Accu-Range Reticle, Matt black

Redfield Revolution Riflescope

The Redfield revolution riflescope provides high-level optical and mechanical functionality and weighs 0.75 pounds. 

The magnification is 3x-9x and the objective lens with a diameter of 40mm. The 3:1 zoom ratio covers long distances as well. 

When we tried out hands on the Redfield revolution, it was quite evident from the first shot itself that it could take some serious recoil. Like a human who is trained and rugged to the bone, this scope could withstand harsh weather as well. 

The Accu-Range features a small circle in the center (around the cross-wire intersection point) and a single dot between the lower edge of this circle and the top of the lower post. 

This offers several possible target points along the vertical wire that can be used to compensate for the drop in the bullet. Including the normal intersection of the crosswires, the bottom of the circle, the dot below the circle, and the top of the bottom column (where it narrows to become the vertical wire). 

Suitable for you ask?  Hands down you should consider buying this for hunting and sports purposes in harsh terrain. 

Pros

  • 3:1 zoom ratio for a large array of hunting scenario
  • Multicoated lens system enhances light and color transmission
  • Rapid Target Acquisition eyepiece with lockable setting
  • Accu-Trac turrets with tactile finger click adjustment
  • Long eye relief that allows comfortable prolonged viewing

Cons

  • The image quality is not up to par
  • The reticle coss hair is thinner than expected

How to Choose the best scope for high recoil rifle

Why use a riflescope?

The scopes magnify the image of the target resulting in the improved accuracy of the long-distance target. A scope can also provide you accuracy while shooting. 

Using a rifle range requires the same basic shooting practices as traditional or “iron sights,” but replaces the rearview opening and the front view tip with a single magnifying component that may resemble a small telescope. 

These ranges are available in a variety of models and can provide magnification of your target from anywhere in-between 1 to 50 times than what you can see through your naked eyes. 

Remember that a stronger magnification does not make you a more accurate shooter, so it’s important to practice strong fundamentals while shooting with a rifle scope.

How can recoil damage your scope? 

Recoil is a backward reaction, typically from some kind of force or effect. When a bullet is shot from a pistol, the gun pushes the bullet in the forward direction. The bullet also exerts the same and opposite force on the gun in the backward direction. As a consequence, a gun recoils when a bullet is fired from it. 

A heavy recoil from the gun, if absorbed by the scope can cause serious internal and external damage to the scope. The internals of scope is a delicate affair. The recoils can cause a shift in the reticle among other things.

Best way to maintain your Riflescope

For starters, the scopes have high-quality, multi-coated lenses that offer higher resolution and color accuracy when looking through them. However, a dirty or smudged lens reduces the brightness and sharpness of the image. 

You can follow these fast and simple tricks from the bag of our experts for keeping your scope fine-tuned. 

  • Dust your lenses: Make sure to dust off your lenses before wiping them with a cloth to avoid any scratch on your scope. 
  • Go for Microfiber cloth: As tempting as it is, avoid using tissue paper, toilet paper, or the corner of your shirt to clean your riflescope. Instead, use a microfiber cloth. It is specially designed to clean smudges and grease off the lens without leaving scratches or fibers behind.
  • Keep the cap on: Keep the cap on your scope when you clean your rifle. The solvents and powders that you use to clean your gun will damage the lens coating and the waterproof seals on the top.
  • Keep your cap on while you’re going in and out of your hunting spot. You’re going to kick a lot of dust along the way.
  • Try Lenspen: A LensPen is a dual-ended instrument primarily designed for the cleaning of lenses. It’s popular with photographers and hunters because it cleans thoroughly without using any liquids. One end has blisters for dusting off the lens, and the other has a carbon-cleaning pad that can be used to wipe smudges off.
  • Unscrew your turrets: The lens is not the only aspect of your scope that needs attention. If you were hunting in extremely windy or rainy weather, you should remove your turrets and clean them thoroughly so that they don’t rust. 
  • The Q-tip works well, and the microfiber fabric works well. If you plan to use a cloth, be sure to clean your turrets after you have cleaned your lens. You’re not going to risk scratching your lens with dust from the turrets!
  • If you like LensPen, you can also use one on the turrets. Your best bet will be to get a different one for your turrets and keep things separate. Just like you keep food for a dog and a cat separately.

Conclusion:

The range of selection available in the market differs since various models of scopes are built for different types of rifles. 

The selection of scopes also depends on the purpose of shooting. For today’s article, we have set the criteria to select the best scope for a heavy recoil rifle. 

Today’s scope of the article is Burris Handgun Hunting Scope. The scope provides both excellent image quality and durability to survive multiple recoils. 

The first runner up is the Leupold VX-3i. The scope has multi-coated optics which offers excellent dusk and dawn brightness.

It is important to note that no scope is entirely indestructible. However, choosing a good scope will give high yields to your investment and can provide you a good hunting experience.