5 Best Slug Gun Scope – Legal But Lethal

The shotgun is one of America’s favorite weapons thanks to its versatility, weight, and most importantly, legality. If you’re a shotgun hunter with a thirst for big game, you’re probably familiar with slug hunting.

It doesn’t take a genius to figure that hunting with a slug requires a scope. You need a device that not only provides a clean image but also stays stable through heavy recoil. On top of that, there’s a host of additional factors to look into – the magnification, eye relief, reticle, price, and so on. In other words, the hunt for the best slug gun scope is a troublesome task, and you definitely need help in making your decision. Therefore, to speed up the process and come to your rescue, we’ve reviewed 5 of the best slug gun scopes available in the market right now.

Top 5 Best Slug Gun Scopes

Vortex Optics is one of the most trustworthy American optics companies out there. Besides the Crossfire series, the Diamondback series is also a common favorite.

The slug gun scope comes equipped with fully multi-coated optics for peak sharpness. Since it is an SFP scope, the reticle maintains the same size across the zoom range. You can choose between the Dead-Hold BDC or the V-Plex reticle. I personally prefer the BDC because I hate to guess, but if you could go for the V-Plex if you have simpler tastes. The fast-focus eyepiece is a boon for any hunter who doesn’t like to waste time.

This scope has pop-up windage and elevation turrets that give you that loud, satisfying click. They are capped and can be reset to zero. One unique mechanism here is the Precision-Glide Erector System that makes your visual journey with the 3:1 zoom ratio flow like butter. The parallax is set to 100 yards, which is apt, with respect to the magnification. The eye relief stands at 3.5 inches. I found that this slug gun scope didn’t lose zero even once during my trip, making it one of the best slug gun scope.

If we’re talking body, it’s a one-piece tube with a hard-anodized finish. It’s comprised of aircraft-grade aluminum, so you know it’s a durable beast. Instead of nitrogen, it is argon purged for fog proofing. It’s undoubtedly weatherproof and lightweight. The device is punishment tested at their factories. It also comes with the renowned Vortex warranty.

The one downside is that the eye relief can get compromising at higher magnifications.

TruGlo is a great brand that supplies feature-packed scopes at a price that you can smile at.

I want to mention the reticle first. The TruGlo Shotgun Scope comes with a Diamond reticle, which is a little spin on the traditional Duplex reticle. The Diamond reticle connects the points where the crosshairs thin out to form a diamond around your aiming point. This reticle is designed specifically for slug gun hunting and game like deer and turkey. The scope also comes with fully coated optics to aid in the light transmission and clarity of your image.

The 4-inch eye relief on this slug gun scope is quite comfortable. The windage and elevation turrets are finger adjustable. The magnification is fixed at 4x, which actually makes it a great turkey scope. I could zero this within 5-6 shots, making it one of the best slug gun scope.

The compact 8-inch body of this scope is quite light. I like the matte finish and the rubber eye guard. It is weatherproof and nitrogen purged to make sure your lenses never fog up. It’s definitely shockproof and can take the recoil from your slug gun. The price is great at under $50, and you really can’t go wrong.

However, the device is not free of parallax.

Bushnell is a renowned American firm specializing in high quality, affordable hunting products. The Bushnell Banner series is one of their best series with top-notch scopes.

The lenses are armed with the Dusk and Dawn multiple coating that gives you an unbelievably bright and crisp image regardless of the time of the day. Any hunter who has this scope can tell you how amazing the glass is. It comes with the simple but effective Circle X reticle, which is good for a slug gun scope. The fast-focus eyepiece aids in the speedy acquisition of whatever you point your slug gun at.

The windage and elevation adjustments are quite crisp and don’t require any tools to be adjusted. I appreciate the eye relief, which protects me even at the 9x magnification. Mounting the scope onto your slug gun is going to be a child’s play, making it easy to use and one of the best slug gun scope.

The scope feels quite sturdy and can definitely take some harsh recoil. It can withstand an array of weather conditions without affecting your performance. The price will put a smile on anyone’s face. Overall, a good looking fellow that can work twilight like a boss.

If I had to give you a downside, I would say that the focus rings are so smooth that you might end up disturbing them on accident.

Burris is a widely trusted scope brand with scopes like Burris AR 536, Burris Droptime, , etc. with a host of signature features to enhance your hunting experience.

The scope comes with Hi-Lume multi-coated optics to fight glare and provide a superb resolution on your images, even in low light. Burris’ special Ballistic Plex reticle brings to the table an elegant design with markings that eliminate the need for any guesswork and make your job with the slug gun a whole lot simpler.

I like how the elevation and windage turrets are low-profile. They’re really smooth, and the scope was a breeze to sight in once loaded onto my slug gun. Its recoil resistance is remarkable – the scope can hold zero through any amount of kickback from the slug.

The slug gun scope is double-spring tensioned to make sure that it can take a good amount of punishment. The aluminum body is purged with nitrogen for moisture-proofing and durability. It’s fog proof and lightweight with a nice looking finish. I love that it comes with the assuring Burris Forever Warranty.

Now, however, the eye relief can get a little risky at the 7x magnification value.

SightMark is committed to the provision of precise and durable scopes that serve a variety of purposes. They are known for their great customer service.

First and foremost, this SightMark scope comes with multi-coated optics for crystal clear images and high light transmission. The anti-reflective coating goes a long way in helping with that irritating glare. The BDC reticle comes with markings that are calibrated specifically for slug guns and helps you stay accurate for up to 200 yards.

The eye relief is really good. The turrets are low-profile, capped, and can be reset to zero, eliminating big calculations. I didn’t have much of a problem zeroing in this scope once it was on my slug gun. The parallax on this device is set at 100 yards.

The body of this slug gun sight is composed of a single piece, an aircraft-grade aluminum tube. I can attest that it is absolutely fog proof, waterproof, and shockproof. The hard anodized finish gives it a good look while functioning as a concealment feature. I always love a scope that comes with a warranty and prompt customer service. The price is a big plus.

However, it’s not the most versatile scope out there.

FAQ

Why should I put a scope on my slug gun?

Slugs are large bullets that require aiming, which is very different from the mere pointing that you would do with a traditional shotgun. If you’re using a slug, it probably also means that you’re on the lookout for some serious game. A scope can come in really handy here and considerably breeze up target acquisition. If you’re a hunter that values his time and precision, and there’s a device available to give you just that, why not invest?

Can you use a rifle scope on a slug gun?

Well, yes. However, you will need a rifle scope that is extra sturdy, provides good eye relief, and lets you shoot in the perfect range. A shotgun, especially with a slug, will definitely produce more recoil than your average rifle. Believe it or not, this kickback can negatively affect your scope if it’s not sturdy enough.

Slug gun scopes are specially built to withstand this punishment, while rifle scopes might shake up and lose their accuracy. This recoil also comes with the risk of a black eye, and rifle scopes might not be equipped with enough eye relief to spare you from that. Lastly, the range of the two devices comes into the discussion. Shotgun scopes are engineered for close ranges, while rifle scopes are generally not.

What magnification is best?

Since slug guns are used for close-range hunting, a fixed magnification will work for you, especially if your purpose is decided. The good part about this is that a fixed magnification will not drain your wallet. However, a variable magnification is always preferable thanks to its versatility and convenience. Anything between 2x to 9x is great for hunting with a slug gun. If you only want to hunt turkeys or game of similar nature and are looking for a fixed value, go for 4-5x.

What are the most important features of a slug gun scope?

When shopping for the best slug gun scopes, durability should be the first thing on your mind. You need a product that is tough and punishment proof. It should be ready to take anything that your gun throws at it. Warranty is always a big plus in scopes that take heavy recoil. Secondly, you need to make sure that you have impeccable optics and high res images to capture your fast-moving targets. Also, look out for safe and generous eye relief. Lastly, ensure that your scope is user-friendly and light on the hand.

Conclusion

Whether you’re hunting with a shotgun due to personal preferences or you’re stuck with the weapon due to the rules in your area, using a slug always ensures a thrilling experience. The company of the best slug gun scope can enhance your performance considerably and help you fetch much more than deer.

We’ve discussed scopes that can suit a variety of needs. Likewise there are also some rifles which has exorbitantly versatile. But, In the end, the optimum device comes down where and how you plan to take your game down. There is never a one-scope-fits-all. Hopefully, you found your perfect sighting device in this list and trust us enough to come back the next time you’re on the lookout for a scope. Happy slug hunting!