Best Rifle Scope under $400 – Reviews and Buying Guide

Are you looking for a rifle scope to make your hunting and shooting fun? But confused with a variety of rifle scopes available in the market. We make your choice easy by picking all the best rifle scopes under $400 based on their performance, quality, magnification, objective lens, and reticles.

By spending $400, you can get a high-quality rifle scope that meets your hunting needs and clarifies your target. Our team tests these scopes in different weather and light conditions. You can read the reviews and confidently choose the best one among them. 

Our Top Picks

 

 

List of Top-Rated Rifle Scope under $400 and Reviews

Here is the list of 10 top-rated rifle scopes under $400 with reviews and buying guides that help you choose the best one to meet your needs. These top picks will improve your visibility and help you shoot from medium to long-range with its amazing features.

The list of best rifle scopes under $400 is here. 

Vortex Optics Crossfire II, SFP, Riflescope

Vortex optics crossfire II is one the best riflescope under $400 with its brilliant features of V-Brite reticle. The V-Brite reticle is powered with electronic batteries having a red dot in the center. It is helpful for shooters/ hunters when light conditions are very low, and it is very effective.

The long eye relief of crossfire II makes it easy to achieve your target. The fast-focused eyepiece offers the target very accurately and quickly. The lens is fully multi-coated, which helps you to reduce reflection and give you crystal clear views.

Moreover, you can easily adjust the turrets and reset the MOA again at zero after getting the target which gives a highly comfortable experience to you. The scope click ½ MOA per shot helps you to be on target. 

The high-quality aluminum gives strength to this single-piece tube from shocks. Having nitrogen sealing, keep it safe from fog and water. The O-ring is sealed, making it a highly durable scope among other scopes. In short, CrossfireII is an amazing combination of performance and price.

But; there is a cap on its lens. Every time you have to remove the cap before targeting and shooting.

UUQ Rifle Scope Dual Illuminated Reticle 

UUQ can be your first choice if you want a budget-friendly riflescope. It is in the category of best rifle scopes under $100, but I want to list it in this category due to its outstanding features and extraordinary performance.

UUQ can magnify your target from 4x to 12x and give you a clear view. You can easily adjust it according to your target distance. Whether rapid-firing or shooting the moving target, it gives you great results every time. It has a tubeless design which helps you to give a wide field view.

The best feature I like most is its adjustment of brightness levels. You can easily adjust the five brightness levels to make shooting easier in every light condition. Moreover, the green and red color illuminated rangefinder added an extra feature. The dots can be adjusted to 4 different sizes.

Here is the good news for beginners also, you can easily mount it on your rifle. The high-quality aluminum makes it shockproof, waterproof, and fog proof. It is filled with dry nitrogen.

The only flaw I found in it is that it is heavier. But with many other features, I think it is worth bearable. Choose UUQ with great confidence, whether a beginner or an expert shooter.

Vortex Optics Strike Eagle SFP Riflescopes

Vortex Optics Strike Eagle Riflescope is best for short to long-range shooting. Every time you use it, it will give you outstanding performance.

The fully multi-coated lenses give you a crisp view of your target. The anti-reflective coating helps to improve light transmission. The glass etching makes it durable and visually clean.

Vortex Optics Strike Eagle comes with 4-24 x zooming power. The 6x shooting scenarios increase the versatility and provide zooming at different levels. The single-piece 30mm tube with black color gives you marvelous results.

Vortex Optics Strike Eagle has a second focal plane which means the target’s appearance remains the same no matter if you change the magnification while zooming. Its EBR-4 MOA reticle gives an excellent result while shooting for long-range and windage correction.

Moreover, Vortex offers you the lifetime warranty of its products which increases the reliability of its products. The mount is not included in the packaging, but you can easily buy the mount from Amazon. The scope is sealed with nitrogen to remain fog proof and waterproof.

But, take care while using it. It is a little difficult to maintain eye relief.

Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Riflescope 

Bushnell Banner Riflescope is a high-end scope under $400 with marvelous HD clarity. The beautifully designed optic has top-quality material, which increases durability. It is the best choice for coyote hunting with its 40-millimeter objective lens.

The dusk and dawn reticle has a fully multi-coated lens which increases the clarity of the image. It is best suitable for low light conditions even in dusk and dawn. The scope is specially made of waterproof material, which helps to protect against fog.

The eyepiece is 12 inches long, which is the fast focus. The scope can magnify from 3x to 9x makes it the best rifle scope under $400.

The best thing I like most about it is its multi X reticle which helps achieve the target quickly and easily, even in low light. The windage is easy to reset, and the eye-piece can easily be focused which gives you clear vision.

Bushnell Banner is the best price on the riflescopes for your outdoor adventure with all its features and sleek design.

It has only one negative point; it is made of plastic which means it is not as durable as other best riflescopes.

UTG 4-16X44 30mm Scope

UTG scope is versatile scope for 50 to 100 yards field of view. The tube is 30mm long, providing a good range for elevation adjustments. The lens comes with an emerald coating to provide the best clarity and maximum transmission of light.

The best thing I like most about it is its premium lockable facility and resettable turrets. You can easily and fastly set the turrets at zero. 

It is the complete solution for your hunting problems with its angled sunshade. The lens cap opens with a flip, and the ring can be detached quickly with maximum strength.

The magnification range is 4-16x which is best for shooting at different distances. The nitrogen sealing of the scope maximize your performance. It is shockproof, rainproof, and fog proof and best to use in every weather condition. The multi-coated lens gives you excellent clarity of the target. 

Also, it is made of high-quality aluminum and comes with a lifetime warranty.

Besides all this, the mil-dot is too small to use. So, you can rely on parallax adjustments while shooting for estimating the distance.

Vortex Optics Diamondback Tactical FFP Riflescopes

Vortex Optics Diamondback riflescope is the best combination of features and performance. This diamondback tactical first focal plane delivers an amazing effect To give you a rapid and precise shot. You can visually grow and shrink the view with the change in magnification.

It is the best choice if you are going for long-range shooting with its EBR-2C reticle feature. You can easily determine ranges, holdovers, and windage corrections with it at any magnification.

The Diamondback riflescope is the best offer given by Vortex Optics because its one-piece aluminum tube makes it very durable. It provides high-end clarity and sharp resolution. Its parallax is on the side from where it can easily be adjustable and give you comfort and ease.

The extra-low dispersion glass enhances a clear and crisp image. The fully multi-coated lens enhances the view in low light conditions. You can enjoy the waterproof and fog-proof performance with its nitrogen purging. 

The lens cloth and a removable lens cover are included in the packaging. The company offers an unlimited lifetime warranty.

In the end, I want to say that the only thing which I don’t like about it is that Diamondback scopes are now made in China. So, if you are conscious of the manufacturer, please take a look at it.

Burris Scout Rifle Scope

With its compact and sleek design, the Burris scout riflescope is the best choice for beginners and professionals. It is a multi-purpose rifle scope that is best known for its low weight. It is very easy to hold it and mount it on the rifle.

The scope is filled with nitrogen to work perfectly in fog and rain. You can mount Burris scout in front of the ejection port with a forward mounting design. The forward mounting will extend your eye relief and improve your situation awareness. With this feature, you can keep both of your eyes on the target.

The high-quality optical glass increases the brightness and clarity of view. The multi-coated lens minimise the reflection, while the scope is shockproof. So, it is the best medium-range scope.

TRUGLO TRU-Brite MIL-DOT Reticle with Mount

Truglo TRU-Brite is the best dual-color illuminated power rifle scope under $400 with matte black color. The 24 mm objective lens is equipped with a rheostat that best controls the brightness. The best thing about this scope is the quick lever to zoom. The scope gives you the best eye relief of 4 inches to give a clear and precise view.

Moreover, the scope is made of high-quality aircraft aluminum and manufactured with one piece to make it shockproof. The nitrogen filling helps you to use this scope in any weather condition. Its nitrogen sealing makes it safe from fog and rain entering, which increases the durability and performance of this scope. If your scope does not work well, you can avail yourself of the opportunity of a lifetime warranty.

You will be pleased to know that it comes with a monolithic 30mm scope mount. The mount is also made of aircraft-grade aluminum and a CNC machine. It is a Mil-dot reticle that helps you determine the target’s distance. The dual illuminated reticle comes with red and green colors to give you a clear and precise picture.

Truglo TRU Brite 30 series comes with two magnifications, one with 1-4x and one with 1-6x. You can choose magnification according to your choice and need. With this, you can shoot the target with both eyes open and take extremely fast pictures.

In contrast, the rear optical lens cover might fail. But fortunately, the company helped me and sent a new one.

Sightmark Wraith Digital Night Vision Riflescope

Sightmark wraith is a high-definition riflescope for both day and night hunting. While used in the daytime, it gives a colored view of the objects. And, at night, black and white or a classic green view is can be seen. You can switch the night mode simply by hitting the left arrow. 

The best digital scope gives high-quality images and records the videos at a 1080p HD sensor. 

Sightmark Wraith is equipped with an 8x digital zooming facility. It can zoom from 4x to 24 x, a marvelous offer.

The all-in-all scope provides a solution for day and nighttime hunting for deer, hogs, and other predators. My favorite feature of Sightmark Wraith is the menu button which is easy to manipulate.

The most important is its ten different reticle options in nine different colors, making aiming easier for you. The eye-cup can easily be removed, which stops light dispersion at night.

Moreover, it comes with an excellent battery life of 4.5 hours. The 4 AA batteries are included in the package. The scope has an external USB port that solves the problem of extra power if needed, and you can record video and take photos. 

It also includes 850nm of IR flashlight by which you can detect your target up to 200 yards at night. You will get the weaver rail and objective lens cover along with the packaging.

The only negative aspect of Sightmark Wraith is that it doesn’t include a memory card. 

Monstrum G2 FFP Rifle Scope

Monstrum generation2 rifle scope is best known for its extraordinary performance. It is the first focal plane optic to help the shooters for long-distance shooting. With its mil-dot reticle, you can quickly estimate your range. 

The 50mm objective lens is adjustable by side focus dial and gives a sharper target image.

You can easily target with this Monstrum rifle scope up to 800+ yards because it can magnify 6-24x. The scope is sealed with nitrogen increasing its performance in fog and rain. It is highly durable due to its aircraft-grade aluminum construction.

The illumination reticle comes with red and green colors, and brightness intensities can be adjustable. It gives better visibility in low light conditions as well as at night. You can control the illumination reticle with a touch button. 

The spring-loaded flip-up lens cover protects your scope when not using it.

Its package includes a 30mm Picatinny scope ring, detachable filter sunshade, and one CR2032 3V battery to power the reticle. 

On the other hand, it is quite heavy to hold for a long time.

Nikon P-Tactical BDC600

Do you want to maximize your hunting experience with some best-featured riflescope under $400? Then, Nikon P-Tactical might be the best option for you with its extraordinary features. Its fully multi-coated optical provides you with a clear and crisp view. 

The tube is made of high-quality aluminum, which works well even in bad environmental conditions. At 3x magnification, you can easily see a full field view, and at high magnification, you can see the details of your target. So, you can fulfill all of your shooting demands with this high-end scope.

The elevation and windage turrets can easily reset to zero spring-loaded. You can quickly focus the eyepiece with a smooth turn aluminum ring, and you can easily focus on your target. 

The nitrogen purging and O-ring sealing make the scope fog proof and waterproof. It is the newly designed BDC600 tactical, which allows additional holdovers and helps to estimate the range. 

Besides all these features, the reticle is a little hard to use which is causing problems for me.

Leupold VX-Freedom Riflescope

Leupold launched VX freedom as its newest version to deliver the legendary performance every time. It delivers a guaranteed performance which the hunters demand from it. It is very durable and can be used in any tough condition. It also gives outstanding performance in low light conditions.

Leupold equipped its VS-Freedom with a twilight light management system to balance the light transmission and reduce glare. Its high resolution gives clear and crisp results in any light condition.

Furthermore, it is specially designed to work in extreme weather conditions from very hot to cold temperatures. The sealing method is advanced to make it shockproof and keep the internal part of the optic moisture-free. 

The duplex reticle makes your aiming easier for moving targets. Both windage and elevation turrets come with ¼ MOA finger click adjustments, which are easy to use. The magnification range is 3-9x which is outclassed.

Best Leupold scope offers a lifetime warranty to its customers whether you want to repair it or exchange it for a new one. 

Burris Optics Fullfield E1 Riflescope 

If you are looking for a rifle scope for long-range shooting, Burris optics might be the right choice for you with its high magnification. With high magnification, it also offers high-class precision and a crisp view.

If you want a simple yet sophisticated scope for your rifle, then Burris optics offers accuracy features.  The parallax adjustment can easily reach from 50 yards to infinity. Burris also offers a lifetime warranty to its customers. 

But there is a problem with this scope contains some harmful chemicals which cause damage to your health. So be cautious when using it. 

Buying guide for Best Rifle Scope under $400

Before buying a suitable riflescope, it is important to know what you need in your scope. Don’t worry. We will help you to guide what you need in your scope based on our experience. So, take a while to read the buying guide before purchasing.

Lenses

Lens quality is an important factor to consider while purchasing a good rifle scope. A premium quality lens directly impacts scope performance in low and high light conditions. Also, the lens coating increases light transmission and reduces the reflection of light. That’s why we recommend you buy a scope with a better objective lens.

Magnification

Before purchasing a rifle scope, you have to be clear about your hunting range. For short-distance shooting, a minimum magnification of 4x is pretty enough. While for long-range hunting, you have to buy a high magnification scope like 9x magnification is enough for long-range hunting. 

Accuracy

Shooting needs accuracy. You buy a scope to be more accurate in your target. For this, you have to determine whether you want to shoot for a long-range or short-range environment. Then, choose the right scope for your gun that meets your requirements. 

Durability

Everyone wants to make his money secure. Always choose a scope that is durable and made of high-quality material. The best rifle scopes under $400 are top-quality air-craft aluminum and anodized finishing. Moreover, most brands offer a life-long warranty like Vortex, Bushnell.

Illuminated reticle

Illuminated reticles simply light up the reticle powered by batteries or electrical components. It will be beneficial for you in low light conditions. So, if you plan to shoot at night or in low light conditions, the illuminated reticle will benefit you. 

First focal plane vs second focal plane

When talking about reticles, the reticles are of two main styles. The second focal plane changes the object’s magnification since there is no change in the reticle. 

The first focal plane seems to be pretty sweet and a new thing. It is good for long-range shooting. The reticle shrinks or grows with the magnification of the image. There is nothing good or bad in the first or second focal plane; you can simply choose one according to your need.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

To sum up, if rifle scopes are correctly mounted, good eye relief, perfect magnification, and high-resolution images make your shooting quite easy. We make your choice easy by reviewing the best scopes under $400. You just have to pick the best one that meets all your requirements. So, the conclusion of all of our recommendations are:

• Sightmark Wraith Night Vision Riflescope is in our top picks.
• Vortex Optics Crossfire II, SFP, Riflescope is high-end scope due to its overall performance.
• Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Riflescope is the best budget scope on our list.