Best Varmint Scope for 223 – Good for Long-Range

Hunting and shooting are becoming a hobby for everyone. It’s not only due to the boost in people’s interest but also the emergence of top-quality and the best varmint scope for 223. Manufacturers offer unique scope for different types of hunting and purposes, but our point of focus is 223 varmint scope. These scopes are recognized as one of the best scopes presented by the brands.

With the growing upsurge of the hunting games, it’s necessary to consider a good varmint scope for 223 for a flawless performance. It’s a heavy-duty scope and most professionals like it due to its shooting profile, all-in-all specifications, compatibility, and many other excellent attributes. For your ease, we are presenting you the top-rated 12 varmint scopes for 223 making your hunting game a piece of cake. They are the best long-range hunting scope with a good field of view as well. 

Throughout this guide, you will be able to get detailed information about the best varmint scopes, their reviews. Most importantly, we will also share the significant buying parameters that will help you in your purchase. So, let’s get started without wasting any time. 

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List of Top-ranking Varmint Scopes for 223 & Reviews

There are special varmint scopes available in the market with different sizes, performance, results, magnification power, and so on. Hundreds of choices always make you confused due to a bit of similarity. Don’t panic! We have covered you. Our shortlisted varmint scopes will lessen your research as well as save your valuable time. We have picked up the products with different sizes, budgets, and other aspects to give you a diverse choice.

Let’s get deeper into the varmint scope reviews:

1. CVLIFE Optics R4 Reticle Crosshair Scope

CVLIFE 3-9×40 Optics is a lightweight and economical R4 Reticle crosshair scope. It can perform well in any environmental conditions due to its build quality. The completely multi-coated lenses prove an amazing target viewing with 95% light transmission than other similar products. The quality lens ensures 300 percent more of the visual light spectrum to get high-contrast and colorful pictures. This attribute is very helpful to get a clear image even in fog, dirt, and other harsh weather conditions. Therefore, get it today and never miss a moment. 

This long-range 223 scope has a magnification power rating of up to 3-9x that is enough to hunt varmints even in darkness. The simple power ring adjustment makes the scope easy to use for all people. Smooth rotating turret adjustment for elevation and windage control. According to our experience, the scope provides easy turret customization without much effort. However, check the change per click of the turret before hunting. 

Furthermore, it’s a first scope offering 20mm Picatinny mount and ⅜” overall rail so that you can install it on an 11mm rail without any trouble. Similarly, the large 40mm lens diameter is enough to catch the necessary light for viewing purposes. The  31cm length of the scope gives your long rifle a new and elegant look. It weighs only 345 grams and it does not burden your rifle due to its lightweight. We assure you will not feel any problem in balancing the scope and getting the fatigue-free experience. 

In our opinion, the best field of view is up to 100 yards with clear details of the prey. The clear view and result will lose with the increase in distance. So, if you want to hunt from a distance of 100 yards, go for buying this classical piece of scope. In the end, the scope mounts are high that came with the scope. 

2. Vortex Optics Crossfire II SFP Riflescope

Vortex Optics Crossfire II Second Focal Plane Riflescope gives you an all-in-all solution for varmint hunting. This best long-range 223 scope is one of the multi-configuration scopes and falls in the crossfire II line category. Equipped with Dead-Hold BDC reticle type making hunting easier and quicker by providing the clear viewing of the target. You can hunt precisely at varying ranges, with holdover estimation being a concern. 

The scope offers a long eye relief and ultra-forgiving eye box. The sighting from the scope will not hurt your eyes because of larger eye relief compared to other similar products. Also, it helps you quickly sight the picture and target acquisition. Similarly, the fast-focus eyepiece imparts easy and quick reticle focusing. 

Furthermore, the lens has an anti-reflective coating to provide a brighter, clearer, and detailed view of the target. The maximum elevation adjustment makes it more convenient, flexible, and reliable for everyone. In our experience, the scope offers 60 MOA reticle adjustments making it able to hunt at short and long distances. 

Equipped with capped turrets adjustment buttons that have easy finger adjustable with MOA clicks. This attribute makes you able to reset the turrets even after sighting from the scope. This single-piece rifle scope under $1000 is manufactured from aircraft-grade aluminum to make it strong against hard weather conditions. The o-rings are completely sealed with high-quality 100% nitrogen gas making them waterproof, fog-proof, and shockproof. 

Besides all, you can only set the zeroing if the targeted range is 100 yards. Therefore, it’s a bit challenging to set zero for some people. 

3. Vortex Optics Diamondback SFP Riflescopes

Vortex Optics Diamondhigh-quality of the best second focal plane scopes and is perfect for varmint hunting. This high-quality scope has multi-configurations with the Diamondback Lineup and is perfectly suitable for big hunting games. For example, it’s good for hunting varmints, slug shotgun, brush hunting, and many other similar applications. It consists of Dead-Hold BDC-type reticles to help reduce the guesswork on holdover and precise windage corrections. Likewise, the dead-hold BDC reticles are good for shooting and hunting games from varied distances. However, hold-over might be a concern at long-range hunting. 

It consists of high-quality material-made lenses with a premium coating to get crystal clear and brighter images from dawn to dusk. Engineered with high-speed circuitry that allows the fast focusing eyepiece to quickly reticle focusing. The metal-made upper and side turrets offer easy resetting even after sighting from the scope. This functionality is rare and found in only a few varmint scopes. 

Furthermore, a precision glide erector system provides easy tracking and repeatability within no time. You will not feel any delay while using any function of the scope due to fast operation. Thanks to Vortex’s latest technology to provide fast viewing scope. Just focus on your game and leave the heavy lifting on the smart processor. 

Moreover, it’s a solid piece of metal filled with 100% nitrogen gas making it shockproof, fog proof, and waterproof. The anodized coating further provides high-quality protection and gives it a longer lifespan. Overall, the outside coating, material, and sealed o-rings give the user an all-in-all experience at a very reasonable price. 

4. BARSKA Varmint Mil-Dot Riflescope

BARSKA Varmint Mil-Dot is a specialized scope for varmint hunting. Specially designed to give you improved precision with high magnification. The black matte finish gives your rifle a beautiful and elegant look. It has the largest lens diameter (50mm) than other similar scopes. It helps collect the precise amount of light from yielding a bright and clear target image. Moreover, the adjustable objective helps the user to nullify the parallax error based on the shooting distance. In our opinion, this function is very helpful for both short and medium-range hunting.

Adjust the windage and elevation with smooth ⅛ MOA solid adjustment turrets. The turret caps are beautifully designed to get a straightforward adjustment. Likewise, the scope offers 5-20x zooming capability that allows the user to see the target with the desired close-up. This attribute is helpful when you want to shoot the prey at a certain point. We assure you will not have any trouble due to the clear and detailed view. 

This varmint rifle scope features fine crosshair reticles and is very helpful in target shooting and hunting applications. The quality construction with anodized coating makes it stand against in any environment. In our experience, the harsh environment will not be a problem while hunting the varmints. The crosshair reticles provide easy calculations due to offering precise readings. 

Do you know what prominent benefit you will get with BARSKA Varmint mil-dot riflescope? The packaging includes the scope caps and a high-quality lens cloth to clean the lens without giving it a scratch. Isn’t it good? Yeah, it’s wonderful. Plus, the high magnification power of 6.5-20x makes it more convenient and flexible for everyone. 

On the contrary, the scope is only suitable for smaller caliber scopes, not for high caliber scopes. 

5. Bushnell Optics, Drop Zone Reticle Riflescope

Bushnell Optics is a top-notch varmint hunting scope with exceptional clarity in any condition. The small and compact design makes it sleek, lightweight, and balanced on the rifle. It only weighs about 1 pound, and it is the least among other similar scopes. Manufactured from a high-grade aluminum alloy to make it sturdy and strong. The outer anodized coating makes the body usable in any environment. 

Do you know about its zooming capability? Bushnell Drop Zone Reticle riflescope has 1-4x magnification to get a super-close view of your target with mid-range accuracy. Perfect for short to medium range hunting with an edge in close quarters. These quarters further help you reach further if needed. The soft AR optics features capped turrets for low-profile rifles as well as accurate pinpoint adjustments. 

This best varmint scope for the money is perfectly designed to get a clear view up to 100 yards with the help of premium drop zone reticles. Not only this, but you can extend the view up to 500 yards. We have tested it for long-range hunting, and the reticle’s bottom post represents about 600 yards of hunting range. However, you need to set the scope at proper magnification and ballistic features to get the desired results.

Do you know how to adjust the drop zone reticles? First, sight at the 100 yards distance with any magnification and determine the target distance. After that, set the magnification at its highest power, and it’s all done. Now you can place the aiming point on your target to make the shot a kill. 

Subsequently, we have noticed a shallower point in this varmint scope. The lens diameter is shorter, which collects a lower amount of light to lighten up the image. 

6. Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Multi-X Reticle Riflescope

Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Multi-X Reticle Riflescope is a high-quality optics and best for varmint hunting. The large 50mm lens diameter offers great magnification power of up to 18x and is ideal for medium to long-range varmint hunting. Not only this, but the scope is helpful for silhouette, predators, and target shooting. Features the Multi-X reticle, which provides a classical and clear sight picture of the prey. 

The o-rings are sealed with dry nitrogen to make it resistant to water, fog, and shocks. The seal is strong enough that you can use the scope even if it is immersed in the water up to certain meters. The waterproof construction makes it damage-free in any weather conditions. 

This good 223 scope is an entirely multi-coated scope having multiple anti-reflective coatings. The coatings on the lens surface give the best results of the light transmission from the air to glass with minimal reflection. This characteristic is responsible for producing high-contrast, brighter and clear images from dawn to dusk. 

The argon purged fog proofing capability makes the optics stable with ambient light and varied temperature and ultimate fog resistance protection. The multi-X riflescope is perfectly designed to give you flawless image results in early morning and late evening. The DDB reticle type makes it able to see even in low-light environments. This one-piece reticle scope comes with all the necessary accessories for big games such as varmints, block power, turkey hunting, and more.  

Conversely, you have to make three shots to set the zeroing of the scope. That’s a bit challenging for beginners. 

7. Nikon P-Tactical .223 Matte BDC600

Nikon P-Tactical .233 is the finest varmint scope with many incredible features. A fully multi-coated optical system makes the image brighter and clearer. The lens material is also premium making it rugged and scratch-free. The aircraft-grade aluminum gives the high-quality target viewing even in dismal environments. Equipped with BDC 600 reticles and newly designed MK1-MOA and MK1-MRAD features. In simple words, this 223 specific scope is platform-based and provides more optimized results than other identical scopes. 

In addition, its MK1-MOA reticles have an asymmetrical design that allows extra holdover and a good estimate of the range of the target. Likewise, the BDC Carbine is customizable to optimize with spot-on ballistic technology. The quick focus eyepiece with a smooth-turn aluminum ring gives you the best experience. The rubberized eye guard allows you to have a fatigue-free sight even for hours. The spring-loaded elevation and windage knobs are smooth and can be reset to zero even after sighting from the Nikon P-Tactical .233 scope. 

We assure the scope offers all-in-all features and is always there to maximize your hunting experience. It does not matter where you mount the scope; it’s your perfect companion in the fields. The improved 3x zooming ratio provides every target detail and high-resolution sighting to knock down your target easily. The shiny black scope gives the rifle a new and elegant look. You will not feel any problem balancing and other things, just bring it today and have an incredible hunting experience. 

Above all, it does not support night vision, so you can only hunt from dawn to dusk. That’s the limitation of this scope. 

8. Monstrum Alpha Series FFP Rifle Scope

Monstrum Alpha Series First Focal Plane scope has a traditional design and quality build to give you dual-taste from both worlds. This high-performance reticle scope has an average magnification of 1-4x and is suitable for close to mid-range targeting. According to our experience, the scope is perfect for hunting prey from a distance of 300+ yards. However, the most effective range is up to 300 yards only. 

Practical design with first focal plane FFP MOA reticles offers easy-to-read ranging information. Most importantly, the range remains constant regardless of the magnification power and is suitable for targeting fast-moving prey such as predators and varmints. The holdover correction is very easy, and it gives you a flawless hunting experience. 

High-quality aluminum is used to manufacture this scope with a 30mm sealed tube. The perfectly sealed scope gives unaltered results in any weather conditions. 100% nitrogen-filled tubes can be usable in foggy or rainy environments. The aluminum used has 6061 grade with a robust MIL-STD 865 type III. Further protection is given with the outer anodized finish. 

Furthermore, the packaging includes a set of spring-loaded flip-up lens cover to protect the lens from any damage. This characteristic is helpful when the scope is not in use, and you want to store it. Not only from wear and tear, but it also makes it dust, rust, and oil-free. 

Besides the characteristics mentioned above, the reticles disappear against any dark target. That’s a snag we have noticed in this scope. 

9. Athlon Optics Talos SFP Riflescopes

Athlon Optics Talos is a top-grade varmint scope for 233 with a second focal plane targeting. The thoroughly multi-coated lens permits the optimized light transmission to give a clear and brighter image of the target. The high-quality lens ensures the true color image across the complete light spectrum. 

Furthermore, the reticles etched with high-quality glass ensure excellent backing support for a composite reticle design. So, what benefit do you get from this characteristic? This attribute provides greater durability and enhanced shock resistance to the recoil. 

The heat-treated single-piece tube gives additional strength against environmental conditions and wears & tear. Another benefit that a one-piece tube gives is extra strength against moisture and fog. According to certain tests, it gives extra strength compared to the multi-pieces scopes. Further, it enhances the overall life of the scope. 

If a small amount of moisture gets into the tube, the 100% nitrogen gas reduces the moisture and helps maintain a completely isolated environment. Made up of high-quality aluminum alloy provides exceptional strength and excellent mechanical integrity. This system is also used in top-class varmint scopes to push you to concentrate only on the targeting. 

In the end, the BDC 600 IR reticles are designed to yield the best precision level even at an extended range. These reticles are also used in today’s most famous rifle cartridges. The only complaint about this scope is its price. It’s a bit expensive compared to the competitor’s scope with close characteristics. 

10. Barra Rifle Scope

If you are looking for a reliable, intelligent, and smart scope, the Barra varmint scope for 233 might be your primary choice. This H20 4-12×40 style scope is made up of high-quality material. The ergonomic dimensions make it suitable to mount on most rifles without any balancing issues. Built with cutting-edge technology to provide a sleek and beautiful look. It weighs less than a pound making it lightweight among other nearer scopes. The best suitable sport is hunting and the best suited for rifles. However, you can also try it on other devices to get a diverse hunting experience. 

Equipped with H1R BDC reticles, the best view is offered in the second focal plane. If you have been a professional hunter or hunting for years, this attribute will appeal to you the most. Smooth and soft capped turrets with ¼ MOA clicks give easy adjustability for elevation and windage adjustments. The turrets are not slippery even after the design. The one-inch tube is perfect for giving a flawless viewing experience. Instead, the lens has several coatings making the light transmission optimized and catching only a certain amount of light that is enough to give clear viewing. 

Furthermore, the scope has more surprising features than the other identical varmint scope. It is not only filled with 100% nitrogen but also purged with oxygen to completely seal it against fog, raining or shock. In short, the Barra rifles scope supplies the performance that you expect from Barra. 

Despite the characteristics mentioned above, the scope has shorter eye relief making it unsuitable for long hunting hours. 

11. SVBONY SV166 AO Rifle Scope

SVBONY SV116 AO is a top-class varmint scope with high magnification from 3x to 9x due to a large 40mm objective lens. The large targeting area of up to 100 yards with a near focusing distance of 10 yards. In our experience, it is the least distance a varmint hunting scope offers. The greater eye relief gives you a convenient experience with quickly and easily viewing your target. 

In addition, the spring-loaded instant zero-reset turrets are easy to adjust even after sighting from the scope. It also helps avoid touching the adjusting screws while targeting. This attribute prevents ballistic deviation during shooting. AO parallax satisfaction adjustment from the range of 10 yards up to infinity. Similarly, the scope consists of adjustable objects with plus/minus 2D adapter that provides farsight and nearsighted users to see the prey without any glasses. Simple, whether you are nearer or farther away from the prey, you can easily see the details of the prey. 

The lens has 10pcs to enhance the visibility and also multi-coating boost the resolution and image clarity. The glass used has a lower refractive index and gathers more light to yield a brighter image. The improved field of view from 37ft to 12.5ft brings crisp, clearer view and, all-in-all visual experience. We assure you will not feed a prominent difference between this and other expensive scope’s results. 

The matte metal tube of 77mm prevents glare from the surface and resists any harsh weather conditions to give error-free sighting. Also, it prevents the specular reflection of light and other exposure of the targets. 

However, we have noticed a soft point in this varmint scope. The eye cap is not included making it a bit challenging to view for many hours. 

12. Bushnell Riflescope with DZ 223 Reticle

Last but not least, Bushnell 3-940 DZ 223 is an avant-garde rifle scope for varmints. It features a throw-down power change lever which can be easily set for two different heights. In this way, you will not face any height adjustment problems due to preset heights for all the users. This attribute makes this scope entirely customizable for mounting on your rifle for mid-range hunting. Thanks to the high magnification of 3-9x and large-diameter lens of 40mm. 

The side focus parallax and exposed turrets give the scope an elegant look. The side-focusing parallax goes down to a minimum of 10 yards to take advantage of closer shots. Not only this, but you can also enjoy the longer shooting experience with it. Likewise, the exposed target turrets offer you to dial for elevation and windage adjustments accurately and quickly. 

The scope consists of fully multi-coated (FMC) optics that have an IPX7 waterproof rating. The fully waterproof construction prevents fogging and moisture and always ensures a high-quality image regardless of the weather conditions. Remember that Bushnell is an industry leader due to high-performance sports optics. 

The prominent aspect about this scope is that it has an adjustable length throw level then helps fast magnification even wearing gloves. The highest shooting range is up to 600 yards making it one of the most premium-quality scopes. 

In the end, we want to share a weak point about the Bushnell 3-9×40 rifle scope with DZ 223 reticles. It does not offer good eye relief. 

Things To Know Before Buying The Best Varmint Scope for 223

If you want your favorite rifle in hand and hunt like a pro, it’s necessary to have a good quality varmint scope for 223. Before purchase, there are some important things besides the shape, size, and price necessary to consider. It will help you make a wise decision, and you won’t regret your purchase. For your assistance, we have listed the top considerations in the following:

Magnification

Before considering the magnification, it’s necessary to decide your hunting range. If you want to hunt at a short-medium range (100-200 yards), the minimum magnification of 4x is enough. Conversely, you need high magnification up to 9x if you want long-range hunting. So, choose the shooting distance and buy a scope with relevant magnification. 

Light Transmission

A good varmint scope for 223 is one that produces a bright, crisp, clear image with a high-quality contrast from dawn to dusk. The scope should contain a high-quality lens that offers great light transmission to show your prey even in low-light conditions. 

Durability

Everyone wants robustness after investing an amount, whether big or small, and the same is true for the varmint scope. Check the manufacturing material; most scopes are made with the help of aircraft-grade aluminum. Also, make sure the scope’s body is coated with an anodized coating to make it usable in any environment. 

Eye Relief

Eye relief is compulsory if you want to hunt for hours. No one wants to hit the eyes. You will also not want to buy a scope that compromises your eye relief. In our opinion, the eye relief of 3.5 inches is enough to have a good hunting experience. 

Image Quality

This point is usually connected with magnification. With high magnification, don’t forget to check the image quality. The selected scope should give the unblurry image at any magnification settings. 

Accuracy

Accuracy means the scope targeting preciseness. When you set the zeroing point, the scope should shoot the prey at your chosen point. In short, the scope should shoot accurately. 

Reticles

The reticles or crosshairs help ensure the precision and accuracy of a hunter. They help you to pick up the right spot for shooting. The market is full of different types of reticles having different advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, read about all the reticles and pick up the most suitable one for you. 

FAQs

Conclusion

To sum up, specialized scopes are a good way to hunt varmints, such as the best varmint scope for 223. The .223 scopes are considered the most efficient scopes due to their best results and state-of-the-art features. We have done the hardest task by shortlisting the top varmints scopes for you. You just need to pick up the most suitable one for you. We assure you won’t regret your purchase. In the end, here are our recommendations:

• Vortex Optics Crossfire II Second Focal Plane Riflescope is our top pick varmint scope. 
•  CVLIFE 3-9×40 Optics R4 Reticle Crosshair Scope is the best-budget varmint scope on our list. 
• Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Multi-X Reticle Riflescope is the high-end varmint hunting scope.