19 Best Air Rifle Scopes in 2024 | (Ranked by a Marine)

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The world of airguns is growing steadily every year and for good reason. Air rifles and pellet guns can offer distinct advantages over traditional firearms and for some shooters may even replace firearms altogether.

If you’re getting into airguns, you may have run into scopes that are called air rifle scopes or “airgun rated scopes” and found yourself scratching your head wondering how exactly they differ from traditional scopes.

Logun Solo with Air Rifle Scope Attached

The truth is they don’t much, it’s mostly a marketing ploy, but there are several features on “airgun” scopes that make them inherently better suited for air rifle and pellet gun use.

Let’s outline the most important features you should look for when shopping for a new scope as well as my top recommendations for every budget. After going through this review, you might also want to check out my favorite PCP air rifles and pellet guns.

Quick Summary: Our Top Picks For Air Rifle Scopes in 2024
IMAGE PRODUCT
Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9x40mm
  • Clear optics for precise aiming.
  • Durable design for various conditions.
  • Versatile 3-9x magnification range.
VIEW ON AMAZON →
Helix Rifle Scope 6-24×50 FFP
  • 6-24x Magnification for Versatile Range Shooting.
  • First Focal Plane (FFP) Reticle Precision.
  • 50mm Objective Lens for Enhanced Light Gathering.
VIEW ON AMAZON →
UTG Accushot 4-16X44
  • Mil-Dot reticle
  • Lockable and Zeroing Target Turrets
  • Side Focus parallax adjustment
VIEW ON AMAZON →VIEW ON OPTICS PLANET →
Airmax Riflescope 6-24×50
  • 6-24x Magnification for Versatile Long-Range Shooting.
  • 50mm Objective Lens for Excellent Light Gathering.
  • Precision Targeting with Clear Multi-Coated Optics.
VIEW ON AMAZON →
Evike AIM Airsoft Dual-Rail 4X32
  • Dual rails for accessory mounting.
  • 4X32 magnification for clear aiming.
  • Designed for airsoft precision and versatility.
VIEW ON AMAZON →

Finding the Perfect Air Rifle Scope (Buying Guide)

This section is for those of you who want to learn more about air rifle scopes before jumping into reviews! We’ll cover optimal magnification ranges, what the numbers related to scopes mean, bidirectional recoil, parallax adjustment, reticle options, and more! If you already know all about air rifle scopes, feel free to use the quick navigation menu above or simply keep scrolling to skip straight to the reviews.

Airgun Rated and Bi-directional Recoil

While there are many advantages to picking features on a scope that are related to airguns, the terminology airgun rated means that the scope is structurally able to withstand a phenomenon called bi-directional recoil. Bi-Directional recoil is exclusive to spring-piston powered air guns and won’t be a problem with the other power plants such as multi-pump pneumatics, C02 or Pre-Charged pneumatics (PCPs).

When a spring-piston airgun is fired, the compressed mainspring releases its energy causing a typical recoil into the shoulder. However, this also causes the piston to shoot forward and slam into the end of the compression tube where the transfer port is located. The piston has a seal which acts like a plunger and forces the air out of the compression tube launching the pellet out of the barrel, while also causing a forward recoil. The whole firing process is actually quite violent and can easily destroy scopes of any quality that are not built for this type of recoil.

I’ve fielded more than one frantic caller who’s spring-piston rifle destroyed a costly Leupold scope or has outright shaken the mounts and scope right off of the rifle! We have to remember that airguns are a fairly new niche within the American sporting market and even high-end scope makers can neglect spring-piston shooters. The good news is that there are more scopes designed to withstand this bi-directional recoil than ever before with most manufacturers fielding “airgun rated” optics in all price ranges.

However, you might be asking yourself, “I have a good quality scope already but how do I know if it’s rated for airgun use?” Usually, I recommend calling the manufacturer directly with your scope model number for confirmation, but occasionally they won’t be of much help. The quickest and most sure-fire way to tell is to look through the objective part of the scope (the large end) and try to see if there is a large diameter coil spring within the scope tube. Typically, this spring is located within the first couple of inches behind the objective lens and is fairly obvious once you know how to look for it. The coil spring acts as a sort of shock absorber similar to shocks on a car or truck and negates the harm of bi-directional recoil. If you’re purchasing a new scope “airgun rated” will typically be on the package or product description as it’s a selling point, but again when in doubt give the manufacturer a shout.

Parallax Adjustment

Another feature that is important to airguns of every power plant is the ability to adjust parallax. Parallax is an optical error in which the focal plane of the scope is offset from the reticle, meaning you might not be aiming where you think you’re aiming. An experiment to illustrate this error is to take scope without parallax adjustment and slightly bob your head while looking through the scope (this needs to be done on sandbags or a bipod) and if the target is not within the scopes parallax range the reticle will appear to move or bend.

On typical firearms hunting scopes the parallax range is fixed at 100 yards and anything outside of this range will cause reticle distortion and perhaps a misplaced shot. Greater reticle distortion occurs at closer ranges (100 yards and below) and can cause issues with airgun shot placement as the ranges are often below 50 yards and targets are smaller allowing for a smaller margin of error.

Parallax adjustable scopes adjust out this optical error and allow for much more precise shot placement. Scopes with adjustable parallax have two common methods of adjustment depending on the scope in question. The most common is that a scope will have an adjustable “bell” on the objective end of the scope. The adjustable bell will also have a range of numbers indicating different distances in which the scope should be parallax free and you can simply turn the bell to the desired range.

However, these ranges are not always accurate, and some shooters will wrap a small piece of tape around the bell and write in the accurate markings for each yardage. When in doubt, turn the objective until both the reticle and target become crystal clear at which point the scope should be parallax free. An interesting note is that if you’re willing to make a custom tape for your objective bell the scope can essentially become a very accurate range finder at airgun distances as when the reticle and target are clear at a set distance then you’ll know for sure you’re at say 30 yards. If the target is still blurry, adjust the bell more and when the target is clear simply look at your bell and you will have a solid idea of how far the target is. The process can be time-consuming but in the end is well worth it, especially if you’re not able to afford a laser rangefinder or simply don’t like to carry one.

The second most common adjustment method is through an adjustable “side wheel or side focus” which resembles an elevation or windage turret but is usually located on the left side of the scope. These parallax side wheels are usually found on long range or tactical style scopes but are becoming very common on scopes intended for airgun use. I personally prefer the side wheel to the objective bell adjustment as it’s simply smoother and easier to adjust.

The side-wheel will also allow for adjustment while the rifle is still shouldered making it the superior choice when quickly adjusting for variable ranges as well as moving targets. In many cases, especially for airguns, these scopes will have an optional larger side wheel attached via set screw or tension fit that allows for a much more precise adjustment and greater surface area to wrap your parallax range tape. It’s vital for scopes intended for airgun use to have parallax adjustment down to as low as 10 yards while many firearms scopes with parallax adjustment will begin at 25 yards. On a final note about parallax, if you’re attempting to use the optical clarity as your “rangefinder” make sure the adjustment is made while on the highest magnification that you’re scope allows since higher magnification…well, magnifies the parallax error more allowing the shooter to more finely adjust in that perfect parallax free range.

Air Rifle Reticles

When I’m shopping for an air rifle scope one of the most crucial features I look for is reticle type. While you can get away with the plain ol’ Duplex style reticle, I find that having a reticle with a few reference points to be very handy when dealing with the rainbow trajectories of airgun velocities. Imagine this scenario: You’ve spotted a squirrel at 47 yards but your rifle is zeroed for 35 yards. Logic dictates that you’ll need to aim a bit higher to account for the drop of the pellet over the additional 12 yards. With a duplex or plain wire reticle, you’ll pretty much have to eyeball it which can be inhumane to your quarry if indeed you misplace the shot. However, reticles like Mil-dots, MAP-6, ½ Mil-dot are all extremely useful reference reticles. While initially these reticles were developed to help long-range shooters estimate target ranges, for airguns they can provide aiming points to deal with both wind drift as well as projectile drop.

One important thing regarding spring-piston air rifles and reticles is that you should be shopping for a scope that has an etched glass reticle as opposed to a wire reticle. The vibrations from the spring-piston rifles can snap the wire reticles, while etched reticles are lasered directly onto the lens so you needn’t worry about reticle damage.

A pet peeve of mine is the absolute market flood of a feature called illuminated reticles (IR) and are particularly abhorrent on low priced scopes. The idea is that a small LED will illuminate the reticle and allow the shooter to see the reticle in low light conditions. However, the target tends to get blurred out even on the lowest brightness settings. The IR also adds unnecessary weight and more moving parts to the optic. I’ve shot both firearms and airguns in very austere, low light, dreary conditions and have never felt the need for IR within my scope. Higher quality optics and glass are the only thing that will allow better target and reticle clarity in low light. However, when shopping for air rifle scopes it’s almost an included feature these days on many scopes and has that “tacticool” appeal… just be aware they may not work the way you’d like.

Magnification, Tube Size and Objective

When it comes to scopes you’re going to run into either variable magnification or fixed magnification. Each style has their pros and cons with variable magnification being the most popular choice for most people today.

With a variable magnification, the range is typically represented by the first two numbers followed by an objective size such as 3-9X40mm; The 3 indicates 3x normal (vision) magnification up to 9x with the magnification wheel being very easy to see and adjust on the fly. The number 40mm indicates the size in millimeters of the objective lens of the scope. Typically, the larger the objective, the more light the scope is going to allow into the scope translating into a brighter image. However, keep in mind that with large objectives you will need to mount the scope in higher mounts so that the scope will clear the barrel. Bigger isn’t always better and you may find that when the scope sits higher it becomes difficult to attain a good cheek weld and consistent shooting positions. Also, the closer the scope axis is to the center axis of the barrel the less you’ll need to adjust for trajectories (there is some complicated mathematics to this, but the closer the better). I’ve found that I prefer scopes with objectives ranging from 32mm to 44mm as this gives the best compromise of optical brightness and keeping the scope close to the barrel.

Airgun targets tend to be smaller and may require more magnification than a typical 3-9x40mm that’s usually at home on a deer rifle. Scopes with magnification up to 16x or even 20x can be just the ticket for airgun use. Be careful, though, as high magnification doesn’t necessarily mean high quality. Low quality-high magnification scopes can be a nightmare to use as the edges of the scope maybe become blurred or hazy.

Fixed magnification scopes are just that, the magnification is fixed and not “zoom-able”. While they’re a bit less versatile than a variable, these scopes often weigh MUCH less. Due to less moving parts fixed magnification scopes are extremely durable and tend to hold their original zero very well. So how the hell do you know which preset magnification to pick since you only get to choose one? My best advice on this front is to start with a variable magnification scope (if you’re new to scopes) and play with different magnification ranges for the various scenarios you shoot in. Personally, 6X and 10X cover most of my uses from hunting to informal plinking.

Finally, you may be wondering what tube size is best; 30mm or 1”. The tube is the non-tapered area on either side of the adjustment turrets and is where your scope rings/mounts will go. There is a lot of hoopla on the internet saying that 30mm is inherently brighter than a 1″ tube, however, brightness is actually a product of exit pupil diameter (this can be a whole article in of itself) and brightness claims are largely inflated. The main advantages that a 30mm tube offers is a thicker and more durable tube wall as well as bigger internal lenses which can increase optical performance. Though, a lot of manufacturers will use 1” tube lenses inside of a 30mm tube so that the shooter has more “clicks” to work with effectively increasing the usable range of adjustment. For airgunners, 30mm became a popular choice as these tubes are usually used on tactically oriented scopes with mil-dot reticles, zeroing target turrets, higher magnification ranges and all the infinitely adjustable goodies that are perfect for improving airgun precision.

Here Are the 19 Best Air Rifle Scopes

 

1. Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9x40mm

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My Review: .50 BMG so a spring driven air gun is no problem. The Leupold torture test is far worse than any airgun.

While it has 1/4 MOA clicks, that is it. You cannot make fingertip adjustments for elevation or windage in the field.  

It has the Leupold Ultimate Slam reticle which is better than a plain reticle. For an airgun, you really need a fully hash-marked reticle to reach out to 100 yards. If you are staying under 50 yards, this will do.

Features

  • It is manufactured by Leupold.
  • 44mm front bell
  • 9x zoom

Pros

  • Leupold
  • Lifetime transferable warranty

Cons

  • Not field adjustable
  • Starts at 3x magnification
 

2. Helix Rifle Scope 6-24×50 FFP

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My Review: The Helix has a 24x zoom and someone will say that is way too much for an air rifle. It gives you a 4-foot field of view at 100 yards.

This is what you want for long range air rifle sniping. If you pop pigeons, invasive birds or rats with an air gun, you want head shots. Getting as much zoom as you can makes you be more precise with the shot.

This is a heavy scope. However, when you get into serious PCP rifles, you have a heavy gun anyway. You want a good bipod.

You get a choice of Mil-dot reticles in MRADs or MOA. MRAD is milliradian and MOA is minute of angle. They are just different ways of making measurements. They are equally good.

Features

  • Fingertip adjustable turrets
  • Return to zero turrets
  • 30mm tube
  • 1/4 MOA clicks
  • Second focal plane

Pros

  • Superior zoom
  • Parallax adjustment
  • Lifetime warranty
  • Sunshade included

Cons

  • Not for spring piston guns
  • too high power zoom for some guns
  • Starts at 6x magnification
  • Heavy 1.62 pounds
 

3. UTG Accushot 4-16X44 (Best Under $100)

UTG 4-16X44 30mm Scope, AO, 36-color Mil-dot, w/ Rings , Black

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My Review: The UTG Accushot is easily the most feature-laden scope in the $100 price range and has remained a top choice for the discerning air gunner for many years.

The Accushot sports a mil-dot reticle, zero reset-able locking target turrets, side focus parallax adjustment, a generous 44mm objective, and a hefty 30mm tube. It’s literally every feature that an air gunner could want in an air rifle scope and a bargain at that! If that wasn’t enough, the scope comes equipped with flip-up scope caps to protect your lenses and a set of 30mm Picatinny rings.

The illuminated reticle also tends to be a little bright and can wash out and distort the reticle. Overall, I can’t say enough good things about this optic and would recommend it to anyone.

I’ve owned scopes a lot more expensive, but I always keep an Accushot in my stable since they’ve been so reliable for me.

Key Features:

  • Mil-Dot reticle
  • Lockable and Zeroing Target Turrets
  • Side Focus parallax adjustment
  • Extremely feature-laden for the price
  • Durable; perfect for all power plants
  • Terrific Bargain

Pros

  • 16x zoom
  • Parallax dial
  • Mil-dot reticle
  • 44 mm front bell

Cons

  • Big
 

4. Airmax Riflescope 6-24×50

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My Review: The Hawke Airmax 30 FFP is the top line Hawke air rifle scope. It packs plenty of features into the scope.

This first focal plane scope keeps the hash-mark reticle the same size as you zoom in. That is important in an airgun scope. When you zoom into 1-inch target 75 yards away, you do not want the reticle to hide the target.

With a 24x zoom, you have a 5.2 foot field of view at 100 yards. That is definitely tight enough to zero on a starling or a varmint’s head.

The scope uses milliradians (MRADs) which is just a different way of measuring than minute of angle. Once you learn MRAD, which takes maybe 3 minutes, it is practically the same as MOA.

It includes scope covers and a sunshade.

The turrets are tall. Some people may not like this, but it does not affect the scope’s performance in any way.

Features

  • Illuminated reticle
  • Side adjust parallax
  • 30mm tube

Pros

  • Good for spring piston
  • Removable parallax side wheel

Cons

  • Expensive for an airgun scope
  • Does not have fingertip adjustments
 

5. Evike AIM Airsoft Dual-Rail 4X32

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My Review: Want to get a tactical look for your military-style airgun? Evike’s Dual-Rail 4×32 is what you need. This scope looks straight out of a Navy Seal’s foot locker.

The side rails let you attach a laser on one side and a small light on the other. 

This is an awesome training scope for teaching kids how to shoot 3-gun tournaments. Airguns have almost no recoil and tactical airguns function like their big brothers. The scope functions just like a tactical scope on a 3-gun AR 15.

Some models come with a top rail instead of the fiber optic and no rear iron sight.

It uses a CR2032 battery for illumination. You should get pretty long life from the battery.

Features

  • Built-in iron sights on the top
  • Front fiber optic
  • Reticle etched on glass
  • Red or green illumination
  • Integrated mount

Pros

  • Infinite adjust rear iron sight
  • 2 short side rails
  • Magnifier compatible
  • Good for spring piston
  • Best for semi or full-auto tactical guns

Cons

  • If you want a hunt scope, this is not it
  • Fixed 4x magnification
 

6. Hawke Airmax

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My Review:  The Hawke Airmax AO  is actually a series of air gun rifle scopes. The first in the series is the 3-9×32 and it goes up to 4-12×50. The zoom and front bell are the only differences.

This is the little brother to the Airmax 30 FFP.

If you are just plinking or popping squirrels, then 3-9×32 is plenty of scope. If you are going into the woods under cover, such as airsoft tournaments, invest in the 4-12×50. You will appreciate the light gathering abilities of the large objective lens.

The reticle is etched into the glass. This is a major difference between this and wire reticle scopes. Short of a catastrophic failure or accident, the reticle will not brea. Cheap scopes with wire reticles can break with the forward recoil.

The AMX hash mark and mil dot reticle lets you adjust your shot through the scope. It does not have fingertip adjustment knobs.

Features

  • Built with airguns in mind
  • Mil dot reticle allows for adjustment

Pros

  • OK for spring piston
  • Front parallax adjustment
  • High zoom on some models
  • Medium to large bell depending on model

Cons

  • No fingertip adjustment
  • Rings not included
 

7. Winchester by Daisy AO 2-7×32

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My Review: My Review: If you’re looking for the cheapest scope to get the job done, Winchester is your best friend. They’ve been making optics since most of our readers were born and offer up a fantastic budget line of scopes. It’s hard to complain about a scope that simply works and is under $100.

This scope comes with a magnification level of 2-7x and an objective lens of 32mm which is a pretty standard offering for air rifle optics. Furthermore, this scope has the basic level of durability features such as being fog proof and shockproof. This scope can certainly take a beating and seems to hold up very well, especially against its competitors.

All in all, this is probably one of the best economical options for an airgun that a minor will be operating or something to just throw on and go plink around in the backyard. It’s not exactly ideal for hunting but I suppose you could get away with it!

Key Features:

  • Crosshair reticle
  • Single piece proprietary Daisy design
  • Adjustable objective (AO) feature
  • Products from Winchester are tried and true, you know you’re getting what you paid for
  • Winchester has an easy and efficient return process.

Pros

  • Purpose built for airguns
  • Inexpensive
  • Front bell focus
  • Ok for spring piston

Cons

  • Small front bell
 

8. Discovery VT-1

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My Review: This is an amazing looking scope for a ridiculously low price that performs completely unexpectedly! The Discovery VT-1 is a very odd scope with magnification starting at 4.5x and is variable up to 18x and sports a 44mm adjustable objective lens.

Despite being relatively inexpensive, this scope offers a whole lot of value at its roughly hundred dollar price tag. Something that I really enjoyed was the 4.5” eye relief that far better than most scopes at this price point.

The reticle is etched and the scope is equipped with an erector support system ensuring its safe from the abusive recoil of an air rifle and offers both red and green illumination options with five different brightness settings. The turrets offer adjustments at ⅛ MOA and feel rather smooth and offer a locking option and quick zero resets.

In the deal comes a sunshade, some flip-up lens caps, a cleaning cloth, and an Allen wrench. Keep in mind that the illumination is battery-powered by one of those little saucer batteries and unfortunately they don’t throw that in with the scope, so you’ll need to make sure you pick one of those up! Overall, this is one of the best air rifle scopes for the money.

Key Features:

  • 4.5-18x magnification with a 44mm adjustable objective lens
  • Tons of shock absorption including protective coatings, glass-etched reticle, and an erector support system
  • Both red and green battery-powered illumination with adjustable brightness control
 

9. Hatsan Optima 3-12X50AO

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My Review: If you know about airguns, you also know Hatsan produces some quality air guns. The Optima is purpose-built under the Hatsan name for airguns.

This is a mid-level scope from the company. With a 12x maximum zoom, it should have fingertip knobs for making shot-to shot adjustments. That is the sole negative with this scope.

It has a mil-dot reticle so you can adjust your shot based on conditions if you know how the pellet performs.

It comes with 1mm dovetail mounts. If you put it on a standard Picatinny rail, you will need different mounts.

Features

  • 1/4 MOA clicks
  • Mil-dot reticle
  • Mounts included
  • 1″ tube

Pros

  • Big 12x zoom
  • 7.3 feet field of view at 100 yards
  • Parallax adjustments
  • Spring piston OK

Cons

  • No fingertip adjustments
 

10. Gamo Air Gun Scope LC4X32

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My Review: Gamo is a topmaker of mid-level airguns. Their scopes are similar. The LC 4×32 is built with air gun recoil in mind.

It is a fixed 4-power scope so it may be more zoom than you really need for those close shots and not enough for those long shots. Good airguns are capable of headshots on a squirrel at 100 yards.

The 32mm front bell is a bit small for a 4x power scope. It is also in a plastic tube so be careful tightening the rings.

Features

  • Purpose built for an airgun.
  • 32mm objective lens diameter.

Pros

  • Good for spring piston
  • Rings included

Cons

  • No parallax adjustment
 

11. Hammers 3-9x40AO

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My Review:  Built with airsoft and airguns in mind, the Hammers is an inexpensive scope that is suited for smaller caliber airguns. Do not use it on 30-caliber and larger.

The 9x zoom is all you need for airgun range. It will let you reach out to 100 yards, though that is a serious stretch for some airguns.

Features: 

  • Made from aluminum 
  • Magnification minimum of 3x
  • Weighs 24oz

Pros

  • Inexpensive
  • Parallax adjustment on the bell
  • Single piece rail and mount included

Cons

  • Not good for bigger calibers
  • No fingertip adjustments
  • Small 32mm front bell
 

12. UTG Leapers Inc 1-8x28mm 30mm

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My Review: The UTG Leapers 1-8 zoom is a first focal plane scope suited for big bore PCP guns. Since the reticle stays the same size as you zoom in, you don’t worry about it hiding parts of the target.

The 8x zoom is plenty given the performance of big bore airguns. Reaching much past 50 yards, especially on big game, is questionable. The pellet energy may not be enough for a humane kill.

Another reason for this being a big bore scope is the 34mm tube. 34mm rings are harder to find than 1 inch or 30mm. While this is not as good for gathering light as a big front bell, it is better than a 1-inch tube.

Features

  • Fingertip turrets
  • Compact
  • Big zoom ring
  • Removable throw lever
  • Lighted reticle

Pros

  • Ideal for big bores
  • Return to zero turrets
  • Great price

Cons

  • Not for spring piston
  • 34mm rings hard to find
  • No parallax adjustments
 

13. Evike Airsoft – Matrix 3.5-10×40 Illuminated

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My Review: Unless you know about airsoft, you’ve probably not heard of Evike. It is a major player in the airsoft world and its scopes are purpose built for airsoft guns. The Matrix 3.5-10×40 is one of their top models. 

This Evike is listed as an airsoft sniper model. It has fingertip turrets for shot to shot adjustment in the field, if you have time. The reticle is illuminated in red or green. You can change the color with the intensity dial. It is a 30mm tube.

This is a good scope for small to mid-bore air rifles.

Features

  • Ships with mounting system

Pros

  • Parallax adjustment
  • Suitable for spring piston

Cons

  • 3.5 starting zoom may be too much
 

14. X-Sight LTV Ultra Light Day/Night

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My Review: Ratters, people who shoot rats, know night time is the right time. These airgunners need a night scope and night vision is ideal for this. The X-Sight is perfect.

ATN makes some of the most popular night vision scopes around. The X-Sight LTV is a reasonably priced scope to let you start enjoying these hunts.

Night vision is not thermal vision. Night vision requires some light, natural or artificial. An infrared illuminator is included.

Night vision has a limited range compared to thermal scopes. Airguns also have a very limited range compared to traditional guns, so range is not an issue.

Features

  • Records video
  • ATN’s one-shot zeroing
  • 30mm tube
  • Multiple reticle choices

Pros

  • Use in daylight or night
  • Multiple reticle choices
  • Micro SD card replaceable
  • IR illuminator included
  • Rings included

Cons

  • Absolutely NOT for piston guns
  • Does require some light for use at night
 

15. Lancer Tactical 3-9×40

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My Review: The Lancer 3-9×40 mimics the most popular regular hunting scope around. The 3x beginning zoom may be a bit tight for close shooting. The 9x zoom will get you close enough for most shots.

It has a mil-dot reticle. If you know the conditions and know your gun’s performance, you can drop shots with precision.

Features

  • Ships with cowitness high rise rings
  • Sunshade included
  • 1-inch tube

Pros

  • Inexpensive
  • Reasonable zoom range
  • 40mm bell is good
  • OK for spring piston

Cons

  • 3x may be too much at close range
 

16. Crosman 0290RD Wide View Red Dot

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My Review: Red dots are as at home on airguns as they are on shotguns, rifles and handguns. The Crosman Wide View is purpose built for airguns.

The Wideview has slightly different adjustment controls compared to what you are used to seeing in a red dot.  The elevation is on the rear and the windage is under the sight.  It is also a big longer than a traditional red dot.

As this is a screw setup, the adjustments are as small as you can make them.

It has an integral mount. You can buy a set of risers to clamp the scope to the barrel if the gun does not have a rail.

Red dots are capable of handling the bi-direction recoil of spring piston guns.

While you can hunt with it, you need to be close.

Features

  • A red dot
  • Works on air pistols

Pros

  • Very lightweight
  • Really long battery life
  • Compatible with a magnifier
  • Attaches to barrel with extra mounts
  • Unlimited eye relief
  • Fast target acquisition
  • Inexpensive
  • Purpose built for airguns, including spring pistons

Cons

  • Does not provide pinpoint accuracy
  • Needs a CR2032 battery to work
  • Limited to 1x zoom without magnifier
  • Red dot covers a lot of the target at a distance.
 

17. Daisy Electronic Red Dot Point

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My Review: If you read the Crosman Red Dot review just above, you are right to wonder what the differences between it and the Daisy red dot are. Not a lot.

It is shorter and it has more traditional windage and elevation controls. The slide switch is big, as on the Crosman.

Which one you get truly depends on how you want the sight adjustments to work and whether you want Daisy or Crosman branded on the side.

Features

  • A red dot
  • Works on air pistols
  • Compatible with the Crosman barrel mount

Pros

  • Very lightweight
  • Really long battery life
  • Compatible with a magnifier
  • Attaches to barrel with extra mounts
  • Unlimited eye relief
  • Fast target acquisition
  • Inexpensive

Cons

  • Does not provide pinpoint accuracy
  • Needs a battery to work
  • Limited to 1x zoom without magnifier
  • Red dot covers a lot of the target at a distance
 

18. Lancer Tactical 1 x 30 2MOA

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My Review: Lance is another company that makes optics for airsoft and airguns. The Tactical 1×30  is a red dot suitable for rifles or handguns. The high-rise mount makes it ideal for co witnessing.

You can use this with a magnifier, but you must get a set of high mounts. Your gun setup will dictate how high the magnifier mounts need to be.

The 2 MOA dot is really meant for handguns, but it will serve for air rifles if you are under 50 yards. Beyond that, get a regular airgun scope

Features

  • Pic rail mount
  • Waterproof

Pros

  • Cowitness
  • Fast target acquisition
  • Big illumination dial
  • 11 light settings
  • Unlimited eye relief
  • Compact
  • OK for spring piston

Cons

  • May be too high for close shots
  • Red color dot only
  • 2 MOA dot covers a lot of the target at 50 yards or more
  • 1x magnification

 

19. Crosman 0410 Targetfinder

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My Review: The Crosman Targetfinder is meant for the .177 pellet and BB gun rifles the company sells. The price, incredibly cheap, reflects that.

Throwing this scope into the list, because it will work just fine on the Crosman and Daisy pump rifles.

If punching paper and just enjoying shooting with a quiet gun, this will work. If you are interested in pottint varmints or precision shooting, get a different air gun and a different scope.

Features

  • Comes with 11mm mount

Pros

  • OK for spring piston
  • Fix 4x power

Cons

  • Long
  • Tiny front bell
 

Also Read: 7 Best Rifle Scopes for .300 Win Mag

FAQ:

Does an air rifle need a special scope?

A PCP air rifle does not need a special scope. A spring piston air rifle does. However, a scope on an air rifle will significantly improve its accuracy.

Will a crossbow scope work on an air rifle?

The answer is simple. If it is rated for use on an air rifle, you can use it. Otherwise, it might not work as expected.

What is an AO scope?

AO means Adjustable Objective. When a scope says it is AO, it means it has parallax adjustment. It increases the accuracy.

How does rifle scope Parallax work?

A scope parallax is an inconsistency when you try to see through a rifle scope. It happens because you are seeing a projected enlarged image of the target and it is far away.

Let me know if you have any questions or comments below. Thanks for reading and be sure to check out some of our other guides before you go!

6 thoughts on “19 Best Air Rifle Scopes in 2024 | (Ranked by a Marine)”

  1. The search for a scope for my Airforce Condor SS .25 cal eventually lead me to your review. I went with the Aeon 3-12×50, it fit my list of features perfect which were 30mm tube, side wheel adjust parallax, etched reticle, mill dots (I went with the mill dot version) non-lighted reticle I am 52 and a bit old school on that particular part however I love dot scope/sight on my AR’s, 10/22, and Glock 17. I am very impressed with the scope to say the least. I have a Leupold Mk4 M1 x16 on my heavy barrel Remington 700 .308 that I purchased in 1998, and I have to say I am as happy with the Aeon as I am the Leupold now I am not saying the quality is the same I am saying for the money you get a very high quality scope. I paid $199 for this scope from Airgun Depot and when I took it out of the box and started going over it I was impressed the cross hairs are very fine, the side focus is smooth but not loose, the turrets adjustments were positive and solid, the glass was super clear, the scope tube was like a tank. Again I can not believe the quality you get for $199 I went with the BKL rings with the single locking screw this worries me a bit on the 11mm rail, compared with my Leupold base and the rings which uses a socket set to tighten! We will just have to see I can alway upgrade the rings. My next purchase in a powder burner is a tactical rifle like the Ruger PR, guess which scope will go on it. Thanks for your review Mike Sims, Sevierville Tennessee

  2. Great piece on air rifle scopes. I use air rifles for hunting and have been looking for a scope for my rifle. This information helped me a lot!

  3. Nice article and review. I can get the Bushnell Banner 4-12×40 in Australia and it’s currently on sale! We have access to about a 20th of the scopes you have access to in the US.

  4. Great review, I just purchased a Umarex Air Sabre and wanted a decent scope to mount. They rate the SWFA SS AO 10×42 mil dot #1 which I just happen to have bought for 100$ last year from my local gun shop. They didn’t know what it was no markings except for SS 10×42 30mm made in Japan, awesome optics. It may be a bit large, but I bet I can hit the fly off the pig’s neck.

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