When it comes to varmint hunting, having the right scope can make all the difference, in this review we look at the best varmint scope recommendations.
What is Varmint Hunting?
Varmint hunting is best described as the practice of hunting small pests or nuisance animals including coyotes, prairie dogs, and groundhogs. These animals are majorly hunted because they damage crops, attack domesticated animals, and may carry diseases.
Varmint hunting is done in open areas and at long distances and hence requires high-powered rifles and cartridges.
Varmint hunting is popular among hunters because it is challenging, helps control the varmint population, and is a great alternative to big game hunting, especially off-season.
What Makes the Best Varmint Scope?
Varmint hunting entails exposure to adverse conditions such as rain, mud, snow, knocks, dense vegetation, and rocks. This speaks of how the activity is challenging as equally as it is fun. You need to be well-equipped to make the most of your expedition. One way to do this is to have a good varmint scope.
A Good Varmint scope should have a high magnification since varmint hunting requires precise and accurate shots at long range, when choosing a reticle a first focal plane is best for long-range shooting. A larger objective lens means more light gets into the scope for clearer images even in low light conditions, so get a scope with a larger objective lens.
Durable construction is also a must-have feature for a varmint scope, you will be in the field where the weather conditions are harsh, so the scope must be made of a durable material like aircraft grade aluminum, be shock and impact proof, and also water and fog proof.
Easy adjustment is also key, it helps in easy and quick magnification changes plus windage and elevation adjustments. Also, make sure the riflescope is within your budget.
The Vortex Viper PST Gen II 5-25×50 FFP Riflescope meets the above criteria and is definitely the best varmint scope on the market.
Having the best varmint scope guarantees a more fulfilling experience. With so many scope choices available, it can be difficult to know the right one. We have a roundup of the best varmint scopes for you to pick from.
Best Varmint Scopes
1) Vortex Viper PST Gen II 5-25x50mm Riflescope
Vortex is a renowned scope brand that manufactures world-class quality scopes, Vortex Viper PST Gen II 5-25x50mm is the best varmint scope on the market, it features a first focal plane reticle, XR fully multi-coated lenses, Armortek coatings, Tactical-Style Turrets, Fast Focus Eyepiece and an Illuminated Glass-etched Reticle.
The XR coatings and XD glass have earned a mention. These improve color resolution, clarity, and sharpness of the sight image. Further, they improve light transmission and have anti-reflective properties.
The Viper PST can undoubtedly withstand the weather. It boasts a waterproof, shockproof, and fog-proof construction. It can be counted on to work and always operates without a hitch.
The scope has turrets in a tactical style. They are of good quality, have the ideal height and size, and click positively. As a result, they are simple to adjust with wet or gloved hands.
The MRAD reticle features red illumination. A very handy feature is the on/off illumination dial, which is located outside of the adjustable objective knob and has off positions between each brightness level.
Specifications
- Length: 16 in
- Weight: 31.2 oz
- Eye Relief: 3.4 in
- Exit Pupil: 2 – 10 mm
- Tube Diameter: 30 mm
- Field of View, Linear: 4.8 – 24.1 ft at 100 yds
Pros
- Durable and strong aluminum 30mm tube
- Generous eye relief
- Hard Anodized Finish for durability and camouflage
- Precision-Force Spring System for maximum repeatability and ease of adjustment
- Precision-Glide Erector System for smooth magnification in the harshest conditions
- Fast, easy, and accurate windage and elevation adjustments with tactical-style turrets
- Glass-etched Reticle for reliability
- Illuminated Reticle for low light conditions
- Highly visible radius bar for turret rotations.
- Fast Focus Eyepiece for quick and easy reticle focusing.
- XD glass and XR coatings
- Excellent glass quality
- Ideal for close, medium, and long-range shooting
Cons
- Could be expensive for budget buyers
2) Barska Varmint 6-24x42mm AO Riflescope
Designed for shooting at long ranges and precision shooting, Barska Varmint 6-24×42 is the best budget varmin scope.
This scope is made for varmint hunters looking for precision and long-range advantage. It features an adjustable Objective (AO) which works magic in parallax correction. Other incredible features windage and elevation turrets, a quick access magnification zoom ring, 1″ tube construction, Mil-Dot reticle, large objective, and BARSKA’s Limited Lifetime Warranty.
The 42mm objective lens is multi-coated to boost light transmission, producing clear, sharp, and bright images.
The scope is durably made to withstand harsh outdoor conditions. The scope is a perfect companion even in wet weather conditions, as it is waterproof and fog proof. Its shockproof capability also allows it to withstand bumps and knocks. The robust matte black finish fortifies the durability.
When hunting, the quick-access magnification zoom ring gives a focused view in a matter of seconds. High turrets are easy to grip for optimal precision.
Specifications
- Length: 15.7 in
- Weight: 20.46 oz
- Eye Relief: 3.5 in
- Exit Pupil: 1.75 – 7 mm
- Tube Diameter: 1 in
- Field of View, Linear: 15/5@6x, 4.2/1.4@24x
Pros
- Matte black finish
- Best for Long-range accurate targeting and shooting
- Multi-coated lenses
- Adjustable objective for parallax correction
- Magnification zoom ring
- High windage and elevation turrets
- Cost-effective
- Holds zero well
- All-weather construction (shockproof, waterproof, and fog proof)
- Backed by BARSKA’s Limited Lifetime Warranty
Cons
- Not ideal for short-range hunting
3) Leupold VX-6HD 4-24x52mm Riflescope
Leupold VX-6HD 4-24x52mm is designed with avid hunters in mind no wonder it incorporates the Xtended Twilight Lens System. Instead of relying on midday light, the optical system focuses on using all the available light from the whole spectrum that is visible to the human eye. Combine this with the Indexed Matched Lens System, and you get the best image quality ever seen before.
The scope’s DiamondCoat 2 lens coating keeps scratches, rain, and fingerprint from interfering with the lenses’ performance.
Twin Bias Spring Erector System ensures maximum shockproofing.
The scope also features calcium-fluoride lenses which are not only HD but also very clear and crisp at all magnification levels.You also get an illuminated for low light conditions.
Another unique feature is the Motion Sensor Technology which automatically deactivates reticle illumination after 5 minutes of inactivity, this saves and extends battery life.
Specifications
- Length: 14.65 in
- Weight: 25.4 oz
- Eye Relief: 3.7 – 3.8 in
- Exit Pupil:2.2 mm
- Tube Diameter: 34 mm
- Field of View, Linear: 28.1 – 4.8 ft at 100 yds
Pros
- Durable and strong Aircraft Quality Aluminum construction
- Custom Dial System for elevation quick dials
- MST (Motion Sensor Technology)
- Black matte finish for low glare
- Extended Battery Life
- Waterproof and shockproof
- High-quality multicoated glass and optics
- Illuminated reticle for low light conditions
- Push-button ZeroLock system
- Guard-Ion lens coating
- Extreme Fast-Focus Eyepiece
Cons
- No adjustable objective
4) Vortex Crossfire II 3-9x40mm Riflescope
Vortex Crossfire II 3-9x40mm delivers impeccably at a pocket-friendly price, making it a candidate for varmint hunting. The scope does well in medium distances; hence worth investing in.
Vortex Crossfire II 3-9×40 is the best varmint scope for medium-range hunting, it features a fast focus eye relief, a long eye relief, fully multi-coated lenses, durable aluminum construction, and resettable MOA turrets.
Cutting-edge optical technology enables successful coyote hunting at dawn and dusk when the creatures are more active. The lenses are fully multi-coated to maximize light transmission and provide the shooter with clear images at all magnification settings.
The reset turrets will enable you to precisely adjust your zero after sighting your rifle scope before focusing on the reticle. The turrets are capped to prevent unintentional dialing after zeroing in on the target.
Its construction is another attribute that is worth noting. Like other Vortex scopes, the Crossfire II is designed from aircraft-grade aluminum that guarantees many years of reliable use.
Since there’s a chance of the scope of taking a beat while on a hunt, the scope remains indestructible. This is in addition to the O-ring seals and nitrogen purging that make the scope waterproof and fog proof.
Specifications
- Length: 12 in
- Weight: 15 oz
- Eye Relief: 3.8 – 4.4 in
- Exit Pupil:4.4 – 13.3 mm
- Tube Diameter: 1 in
- Field of View, Linear: 12.6 – 34.1 ft at 100 yds
Pros
- Waterproof, fog proof, and shockproof
- Hard anodized finish for low glare and camouflage
- Fully multi-coated optics for incredible light transmission
- Capped resettable turrets for easy windage and elevation adjustments
- A fast-focus eyepiece for quick focusing
- Single-piece tube for strength and durability
- Long eye relief
- Well-priced
- Exceptional light transmission
- Easy to dial in on the target and reset to zero
Cons
- Flip-up scope covers are not included
5) Firefield RapidStrike 1-6x24mm Riflescope
Firefield RapidStrike is the best varmint scope for ar-15 thanks to its 1-6x magnification range, sturdy aluminum chassis, IP67 waterproof, dustproof, fog-proof, and its ability to withstand up to.338 caliber recoil.
Fully multi-coated optics ensure optimal light transmission for brilliantly clear images. Five brightness levels on a red, green, or black Circle Dot reticle to suit your surroundings and target preferences are another plus for the scope.
It weighs only 14.5 ounces, making it ideal for hunting where walking for long miles is inevitable, and it can run for up to 100 hours using the CR2032 batteries. A throw lever is also present for seamless magnification adjustments on the fly.
Specifications
- Length: 9.8 in
- Weight: 14.5 oz
- Eye Relief: 4 in
- Exit Pupil:4 – 24 mm
- Tube Diameter: 30 mm
- Field of View, Linear: 102 ft at 100 yds
Pros
- Fully multi-coated optics
- Runs on CR2032 batteries
- Sturdy aluminum housing
- The reticle is illuminated in green or red colors
- Pop-up locking turrets
- IP67 waterproof rating
- Matte black finish for glare and camouflage
- Lightweight yet durable
- Easily adjustable windage and elevation
- Price is reasonable
- Easy operation
- Wide field of view
Cons
- Shockproof to 3ft only
6) Trijicon Credo HX 1-6x24mm Riflescope
If you intend to hit the trail when it’s rainy or snowy, you can trust the Trijicon Credo HX CRHX624 1-6x24mm Riflescope to not let you down. The scope is well-designed to handle anything that mother nature throws at it.
Trijicon Credo HX 1-6x24mm Riflescope is the best scope for hog, varmint, and whitetail hunting.
The scope features fully multi-coated lenses with anti-reflective properties to deliver the best images ever viewed.
It also has the Bindon Aiming Concept that allows you to shoot with both eyes open. More situational awareness is what you get as a result.
The low-profile turrets are capped to ensure the protection of the adjustment knobs.
The model is available with various reticles and includes the battery-operated green MOA Segmented Circle Reticle so you can quickly find your target.
Specifications
- Length: 10.9 in
- Weight: 18.3 oz
- Eye Relief: 3.5 – 3.9 in
- Exit Pupil:0.47 – 0.16 in
- Tube Diameter: 30 mm
- Field of View, Linear: 113.4 – 18.8 ft at 100 yds
Pros
- Black anodized finish
- Quick target acquisition
- Bindon Aiming Concept
- Fully multi-coated lenses
- Illuminated reticle
- Excellent optics
- Robust housing for durability
- Wide field of view
Cons
- Quite Pricey
Related
- 7 Best Thermal Scopes for Coyote Hunting
- 7 Best Night Vision Scopes for Coyote Hunting
- 8 Best Scopes for AR-15 Coyote Hunting
Factors to Consider when Choosing the Best Varmint Scope
- Magnification
Your targets will be viewed closer if you use a scope with a wide zoom power range. Depending on the distance you intend to cover, you can easily find a scope with the ideal magnification for your needs. For varmint hunting, scopes will long-range capabilities are the best,5X-25X is one of the best magnification levels.
- Adjustments
You can adjust for distance and elevation before shooting your rifle by using a good rifle scope. The last thing you want to happen when you’re in the heat of battle is to lose sight of a varmint while you’re adjusting your rifle scope. The finger knobs provide the best potential grip on the side of the scope, some of which even have rubber coating.
- Durability
For optimal durability, the scope should be made of aircraft-grade aluminum. We emphasize shock-proof options because a good rifle sight should be able to withstand recoil damage.
Varmint hunting is an all-weather activity; therefore, varmint scopes are waterproof and fog-proof. The best protection against the heaviest rain and mist will be provided by gas purging and o-ring seals.
- Glass quality
Your scope’s glass quality provides clarity and makes it simple to identify varmints. The glass needs to be crystal clear from a distance for you to pinpoint where the varmints are. The quality glass will not only be clear but will also improve your capacity for fresh imaging.
- Reticle
Reticles come in a wide variety of types. The dot reticle, the BDC reticle, the mildot reticle, and the illuminated reticle are a few types. The red dot reticle is the best choice if you want a reticle that is easy to read. However, if you plan to hunt in low light, you should get the illuminated reticle.
A mil-dot reticle is used on scopes that are made for range finding. The BDC reticle is your other option. When estimating hold-over is an issue while hunting at various ranges, this reticle is appropriate.
How do I Maintain my Varmint Scope?
With regular cleaning, lens covering, and storage, you can maintain the condition of your scope. When not using the scope, cover the lens with a lens cap and clean it with a microfiber cloth. When storing your rifle, cover the equipment with a scope cover and keep it away from moisture.
When is the Best Time to Hunt Varmints?
Coyotes, foxes, and bobcats are just a few of the varmints that are nocturnal animals. Dusk and dawn are the best times to take them down. Because of this, a top varmint scope needs to boast exceptional low-light performance.
Conclusion
For whatever varmints you are hunting, a good scope purposefully built for this purpose is ideal. The review above will help you make the right purchasing decision so that your next varmint hunting experience is more fun and successful.