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RIFLE SCOPE REVIEWS 2015 | BEST RIFLESCOPES UNDER 200

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> The TOP 6 under $200 Riflescopes comparison based on Quality, Clarity and
> Price.

The rule of thumb when buying a rifle scope used to be “Expect to pay 3 to 6
times the price that you paid for your rifle”. That statement is hopelessly
outdated as scope manufacturers have stepped up their game with increases in
technology, better work practices and the lower cost of raw materials; not to
mention that the price of new rifles entering the market has steadily risen in
that time period.  The manufacturers have been listening to their customers and
taking the most useful feedback and incorporating that into their designs for
well over a decade. With an array of quality rifle scopes available for under
$200, we decided to have a classic “shoot out” to determine, what is the best
rifle scope that is under $200?

Have more to spend? Check out the Best Rifle Scope
Under $300 Article.

We had several criteria for our testing: the scope had to be variable powered
(between 3X and 24X), all scopes had to have a 1″ diameter nitrogen filled tube
to level the playing field and most importantly the scope had to be suitable to
withstand the rigors of 200 rounds of centerfire rifle ammunition without losing
zero. It went without saying that all of the scopes had to be rated as
waterproof, fog proof and would require multi-coated lenses. This turned out to
be easier than expected and we chose the following six models! :

 * Barska
 * AO VarmintThe Barska 6.5-20x50 AO Varmint Target Dot Riflescope is the
   perfect scope for varmint hunting and target-shooting practice. The large,
   adjustable 50mm objective lens offers 6.5 to 20 times variable magnification
   for increased light transmission.
 * Ideal for varmint hunting
 * The Varmint's large objective lens coupled with multi-coated optics increases
   light transmission and provides superior clarity. Ideal for varmint hunting,
   target shooting, long-range and precision shooting. Waterproof, fogproof and
   shockproof.
 * Reticle: Target Dot
 * Illuminated? NO
 * Type: Variable
 * Magnification: 6.5x-20x
 * Objective Lense Size: 50mm
 * Exit Pupil: 7.7 - 2.5mm
 * Eye Relief: 3.6 inches
 * Field of View: 16 feet @ 100 yards (6.5x); 5.7 feet @ 100 yards (20x)
 * Click Value: 1/8 MOA
 * Adj Range: ?
 * Length: 15.95 inches
 * Tube Diameter: 1 inch
 * Weight: 22.3 ounces
 * Finish: Black
 * Model: AC10048 

Results
 * Bushnell
 * BannerAsk any trophy hunter or taxidermist, and he or she will tell you more
   tags are filled in the low-light hours than any other time. Enter the
   Bushnell Banner 3-9x50 riflescope, which is designed to excel in early
   morning and late evening light.
 * Low-light riflescope
 * With its Dusk & Dawn Brightness (DDB) multicoated lense adds clarity and
   brightness when the sun is low or under heavy cloud cover. The scope adds
   precious minutes to every hunting day.
 * Multi-X
 * YES (Red/Green)
 * Variable
 * 3x-9x
 * 50mm
 * 16mm (3x), 5.6mm (9x)
 * 3.8 inches
 * 36 feet @ 100 feet (3x), 12 feet @ 100 feet (9x)
 * 1/4 MOA
 * 56 MOA
 * 16 inches
 * 1 inch
 * 20 ounces
 * Black
 * 713959I

Results
 * Leupold
 * VX-1Leupold optics offer better optical clarity as a result of lead-free
   glass lenses. In addition to its superior optics, the lenses are produced
   with none of the environmentally damaging by-products common to standard
   glass production.
 * Quantum Optical System
 * The Quantum Optical System, has lead-free glass and Multicoat 4 lens
   coatings. The result is up to 92% total light transmission, and a sight
   picture that is incredibly bright, clear and razor sharp.
 * Duplex
 * NO
 * Variable
 * 3x-9x
 * 40mm
 * 13.3 – 4.4 mm
 * 4.25-3.7 inches
 * 3x - 32.9'; 9x - 13.1'
 * 1/4 MOA
 * 52 MOA
 * 12.6 inches
 * 1 inch
 * 11.2 ounces
 * Matte Black
 * 113874

Results
 * Nikon
 * ProstaffThe scope is built like a brick outhouse, but this ruggedness comes
   at a price of making the outer dimensions a bit larger than most typical
   hunting scopes with a 40mm objective so a shooter will need to use a set of
   high or even extra high rings to accommodate the scope on their rifle.
 * High-quality, long-range hunting power
 * Fully Multicoated Optical System: Provides up to 98% light transmission and
   maximum brightness from dawn to dusk.
 * BDC
 * NO
 * Variable
 * 3x-9x
 * 40mm
 * 13.3mm (3x), 4.4mm (9x)
 * 3.6 inches
 * 33.8 feet @ 100 yards (3x), 11.3 feet @ 100 yards (9x)
 * 1/4 MOA
 * 80 MOA
 * 12.4 inches
 * 1 inch
 * 16 ounces
 * Matte Black
 * 6722

Results
 * Nikon
 * P-223This fine scope retails for a reasonable $449.95, and doesn’t really cut
   any corners. Does everything our Leupold Mark IV does for approximately half
   the price.
 * Centerfire / AR (Modern Sporting Rifle)
 * Fully multicoated optics deliver extreme brightness and up to 98% light
   transmission.
 * BDC 600
 * NO
 * Variable
 * 3x-9x
 * 40mm
 * 4.4 - 13.3mm
 * 3.6in
 * 11.3-33.8 ft @ 100 yds
 * 1/4 MOA
 * 80 MOA
 * 12.4 inches
 * 1 inch
 * 17.1 ounces
 * Matte Black
 * 8497

Results

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THE COMPETITORS



Contents

 * The competitors
 * 1. BARSKA 6.5-20×50 AO Varmint Target Dot Riflescope
 * 2. Bushnell AR Optics Drop Zone-223 BDC Reticle Riflescope with Target
   Turrets and Side Parallax, 3-12x 40mm
 * 3. Bushnell Banner Illuminated Red/Green Multi-X Reticle Riflescope, 3-9x
   50mm
 * 4. Leupold VX-1 3-9×40 Waterproof Riflescope Matte Black, Duplex Reticle
   113874
 * 5.Nikon P-223 3-9×40 Matte BDC 600
 * 6.Nikon Pro Staff 3-9 x 40 Black Matte Riflescope (BDC)
 * The winner
 * Todays Featured Video
 * Video: Video: Bushnell Elite Tactical 6-24x50mm Rifle Scope Review Part 1

Two Nikons, two Bushnells, a Barska and a Leupold went head to head in our test.
 All testing was performed using a flat top AR-15 rifle using a stainless steel
match grade heavy barrel with a 1 in 7” twist. Ammunition was match grade Black
Hills 62 Grain Full Metal Jacket Boat Tail. The butt stock on the rifle was a
MagPul PRS adjustable for height at the comb and length of pull. A match grade
trigger was used, as was a Harris bipod to ensure stability and take as much
“human error” out of the equation as possible.



The target was positioned at 200 yards because, frankly, the 100 yard line is
not very challenging for a rifle and it is very easy to shoot sub 1” groups at
this range. At 300 yards there are too many external factors that come into play
and that gets tiring for a shooter trying to deliver an unbiased review. We
determined 200 yards to be the perfect compromise and even though some were
capable of greater magnification, we shot all with the scope set on the 9X
setting.

The price range ran the gamut from $75 to $199.97; the whole intent was to keep
the price reasonable and offer some variation instead of looking at 5 scopes
that cost exactly the same with all the same features.>


1. BARSKA 6.5-20×50 AO VARMINT TARGET DOT RIFLESCOPE

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BARSKA 6.5-20×50 AO Varmint Target Dot Riflescope

This may have seemed like a clear winner due to the 50mm objective and the 20X
magnification as the high range of the scope. At less than $75 shipped, it was
the least expensive model that we used in testing.

As could be expected, there is some trade off with a high number of features at
an extremely low price. We found the adjustable settings above 16X to be
virtually useless. We simply could not obtain a clear and stable image.



At 16X, performance was very good and the small target dot against the thin
cross posts made for a fantastic reticle.Adjustments were crisp and audible and
made for an excellent group of 1.95” on 16X. Dialing it down to 9X (the highest
settings on our other test scopes) the group size opened slightly to 2.25”.



For its price point this scope has its advantages, just do not expect to
realistically magnify your target beyond 16X and you would be happy with this
model. Click for more BARSKA details


2. BUSHNELL AR OPTICS DROP ZONE-223
BDC RETICLE RIFLESCOPE WITH TARGET TURRETS AND SIDE PARALLAX, 3-12X 40MM

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Bushnell AR Optics Drop Zone-223 BDC Reticle

Stepping up quite a bit in price from the BARSKA, but still keeping below $200
is the Bushnell AR Optics Drop Zone-223.

This scope is a little more substantially built and is backed with a lifetime
warranty. Each of the settings provides a crystal clear image up to 12X.

Bushnell’s Drop Zone BDC is a unique reticle system that is calibrated for the
223 round out to 500 yards in 100 yard increments.



The company’s reputation for clarity in their optics has matured beyond their
offerings from 20 years ago. The return to zero aspect of the target turrets
makes sighting in the rifle an easy task.

Performance wise the 9X setting yielded a 1.95” group of 5 rounds on target. If
you are looking for a dedicated optic for an AR-15, this makes for an excellent
choice.



Admittedly, we did not use the 12X setting, because our other scopes were in the
3X -9X category, but in hindsight, that extra magnification may make the
difference in your decision to purchase this scope. Click for more BUSHNELL
details




3. BUSHNELL BANNER ILLUMINATED RED/GREEN MULTI-X RETICLE RIFLESCOPE, 3-9X 50MM

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Bushnell Banner Illuminated Red/Green Multi-X Reticle

The next model we tried was also from Bushnell. The Banner Illuminated Red/Green
Multi-X Reticle scope is more like a traditional hunting scope than the previous
models. The turrets require removing the caps to set windage and elevation, but
this model offers an illuminated reticle.



The lenses were crystal clear and the green reticle was very easy to see against
the black and white target without any uneven glow or halo. We were able to
easily manage a 2.25” group at 200 yards.



At half the price of the Bushnell AR Optics scope and just a little more than
the BARSKA, this scope has a lot of potential as a general purpose hunting
scope. If you are looking for an illuminated reticle for low light shooting at
dawn or dusk and do not mind the lack of target knobs, this may be the scope
that you want. Click for more BUSHNELL details




4. LEUPOLD VX-1 3-9×40 WATERPROOF RIFLESCOPE
MATTE BLACK, DUPLEX RETICLE 113874

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Leupold VX-1 3-9×40

At the top of our price range at pennies under the $200 is this offering from
Leupold. Sometimes when all else fails, you go with the brand name and even as
one of the company’s lowest price offerings, this scope reeks of quality.

That said, it is pure “no-frills” on the extra feature standpoint. The only
possible “extra” would be Leupold’s distinctive Gold Ring encircling the
objective. That may be enough to impress your buddy’s at the local shooting club
or out on a hunt, but it is little more than a fancy hood ornament or pin
striping on a new car.



Like the Bushnell Banner, you are treated to a standard Leupold post cross hair
reticle and no target turrets. There is no illumination, but the glass was by
far the clearest out of all the models that we evaluated.



The Leupold delivered the best accuracy by giving us a 1.55” group.  This may
prove that you do not always need fancy bells and whistles like target turrets
on your scope.

Admittedly, if you are shooting at a variety of different ranges or wind
conditions, it may not be the best choice. Click for more LEUPOLD details




5.NIKON P-223 3-9×40 MATTE BDC 600

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Nikon P-223 3-9×40 Mate BDC 600

Leupold can be a tough act to follow, but the Nikon P-223 was definitely up to
the task. Only slightly cheaper than the Leupold, this model boasts target
turrets, a return to zero capability similar to the above mentioned Leupold and
a bullet drop compensator calibrated for 223.

Glass quality was clearer than that found on the Bushnell models and in my
estimation it was probably equal to the Leupold.



Nikon knows their lenses and has been doing it right for a long time. They
promise a 98% transmission of light and without machinery to calibrate that
exactly, I will take their word for it.



With a little more eye relief than the other models, we were rewarded with a
group of 1.95” at 200 yards. I think it goes without saying that if you are
looking for a dedicated scope for use on a rifle chambered in 223 Remington or
5.56 NATO; this is the one that you want. Click for more NIKON details


6.NIKON PRO STAFF 3-9 X 40 BLACK MATTE RIFLESCOPE (BDC)

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Nikon Prostaff 3-9×40 Riflescope

Using our final scope, another Nikon almost seemed a letdown after trying the
P-223 version. Like the Bushnell Banner and the Leupold VX, this is more like a
traditional hunting scope with turret caps to protect your adjustments when
crashing through the brush after a White tail on foot or on ATV.



You get the clear glass and unparalleled light transmission of the Nikon P-223
and there is a bullet drop compensator designed for use with Nikon’s Spot On
ballistic software.

This downloadable app allows you to determine ballistics for just about any
cartridge under the sun as opposed to locking you into 223 Remington as the
P-223 does. It can run on a PC, MAC , tablet or smart phone.



Accuracy was on par with the P-223 and the Nikon Pro Staff delivered a 2.1”
group at 200 yards. The real strong point on this model is the excellent bullet
drop compensator giving you unlimited options for ballistics on a wide variety
of rifles and loadings.

This rifle would serve well on a 30-06 Springfield, 308 Winchester or 358 Norma
Magnum, if needed. Click for more NIKON details


THE WINNER

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Each of these scopes has inherent strengths and weaknesses. The BARSKA offered
the greatest magnification; the Leupold had the best accuracy; the Pro Staff
perhaps gave the shooter the most versatility;, the Bushnell Banner boasts a
simply excellent illuminated reticle and the 2 dedicated AR-15 scopes offered a
treasure trove of specialty features.

Yet, each had its shortcomings. The BARSKA distorted at the higher settings, the
Leupold, Banner and Pro Staff used turret caps and 2 dedicated AR-15 scopes
really limit you to use with the 223 Remington round. None of these scopes were
horrible by any means and in the end I almost resorted to looking through them
all again to see which offered the clearest picture. That still remains the
ultimate test on a scope’s clarity: keep looking through them until you can no
longer tell the difference.

Accuracy wise, each scope was comparable and at 100 yards, each choice should be
a sub MOA shooter with group sizes being less than an inch. All of the scopes
are rated as waterproof, fog proof and feature multi-coated lenses.

We took everything into consideration, including price and potential use. Some
features are easy to live without and some were definite “must haves”.

If your end use is to mount one of these scopes on a rifle specifically
chambered for 223 Remington, I would go with the Nikon P-223. It is slightly
easier to use than the Bushnell version and Nikon’s optic quality is so close to
Leupold that only a snob at the rifle range would be able to tell the difference
without looking through the eye piece. The upper end of the Bushnell’s
magnification does go to 12X, but realistically the 9X on the Nikon is close
enough.

Have more to spend? Check out the Best Rifle Scope Under $300 Article.

That said, the real winner of our shoot out was the Nikon Pro Staff. It seemed
as if the Leupold might have been a better basic scope, but the bullet drop
compensator in the Nikon made the choice an easy one for us. If I could change
one thing about the scope it would be the incorporation of rugged adjustable
turrets with the return to zero option found on the Bushnell AR scope or the
Nikon P-223. In the end for recommending a general purpose scope, I feel you
cannot go wrong with the versatility packed into the Nikon Pro Staff. At less
than $200 it is one of the best rifle scopes that money can buy.

Nikon Pro Staff – The winner!  Click for more details

 * Barska
 * AO Varmint
 * Ideal for varmint hunting
 * 
 * Target Dot
 * NO
 * Variable
 * 6.5x-20x
 * 50mm
 * 7.7 - 2.5mm
 * 3.6 inches
 * 16 feet @ 100 yards (6.5x); 5.7 feet @ 100 yards (20x)
 * 1/8 MOA
 * ?
 * 15.95 inches
 * 1 inch
 * 22.3 ounces
 * Black
 * AC10048 

More Details
 * Bushnell
 * Banner
 * Low-light riflescope
 * 
 * Multi-X
 * YES (Red/Green)
 * Variable
 * 3x-9x
 * 50mm
 * 16mm (3x), 5.6mm (9x)
 * 3.8 inches
 * 36 feet @ 100 feet (3x), 12 feet @ 100 feet (9x)
 * 1/4 MOA
 * 56 MOA
 * 16 inches
 * 1 inch
 * 20 ounces
 * Black
 * 713959I

More Details
 * Leupold
 * VX-1
 * Quantum Optical System
 * 
 * Duplex
 * NO
 * Variable
 * 3x-9x
 * 40mm
 * 13.3 – 4.4 mm
 * 4.25-3.7 inches
 * 3x - 32.9'; 9x - 13.1'
 * 1/4 MOA
 * 52 MOA
 * 12.6 inches
 * 1 inch
 * 11.2 ounces
 * Matte Black
 * 113874

More Details
 * Nikon
 * Prostaff
 * High-quality, long-range hunting power
 * 
 * BDC
 * NO
 * Variable
 * 3x-9x
 * 40mm
 * 13.3mm (3x), 4.4mm (9x)
 * 3.6 inches
 * 33.8 feet @ 100 yards (3x), 11.3 feet @ 100 yards (9x)
 * 1/4 MOA
 * 80 MOA
 * 12.4 inches
 * 1 inch
 * 16 ounces
 * Matte Black
 * 6722

More Details
 * Nikon
 * P-223
 * Centerfire / AR (Modern Sporting Rifle)
 * 
 * BDC 600
 * NO
 * Variable
 * 3x-9x
 * 40mm
 * 4.4 - 13.3mm
 * 3.6in
 * 11.3-33.8 ft @ 100 yds
 * 1/4 MOA
 * 80 MOA
 * 12.4 inches
 * 1 inch
 * 17.1 ounces
 * Matte Black
 * 8497

More Details


TODAYS FEATURED VIDEO

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


VIDEO: VIDEO: BUSHNELL ELITE TACTICAL 6-24X50MM RIFLE SCOPE REVIEW PART 1


Two Nikons, two Bushnells, a Barska and a Leupold went head to head in our test.
 All testing was performed using a flat top AR-15 rifle using a stainless steel
match grade heavy barrel with a 1 in 7 inch twist.

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REVIEWS

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VORTEX STRIKEFIRE RED DOT SCOPE (FOR THE AR-15)



One of the hottest sights to emerge over the past 30 years has been the red dot
or reflex type sight. Externally they may resemble a short scope tube, but
internally the reticle is not etched in the glass of…

Read more ›




BUSHNELL AR OPTICS DROP ZONE 223 BDC RETICLE RIFLESCOPE WITH TARGET TURRETS AND
SIDE PARALLAX, 4.5-18X 40MM



“The Bushnell AR Optics Drop Zone 223 BDC Reticle Riflescope offers riflemen an
extremely efficient variable powered scope to un-tap the true potential of the
223 Remington round.” The Bushnell AR Optics Drop Zone 223 BDC Reticle
Riflescope is a…

Read more ›




NIKON PRO STAFF RIMFIRE 3-9 X 40 BLACK MATTE (BDC 150)



In the past, most scopes made for rimfire rifles were cheap. Rimfire rifles were
often seen as plinking guns or for shooting squirrels or rodents at short range
with iron sights. Most rimfire rifles were inexpensive or made for youths,…

Read more ›




BARSKA 1-4×28 IR SWAT-AR RIFLESCOPE



“The Barska 1-4×28 IR SWAT-AR Riflescope is an economically priced rifle scope
that is intended for use with a modern sporting rifle chambered in 223
Remington/ 5.56 NATO, however it is probably best suited for use on a rim fire…

Read more ›




NIKON OMEGA MUZZLE LOADER SCOPE RIFLESCOPE REVIEW



Muzzle loading rifles represent the oldest types of firearms in existence. They
were largely supplanted by the rise of cartridge firearms in the mid-19th
century but made a slight resurgence in the 1950s from a historical perspective.
As they were…

Read more ›




VORTEX VIPER HS 2.5-10X44MM RIFLESCOPE



I first found Vortex through their red dot scopes, which are an excellent value
for the money, but a friend who manages the local gun shop and is a seasoned
long range shooter kept telling me: “You need to try…

Read more ›




NIKON M-223 BDC 600 8489 3-12X42SF RIFLESCOPE REVIEW



Nikon has been stepping up its game with regard to rifle scopes and the M-233
BDC 600 3-12X42SF is no exception. This scope represents the top of the line as
far as tactical rifle scopes from the optics company known…

Read more ›




NIKON M-223 8485 1-4×20 (BLACK) RIFLESCOPE



The Nikon M223 8485 Riflescope offers shooters rapid target acquisition coupled
with a wide field of view out to the reasonable limits of the 223 cartridge. The
Nikon M-223 8485 1-4X20 Riflescope is a variable powered scope designed
specifically for…

Read more ›





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