It’s easy to assume that when using a shotgun, you cannot get sniper-style shooting experience. Most hunters don’t even consider pairing their shotguns with scopes as they don’t think it can even be used for shooting on targets from a distance. However, that is not always the case. Adding or pairing your best scope for shotgun can bring you more benefits than you could ever imagine.
With a good scope, your shotgun will not only be suitable for close-range hunting but can also help you get into a big game and varmint hunting.
However, the process of choosing the right one is not easy, and unless you have relevant information on specific features to look for, getting the right one can cost you just as much.
Here we’ll review eight of the best shotgun scopes in the market and discuss specific features to look for before making your decision.
Best Scope for Shotgun Complete Guide
- Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Multi-X Reticle Riflescope with 3.3-Inch Eye Relief, 3-9X 40mm, Black
This scope is specifically designed to excel in those late-evening and early-morning light conditions. It features a speck of dust to dawn brightness thanks to its multicoated lenses. This ensures that the image clarity and brightness will not be compromised.
With this Bushnell banner riflescope, it will be easy to enhance your shotgun’s accuracy while in the field. It will give you an extra minute after your usual hunting hour to ensure that you don’t return empty. The scope is designed featuring quality material for durability.
This scope provides you with reliable eye relief to ensure that you will not stress your eye even if you use your firearm for an extended duration. The high eye relief also guarantees to keep your eyes safe and free from possible injuries from the rifle recoil.
The scope has a high magnification range making it suitable for both short and long-range hunting.
It also features a large objective lens of 40 mm. this provides you with a wide field of view, making it possible for you to monitor your target’s movement and enhance your chances of making an accurate shot even when your target I on the move.
This scope comes with the full assortment of specialties for varmint big-game and turkey hunting while using your favorite shotgun. The one-tube design guarantees that the scope is compact and will maintain the high performance for personal satisfaction.
Pros
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Multicoated optics
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Dry-nitrogen filled
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Waterproof, shockproof, and fog proof design
Cons
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Slightly overpriced
TRUGLO 4x32mm Compact Rimfire and Air Rifle Scope Series, Duplex Reticle, Black
Truglo is a popular brand when it comes to manufacturing high-quality rifle scopes. The company specializes in developing reliable optics to give your hunting an exceptional experience. With this rimfire riflescope series, the issues of durability will not be your problem. It features a unique construction with aircraft aluminum material. The one-piece unit also guarantees that the scope is strong and can hold perfectly when mounted on your shotgun. Therefore even when you are hunting under challenging conditions, it will still remain strong and intact.
Another advantage of using this truglo compact rimfire riflescope with your shotgun is that it has a reliable magnification range. The rage varies from 3x-9x, making it suitable for both short and long-range hunting. Additionally, it is easy for you to single out your target from a large group for easy shooting with such magnification power.
The scope also has a large objective lens of 40 mm, which guarantees to give you a wide field of view. The lenses are also fully multicoated to ensure sufficient light transmission for maximum brightness and image clarity. Additionally, the large lens size ensures that you can monitor your target movement, making it easy to make your shot. The scope also features an eye guard that is rubber to protect you from recoil, ensuring that you don’t experience black eye while hunting.
Pros
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Fully coated lenses for image clarity and brightness
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Scratch-resistant and non-reflective matte finish
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Large objective lens
Cons
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Slightly heavier than other shotgun scopes
UTG 3X Magnifier with Flip-to-side QD Mount, W/E Adjustable
Give your shotgun a new look by combining it with this UTG 3X magnifier. Unlike other scopes on the market, the main purpose of this is to magnify the images you view for a chance to enhance your shooting. Therefore, it will ensure that you get an accurate shot all the time regardless of the distance between you and the target. This indicates that the scope will provide you with sniper-like experiences while undertaking simple hunting adventures.
With this scope, you get up to 3x magnification power at any range. This indicates that the image size you view through the lenses will be at least 3x the normal size. Therefore when you release the trigger, it will directly land on the spot you want to make the bullet count.
Additionally, it has a unique mounting style making it super easy for everyone. a simple flip-to-side mounting style allows you to mount the scope even when you focus on the target and be sure that you will get your prey.
On the other hand, this scope features fully multicoated lenses for sufficient light transmission giving you image clarity and brightness. The coated design ensures that the scope is also ideal for use when there are light limitations.
Pros
– High-tech construction style
– Easy mounting and usage
– Reliable magnification power
– Fully multicoated lenses for brighter and clear images
Cons
– Not convenient for shooting images beyond 200 yards (like with these best scopes)
Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Multi-X Reticle Riflescope with 3.3-Inch Eye Relief, 3-9X 40mm, Black
Here is yet another scope from Bushnell banner with the dusk & dawn guarantee. This scope is designed with precise precautions to ensure that it will give you a difference when mounted on your rifle. Therefore, when you mount this on your shotgun, the experiences you will get will not match any other shotgun performance.
The scope features a 40 mm objective lens to ensure that it accommodates enough light to clear visibility during low light conditions. This lens is also paired with a high magnification range of 3x-9x, which indicates that the scope will perform extremely right in different shooting ranges.
It is designed using 100% quality material that has gone through wear and tear testing to guarantee the durability of the scope. Additionally, when it comes to windage and elevation adjustment, the scope has a ¼ MOA fingertip. Therefore, you are guaranteed that the adjustment is easy and will not stress you, especially when in the hunting field already. This device is also designed to withstand various weather conditions, and nothing should stop you from experiencing greatness even when it rains. The waterproof and fog proof design guarantees that it can withstand falling in water too.
Pros
– Easy windage and elevation adjustments
– High quality material for durability
– High quality image clarity
Cons
– Not suitable for shooting moving objects
Vortex Optics Diamondback Second Focal Plane Riflescopes
When it comes to quality, Vortex optics diamondback rifle scope never disappoints. Vortex as a brand ensures to develop quality products to give hunters and target shooters the assurance that every bullet will count. With this scope, your shotgun will not only outperform its potential but will also give you an exceptional performance. Since shotguns are generally designed for short range shooting, when you pair it with this vortex optics diamondback riflescope, the experience will be on another level.
It has a dead hold BDC reticle making it ideal for any hunting or shooting, especially in ranges where hold-over is an issue. Therefore, it will be easy for you to identify your target and also make your shot even when the target is on the move. The fast-focus eyepiece makes it easy for fast reticle focusing hence making it possible to single out a target in a group.
The scope features fully multicoated lenses giving you crystal clear, bright images even when hunting in low light conditions. Additionally, the multicoated lenses are also large enough to accommodate sufficient light transmission.
It is designed as a solid one-piece made of quality metal for durability. The one-piece construction style also ensures that the scope holds together and can withstand impact and other wear and tear challenges. It is also waterproof and fog proof, which gives you the assurance that you can take your shotgun for an adventure in any weather conditions.
Pros
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Durable construction material
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Fully multicoated lenses
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Waterproof and shockproof guarantee
Cons
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Little magnification range
Vortex Optics Crossfire II Second Focal Plane, 1-inch Tube Riflescopes
This is yet another vortex brand in the list with unique features and exceptional performance to improve your shotgun hunting skills. This crossfire II SFP riflescope is designed as a one-piece unit to give you the assurance of durability and impact resistance. Therefore, when you get your hands on this scope, it will withstand whatever challenge you face with your shotgun and ensure to give you exceptional performance. With this scope, the quality of your image through the lenses is not compromised.
It has a long eye relief with an ultra-forgiving eye box to ensure you are safe and free from possible injuries and eye fatigue even with extended usage. This also ensures you have a fast focus for advanced hunting adventures. With this scope, you will also enjoy easy reset turrets for fast zeroing after sighting.
The scope is also O-ring sealed and nitrogen purged for waterproof and fog proof guarantee. Therefore, when you are out hunting, and the weather changes suddenly, you will not have to abandon the adventure.
Its adjustment knobs are perfectly placed, allowing you to enjoy easy windage and elevation adjustments. This ensures that you will not require any professional assistance to get the scope functioning perfectly with your shotgun.
Pros
– Easy windage and elevation adjustments
– Anti-reflective and fully multicoated lenses
– Durable aircraft-grade aluminum material
Cons
– Slightly overpriced
Simmons 3-9x32mm .22 Waterproof Fogproof Matte Black Riflescope (511039)
If you are thinking of a way to camouflage your location to enhance your hunting adventure, then Simmons 3-9x32mm riflescope is all you need. It has a reliable magnification range allowing you to shoot your target from any range. The different magnification range ensures that you can conveniently spot your target and shot before the target compromises your presence.
Its 22 Mag series design makes this scope feature in the most popular rimfire scopes on the market. The design provides this scope with an unparalleled performance from any angle, and it ensures that your bullet will always count.
If your shotgun has high recoil, this scope provides you with long eye relief. Therefore, you will not have to deal with eye fatigue or black eye issues, especially if you are a regular hunter.
Its 32mm objective lens provides you with a wide field of view for easy and fast focusing. The wide view also makes it possible for you to monitor your target’s activities, hence making it possible for you to know when it is appropriate to release the trigger.
The scope features a black matte finish style, which enhances its durability. This finish style gives you the assurance that the scope is substantial and can withstand d whatever challenges that come it’s way.
Pros
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Easy windage and elevation adjustments
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Durable black matte finish
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Wide field of view
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Suregrip rubber surface
Cons
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Mounting is a little complicated
Nikon Prostaff P3 Predator Hunter BDC Predator Riflescope
Nikon is among the leading brands when it comes to manufacturing hunting gears. Having been in the industry for quite some time, the company understands what various hunters and shooters require in scope and deliver precisely what is needed. With this Nikon Prostaff P3 predator riflescope, you can take your shotgun for domestic hunting as well as varmint and big game.
The scope is designed to withstand various hunting challenges, including varying weather conditions. Therefore, it features O-ring sealed and nitrogen purged designs to guarantees it is waterproof and fog-proof. With such assurance, you will not have to worry when you are out, and the weather takes a drastic shift before you get your hunt.
This scope features fully multicoated lenses for enhanced light transmission and crystal clear image projection. Additionally, the scope has easy to reset turrets allowing you to enjoy zeroing at any angle.
Its made of aircraft-grade aluminum material for durability and reliable performance. The one-piece construction style also guarantees that the scope can withstand whatever challenges that you might face while in the fields. Therefore, apart from giving you confidence, it also gives your shotgun a unique completion for various adventures.
This scope has consistent eye relief allowing you to experience greatness with minimal risks even when your rifle has high recoil. The generous eye relief also keeps your eye free from injuries even with extended usage.
Pros
– Durable aluminum construction
– High-quality magnification power
– Easy zero-reset turrets
Cons
– It weighs slightly more compared to other scopes
Things to Consider When Choosing the Best Scopes for Shotguns
Pairing your shotgun is a daunting adventure. Shotguns are generally designed for short-range shooting while using scopes is mostly necessary for long-range shooting. However, if you seriously purpose to advance your shotgun usage, there are a few features to put into consideration before choosing your ideal scope. Here are a few things to consider that will guide you towards getting the right scope for your shotgun.
Magnification Power Is Everything
Whatever your target, getting a clear view has never been a problem. One sure bet about using scopes is that it enhances your skills and provides you with exceptional clarity. This makes it possible for you to learn your prey’s behavior, hence making it possible to know when and how to release the trigger.
Adding magnification on your shotgun eliminates the need to trek in the woods and get closer to your prey. Therefore, it increases your chances of a positive hunt as you can sneak on your target when it list expects. Additionally, by eliminating the need to trek across the woods, your hunting session will automatically be increasing, giving you more time to advance over your prey.
Durability is Essential
Of course, when you spend your money on something, the last thing you want is for the item to break or lose its value after a few uses. When it comes to scopes, durability is not optional. You need to ensure that you are investing in quality and the device you get has a high durability promise.
To be sure that you are getting the right quality, you need to check on the material used in the construction of the device and the finish style. For instance, a scope that is designed using aircraft-grade aluminum and features a black matte finish is considered highly durable. This is because the aluminum material is strong and can withstand various challenges, while the matte finish style protects the scope against scratch and other external forces. Additionally, you need to ensure that your scope is designed as one unit. This makes the scope quite strong, unlike when it’s made of various pieces joined together.
Performance
Performance is a critical feature as it gives you an overview of what to expect from the scope. When you are shopping for a scope to pair with your shotgun, it is convenient to go for one that has a high reputation in terms of performance. This will guarantee that your shotgun will cease functioning in the regular range and start operating in a different dimension.
Brighter Is Not Always Necessary
Getting a scope that provides you brighter images is not wrong, but that should not be the driving factor when buying. Regardless of when you are hunting, most states don’t allow late-nights or early-morning hunting. Therefore, whether your scope gives you more brightness or is simple and functions better under normal lighting should not be an issue.
You don’t have to spend more money to pay for extra brightness, and you might not even get a chance to use it. Instead, it would be best if you focused on looking for features such as field of view, among others. If you are a big game hunter, getting a scope that provides you with image clarity will come in handy overlooking for brightness. Therefore, you need to ensure you out your priorities and only go for a scope with reliable features and enhance your skills.
Price
It is easy to assure that scopes are generally expensive, so you don’t have to look into the price. However, the narrative of expensive equals quality is not always true. The market is saturated with so many scopes from different brands, and they all have a varying price range. Therefore, instead of looking into the price to determine the scope, you will buy, you recommend looking into performance and other relevant features.
When it comes to prices, most scopes paired with shotguns have almost the same features unless you are buying from reputable brands.
Conclusion
This blog has simplified the process of buying the best scope for your shotgun. Therefore, it will be easy for you to choose a scope that will work perfectly for you with the above information. All the reviewed scopes above meet all the qualities, and they are convenient for pairing with shotguns.
However, if you still feel the need to go through the market to find a unique scope for your shotgun, you are free to start the search. Ensure to put specific features into consideration to get a scope that will help you in your hunting adventure.
Lastly, before making your decision, it is essential that you focus on getting a scope that is within your budget range. This will keep you safe from possible depts or even straining your accounts for simple shotgun scope.
