We know how difficult it is for you to choose a telescopic sight that will accompany you on your adventures and above all that is accurate and reliable.
The quality of the weapon is important, but even if you have the most accurate rifle in the world, if it does not have a good scope mounted , it will be totally nullified and you can get tired of missing shots .
This is why we believe that the selection of the correct scope is crucial and even more important than the choice of the rifle .
We want to provide you with a selection of brands of long-range telescopic sights , manufactured to be mounted on high-powered rifles and for professional use (hunting or combat).
In this article we will focus on presenting you what, in our opinion, are the 10 best brands of telescopic sights on the market.
SWAROVSKI
About the Swarovski brand
Swarovski optic founded in 1949, is an Austrian brand based in Absam in the Tyrol region, specializing in the development and manufacture of long-range and highly accurate optical instruments, which is part of the Premium segment of the market.
Known for its quality and prestige, it is one of the world’s leading providers of long-range optics for hunting, wildlife and bird watching, as well as travel and leisure.
They are characterized by their strength of innovation, the quality and intrinsic value of their products and their functional and aesthetic design. It is represented in 92 countries around the world with direct sales operations in 47.
It must be said that Swarovski optik produces exclusively at its Absam headquarters in Tyrol which gives it even more exclusivity to the brand. As additional data, the turnover in 2017 was 146.3 million euros.
Notable Features of Swarovski Visors
- The 6x zoom which is personal and provides a great field of view and detail.
- High Grid technology that provides quality and sharpness to the reticle.
- Lenses designed with state-of-the-art Austrian technology which makes images clear and with excellent contrast.
- Their mounts give the unique and guaranteed security and stability that is much needed with the larger gauges.
Our score on Swarovski as a brand
- Brightness: Very good
- Sharpness: Excellent
- Increase: Good
Conclusion on Swarovski
Undoubtedly a highly recommended option for those looking for elegance, reliability, performance and Premium quality.
ZEISS
About the Zeiss brand
Carl Zeiss is a world-leading German optical instrument development and manufacturing brand, founded in 1846 in Jena, Germany. It should be noted that when it comes to telescopic sights Zeiss is divided into three brand lines:
- Zeiss victory: The premium line of optical-leading Zeiss sights is the best it has to offer. Highest quality coupled with high price guarantees excellent hunting performance.
- Zeiss Conquest: Products upper middle class . The balanced products in this Zeiss midline provide exceptional performance for all that hunting has to offer.
- Zeiss terra: the third line in telescopic sights from Zeiss, this is the line in which the brand concentrates only on the essentials , without losing quality and brand properties. Excellent gateway to later explore all the lines of the brand.
Highlights of Zeiss riflescopes
- They are characterized by an impressive light transmission that exceeds 95%.
- It offers a wide range of telescopic sights for both hunting and long-range shooting activities.
- Magnifications ranging from 1.1x wide angle to 24x magnification with a 72mm objective diameter for long-range vision in low light.
Our score on Zeiss as a brand
- Brightness: Very good
- Sharpness: Excellent
- Increase: Good
Conclusion on Zeiss
With all the aforementioned attributes and added to its wide range of products, this German brand becomes one of the best and most reliable in the world of hunting.
LEUPOLD
About the Leupold brand
Leupold is an American manufacturer of hunting, shooting and military use riflescopes. The company was founded in 1907 by the German immigrant Markus Friedrich Leupold. It has always focused its production and development on meeting the needs of the hunter , covering a wide range of products, from the most economical Rifleman to the highest range of products in what to telescopic sights refers
They were the creators of the design of the famous duplex reticle, so widely used in the world of hunting.
It is the largest supplier of military visors in the United States , we can find its products in the US Army, US Navy, SEALS, Marines and the American Secret Service.
Leupold scopes highlights
- Leupold telescopic sights are waterproof, fogproof and designed to guarantee lifetime performance.
- Its long-range scopes have a magnification range of up to 8x to achieve the highest precision at targets that are at long range.
- The main tubes of its scopes with diameters of up to 35mm offer an unmatched adjustment travel.
- Leupold has a lifetime warranty which undoubtedly adds a great deal of value to its products and to the brand.
Our score on Leupold as a brand
- Brightness: Very good
- Sharpness: Very good
- Increase: Very good
Conclusion on Leupold
Leupold has, without a doubt, some of the most durable and reliable telescopic sights in the world.
Learn more about Leupold
NIKON
About the Nikon brand
Nikon Corporation is a Japanese company founded in 1917 and is currently one of the world leaders in the photographic and optical sector.
When it comes to telescopic sights specifically, Nikon was the first to bring scopes to an unprecedented level of light transmission . Hunters describe Nikon as bright, clear, and accurate.
In fact, they recently launched their Monarch line of telescopic sights that have made a huge impact on the hunting scope market.
Notable features of Nikon viewfinders
- They reach 95% luminosity, which is the theoretical maximum, and they manage to balance with a very well balanced contribution of colors.
- They carry a wide selection of hunting optics, with strict quality control to provide premium sports optics with the best money can buy.
- A wide range of products ranging from the basic, through a medium level to the most advanced and always committed to offering a selection of high quality optics.
Our score on Nikon as a brand
- Brightness: Excellent
- Sharpness: Very good
- Increase: Good
Nikon conclusion
In our opinion, Nikon is an excellent option for those looking for the highest pressure and luminosity with Japanese quality and reliability.
MEOPTA
About the brand Meopta
Meopta optika sro is a Czech company founded in 1933 in the city of Přerov and specializes in the development and manufacture of optical instruments.
Meopta creates scopes that exceed the needs of special operations forces and long-range marksmen .
Meopta scopes highlights
- Its telescopic sights are built to withstand extreme conditions.
- Meopta scopes feature 100% waterproof scopes and MeoBright lens coatings for maximum transmission.
- If you are looking for an illuminated reticle, large objective lens, maximum range versatility and more than one telescopic sight Meopta can provide it for you.
- Pure European quality that also tends to have a cheaper price than other optical manufacturing brands in Europe.
Our score on Meopta as a brand
- Brightness: Very good
- Sharpness: Very good
- Increase: Good
Conclusion on Meopta
Therefore, if you are looking to buy a hunting scope that will accompany you throughout your life, Meopta is definitely an excellent option for you.
BUSHNELL
About the Bushnell brand
Bushnell Corporation is an American firm specializing in sports optics and outdoor products, founded in 1948 by David Bushnell.
They have packed more than 65 years of innovation into their scopes. Hunting or tactical, Bushnell has a scope that can perform in any condition and environment .
Notable Features of Bushnell Riflescopes
- Bushnell’s HDOS (High Definition Optical System) features combine its key technologies such as fully coated lenses to deliver an astonishing 95% transmission of light, with 300% more of the visual light spectrum and ED Prime glass for a high contrast and color image.
- They also feature the Exo Barrier, which ensures that the image remains visible regardless of fog, water, or dirt outside the lenses, so you never miss a single moment of vision.
- One of the sharpest, clearest and brightest optical products in the world is Bushnell scopes.
Our score on Bushnell as a brand
- Brightness: Good
- Sharpness: Very good
- Increase: Good
Conclusion on Bushnell
Having said all this, it could be said that Bushnell has everything you need and also for very affordable prices.
Learn more about Bushnell
VORTEX
About the Vortex brand
Vortex Optics is an American manufacturer of optical equipment for hunting, bird watching, wildlife viewing, outdoor recreational sports and law enforcement, which was founded in 2002.
During these last years, Vortex Optics has managed to occupy an important role in the world of optics and especially of telescopic sights. It has excellent quality control and the clarity of its crystals is exceptional .
Notable Features of Vortex Scopes
- Your magnification options range from 2x to as high as 60x
- Vortex telescopic sights use multiple multiplied lenses to minimize light reflection at the air-to-glass boundary, ensuring crystal-clear image quality regardless of lighting conditions.
- Aircraft grade aluminum is used for the construction of the scope bodies, even the cheapest of which is built around a one-piece main tube, to ensure maximum structural integrity while keeping them lightweight.
- Its glass has incredible clarity and great image quality at all ranges and magnifications, this is perfect for small and medium game hunters, and competition shooters who need to shoot multiple size targets at various ranges.
Our score on Vortex as a brand
- Brightness: Good
- Sharpness: Very good
- Increase: Excellent
Conclusion on Vortex
Thus, Vortex lenses have come to rival the world’s leading lens manufacturers. In addition, it offers exceptional models at quite reasonable prices.
Learn more about Vortex
NIGHTFORCE
About the Nightforce brand
Nightforce Optics Inc is an American manufacturer of high-end telescopic sights and was established in the year 1992.
It is well known worldwide for the quality of its glasses.
Notable Features of NightForce Visors
- They achieve a sharp and bright image at all magnifications and without any distortion in the image, even without distortion at the edge of the lenses.
- Focusing is easy in low contrast environments and it is also known for being especially good at detecting targets at long distances.
- Nightforce riflescopes are specially designed to withstand unforgiving conditions on the toughest terrains and are a guarantee of durability.
Our score on NightForce as a brand
- Brightness: Very good
- Sharpness: Very good
- Increase: Very good
Conclusion on NightForce
To conclude, it could be said that Nightforce achieves a high-performance optics that are fully functional for the user.
STEINER
About the Steiner brand
Steiner Optik is a firm dedicated to the development and manufacture of optical instruments and was founded in 1947 in Germany by Carl Steiner.
Steiner’s telescopic sights, like all of its optical products, go through an extensive and extremely thorough quality control process that encompasses the stages of production, inspection, testing and approval.
Steiner scopes highlights
- All air and glass surfaces in Steiner scopes are multi-coated with state-of-the-art formulations of minerals and rare earth compounds that maximize clarity and color and definition.
- Being a brand that has developed optics specifically for military service, its products have enormous resistance in hostile terrain and conditions.
Our score on Steiner as a brand
- Brightness: Very good
- Sharpness: Very good
- Increase: Good
Conclusion on Steiner
With the aforementioned attributes and his clear and accurate vision, Steiner becomes one of the main options to consider when choosing a telescopic sight.
VANGUARD
About the Vanguard brand
Vanguard is an international company that designs and manufactures tripods, sports optics and accessories founded in 1986 based in Guangdong, China, became a leading company in the industry.
Its telescopic sights are tested for precision and durability and always guaranteeing maximum protection when used in extreme conditions .
Notable Features of Vanguard Scopes
- They are designed to handle rugged terrain in the toughest conditions.
- They provide a high level of clarity and accuracy combined with their durability.
- Its products are protected by one of the best guarantee systems on the market.
Our score on Vanguard as a brand
- Brightness: Good
- Sharpness: Very good
- Increase: Good
Conclusion on Vanguard
All of the above, added to the great accessibility of its prices, make Vanguard a very good option for those looking for a balance between good quality and a reasonable price.
Overall conclusion on these 10 brands
Anyway, these were the 10 best brands of telescopic sights in our opinion. If you decide on a viewer from any of these 10 brands, any of them, in our opinion, will be an excellent choice . I mean, these are good brands of telescopic sights and none will disappoint you on the shooting range.
| Mark | Light | Sharpness | Zoom |
| Swarovski | MB | FORMER | MB |
| Zeiss | MB | FORMER | BU |
| Leupold | MB | MB | MB |
| Nikon | FORMER | MB | BU |
| Meopta | MB | MB | BU |
| Bushnell | BU | MB | BU |
| Vortex | BU | MB | FORMER |
| Nightforce | MB | MB | MB |
| Steiner | MB | MB | BU |
| Vanguard | BU | MB | BU |
Remember the evaluation of the variables and the final opinion on each brand is subjective. The best thing is always to test the different viewers and draw your own conclusions .
We hope that the article is as informative as possible and that it clarifies your doubts by helping you make a purchase decision.