The 7 Best AR 15 Deer Hunting Scopes, widely known for its versatility, has become an increasingly popular choice for deer hunting, especially in states where hunting with semi-automatic rifles is legal. While traditionally associated with tactical and sport shooting applications, the AR-15’s modular design allows hunters to customize it for various game, including deer.
Beyond optical performance, durability and reliability are essential when choosing a scope for deer hunting. The 7 Best AR 15 Deer Hunting Scopes should be rugged enough to withstand harsh outdoor conditions, including rain, fog, and rough terrain.
Choosing the right scope is one of the most crucial upgrades for a successful hunt. The 7 Best AR 15 Deer Hunting Scopes enhances accuracy, improves target acquisition, and ensures ethical shot placement, making it a vital tool for any serious hunter.
7 Best AR 15 Deer Hunting Scopes
1. Vortex Crossfire II 3-9x40mm 1in Tube Second Focal Plane Rifle Scope
The Vortex Crossfire II 3-9x40mm is a reliable and budget-friendly rifle scope designed for hunters and shooters who need a durable, clear, and easy-to-use optic. Built with Vortex’s signature craftsmanship, this scope delivers impressive performance at an affordable price point.
The 3-9x magnification range makes this scope versatile for medium-range shooting, whether for hunting or target practice. The 40mm objective lens provides ample light transmission, ensuring bright and clear images even in low-light conditions. The fully multi-coated lenses reduce glare and improve clarity, offering crisp visuals in various lighting situations.
The Crossfire II is made from aircraft-grade aluminum, ensuring ruggedness and longevity. It is shockproof, fogproof, and waterproof, thanks to its O-ring sealing and nitrogen purging. This means the scope can handle harsh weather conditions and heavy recoil without losing zero or performance.
The resettable MOA turrets provide precise windage and elevation adjustments, allowing users to dial in their shots with confidence. With an eye relief of 3.8–4.4 inches, the Crossfire II prevents scope bite and offers comfortable viewing, making it ideal for high-recoil rifles.
Features & pros
- Eye relief of 3.8–4.4 inches
- Resettable MOA turrets
- Shockproof, fogproof, and waterproof
- 40mm objective lens
- 3-9x magnification
- Fully multi-coated lenses
- It’s O-ring sealing and nitrogen purging.
- Aircraft-grade aluminum
Cons
- Relatively heavy
2. Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9x40mm Riflescope
The Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9x40mm riflescope is a versatile and high-quality optic designed for hunters and shooters who demand reliability and precision. Featuring Leupold’s Twilight Light Management System, this scope enhances visibility in low-light conditions by balancing light transmission, glare reduction, and image contrast. The 3-9x magnification range provides flexibility for various shooting scenarios, making it an excellent choice for mid-range hunting and target shooting. Its 40mm objective lens ensures a bright, clear sight picture, even in challenging environments.
Durability is a hallmark of the VX-Freedom series, and this model is no exception. Built from aircraft-grade aluminum, the scope is shockproof, waterproof, and fogproof, making it well-suited for rugged outdoor use. The scratch-resistant lenses are coated to withstand harsh conditions while delivering crisp images. With Leupold’s lifetime warranty, users can trust in the long-term performance of this optic, knowing it’s built to last under extreme field conditions.
The VX-Freedom 3-9x40mm features a second focal plane (SFP) reticle, ensuring that the reticle size remains consistent throughout the magnification range. The 1/4 MOA finger-click adjustments for windage and elevation provide precise and repeatable tuning, making it easy to zero in and stay on target. Additionally, the scope offers generous eye relief, reducing the risk of scope bite when used on high-recoil rifles. The fast-focus eyepiece ensures quick target acquisition, a critical feature for hunters in dynamic environments.
Features & pros
- Featuring Leupold’s Twilight Light Management System
- Offers generous eye relief
- Second focal plane (SFP) reticle
- 3-9x magnification range
- Scratch-resistant lenses
- 1/4 MOA finger-click adjustments
- Aircraft-grade aluminum
Cons
- A little bit heavy
3. Bushnell AR Optics 3-9x40mm Rifle Scope
The Bushnell AR Optics 3-9x40mm Rifle Scope is a versatile and reliable optic designed for AR-platform rifles. It offers a 3-9x magnification range, making it suitable for both close-range and mid-range engagements. The 40mm objective lens ensures ample light transmission, providing a bright and clear sight picture in various lighting conditions. This scope is built with Bushnell’s fully multi-coated lenses, which enhance clarity and contrast while reducing glare. The durable, shockproof, waterproof, and fog-proof construction ensures reliable performance in harsh environments, making it an excellent choice for hunters, target shooters, and tactical users.
The Bushnell AR Optics 3-9x40mm scope also features finger-adjustable, target-style turrets, allowing for quick and precise windage and elevation adjustments. The ¼ MOA click adjustments provide excellent precision, ensuring shooters can dial in their shots with confidence. The fast-focus eyepiece helps users quickly acquire their target and maintain a sharp reticle focus, which is crucial in dynamic shooting situations. The generous 3.5-inch eye relief ensures comfort and safety, even when using rifles with moderate recoil.
One of the standout features of this scope is its Drop Zone-223 reticle, which is specifically designed for .223/5.56 caliber rifles. This BDC (Bullet Drop Compensation) reticle allows for quick holdover adjustments, making it easier to engage targets at different distances without constant turret adjustments. The second focal plane (SFP) reticle ensures that the holdover points remain accurate at the highest magnification setting. Additionally, the 1-inch tube provides compatibility with a wide range of mounting options, making it easy to install on most AR-style rifles.
Another significant advantage of this optic is its rugged construction. The single-piece aircraft-grade aluminum tube enhances durability while maintaining a lightweight profile. The scope is nitrogen-purged and O-ring sealed, ensuring fog-proof and waterproof performance in extreme weather conditions. Whether you’re shooting in humid, rainy, or dusty environments, this scope is built to perform reliably without internal fogging or moisture damage.
Features & pros
- ¼ MOA click adjustments
- Fast-focus eyepiece
- It offers a 3-9x magnification range
- 40mm objective lens
- Nitrogen-purged and O-ring sealed
- Second focal plane (SFP) reticle
- Its rugged construction
- its Drop Zone-223 reticle
- 1-inch tube
- Single-piece aircraft-grade aluminum tube
Cons
- Pricey
4. Primary Arms SLx 4-14 x 44 mm Rifle Scope
The Primary Arms SLx 4-14x44mm Rifle Scope is a versatile and feature-rich optic designed for precision shooting. Built with durability in mind, this scope features a rugged 30mm main tube made from aircraft-grade aluminum, ensuring resilience against harsh conditions. Its 44mm objective lens provides excellent light transmission, delivering clear images even in low-light environments.
The scope offers a 4-14x magnification range, making it ideal for both mid-range and long-range shooting applications. Whether used for hunting, tactical engagements, or target shooting, this scope balances performance and affordability.
One of the standout features of this scope is its first focal plane (FFP) reticle, which ensures accurate holdovers at all magnification levels. Unlike second focal plane (SFP) scopes, where the reticle size remains constant, an FFP reticle scales with magnification, allowing shooters to make precise adjustments.
The ACSS HUD DMR reticle is designed for rapid range estimation, bullet drop compensation, and wind hold adjustments, particularly for .308 and 5.56 calibers. This feature enhances accuracy and efficiency, especially for shooters who require quick, on-the-fly calculations in dynamic shooting scenarios.
The turret system on the Primary Arms SLx 4-14x44mm is designed for precision adjustments, featuring tactile and audible clicks. The zero-resettable turrets allow users to return to their original settings effortlessly, which is crucial for long-range engagements. The side parallax adjustment knob enables shooters to fine-tune focus and eliminate parallax error, enhancing accuracy at extended distances.
Features & pros
- Side parallax adjustment knob
- Features a rugged 30mm main tube
- Zero-resettable turrets
- Offers a 4-14x magnification range
- ACSS HUD DMR reticle
- It has a 44mm objective lens
- Its first focal plane (FFP) reticle
- Featuring tactile and audible clicks
Cons
- Heavy
5. Trijicon Acog 4 X 32 Scope Dual Illuminated
The Trijicon ACOG (Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight) 4×32 is a battle-proven optic renowned for its durability, reliability, and optical clarity. Designed primarily for military and law enforcement use, this fixed-power scope offers a 4x magnification with a 32mm objective lens, providing a clear and bright sight picture.
The scope is built from high-quality forged aluminum housing, ensuring exceptional ruggedness to withstand harsh environmental conditions and heavy recoil. Its fixed magnification design eliminates moving parts, increasing reliability and making it an ideal choice for combat and tactical applications.
Durability is a hallmark of Trijicon optics, and the ACOG 4×32 is no exception. It is waterproof, shockproof, and fog-resistant, ensuring reliable performance in extreme conditions. The optic has been extensively tested in combat and has proven to withstand rugged use in military operations. The tough fixed-power design makes it more resilient compared to variable-power optics, which may have additional mechanical components prone to failure. This robustness, combined with its superior optical quality, makes the ACOG 4×32 a trusted optic for professionals who demand unwavering performance.
The Trijicon ACOG 4×32 Dual Illuminated Scope is an excellent choice for those looking for a battle-hardened, battery-free optic with outstanding clarity and precision. Its rugged construction, dual-illumination, BDC reticle, and both-eyes-open aiming capability make it a top-tier option for military personnel, law enforcement officers, and serious tactical shooters.
Features & pros
- Its rugged construction
- Dual-illumination
- Hastough fixed-power design
- 32mm objective lens
- It is waterproof, shockproof, and fog-resistant
- BDC reticle
Cons
- Pricey
6. Vortex Crossfire 1x21mm Reflex Red Dot Sight
The Vortex Crossfire 1x21mm Reflex Red Dot Sight is a compact and versatile sight designed for a variety of firearms, including shotguns, rifles, and pistols. Known for its user-friendly design and high-performance capabilities, the Crossfire provides quick target acquisition and enhanced accuracy. The sight features a 1x magnification, allowing users to maintain situational awareness while engaging targets. Whether used for tactical applications or recreational shooting, the Crossfire is an excellent option for shooters looking for a reliable, budget-friendly reflex sight.
Durability is another major strength of the Crossfire 1x21mm Reflex Red Dot Sight. Built with a rugged aluminum housing, it is shockproof, waterproof, and fogproof, making it capable of handling harsh environmental conditions. This resilience is especially important for shooters who need a sight that can withstand recoil and exposure to the elements. The sight’s construction ensures long-lasting performance, even under challenging conditions like rain, snow, or heavy recoil from larger calibers.
The sight’s simple, tool-free adjustments make it easy for shooters to zero in their point of impact quickly. The Vortex Crossfire allows for windage and elevation adjustments with the help of easy-to-use dials. Its lightweight and low-profile design mean that it won’t add unnecessary bulk to your firearm, making it an excellent choice for shooters who want a compact, easy-to-mount red dot sight. It’s straightforward design ensures minimal distractions, allowing users to focus solely on their target.
Features & pros
- Windage and elevation adjustments
- It’s lightweight
- Features a 1x magnification
- Adjustable Brightness Settings
- The sight is parallax-free at 50 yards
- It is shockproof, waterproof, and fogproof
Cons
- Limited Magnification
7. Leapers UTG 3-12x44mm Rifle Scope
The Leapers UTG 3-12x44mm Rifle Scope is a versatile and affordable option for hunters and shooters who require reliable performance across a wide range of shooting distances. Designed with durability and precision in mind, this scope offers a 3x to 12x magnification range, making it ideal for everything from close-range to mid-range shooting. The 44mm objective lens ensures excellent light transmission, enhancing clarity and image brightness, even in low-light conditions.
The scope also offers a range of user-friendly features to enhance accuracy and ease of use. The adjustable parallax, which ranges from 10 yards to infinity, allows shooters to eliminate parallax error and achieve clearer, more accurate shots. The mil-dot reticle provides precise holdover points for range estimation, and the target turrets offer windage and elevation adjustments in 1/4 MOA increments, allowing for fine-tuned adjustments.
In terms of optics, the Leapers UTG scope boasts multi-coated lenses, which improve light transmission and help reduce glare. The lenses are also scratch-resistant, ensuring that they maintain clarity over time. The scope’s wide field of view at lower magnifications and the ability to zoom in for greater precision at higher magnifications makes it a well-rounded choice for various shooting scenarios. Whether you’re using it for hunting, target shooting, or tactical applications, the UTG 3-12x44mm offers the optical clarity necessary for precise shooting.
Features & pros
- Offers a 3x to 12x magnification range
- 44mm objective lens
- Multi-coated lenses
- Offers a range of user-friendly
- Offer windage and elevation adjustments in 1/4 MOA
Factors to consider when choosing the 7 Best AR 15 Deer Hunting Scopes
Reticle Type
The reticle is a critical feature in a hunting scope, especially for quick target acquisition. A duplex or BDC (Bullet Drop Compensating) reticle is commonly chosen for deer hunting. The BDC reticle is particularly helpful for longer-range shooting, allowing for quick adjustments to your holdover. For a more precise aiming point, some hunters prefer an illuminated reticle, which makes it easier to see the crosshairs in low-light conditions, such as during dawn or dusk.
Objective Lens
The objective lens diameter plays a role in how much light enters the scope, which is crucial for low-light performance. A larger objective lens (around 40mm to 50mm) gathers more light, resulting in a brighter, clearer image. However, larger lenses may add weight and bulk to your setup, so balance is key.
Durability
AR-15s are rugged, and the scope needs to match that durability. Look for a scope that is shockproof, waterproof, and fog-resistant, so it can withstand harsh weather conditions and recoil from the AR-15. Many scopes are built with sealed, nitrogen-purged tubes to prevent internal fogging and ensure consistent performance in varied environments.
Magnification
For deer hunting, you generally want a scope with moderate magnification. A 1-6x or 1-8x magnification is ideal for close to medium-range shots, providing enough zoom to identify your target while maintaining a wide field of view. If you’re planning on taking longer-range shots, you may opt for a 3-9x or 4-12x magnification for greater clarity at extended ranges.
Eye Relief
Adequate eye relief is important for comfort and safety, especially with the recoil of an AR-15. A longer eye relief (3.5 inches or more) allows you to maintain a safe distance from the scope while still achieving a full field of view. This reduces the risk of “scope bite” during recoil.
FAQs of the 7 Best AR 15 Deer Hunting Scopes
- What reticle is best for deer hunting with an AR-15?
A duplex reticle or BDC (Bullet Drop Compensator) reticle is are great choices for deer hunting. The BDC helps with estimating bullet drop at varying distances, while the duplex reticle offers simplicity and fast target acquisition.
- Is an illuminated reticle necessary for deer hunting with an AR-15?
While not essential, an illuminated reticle can be helpful in low-light conditions (like dawn or dusk). It can help you clearly see your target and reticle, but many hunters prefer a non-illuminated reticle for better battery conservation.
- Do I need a parallax-free scope for deer hunting with an AR-15?
A parallax-free scope at 100 yards is ideal for hunting, ensuring the reticle stays in alignment with the target at various distances. Many modern scopes are parallax-free at 100 yards, so this may not be a major concern.
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Best Scopes for Varmint Hunting
Conclusion
An excellent rifle that is ideal for the 7 Best AR 15 Deer Hunting Scopes. With the preceding review, we hope you have a better understanding of the 7 Best AR 15 Deer Hunting Scopes. I hope you’ve discovered a scope that works for you. Magnification, clarity, durability, and reticle style are important considerations when choosing the Best AR 15 Deer Hunting Scopes.