You’re looking for the Best Vortex Scope? you’re in the right place. Shotguns with rifled barrels that use rifle scopes have been fairly intriguing to write about after writing about some of the alternatives available in the gun industry for vortex slug guns or shotguns that are specialized to shooting rifled and sabot slugs.
Scope Mount
A high-quality rifle scope or shotgun sight mounted on a slug gun has the capacity to withstand the hammering caused by the recoil. The majority of high-quality manufacturers’ scopes won’t experience any issues with heavy recoil.
Hell, some of them are rated for the 50 BMG after being tested with magnum rifles. The sight mounts are an important component of this particular design as well as your build for whatever gets your blood pumping in the slug gun world.
What Features Should a Slug Gun Scope Have?
I’m pleased you asked, though. Before we discuss the low-light shooting, for example, we must first discuss the shockproof and durability ratings. If you have any doubts about the scope’s quality of construction, move on to the next one because this sort of recoil will rip some scopes apart.
Additional considerations include the following:
- Weight
- Length
- Standard, Pistol, or Scout
- Shotgun or a Specialized Rifle
- A rifled barrel with a sabot
selecting the scope
Let’s look at what is available for said scope now that we have covered mounting the scope and what we normally desire in a scope.
You must use sabot slugs if you want to use a rifled barrel with your slug gun. With a 12 gauge shotgun firing a full ounce of.50 caliber lead, this setup accuracy is quite astounding. You might use the felt recoil to aid in your memory of the day.
Any rifle sight with a clean image can be used with this slug gun and optics combination, but if you choose one with a bullet drop compensator of any kind, it won’t function; Ignore that and use the ballistic plex reticle instead.
7 Best Slug Gun Scopes
1. Vortex Optics Diamondback 1.75-5×32
The Vortex name denotes a high-quality sight, and you can’t go wrong with any of their products, including the kind that might end up on the Mjullnier slug gun. The slug pistol is perfectly suited for its sweet spot, which includes magnification levels as low as 1.75x power and as high as 5x power.
Everyone has heard that it’s tough as nails, but Vortex has amazing recoil testing for optics as well. The Diamondback pricing is affordable in addition to the durability, excellent anodized coatings, and weatherproofing.
The crosshairs will essentially remain the same size as you increase the magnification because the Diamondback is a Second Focal Plane Reticle. However, you will continue to sacrifice the survivors, and the amplification grows.
Features
- Produced by Vortex
- 12.8 ounces in weight
- 10.2 inches long
- 3.25 inches wide
- 1.55 inches tall
- 1 mm tube diameter
- 32mm is the objective lens diameter.
- Reticle: BDC Dead-Hold
- 1/4 MOA is the adjustment click value.
- : 3.5 to 3.7 inches for eye comfort
- Linear field of view, 100 yards, 23.1 – 68.3 feet
- Lens Composition: Glass
- Multi-Coated Optical Coating
- Type of Attachment/Mount: Ring
- The answer is yes.
- yes, Fogproof:
- Yes, shockproof
- Aluminum of aircraft-grade quality
- A matte black color.
- Anodized hard finish
An Excellent Scope From Top to Bottom.
Let’s begin with the 32mm lens on the scope’s front. With multi-coated lenses, you can see well in any lighting situation, from twilight to morning. Let’s next discuss the single-piece, 1 mm-diameter aircraft-grade aluminum tube, which is built for maximum durability.
The shockproof design of the Vortex Diamondback adds to its durability. As a result, it can withstand the powerful recoil that a shotgun will produce without breaking. In order to provide a tight watertight seal and a lens that is fog-proof, the scope is also O-ring sealed and argon-purged.
Outstanding Reticle Design.
The second focus point of the Dead-Hold BDC A fast-focus eyepiece and a plane reticle make it simple and quick to acquire your target. At 100 yards, the field of vision is between 23.1 and 68.3 feet. Particularly for a rifle scope, the generous eye relief measures between 3.5 and 3.7 inches.
The flexibility this scope offers is appealing to me. If you ever decide to take it out of your slug gun, it makes a fantastic match with one of your other rifles. When everything is taken into account, the Vortex Diamondback scope is a fantastic value.
pros
- Affordable.
- Durable.
- Versatile.
Cons
- Unsatisfactory eye relieve
2) Bushnell Banner Dusk to Dawn
Have you ever yearned for an additional 30 minutes of light while in your deer stand or blind to continue hunting? I’ve done it, and it also applies to the early morning light. Bushnell has created a high-quality slug gun sight that keeps its clarity and brightness despite being used for nighttime hunting.
The Dusk and Dawn Brightness (DDB) comprehensive multi-coating treatment was created by Bushnell engineers, and for the price, why not give it a try, especially if you aren’t sure you want to use a slug gun setup?
Features
- Bushnell is the manufacturer
- Approximately 12.5 ounces
- 11.5″ in length
- 1 mm tube size
- Dimensions of the objective lens: 40mm
- Circular reticle
- 1/4 MOA for the adjustment click.
- 4″ of eye relief
- Glass serves as the lens’s material.
- DDB Multi-Coated, Optical
- Resilient to shock:
- An alloy as a material
- Shade: Matte Black
- Finished with hard anodizing
Pros
- Lightweight.
- fantastic eye relief
- Simple to use Ballistic Plex Reticle.
Cons
- Price.
4) TruGlo 4×32 Compact Shotgun
This might be the solution if you want to use a pump shotgun with a smoothbore barrel and a scope to shoot deer that seem to be too far away. The fixed power, compact, and lightweight scope. After all, you are employing a pump gun and are probably stalking rather than ambushing your prey.
It will take some getting used to holdovers, but that is just range time, and when is that ever a bad thing? The fixed power renders all that BDC reticle stuff useless.
We only fire straight here at the hunting mark (yeah, I did it on purpose), so the quality of the TruGlo can be doubtful at times. As a result, you need to understand what you are looking at in terms of quality.
The stalking gun’s dimensions are ideal at 6 inches long, 1 inch wide, and 1 inch long, and it weighs 16 ounces. The rimfire variant, which will rapidly malfunction on the shotgun, has a duplex reticle and a diamond reticle.
The Bushnell Circle x we previously examined is extremely similar to the diamond reticle. That reticle was specifically designed for shotgun hunting and is made for deer and turkeys.
The shell and glass are both covered with scratch-resistant materials, and the lens glass is fully multi-coated. The materials are listed by TruGlo as multi, which means high-impact plastic and aluminum. Since the focusing eyepiece will be made of plastic, I have to confess that it is wonderful to have an honest listing by a maker.
Features
- Truglo is the manufacturer
- 11.4 ounces in weight
- Size: 8 inches
- 1.5 inches wide
- 1.5 inches tall
- 1 mm tube diameter
- 32mm is the objective lens diameter.
- Titling: Diamond Reticle
- 1/4 MOA is the adjustment click value.
- 4 inches of eye relief
- 24 feet of the field of view at 100 yards
- Lens Composition: Glass
- Fully Coated Optical Coating
- Type of Attachment/Mount: Rin
The Lens and Reticle Are Surprisingly Good.
Fully multi-coated lenses on this Truglo scope provide excellent clarity and weather resistance. It’s a benefit that the scope also includes lens caps. Plenty of light may enter thanks to the lenses’ shape.
It has a diamond shape and is easy to see in both bright and low-light conditions. Acquiring your target and getting a precise shot is quick and simple with this diamond reticle. For deer, I believe that this kind of reticle is ideal. I struggle to think of any complaints considering the pricing.
Pros
- extremely reasonable
- Aluminum tube fit for aircraft
- simple to use the reticle
Cons
- None in light of the price.
5) Leupold VX-Freedom 1.5-4x20mm Scope
In the optical sector, Leupold has a solid reputation. I was unsure which of their rifle scopes would be the best option for a slug gun despite the fact that I am familiar with many of them. After comparing all of their offerings, I settled on the VX Freedom Series at 1.5-4x magnification.
The scope is very lightweight. Initially, this was a concern because I know how much recoil is produced by a slug shotgun. Not only did the VX freedom hold up to the abuse, but while testing, it also surpassed my expectations.
Features
- Inventor: Leupold
- Size: 9.6 ounces
- Dimensions: 13 inches
- Three inches wide
- 2 inches in height
- 1 mm tube diameter
- 20mm is the objective lens diameter.
- Pig-Plex reticle (VX-Freedom)
- 1/4 MOA is the adjustment click value.
- 3.7 to 4.2 inches of eye relief
- 100-yard field of view: 74.2 to 29.4 feet
- Lens Composition: Glass
- Lenses with Scratch-Resistant Optical Coating
- Ring (Not Included) Attachment/Mount Type
A reticle
The hunting-specific reticle has large crosshairs at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock that help you center your view. High-contrast surroundings can occasionally cause the reticle’s center to disappear. However, the reticle’s overall design is good.
Sharp Image Razer
Whether you’re using the Leupold VX freedom at 1.5x or 4x magnification, the view is always clear. And I was amazed at how quickly you could switch from low to high magnification.
Pros
- made with premium components.
- Ultra-lightweight.
- Value for the money is good.
6. Simmons Prodiamond Shotgun 4x32mm
I don’t know why, but in Utah’s western regions, fewer hunters use Simmons. Perhaps my store needs to stand out in that market. I used to own a deer rifle that had a Simmons precision scope put on it; it had a superb optic.
One of the few true shotgun scopes available is the Prodiamond Shotgun Prohunter, and it is only a shotgun scope. The finish is available in matte black or matte camouflage, making it ideal for slipping into blinds for turkey or deer because both of these animals have greater vision than we realize.
The Prohunter is a fixed magnifier with a four-power setting that is ideal for slug shooters. The 32mm objective will provide a good field of view and sit close to the barrel when mounted. At over 14 inches long, 3 14 inches high, and just over nine ounces in weight, it is the same size as a rifle scope.
Full multi-coating is used on the glass, and Simmons TrueZero locks are used to secure the turrets. By doing this, you can prevent your crosshairs from straying during rapid recoil. Whoever invented the reticle first, I’m not sure, but this one was developed expressly for shotguns and even more precisely for slug guns, thus for this piece, Simmons
One-inch tubes that are waterproof, fog proof, and shockproof make up the main body. The four-inch eyepiece has great eye relief and rapid focus.
Features
- Model: 517793
- Finish: Matte Black
- Dimensions: 4 x 32
- Field of View: 23.6 feet at 100 yards.
- (Inches) 4 Eye Relief
- (Millimeters) Exit Pupil: 8
- Weight: 8.8 ounces
- 1/2 Click Value (MOA)
- The range for adjustment: is 70/70
- Reticle: ProDiamond
- Settings for parallax: 50 yards
7) Leupold Mark Mod 1
The Leupold was last on my list for several reasons, including cost and accessibility. The etched reticle BDC will not function with the slug gun because the Mark Mod1 is also designed for the AR Platform.
The Mark AR Mod1 boasts a great precision shooting reticle dubbed the fire dot; the lit red dot directly at the crosshairs reveals the exact center of the crosshairs. As a second focal plane, the reticle makes sure you practice hold-over shooting and adjust for magnification, among other things.
With dimensions of 14 inches long, 3 inches broad, and 3 inches high, the Mod1 is a full-size scope. 1.2 pounds is a respectable weight for it. One inch of 6061 aviation aluminum is used for the main body tube, while minor components like the turret knobs are
composed of polymer. The primary tube is nitrogen-purged, and resistant to shock, water, dust, and fog, to name a few things.
With Leupold’s Multicoat 4 system, which offers crystal clear edge-to-edge clarity, the lenses are entirely multi-coated. The magnification ring is aggressively knurled and the turrets are finger adjustable so that even while wearing gloves, adjusting them is quick and sturdy.
Features
- Even in extremely low light levels, the Multi-coat 4 lens system provides exceptional clarity from edge to edge of the visual field, outstanding contrast, and a dazzling sight picture.
- Argon/Krypton Waterproofing of Second Generation
- extremely thin 1-inch main tube
- A.223/5.56, 55gr FMJ projectile with a 0.1 mil P5 dial and an elevation BDC dial has a muzzle velocity of 3100 FPS.
Read Also:
Best Night Vision Scope for AR10
Buyers’ Guide for the Best Slug Gun Scopes
There are a number of factors to take into account before purchasing a scope for your slug pistol. The improper kind of scope can be dangerous in addition to being a waste of money. If you want to upgrade your slug-shooting shotgun with sight, this guide will help you know what to search for.
Budget
The first step is to determine your budget before investing in the scope for your slug pistol. A wide range of price points can be obtained for high-quality slug gun scopes. It is easier to compare and weigh different options when you are aware of your financial capabilities and willingness to spend.
Durability
It’s critical to purchase a slug gun scope that can withstand the punishment of being mounted on a shotgun. No matter how good the actual scope is, if it is not correctly mounted and has some amount of shockproof and durability rating, it will not last for very long.
Shotgun recoil is no joke. You are setting yourself up for failure if you do not take this into account when choosing the appropriate sight for your slug pistol. If you want your scope to last, look for well-built models that provide the greatest mounting options.
Eye Comfort
The distance your eye must be from the reticle of the scope in order to see the target is known as eye relief. You won’t be able to utilize the scope effectively if your eye is too close or too far away, which could hurt you. The average eye relief for rifle scopes is between three and three and a half inches.
Even the largest caliber guns will operate successfully at this range. Due to the enormous recoil a shotgun creates, it is not suitable for a shotgun. Shotgun recoil can kick the sight back into your eye or face if you put your eye close to it while firing.
This is obviously undesirable and risky, not to mention embarrassing. You can prevent this by selecting a sight designed exclusively for a shotgun. Better eye relief on shotgun scopes enables you to operate the scope safely and without suffering a black eye.
Magnification
If you intend to mount the scope on a shotgun, it is crucial to understand what kind of magnification it has. Shotguns need a scope that is appropriate for their substantially shorter effective range. A range ideal for slug hunting cannot be used if the magnification is too strong.
When using a slug gun to hunt large animals, most people need the target to be within 100 yards. Simply put, riflescopes designed to acquire targets from distances greater than 100 yards won’t function properly when mounted to a slug shotgun.
Best Vortex Scope for Slug Gun FAQS
Can a slug gun be equipped with a rifle scope?
In general, high-power rifle scopes are not appropriate for fitting shotguns. Most hunting riflescopes are not suited for mounting on a shotgun due to shotgun recoil, the low eye relief, and the restricted range of slug-barreled shotguns.
What should I sight my slug gun in for?
Slug guns need to be zeroed (sighted in) at a distance where the slug will hit the target while it is still in the supersonic stage of its flight. The best zeroing distance is 50 yards since most slugs become subsonic at a distance of around 50 yards and move at less than 1220 feet per second or less than that.
Conclusion
You now have more than enough knowledge to look at what is available in your area and within your budget, after we spent some time discussing shotguns specifically made for slug shooting and the available optical options.