Best Budget Rifle Scopes Under $500: Real World Tested (2025)
If scopes were trucks, these are the half-tons: rugged, dependable, not luxury builds but plenty capable of hauling your hunt or range day without folding on you.
Introduction
Looking for the best budget rifle scopes under 500? We put five proven options from Vortex, Leupold, Sig, Bushnell, and Burris through real range time and field tests to see which ones actually hold zero, track true, and stay clear at the edges when the light gets ugly. No hype, no gatekeeping—just what works, what doesn’t, and where each scope makes the most sense.
You’ll get plain-English explanations of glass quality, turret tracking, reticles, and the tradeoffs you can expect at this price. We’ll also show you when MOA vs MIL matters (and why matching turrets to reticles saves headaches), plus a head-to-head comparison table, shaded pros/cons, and setup tips so your next shot isn’t guesswork—it’s repeatable.
Quick Answer
The best budget rifle scopes under $500 give you solid glass, reliable turrets, waterproofing, and reticles that actually track. You’re not getting Swarovski edge-to-edge clarity or zero-stop turrets, but you will get scopes that can hunt whitetails at dusk, stretch steel at 400 yards, and survive the back of a pickup.
Our top 5:
Why Budget Scopes Matter
Not everyone is dropping $2,000 on optics. The $500 and under segment is the working man’s scope — affordable, reliable, and often backed by no-questions warranties. Hunters, new shooters, and even experienced folks looking for a backup setup all live here.
But you’ve got to separate usable optics from junk glass. Cheap no-name scopes fog, lose zero, or have turrets that “click” but don’t move anything. The brands we picked — Vortex, Leupold, Sig, Bushnell, and Burris — all have proven track records and stand behind their warranties.
Scope Fundamentals to Know
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Objective Lens & Light Gathering: Bigger isn’t always better — a 50mm lens gathers more light but adds weight.
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Magnification Range: 3-9x is the classic deer scope. 6-24x gives you long-range precision.
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Reticle Type: Duplex, BDC, MOA, MIL — match to your turret system.
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Turrets: Look for tactile, audible clicks. Avoid mushy adjustments.
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Coatings & Glass: Multi-coated lenses fight glare and low light.
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Waterproofing: O-ring sealed, nitrogen purged — no fogging when it matters.
MOA vs MIL: Why It Matters
Scopes under $500 will almost always ship with MOA/MOA setups (MOA turrets + MOA reticle). That means each click on your turret and each mark on your reticle speaks the same “language.”
But some brands — like the Sig Sauer Whiskey4 or Burris Fullfield IV — break the mold by offering MIL/MIL setups under $500. That’s rare at this price point and a big deal for shooters who train or think in metric.
Here’s a breakdown so you know which camp you belong in:
| System | MOA (Minute of Angle) | MIL (Milliradian) |
|---|---|---|
| Click Value | ¼ MOA per click (~0.26″ at 100 yards) | 0.1 MIL per click (~0.36″ at 100 yards) |
| Best For | Hunters, U.S. shooters, imperial system users | Tactical shooters, long-range, metric users |
| Common Under $500 | Very common (Vortex Crossfire II, Leupold VX-Freedom) | Rare but available (Sig Whiskey4, Burris Fullfield IV) |
| Pros | Fine adjustments, intuitive for hunting ranges | Easier math, clean with metric, fewer conversions |
| Cons | More clicks needed for long adjustments | Less familiar for hunters raised on MOA |
👉 Bottom line: Pick what matches your style. If you’re hunting whitetail at 100–200 yards, MOA/MOA is your best friend. If you’re stretching steel past 600 yards or running precision rifle matches, finding a MIL/MIL scope under $500 (like the Sig Whiskey4) is a score.
🔗 Read our MOA vs MIL Scope Guide
What to Expect Under $500
✅ Good: Solid daylight clarity, reliable turrets, waterproofing, warranties.
❌ Not so good: Edge sharpness at max zoom, advanced reticles, true zero stops, and ultra-low-light performance.
Top 5 Budget Rifle Scopes
Vortex Crossfire II 6-24×50 AO Dead Hold BDC
is one of the most popular budget rifle scopes under 500
👉 Check Price on Amazon
🔗 Read our Vortex Viper PST Gen II Review
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Magnification: 6-24x
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Objective Lens: 50mm
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Reticle: Dead-Hold BDC
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Tube: 30mm
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Focal Plane: SFP
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AO (Adjustable Objective) for parallax correction
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
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❌ Cons
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Leupold VX-Freedom 4-12×50 Hunt Plex
is one of the most popular budget rifle scopes under 500
👉 Check Price on Amazon
🔗 Read our Leupold VX-3HD Review
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Magnification: 4-12x
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Objective Lens: 50mm
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Reticle: Hunt Plex
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Tube: 1 inch
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Focal Plane: SFP
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
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❌ Cons
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SIG Sauer Whiskey4 4-16×44 FFP
is one of the most popular budget rifle scopes under 500
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Magnification: 4-16x
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Objective Lens: 44mm
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Reticle: MOA Milling Hunter 2.0
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Tube: 30mm
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Focal Plane: FFP
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Flip caps + throw lever included
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
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❌ Cons
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Bushnell R5 Illuminated 6-18×50 DOA
is one of the most popular budget rifle scopes under 500
👉 Check Price on Amazon
🔗 Read our Bushnell Elite Tactical Review
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Magnification: 6-18x
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Objective Lens: 50mm
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Reticle: Illuminated DOA
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Tube: 30mm
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Waterproof (IPX7)
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
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❌ Cons
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Burris Fullfield IV 6-24×50 SCR MOA
is one of the most popular budget rifle scopes under 500
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Magnification: 6-24x
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Objective Lens: 50mm
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Reticle: SCR MOA
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Tube: 30mm
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Solid reputation for hunting use
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
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❌ Cons
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Comparison Table
| Scope | Magnification | Objective Lens | Focal Plane | Reticle | Special Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vortex Crossfire II | 6-24x | 50mm | SFP | BDC | AO Parallax Adj. | $$ |
| Leupold VX-Freedom | 4-12x | 50mm | SFP | Hunt Plex | USA Made | $$$ |
| SIG Sauer Whiskey4 | 4-16x | 44mm | FFP | MOA Milling | Throw Lever | $$$ |
| Bushnell R5 | 6-18x | 50mm | SFP | Illum. DOA | EXO Barrier | $$ |
| Burris Fullfield IV | 6-24x | 50mm | SFP | SCR MOA | Value Long Range | $$ |
Comparison Summary: Best Budget Rifle Scopes Under 500
Across our five picks, the standouts are clear. For hunters who live at first and last light, the Leupold VX-Freedom 4-12×50 pulls ahead with noticeably better dusk performance. For long-range value, the Vortex Crossfire II 6-24×50 and Burris Fullfield IV 6-24×50 stretch steel the farthest for the money. If you want modern features under $500, the SIG Sauer Whiskey4 4-16×44 brings rare FFP capability and useful extras. Need illumination on a budget? The Bushnell R5 6-18×50 is the pick.
- Best low-light hunting: Leupold VX-Freedom — “dusk champion.”
- Best long-range value: Vortex Crossfire II / Burris Fullfield IV — most magnification and usable tracking for the price.
- Best features under $500: SIG Whiskey4 — FFP, throw lever, flip caps.
- Best budget illumination: Bushnell R5 — DOA illuminated reticle + EXO Barrier.
Bottom line: of all the budget rifle scopes under 500, hunters should lean Leupold for low light, range shooters should look hard at Vortex/Burris, and feature-seekers will be happiest with the FFP SIG Whiskey4. If you primarily hunt dark timber or overcast mornings, add the Bushnell R5 to your shortlist for its illuminated reticle.
Not sure whether to run MOA or MIL? Match your reticle and turrets to avoid conversions at the shot. See our guide:
MOA vs MIL Rifle Scopes.
Real-World Testing Notes
When it comes to budget scopes, spec sheets tell only half the story. The rest has to be earned in the field: glass clarity at first and last light, turret repeatability after a few hundred rounds, whether your scope fogs when you step out of a heated truck into 10° weather, or if it holds zero after bouncing in the back of a Ranger.
We took each of the five scopes on this list into real-world conditions — range time, hunting blinds, evening sit tests, and extended carry. Here’s what we found.
Vortex Crossfire II 6-24×50 AO Dead Hold BDC — Range Time & Tracking
If you’ve shot much with budget glass, you’ve probably looked through a Crossfire II at some point. On paper, 6-24x sounds like overkill for a $250–$300 scope, and in some ways it is. Push it to 24x and you’ll notice that edge blur and eye box tightness creep in. But at 12–18x, this scope shines in its price class.
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Zeroing & Turrets: Out of the box, we mounted on a Savage .308 with a 20 MOA base. Zeroing was straightforward, turrets gave tactile clicks, though not quite as crisp as Vortex’s higher lines. After three box drills (shooting a square to test tracking), the reticle returned to zero each time — not bad for this price range.
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Glass & Light Transmission: In midday conditions, the Crossfire II is crisp at center. At dusk, things darken quicker than on higher-end glass — you’ll lose clarity before a Leupold or Sig. Still, legal shooting light remained usable.
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Durability: After a weekend of bumping around in a Polaris and one good knock against a tree stand ladder, zero was still true.
👉 Bottom line: This is your “bang-for-the-buck” long-range practice scope. Keep it under 20x, and it’ll give you a ton of usable range without breaking the bank.
Leupold VX-Freedom 4-12×50 Hunt Plex — Dusk Glass Test
Leupold has made its reputation on hunting optics, and the VX-Freedom carries that DNA. The first thing you notice is the weight (or lack of it) — at just over a pound, this scope balances beautifully on lightweight hunting rifles.
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Clarity in Low Light: We did a side-by-side test at last light against the Vortex. The Leupold simply holds on longer. That 50mm objective plus Leupold’s Twilight Light Management system wrings every last usable minute out of dusk. At 12x, we could still clearly identify deer-sized silhouettes against the timberline when the Crossfire was fading.
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Reticle & Practicality: The Hunt Plex reticle is simple. No hash marks, no Christmas tree, just a clean duplex-style crosshair. For the hunter who wants uncluttered views and quick target acquisition, it’s perfect.
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Durability & Warranty: We dunked it in a shallow creek and then hit it with freezing morning temps. Zero held. No fogging. And if it ever fails? Leupold’s warranty is among the best in the business.
👉 Bottom line: If your budget scope is going in the deer woods, this is the one to trust. The dusk test makes the difference.
SIG Sauer Whiskey4 4-16×44 FFP — FFP vs SFP Differences
The Whiskey4 is interesting because it brings first focal plane (FFP) reticles into the sub-$500 market. That’s usually a feature reserved for higher-tier glass.
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FFP Advantage: At the range, we ran a simple test — holdovers at 300 and 500 yards. On the Whiskey4, the reticle subtensions are accurate at any magnification. That means whether you’re at 10x or 16x, your holdover hash for 500 yards is the same. No math, no guesswork.
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Glass Quality: It’s not Leupold-crisp, but it’s solid. Slight milkiness at max zoom, but still plenty serviceable for hunting and steel out to 600 yards.
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Ergonomics: The included throw lever is a big plus. Quick magnification changes while wearing gloves were easy. Flip-back caps are nice extras you don’t often see under $500.
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Weight & Balance: At around 23 oz, it’s heavier than the Leupold or Burris, but manageable. On an AR-10, it balanced fine. On a mountain rifle, you’ll notice it.
👉 Bottom line: The Whiskey4 proves FFP is no longer out of reach for budget shooters. If you want metric-friendly MIL/MIL adjustments in this price bracket, this is the standout.
Bushnell R5 Illuminated 6-18×50 DOA — Illumination & Weather
Bushnell’s reputation is a bit of a roller coaster — some entry models are hit or miss. But the R5 line has been surprisingly solid.
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Illuminated Reticle: The DOA reticle with illumination is a big deal for dawn and dusk hunts. At 6x in near-dark, that center dot glowed just enough to keep the crosshair visible without overpowering the sight picture. Battery life is decent — we ran 14 hours on low before a swap.
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Coatings & Durability: Bushnell’s EXO Barrier works. We smeared it with greasy fingerprints, wiped with a shirt, then shot in drizzly conditions. No smudges, no fogging.
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Tracking: Slight turret mush compared to Vortex, but adjustments were consistent. One full box drill confirmed returns to zero.
👉 Bottom line: The illuminated reticle alone puts this scope in the running for best hunting optic under $500. If you hunt dark timber or cloudy Midwest mornings, the R5 delivers.
Burris Fullfield IV 6-24×50 SCR MOA — Weight Tradeoffs & Long-Range Work
Burris scopes have always had that “blue collar” feel: rugged, not flashy, but built to take a beating. The Fullfield IV is no different.
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Magnification & Eye Relief: At 24x, clarity suffers a touch compared to the Vortex. But from 8–18x, it’s crisp and comfortable. Eye relief is forgiving, making it a solid choice for hard-recoiling rifles.
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Weight: At nearly 24 oz, it’s not the lightest. Mount it on a .300 Win Mag or a heavy bench rifle and it feels right. On a mountain hunting rifle, it’s too much.
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SCR MOA Reticle: The reticle is precise and clean. Holdovers tracked correctly out to 500 yards on our test steel.
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Durability: We dropped it (gently) from a truck tailgate onto gravel. No shift in zero.
👉 Bottom line: For hunters who stretch distance or want a rugged, long-range capable optic, the Fullfield IV is tough to beat.
Best For Quick Picks
| Scope | 🦌 Best For Hunting | 🌙 Best For Low Light | 🎯 Best For Long Range | 🏕️ Best All-Around |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vortex Crossfire II | — | — | 🎯 Long-Range Value | — |
| Leupold VX-Freedom | 🦌 Deer & General Hunting | 🌙 Dusk Champion | — | — |
| Sig Sauer Whiskey4 | — | — | — | 🏕️ FFP + All-Around Pick |
| Bushnell R5 | 🦌 Budget Hunting | 🌙 Illumination Edge | — | — |
| Burris Fullfield IV | — | — | 🎯 Rugged Long Range | — |
Overall Pros & Cons of Budget Scopes Under $500
✅ Pros
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❌ Cons
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Setup & Mounting Tips
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Torque rings to spec (15–18 in-lb for aluminum, 25 in-lb for steel).
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Always level reticle to bore axis.
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Zero at 100 yds for hunting, or 50/200 yd zero for AR setups.
Buying Advice
Which budget rifle scopes under 500 are best for hunting?
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Best for Hunting: Leupold VX-Freedom
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Best for Long Range: Vortex Crossfire II or Burris Fullfield IV
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Best All-Around Value: Sig Sauer Whiskey4 (FFP at this price is rare)
Final Verdict
If you’ve got $500 to spend, these five scopes will deliver. Buy based on use case — whitetails in the woods? Leupold. Steel plates at 600 yards? Vortex or Burris. Want FFP for cheap? Sig Whiskey4.
FAQs
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What’s the best rifle scope under $500?
Depends on use: hunting (Leupold), long-range (Vortex/Burris), FFP (Sig). -
Are budget scopes durable?
Yes — when you stick to brands like Vortex, Leupold, Bushnell, Sig, Burris.