Top 7 Best Rifle Scope Under 100 – Reviews of 2018

When I think about a riflescope whose features and performance to price ratio is hard to beat, the first scope that comes to mind is the UTG 3-9X 32 1’’ bug buster scope. As its name suggests, this affordable riflescope boasts of a standard 1-inch tube.

Inside this 1-inch tube is an emerald coated lens that significantly improves the scope’s image clarity and brightness. If you have ever shopped in the under $100 price range, then you know that it is hard to find a scope with good illumination. Thus, this Bugbuster scope with its dual feature illumination is a class above the competition. With the dual illumination, you can choose between red and green illumination. This handy feature makes this scope one of the best ar 15 scopes under 100.

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Verdict

Granted this is not the best Rifle scope out there, but it is one of the best in regards to performance to price ratio. Thus it is the perfect scope for a beginner who is not ready or willing to spend large sums of money on an optic.​

What's attract me most ?

I am one of those gun enthusiasts who believe that you do not have to spend hundreds of dollars to get a good quality scope. It is for this reason that I opted for the Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Multi-X Riflescope for my Ruger 10 22.

I am yet to regret my decision, as this affordable scope has served me very well. When I first took this scope on a dawn hunting trip, I was impressed by how bright it was; I guess that is why Bushnell branded it Dawn & Dusk. The 3 to 9X magnification was more than sufficient, and so was the 40 mm objective lens. The lenses on this scope are multicoated for added clarity and brightness.

But here’s the kicker; the scope has a 3.3-inch eye relief, which I found to be great considering the scope’s price tag.

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Who is it for?

Weighing 13 ounces, this scope is relatively lighter than some of its pricier rivals and counterparts. As such, its weight makes it an ideal scope for small ballistic rifles.

That being said, this scope is perfect for hobbyists and beginners looking for an affordable yet good quality rifle. Also, it makes a great gift and a complementary scope for a secondary rifle. Given its price, this is arguably one of the best 3-9x40 scopes under 100

One of my hunting buddies is a huge fan of red dot sights, and sometimes I get to try out his Bushnell Trophy TRS-25. While this red dot sight is no Aimpoint Pro, it is a functional sight for the money.

Whenever I get a chance to try out this sight on my Ruger 10 22 I cannot help but admire its design. All the controls are conveniently located on top of the optic. Also, this red dot weighs 3 ounces, thus, even on a pistol it hardly adds any weight. With regards to optical performance, the TRS-25 might is quite the performer.

​The red dot appears bright and clear and comes with an emerald amber coating for enhanced brightness. The 1X magnification combined with the 25 mm objective lens add to the scope’s surprising optical performance.

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Who is it for?

It is hard to tell, who this scope is really for as it can be used by beginners as well as pros.

Nevertheless, if you are a professional hunter, pricier brands such as Eotech may appeal to you more. Therefore, thanks to its affordable price tag, this red dot sight is recommended for beginners looking for a first red dot sight.

I stumbled upon the Simons 511039 3-9X 32 mm riflescope while searching for a scope for my .22 rifle. At first, I thought its price was an error or a typing mistake, but after completing the order, I realized that it truly did cost less than $50.

Weighing 13.2 ounces and measuring 12 inches long, this rimfire scope is of average size and weight and fitted nicely onto my .22. The adjustable magnification of 3x to 9x was also average. As for image clarity and resolution, well, considering the price I got it for, it was not the worst, but it also was not the best.

With this scope, I can hit targets at up to 200 yards, but that is as far as it goes. What impressed me about this budget scope is its field of view. At 3X magnification, the field of view was a decent 31.4 feet at 100 yards. I was also impressed with the rimfire rings that this scope came with as they fit well with my rifles 3/8 inch rails.

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Who is it for?

In all honesty, the Simmons performed better than I expected.

However, it is not the kind of scope I would recommend for a seasoned pro. The reason being that this scope does not do well when mounted onto rifles with a heavy recoil.

Therefore, this is a scope I recommend to newbies and gun enthusiasts who are still familiarizing themselves with the art of using a rifle scope. It is extremely inexpensive and gets the job done.

The BARSKA 3-9X32 mm Riflescope is another inexpensive riflescope designed specifically for rimfire rifles and .22 rifles. Weighing 11.5 ounces, this scope is lighter than the Simmons scope reviewed above. Despite its price tag, I found this scope to be easy to zero in and its optics to be surprisingly clear.

In regards to its construction, the scope looks and feels very well made. I have dropped by BARSKA several times and is yet to show signs of damage. Also, surprising is the fact that this scope comes with fully coated lenses, that increase image brightness.

Another thing that makes me feel that this scope is worth more than its price tag is its nitrogen filled tube. Thanks to the nitrogen, you will experience zero fogging.

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Who is it for?

While some hunters will go for the more expensive Nikon Prostaff for their .22 rifles, this BARSKA model is still a great option for beginners.

Especially those who do not have money to spend on a Nikon scope. Thus, while this is not the best scope BARSKA has to offer it is still a great scope for its price point.

Introduction

I was so impressed with the Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Multi-X scope with a 3.3-inch eye relief that I decided to buy the scope’s twin brother for my friend, the one with a 6-inch eye relief.

Similar to its sibling the one with the 3.3-inch eye relief, this Bushnell scope performed superbly in low light. The multicoated lenses delivered sharp images with good resolution at all zoom levels. Considering that it has a better eye relief than its twin brother, this riflescope proved to a great optical aide.

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Who is it for?

Similar to the Dawn & Dusk Multi-X scope with 3.3-inch eye relief, this rifle scope makes for a great first riflescope.

Thus, it is the perfect scope for beginners especially those who wear glasses due to its long eye relief.

I recently bought myself a CVLIFE Optics Hunting Rifle. At first, I did not know whether my gamble would pay off or not. But after using this inexpensive scope for some time now, I think I have found myself one of the best cheap rifle scopes for deer hunting.

With a 6 to 24X magnification, this scope is ideal for long range hunting. Furthermore, the 50 mm objective lens allows a decent amount of light to pass through. This scope is bright and clear and maintains resolution across all zoom levels. I was impressed with the red and green illuminated reticle that made it easy to view targets in low light.

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Who is it for?

This scope is not as cheap as the other scopes on this list, but when you consider everything you are getting its price becomes understandable.

And while there are other scopes that are of a better quality, this scope is an excellent option for long range shooting. It is especially ideal for hunters who hunt in warm and cold weather.

There are many riflescopes that come to mind when I think about the best cheap rifle scope for deer hunting. However, the above-reviewed scopes have no rivals in the under $ 100 market. Thus, if you are looking for the Best Rifle Scope Under $100, you will find it amongst the above-reviewed scopes.

Just because you are purchasing a riflescope for less than $100 does not mean that you should throw caution out of the window. In fact, you should be extra cautious as there are many cheap knock-offs in this price tag, most of which are not worth your time. Based on my experiences, there are some factors to consider when purchasing a riflescope for less than $100.

​Field of view

The field of view is the area that is visible through your optic. Generally speaking, the field of view decreases with increase in magnification. Given that most under 100 scopes have a magnification of between 3 to 10X, the field of view needs to be great. Also, cheap scopes are ideal for short range hunting. Thus, you will want a scope that can show you a wide area.​

​Diameter of the objective lens

The diameter of a scope’s objective lens will determine how bright the images are. Therefore, if you hunt predominantly at dawn or dusk, a scope with a 40 mm objective lens will be a better option compared to one with a 32 mm objective lens. Thus, the objective lens is a critical component to consider when buying a budget rifle scope. In the budget price range, it is hard to find scopes with large lenses of between 50 mm and 57 mm. Normally you will get scopes with an objective lens of between 32 mm and 44 mm.​

Reticle​

There are many different types of reticles that you can get on your rifle scope. However, in the under 100 market you will get either a mil-dot, duplex or a triplex reticle. The reticle you choose will depend mostly on your preferences. Some scopes come with an illuminated reticle. These reticles are ideal for shooting in low light.​

Other factors to consider when purchasing a budget riflescope are;​