Last updated on February 18th, 2025
You will no doubt have specific features you are chasing in an optic, whether its magnification range, long eye relief or a specific price point. The tables below list out the specifications that are most important to users when selecting a long range scope including price, glass quality, magnification range, weight, eye relief and reticle options.
Price Comparison
Firstly, consider the financial outlay when looking for a long range rifle scope. The price is intricately linked to various performance characteristics such as the quality of the glass, the manufacturing quality and reliability of the adjustments in the turrets. When shooting long distance in this price range it’s essential to align your budget with your specific needs.
For instance, if your long range shooting and exceeding 1000 yards in low light, a premium scope with quality components in this price range helps enormously. There are some substantial differences in prices of these scopes. The Vortex Razor is at least 2,000 USD cheaper than the Schmidt & Bender PM II. It might not have the quality of glass as the PM II but the Razor is still a very capable premium optic.
| Schmidt & Bender PM II 6-36×56 | 5,500+ USD |
| Nightforce ATACR 7-35×56 | 3,000+ USD |
| Vortex Razor Gen III 6-36×56 | 2,999 USD |
| Zero Compromise ZC840 8-40×56 | 4,000+ USD |
| Kahles K540i DLR 5-40×56 | 3,499+ USD |
| Steiner M7Xi 4-28×56 | 3,600+ USD |
| Leupold Mark 5 HD 7-35×56 | 2,600+ USD |
| Tangent Theta 5-25×56 | 5,000+ USD |
| March Genesis 6-60×56 | 6000+ USD |
If you are eyeing off premium optics and don’t mind a couple of scope ring marks, there are option. You can sometimes score these optics as ex showroom demo’s. You can save a few hundred by checking out EuroOptics Showroom Demo’s.
Glass Quality
The price of a rifle scope is closely tied to the quality of the glass used in its optics. With higher quality glass typically comes a higher price point. A general rule of thumb when budgeting for a rifle scope is to allocate a similar amount to what you spent on the rifle itself. While not a strict guideline, it provides a useful reference for balancing your investment between the rifle and the scope.
Optical lenses used in scopes receive various coatings to enhance light transmission and contrast, which can influence the optic’s total cost. There are four categories of lens coatings however the optics featured here are premium rifle scopes and are all equipped with fully multi-coated lenses. Glass quality is particularly important for reading mirage at long distance. This is how you work out what the wind values are near the target.
The table below illustrates the origin of the glass used in each scope. For many buyers of premium optics, the manufacturing origin of the glass carries a lot of weight. These top tier scopes have earned their place on the “Best Long Range Rifle Scope list” due to their exceptional glass quality, which is reflected in the esteemed reputation of the countries listed below. German and Austrian glass, renowned as some of the best in the world, commands a higher price point, as evident in the table.
| Schmidt & Bender PM II | Germany |
| Nightforce ATACR | Japan |
| Vortex Razor Gen III | Japan |
| Zero Compromise ZC840 | Austria |
| Kahles K540i DLR | Austria |
| Steiner M7Xi | Germany |
| Leupold Mark 5 | USA |
| Tangent Theta | Canada |
| March Genesis | Japan |
Magnification Range
While magnification ranges vary among the different manufacturers, each optic offered here is capable of reaching distances beyond 1000 yards, making them suitable for long range shooting. All scopes offered here also feature a large objective lens of 56mm, which effectively captures light and helps deliver a crisp image. For long range shooting a magnification range of at least 18x and upwards is ideal.
For hunting you are going to want a lower magnification option just encase you have game close to you. You want to still be able to find it quickly and a lower end magnification of 5x is ideal.
| Schmidt & Bender PM II | 6-36×56 |
| Nightforce ATACR | 7-35×56 |
| Vortex Razor Gen III | 6-36×56 |
| Zero Compromise ZC840 | 8-40×56 |
| Kahles K540i DLR | 5-40×56 |
| Steiner M7Xi | 4-28×56 |
| Leupold Mark 5 | 7-35×56 |
| Tangent Theta | 5-25×56 |
| March Genesis | 6-60×56 |
Weight
There is a spread of weights between them on the list with the March Genesis being the heaviest and the Mark 5HD the lightest. The weight of an optic becomes very important if you are spending a lot of time on foot where the weight of the rifle combined with the weight of the bipod and the optic can become a burden. When looking for the best long range rifle scope for you, choose an optic with a weight that combined with your rifle will best suit your style of shooting.
| Schmidt & Bender PM II | 995g/35.1oz |
| Nightforce ATACR | 1113g/39.3oz |
| Vortex Razor Gen III | 1278g/45.1oz |
| Zero Compromise ZC840 | 1148g/40.5oz |
| Kahles K540i DLR | 1110g/39.1oz |
| Steiner M7Xi | 949g/33.5oz |
| Leupold Mark 5 | 935g/33oz |
| Tangent Theta | 1155g/40.7oz |
| March Genesis | 1.4kg/52.21oz |
Eye Relief Range
Eye relief refers to the distance between the eyepiece of a rifle scope and the shooter’s eye, ensuring an undistorted, full field of view. It is a crucial aspect of rifle scopes, particularly for users who wear glasses, as it directly impacts usability. Sufficient eye relief is essential for comfortable shooting, enabling a natural and relaxed head and eye position. This becomes especially significant during extended periods at the range. Inadequate eye relief can result in a narrowed field of view, hindering the ability to effectively track and aim at targets.
Selecting a scope with the appropriate eye relief is a good idea for ensuring a comfortable and shooting experience. Most of the optics have a very similar eye relief with only the Kahles and Leupold standing out from the pack with larger ranges. If you wear glasses you may be suited to an optic with a little more eye relief.
| Schmidt & Bender PM II | 90mm/3.54in |
| Nightforce ATACR | 91mm/3.6in |
| Vortex Razor Gen III | 89mm/ 3.5in |
| Zero Compromise ZC840 | 89mm/3.54in |
| Kahles K540i DLR | 92mm/3.62in |
| Steiner M7Xi | 87mm/3.43in |
| Leupold Mark 5 | 96mm/3.8in |
| Tangent Theta | 88mm/3.5in |
| March Genesis | 67mm/2.63in |
Adjustments In MIL & MOA
Most of the top tier long range shooting scopes are available in both MOA and MIL measurements. When deciding between these options, a helpful starting point is considering which measurement system aligns with your natural thinking. If you’re accustomed to measuring in centimeters and meters, MILs may be the better choice, whereas if you prefer inches and yards, MOA might be more suitable.
Sticking with your familiar measurement system simplifies adjustments without the need for conversions. Whether you opt for MIL or MOA, it’s generally advisable to avoid switching back and forth between linear measurements unless operationally necessary. Instead, remain consistent with the system you’re accustomed to and select a scope accordingly.
Reticles
There are two key factors that influence reticle function: Second Focal Plane (SFP) and First Focal Plane (FFP). FFP reticles change size with changes in magnification, which means the reticles hashmarks remain accurate for ranging at all magnifications. SFP reticles stay the same size regardless of magnification, meaning hashmarks are only accurate at one specific magnification, marked by a dot on the magnification ring. FFP scopes cost more due to their ranging capability.
| Schmidt & Bender PM II | P5FL, GR²ID, TR²ID |
| Nightforce ATACR | MIL-C, MIL-R, TReMoR3, TReMoR5, MOAR, H59, MOA-XT, MOAR |
| Vortex Razor Gen III | EBR-7D MOA, EBR-7D MRAD |
| Zero Compromise ZC840 | MPCT3X, MPCT 1, MPCT 2, MOA, TREMOR5 |
| Kahles K540i DLR | AMR, SKMR4 |
| Steiner M7Xi | MSR2, TREMOR3 |
| Leupold Mark 5 | TMR, PR-1 MOA, PR-1-MIL, PR-3-MIL, IMPACT, CCH, H59, TREMOR3, PR-2-MOA, PR-2-MIL |
| Tangent Theta | Gen 2XR, Gen 3 XR, JTAC, H59, TREMOR3 |
| March Genesis | FML-1, FML-3 |
Hunting reticles are simpler in design for quick target acquisition, while target shooting reticles have more hashmarks for long distance shots, compensating for bullet drop and wind effects. Using holdovers is a faster alternative to dialing windage and elevation adjustments on the turrets.
Rifle Scope Maintube Size
Optic maintubes will come in three main sizes, 1”(25mm), 30mm and 34mm.
The size of the maintube is important to know as you will need to buy the right sized scope rings to fit the rifle scope.
1”(25mm) maintube sized scopes are the smallest scopes and are more suited to short range rimfire rifles. Smaller maintubes mean that the weight of the scope will be less and there will likely be a smaller magnification range.
The most common scope maintube size is 30mm. This is the standard size for centerfire rifles that allows for more elevation and windage adjustments to be made inside of the scope.
Long range premium optics will be made with 34mm maintubes. This is to help with having an even larger magnification, elevation and windage adjustment range. Consequently 34mm scopes will be more expensive and heavier.
Parallax Adjustment
Parallax happens when the target and the reticle are on different planes within the optic. Keeping the reticle on the same focal plane is achieved through adjusting the parallax.
If you aren’t shooting past 300 meters you are not going to need to worry about a scope with a parallax adjustment. Taking shots past 300 meters, it helps to have an optic that lets you adjust parallax.
If you have any questions about choosing a scope either comment below or send us an email and we will do our best to help you out!
When buying an optic, we recommend you use EuroOptic 👇
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