Normally a rifle scope should cost at least as much as the rifle you are putting it onto or more. However, sometimes you just need something that will work and doesn’t cost a lot of money. The scopes that we have looked at in this article won’t help you make the 1000-yard shot, but they will work well on your favorite plinking rifle.
If you are a newbie in rifle shooting and are looking for a budget scope option, then you have come to the right page.
We’ve scoured and found five models that deserve a spot on our best rifle scope under 50 dollars list.
They may not have the fancy features of expensive high-quality ones, but they are not cheap scopes.
Let’s look at each of their features, pros, and cons to help you decide which one’s perfect for your rifle.
Best Rifle Scope Under 50: A Review
1. CVLIFE 3-9x 40mm Rifle Scope
CVLIFE is an American company founded nine years ago and currently based in Las Vegas, Nevada.
It offers various outdoor hunting products, including holographic sights, rifle bipods, and scopes.
The company believes in providing convenience to its customers through its products, support, and services.
Review
One of CVLIFE’s best innovations is the 3-9×40 riflescope model from 2012.
Let’s check out its features to see if they fit your preferences.
Fast Focus Eyepiece
The CVLIFE 3-9x 40mm Rifle Scope’s fast focus eyepiece allows you to adjust the diopter settings quickly.
Its user-friendly diopter adjustment setting is ideal for people with different eyesight, whether farsighted to nearsighted.
3-9x Power Ring
This CVLIFE scope comes with a user-friendly 3-9x magnification power ring allowing you to zoom into long-distance targets
Most rifle scopes are set to focus at 100 yards, meaning your target should be clear at that focal range.
Multicoated Lenses
With its scratch-resistant coating, the bright, clear, and sharp CVLIFE scope performs well in any environment or condition.
The multicoated lenses provide 95% light transmission over 300% of the light spectrum.
They also deliver high-contrast and color-specific pictures, keeping them visible by protecting them against dirt, fog, oil, and rain.
Picatinny 20mm Mount
The included scope mounts will fit the standard 20mm Weaver or Picatinny rail with its specific dimensions of notches and grooves.
Second Focal Plane Scope
A second focal plane scope, also called SFP or Rear Focal Plane, is closer to the user’s eye.
With it, you can expand or shrink your target as you zoom in or out while the reticle retains its original size.
Special Outer and Inner Structure
The scope’s unique outer and inner structure helps control the interaction between the tubes.
This structure provides long-lasting reliability, ensuring that the duplex reticle doesn’t rotate during the adjustment process.
Its innovative design makes the scope shockproof while providing more precise elevation and windage turret adjustments.
The tube is made of a robust one-inch sealed and nitrogen-filled aluminum, making it rain- and fog-proof.
Windage and Elevation Adjustment Turrets
The windage knob, typically found on the right side as you look through the scope, is for adjusting the reticle from side to side.
Likewise, you will find the elevation knob on top for adjusting the reticle up and down.
These two adjustable dials are essential scope turrets that will help set up your rifle’s zero.
Package Inclusions
Upon receipt of this budget rifle scope, you will receive the 3-9×40 optics, one lens cover, an Allen key, and two scope mounts.
Pros:
- Easy to install
- Clear lenses
- Holds zero well
- Elevation and windage adjustments work well
- Secure scope ring bases
Cons:
- Tall rings profile
- No instruction manual
The Scratch-resistant coating protects exterior lenses from scratches, oil, and dirt.
2. Simmons 511039 3-9×32 Riflescope
Simmons has been a visionary leader in high-value and premium-quality riflescopes and binoculars since 1983.
All riflescopes from Simmons are built to last, offering enviable performance, innovative features, and spot-on accuracy.
Although it is not as popular as other brands, many hunters prefer quality scopes from Simmons for their rugged durability and extraordinary optical innovation.
Review
One example of Simmons’ exemplary innovations is the 511039 riflescope model from 2007.
It is perfect for small game hunting, target shooting, or varmint hunting.
Traditionally, it’s still America’s most popular rimfire scope, delivering big-game performance.
Let us see what makes this .22 Mag riflescope popular among shooters.
High-Quality Optical Glass
The Simmons company only uses precision-ground premium optical glass and special coatings for their scopes.
As a result, you get ultra-bright and clear images with higher contrast and outstanding glare control.
HydroShield Lens Coating
The Simmons .22 Mag scope comes with high-quality glass optics, fully-coated with HydroShield.
This protective coating helps deliver the sharp image quality and clear sight pictures in all weather conditions.
It also turns the glass optics into a low-maintenance, stain-resistant surface that will not chip, discolor, or peel.
One Piece Tube Construction
The durable and lightweight Simmons scope comes from a single piece of aircraft-quality aluminum.
It is the only one-piece scope in the industry that boasts 30% fewer parts. Hence, it’s 16% lighter and leaves you fewer joints and seams to seal.
QTA or Quick Target Acquisition Eyepiece
The QTA eyepiece of the Simmons .22 Mag scope provides constant eye relief throughout the power range.
It provides clear and in-focus viewing in a more prominent optical spot, allowing more movement behind the scope.
As a result, you can spot the target quicker and shoot it faster with more accuracy, even when shooting from an uphill or awkward position.
SureGrip Rubber Surfaces
This Simmons rifle scope comes with SureGrip rubber surfaces to make all adjustments easier in shooting conditions.
You will find this feature on elevation and windage caps, eyepiece diopter adjustment, power change rings, and side parallax adjustment knobs.
TrueZero System
The steel-on-steel TrueZero system of Simmons is a durable and innovative design using spring and ball-bearing technology.
It uses steel-on-steel direct pressure, locking it tightly and holding “true zero” through numerous hunts.
This TrueZero technology is sealed and waterproof for more extended all-weather reliability, even if you remove the lens caps.
TruePlex Reticle
A TruePlex reticle has anti-reflective multi-coated lenses, providing a clean sight picture without blurring your target.
It has a similar basic design to a multi-x reticle or a duplex with its simplicity and ease of use.
Also, heavy vertical and horizontal lines thin out as they intersect as you look through the scope glass.
This reticle design is an excellent option for close and mid-range hunters, especially for bigger game.
Moreover, this reticle type can work well with most shotgun and rifle types and almost any caliber.
Pros:
- Easy to mount
- Can hold zero well
- Excellent eye relief and glass clarity at the lowest settings
- Easy dial adjustments
- Functions well in low-light conditions
Cons:
- Hard to notice turrets adjustment clicks
- Slight distortion on the edges of the field of view
Simmons Rifle Scopes provide exceptional light transmission, contrast, glare control, and clarity equal to, or better than, anything in their class.
3. Pinty 3-9×40 Rifle Scope
Headquartered in Ontario, California, the Pinty Devices company started because of the founder’s love for shooting.
Pinty scopes have a wide range of options depending on a shooter’s personal needs.
Most accurate shooters know the qualities of rifle scopes in different price ranges.
With each Pinty scope, you get multiple magnification ranges and settings for trustworthy accuracy.
Review
This 2015 Pinty 3-9×40 rifle scope model is weatherproof and can handle any challenge on the hunt, in the field, or on the range.
Let’s look more closely into this scope’s features.
Diopter Adjustment
The diopter adjustment lets you modify the reticle sharpness from +3 to -2 until it matches your eyesight for a clear view.
Elevation and Windage Adjustment
The intuitive design of this Pinty rifle scope provides tool-free windage and elevation adjustments with excellent accuracy.
These adjustments will give you the perfect aim for every shot while maintaining the zero setting.
Field of View
With the lens magnification range of 3x to 9x, shooters will have a field of view of 14 to 25 feet at 100 yards.
It means you will have a smaller field of view if the magnification setting is high.
Five Brightness Settings
This Pinty rifle scope comes with five brightness settings for each color of the rangefinder reticle.
This feature ensures maximum visibility in whatever environment.
Heavy-Duty Aluminum Alloy
The Pinty 3-9×40 rifle scope is made from heavy-duty aluminum alloy material, making it lightweight and corrosion-resistant.
This robust material helps protect the optics and internal mechanism of the rifle scope.
Multi-Coated Objective Lenses
This rugged rangefinder rifle scope features 40mm multi-coated lenses, providing you with a wide variety of clear and sharp images.
The multicoating applied to the lenses also makes them fog and waterproof, allowing you quick target acquisition.
This riflescope also offers exceptional light transmission, solid mechanical performance, and optical quality.
Rangefinder Rifle Scope
The rangefinder reticle of this rifle scope offers quick and easy aiming points for different distances and magnifications.
It comes with multiple horizontal lines with a specific thickness or is placed at various distances from each other.
A rangefinder helps eliminate guesswork by calculating the correct distance between the scope and the target.
Red and Green Illumination
These green and red sight illuminations deliver a clear and bright vision in different environments.
They help the shooter pick up the reticle, even in unfavorable lighting or weather conditions.
An illuminated scope contrasts your target and reticle, allowing you to see them.
Scope Rings
Your Pinty purchase will include two included scope rings compatible with 20mm Weaver or Picatinny rails.
These are essential components for securely attaching the scope to your rifle to prevent it from shifting or moving while shooting.
Any slight movement of the scope can impact your shooting accuracy.
Product Inclusion
In addition to the Pinty 3-9×40 rifle scope (black), you will also receive the following components:
- Instruction manual
- Cleaning cloth
- Two one-inch riser mounts
- CR2032 battery
Pros:
- Can hold zero well
- Easy to sight
- Tool-free adjustments
- Well-built
- Illumination works great at night
Cons:
- Tall mounts
- Fuzzy image at the highest magnification
Green and red illuminations provide bright and clear vision even in the worst environment.
4. MidTen 2.5-10x 40E Rifle Scope
MidTen started selling shooting and outdoor gear in 2015 and continues to be the top internet retailer to date.
The company aims to provide superior products and services to its customers at an affordable price.
One of their product examples is the MidTen 2.5-10x40E rifle scope.
Review
Among our options, the 2-in-1 MidTen rifle scope with a laser sight is the latest upgraded model released in 2018.
The company made some improvements in the internal process of the eyepiece for the eye relief to reach the standard distance accurately.
Let us look at the scope’s other notable features.
2-in-1 Design
This specially-designed scope comes with a gun sight laser and tactical scope for a more accurate shooting experience.
Eye Relief
The standard inches of eye relief is 3.5 to four, and the upgraded eyepiece version of this MidTen tactical scope can reach 3″ to 4″ accurately.
Its fast focus eyepiece provides a -2/+2 diopter adjustment suitable for people with different eyesight.
Elevation and Windage Adjustments
You can up the scope’s point of impact by turning its screw counter-clockwise.
On the other hand, turning the knob counter-clockwise will move your point of impact to the right.
Adjusting these two settings help change the bullet’s impact as you try to zero a scope or accommodate a shooting condition.
Illuminated Mil-Dot Scope with Red Laser
This MidTen rifle scope features a dual illuminated Mil-Dot reticle with five levels of brightness settings.
A shooter can change the settings easily according to different scenarios and lighting conditions.
It also comes with a gun sight red laser, with 2mW power, ideal for quick target acquisition, incredibly swift-moving, and close-quarter ones.
A Mil-Dot reticle displays a duplex crosshair reticle or grid where you will notice four small dots at 0.25 mil in diameter along each axis.
These tiny dots are positioned as they are to help in the range estimation of a sighted target.
Multi-Coated Lens
The multi-coated green lens of this MidTen scope provides a higher light transmittance, giving you a clearer image.
These multiple layers of coatings help minimize the reflected light allowing you to see a brighter picture.
Package Inclusions
In addition to the central unit, you will receive one CR2032 battery, a lens cover, three LR1130 batteries, an Allen wrench, and a cleaning cloth.
Pros:
- Provides clear sight picture
- Easy to adjust
- Holds a zero setting
- Well-made scope
- Easy to mount
Cons:
- Short eye relief
- No instruction manual
5. UUQ 4×32 Tactical Scope
UUQ offers complete services from designing the product, mass producing and selling, and technology support, making it an ISO9000 company.
The company is one of the most significant optical parts and device suppliers worldwide.
Its 4×32 tactical scope is an excellent choice with its compact design.
Review
If you look closely, you will see the superficial superiority of its features and how it can help you focus on your target.
This compact and lightweight design offers significant features and qualities similar to other scope models from the company.
It’s a versatile scope ideal for different situations, including hunting, shooting competitions, or military and police operations.
Let’s check out some of its key features to see what this tactical scope can offer.
Magnification
This tactical scope offers a fixed 4x magnification with a one-inch tube diameter and an objective lens of 32 millimeters.
As such, you will see your target four times larger than its original size.
Scope Body
This UUQ tactical scope used a single piece of aircraft-grade aluminum, making it durable, fog-proof, and shock-resistant housing.
It can also withstand constant heavy recoil while still holding its zero well.
The nitrogen-filled housing also has weather-resistant seals, protecting it against fog and moisture.
Multi-Coated Lenses
The UUQ tactical scope comes with blue-fused multi-coated optics, providing excellent light transmission and resolution.
Also, these multiple anti-reflective coating layers protect the exterior lenses from dirt, oil, and scratches.
Rangefinder Reticle
The rangefinder reticle on this compact tactical scope has two or more lines placed horizontally with specific distances and line thickness.
These lines function to provide quick distance estimates and other necessary adjustments.
Ring Mounts
This UUQ tactical scope comes with 20 millimeters ring mounts suitable for Picatinny or Weaver rails.
Customer Service
The company has an excellent team of customer service representatives available to assist you promptly 24/7.
Pros:
- Tool-free adjustments
- Audible clicks on knobs
- Sealed caps
- Clear sight picture
- Survives recoil and holds zero well
Cons:
- Thick crosshair
- short eye relief
Which Rifle Scope Under 50 Should You Choose?
Try any of the five entry-level scope options we reviewed above if you are new to the sport and not ready to shell out that much cash.
Choose whichever works best for your specific needs and lifestyle.
That said, after checking the fundamental features of each rifle scope, we choose the CVLIFE 3-9×40 mm Rifle Scope as our top pick for the best rifle scope under 50 dollars.
Its magnification feature, large objective lens, and unlimited eye relief provide excellent performance at various distances.
