When looking for the best rifle scope, it’s worth sticking with manufacturers that have built a solid reputation in terms of quality and reliability.
However, it can be tricky to find the best brand because so many companies manufacture rifle scopes.
Don’t worry; we’re here to help you with your search.
We’ve compiled a list of rifle scope manufacturers patronized by many firearm enthusiasts for their quality products.
List of All Rifle Scope Manufacturers That You Should Consider
Below are 18 manufacturers, in no particular order, known for their quality rifle scopes and highly rated by most users.
You can find a scope that will work best for your rifle and specific needs and lifestyle no matter what you opt to use.
1. Vortex Optics
Founded in 1988 in Odana Road, Madison, by Dan and Margie Hamilton, Vortex Optics is one of the biggest and most popular manufacturers of rifle scopes.
The company makes optical equipment for hunting, shooting sports, outdoor recreation, wildlife watching, and law enforcement.
Aside from rifle scopes, they also make reflex sights, binoculars, red dot sights,
Vortex continues to design some of the best rifle scopes in the world with VIP warranties.
They offer a wide range of rifle scopes, from entry-level models to high-end, professional-level ones.
They have everything that every hunter and competitive or tactical shooter will need.
The Vortex Crossfire II series, Razor HD, and the Viper Series are their most popular products.
We are fans of the Vortex brand and recommend them often. We recommend the Vortex brand if you are looking at Nikon. As Nikon is no longer making rifle scopes.
2. Leupold
Another top manufacturer of rifle scopes and firearm manufacturers, Leupold, has been around for more than eleven decades.
This family-run business started when Marcus Leupold’s owner missed a buck when hunting one day because of a fogged-up scope.
That incident motivated him to innovate and create a better scope.
In 1947, Leupold launched its first riflescope called “Plainsman,” the first genuinely fog-proof scope in the USA.
Fast forward to the present, Leupold became widely known for its quality products.
Some of their best offerings are the VX-1 and VX-2 Series scopes. Known for their exceptional accuracy, Leupold scopes have been highly rated by hunters and competitive shooters for years.
Leupold is among the few rifle scope manufacturers that offer lifetime warranties for their products.
3. ATN
ATN, founded in 1995 in Doral, FL. They’re a leading USA-based Tech Optics manufacturer best known for their digital scopes.
Their most coveted creation was the 4K resolution digital intelligent optics and the thermal imaging optics.
They make uniquely designed digital scopes for hunters, outdoor enthusiasts, and law enforcement.
In 2018, the company launched its day-and-night digital scopes and thermal scope line.
These devices boast improved image processing capabilities and lightning-fast performance.
ATN developed the innovative HD technology that lets shooters do more with their scopes with their strong commitment to innovation.
This technology allows wireless streaming, ballistic calculations, laser ranging, image stabilization, HD video recordings, and more.
Another thing about ATN is that all their products are shipped complete with all hardware, accessories, and batteries, allowing you to set up your scope with ease.
4. Leapers (UTG)
Leapers is an American-based company that has been providing tactical and shooting sports optics and accessories since 1992.
They are known for their quality yet affordable scopes and optics.
They have some of the best budget scopes in the market.
Two of their highly coveted products are the 3-9×32 Bugbuster and 3-9×50 Hunter.
Both these optics boast a nifty design, varied adjustments, and optimal performance.
Leapers scopes are also touted for their unique lens coating, weatherproof frames, and crisp turret adjustments.
In addition, Leapers enforces strict quality standards in manufacturing, which has helped them maintain a positive reputation.
All UTG rifle scopes come with lifetime warranties.
That means you can always get your scope repaired or replaced at no extra cost.
Many UTG scopes utilize MIL-dot reticles that offer precision benefits and specialized holdover points for windage and elevation.
5. Bushnell
Bushnell Corporation is an American company that specializes in manufacturing sporting optics and other outdoor products like game cameras, night-vision scopes, GPS tracking systems, and laser rangefinders.
The company was founded in 1948 and continues to manufacture quality optics today.
With over 65 years of experience under its belt, Bushnell remains a solid brand for rifle scopes.
One of the significant reasons Bushnell optics are very popular is the quality of their lens.
Such lens provides exceptional clarity, allowing for perfect focus, precision, and precise shot.
Some of their most popular products are the Trophy Extreme X30 6-24×50 scope and Legend Ultra Mil-Dot 4.5x14x44.
They offer a wide range of scopes, ranging from hunting optics to tactical scopes.
6. Simmons
Simmons is a subsidiary company of Bushnell Corporation, established in 1983.
The company is known for its best-in-class, high-value rifle scopes and binoculars.
It’s a leading manufacturer of premium scopes delivering spot-on accuracy, innovative features, reliable performance, and rugged durability.
The Aetec Series is their most loved product, which offers edge-to-edge lens clarity.
Other best-sellers by Simmons are the Protarget and Whitetail Classic scopes.
7. Burris
Burris Optics was formed in 1971 by Don Burris, an engineer at a Denver-based optics company.
In 1975, Buris introduced the Fullfield rifle scopes series that offered varying magnification ranges.
The company was also the first to make American-made scopes with multi-colored lenses designed to optimize light transmission.
Over the years, Burris has designed and developed other riflescopes, such as those that feature laser rangefinders and automatic BDC capabilities.
Currently, Burris makes both entry-level and high-end scopes.
They also have a wide range of price points to suit every budget.
Plus, all Burris rifle scopes are made with quality materials and guaranteed to last a long time.
8. NcSTAR
The brand NcSTAR was established in 1997 in Southern California.
Ncstar scopes have good versatility and functionality.
While it isn’t as popular as Vortex or Leupold, the brand made a mark in the optics industry.
That’s because of its rifle scopes’ affordability and ease of use.
Plus, the company makes scopes that are more compact, lightweight, and durable.
It’s also known for manufacturing decent red dot sights that deliver tactical accuracy for short-range and long-range hunting or sports shooting.
Many NcSTAR’s scopes utilize illuminated reticles for added visibility in low-light conditions.
Besides quality scopes, NcSTAR is well-known for its remarkable gun cases.
9. Nikon
NIKON is no longer making rifle scopes.
Though they still make other optics, like spotting scopes, binoculars, cameras, and lenses, they have discontinued the rifle scopes.
Nikon is a world-renowned Japanese brand that is very popular for its cameras and binoculars.
The company was founded in Japan in 1917.
From the 1960s to the 1970s, Nikon continued to gain a foothold in the sporting optics market in the USA.
The brand’s basic power rifle scopes gained instant fame and evolved into an impressive series of variable-powered optics.
These products are designed to survive harsh conditions.
With the massive success of Nikon power scopes, the company expanded its optics line to include products designed for law enforcement and military applications, long-range CQC shooting battles, and more.
Some of the best Nikon scopes feature Bullet Drop Compensation (BDC) application that eliminates the need for ballistic-based mathematics.
Some models also utilize BDC-based turrets.
10. Sig Sauer
Established in 1853 in Switzerland, Sig Sauer is one of the world’s most renowned small arms manufacturers.
In 2015, they expanded their business to include optics, suppressors, ammo, and air guns.
Sig Sauer rifle scopes are known for their rugged, compact, and ultra-lightweight designs.
Many of these scopes are designed for dangerous game hunting and recreational shooting across a wide range of light conditions and calibers.
Besides sports shooting, Sig Sauer scopes are also a staple in many law enforcement agencies.
The best thing about Sig Sauer’s scopes is their unparalleled accuracy and impressive magnification.
That’s because each scope is made of high-quality glass that gives you an HD view of your target.
11. Primary Arms
Another top pick if you’re after affordable scopes is Primary Arms.
Even though their scopes aren’t the cheapest, they are a lot more competitively priced than most major brands.
In addition to the affordability, Primary Arms scopes are touted for their excellent optical performance.
Two of their most popular scopes are the SLX 1-6×24 and PLX 6-30×56.
The company is also famous for its red microdot sights that offer incredible durability and impressive battery life.
Some models also feature crisp 2 MOA red dot and 12 illumination settings that are extremely helpful in varying conditions.
Primary Arms is so confident with its products that they offer lifetime warranties for their scopes.
12. Athlon Optics
Athlon Optics is another USA-based sports optics manufacturer that has been in the industry for several years.
They’re well-known for their quality craftsmanship.
They make a wide range of rifle scopes, from entry-level models to advanced power options.
Their product line includes hunting scopes, red dot systems, short-to-medium range scopes, and long-range optics.
They also offer an outstanding lifetime warranty.
13. Trijicon
Trijicon was founded in 1981 by Glyn Bindon, an aeronautical engineer at Ford Motor Company.
In 1985, he introduced the world’s first tritium-reticle rifle scope.
The tritium is a fiber optic technology that illuminates the reticle for night or low-light conditions.
Since then,
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14. TRUGLO
TRUGLO is another leading manufacturer of rifle scopes.
It was established in 1993 by an avid hunter and competitive archer.
Their success lies in the quality of the optics they use.
Each TRUGLO scope has a lens that provides crisp images.
Apart from rifle scopes, the company also offers a line of innovative archery scopes.
15. Sightmark
Established in 2007, Sightmark is one of the newest scope manufacturers that offer high-quality products at consumer-level pricing.
Aside from rifle scopes, they also make night vision devices and other defense-related products.
While they are mostly known for their entry-level optics, Sightmark has also brought a premier scope line to the market.
They also have military-inspired equipment ideal for hunting, competitive shooting, and tactical situations.
One of their best-selling products is the Photon XT that features a unique profile and crisp lens.
16. BSA
Founded in 1996, BSA optics manufactures rifle scopes, binoculars, lasers, red dots, and shooting accessories highly desired for their affordable price points.
BSA is known for air gun scopes.
In 2004, the company launched the first scopes designed explicitly for .17HMR.
It ultimately became a flagship product for BSA, leading to many more models patronized by firearm hobbyists and shooting enthusiasts.
17. Zeiss
Zeiss is a global company highly recognized for its quality rifle sights and scopes, medical solutions, photography products, and more.
It’s based in Jena, Germany, and was founded in 1846.
In 1861, Zeiss was deemed one of the best scientific instrument manufacturers in Germany.
As a trustworthy scope manufacturer, Zeiss is known for its exceptional quality of glass.
One of its top-selling scopes, the Conquest HD5, is touted for its ability to deliver precision shots for both short and long distances, up to 1,000 yards.
While certainly not the novice and budget shoppers, Zeiss scopes are of good quality and exceptional performance.
18. Redfield
Looks Like Redfield is also leaving the scope market.
It isn’t easy to talk about scopes without mentioning Redfield.
This company has been manufacturing firearm optics for over 100 years, so it’s not surprising that it makes some of the best scopes in the market.
Redfield is known to be the historic rival of Leupold.
Given its vast experience, the company has launched many types of scopes, such as the Revolution, Revenge, and Accu-Range series.
Redfield scopes have remarkable glass quality that enables optimum light transition.
Their turrets and reticles are also spot-on, so they are perfect for hunting and shooting sports activities.
Choosing the Right Rifle Scope Brand
With so many brands to choose from, finding the right optics for your rifle can be a difficult task.
While you will undoubtedly find more names out there, stick to this list of all rifle scope manufacturers if you’re after quality and reliability.
Three brands out of this list were contenders, but now they have or in the process of discontiuing their rifle scopes. I would not purchase any remaing stock from these brands as they may not support the products.
The brands that are on the way out are
- Simmonds
- Nikon
- Redfeild
It’s important to search deeper into the specs, features, and functionality of the scope you’re considering to see if it’s the perfect device for your shooting or hunting activities.