3-gun is a competition where the participant uses a 3-gun setup to take part in the competition. Naturally, you want a scope for the competition as well. In a 3-gun competition, you will need a scope that is fast, natural and locks into the target faster than your eyes can. That will help you a ton on the field and give you an extra advantage.
With that said, how do you choose the best 3 gun scope? Like, what are they even? I’m here to help you find that out. Let’s do just that.
1. Vortex Optics Strike Eagle 1-6x24mm SFP Riflescope
Vortex Strike Eagle was one of the first scopes I featured on TargetChaser. You can say this scope has a bit of sentimental value to me. But I don’t let my sentiment cloud my judgment. Don’t worry, you don’t need to be cautious. I’m not being biased here when I say Vortex Strike Eagle is one of the best scopes for 3-gun competition.
The Eagle is made out of aluminum. It’s extremely durable and lightweight. Weight balance is good as well. It won’t feel back or front-heavy. Will feel just right. It’s a single-tube design. Meaning, that there are no joints in the scope and it’s an entire unit. The inside of the housing is purged with nitrogen. Making it immune to fogging and leaking moisture.
Outside of the scope is shockproof and it’s rated to be 100% waterproof as well. You can use this in heavy rain. Depending on where your competition is, you will finish that in bliss. You often find these nifty features in hunting scopes. But this one here is a gem for 3-gun.
The lenses are beautiful. Some of the best from Vortex in recent years. Vortex has never let down in the lens department to begin with. So that’s that. The low-light performance is pretty solid as well. While it’s not suitable for dark place shooting, it can work during dusk.
Does this scope come with mounting rings?
No, Vortex doesn’t include any mounting rings with their scope. They sell it separately and you will need to purchase them separately.
Is the reticle in SFP?
Yes, the reticle is in the second focal plane. It won’t magnify alongside the scope. Some consider this downside when I’m sure you don’t need an FFP reticle only for 3-Gun. SFP works as well.
Does Vortex provide a warranty?
Yes, Vortex provides a lifetime warranty with all of their scopes. They will replace or fix your scope for you, as long as it falls under the warranty conditions.
2. Trijicon VCOG 1-6×24 Rifle Scope with Green Circle
Trijicon is mostly known for its gears made for military and service rifles. AR scopes are their dominating field. With the ACOG they have made a name for themselves among international militaries. The one here is VCOG 1-6×24 an AR scope.
VCOG is a tactical shooting riflescope that is made out of aircraft-grade aluminum. On top of that, the scope was passed the environment torture in a military-controlled environment. Even if you partake in the competition in the middle of the Sahara Desert, this scope will hold its ground there as well.
The lenses are fully multi-coated. They are extremely clear and vivid. The color accuracy of them is off the chart as well. It has the thing that you most need for a 3-gun scope. It has a fast focus and target lock feature that will help you focus on the target faster than any other scope you could think of.
The ballistic reticle is on the first focal plane. Even if you use it for other competitions or any kind of tact shooting situation, this reticle will come out on top. An enjoyable and accurate reticle that is not only fast but also crisp.
Is this scope waterproof?
Yes, it’s waterproof and submergible. That’s right, Trijicon has rated it for up to 66 feet of waterproof rating.
Is the reticle illuminated?
Yes, it’s an illuminated reticle. It illuminates in green color to help you focus better on the target and not miss shots in awkward lighting conditions.
What is the battery life of this scope?
It’s rated 700 hours of continuous use in 4 or 6 levels of brightness setting. It requires an AA battery to operate. That does make the scope slightly heavier.
3. Leupold FX-II Ultralight 2.5x20mm Riflescope
If we consider the VX series a budget-oriented scope with offers good things at low-price. Then the FX series is the flagship series from Leupold. It’s not as cheap as VX but it’s not over 2k USD either. FX-II Ultralight is a lightweight riflescope from Leupold for 3-Gun competitors.
The scope is made out of extremely lightweight durable aluminum. It’s one of the lightest scopes in the game. If that’s what you are looking for, don’t bother searching anymore. Just grab this and you will be the happiest to exist. The scopes internal is purged with nitrogen. Making it immune to moisture and fogging.
The outside is sturdy and durable as well. It feels and works like a premium scope. The lenses here are fully multi-coated. That’s good and all, but the key point is the twilight light management system. It’s a light management system designed by Leupold to make their scope work better during low light. Even if the lens isn’t made out of ED glass, thanks to the twilight light management system, it will perform almost on par with ED glass.
For 3-Gun sport, it’s as good as you can expect it to be. FX-II Ultralight disperses recoil energy and lets you enjoy a clean scope throughout the day. Whether you are practicing or partaking in a competition, this scope will always be ready for anything.
Is the magnification fixed?
Yes, the magnification of this scope is fixed at 2.5x. And the objective lens is 20mm. It’s not super wide, but it gets the job done.
Does this come with any mounting rings?
No, it doesn’t come with any kind of mounting rings. You will need to purchase them separately from Leupold.
Where is this made?
Leupold is an American brand. Their scopes are all made in the USA. From designing to manufacturing, they are all done in the USA.
Read More Scope Blogs:- Savage 220 | Scar 20S | Sig 716
4. Bushnell AR Optics 1-4×24 Drop Zone Rifle Scope
Bushnell AR 1-4×24 with Drop Zone reticle is a 3-Gun optic from Bushnell. It’s an extremely affordable option as well. If you are a newbie and just getting into the hobby with minimal gear, then this is what you have been looking for.
This riflescope is made out of aluminum. Despite the affordable price tag, it’s not made out of plastic or lesser material. It’s durable and rugged. The finish looks premium. While the anodization is not as crisp as high-end stuff, it’s good still. Then again, anodization doesn’t mean much when it comes to durability. Where this scope shines as much as it needs to.
Speaking of shine, the lenses don’t have any kind of glare at all. Thanks to the multiple layers of coating involved, the scope is extremely bright. You won’t notice any distortion or blur present on the scope. Nor any chromatic aberration.
The scope is fog, water, and shockproof as well. Make sure the holy trinity has your back in the competition. Besides competing, you can use this scope for practicing and making sure you are getting better at the game.
Is the reticle in FFP?
No, the Drop Zone 223 Reticle is in the second focal plane. While it may be a downer for some, you shouldn’t discredit this optic.
Does this scope come with any mounting rings?
No, it doesn’t come with any kind of mounting rings at all. You will need to buy the mounting gears separately.
Does Bushnell provide a warranty?
Yes, they provide a limited lifetime warranty with their scopes and sights. You can find more information on the included card and their website as well.
5. EOTECH Vudu 1-6x24mm Precision Rifle Scope
Buying this scope won’t magically make you win your next 3-gun competition. But it will give you an edge over your fellow competitors. While the name Vudu might seem funny to many, the scope here is no joke.
It’s made out of aircraft-grade aluminum. The type of aluminum you see in 2x the price of this scope here. The weight and weight distribution of this scope are really nice. It won’t make your gun feel heavier or off-balanced. You don’t want your gun to feel back heavy in the middle of the competition.
The lenses are great. Like, really great. It’s way better than anything you expect from it. The performance of this is impeccable. Not a lot of scope can compete against top-of-the-line stuff, but this one can hold its ground. There is no distortion or chromatic aberration present anywhere. As the inside of the scope is purged, there is no moisture or fogging either.
Vudu is also water and shockproof. No matter what kind of AR you may have, this scope will be able to operate on that rifle with relative ease. As it can handle big calibers, you won’t face bottleneck or incompatibility issues with any guns.
Is the reticle in FFP?
Yes, the reticle of this scope is in the first focal plane. You can choose different reticles while purchasing this scope as well.
Is the reticle illuminated?
Yes, the reticle is indeed illuminated. It will help you improve your aim under low-light conditions. Alongside the accuracy of the reticle, you have a killer 3-gun scope here.
Does Eotech provide a warranty?
Yes, they do provide a warranty. They provide a limited lifetime warranty on the optic itself and 2 years warranty for the electronics inside the optic.
6. TRUGLO TRU-Brite 30 Series 1-6 X 24mm Gun Scope
Truglo red dot sights and pistol night sights are some of the most sold sights of all time. They are mostly known for those. In case you didn’t know, they make riflescopes for hunting and competitions as well. Tru-Brite is one such scope from Truglo.
Tru-brite is made out of aluminum. It’s not too heavy for you to feel tired after carrying your gun for a long time. The weight balance is quite nice as well. It’s not too back-focused. Nicely distributed overall. The internal of the scope is purged. That makes the scope fogproof. As it’s also waterproof, you don’t need to worry about moisture leaking.
The lens’s exterior is coated as well. Making it glare-free and bright. The coating also makes them more vibrant during low-light environments. Thanks to that, this is a great choice for people who are getting into a 3-Gun competition. After all, you may need to shoot during the afternoon a lot.
Does this scope come with any mounting rings?
You don’t need to worry about that. This scope comes with a mounting plate suitable for Picatinny and weaver rails. So, you don’t need to worry about mounting this.
Does Truglo provide a warranty?
Yes, they offer a limited lifetime warranty with their Tru-Bite riflescope. If the scope fails due to a manufacturing fault, they will replace your scope.
What is the tube diameter of this scope?
It’s a 30mm tube. If you want to change the mounting to a different one, then you need to buy rings with 30mm diameter.
7. Monstrum Alpha Series 1-6×24 FFP Rifle Scope
If you were looking for the cheapest scope on the list, this is it. Does that mean it’s also the worst scope on the list? No, it doesn’t mean that. If it was bad, I never would have picked it up and put it on a list. Monstrum is a good brand that makes the low-end market competitive and appealing to newbies.
This one here is called Alpha Series. It’s a medium magnification scope with the highest of 6x magnification. That’s more than enough for 3-Gun competition. You don’t shoot long-range there. The scope is made out of aluminum. A durable and lightweight material. It’s preferred by most brands out there.
The lenses are fully multi-coated as well. You will have a good time seeing through this. The reticle can lock on to the target fast and easily. It’s a smooth transition that doesn’t warrant any motion blur. A cool thing about this scope is the colors it comes in. Besides the traditional black, it also comes in a dark earth color.
That color will go well with darker-colored weapons. It’s a preference thing at the end of the day. If you want a different color, most of the time that’s not available. The scope is fog and waterproof. The 6061 aluminum makes sure it’s shockproof as well.
Does this come with any mounting rings?
No, it doesn’t come with any mounting rings. Rather, it comes with some spring-loaded flip-up lens covers. You will need to buy rings on your own.
Is this scope good for hunting?
It’s mainly made for tactical shooting. 3-Gun sport is a part of tactical shooting. So, it’s more suitable for that kind of shooting. But if you want to hunt, then you can do that. Won’t be the most efficient thing ever.
Is the reticle illuminated?
Sadly, no. It’s not illuminated at all. It holds on to adjustment well and makes sure you are seeing the target correctly in various lighting situations. Still, not illuminated.
How To Choose The Best 3-Gun Scope?
3-Gun sport is a bit different than small game or big game hunting. It’s very different than traditional hunting. So, choosing the right scope might be a bit harder than it normally is.
Build Quality
You will shoot first and hard. If your gun has a high-recoil pattern, then the scope needs to keep up with that. A poorly made scope won’t be able to keep up with fast-paced shooting. Make sure to take an extremely well-made scope.
Warranty
Most scopes will come with a limited or lifetime warranty. Some come with less. But they all must come with at least some sort of warranty. Otherwise, you won’t be able to get a replacement or repair your scope.
Lens Quality
They are your second pair of eyes. If your eyes can’t see clearly, you cannot shoot accurately. Save yourself from shedding some tears and grab a scope with good lenses.
Summary
See, that wasn’t hard, was it? Sure, there are quite a few options to choose from. But if you read that correctly, you will see there are quite a few high-end and some budget stuff present here as well. How much are you willing to spend for your desired scope?
Based on that, finding the right scope will be a breeze for you. And that will conclude the guide to finding the best 3-gun scope. Hopefully, you took some lesion or scope from this post. I will be back with more. Till then take care.
Scopes:- 17 HMR | 17 WSM | 204 Ruger | 224 Valkyrie | 22 Magnum | 243 Winchester | 257 Weatherby | 270 Winchester | 300 PRC | 338 Lapua | 350 Legend | 375 HH | 44 Magnum | 450 Bushmaster | 50 BMG | 6.5 Creedmoor | 6.5 Grendel | 6.8 SPC | 7.62.39 | Benjamin Marauder | Henry H001 | M1a | Marlin 336 | Marlin 795 | Marlin Model 60 | MK12 | Ruger Gunsite Scout | Ruger Mini 14 | Ruger Mini 30 | Savage 220 | Scar 20S | Sig 716
Scopes & Sights:- 11.5 SBR | 300 Blackout | M4 | MK18 | Ruger Charger | S&W M&P 15&22 | S&W M&P 15 Sport 2
Hi, I’m Brent Hansford. A writer turned hunter & now sharing my love for the sport through writing. As I practically breathe weapons, I firmly believe I’m capable of providing you with new knowledge about firearms and hunting. My mission is to help more people get better at hunting & master the weapons. Let me help with unleashing the beast within you!
