A long-range scope is the ultimate companion when hunting elks. The best scopes for long-range elk hunting are designed with distant shooters’ needs in mind. They have a wide magnification range to provide practical solutions for a variety of shooting applications including big-game hunting.
A long-range hunting scope will offer maximum precision across vast ranges and boost your confidence in the hunting field. The best scopes for long-range elk hunting will also make your hunting more competitive and ensure that you make the most out of your hunts.
When you step into the market to look for a scope for hunting elks at long ranges, you will find plenty of models to choose from. This becomes an exhaustive task especially if you are a first-time buyer.
We did the homework for you and put up a list of the best scopes for long-range elk hunting that we believe will be handy companions in every hunting field. Accompanying our scopes’ recommendations is an insightful buyer’s guide that will help you find an effective hunting scope effortlessly.
Let’s get started. Shall we?
1) NightForce SHV 3-10x42mm .250 MOA Rifle Scope
Nightforce prides itself in delivering top-notch optics with unbeatable versatility and outstanding performance. The NightForce SHV 3-10x42mm Rifle Scope is one of their finest optics ideal for big game hunting.
It provides crisp, clear views through the vast 3-10x magnification from first to last light. The fully multi-coated lenses maximize the transfer of light in various lighting conditions to provide bright and tack-sharp sight pictures.
Complementing the lens coatings is a large 42mm objective lens which provides a practical solution to a wide range of hunting and shooting applications. The flexibility accorded by this scope helps cement its name as one of the best scopes for long-range elk hunting.
Moreover, the scope has a compact and lightweight design that maximizes its versatility. It has a 30mm main tube that is crafted from high-strength aluminum to weather any rough handling you subject it to. Additionally, it is safe to use in any environment as it is water resistant.
The scope boasts a focus range of 25 yards to infinity and parallax-free views from 25 yards to infinity to maximize your precision at long ranges. It is also equipped with a fast-focus eyepiece for rapid reticle focusing. Shred distant targets accurately by mounting this efficient scope on your rifle.
Features
- 30mm main tube
- Second focal plane reticle
- Capped .25 MOA adjustments
- Side parallax adjustment
- Fully-coated lenses
- Fast focus eyepiece
Pros
- Generous eye relief
- Ideal for a wide range of applications
- Compact and easy to use
- High build quality
Cons
- Heavy
2) Vortex Diamondback Tactical 4-12x40mm SFP Rifle Scope
The Diamondback Tactical 4-12x40mm SFP Rifle Scope is a versatile and budget optic suitable for all-around hunting. It is loaded with an array of quality and easy-to-use features that make it one of the best scopes for long-range elk hunting.
The scope features durable construction to withstand the rough handling that comes with elk hunting. The entire construction is nitrogen filled to keep the lenses fogproof and sealed with O-rings to ensure reliable waterproof performance and years of service.
Another defining highlight of the scope is the Precision-glide erector system that ensures that the zooming action remains smooth even in the most challenging conditions.
It also features a high-quality optical system that produces crisp clear image vires with accurate color reproduction in virtually all lighting conditions.
Loaded with features ideal for hunters of all levels, the Vortex Diamondback Tactical rifle scope will boost your shooting ability and elevate your hunting skills to greater heights.
Features
- Second focal plane reticle
- High-quality aluminum housing
- Waterproof and nitrogen filled
- Exposed finger-operated turrets
- Fast focus eyepiece
- Extra-low dispersion elements
- Hard anodized finish
Pros
- Affordable
- Crisp clear lens
- Long eye relief
- Lightweight and durable
Cons
- It is a 1-inch tube scope
3) Leupold VX-5HD 2-10x42mm Rifle Scope
Designed with long-range hunters in mind, the Leupold VX-5HD 2-10x42mm Rifle Scope is a perfect companion for every hunting trip. It boasts an incredibly large field of view to help you find targets effortlessly and land long-range shots with superb accuracy.
With the variable 2-10x zoom power, the scope is ideal for hunting in different ranges and hunting environments. It employs a Twilight Max Light Management System that controls glare and obtains maximum light. This makes target finding a breeze, even in critically low-light settings.
Furthermore, this hunting scope has generous eye relief that allows you to glass your targets comfortably with edge-to-edge brightness and clarity. The superb optical system delivers bright and clear images making the scope perfect for hunting as you can comfortably see targets.
Construction-wise, the scope has a 6061-T6 aluminum housing that is waterproof, fog proof and shockproof to offer a lifetime of reliable performance. Relentless performance makes VX-5HD 2-10×42 one of the best scopes for long-range elk hunting.
Leupold created this rifle scope with a two-turn CDS ZeroLock2 dial adjustment system to boost your confidence when taking long-range shots without worrying about holdovers.
Equip your rifle with this scope and get a practical shooting solution that lets you acquire targets effortlessly and take long-range shots with unrivaled precision.
Features
- 30mm main tube diameter
- Second focal plane reticle
- Twilight Max Light Management System
- Two-turn CDS ZeroLock2 dial system
- Guard-ion rain-shedding optical coating
- Waterproof, fog proof and shockproof
Pros
- Stunning clarity
- Easy-to-adjust knobs
- Long eye relief
- Quality construction
Cons
- The mounting options are limited
- Thin reticle
4) Burris Eliminator IV LaserScope 4-16x50mm SFP Rifle Scope
The Eliminator IV LaserScope brings innovation and outstanding optical performance to the table to create a reliable shooting solution for long-range hunters. It features extended rangefinding capabilities out to 2,000 yards to ensure that you have a faster-aiming solution.
To ensure that you hunt elks more responsibly, the scope features a ballistic calculator. Furthermore, it boasts an X96 reticle that is illuminated to significantly increase your likelihood of placing an accurate and ethical shot in different lighting conditions.
Regarding construction, the scope has aircraft-grade aluminum housing that is shockproof to withstand heavy recoil and rough handling. Other than that, the optics are fully multi-coated to increase light transmission and ensure that the sight pictures generated are bright and clear.
Other essential features included are an adjustable parallax, direct mount attachment and a digital inclinometer. Revamp your hunting arsenal with this hunting scope with a rangefinder and strengthen your skills in the hunting fields.
Surely, Eliminator IV 4-16×50 LaserScope is one of the best scopes for long-range elk hunting. It is packed with resourceful features that every hunter expects to find in a long-range hunting scope. Improve accuracy and efficiency by mounting a smart hunting scope on your rifle.
Features
- Built-in laser rangefinder
- Wireless remote for laser activation
- Fully multi-coated optics
- Digital inclinometer
- Fog-proof and shockproof
- Second focal plane reticle
- Aircraft-grade aluminum housing
Pros
- Illuminated reticle
- Easy to set up the ballistics data
- Solid construction
- Great features
- Enhanced sharpness and clarity in any environment
- Unbeatable versatility
Cons
- Pricey
5) SightMark Citadel 3-18x50mm MR2 Rifle Scope
The SightMark Citadel 3-18x50mm MR2 Rifle Scope is designed for medium and long-range shooting applications. It has a powerful 6x optical system and a fully multi-coated lens that generates bright and crisp image views at every zoom setting.
The reticle in this scope is illuminated to be visible in low-light settings. It is put on the first focal plane and has 11 different brightness settings to be usable in nearly all light settings. Moreover, the scope has exposed low-profile turrets that are lockable to prevent accidental adjustments.
Another outstanding feature of the scope is durability. It is crafted out of a single-piece aircraft-grade aluminum 30mm tube. The tube is shockproof, waterproof and dustproof to ensure unimpeded field use in any environment.
The optic also comes with a throw lever that makes magnification adjustment easy, and flip-up lens covers that guard the lens against scratches and elements while on the field. Look no further for a dependable long-range performer, this scope will help you cover the distance confidently.
Features
- First focal plane reticle
- Fully multi-coated optics
- Exposed low-profile locking turrets
- Waterproof and dustproof
- 30mm main tube
- Shockproof construction
Pros
- Illuminated reticle
- Great eye relief
- Good low-light visibility
- Inexpensive
Cons
- A small field of view at maximum magnification
6) LUCID Optics Cross Over 4-16×44 Riflescope
Gracing its presence among the best scopes for long-range elk hunting checklist is the LUCID Optics Cross Over 4-16×44 Riflescope. It has a broad magnification designed to be an ideal companion for every medium and big game hunter out there.
Crafted from a single piece of aircraft-grade aluminum, the scope will last long and give you year after year of precision and efficiency. It also has an IPX-7 water resistance rating and an operating temperature of -40 to 140℉.
This rifle scope provides meaningful wind and estimation dots to reference when you are hunting in less-than-ideal conditions. It also has a fully multi-coated lens to maximize light transfer in low-light hunting environments, and a side parallax adjustment for eliminating parallax at longer distances.
Features
- Fully multi-coated lens
- Waterproof, fog proof and dustproof
- One-piece, 30mm main tube
- Side parallax adjustment
- Second focal plane reticle
- Matte finish
Pros
- Lightweight and durable
- Clear solid optics
- Reasonably affordable
- Long eye relief
Cons
- Non-illuminated reticle
7) Bushnell Banner 3-9×50 Multi-X Rifle Scope
The Bushnell Banner 3-9×50 Multi-X Rifle Scope is one of the best scopes for long-range elk hunting for budget-conscious buyers. It is reasonably affordable yet quality and durable.
Built with an oversized 50mm objective lens, the scope is ideal for hunting in the early mornings or late in the evening when the lighting condition is poor. Besides, the Dusk & Dawn Brightness multi-coated lenses cast bright and clear sight pictures in low and bright light settings.
The scope is made with user convenience in mind. It boasts a fast-focus eyepiece that offers the clearest views throughout the hunting trip and makes reticle focusing a breeze.
It also has fingertip adjustable windage and elevation controls with resettable dials to ensure that you spend the shortest period sighting it.
Above all, it is 100% waterproof, fogproof and shockproof to offer reliable protection in all weather conditions. Get this rifle scope today and transform your hunting rifle into a potent weapon capable of dominating on the hunting grounds.
Features
- Fast focus eyepiece
- Multi-coated optics
- Fully waterproof, fog proof and shockproof
- Large 50mm objective lens
- Fingertip windage and elevation adjustment
- Matte satin finish
Pros
- Unmatched low-light visibility
- Easy to use
- Inexpensive
- Lightweight design
Cons
- The parallax is fixed
8) Burris Fullfield IV 4-16×50 mm SFP Rifle Scope
If you want to take your elk hunting skills a notch higher, get the Burris Fullfield IV 4-16×50 mm SFP Rifle Scope. It is designed for medium and long-range shooting and hunting where it yields great accuracy.
With this rifle scope, you get three reticles to choose from based on your hunting needs. All the reticles are illuminated to enhance the contrast between the target and the aiming point in low-light settings. It also has a large 50mm aperture for better light transmission in low-light settings.
Furthermore, the scope has a side parallax adjustment for correcting parallax in long ranges. It also has a rugged aircraft-grade aluminum body that is fully waterproof, shockproof and fogproof.
Features
- Second focal plane reticle
- 1-inch tube diameter
- Aircraft-grade aluminum body
- Waterproof and fogproof
- Adjustable parallax
- Large 50mm objective
Pros
- Accommodating eye relief
- Clear glass
- Multiple reticle options
Cons
- None
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Criteria for Choosing Scopes for Long-Range Elk Hunting
Magnification
In scope, the controlling element is the magnification power. For long-range elk hunting, you will need a variable power scope that has a broad and high magnification power of 9x and above.
With such a scope, you will have the flexibility to look for games in different ranges with ease. It will also be appropriate for hunting elk in different environments.
Objective Lens
You will need a scope whose objective lens diameter is large enough to complement the high zoom power and provide quality image views.
A scope with a lens diameter of at least 40mm objective lens will maximize low light resolution and ensure that adequate light is collected into the optics.
Reticle
Scopes for long-range hunting come in many reticle styles. The best scopes for long-range elk hunting have a reticle that helps you estimate the range and ensure that the shot lands in the right place.
A good scope for hunting will also have a reticle that is easy to use and illuminated to be visible in low-light conditions.
Read: Best Scopes for 400 Yards
Build Quality
Next, consider the build quality of the scope. When hunting elks at long ranges, you will subject the scope to rough handling, impacts as well as accidental falls.
A cheap scope and of low quality will end up getting damaged after a few hunting excursions. To avoid that, ensure that you get a product that is crafted using high-quality materials that guarantee durability and longevity.
Furthermore, the best scope for long-range elk hunting should have a weatherproofed body for use even in adverse weather conditions.
Lens Coatings
Get a scope that has quality coatings applied to the lens. Lens coatings maximize light transmission and ensure that you receive sight pictures that are bright and crisp clear from sunrise to sunset.
A good scope should also have premium-quality glass to maximize resolution and enhance color accuracy.
Read: Best Long-Range Spotting Scopes
Weight
Lastly, consider the weight. The weight in long-range scope varies from one product to the other depending on the quality of glass used and the type of material used to make the body.
For elk hunting, get a scope that is as light as possible. That way, it will not affect the balance of your hunting rifle. Light scopes are also easier to use than their heavy counterparts and simpler to carry around.
Best Elk Hunting Scopes FAQs
Q: What is the Best Magnification for Long Range Hunting?
It depends on how far you will be taking shots and the hunting environment. For big game hunting out west, a scope with 2.5-10x zoom power will suffice.
On the other hand, you will need a higher magnification of at least 14x if you purpose to hunt at extremely long ranges across open fields.
Q: What Do Numbers on a Scope Represent?
The two numbers in a rifle scope’s configuration are a representation of the zoom power and the objective lens.
The first two numbers before the “x” are the magnification power while the number after the “x” shows the size of the objective lens.
Conclusion
When choosing the best riflescope for elk hunting, you will want an optic that delivers decent performance in low-light conditions and with the right magnification setting to cover the distance.
The best scopes for long-range elk hunting outlined above are equipped with a first-class optical system to support low-light performance and give you the flexibility to take elk down at varying distances.
Finding the best scope for long-range elk hunting doesn’t have to be a headache. Knowing your hunting habits and the environment you will be hunting in should guide you in finding the right scope for your needs. Whatever you have in plan, there is a long-range scope out there for you.