The .338 Lapua is a powerful, high-performance cartridge highly valued for its long-range precision. When it comes to your .338 Lapua Magnum rifle, choosing the right scope is crucial to ensure you’re maximizing its potential.
Owning a top-of-the-line firearm means you shouldn’t compromise its performance by settling for a lesser-quality scope.
This cartridge’s versatility extends to hunting, particularly for larger game, making it a favorite among many hunting enthusiasts.
Specifications to consider when choosing the best scopes for .338 Lapua long-range shooting?
- Magnification Range
A scope’s ability to magnify the target is crucial. While high magnification is beneficial for long-range shooting, excessively high magnification can reduce the field of view, create mirage issues, and make target acquisition challenging. A magnification range of around 5-30x is suitable for .338 Lapua shooting between 500-2,500 yards.
- First Focal Plane (FFP) vs. Second Focal Plane (SFP)
FFP scopes adjust reticle size along with magnification, ensuring the reticle’s markings remain accurate regardless of magnification level.
SFP scopes maintain a constant reticle size, but their MOA or MIL markings are only accurate at specific magnification levels.
- Weight
Consider the scope’s weight concerning your usage. Heavier scopes often offer better durability, premium features, and superior glass quality. Lighter scopes are suitable for hunting or situations requiring frequent rifle movement.
- Field of View
While a crucial metric, most scopes within the same category offer similar field-of-view capabilities. However, a wider field of view can aid in target acquisition.
- Illumination
Illuminated reticles enhance visibility in low-light conditions or when the target blends into the background. They offer sharper contrast, aiding in precise aiming, but bear in mind that battery life varies among scopes with illumination.
- Zero Stops
These are critical for quickly returning to your zero after dialing for a long-distance shot. Zero stops prevent overshooting the zero point, ensuring rapid and accurate adjustments.
Below, you’ll find a curated selection of top-notch scopes suitable for the .338 Lapua. Each of these scopes is geared to enhance your rifle’s capabilities, offering precision and accuracy for hitting your targets effectively.
Let’s delve into exploring and selecting the most suitable option that aligns with your requirements and preferences.
7 Best Scopes for .338 Lapua Long-range
- NightForce SHV 5-20x56mm Riflescope
- Vortex Optics Viper HS-T 6-24x50mm SFP Scope
- Steiner T5Xi 1-5×24 mm Rifle Scope
- Leupold VX-3i 6.5-20x50mm Side Focus Riflescope
- Monstrum G3 6-24×50 First Focal Plane FFP Rifle Scope
- Athlon Optics, Argos BTR, Riflescope, 6-24 x 50 First Focal Plane
- Trijicon TR23 AccuPoint 5-20×50 Riflescope
NightForce SHV 5-20x56mm Riflescope (Best Scope for .338 Lapua Long-range)
The NightForce SHV 5-20x56mm Riflescope, bearing the acronym “Shooter Hunter Varminter,” signifies its specialized design catering to professional hunters and shooters, all at a reasonable price point.
It excels remarkably in long-range precision, whether used for varmint hunting or pursuing larger games.It delivers exceptional clarity, vivid colors, and sharp contrast across its entire magnification range.
Equipped with a substantial 80 MOA elevation adjustment, side parallax control, and ZeroSet technology, it ensures a swift and precise return to your original zero setting, no matter the number of elevation adjustments made.
Its robust construction guarantees durability, handling even powerful calibers without compromise.
Achieving a precise sight-in is hassle-free with this scope, offering a generous magnification range from 5x to 20x. However, it’s important to note that such magnification limits close-range versatility.
SHV 5-20×56 Scope is available with Forceplex and MOAR – 20 MOA.
The MOAR reticle with 20 MOA center illumination provides accurate elevation and windage markings, facilitating precise range estimation and hold-offs, particularly useful for smaller targets at extended distances.
On the other hand, the Forceplex reticle, tailored for hunters based on direct customer input, boasts a straightforward design providing an unobstructed field of view.
Available in both illuminated and non-illuminated versions depending on the SHV scope variant, the Forceplex performs exceptionally well in low-light environments, catering to various hunting terrains from dense forests to expansive plains across the globe.
Pros
- Durability
- Great light transmission
- Turret gives responsive feedback
- Outstanding magnification
- Easy to use and sight in
Cons
- Tight eye relief
- Cost
Vortex Optics Viper HS-T 6-24x50mm SFP Scope
The Vortex Optics Viper HS-T 6-24x50mm SFP Scope with the VMR-1 MOA reticle stands tall as the preferred Vortex choice for .338 Lapua rifles, especially favored for its remarkable features in long-range shooting.
This scope excels due to several standout qualities that make it an exceptional fit for the .338 Lapua Magnum:
Its magnification range of 6X to 24X offers versatility, catering perfectly to long-distance shooting requirements. This range allows for precise targeting at extended distances, complementing the capabilities of the .338 Lapua.
Equipped with a 50mm objective lens, this scope ensures clear and expansive imagery even at significant distances. The larger objective lens aids in light gathering, resulting in a vivid and bright sight picture.
Featuring a Second Focal Plane (SFP) reticle based on hash marks, it’s tailored for accurate long-range holds, assisting in windage estimation and tracking moving targets effectively.
The exposed turrets are designed for precise and repeatable adjustments, offering tactile and audible clicks for easy dialing of required settings.
Additionally, the zero-stop feature facilitates a quick return to zero after temporary elevation changes.
Including a side focus parallax adjustment, this scope eradicates parallax, ensuring optimal focus for precise shots, regardless of distance adjustments.
The rapid focus eyepiece and a generous field of view allow easy adaptation of the reticle to your eye position while maintaining a sharp focus on the target.
Moreover, it offers a comfortable 4-inch eye relief, safeguarding your eyes from recoil.
Its extra-low dispersion and multicoated lenses guarantee exceptional image clarity, resolution, and contrast. The XR coatings enhance light transmission, while the Armortek coating shields the lens from scratches and damage.
Pros
- Superior optics
- Excellent light transmission
- Relatively lightweight
- Durability
- Wide-ranging magnification
- Accurate reticle
Cons
- Some users note slight sharpness in the turrets
Steiner T5Xi 1-5×24 mm Rifle Scope
If budget isn’t a concern for your new scope, the Steiner T5Xi Tactical Rifle Scope Line stands out as an unparalleled choice. While they do come with a high price tag, these scopes offer a lifetime warranty and provide a selection of five distinct magnification ranges to suit your preferences.
Constructed with a one-piece 30mm tube, this scope ensures increased strength and reliability, providing superior elevation and windage adjustments essential for precise shooting at longer ranges.
The P3TR reticle with its center-dot illumination is a standout feature, striking a perfect balance by not obstructing the sight picture.
One of its distinctive attributes is the tapered, all-metal magnification ring. Positioned at an angle, this ring allows shooters to easily view their magnification settings even when directly behind the scope. This feature contributes to user-friendly operation and quick adjustments during shooting sessions.
The scope is equipped with a locking diopter mechanism, preventing unintended rotations and securing the chosen diopter setting. This ensures consistent visual clarity and avoids any accidental changes that might affect the shooter’s accuracy.
Consistency in eye relief and a generous eye box is maintained throughout the magnification range.
The inclusion of a throw lever facilitates swift and effortless changes in magnification, adding to the scope’s user-friendly design.
Pros
- Illuminated reticle
- Crystal clear glass
- 11 different brightness levels
- Excellent eye relief range
- Lifetime warranty
- High-durable quality
- Lightweight
- Easy adjustments
Cons
- Price
Leupold VX-3i 6.5-20x50mm Side Focus Riflescope
The Leupold VX-3i 6.5-20x50mm Riflescope stands out as an exceptional option for hunters using .338 Lapua. It boasts an array of features that elevate its status among hunting scopes.
Its remarkable optical clarity is a standout characteristic, delivering superb image quality. Leupold incorporates their exclusive DiamondCoat2 lens coating, reducing glare, safeguarding against scratches, and enabling excellent light transmission.
Equipped with a Fine Duplex CDS reticle, this scope ensures swift and precise target acquisition. The CDS (Custom Dial System) allows for personalized adjustments tailored to your firearm and ammunition, facilitating accurate ballistics calculations for long-distance shots.
Offering an eye relief of 3.7 at high magnification and 4.5 at low magnification, it generally caters well to most shooting scenarios. However, it might feel a bit constricted at exceedingly long ranges.
Durability is a highlight of the VX-3i, undergoing rigorous testing, including Leupold’s recoil simulation machine, the Punisher, ensuring resilience against heavy recoil and adverse conditions.
The elevation and windage turrets of the VX-3i are precise, featuring ¼ MOA finger clicks, enabling easy adjustments with audible and solid clicks.
Zeroing in the scope is a simple process, requiring only a few shots, and it retains zero effectively even after firing over 5000 rounds.
With a magnification range of 6.5-20x, the Leupold VX-3i caters well to intermediate to long-range shooting, making it an exceptional choice for .338 Lapua Magnum.
An added advantage is the side focus parallax adjustment, eliminating concerns about distortion and offering user-friendly functionality.
Pros
- Exceptional optical clarity
- Fine Duplex CDS reticle
- Accurate and user-friendly turrets
- Versatile magnification range
- Robust durability
- Twilight Max Light Management System
- Ample eye relief
Cons
- Slightly restrictive eye relief at extremely long ranges
Monstrum G3 6-24×50 First Focal Plane FFP Rifle Scope
The Monstrum G3 6-24×50 First Focal Plane (FFP) Rifle Scope stands out for its versatility, offering various reticles tailored for long-range shooting applications. Its reticle design incorporates elevation and windage adjustments, specifically catering to long-range engagements.
The G3 reticles feature thicker lines and dot markings, ideal for targeting distant objects with clarity even in hazier conditions.
Boasting a remarkable magnification power of 6-24x, this scope excels in precision shooting at distances exceeding 1000 yards.
The scope’s glass clarity remains impeccable, ensuring minimal haze even at 24x magnification, while the adjustable objective lens aids in achieving sharper focus and accurate range estimation.
Equipped with multiple brightness settings, this scope delivers high-quality images adapted to varying environmental conditions.
The scope’s locking mechanism is user-friendly, allowing easy adjustment and secure locking by simply pulling and pushing it down.
Positioned on the left side, the parallax adjuster and the battery share the same location. While some users may encounter initial difficulty in adjusting the parallax due to stiff lubrication, this issue typically resolves after a few uses, alleviating concerns about unscrewing the battery for adjustment purposes.
Pros
- Wide range of magnification
- Generous eye relief
- Illuminated reticle
- First focal plane reticle
- Easy adjustment
- Clear glass
Cons
- 2-year warranty
Athlon Optics, Argos BTR, Riflescope, 6-24 x 50 First Focal Plane
The Athlon Argos BTR GEN 2 6-24×50 stands out for its rich array of features, often seen only in top-tier scopes available in the market.
Freshly redesigned for 2019, this budget-friendly scope offers a versatile 4x magnification suitable for various shooting applications, whether it’s target practice at the range or hunting in the wilderness.
Crafted with fully multicoated optics, the Athlon BTR Argos Gen II scope ensures superior contrast, and excellent light transmission, and delivers sharp, clear long-distance images, enhancing your shooting experience.
Featuring a Precision Zero Stop system, this scope enables you to lock your zero position securely and return to it precisely even under challenging conditions, ensuring a sharp stop precisely at your zero mark, even in low light or while blindfolded.
The robust one-piece tube, heat-treated and constructed from aircraft-grade aluminum, provides exceptional durability, offering greater strength compared to standard aluminum scopes.
Built to withstand the elements, this scope boasts a waterproof and fog-proof design, allowing worry-free use in damp conditions or accidental encounters with water bodies during outdoor adventures.
Available in glass-etched, first focal plane illuminated APLR2 IR-MOA or APMR IR-MIL Reticles, the Argos BTR Gen 2 scope ensures quick target acquisition, particularly in low-light scenarios, providing enhanced visibility and accuracy.
Pros
- Clear optics
- Easy parallax adjustment
- Nice turrets
- Zero stop easy to use
- Fully coated lenses
- Tactile and audible adjustments
- Affordable
- Quality build
Cons
- Reduced clarity at high magnification
Trijicon TR23 AccuPoint 5-20×50 Riflescope
The Trijicon TR23-1G AccuPoint Rifle Scope, with a 5-20x50mm configuration and a standard crosshair reticle accompanied by a green dot, is designed to cater to tactical shooters, varmint hunters, and law enforcement snipers seeking exceptional long-range precision across various lighting conditions.
This scope incorporates advanced fiber optics and tritium aiming-point illumination, providing rapid target acquisition and extending shooting hours even in low-light environments.
Its dual-illumination system automatically adjusts the brightness of the aiming point according to the ambient lighting conditions.
Additionally, shooters have the flexibility to manually override the brightness settings, tailoring the reticle illumination to their preferences.
Its rugged construction, crafted from aircraft-quality hard-anodized aluminum, ensures durability and all-weather protection, safeguarding the scope’s functionality in harsh conditions.
Featuring unmatched long-eye relief, this scope effectively mitigates the recoil of higher caliber rifles, ensuring comfortable and safe usage.
External turret controls for windage and elevation adjustment are user-friendly and easily accessible, allowing for precise and straightforward adjustments to achieve the desired point of impact.
Moreover, the inclusion of a side parallax adjuster significantly contributes to enhanced accuracy at long ranges, enabling shooters to eliminate parallax error and attain precise aiming points for distant targets.
Pros
- Automatically adjusts the reticle brightness
- Durability
- Parallax arrangement is simple and easy to set
- Illuminated reticles
- Edge-to-Edge Clarity
- Quick & Easy Adjustments
Cons
- Slightly heavy
Conclusion
The comprehensive guide provides valuable insights into choosing the best scopes for .338 Lapua long-range, covering essential aspects such as magnification, reticle type, weight, field of view, illumination, elevation adjustment, and zero stops.
Emphasizing the significance of investing in a high-quality scope, it’s crucial to understand that while these scopes might carry a hefty price tag, they are indispensable tools for maximizing the potential of a .338 Lapua rifle.
The .338 Lapua Magnum demands substantial distances to showcase its prowess, making it essential to pair it with the right scope for optimal performance.
Owners and shooters should consider the considerable expense, recoil, and proficiency required to fully utilize this caliber effectively.