Good crossbow scopes made me a better hunter – and a more humane one. I’ll never forget my first buck. All I had was the cheap scope that came with my crossbow. It was getting late. Daylight was dwindling. Without the scope, I never would have made the kill. I probably would have just wounded the poor creature and caused it a long agonizing death. But with the scope, I was able to make a clean kill. Quick and humane. And that was with a cheap, old scope.
Today’s crossbow scopes have come a long way. In this post, you will learn how to choose the best one for your needs. In a hurry? Here are our top recommendations for different budgets. Later, we will break down our selection process for crossbow scopes.
Top 2 Most Affordable Crossbow Scopes
TRUGLO Crossbow Scope – 4X32mm
This is our overall top pick from all the crossbow scopes. The value is unmatched. We love it for its accuracy, durability, and brightness. The illuminate reticle is an amazing innovation. It lets you find range and compensate for arrow trajectories with speed and simplicity. Our accuracy also improved markedly with this scope.
On the range, we were quickly hitting bullseyes consistently. In the field, we have made several clean kills.
The illuminated reticle is perhaps the best feature of the latest generation of crossbow scopes. And Truglo’s is so effective. It is fully adjustable. You can choose the color: red or green. You can also change to brightness to match the setting. This leads to faster target acquisition in a variety of wind and light conditions. Changing the elevation and windage is a breeze. The dials are crisp allowing you to make exact adjustments easily.
The lenses are crystal clear and bright. The eye relief is a whopping 4 inches which reduces eye strain and leads to greater focus and accuracy. The lenses are also fully coated. They are weather proof, fog proof, and shock proof. They are also covered with matte finish that is not reflective, so you can maintain your stealth better.
- Dual color illuminated reticle;Can be used without illumination;4" eye relief
CENTERPOINT OPTICS Crossbow Scope LC432ERG2
This is the ultra budget model. It does not have all the features and performance of the TruGlo, but it one of the highest quality crossbow scopes for less than $50. It has an illuminate reticle with a multi-line for range finding and trajectory compensation. The windage and elevation adjustments are looser than we like, but this is an ultra budget model. For the price, this model delivers dependable performance and predictable accuracy.
- Designed specifically for crossbow hunting
- One piece tube construction
- Durable etched glass reticle provides aim points out to 50 yards
Top 2 Mid Range Crossbow Scopes
TENPOINT HCA-097-II Pro-View 2 Crossbow Scope 40mm
TenPoint is one of the most trusted brands on the market. They have several different crossbow scopes available. Our favorite is the Pro View 2. At the mid range price point, this scope is the most accurate, versatile, and feature rich.
We love the compact size. At 8.5 inches in length and weighing less a pound , it doesn’t add unnecessary bulk or weight to your crossbow.
The optics are exceptionally clear and crisp. The lenses have a multiple coatings that protect and prevent fogging , scratches, breakage. They are also securely sealed to prevent internal condensation or those frustrating water droplets that form inside the lenses on lesser crossbow scopes. The light transmission is so impressive leading to better accuracy.
The reticles are illuminated and adjustable to red, green , or black. There are also 5 different levels of brightness to matching variable light conditions. It is deadly accurate of 20 to 50 yards and sighting the scope for these ranges is fast and easy.
- CROSSBOW SCOPE - This lightweight, 8.5-inch aluminum tube scope features three crosshairs and four dots calibrated for 20, 30, 40 & 50...
- RETICLE - The glass reticle features non-illuminated black dots that can be turned on for rheostat-controlled, illuminated red or green...
- HOW TO INSTALL - Hand tighten the 7/8" scope mounting rings (included) with the wrench supplied.
MA3TY Crossbow Scope – 1.5-5x32MM
This model has a very long range for crossbow scopes. For target shooting, it is dead eye accurate up to 100 yards. We don’t recommend hunting at this distance for ethical and human reasons, but for target shooting and skill development, this model is a dream.
The reticle is adjustable from red to green. And it is illuminate as well. The brightness level has a decent level of adjustment, but not as diverse as the TenPoint model.
Our favorite feature is the speed adjustment that ranges from 300 to 425 fps. This allows you to quickly calibrate for arrow trajectory.
- ❤FOR FPS ADJUSTMENT, PLEASE SEE DESCRIPTIONS. Magnification Power: 1.5-5x magnification scope, aim points out to 100 yards, adjust speed...
- ❤With Multi-layer coated lenses, light-transmission up to 93% for a much precise aiming on the target quickly.
- ❤Impact crossbow sight, shock resistance up to 1000G, full waterproof to 19.7" and fog-proof even under harsh environment.
Top 2 High End Crossbow Scopes
EXCALIBUR Tact-Zone – Illuminated Scope – 2.5-6x32mm
Excalibur crossbow scopes are a luxury. If you can afford it, indulge yourself. This excalibur is the most feature rich. The adjustable zoom ranges from 2.5x to 6x, which is an amazing range of magnification.
The optics produce razor sharp images with peak brightness and clarity. It also provides wide fields of vision given the high magnification levels. When using the low setting of 2.5x the field is approximately 45 feet wide. This field is about 20 feet at the max setting of 6x. This is impressive and leads to supreme accuracy.
It is rather long at just over one foot in length, but the weight is still less than one pound. It is very versatile and suited for almost any crossbow.
- Excalibur Crossbow
- Crossbow Scope
- TACT-ZONE Scope 2.5 1964 6X32mm 30mm tube
Ravin R170 Illuminated Red/Green Crossbow Scope
This Ravin model is another top contender in the high end range. It is almost as feature rich as the Excalibur. The illuminated reticle is intricately calibrated. There are nine separate aim indicators to for sighting or quick adjustment on the fly when hunting.
- 20-100-YARD RANGE
- FPS ADJUSTMENT - With variable speed and arrow drop compensation for crossbows rated 300-425 fps
- RED AND GREEN ILLUMINATION
3 Tips on Choosing the Right Crossbow Scope
Budget
Price is the paramount consideration for most of us. The price range for decent crossbow scopes is from around $50 to $200. Sure, there are more expensive models, but almost everyone can find an awesome scope in this price range.
We recommend the TruGlo scope as the most affordable and useful for most hunters, but if you can afford to spend a bit more do it. The performance of the more expensive optics deliver better light transmission, clarity, durability, and reliability. This equates to better hunting and more tags.
Crossbows are improving each season. But to get the most out of their enhanced capacity and accuracy, you need a quality scope.
Reticles
There is a large variety of reticles that come in many configurations. Gone are the days when your only choice is the duplex reticle. You certainly know the term crosshairs, but did you know that name comes from the fact that horsehair was actually used to make them? Today, reticles can be etched into the glass of the optics or they are digital projections.
Most of today’s reticles make calibrate for arrow drop compensation. Other’s use the minute of angle calibration. In both cases, the dots or hashmarks of the reticle correspond the calculated known elevation drop over given distance. They do the math for us.
This allows the hunter to select the aiming point on the reticle quickly to make on the fly adjustments. Get to know the reticle configuration of your prospective scope. Choose the reticle that suits your hunting target, style, and range.
Objective Lens
The objective lens is the end that faces away from you. Its main function is to collect and transmit light to your eye through the optic. 32mm is the most common objective lens size for a crossbow scope.
Scope can range from as small as 28mm to as large as 50mm. Preferences vary but we find that 32mm is suitable for most conditions. Yes, the 50mm size transmits more light during low light conditions like early morning or evening. But the real difference is minimal.
The Best Crossbow Scope
We recommend the TruGlo scope as our top pick overall for everyone, especially for the novice hunter. The scope is compact, light, affordable, and high performance. This scope is so feature rich for the price that your shooting will markedly improve with practice. We suggest putting in the range time sighting your crossbow with the scope. Go in different weather conditions too. Get used to making quick changes in windage and elevation with the scope.
If you want to find the best combo of scope and crossbow, you have to forge it yourself – with practice and dedication. There are no guarantees. No piece of gear will make the shot for you, but mastering high quality gear is the best way to bring home the most game. Any of the scopes on our list can help improve your accuracy.
