The 3-9x40mm rifle scope is easily the most popular magnification range on the market. It’s the ideal magnification range to put on your hunting rifle. I would argue that more deer have been shot with a 3-9x scope than with any other optic. Capable of both low and high magnification the 3-9x scope is perfect any rifle. The perfect scope for hunting almost any game in the United States you can’t go wrong buying a 3-9x scope. Luckily due to their popularity it doesn’t take a lot of cash to buy a great scope.
What’s The Best 3-9×40 Scope?
1. Leupold VX-2 3-9x40mm Riflescope
The Leupold VX2 Riflescope really is one of the best all around scopes on the market. Leupold makes some of the best scopes on the market and the VX2 is no exception. Without spending a small fortune you aren’t going to beat a Leupold.
Leupold is one of the most recognized brands in the scope manufacturing world. They owe a significant amount of their success to their glass. You would have to spend close to 1000 dollars to find glass that competes with this Leupold. Not only is the glass crystal clear, Leupold employs advanced optical technology to make this one of the brightest sight pictures on the market. The VX2 touts up to 94% light transmission in all lighting enviornments. The Index matched lens system uses multiple coatings to reduce the glare and increase light transmission. If there’s a little bit of ambient light you’ll get a clear bright and crisp sight picture. On top of that Leupold uses a diamond coating to make sure you don’t accidentally scratch the lens.
You won’t have to worry about damaging the Leupold VX2 scope. Leupold chose and absolutely waterproof fogproof and shockproof design to guarantee a lifetime of hard abuse. If you do somehow manage to damage this scope Leupold has one of the best warranty departments I’ve ever used. With a lifetime replacement warranty you won’t have to worry about damaging this scope. The VX2 was designed for medium ranged target shooting and will easily reach out a few hundred yards. It’s the perfect magnification for hunters and target shooters alike. I especially like Leupolds fast focus eyepiece which is extremely easy to use. This scope features the duplex reticle which is a classic design and perfect for large game hunters.
2. Vortex Optics Crossfire II 3-9x40mm Riflescope
The Vortex Optics Crossfire II is another great 3-9x scope. Vortex Optics make extremely affordable optics packed with a lot of features. The Vortex Crossfire lineup of products gives you a lot of bang for your buck. Vortex sells a scope in just about every magnification level you can imagine. With a clear sight picture and affordable prices Vortex Optics are quickly taking over the firearm industry.
When I received my first Vortex Crossfire scope I was honestly surprised at how nice it was. The construction is on par with much more expensive optics. Featuring a 1 inch diameter tube and aircraft grade aluminum the crossfire scope is built to last. Vortex chose a nitrogen purged design to make the scope 100% waterproof fogproof and shockproof. The Turrets actually have an extremely nice feel at this price point. They have a consistent feeling throughout the entire adjustment range. The eye relief of 3.8 inches is another impressive feature on a 3-9x scope. With long eye relief, fast focus eyepiece, fully multi-coated lenses and resettable turrets there’s very little the Crossfire scope lacks. The sight picture is extremely clear(though not as clear as the above Leupold) and bright. It might sound stupid, but my favorite thing about the Crossfire II is the reticle. The Vortex Dead Hold BDC Reticle is one of the best hunting reticles I’ve ever used. Utilizing a second focal plane and holdover and windage hashmarks the Dead Hold BDC Reticle needs to be used to be appreciated. For the price you aren’t going to beat the Vortex Crossfire II 3-9x Riflescope.
3. Nikon Prostaff Riflescope
The Nikon ProStaff 3-9x40mm Riflescope is another high quality moderately priced riflescope. Nikon known more for their cameras than scopes has really great glass for the price. You can quickly see that Nikon knows a little bit about high quality glass. The Nikon Prostaff has one of the brightest sight pictures you’re going to find in this price range.
Like I said above by far the best thing about the 3-9x Nikon ProStaff is the bright sight picture. Offering a sight picture with over 98% light transmission you’ll be able to see in any lighting environment. The fully multicoated optical system blocks glare and offers a high contrast sight picture. You’ll be able to stay on target in virtually any condition. The spring loaded instant zero reset turrets are a nice feature at this price. Nikon products normally aren’t known for their ruggedness, however their scopes seem to be an exception. Nikon uses a nitrogen filled, O-ring sealed, oxygen purged design to ensure the Prostaff is completely waterproof. Backed by Nikon’s lifetime warranty and the weathered history of the company you won’t have to worry about damaging this scope. You can’t go wrong with the Nikon ProStaff 3-9x Scope.
4. Nikon Buckmasters II 3-9×40 BDC
The Nikon Buckmasters II 3-9x scope is another great product from Nikon. Nikon’s Buckmaster is one of the most sold scopes on the market. If you’re on a budget you can’t go wrong with the Nikon Buckmaster.
There’s a reason the Nikon Buckmaster is one of the most purchased hunting scopes on the market. You can’t beat the durability at this price point. Luckily through years of manufacturing Nikon brought down the price point to make an exceptional scope. You really can’t go wrong with this extremely durable and versatile Riflescope. That being said it doesn’t offer a lot of the features found on the more expensive scopes. It features a multicoated lens with 92 percent anti-reflection capability. It really does have excellent optical clarity for the price. The only downside is you won’t get the same brightness found in the Nikon Prostaff. With the 100% waterproof and Fogproof design you won’t have to worry about damaging the Buckmaster. Like the above ProStaff Nikon offers a lifetime repair or replacement warranty on the Buckmaster. Millions of customers agree that the Nikon Buckmaster is one hell of a scope.
5. Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Riflescope
Bushnell Banner 3-9x40mm Scope is another great budget rifle scope. Bushnell is a very well known brand in the firearm industry and offers a little bit of everything. Bushnell sells scopes ranging from 40$ all the way up to 2000$. The Banner Dusk and Dawn Scope is one of the cheapest scopes in their lineup, but it significantly exceeded my expectations.
I really didn’t expect a lot when I first opened one of these scopes. It was purchased for my Browning A-Bolt that I rarely shoot due to Ohio’s straight wall cartridge hunting laws. After playing around with the scope and shooting for a few days I bought 4 more for a few other unscoped rifles in my safe. You really can’t beat this scope for the price. It’s one of the cheapest 100% waterproof scopes on the market. Durability combined with a clear and bright sight picture makes for one heck of a budget scope. You can actually see better through this scope at dawn or dusk than you can with your naked eyes. The only downside about this scope is that it’s very large. You’re going to need to buy tall scope rings if you want to mount it on any bolt action rifle. For the price it’s hard to beat the Bushnell Banner Dusk and Dawn 3-9x Rifle Scope.
What’s The Best 3-9x40mm Scope?
By far my favorite scope on this list is the Leupold VX-2 RifleScope. You aren’t going to find a clearer sight picture than with a Leupold. If you want to save a little money buy the Vortex Crossfire II or the Nikon ProStaff. If you’re looking for a budget scope you can’t go wrong with the Nikon Buckmasters II or the Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Scope.