Shooting a long-range target looks pretty thrilling and quite addictive when you have the right equipment to hit the bullseye. But shooters often struggle to find the best long-range scopes, especially 1000 yards ones, which makes it challenging for them to accomplish their dream of becoming a professional shooter.
If you invest your efforts to pull off a long-range target, you will need a top-notch optic to compensate for an ideal bullet trajectory to hit the bullseye. Not to mention, a 1000 yard scope comes integrated with plenty of features, which enables you to make accurate and precision shots even at long range.
So, to help you out, we have created a list of the best scopes for 1000 yard shooting based on thorough research and testing to give you the best out of the best scopes available on the market.
Best 1000 Yard Scope For Long-Range Shooting
| Image | Product Name | Editor’s Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Primary Arms SLX 4-14×44 | ★★★★★ 5 Out Of 5 | Buy Now In Amazon |
 | VX-3i LRP 4.5-14×50 | ★★★★★ 5 Out Of 5 | Buy Now In Amazon |
 | Schmidt & Bender PMII 5-25×56 | ★★★★★ 4.9 Out Of 5 | Buy Now In Amazon |
 | ZEISS Conquest V6 5-30×50 | ★★★★★ 5 Out Of 5 | Buy Now In Amazon |
 | Burris Xtreme Tactical XTR Ii 8-40×50 | ★★★★★ 4.8 Out Of 5 | Buy Now In Amazon |
① Primary Arms SLX 4-14×44
If you are looking for an affordable 1000 yard scope, look no further than the Primary Arms SLX. It comes integrated with sufficient magnification power, decent image clarity, and a sturdy build structure to help you hit the target.
With its ACSS Orion reticle, you can easily aim and shoot at your target with simple adjustments for wind and range. It comes integrated with turrets, which are capped and not suitable for quick adjustment. Overall, it offers the best value to entry-level shooters to shoot at long-range targets.
Features
- Made from aircraft-grade aluminium.
- It weighs around 25.2 ounces.
- Magnification power up to 14x.
- Uses an ACSS Orion reticle.
- Backed up with a 3-year warranty.
② Leupold VX-3i LRP 4.5-14×50
One of the perfect rifle scopes for shooting long-range targets, the Leupold VX-3i LRP is specially developed to make challenging 1000 yard shots. The company has incorporated plenty of features to deliver an unmatchable shooting experience.
It comes integrated with adjustable knobs for windage & elevation and high-quality target turrets to compensate for bullet drop and zero the effects of wind and range. Its lightweight structure can easily handle repetitive recoil even under harsh and unforgiving conditions without breaking a sweat.
Most shooters love the twilight max light management mechanism to ensure you have a better field of view. The mechanism comes integrated with multi-coated premium glass to deliver a crystal clear view of the field under any light condition. It will also help you view targets even in low light conditions.
Features
- Made of aircraft-grade aluminium.
- It weighs around 2 lbs.
- Uses multi-coated lenses to ensure a crystal clear view.
- Magnification power up to 14x.
- Uses a Twilight max light management system.
③ Schmidt & Bender PMII 5-25×56
Another great scope for 1000 yard shooting by Schmidt & Bender, which is often used by military and police snipers. The Schmidt & Bender PMII integrated with a massive magnification power of 25x and a wide objective lens of 56mm to ensure a better and clear field of view.
In addition, the double turn target turrets are designed to ensure fast and quick target adjustments. The company also uses multi-coated lenses to ensure maximum light transmission without glaring the view.
Features
- Integrated with 56mm multi-coated objective lens.
- Magnification power up to 25x.
- Uses double turn target turrets for easy adjustments.
- Made with premium-grade aluminium.
- O-ring sealed for faster light transmission.
④ ZEISS Conquest V6 5-30×50
ZEISS conquest comes packed with every feature required for a crystal clear and stable field of view. This scope is made with cutting-edge technology to offer faster light transmission using fluoride lenses. Also, the objective lens is covered in 6 layers to make it resistant to water, shock and fog, which ensure a crisp and clear target view.
Apart from this, it works on a twilight max light management system to offer a better field view. The company has used sturdy material for constructing this scope to make it resistant to harsh weather conditions.
The housing is o-ring sealed to protect the internal components from moisture, sweat, snow, and rain. So, to ensure precision 1000 yard shooting, the ZEISS comes integrated with an illuminated reticle to offer a pin-point accuracy to take down long-range targets.
Features
- Magnification power up to 30x.
- It weighs around 17.8 ounces.
- Uses capped turrets for easy adjustments.
- Integrated with a 50mm objective lens for better field view.
- Comes with an illuminated reticle.
⑤ Burris Xtreme Tactical XTR Ii 8-40×50
Burris has been producing high-quality scopes for long-range, but it is often overlooked due to bigger companies like Swarovski, Leupold, and ZEISS. The Xtreme tactical XTR can provide a clear field view of the target at 1000 yards away.
It features parallax adjustments and turrets to make it easier for you to pull off long-range shots. With a magnification power of 40x, you will get a massive and crystal clear field view of the target. But remember, as you increase the magnification power, you might struggle to maintain the focus because even tiny movements are noticeable.
Features
- Magnification power up to 40x.
- Integrated with a 50mm objective lens.
- It weighs around 1.96 lbs.
- Comes in F-class MOA style.
- Integrated with turrets for wind and range adjustments.
What Do You Need To Know Before Buying A Scope For 1000 Yard Shooting?
If you don’t know what to look for before making a potential purchase for the 1000 yard scope, we curated a list of factors that you must consider to get the best scope available for long-range shooting.
- Image Resolution And Quality
You can make an accurate shot unless you have a clear vision and better field of view. Using a cheaper optic will crank up the image when used at max magnification power, which makes it challenging to hit the target, which you can’t see clearly.
That’s why you need to check the optical quality of a 1000 yard scope to ensure you are getting a high-quality scope. Choosing a scope that comes with an extra-low dispersion lens or better is recommended. Or you can consider those scopes that use multi-coated lenses for crisp and clear vision.
- Parallax Adjustment
Parallax adjustment is the most crucial aspect of a scope’s reticle as it will throw off your shot, if not zero. When you tilt your head, you might notice the reticle is moving in the same direction, which makes it challenging for you to shoot at the target with more precision.
Not to mention, long-range shooters have to be more careful as parallax becomes a serious problem at higher magnification. Therefore, some optics feature a side parallax adjustment while others feature an adjustable objective. Once the parallax is adjusted, the reticle will lock in place and will not shift even if you move your head.
- Magnification
Shooters often think that shooting at a long-range target would require max magnification. The truth is, using a massive magnification will mess with the field view and make it challenging to focus the target.
On the other hand, even a decent magnification power will be sufficient to make accurate and precise shots. However, having a powerful magnification has its own perks as it comes integrated with additional features that would make it easier for you to get the job done.
However, you must know that the image quality will degrade when you increase the magnification power. Not only will it make your target look bigger, but it also will create noticeable bodily movements, which can affect the focus and accuracy.
So, it is recommended to use a 10x magnification, which would be sufficient for shooting at a 1000 yards target. However, if you want to hit the bullseye, you might look for a slightly high mag for more precision.
Remember that having a scope with 10x or more mag power won’t compensate for precision shooting if the reticle visibility and image quality are not good.
- Objective Lens
Most long-range scopes are integrated with wide objective lenses measuring 44mm or more. An objective lens lets light inside the optic and offers a better field of view. Remember, a field of view becomes more crucial when zooming in using magnification.
In addition, the field of view provides an accurate estimation of distant targets, which makes it easier for shooters to take precision shots. However, having larger objective lenses comes with some downsides as it can make your scope heavy, cumbersome or bulky.
- Target Turrets
To ensure precision shooting at long range targets, you would require a scope with adjustable target turrets. It will help you adjust external markets so that it would compensate for bullet drops during the long trajectory.
Professional shooters often use elevation and windage adjustment knobs for fine-tuning their scope according to range and wind. Remember, a quality scope will make audible clicks to make it easier to track your knob adjustments.
- Main Tube
Scopes specially developed for long-range shooting come with 30mm or main tube length. Having a larger main tube will help in compensating for elevation adjustments.
How To Maintain Your 1000 Yard Scope?
To ensure top-notch performance, you need to take care of your scope. So, here are some tips you can follow to take good care of your 1000 yard scope.
Necessary Measures
- Read the manual instructions thoroughly and have the necessary materials & tools at your disposal.
- Avoid touching the scope lenses as they will leave oil and fingerprint marks.
- Do not attempt to remove the scratch on the lens, as you might end up damaging the lens more.
- Never use saliva for cleaning the lens.
- Don’t use facial tissues, ordinary cleaning cloths, or paper towels for cleaning the lens.
- Avoid using window cleaner and compressed air.
- Don’t exhale on the lens during winters.
- Swap old caps with new ones when not in use.
- You can use an airbrush for cleaning lenses instead of blowing air.
- Use a special lens cleaning solution made for lens cleaning.
- Microfiber lens cloth cleans the lens and prevents any scratch.
Step By Step Instructions To Take Care Of A 1000 Yard Scope
- Open the ocular and objective lens cover for thorough inspection for gunk and dust.
- Clean the lens as much as possible using an airbrush or a soft bristle brush.
- It is recommended to use a special lens cleaning solution for removing the fingerprints and smudges.
- Use a microfiber cloth and apply some cleaning solution to it. Use it for cleaning.
- Begin from the centre and follow up with a circular motion. Once completed, discard the tissue.
- Remember to inspect the lens for dust streaks or spots.
- If you spot any dust streak or residue, you should repeat the process.
- Finally, close ocular and objective lens using their covers and voila!!, your lenses are clean as new.
Tips And Tricks For Long-Range Shooting
- Dirty Shooting
Most snipers prefer shooting from a dirty gun when combined with the best 1000 yard scope. Usually, they clean it after every 200-300 rounds.
- Data Collection
Whenever you shoot at a long-range target, you should try and record every shot to help you understand how your gun will behave under various conditions. You can use DOPE (Data of previous engagements) books to take references before making any shot.
- Shoot During The Pause
Most shooters recommend following the respiratory rhythm to take a better shoot. To do that, you need to take three deep breaths, and within 3 seconds of exhaling, you should take the shoot.
- Focus On The Wind Adjustments
You all know that wind can never be constant, and most elite snipers assume that wind will elevate at two-thirds of the total distance. No doubt, there will be changes in wind intensities and directions, which makes it vital for you to recognize and make necessary adjustments.
- Mount The Scope Tight
If you are using a firearm with .308 recoil or below, you all know the kickback of a gun is the best thing that could tell you where you are getting things wrong. Whenever a sniper takes a shot, he would expect the gun to come back straight. That means if your scope does not fall off from the firearm after taking repetitive shots, you are on the right track.
- Follow-Through
All amateurs and professional shooters should keep a slow, steady squeeze on the trigger for a better shooting experience. Even after taking a shot, you should continue to squeeze the trigger to the end and then release it gently for a better follow-through.
- Choose The Right Bullet
Hunters often considered using ballistic-tip ammo as they can easily sacrifice ammunition. But you have to test your ammunition and find out which one suits your firearm best. Also, remember to choose your rifle wisely because you cannot mount a 1000 yard scope on an AR-15.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- What Is The Suitable Magnification Power For A 1000 Yard Shooting Range?
Most amateur shooters often get their first long-range shooting scope focusing on higher magnification power. However, shooting with high magnification does not guarantee you will get crisp and clear target views. It is recommended to use a 16x magnification setting when shooting from a 1000 yard distance.
- How Beneficial Is A 1000 Yard Scope?
When shooting at a long-distance target up to a thousand-yard, you need to have the expertise and the best 1000 yard scope because managing every factor that compensates for precision shooting is not that easy. Using the best 1000 yard scope will help in bringing the target closer, which assists in precision shooting.
- What Is The Most Influential Factor When Shooting From A Long-Distance?
When shooting from a long distance, windage and elevation adjustments make a huge difference as it affects the trajectory of the bullet. However, once you have sighted your scope and ensured that it is parallax-free, you can quickly shoot with more precision and accuracy.
- What Is The Minimum Magnification Power For Shooting At A 1000 Yard Target?
If you are planning to save some money while still able to make precision shots at 1000 yards, it is recommended to use a scope that comes with 10x mag power. It is sufficient for shooting at long-distance targets and helps you save some bucks.
Conclusion
If you want to buy a long-range scope that allows you to shoot at 1000 yard targets with more precision and accuracy, be prepared to invest in cold hard cash. You all know that it takes a lot of practice when shooting from a 1000 yard distance, and having a capable scope that allows you to pull off long-range shots will cost you.
So, get ready to make a huge investment if you are looking for a long-range optic that would go a long way. However, once you are able to pull off long-range shots or hit the bullseye, the money spent on the potential scope will be worth it.
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