Best Rifle Scopes Under $500 (Black Friday 2026)
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Finding the best rifle scope under $500 gets a lot easier during Black Friday week. With Black Friday landing on November 27 and Cyber Monday on November 30, 2026, several solid hunting and shooting scopes drop into budget territory — some well under $200. We checked prices on five scopes worth considering on November 5, 2026, covering everything from a basic deer-hunting 3-9x40 to a first focal plane long-range option. Prices change daily, especially during the holiday sales window, so treat the numbers below as a snapshot, not a guarantee.
Quick picks
- Best budget hunting scope: Vortex Crossfire II 3-9x40
- Best lightweight hunting scope: Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9x40
- Best LPVO: Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6x24 Gen2
- Best long-range value: Athlon Argos BTR Gen2 6-24x50 FFP
- Best FFP all-rounder: Vortex Diamondback Tactical 4-16x44 FFP
Comparison table
| Model | Key specs | Price checked Nov 5, 2026 | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vortex Crossfire II 3-9x40 (Dead-Hold BDC) | 1 in tube; Dead-Hold BDC reticle (non-illuminated); 1/4 MOA clicks; 60 MOA total travel; parallax set at 100 yd; eye relief 3.8-4.4 in; 15 oz; 12 in long | $149.99 at B&H Photo | Check price at GunDeals |
| Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6x24 Gen2 (AR-BDC3) | 30 mm tube; second focal plane; illuminated glass-etched AR-BDC3 reticle; 3.5 in eye relief; 18.5 oz; 10.5 in long | $179.99 at Palmetto State Armory (regular $499.99) | Check price at GunDeals |
| Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9x40 (Duplex) | 1 in tube; second focal plane Duplex reticle; 1/4 MOA finger-click adjustments; 60 MOA travel; eye relief 4.2-3.7 in; 12.2 oz; 12.49 in long; Leupold lifetime guarantee | $199.99 at Leupold.com | Check price at SCHEELS |
| Athlon Argos BTR Gen2 6-24x50 FFP | 30 mm one-piece tube; first focal plane; side focus 10 yd to infinity; 0.25 MOA / 0.1 MIL clicks; 60 MOA / 18 MIL elevation and windage; exposed turrets; 3.3 in eye relief; 30.3 oz | $279.99 at Brownells (was $369.99) | Check price at GunDeals |
| Vortex Diamondback Tactical 4-16x44 FFP (EBR-2C MOA) | 30 mm tube; first focal plane; side parallax; exposed turrets; 1/4 MOA clicks; 85 MOA total travel; 3.8 in eye relief; 23.1 oz; 14.1 in long | $399.99 at Primary Arms | Check price at GunDeals |
The picks
Vortex Crossfire II 3-9x40 — Best budget hunting scope
Best for: new rifle owners and deer hunters who want a dependable 3-9x40 without spending much.
Key specs: 1 inch tube, Dead-Hold BDC reticle (non-illuminated), 1/4 MOA clicks, 60 MOA total travel, parallax set at 100 yards, 3.8-4.4 in eye relief, 15 oz, 12 in long.
Why we picked it: The Vortex Crossfire II 3-9x40 covers the classic deer-woods magnification range with a holdover reticle designed for common hunting cartridges, at $149.99 — the lowest price in this roundup.
Trade-offs: No illumination, and the reticle is a second focal plane design, so BDC holdover marks are calibrated at one magnification (check Vortex's documentation for which one).
Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6x24 Gen2 — Best LPVO
Best for: AR owners who want a true 1x-low-end speed setting for close range plus 6x for longer shots.
Key specs: 30 mm tube, second focal plane, illuminated glass-etched AR-BDC3 reticle, 3.5 in eye relief, 18.5 oz, 10.5 in long.
Why we picked it: The Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6x24 Gen2 is listed at $179.99 at Palmetto State Armory against a $499.99 regular price — the steepest discount in this guide, and it puts a 30 mm, illuminated LPVO well under the $500 budget.
Trade-offs: Second focal plane means the AR-BDC3 holdovers are calibrated at one magnification (check Vortex's reticle guide); illumination runs on a battery you'll want to check before hunting season.
Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9x40 — Best lightweight hunting scope
Best for: hunters who want a simple Duplex reticle, a well-known American brand, and the lightest scope on this list.
Key specs: 1 inch tube, second focal plane Duplex reticle, 1/4 MOA finger-click adjustments, 60 MOA travel, 4.2-3.7 in eye relief, 12.2 oz, 12.49 in long, backed by Leupold's lifetime guarantee.
Why we picked it: At 12.2 oz, the Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9x40 is the lightest option here, and at $199.99 it undercuts many Leupold scopes while keeping the lifetime guarantee that comes with the brand.
Trade-offs: No BDC holdover marks — just a classic Duplex, so you'll zero at one distance and hold over by eye or add a ballistic app.
Athlon Argos BTR Gen2 6-24x50 FFP — Best long-range value
Best for: bolt-action shooters stretching out to longer ranges who want first focal plane holdovers at every magnification.
Key specs: 30 mm one-piece tube, first focal plane, side focus parallax from 10 yards to infinity, 0.25 MOA / 0.1 MIL clicks, 60 MOA / 18 MIL of elevation and windage travel, exposed turrets, 3.3 in eye relief, 30.3 oz.
Why we picked it: The Athlon Argos BTR Gen2 6-24x50 FFP brings first focal plane holdovers and exposed turrets — features usually found on pricier scopes — down to $279.99 at Brownells, discounted from $369.99.
Trade-offs: At 30.3 oz it's the heaviest scope on this list, and the high-magnification top end means it's less suited to a lightweight hunting rifle than a dedicated range or long-range gun.
Vortex Diamondback Tactical 4-16x44 FFP — Best FFP all-rounder
Best for: shooters who want one scope that works for hunting-range shots and longer precision work with a tactical-style MOA reticle.
Key specs: 30 mm tube, first focal plane EBR-2C MOA reticle, side parallax, exposed turrets, 1/4 MOA clicks, 85 MOA total travel, 3.8 in eye relief, 23.1 oz, 14.1 in long.
Why we picked it: The Vortex Diamondback Tactical 4-16x44 FFP combines a 4-16x zoom range, first focal plane holdovers, and exposed turrets at $399.99 — the most capable turret-and-reticle package under $500 in this guide.
Trade-offs: It's the priciest pick here and the 4x low end isn't as fast up close as the Strike Eagle's true 1x.
How to choose
Magnification for your range: A 3-9x40 covers most whitetail woods and open-field shots. An LPVO like the Strike Eagle's 1-6x suits an AR used at close to moderate ranges or in brush. A 6-24x or 4-16x scope makes more sense once you're regularly shooting at longer ranges.
Tube size and rings: The Crossfire II and VX-Freedom use 1 inch tubes; the Strike Eagle, Argos BTR, and Diamondback Tactical use 30 mm tubes. Buy rings or a one-piece mount sized to match — a 30 mm scope will not fit 1 inch rings.
SFP vs FFP: Second focal plane (SFP) reticles, like those on the Crossfire II, Strike Eagle, and VX-Freedom, keep the same reticle size as you zoom, so holdover marks are only accurate at one magnification (often maximum zoom). First focal plane (FFP) reticles, like the Argos BTR and Diamondback Tactical, grow and shrink with magnification so holdovers stay accurate at any zoom level. For a deeper comparison, see our article on first focal plane vs. second focal plane.
MOA vs MRAD: Some of these scopes are sold in both MOA and MRAD versions (the Argos BTR listing we checked shows 0.25 MOA / 0.1 MIL options), so confirm the exact model before you buy. If you already use MRAD-based data or a MIL reticle elsewhere, keep your gear consistent to avoid mixing units in the field. Our MOA vs MRAD guide explains the difference.
Eye relief: Eye relief ranges from about 3.3 in (Argos BTR) to 4.4 in (Crossfire II) in this group. Shorter eye relief can matter more on harder-recoiling rifles; mount with extra clearance if you're not sure.
Warranty: Leupold notes a lifetime guarantee on the VX-Freedom. Check the maker's current warranty terms for the Vortex and Athlon models directly, since coverage details can change.
Mounting tips
Always treat the firearm as loaded while mounting a scope. Use rings or a base sized correctly for your scope's tube diameter — 1 inch for the Crossfire II and VX-Freedom, 30 mm for the Strike Eagle, Argos BTR, and Diamondback Tactical. Torque ring screws and base screws to the specification listed by the ring/base manufacturer, not by feel. Level the reticle using a leveling tool before final torque so your crosshair is square to the bore. Once mounted, head to the range to zero the rifle at a safe, supervised distance before hunting or shooting at distance. Never use a riflescope as a substitute for binoculars or a rangefinder, and never point it at a person. Always know your target and what's beyond it, and check your state's hunting regulations before the season opens.
Where to find the current deal
Black Friday and Cyber Monday prices move fast, and a scope that's $179.99 one morning can shift by afternoon. For the latest numbers on these picks and other optics, check our daily deals page for today's best deals. Before you buy, compare the final price, shipping cost, and return policy across retailers — a slightly higher sticker price with free shipping and an easy return window can be the better deal overall.
If you're still working out your budget and priorities before narrowing down a scope, our guide on how to buy a good scope on a budget walks through the basics in more depth.
FAQ
When do the best scope prices usually show up?
Based on past Black Friday and Cyber Monday cycles, the deepest discounts tend to appear during Black Friday week through Cyber Monday — this year, November 27 through 30, 2026. Prices can also move in the days just before and after, so check back often.
How do I choose between the top two picks?
If you want the lowest price and a simple hunting setup, the Vortex Crossfire II 3-9x40 at $149.99 is hard to beat. If you want a true 1x LPVO for an AR with illumination and a 30 mm tube, the Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6x24 Gen2 at $179.99 (down from $499.99) offers more capability for not much more money.
What should I buy alongside the scope?
Plan on a set of rings or a one-piece mount sized to your scope's tube diameter, a leveling tool to square the reticle, and a torque wrench or bit driver if your rings require specific torque values. Budget range time afterward to zero the rifle properly.
I'm new to rifle scopes — what's the simplest option here?
For a first scope, a straightforward 3-9x40 like the Vortex Crossfire II or Leupold VX-Freedom is easiest to learn on. Both use familiar 1/4 MOA clicks and don't require managing illumination settings or first focal plane holdover math while you're still learning the basics.