What Is the Best Air Rifle Scope? Read our Top 8 Air Rifle Scope Reviews

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airgun scopeKids who owned air rifles or high-powered gas-chambered guns were taught not to aim the air rifle at people and to use it mostly for target practice. It’s like in a dojo, where practitioners use practice wooden or bamboo swords before handling a real steel katana weapon. You can almost consider the airsoft gun as your training gun for the real deal.

In turn, the best scope for air rifle can serve as your preparation for owning a real riflescope on a real rifle. Indeed, in many cases, only older kids got to get their own BB guns and air rifles since they’re about as safe as lawn darts (in that they’re not at all safe and should be handled responsibly even with their softer ammunition) and you learned quite a lot about how to arm, maintain, and pick the right scope for these air rifles. With that in mind, here are some quality air riflescopes you should keep an eye out for that are considered best sellers on Amazon.com for the air guns, airsoft, and slingshots accessories category.

The Best Airsoft and Air Rifle Scopes That Money Can Buy

  1. Vokul 2.5-10×40 Tactical Rifle Scope Red & Green Laser Dual Illuminated Mil-dot w/ Rail Mount: Air gun scopes typically and mostly differ from “real” gun scopes in terms of caliber and power of the rifle.
Vokul® 2.5-10x40 Tactical Rifle Scope Red & Green Laser Dual Illuminated Mil-dot w/ Rail Mount

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars from 16 customers. Click the image for prices and reviews!

It should be calibrated to the propulsion power of a gas-powered gun that uses air to propel lighter projectiles unto targets. It’s the same difference in calibration you’d see from crossbow or bow-and-arrow scopes, with those being more wire-and-muscle-powered than gunpowder-powered as well. That’s what you should expect from this best airgun scope candidate, the Vokul 2.5-10×40 Tactical Rifle Scope.

It has high magnification that’s ideal for long-distance shooting (even though an air rifle isn’t as powerful as a firearm rifle, its lighter projectiles can reach long distances). What’s more, this scope allows you to enjoy the so-called “Vokul® Rifle Scope Advantage”, which is its scratch resistance, high resolution, superior light transmission, waterproof, fogproof, and shockproof operation.

Granted, many of these claims you’ll see in other scopes, but the scope has additional goodies included like a distance-estimating mil-dot reticle and red or red laser for ensured pinpoint shooting accuracy. It’s all possible with its green-fused multicoated lens for the AR10 and AR15 (as well as their air gun equivalents). It’s a quality lens-based gun sight or scope that feels sturdy and works sturdily.

The Vokul 2.5-10×40 Tactical Rifle Scopeis simply one of the best air rifle scopes around because of its drop compensation, wherein the turret is marked from 100 to 500 yards in 100-yard increments, thus it’s not a hassle to calculate your distance from your target at a single glance. It’s even constructed with mounts that include plug-and-play Piccatiny rail attachments complete with large thumb screws you can put in without having any special tools included. Its 40-millimeter objective lens is also clear and green or red reticles that light up even in dim conditions.

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  1. Vokul Shockproof 532nm Tactical Green Dot Laser Sight Rifle Gun Scope w/ Rail & Barrel Mount Cap Pressure Switch: Here’s another Vokul offering that’s part of the best seller list of the airsoft, air guns, and slingshots department.
Vokul® Shockproof 532nm Tactical Green Dot Laser Sight Rifle Gun Scope w/ Rail & Barrel Mount Cap Pressure Switch

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars from 12 customers. Click the image for prices and reviews!

This particular scope is a green dot tactical gun scope with a laser sight that includes a rail and barrel mount cap pressure switch. It’s also claimed to be shockproof, which should be perfect for your airsoft needs since airsoft recoil should be no match against it.

The solid construction of the Vokul Shockproof 532nm Tactical Green Dot Laser Sight Rifle Gun Scope also makes it many leagues sturdier than the typical “toy” look of a plastic air gun scope or even a rubber one. The fact that it’s made of aluminum alloy ensures that even though it’s tough, it’s still relatively lightweight to boot at 410 grams. What’s more, its laser has a 532nm wavelength.

As for its mounts, the Vokul Shockproof 532nm Tactical Green Dot Laser Sight Rifle Gun Scope includes a barrel clamp mount that fits a 12-gauge shotgun (or its airsoft equivalent) with a one-inch diameter. Meanwhile, for the AR-type airsoft weapons, there’s the Picatinny-Weaver rail mount. As for its adjustments in elevation and windage, it’s calibrated to give even the lower-propulsion airsoft gun and its soft pellet bullets the right amount of accuracy, especially when you make use of its laser.

It has a clear laser beam and a pointing dot so that you can shoot with amazing precision from day to night, or at least in low light. The thing that gives the Vokul Rifle Gun Scope an edge is the fact that it’s laser-assisted. It also includes a 3VCR123A lithium battery, Allen wrench, switch-button pressure pad switch, and eight-type mount.It truly is the complete airsoft gun scope package.

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  1. UTG 30mm SWAT 3-12X44 Compact IE Scope with AO Mil-dot, 36 Colors EZ-TAP: UTG has done it again. The 30-millimeter UTG SWAT 3-12X44 Compact IE Scope is a quality airsoft and AR scope (or AR-based airsoft gun scope).
UTG 30mm SWAT 3-12X44 Compact IE Scope with AO Mil-dot, 36 Colors EZ-TAP

Rated 4.3 out of 5 stars from 580 customers. Click the image for prices and reviews!

It’s a scope built on the True Strength Platform, a propriety system Leapers use in order to ensure the shockproof, fogproof, and weatherproof capabilities of their scopes.

According to many a best air rifle scopes review, theSWAT comes complete with a full 36-color EZ Tap reticle (so that you can change it in any color depending on the light conditions and color of your surroundings to make it stand out more) and range-estimating and adjustment-holding mil-dot reticle, and amazing 3x to 12x (about three magnifications higher than the standard 3x to 9x range) with 44-millimeter objective lens diameter size. Furthermore, its emerald lenses are multicoated and has an integrated angled front sunshade to avoid sun glare.

It also possesses lens caps that are flip-open to boot. What’s more, the UTG30mm SWAT 3-12X44 Compact IE Scope is also designed with a special circuit and housing to ensure that your illumination remains uninterrupted even when dealing with heavy rifle recoil from your airsoft gun. You don’t need gunpowder in order to suffer the jarring shake of an assault rifle, even if it’s gas-powered.

It has all the makings of the best air rifle scope for the money, judging by how high up it is on Amazon.com and how relatively inexpensive it is compared to other comparable scopes. For example, it has premium zero resetting and zero locking target turrets with precise adjustment and consistency every time. The whole package is completed with its lifetime warranty. UTG is so confident of the UTG SWAT Airsoft Riflescope’s capabilities that you can have it replaced anytime it fails on you in accordance to warranty policies.

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  1. UTG 4×32 TS Full Size Mil-dot Scope with Airgun/.22 Rings, Pre-adj @ 35 Yds: Here’s a highly recommended mil-dot scope specifically made for airsoft guns that you should get because it’s manufactured by one of the most recognized names in the firearm scope market.
UTG 4x32 TS Full Size Mil-dot Scope with Airgun/.22 Rings, Pre-adj @ 35 Yds

Rated 4.2 out of 5 stars from 145 customers. Click the image for prices and reviews!

Like any other Leapers scope in the market, it possesses signature quality clarity, since UTG is known for its product consistency. As for its rugged strength, you can always rely on a UTG to last long because of its True Strength Platform that doesn’t only ensure it is fully shockproof but also nitrogen-filled to guarantee rainproof and fogproof as well (since nitrogen keeps all the potential moisture to seep into the scope).

Aside from that standard-issue durability you’d expect out of any decent scope, it also has amazingly precise ¼ MOA per click for adjustments on elevation and windage. Even the finger-adjustable turrets are wear resistant.

A key feature of the UTG 4×32 TS Full Size Mil-dot Scope for Airguns is its range-estimating mil-dot reticle that has a sunshade that’s integrated at the front, to keep your maximum light-transmitting objective lens and multicoated inner lenses to get glare from a sun that’s shining extra bright for that day.

Meanwhile, the whole package is completed with AccuShot Mid Profile.22 rings for airsoft gun usage and highly quality flip-open lens caps. You can use it on various BB guns, airsoft guns, and specifically the Ruger Blackhawk .177 Pellet Gun. If your airsoft weapon has an unsatisfactory scope, you can always shift to a superior one like the UTG 4×32 TS Full Size Mil-dot Scope with Airgun/.22 Rings that’s calibrated for 35 yards (since an airsoft gun usually has the ability to cover that distance, which is significantly lower compared to a typical firearm). Honestly, what more can you ask for?

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  1. Soft Air Swiss Arms 4×32 Rifle Scope with Weaver/Picatinny Rings:With the price offered by the Soft Air Swiss Arms 4×32 Rifle Scope, you really can’t complain. Then again, there’s more to this airsoft scope than being really, really cheap.
Soft Air Swiss Arms 4x32 rifle scope with weaver/picatinny rings

Rated 3.8 out of 5 stars from 182 customers. Click the image for prices and reviews!

It’s an easy to adjust tool when it comes to windage and elevation; you don’t need special tools to make it all possible. As for its body, it’s a standard one-inch rubber finish body with weaver or Picatinny rings and lens covers. This makes it the best scope for air gun, bar none as far as cost-effectiveness goes.

Its scout-range fixed magnification of 4x goes hand-in-hand with its 32-millimeter objective size. It’s the perfect scope to have when it comes to engaging targets at mid-range to short-range. It’s clear enough to tell the difference between foliage and an actual moving target. Furthermore, it can also be used for long-range outings.

Sure, even with airsoft guns, when people think of long-range shooting and sniping, they expect magnification that’s greater than 4x (usually it’s 9x and beyond), but in order to develop yourself into a long-range marksman, you should be able to hit a target from mid-range to long-range at only 4x magnification, when they’re merely small dots on your scope. Extreme magnification is for the truly extreme sniper shots, but 4x should be enough to engage a long-range target.

This further showcases why it’s the best air gun scope around. It doubles as a training tool for would-be firearm owners by having a scope that can be used on both airsoft and real rifle guns. The SoftAir Swiss Arms 4x32mm Airsoft Scope is made specifically with airsoft weapons in mind, but has high-quality specs that makes it usable for even true ARs that make use of gunpowder and real bullets, like its one-inch or 25.44-millimeter rail interface system, adjustable windage, and AccuShot tactical rings.

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  1. BBTac GS11 Electronic Red Cross Scope Airsoft Gun Accessory: While at times it can get quite amazing to see how close to a firearm scope an airsoft gun scope can get, with certain firearm riflescopes doubling as gas-powered gun riflescopes with ease, there are airsoft gun accessories out there that specialize in being exclusively airsoft riflescopes like the high-tech BBTac GS11 Electronic Red Cross Scope Airsoft Gun Accessory.
BBTac GS11 Electronic Red Cross Scope Airsoft Gun Accessory

Rated 3.2 out 5 stars from 78 customers. Click the image for prices and reviews!

Its main claim to fame as the best airsoft scope in town comes from the fact that it’s a QAE or Quick Aim Electronic Scope with an inner illuminating red dot that’s electric and adjustable during nighttime shooting. You can also quickly attach it to your airsoft rifles with plug-and-play mounting rails. Finally, it’s constructed with high-grade plastic. Sure, the use of plastic on a scope doesn’t help the “toy gun” reputation of the airsoft gun, but the real airsoft scopes are extremely lightweight.

They can afford to be made of rubber or plastic since the recoil produced by an airsoft gun isn’t nearly as hard as the recoil from a firearm. This scope is on the best-seller list on Amazon due to its cost-effective value. Once you try it out, you’ll see how effective it can get.

The biggest complaint people give out is its plastic construction, but at the same time, it’s an effective airsoft appliance that only costs about $10, give or take a cent. With that said this is probably the best best scope for airsoft you can get in its own way because of its amazing accuracy and the fact that you don’t need tools to mount it or put your battery in.

It’s a highly recommended purchase despite its lack of magnification abilities because it serves as a functional bright-red cross sight and fully adjustable both up and down. However, if you want something more akin to what you’d use on a firearm, you need to cough up extra dough.

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  1. Daisy Outdoor Products 4x15mm Scope: This 4x15mm air gun scope is made with Daisy brand airsoft guns in mind. For its price, it’s a wonderful $10 scope that’s worth every penny and then some.
Daisy Outdoor Products 4 x 15 Scope (Black, 4 x 15)

Rated 3.6 out of 5 stars from 48 customers. Click the image for prices and reviews!

If you don’t wish to invest ten times that amount or more in order to get the likes of a Vokul or a UTG, then your best airsoft gun riflescope bet is to stick to a scope made by one of the leading manufacturers of these gas-powered guns with soft pellet bullets that you can use as practice guns until you’re old enough or ready to acquire your own firearm license.

It’s adjustable for windage and elevation plus it makes use of a crosshair reticle to boot. It’s shockproof in construction and has standard-issue fogproof or moisture-free operation due to its usage of gas-filled tube technology that’s ubiquitous among scopes nowadays. It also fits any Daisy airsoft gun perfectly like a glove.

When it comes to mounting, the Daisy Outdoor Products 4x15mm Scope has the typical ⅜-inch dovetail mount. Instead of recalibrating a riflescope that was obviously meant for higher calibers and distances, you can save loads of dollars by going with a airsoft manufacturer brand name to get the accuracy you need when it comes to airsoft target practice.

At 4x magnification, you’re getting excellent scout rifle range capabilities plus if you’re a particularly good marksman, you can shoot out tiny pinpoint targets from long distances through that fixed scope power as well. The objective lens size is a bit smaller compared to traditional scout riflescopes, but this is only because of the limitations of range for the significantly weaker, non-firearm airsoft gun. Without the assistance of gunpowder, the bullet drop or influence of gravity on your bullet is much greater, thus a 15-millimeter objective is more than enough to suit your needs.

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  1. Crosman 0410 Targetfinder Rifle Scope: If you want a firearm-tier riflescope for your airsoft gun (that’smanufactured by an actual airsoft gun and accessories manufacturer)with standard-issue ⅜-inch dovetail mount yet still get it at a comparable price to a plastic or rubber scope or optics, then theCrosman 0410 Targetfinder Rifle Scope might be your best bet.
Crosman 0410 Targetfinder Rifle Scope

Rated 3.9 out of 5 stars from 68 customers. Click the image for prices and reviews!

With a $24 list price and a discounted price that can go down to as much as $6, it truly is an affordable scope by every sense of the word. However, this isn’t recommended for use by Spring Air Rifles. Regardless, for any other airsoft gun type, the Crosman 0410 Targetfinder Rifle Scope lives up to its name with its instant target acquisition thanks to its focusing eyepiece.

This 4x scope also has requisite multicoated optics to ensure maximum light transmission every time. As for windage and elevation, it has precise turret adjustments. It has everything you’d expect from a quality scope (not even an airsoft scope, but a scope in general).

It really is a nice scope for the money, since it even comes complete with a ⅜-inch dovetail-grooved receiver that allows it to fit like a glove on all Crosman air rifles. Crosman is a name you can trust when it comes to air rifles and the scopes that come with them. People usually buy expensive third-party scopes like Vokul and UTG when they’re dissatisfied with the scope that came with their air rifle.

However, it’s a rare instance for Crosman rifles since Crosman scopes and air rifles go hand-in-hand like a horse and carriage. This 1923-established company was founded as the Crosman Arms Company that specialized in airgun and airgun ammunition. While the idea of buying a recalibrated riflescope usually used for firearms might sound tempting, its expensiveness might not be ideal to your needs and airsoft guns have specific need that these overqualified scopes might not meet. Why not go with an airgun specialist instead? You’ll have fewer mounting and calibration problems for sure.

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The Bottom Line

When gun owners and professional marksmen hear of BB guns and air rifles, they think of them as “baby’s first toy gun”, or at least a toy gun that actually shoots instead of making a prerecorded ArmaLite rifle sound (the company that licensed the AR-10 to a Dutch company and AR-15 designs to Colt after repeated failures in getting mainstream financial success) pretending to be Rambo or something. At any rate, the best air rifle scope in many cases are quite close to the best AR-15 scopes in terms of quality because air rifles in and of themselves are quite close to how a real rifle operates. Many youths who were air rifle owners eventually became responsible gun owners. Part of the reason for this is their use of “toy” guns that operated in the same fashion as many real guns.

At times, it’s almost amazing to see how close in specs an airsoft gun riflescope is compared to a firearm or assault rifle scope can get. Many of these products can double as AR scopes in and of themselves, with little to no adjustment. It really shows that the airsoft gun is no mere toy gun. After all, aside from usage of gas in order to propel the soft pellets of an air gun, these non-firearms practically operate the same as their firearm counterparts. There are other scopes out there that go in line with the fact that you’re getting it for a “mere” airsoft gun, like the ones made of rubber or plastic that lack magnification power. At any rate, the best (and most expensive) scopes you can get for you airsoft gun are the ones who can double as real firearm scopes and have the specs to prove it. The most cost-effective scopes you can acquire are those specifically made for airsoft guns alone.

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