3-gun, also known as multi-gun is a sport that is fast growing in the world of shooting sports. But why the name 3-gun? It is called that essentially because competitors use three different firearms – a rifle, a pistol, and a shotgun.
Sports like this require accuracy, fast target acquisition, and clear image display amongst other qualities to beat the competition and you only have one choice to make as to which scope/red dot sight is best for your 3-gun shooting.
It is profitable to opt-in for a 3-gun scope that gives you confidence in hitting a target from within a close range of 100 yards, out to a farther distance, say 500 yards.
Now you don’t have to put yourself through the tiring work of endlessly surfing the web to get the best scope for your 3-gun, we have helped you to line a list of our top ten best 3-gun scopes that will aid you in making you aim better.
Before read out the detail, here are our top 3 products.
It is very expedient to take cognizance of some qualities when choosing a scope. Different shooters have varying tastes in shooting aids which makes their performance stand out.
Here are some of the features/qualities you should watch out for when choosing a scope, especially for a 3-gun competition.
How close can you be to your target? The closer your target appears to you, the better your chances of accuracy. Compared to the naked eye, when you look through a scope of 9x magnification, you get to view your target 9 times the original size and in 3-gun shooting, you need to have a close view of the target to make a precise shot.
While some scopes are fixed (you can’t change the magnification), others are variables (have more than one magnification). For example, Trijicon AccuPoint 1-6x is a variable scope with 1x to 6x magnification. If you will be shooting far distances, you need to consider this feature.
The objective lens is the part of the scope that is responsible for the brightness and clarity of your display. With a bigger objective lens, you have a better view of your target.
In the Trijicon AccuPoint 1-6x24mm riflescope, the number after the “x” (24mm) is the objective lens diameter. It is important to know what you need to take a clean shot. Choosing a suitable objective lens diameter can change your shooting for the best.
When you look through a scope, the crosshair that you see in the center of your lens is the reticle and it is chiefly important in making a choice scope.
A good reticle makes shooting easier and some even go as far as estimating the target distance. I’m landing a clean shot on your target, you will need a well Illuminated reticle that is bright during the day and eye-catching in low or ambient light.
You may want to ask, “how does this affect my shooting?” A first focal plane (FFP) reticle will increase as you go up the magnification scale which is good for long-distance shooting but may obscure your view in situations of close-quarter engagement.
The second focal plane (SFP) reticle on the other hand does not change with an increase in magnification and does not obscure your view at any range. Now, which is best for you?
There are knobs on your scope to facilitate unparalleled shots. The windage turret adjusts the scope’s aim horizontally from left to right while the elevation turret makes the vertical adjustment from top to bottom. You don’t need further clarification to help you know how this could assist you in aiming better.
Having enough distance between your eye and the optic lens of the scope keeps you confidently protected from taking the gun impact on your eye. For a rifle, you will need a scope with at least 3.5 to 4 inches eye relief. But if your rifle jerks back with force anytime you shoot, you should go for an eye relief much higher
With all of these said, let’s look straight into our top ten picks for the best 3-gun scopes.
The question of “can my scope withstand the rain?” Is no longer alien to the shooting community. It is good to have a fine scope but most assuring to have one that can survive any weather condition. A quality scope should be able to function well after taking some recoil and beating from the rain.
SPECIFICATIONS:
There may be many variables with most scopes and red dots but with the Vortex Razor HD 1-6×24 rifle scope, things like durability, stagnant zero, and quality display are made constant.
Vortex sets the benchmark for a widely accepted gun scope both in the 3-gun and other tactical communities. To be fair as a shooter that has had a taste of what quality is, the first thing you want to clarify about a new scope product is how much forgiveness it gives your eye.
With this being one of the most impressive features of the Vortex Razor HD 1-6×24 rifle scope, you probably have not handled any other optic that cares for the positioning of your eye behind the lens and the placement of your head.
With this scope, you could shoot in impossible positions in 3-gun matches just because your eye has received forgiveness. This feature is combined with a reticle Illumination that shines bright, even in the daylight.
Brightness settings for this scope would seamlessly go all the way up to eleven, giving you a large room space to make adjustments to how you would want your scope’s reticle lit.
At the highest setting, you’ll be thankful to get a bright display and at the lowest setting, night and daytime shooting are still feasible. The Vortex Razor HD 1-6×24 rifle scope is small in size and is powered by a standard CR2032 coin-style battery that stays in the brightness adjustment turret.
Essentially, the Razor HD Gen II series have stellar glass quality which makes it a selling point. Your magnification may reach its limit but this optic is literally independent of the scope’s magnification and will still make spotting targets as far as 1000 yards look like slicing hot butter.
Many times, what a shooter needs is a good optical resolution that beats any magnification which is what you get with the Vortex Razor HD 1-6×24 rifle scope.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Next up we have an optic that is designed with a housing shape that takes all the blows and ultimately yields good productivity.
For a 3-gun, you need a reticle dot that is visible enough for fast shooting in quick close-quarter engagement and at the same time, small enough to enable you to make distant shooting. This is what a 3.25 MOA can do.
The brightness level of the Trijicon RMR Type 2 could go up to 8 with two suitable for night vision and one for ultra-bright daylight shooting.
As its name RMR (Ruggedized Miniaturized Reflex) implies, this optic is able to withstand some degree of brutal treatment basically because of its military-grade aluminum alloy housing that gives it a strong shelter to absorb recoil.
This optic is powered by a single CR2032 lithium battery that can take it for 4 years without having to change the battery.
Unlimited eye relief is yours for the taking with this optic. A relief that makes it easy for you to aim at your target from varying distance or angle and preferably with both eyes open. This feature makes it more suitable for shooters with cross-eye dominance.
Similar to the Vortex Razor HD rifle scope, you can also lock out the settings of this optic but this time you deploy push-button assistance.
The clarity of the glass is brilliant, multi-coated to absorb light and protect your eyes from glare. Take reflex shooting into 3-gun shooting with the Trijicon RMR Type 2 sight and be sure to kill the competition with pinpoint accuracy.
SPECIFICATIONS:
3-gun is all about reliability. You won’t get anywhere near accomplishment if your optic cannot stand to deliver strands of shooting performances that are not commonplace.
3-gun shooting may not sound like a battlefield scenario but this optic imports the experience you get in a war zone to your domestic shooting. This model gives you an enhanced visual in your target for quick acquisition with a runtime of 30,000 hours. Without turning off the Aimpoint PRO, it can serve all of your shooting purposes for 3 years. That’s huge!
Talk about strength, you won’t find many other products standing close to the Aimpoint PRO. Forged and hammered out of anodized aluminum with black-matte finishing, this optic will proudly survive tough treatment. You can submerge it underwater up to 150ft deep or keep under temperature ranging from -49°F to 160°F, it still comes out strong and fine.
Many scopes and red dot sights prove their durability by being able to withstand shock and heavy rounds of magnum but this optic takes a lead in the race of durability with its bombproof body.
I know you don’t expect an explosion in a safe 3-gun shooting but just so you are guaranteed a lifetime of use, manufacturers have put in extra effort to ensure that your optic stays protected, even from bomb explosions.
Glass clarity as we discussed earlier in this review, is the foremost quality a shooter will look out for before checking other added features. Once glass quality is low, the optic is rendered less useful.
The glass quality of the Aimpoint PRO is truly on point, with 10 brightness settings; levels 1 to 4 are night-vision compatible while levels 5 to 10 are suitable for daylight shooting.
Just as you would expect from a lasting product, the eye box is forgiving and parallax free. You don’t need to look further for an optic that will fit on your gun, promising to see you through seasons of shooting.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Our next product review will be the second appearance of a Vortex scope. The vastness of this optic producing company is something to be fancied from high-cost optics to budget-friendly ones, you still get superior glass quality which makes it most desired by shooters, and using this scope in a 3-gun shooting will make it no less effective.
With an optic that majors on mid-range shooting with a decent price tag, the Vortex Strike Eagle should be the center of your attraction. Basically, this optic is designed to be most effective within 100 yards with a clear display at 1x magnification.
There is a lit BDC3 reticle that attracts and stays the eyes of the shooter on the target, also there is a holdover to allow for quick use to about 600 yards.
The elevation and windage turrets are capped to protect from accidental changes. Each audible click made on the turret gives ½ MOA with a maximum of 140 MOA for the elevation and windage adjustment.
As you consistently take part in the 3-gun shooting, you will see the need to store your optic lens safe and free from contaminants and this is why you have the Vortex Strike Eagle already installed with lens covers right inside the box.
This one-piece aircraft-grade aluminum optic is very durable, with its 30mm tube rated shockproof, dusting off recoil, and impact with pride. Also sealed with O-ring and nitrogen purged to keep out moisture and fog.
This affordable optic is one to consider for close to mid-range shooting. With the Vortex Strike Eagle, the best is always yet to come.
SPECIFICATIONS:
The Leapers UTG 1-8×28 scope is one that writes a new story about your shooting, making provision for different magnification that can be adjusted to take your 3-gun shooting experience to the next level.
This optic is coated to give you a clear view of your target also rated waterproof, shockproof, and fog proof. This optic features a ballistic drop compensation (BDC) and a rangefinder that marks out effectively out to 600 yards.
Turrets on this scope are resettable and lockable which allows you to put a lock on adjustment settings to avoid knocks to change the adjustment of the turret. One other fascinating feature of the Leapers UTG 1-8×28 scope is its 1-Click illumination memory. You don’t need to re-adjust the brightness settings with this feature, with just a click, you can resume the last used brightness level.
Leapers is generous with eye relief on this scope, giving you 3.35 to 5 inches of eye relief. This scope is powered by a CR2032-3V battery with its parallax setting at 100 yards.
According to the company, they offer “The Best Never Rest Warranty” that covers repair or replacement of defective products only for the duration of the product’s lifespan. Defects as a result of misuse, negligence, or natural disasters are not accounted for by Leapers Inc.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Somehow, somewhere in your shooting adventure, you would have heard the name Bushnell. A company that produces binoculars, red dots, and spotting scopes with an extended product line of the AR Optics.
3-gun shooting is a good test of your competence with different types of guns and with the right scope, there is no limitation to how precise you can shoot.
Outward appearance first, this scope is fairly lightweight, weighing 18 oz with a 24mm objective lens. The Bushnell 1-4×24 is designed, ridged, and intended to give equal firm grip with gloves on. Very easy to zero, with turrets, you can make adjustments to the optic’s output with ½ MOA adjustment per click.
The lenses on this scope allow a noticeable amount of light to pass through them to give top-notch optical quality and bright display. Even in the surroundings of low light, you get high definition visuals.
The Drop Zone -223 reticle and the 10 yards to infinity parallax adjustment feature help the shooter to focus more easily on the target.
Covered by the Bushnell Lifetime Ironclad Warranty, defective products are either repaired or replaced as long as its lifespan is not exceeded.
SPECIFICATIONS:
The Trijicon AccuPoint 1-6×24 rifle scope is a versatile optic that can serve different types of shooting with varying skill and style. This scope is one that can be relied upon on any of the 3-gun competition menus.
Offering one of the best tactical scope available in the market, Trijicon has made this optic attract a decent opinion on being one of the best shooting aids for the 3-gun.
With a multi-coated, appealing lens that gathers more light for a bright display, your experience is about to take a new turn.
Different from other scopes and red dots that we’ve reviewed so far, the Trijicon AccuPoint 1-6×24 rifle scope does not depend on battery power for Illumination. It is built with a fiber optic that adjusts the brightness of the scope automatically once the external light supply begins to reduce.
The Trijicon AccuPoint 1-6×24 rifle scope has a sturdy housing that is constructed from aircraft-grade aluminum. A very good choice to make when going for a scope that will stand any weather condition, and will not wear or tear as a result of frequent use like most less durable scopes.
Take it from Trijicon, this optic is not susceptible to rust, scratches, or corrosion. If you want to go hard on your gun, let this scope help you with that. Shooting with one eye is quite common and acceptable amongst shooters but with this optic, you can accurately aim with both eyes open.
Since the goal of 3-gun shooting is to hit a target precisely, a second focal plane optic will add to your advantage as the dot remains unaffected with a change in magnification.
SPECIFICATIONS:
We are a few steps from the bottom of our review ladder and we have next to the Weaver Tactical 1-5×24 scope. If you are shooting an AR carbine, then set some money aside to purchase this scope.
The reticle on this scope is designed by Weaver and is called Close-Intermediate Range Tactical (CIRT). The illumination knob gives you room to light it red or green and is dependent on which way you make the turning of the knob.
The entire reticle of this scope is illuminated to suit low-light shooting, although the illumination at 1x is not bright at daytime due to its first focal plane design. This scope is powered by a CR2032 battery with one extra, nestled on top of the turret which most users feel is due to the high battery consumption rate of the product.
Furthermore, the Weaver Tactical 1-5×24 scope depends on a 30mm one-piece tube and is complimented by multi-coated lenses to increase light transmission and give a bright display. This optic is Argon purged, protected from fogging, also reinforced internally to secure its delicate parts.
If your 3-gun shooting would be in an intermediate range, then this model offers an amazing experience that is hard to beat by scopes in the same price bracket.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Moving from fairly affordable scopes/red dots, we have arrived at the very affordable ones. A 3-gun scope should not cost you all of your life savings which is why Holosun HS403B here on our list.
Based on other Holosun products that we’ve reviewed before, it is easy to tell that the company is becoming famous for producing good and decent red dots that do not siphon your bank savings.
When put side-by-side to other models, you won’t see the need to pay the same (if not higher) price for optics that only lasts for 100 hours compared to the 50,000 hours you will get from this optics.
For a long period of time, you don’t have to worry about changing the battery and in trying to change the battery, you realize how easy it is. This is an improvement from the HS403A model where you have to unmount before replacing the battery.
What about a touch of technology? Holosun has put a lot of effort into ensuring that users get the most out of this product by adding the shake-awake feature similar to the Sig Sauer Romeo5 red dot sight.
Once this optic is not used for 8 hours, it powers down automatically and wakes up once it is set in motion. That’s cool for a low-cost sight and there’s no more reason to take calculated risks as this optic is durable, waterproof, as well as dustproof, and can be submerged underwater for half an hour up to 1 meter. Left to me, this is about all I would expect from a budget red dot sight.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Last but not least is a 1-4×24 second focal plane rifle scope by Primary Arms. If you’ve not found the perfect 3-gun optic for you, don’t throw it away yet. There is more at the end of our review ladder than you would expect.
Straightaway into the features of this lovely scope. It has a duplex center reticle and just because it is a budget scope does not mean that it lacks optic quality. Just as the manufacturers will say for this product, they really don’t use the word “value” as an euphemism for “junk”.
Eye relief for this scope is on the generous side with 3.5 to 4.9-inch relief which depends on the magnification that it is set to.
This scope comes with 12 brightness settings with the control knob right to the side of the tube to illuminate the center dot for easy target acquisition.
You may not see this coming but here, the Primary Arms 1-4×24 rifle scope is rated fog proof, waterproof, and fully multi-coated to brighten your display and give you clear visuals.
The first focal plane (FFP) reticle is perfect for long-distance shots but may obscure your view for close-range shots. The second focal plane reticle is ideal for both long and short-range shooting.
As stated earlier, the numbers have significant meaning. 3-9x simply means that the scope has a magnification power starting from 3x (three times the actual target size) to 9x. 40mm is the diameter of the objective lens.
All 3-gun scopes are effective depending on the requirements for every shot. You won’t want to use a scope with its maximum range to be 300 yards to make a shot out to 600 yards.
The longest distance in 3-gun shooting is between 500 to 600 yards. Once your scope can fill into this range, you are on the green.
There is certainly no more confusion for you having gone through this review and studied the features to look out for from a 3-gun scope
Targets are precious and you don’t want to lose them all to inaccurate shots. The scope’s magnification should present you with enough visuals to make a clean shot.
Know your effective range, shooting positions, and preference and find the ideal scope that will fit in with all of these requirements. You will mostly find a larger eye relief scope to be very useful when it comes to 3-gun shooting.
Somehow, these scopes help you improve your shooting accuracy without distortion of any sort when used consistently on appropriate magnification power in a 3-gun event.
Summing it all up, 3-gun scopes are great shooting aids that help you improve your skill. From highly classy scopes to very affordable optics, 3-gun shooting is altogether memorable.
