Best Mil Dot Scope Under $500 for Hunting 2023 – Buying Guide

Every hunter dreams of having their hands on these Mil Dot scopes! These scopes offer sharp focus and extra sharp crosshairs to provide maximum accuracy. The major advantage that a mil dot scope has over the ordinary scopes is that they work equally fine for people who use eyesight glasses.

So if you are looking to buy the best Mil Dot scope under $500, you should read this article till the very end. Here, we review the 5 best Mil Dot scopes under $500 currently available in the market.

Considerations before purchasing the best Mil Dot scope under $500

Before heading to the top 5 products of this category, we would like to educate you about the various factors to look for the best mil dot scopes. Once you have read our brief buying guide, you will be able to make a well-informed decision.

• Clarity and precision

Every time you think about buying a scope the first thing that comes to mind is the accuracy and the clarity that the scope offers. Because the only utility a scope has is to assist in hitting the targets with absolute precision and without clarity and precision scope is no good to the hunter.

• Optic system

The hunter must be able to have a clear view of the target through the scope and that is only possible when the optic system of the scope is of optimum quality. SO you must know the optic system of the scope before making your purchase.

• Durability and Material

The material of the best mildot scope has a major role to play in the durability of the scope. Also, one must consider that the best mil dot scope is going to be used in intense environmental conditions. The material of the scope must be able to withstand water and heat.

• Simplicity of usage

Another key factor is ease of use. The best scope under 500 offers great ease of usage with the pretty straightforward processes of adjustments, the installations, & the reinstallations. If either of these processes is not easy, it becomes a big headache for the hunter.

• Additional features

Apart from the elegant design and the basic features, recently with advancements in tech, we can have some additional features in our best scopes under 500 as well. Following is the list of such additional features,

• Quick eye focus
• Magnification
• Zero locking
• Light transmission
• Illumination

Another good part about the best rifle scopes under 500 is the illumination feature. Now If you don’t want to limit yourself to daytime hunting only, you should only opt for the best rifle scopes under 500 with illumination, as it can illuminate the night view.

• Price

Well, budget is and will always be a concern for the majority of the people! Choosing the most economical option that offers great value for money among the thousands of options online, is really a tough ask. However, one must always go for a midrange option like purchasing Mil dot scope under $500, because otherwise, the Mil dot scope under $200 will mean that you will have to make a compromise on a few important features.

• Weight

Every hunter wants a best mil dot scope under $500 that is easy to handle while shooting and then easy to carry around after shooting. That is only possible if the scope is lightweight and makes your hunting time a lot less exhausting.

Top 5 Products:

1. Vortex Viper 6.5 20×50 SFP PA – Best Mil Dot Scope under $500

• Manufacturer: Vortex
• Color: Black
• Dimensions: 16.2*4.4*4.3”
• Type: Hunting
• Weight: 1.04 kg

Over the recent few years, the Vortex Company has emerged as a well-reputed manufacturer of the best tactical scope under 500. The Vortex Viper 6.5 is arguable the finest Mil Dot scope under $500 with the kind of features that it offers.

Firstly, it comes bundled with a “6.5- 20x power-optic”, making it an extremely powerful scope. Then, to limit the light intensity before it reaches the eyes of the hunter, the lens is completely multicoated with “extra-low dispersion lenses”.

All in all, it is a perfect option for targets at longer ranges. Adding to the durability of the scope, the best hunting scope under 500 is made of very strong material. Other than the durability through the material, the “O-ring-seal” ensures that the scope is both water & fog resistant.

2. Pinty 4-16X40 – best long-range scope under 500

• Manufacturer: Pinty
• Color: Black
• Material: Aluminum
• Type: Hunting
• Weight: 1.47 pounds

Next up we have an equally deserving candidate for the top spot on this list in Pinty 4-16X40. This best scope for the price offers “green, red, & blue illuminated mildot” ensuring maximum precision for shooting. The manufacturers claim that the hunter can single out their target from a group using this scope. This will enhance the concentration of the hunter while aiming.

It also comes with zero locking to ensure maximum clarity and minimum chances of missing the target. Apart from that, this best low light scope under $500 offers amazing magnification abilities which is a must for long-range hunting.

Much like the rest of the scopes on this list, the Pinty 4-16X40 has great customer reviews on Amazon. The reviews suggest that the unit offers great durability and amazing light transmission through its “multi-coated lens”.

These lenses ensure the clarity and brightness of the image is at their best! The manufacturing material of this best mil dot scope under $500 is both shock & water-resistant, which makes it a perfect option for harsh hunting conditions.

3. HAWKE OPTICS Sidewinder 6.5 – best night vision scope under $500

• Adjustable magnification
• 5 levels of brightness,
• 18 layer fully multi-coated optics
• High precision
• The high torque zoom ring

Next up we have my personal favorite on the list Hawke Sidewinder TAC 30 6.5-20X42. The reason why it is my and many hunters’ favorite is that is made of etched glass & the strength of this glass can hold a “308 or a 30 06 recoil”.

The adjustment knob and the side turrets for magnification power adjustment offer desirable clarity at a certain time. If you are looking for the best mildot scope for small animals hunting, then the Hawke Sidewinder TAC 30 does a prolific job at both short and long-range.

And who isn’t a fan of the red/green illumination that this scope offers for night-time hunting? Other than that it offers 5 levels of brightness & is a perfect scope for people with weak eyesight.

The scope can survive even during harsh weather conditions with its water and fog-resistant manufacture. This durable scope also features both the sun-shade as well as the lens caps.

4. Primary Arms SLX 4-14x44mm – best ffp scope under 500

• Manufacturer: Primary Arms
• Material: Aluminum
• Supports Rifles

Next up we have another economical option in Primary Arms SLX. But the cheap pricing doesn’t mean that it lacks the key features by any means. You would be amazed to know that this affordable ffp scope under 500 is made from both fog & waterproof material.

It offers adjustable magnification through its Mil based turrets, which move by 1/10 per one click. The objective lens is of 44mm diameter & the only drawback we could spot for this scope is the lack of illumination. Hence, it is limited to only daytime hunting but it does a fine job at it!

5. Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10x40mm – best seller mil spec scope

• Manufacturer: Leupold
• Color: Duplex (170680)
• Dimensions: 14*4*3”
• Type: Hunting
• Weight: 0.28 kgs

Last but certainly not least, we have the amazing Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10x40mm. Regarded as the mil spec scope, this versatile scope offers it all. The last thing that a hunter would want is a scope that is range limited and that is certainly not the case with this option.

This best scope under 500 is a perfect option to have for both short & long-range hunting. This flexibility is because of the adjustment knobs for magnification power. Above all, it is an extremely lightweight scope and is weatherproof making it perfect for severe weather conditions for hunting.

Conclusion:

All these best mil dot scopes have amazing features to offer. Each has its own advantage over the other and it really goes down to your personal preference because all of them offer great value for money. Most of this scope is water, fog, and weatherproof which means that these scopes are quite durable. Apart from that, illumination is another key feature if you are into nighttime hunting.

FAQs

1. What is the best rifle scope under $500?
   The Vortex Viper 6.5 is regarded as the finest Mil Dot scope under $500 with the kind of features that it offers. It comes with a “6.5- 20x power-optic”, making it an extremely powerful scope. The lens on this scope is completely multicoated with “extra-low dispersion lenses”.
2. What kind of scope do I need for 500 yards?
   The minimum magnification level required for hunting from 500 yards is 5X magnification. However, it may not be the best option to have for such range hunting. Ideally, you would want to have a 10X magnification for 500 yards for maximum precision.