Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
The Top 3 Best Air Rifle Scopes Reviewed
Owning a good scope is a necessity for anyone with an air rifle. Scopes allow you to zero in on a target and ensures a fast, humane kill when hunting. I did the hard work for you and chose 3 scopes from my favorite brand: UTG.
UTG Pro is actually a part of the famous Leapers Company that is known for their durable, powerful scopes that pack power and accuracy into an affordable tier of scopes. Whether you’re a beginner and want to see what a difference scopes can be when shooting or you’re an experienced shooter looking to enhance the fun, you’ll find a scope that meets your need on our list.
The UTG brand also features superior light gathering technology for accurate, clear views even in low light conditions.
Keep in mind that all of these scopes are under $200 and have been thoroughly tested. They’re all great options, but the UTG 3-12×44 is the number 1 choice.
1. UTG 3-12×44 30mm Compact Air Rifle Scope Review
My first choice for the best air rifle scope. The 3-12×44 is precise, easy to adjust and mount, and comes with some of the best features on the market. It’s also a very affordable scope, which is another reason I like this model. After all, you’re probably going to mount this UTG model on a decent rifle.
Technical Specs
- 30-millimeter
- 3-12×44 magnification
- 36-color reticle
- Sealed and nitrogen filled tube
- Fog-proof and rain-proof
- Flip open lens cap
- Sunshade
- Zero locking / resetting turrets
- Lifetime warranty
- Parallax free view
Right out of the box, you’ll be able to tell just how solid of a design this scope has. Weighing just 1.4 pounds, it doesn’t add unnecessary weight to the rifle, and it measures 10.4” in length.
Click here to buy now and get discounted price on the UTG 3-12×44 30mm Compact Air Rifle Scope.
Mounting Made Simple
From the moment of unpacking to actually mounting and torquing the scope, it took about 5 minutes. Once mounted, I moved onto the turrets that allow for full adjustment of the scope. There are top turrets for locking and resetting. You’ll also be able to tune the windage and elevation to your liking.
The side wheel adjusting turret allows you to achieve a parallax-free view starting at 10 yards.
Looking into the scope for the first time, you’ll see that there’s a range-estimating reticle that allows you to judge your shot based on distance and make any necessary adjustments.
The EZ-TAP function can be controlled with a simple click and will allow color blind users to find the perfect color when shooting. Those that are not color blind will be able to see even in the harshest of conditions from heavy snow to torrential rain. This adds a whole new element to the way you can shoot your rifle.
Accurate at 200 Yards
I always start at a close range when trying to zero a scope, and then move back as necessary. The first few rounds were close to center, but it required a few more adjustments before I was able to achieve insane accuracy. I was able to hit ½” or less groups at 40 yards with no issue at all.
Moving back to 100 yards, the scope still held zero. Even after going back further, the scope held zero like a champ. After 300 rounds, the scope was still deadly accurate.
With 12x magnification, you’ll be able to zoom right into a target at ranges of 100+ yards. Whether your rifle can shoot adequately to hit the target at this range is another question, but most mid to high-priced options will.
As my first pick for any rifle, this is the perfect scope and it costs under $150. With the color enhancements and the fine tuning that’s able to be adjusted, this scope is good for small and large game as well as distance plinking. Holding true for over 300 rounds, you won’t need to make frequent adjustments to reach zero again no matter how much recoil your rifle has.
Check out the following video below for a more detailed look at this scope!
Click here to buy now and get discounted price on the UTG 3-12×44 30mm Compact Air Rifle Scope
2. UTG 3-9×32 Compact CQB Bug Buster AO RGB Air Rifle Scope Review
The Bug Buster is cheaper than our #1 choice and is the perfect scope if you’re on a budget. You’ll immediately notice that this scope has 9x magnification instead of 12x magnification. If you’re going to be shooting smaller game at a far distance, this may be a concern, but for the majority of hunters this won’t be an issue at all.
Technical Specs
- 3-9×32 magnification power
- 1-inch tube
- Zero locking / reset turrets
- Range estimating reticle
- Fog-proof and rain-proof
- Completely sealed
- Nitrogen filled
- ¼ MOA adjustments
- Parallax Free view at 3 yards
- RGB side wheel illumination
- 13.9 ounce weight
I truly appreciate when a scope is lightweight. If a scope is too heavy, it can take more strength to get the perfect shot, and after a few hours of shooting, your arms tire. This 9.8” in length scope weighs just 13.9 ounces, adding less than a pound of weight to your rifle. For larger caliber models, this is a major advantage.
Click here to buy now and get discounted price on the UTG 3-9×32 Compact CQB Bug Buster AO RGB Air Rifle Scope
Easy Adjustments and Mounting
Mounting is a breeze with all UTG models, which is one of the reasons that this is my preferred brand. After reading users mounting this scope to their hunting rifles, I thought why not give it a try myself. After all, this model is very affordable.
The rock solid construction is accompanied by smooth, ¼ MOA clicks that allow you to perfectly set up a kill.
Making sure the screws were tightened and torqued, it was time to adjust the turrets to achieve zero. The reticle’s vertical axis should be adjusted followed by the windage and elevation.
Once all adjustments were made, I tested out the scope and was blown away by the accuracy.
Accurate and Clear
The first few shots were off as is normal. I needed to adjust the windage and elevation slightly, but once I was done, I did my first test at 25 yards. At this range, I was able to hit the bull’s-eye 25% of the time and accuracy only improved as I broke in my rifle.
After 250 rounds, I was getting tight groups and didn’t have to readjust the scope at all. It held zero perfectly.
Clarity is great even when it’s raining or temperatures change quickly and the scope should be foggy. The sealant is amazing, so you won’t have to worry about an unclear shot.
As for holding zero, after 400 rounds, the scope was still deadly accurate and did not need to be readjusted.
In low light conditions, this scope performed exceptionally well. The light gathering technology that UTG boasts about is very powerful. When in bright light conditions, I did have some issues as too much light was filtered into the lens and threw off my shot a bit. For a scope that’s under $100, this model performed so well that I would recommend it as the ideal entry-level or intermediate scope. It paired up really nice with some of my Benjamin air rifles.
While not as powerful as our first choice, this scope is still an amazing buy. Get a deeper look into this scope below.
Click here to buy now and get discounted price on the UTG 3-9×32 Compact CQB Bug Buster AO RGB Air Rifle Scope
3. UTG 4-16×44 30mm Air Rifle Scope Review
Our third choice could have easily been our first pick, but it does come with two drawbacks: it’s slightly more expensive and the magnification is not needed by all hunters. With 4-16×44 magnification, this scope is immensely powerful for anyone that just wants to enjoy plinking or is planning on eliminating a few pests in the garden.
Technical Specs
- 30mm tube
- Emerald lens coating
- Shock-proof, fog-proof and water-proof
- 4x to 16x power
- EZ-TAP illumination
- Parallax from 10 yards
- Mil-dot range finder
- ¼ MOA adjustments
- Side wheel turret
- Nitrogen filled and sealed
- 15.2 ounce weight
- 17.3” length
A super powerful scope, if you’re in the market for a scope with this level of magnification, I highly recommend this model. If you’re on a tight budget, my first and second choice models will blow you away.
Click here to buy now and get discounted price on the UTG 4-16×44 30mm Air Rifle Scope
Amplification Power
The amplification power of this scope is 4-16x which is powerful enough to see a fly at 80 yards, but it may be too powerful for your needs. Keep in mind that powerful scopes also require more light, so in low light conditions, you may experience an issue.
The EZ-Tap illumination rectifies most low light issues, allowing for a great shot.
A more powerful scope will also be heavier in most cases. While I listed the weight at 15.2 ounces, other product definitions go up to 24 ounces. I did not weigh the scope myself before mounting, but it does seem heavier than just 15 ounces.
Easy Adjustments and Holds Zero
Holding zero is so important when you’re hunting. You don’t want to waste time trying to readjust only to see your potential kill run away. All of these models hold zero exceptionally well.
Adjustments of ¼ MOA allow for the utmost in fine tuning, and there is also a side turret to adjust the parallax. The windage and elevation adjustments are just like the other options we mentioned and can be adjusted using the simple-to-click turrets.
So, how well did it hold zero? I attached this to a .357 caliber Benjamin Rogue to test it out and boy did it hold zero. After 300 rounds with this powerful rifle, there was no need to adjust or worry about hitting the target.
Just like with our first option, you can tap the EZ-Tap to on and will be able to see in virtually all light conditions. With 36-colors, you won’t have an issue at all even if you’re color blind.
If you’ve never had a scope that allows for parallax adjustments, you’ll quickly learn how useful and valuable this feature is when hunting. Every last bit of adjustments you do will make your shot closer to the bulls’-eye.
Why isn’t this model my first choice? It’s a little costly and provides too much power for most users. If you don’t have a high-end rifle, you don’t need a scope of this power. For under $175, this is a great option for anyone with a high-end scope that needs this level of magnification.
Need a better visual of this scope? Watch the video below.
Click here to buy now and get discounted price on the UTG 4-16×44 30mm Air Rifle Scope
After trying all three of these UTG scopes, it was tough to pick the best air rifle scope out of the bunch. When it comes to the perfect balance of power and affordability, the UTG 3-12×44 is the clear winner and our #1 choice.
Anyone on a budget will find that the less powerful UTG 3-9×32 is a great choice and is very affordable. Its low price makes it our #2 choice. Our #3 choice, the UTG 4-16×44, is extremely powerful and is really its own demise. It’s so powerful and higher priced than our other picks that it came a little lower on the list.
Which model is best for you? Any one of these scopes will all do the job adequately, but the UTG 3-12×44 is our go-to choice for beginners and advanced shooters alike.
If you’re looking for another air rifle scope, you might want to consider the CVLife Tactical 3-9×40 Optics R4.
