8 Best Scopes For 200 Yards for Shooting – (Reviewed In 2024)

For most of us laymen, 200 yards is a long way to shoot and takes a lot of practice to get to where we can hit what we’re aiming at consistently. Sure, professional sharpshooters can take shots all the way out to 1000 yards and beyond, but a lot of us get all the utility (and sense of accomplishment) we need from being able to hit out to 200 yards.

200 yards will cover a lot of hunting situations, especially for those who aren’t willing or able to dedicate enough time to the craft to prepare to take 300-500 yard shots. 200 yards is far enough that wind can make a noticeable difference, you have to compensate a little bit for bullet drop, and you need a scope with enough magnification to enable you to see your target clearly and place the crosshairs in the center of it.

Different Options For 200-Yard Rifle Scopes

Even when you control for shooters aiming at 200-yard targets, there are still variables that can affect which scope is the best for you at that range. Some of these depend on the way you like to shoot, how much magnification you like, what kind of rifle you’re using, and other factors.

High or Low Magnification

We’ll cover this more in depth at the bottom of this article, but there is no consensus among the hunting and shooting communities about how much magnification you need at a specific range. This will depend on the size of the target you’re trying to hit, what cartridge you are firing, and your own preferences on how much magnification you like to use.

Every shooter has their own opinion on this, and every hunting forum on the internet has seen heated debates on this topic. I’ll share my own opinion below as well as a process to help you to decide how much magnification you need at different ranges with different targets, but for the sake of getting to our recommendations quicker, I’ll leave off of this for now.

Compact vs. Long vs. Fixed

Depending on the size, weight, and length of the rifle you are using, you may want your scope to be longer or shorter, lighter or heavier. Getting a scope that is more compact can help it be more maneuverable and easier to manage extended periods of shooting, but it can also cost you more money for the same specs as a normal-sized scope.Enter 

200 yards is far enough that you want to maximize the size of your objective lens and field of view, and that’s tough to do with a compact scope. It’s much easier to find longer and heavier rifle scopes that have the largest objective possible to get the best light transmission.

If you’re already a long-range shooter coming down to the 200-yard range, this may not be as important to you, but if 200 yards is going to stretch your skills and challenge you, you’ll want to give yourself the best chance to succeed.

Fixed-power scopes are definitely an option here, but for most shooters the relatively low magnification you’ll find on a fixed power scope (often somewhere in the 2-6x range) won’t be enough for shooting at 200 yards.

But hey, if you have a fixed, low-power optic already and want to see how well it can work at long range, then by all means try it out and let us know how it goes in the comments.

Would A Red Dot Make Sense?

In my opinion, only if you’re shooting a pretty big target. If you’re trying to snipe clay pigeons at 200 yards, you likely won’t even be able to see them through your red dot at 200 yards, let alone be able to center your reticle on the target. This becomes a lot more possible if you’re shooting at a man-sized target, but still difficult.

If you were to try making 200-yard shots with a red dot, you may consider one with an ACSS reticle or something similar to give you a little more information than just the little red dot. Also consider getting a spotting scope to see where your shots are hitting after the fact.

Overall, the lack of versatility of a red dot when it comes to long range makes it not as useful as something with magnification. There’s no way you’ll be hitting a varmint at range with a red dot, unless it’s by accident.

Second Focal Plane vs. First Focal Plane

For 200 yards, my personal inclination would be towards a second focal plane reticle. If you’re not sure of the difference, here’s the basic summary: a reticle on the second focal plane behaves as most people expect; it’s a static image overlaid on the target area.

A first focal plane reticle behaves almost as if it’s part of the target area that you are looking at, in that it will grow and shrink in proportion to the point in the magnification range you are at. If you zoom in, the reticle gets larger. If you zoom out, the reticle gets smaller, and theoretically it should cover the exact same parts of the image at all levels of magnification.

FFP reticles scopes are often touted as better for long range shooting, and there are a lot of advantages to using them. I have found that FFP reticles start to be really handy when you get out far enough to need around 14-15x magnification to see your target clearly. There’s no rule of thumb on this, just my personal experience.

Since 14x is about the maximum you would ever need at 200 yards, to me an SFP reticle makes more sense.

Rimfire vs. Centerfire Rifles

The type and size of round you’re firing will affect every other factor that you need to consider. How much magnification you need, what kind of reticle will work best, whether you want a compact scope or standard-sized one, and how much you need to pay for a scope that can withstand the recoil.

If you’re just plinking in daylight with a .22, then why not save a lot of money and go with a Simmons Whitetail or a BSA? If you’re shooting with a .308 or other medium or large bore rifle, then you’ll need to spend more to get a scope that will be able to handle the recoil over the long run.

Alright, that’s enough chatting, let’s get into our recommendations.

8 Best Scope for 200 Yards

1. Vortex Optics Crossfire II 4-12x44 SFP Rifles cope

These recommendations aren’t in any particular order, but I wanted to start with a 4-12x and the Vortex is a great option. The 4x-12x range covers what most would consider to be the minimum magnification you would need at 200 yards (4x) and almost to the maximum (14x). At 12x, your target should appear roughly the same size as it would with the naked eye between 16-17 yards away.

Most shooters will be able to achieve tight groupings and hit 4-inch targets at 16-17 yards, so giving yourself 12x magnification allows you to see the target just as well, which should be enough. Eye relief at max power is 3.9 inches, which is nice and long. The aircraft-grade aluminum makes this a durable scope.

You get two reticle options, and I would recommend the Dead-Hold BDC since it gives you quick reference dots to use when estimating holdover. Your reticle is on the second focal plane, and while I wouldn’t consider the Crossfire II a compact scope per se, it’s pretty light and not too long. The windage and elevation turrets are resettable to zero.

What’s great about the crossfire is that it has the features it needs to be used in a lot of different situations. Most of us won’t have a rifle and scope combination that is used solely for our 200 yard shots and nothing else, so having a scope with a wide range, resettable turrets, and a fast focus eyepiece can make it a good fit for more situations.

You don’t get an illuminated reticle or adjustable parallax, so that can limit its functionality beyond shooting in good lighting at 200 yards.

2. UTG 3-12x44 30mm Compact Scope

This UTG has a similar magnification range but does open up to 3x, which can make it just a little bit better for close or mid range shooting than the Vortex, and it runs at about the same price, but there are some differences here.

First, the UTG has a few advantages over the Vortex. You not only get red and green reticle illumination but you also have the option to choose from 36 different colors for the reticle if you want. The red and green cover the vast majority of situations, but I suppose if you wanted to personalize your scope a little bit you could choose a different color, or if the red and green aren’t showing up very well in a specific situation.

The UTG also has parallax adjustment, which is a nice get. Most rifle scopes with fixed parallax (like the Crossfire II) have it fixed at 100 yards, which means the parallax will be noticeable at 200 yards, which makes it more difficult to know for sure if your bullet is going to hit exactly where the crosshairs say it will.

If you can adjust your parallax to 200 yards, then your reticle should move proportionally to the image in your scope, so if your eye is positioned a quarter of an inch to the left of where you had it positioned last time, the reticle will still accurately predict where the bullet will hit.

Parallax adjustment doesn’t replace good shooting form or habits, it just increases the potential for accuracy and precision. It’s still up to you to learn to shoot well enough to take advantage of it.

The UTG does not have the same reputation for image quality and durability as the Vortex, though. If you’re going to be shooting with a medium-bore or large-bore rifle, the Vortex will most likely last longer. If you’re shooting small-bore, then then the features from the UTG may be nice to have.

Want to know about compact scopes? Check out our guide on best compact scopes

3. Nikon ProStaff 4-12x40 Black Matte Rifle scope

It’s worth noting that Nikon no longer makes rifle scopes, but there are still plenty of ProStaff scopes in circulation and they can be a great option if you’re shooting at 200 yards. We’re sticking with the 4-12x magnification because, frankly, it works. 

Even if you don’t need 12x magnification for your 200-yard shots, it doesn’t really hurt anything to have it anyway as long as you’re not overpaying for the privilege.

The objective lens is a little bit smaller, but it’s doubtful there will be a noticeable difference in brightness, especially with Nikon’s reputation for high quality glass. If you’re looking for a basic, no-frills option at a reasonable price point, this is a good choice. You won’t have adjustable parallax or an illuminated reticle, but you will have a basic high-quality scope that works perfectly.

It’s a bit long and a bit heavy so it may not be a good fit for a .22 or .17 HMR, but it should work well on most rifles.

4. Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10x40mm Riflescope

The great thing about shooting at 200 yards is that you don’t need a whole lot of features beyond just the magnification unless you’re shooting in low-light conditions and need an illuminated reticle, or also want to shoot at a longer distance where adjusting for parallax will be more impactful.

The Leupold VX-3i has a shorter maximum magnification at only 10x, but in exchange you get the incredible light transmission, image quality, and durability that Leupold is known for. Leupold scopes don’t break, and on the rare occasion that they do, they’re backed with a lifetime warranty. Eye relief is a comfortable 4.4-3.6 inches.

This is a more premium option than any of the others we’ve covered so far, so it’s worth considering whether this is simply more scope than you need. If you’re just target shooting at the range, I don’t think this would make a lot of sense, but if you’re hunting, especially in dusk & dawn situations, the Leupold may be the best rifle scope for you.

All of the rifle scopes we recommend will be fog-proof, but the Leupold goes a step further using Argon to purge the inside of the scope instead of Nitrogen. No idea whether this is actually better but (shrug) maybe it is!

5. Primary Arms SLX 4-14x44mm FFP Rifles cope

There are good arguments to be made that a first focal plane reticle is beneficial at 200 yards, and while I personally probably would choose an SFP, that doesn’t mean an FFP would be bad, just not my preference. What’s great about the SLX is that you can get an FFP reticle at a pretty approachable price point, so if you want an FFP you can get one without breaking the bank.

In addition to the FFP, you also have parallax adjustment and reticle illumination, so all the bells and whistles that you might want are there waiting. The illumination is red, which means it will be best for maintaining visibility in low-light situations as opposed to making the reticle easier to see in daylight.

The reticle is the ARC-2 MOA, which has MOA hash marks that are each 2MOA apart and a longer mark every 10 MOA down the line on both axes. It’s a reticle style that is usually reserved for long-range precision scopes, and the SLX does take you all the way to 14x.

My opinion is that 14x is almost always more than you need at 200 yards. Even for a 4-inch target, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where more than 10-12x is needed. That said, it can be nice to have more magnification than you technically need because it can make things a little easier.

And even if you’re breaking clay pigeons at 200 yards with only 4x, being able to go all the way out to 14x means you can touch targets that are much further away should you feel inclined to do so.

Want to know how that scope works? Check out our detailed Primary Arms 4-14x44mm review

6. Trijicon TR22 AccuPoint 2.5-10x56mm Riflescope

If you really want to go all out for your 200-yard scope, the Trijicon TR22 AccuPoint is one that I would recommend looking at. Your objective lens diameter is a massive 56mm, which gives you a bright and clear image, and you get battery-free illumination via fiber optics for the daytime and tritium for night.

There’s a huge selection of reticle options for Trijicon scopes so you can find the one that fits what you want the best. For 200-yard shots I’d recommend one of the mil-dot reticles with your preferred color of illumination.

Parallax is not adjustable on the TR22 and seems to be fixed at 100 yards. The obvious question here is: why pay so much more for the Trijicon than one of the other options on this list? Well, the battery-free illumination is great for SHTF situations, and it removes a potential cause of disruption for that once-in-a-lifetime shot at a trophy buck.

Beyond that, Trijicon designs their best rifle scopes to withstand the rigors and dangers of military use, and the optical system inside is not only tough, but incredibly high quality with images that will be far better than a cheaper scope. If that is more than you think you need, then the AccuPoint probably doesn’t make a lot of sense for you.

7. Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn 4-12x40mm Riflescope

And we’re back to 4-12x. This is the budget option on the list. If you’re shooting a small-bore rifle you should be be just fine with the Bushnell. The “Dusk & Dawn” multi-coating gives the Bushnell better light transmission than you might expect from a riflescope in this price range, but it still won’t hold a candle to the Leupold or Trijicon.

No reticle illumination here but the objective is adjustable for parallax, so you can set it to 200 and get going. It comes with lens covers and an (almost) standard duplex reticle. Their multi-x reticle has really thick lines almost to the center of the reticle, at which point they taper and become thinner, though still fairly thick.

I suppose that’s good for visibility, but it covers too much of the target area for my liking, and I feel like I have to zoom in further than I normally would to see the target clearly past the crosshairs.

That said, the Bushnell is affordable and functional. It’s a great first scope for a beginner or someone who doesn’t shoot often enough to justify a more expensive optic.

8. Burris Fullfield II 3-9x40mm Riflescope

I felt like the 3-9x class of scopes needed to be represented on this list, and the Fullfield II is a fantastic representative of it. For me personally, 9x magnification is enough to do all the shooting I want to do at 200 yards, and the ballistic plex reticle keeps things simple while still giving enough information to estimate holdovers.

The Fullfield II 3-9x is not illuminated and has fixed parallax, but it’s waterproof, fog-proof, and shockproof. It’s also a solid 1-piece outer tube of strong aluminum. The lenses are multi-coated and do pretty well in low light. The reticle is second focal plane. Their ballistic plex reticle is basically just a duplex, but with three hash marks below the center in lieu of a BDC reticle.

It’s almost short enough to be considered compact, and it’s certainly light enough to qualify, so if you’re looking for a scope that will not add much weight or awkwardness to your rifle, the Burris is a great potential choice.

You’ve got a matte finish, Hi-Lume lens coating, .25 MOA windage and elevation clicks, and overall a fantastic and reliable rifle scope at an affordable price.

If you are looking for more options with same magnification, then must check out our guide on best 3-9x40 scopes

Best Rifle Scope for 200 Yards Frequently-Asked Questions

If you have questions that we don’t answer here, make sure to ask them in the comments and we’ll do our best to help answer them.

Why Do You Need Scopes for 200 Yards?

Well, the short answer is: you don’t. At least not necessarily. Here’s the long answer.

The simple truth is that the smaller your target is, the harder it will be to see at 200 yards. Even a man-sized target looks pretty small when it’s 200 yards away, and the smaller the target looks, the harder it is to get your crosshairs at the center of that target.

The tighter of a grouping you are trying to achieve, the more clearly you need to see your target, and most likely the more magnification you will need. Using the best rifle scopes at 200 yards allows you to see the target as if it were physically closer to you.

With practice and training, a shooter can use iron sights to shoot with a relatively high degree of accuracy at 200 yards, but the limitations of the human eye are such that greater accuracy and precision are possible if you can magnify the target enough to see details on it clearly. With iron sights, your eye may not even be able to tell if you are centered on the target or a little to one side.

A good scope with high light transmission, sharp image quality, and sufficient magnification will make it much easier to tell exactly where your bullet is going to hit.

What Makes a Great Scope for 200 yards?

A lot of the same things that make a good scope generally will apply at 200 yards, but not everything.

Objective Lens Diameter

For shooting at 200 yards, the larger the objective lens diameter the better. Granted, if your diameter is too big then you may have to order taller rings or base to mount the scope without the objective touching the rifle, but if you can make that change then it’s usually worth it. The objective lens diameter plays a big role in how much light is able to enter the scope.

A bigger objective lens gives you more light, which results in a brighter image that has the potential to be more clear and sharp. Increasing magnification makes the image darker, so having an objective lens that is big enough to compensate for higher magnification is important.

This is why scopes that have higher magnification also typically have larger objective lenses. For example, it’s common to see an LPVO with a 1-6x magnification range only have a 24mm objective, while 24mm would be tiny for a scope that goes up to 12x

Good Reticle Design

A lot of beginner shooters don’t give much thought to the reticle when they purchase their first scope, but the reticle should reflect what the scope is being used for. 

A one-power reflex sight will often have nothing but a simple red dot in the middle, while a long-range precision scope that goes out to 24x magnification may have an extensive MOA or Mil reticle with a BDC ladder, rangefinder, and more hash marks than you care to count.

For shooting at 200 yards, I find it’s nice to have a little more than just a bare duplex. I’m a big fan of the Ballistic Plex reticle, because it doesn’t clutter up my sight picture more than it needs to, and it gives me points of reference that I can then apply to whatever rifle I have the scope mounted on at the time.

The Dead-Hold BDC on the Crossfire II is nice, as are the mil-dot reticles on the Trijicon. Using a bare-bones duplex isn’t the end of the world though, and if you’re prepping your rifle to shoot exclusively at 200 yards, you can just sight it in at that distance and call it a day.

Low Light Performance

This is one of the things that separates the great scopes from the good scopes. Light transmission and image clarity in general are a big deciding factor for me when purchasing a scope. It’s easy to find a cheap scope that has a clear image in perfect lighting, but as soon as it gets a little darker or a little brighter, a cheap scope is less likely to perform well.

This is about more than just light transmission though. You may be able to see enough detail in your target area to see what you’re aiming at, but not be able to see the etched reticle well enough to know exactly where you’re putting your crosshairs. In a case like this, reticle illumination can make a big difference.

Want to know the best scopes for .17 hmr? Click here to read it.

What Magnification Do You Need for 200 yards?

This is the million-dollar question that no one has an answer that everyone else will agree with. Here’s my take. Consider what size of target you can hit at 50 yards with 1x magnification. Let’s say it’s a 10-inch target. As a general rule of thumb, you should be able to hit that same target at 100 yards with roughly 2x magnification, at 200 yards with 4x magnification, and so on.

You can apply this based on the size of target you want to hit. For example, let’s say you want to hit a 4-inch target at 200 yards. First, find the distance at which you can consistently hit a 4-inch target with no magnification. Let’s say it’s 25 yards. To hit that 4-inch target at 100 yards, you would most likely need around 4x, and 8x at 200 yards.

In most cases, I’d recommend getting a scope with a high magnification for what you’re wanting. There is no harm in having a higher magnification level than you think you need.

Let me be clear: that’s just a starting point to help you make general decisions on what you should purchase for different shooting distances. Your preference for magnification will almost certainly deviate from that, but it probably won’t deviate a lot.

Want to know the best 300 yard scopes for your rifle? Click here to read it.

Final Thoughts

Shooting at 200 yards is far enough to be challenging, satisfying, and door-opening, but not so far as to need incredibly high-powered or expensive scopes to be able to make it happen.

Getting the right hunting scope for your long-distance hunting rifle can be an expensive proposition, and I hope this article was helpful in finding the right magnification scope for the weather conditions you’ll be using your hunting scope in.

Have you used any of the scopes on this list? I’d love to hear your thoughts on what magnification you use to shoot at 200 yards and what scopes you use to do it.

Related Guides:

• Best Scopes For 100 Yards
  
• Best Scopes For 500 Yards
• Best Scopes For 600 Yards
• Best Scopes For 1000 Yards
• Best Long Range Scopes

References 

Featured Image bgallaher77