The 50 BMG is a sniper cartridge that has found its way into civilian firearms. While you may not have many practical uses of the 50 BMG as a civilian, people always find a way to incorporate new things.
50 BMG is often used for whitetail deer hunting and large-scale game prey. If you are planning to try out the 50 BMG or even switch to it, you might want to get yourself geared up first.
One of them is a brand-new riflescope capable of handling the monster. That’s right, I’m talking about .50 BMG scopes. But it’s not as simple as walking into Walmart and getting one scope from the shelf. It’s a hard task to find the best scope for 50 BMG.
A task that you don’t need to complete. Keep reading and you will know what I meant. Without further ado, let’s start.
How To Choose a Scope For 50 Bmg?
Now that you are aware of some of the best scopes the market has to offer for .50 BMG, how do you choose which one is the best for you? Well, you can handle it in a diplomatic way or be spontaneous.
Either way, I want to make clear, that the decision you are about to take won’t be a wrong one. With that said, you could try to buy the scope based on your magnification needs.
If you are using this cartridge for big-game hunting or licensed hunting tasks, you will find higher magnification worth it. But in other scenarios, even the 12x fixed magnification makes sense. So, decide.
The second way you can make the decision is by fixing up a budget. If you have no budget constraint then go for the high-end ones. But if you do, then find the ones that fit your budget and see which one of them ticks most of your unchecked boxes. And depending on that, take the scope.
1. NIGHTFORCE SHV 5-20x56mm Zeroset .250 MOA Scope
This is not the first time Nightforce SHV has made an appearance here. This long-range scope is often used for big-game hunting. Besides, it’s also used for recreational shooting and self-defense with calibers like the 50 BMG.
The scope is constructed from extremely rigid and durable aluminum. Which is also known as aircraft-grade aluminum. The tube is 30mm thick and it’s internally purged chemically to remove all moisture residue left from CNC machining.
The tube is also water and shockproof as well. It will hold your adjustment even when you fire with a 50 BMG non-stop.
The lenses of the scope are also fully multi-coated. They are extremely clear and vibrant. There is no distortion or color related issue present on the scope. The turrets are ZeroSet. The magnification of the scope is smooth and has no visual distortion. This is a great thing if you are a hunter.
What’s the total length of this scope?
The total length of the scope is around 15.2 inches. It’s quite long for a riflescope. But it’s not that heavy.
Is the reticle in FFP?
No, it’s not. The reticle is an analog reticle on the Second Focal Plane. Which is a shame as FFP helps a bit more in long-range hunting.
What kind of warranty does Nightforce offer?
Nightforce offers a limited lifetime warranty with their optics. That includes the SHV series as well.
2. Swarovski Z3 4-12×50 BT Riflescope
You probably have seen the Z5 in action already. But the Z3 isn’t far behind the bigger brother. It is still a medium to long-range scope that you can pair up with any sniper rifle on the market.
The Z3 is made out of aircraft grade aluminum and the tube of the scope is 1”. It’s a fairly standard thickness for a scope of this caliber. The tube of the scope is water, shock, and fogproof at the same time.
Making it an ideal companion in harsh weather and deep jungles for hunting.
The lenses are fully multi-coated. They are crystal clear and Swarovski put a lot of work behind them. The lenses have no aberration or visual glitches present on the scope. The magnification experience is flawless and hunting with the BTL Plex reticle is quite a fun experience.
Is this a good scope for low light?
Yes, it’s good. It’s actually much better than a lot of similarly priced scopes in low light. It takes a little while to get used to the low-light condition, but once you get the hang of it, no prey is getting past you.
Where is this scope made?
It’s made in Austria. No, it’s not made in the USA. It all originated from Austria and they have operations in the USA. The Z3 is assembled in the USA but the parts aren’t originated or designed here.
What kind of ring do I need for this scope?
You will need a pair of 1” rings with this scope. Don’t buy 30mm rings as they won’t fit on the scope.
3. Sightron SIII SS 6-24×50 Long Range Riflescope
Long-range scopes are quite expensive. At least that’s what people used to think before brands like Sightron, Leupold, Vortex and the rest joined in the race. Sightron SIII is a long-range riflescope sporting 24x magnification and an SFP reticle. You can get the reticle in MIL-Dot or MOA-2.
The scope has a body that’s made out of aluminum. It’s a durable and lightweight body with 30 mm of thickness. The turret styles are target turrets and they are resettable. If you are used to the Zero Stop feature, you will miss that on this one.
The scope tube is IPx7 rated. That makes it waterproof and also shock and fogproof at the same time.
The lenses are fully multi-coated. They also use Zact-7 Revocoat style multi-coating to make it glare-free. The 15.1 inches behemoth is 24.3oz in weight. While it may seem like a bit on the heavier side, the weight balance of the optic makes it perfectly balanced for a caliber like 50 BMG.
Where is this optic made?
Sightron SIII optics are made in Japan. This one is no different. It’s also manufactured in Japan.
Does Sightron offer any warranty?
Yes, they do. They offer a lifetime warranty with their scope to show you the commitment.
Is this a good scope for hunting?
Yes, it is. It’s accurate well beyond 1000 yards. Making it an excellent choice for deer hunters and big-game hunters.
4. Vortex Optics Viper PST 5-25x50mm Gen II FFP Riflescope
The Viper series is not a new name to you I assume. Under the name Viper has scopes, binoculars, spotting scopes, and other hunting accessories. The PST Gen II is a series of scopes that is available in close to long-range magnification. Starting from 2-10x, you can go all the way up to 5-25x.
That’s the one I recommend to go in with. The scope is smooth throughout the magnification and the reticle zooms along quite nicely. FFP reticles are extremely fun to use and I’m sure you already know that. The Gen II improves the versatility of the Viper even further and makes it versatile enough to be used for hunting or tactical shooting.
The lenses of this scope are fully multi-coated. Vortex is known for making clear lenses with great vision and that remains as true.
The extra low-dispersion glasses are something else in low light. With a coating from Vortex, the lenses look straight up mesmerizing. The reticle of this scope has adjustable intensity. You can increase or decrease depending on your need.
Does Vortex make optic rings as well?
Yes, they do. They make some of the best rings on the market as well. I would request you to go with the Vortex Pro Series Rings with this one.
What kind of warranty does Vortex offer with this scope?
The same unconditional warranty you are used to seeing with all Vortex optics over the years. Unconditional, no questions asked, unlimited lifetime warranty.
Does this scope come with a sunshade?
It comes with a bikini style cover that gets the job done and screws on the sunshade as well. A great deal for the money.
5. Vortex Optics Diamondback 6-24x50mm Tactical FFP Riflescope
Just like the Viper, the Diamondback also has a lot of hunting accessories. The Diamondback series of scope is a lot cheaper than Viper and it competes in a different bracket.
The bracket is close to medium range and extremely long-range as well. Despite costing half of what Viper does, it’s not half of Viper’s performance.
The scopes are made out of durable aircraft-grade aluminum and they are a single piece 30mm tube design. The inside of the tube is purged with nitrogen and the lenses are O-ring sealed. The scope is also fog and shockproof at the same time.
The lenses are what seal the deal for many. They are fully multi-coated and they look fabulous. Even the 6-24×50 model has no issues whatsoever.
The 50mm objective lens gathers plenty of sunlight to show you a clear vision of your targets during the entire day. Whether it’s 6 a.m. in the morning or 6 p.m. in the evening, this scope is equipped for the entire day.
Should I get pro series rings for this or Hunter series?
If you want to get a good pair of scope rings for as cheap as possible, then you should go for the Hunter series from Vortex. Or stick to the pro series if you have no issues with spending a bit extra.
Which reticle is better?
Define better. Will one reticle land you more shots than the other? No, it won’t. The reticle is there to help you land the target. The shooting and finding out the target will still depend on you. And depending on how good you are at reading the information in MOA or MRAD, stick to the one that’s native to you.
Is this a good scope for hunting?
It’s made for hunters. Big-game, small-game, no-game, whatever sorts of hunting you want to do with this, you can do with this scope.
6. Athlon Optics Argos BTR GEN2 6-24X50 FFP Riflescope
We are now hitting the budget border that wasn’t possible even a decade ago. Okay, maybe it was, but it wasn’t 3 decades ago! Huh, now what?
Jokes aside, Athlon optics are mostly known to newbie hunters and veterans in the scene who just want something that will be flawless and won’t cost them an arm and a leg.
The scope is manufactured from high-quality aluminum. The tube is 30mm thick. The inside of the tube is purged with argon.
Making it immune to internal fogging and as the scope is also fog proof, the scope is immune to external fogging as well. As a bonus, it’s durable and shockproof enough to be paired up with 50 BMG.
The lenses are fully multi-coated. Athlon calls it Advanced fully multi-coating and XPL coating. The XPL coating is an exterior thing and the multi-coating is a lens thing.
To explain in short, the scope lenses perform crystal clear with 0 visible flaws. That does mean it performs flawlessly in maximum magnification as well.
Does Athlon include any scope rings with this scope?
No, they don’t. Buying a scope ring is still on you. You can go for a pair of rings that fits in your budget.
Does Athlon offer any warranty?
They do. They offer a limited lifetime warranty with their riflescopes.
Where are Athlon scopes made?
Athlon premium series like the Cronus BTR is made in Japan. The rest of the scopes and binoculars including Argos BTR Gen2 is made in China.
7. SWFA SS 12×42 Tactical 30mm Riflescope
The last scope that I want to recommend to you guys is a bit weird. I know that you are thinking, what’s the point of a fixed magnification scope? Well, the point is it’s a 12x magnified scope.
The most scope doesn’t even have maximum magnification at 12x while this one rocking that as the only magnification.
The lenses of this scope are fully multi-coated. They are clear and they are extremely bright. The Mil-Quad reticle can seem a bit awkward at first. But once you get to learn it and master the adjustment and reading capabilities, you will have fun with the scope and the reticle.
The tube is 30mm thick and it’s made out of solid aluminum through CNC machining. The machining is flawless and there are no visible defects present on the optic. If somehow your unit has some flaws, you should be able to request a replacement from SWFA.
Does this optic come with any mounting rings?
Unfortunately, no. It doesn’t come with any kinds of mounting accessories or rings. You will need to purchase your own mounting rings and screws related to mounting.
Is the reticle FFP?
No, it’s not. The reticle is in the second focal plane. This is a bit weird considering the reticle could have looked better in FFP. But I’m sure they had good reasons for it.
Is this optic suitable for cold areas?
Yes, it’s suited for sub-zero and desert heat. The scope is capable of working perfectly under -50 and +130 degrees Fahrenheit.
Conclusion
And that’s a wrap, folks. I hope it was a successful journey and you found the best 50 BMG scope for you. I know choosing one among seven isn’t the easiest task in the world. But the breakdown I suggested you to follow should help.
With that said, that’s all for now. As always, I appreciate you guys sparing some of your time and reading these posts I make for you. Hopefully, I will see you back here soon. I will see you guys on the new one. Till then, take care and have fun.