Shotguns are highly favored weapons for home and personal defense in the United States. If you’re a resident, it’s likely you already have one stowed away in your home. However, despite their effectiveness for close-range combat, you might be wondering if they’re useful for hunting.
From my experience, they’re exceptional for small game hunting, particularly over shorter distances. Surprisingly, with the appropriate scope, you can accurately hunt up to a distance of 300 yards!
Does that sound too good to be true? After extensive testing, I’ve narrowed it down to three of the best scopes, a red dot and a reflex sight. Among them, one stands out significantly when it comes to long-range accuracy.
My Top Pick – TruGlo 4×32 Shotgun Scope
As I see it, the TruGlo 4x32mm is the best shotgun scope. Made specifically for shotguns, it has various features which make it the perfect candidate for mounting on your shotgun. You can read my detailed review below and also find 4 other suitable choices for shotguns, the last being a reflex sight.
My Top 5 Best Shotgun Scopes
1. TruGlo 4x32mm Shotgun Scope – Best Overall
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TRUGLO definitely makes one of the best shotgun scopes on the market today: a compact rimfire model with several excellent attributes.
My Observations After Using The TruGlo 4×32
TRUGLO’s compact shotgun scope is affordable, first and foremost. That alone makes it a great choice for budget-minded hunters or beginners to firearm accessories. If you don’t know what you like or what you would prefer with your shotgun, you can spend money on this model – getting some good value all the while – without having to break the bank. That makes it a stellar choice, in my eyes.
However, this is also a stellar shotgun scope thanks to the high-quality, fully coated lenses. The lenses maximize brightness, clarity, and color contrast, enabling you to hit your targets far away and pick out your targets, even if they blend in with their backgrounds. After rigorous testing, I found the glass clarity to be very good with minimal chromatic aberration. The lenses provided a bright and crisp sight picture even in low light conditions before sunrise and after sunset.That’s a great choice if you plan to use your shotgun for activities like duck hunting or pheasant hunting.
However, this shotgun scope also comes with a rubber eye guard. It’s durable, scratch resistant, and non-reflective: all excellent elements that make it a top-tier accessory for your shotgun of choice. The rubber eye guard did its job of protecting my eyebrow bone when testing eye relief and handling the shotgun. I didn’t notice any parallax shift or focus issues at various magnifications and distances. The elevation and windage turrets provided accurate and repeatable adjustments with audible clicks. This rubber eye guard will protect your eye from being injured if you accidentally hold your shotgun too close to your orbital bone.
Product Highlights
I was especially impressed by the duplex reticle, which is streamlined and simplistic yet still helpful when trying to hit a moving target. The reticle visibility was good throughout the magnification range. I could quickly acquire targets and track moving game. More importantly, if you choose the diamond variety of this scope, the diamond reticle is specifically designed for shotgun hunting. It’s the perfect kind of reticle for deer or turkey hunting.
Suffice it to say that the reticle just cements this compact rimfire scope as a go-to shotgun accessory for hunters of all stripes and experience levels.
Common Problems and How to Deal with Them
I did notice some distortion towards the edges of the sight picture which made ming a bit tricky at times. This required me to ensure my eye was well-centered behind the optic.
Key Features
- 4x magnification
- 32mm objective lens
Pros
- Excellent eye guard
- Very affordable
- Good lenses
- Has reticle designed for shotgun hunting
Cons
- Eye relief could be a bit better
The Bottom Line
All in all, this shotgun scope from TRUGLO is a top-tier choice, particularly for budget-minded hunters or shotgun users who want a scope and reticle tailored to their firearms of choice.
My rating: 4.8/5
2. Konus AimPro 1.5-5x32mm Rifle Scope
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The Konus AimPro scope is another great choice for shotgun users and hunters, especially if you are looking for something fairly affordable.
My Observations After Using The Konus AimPro 1.5-5×32
In my testing with this shotgun scope, I was immediately impressed by the high-quality materials. The optic overall is designed to be functional in any weather, as it is made with a nitrogen purging process. This makes it waterproof and fog proof, plus it provides me with ample resistance against the high recoil and shocks common to shotgun use.
On top of that, this shotgun scope comes with multicoated optics that can enhance light transmission for me. I really appreciated the boosts to color contrast and clarity that the lenses brought to the table. After multiple range sessions, I was very satisfied with the glass clarity and resolution across the entire magnification range. Fine details on targets could be easily distinguished by me, even at long distances. The generous eye relief also made it comfortable for me to use even with heavy recoiling loads.
The lenses enhance the fantastic reticle, which I break down in more detail below.
As if that wasn’t enough, the scope comes with top-tier finger adjustable turrets for windage and elevation, helping me to compensate for these variables in the field. The turrets have clear, audible clicks when I make adjustments. I found the adjustments to track true to the markings with no slop. Dialing in my desired elevation and windage was very intuitive for me.
This shotgun scope comes with fixed corrected parallax for 75 yards.
Product Highlights
As noted above, the reticle is the standout feature of this shotgun scope for me. The Konus scope comes with a special AimPro reticle, which is etched directly onto the glass. This exclusive design has an inner diamond to show me the exact aiming point for use with my shotgun: a major benefit that I don’t see very frequently elsewhere.
After sighting in the scope, I tested the accuracy of the AimPro reticle on paper targets at various ranges. At all tested distances between 25 to 100 yards, the diamond reticle accurately showed me the point of impact with my chosen slug load. This proved very useful for me for quick target acquisition when practicing on moving targets.
I also discovered that the special reticle works as a rangefinder for me when hunting turkeys or deer. In this way, it can help me hit those long-distance, hard-to-make shots. It’s a stellar feature for me as a committed shotgun hunter who likes to stretch the effective ranges of my firearms as much as possible.
Common Problems and How to Deal with Them
On the downside, the Konus scope’s reticle isn’t illuminated, and it can be a bit difficult to spot in low-light environments. When hunting at dusk, I struggled to acquire the reticle against dark backgrounds. An illuminated option would have been useful here. Due to this flaw, I would not recommend the shotgun scope for nighttime shooting or for hunting in lowlight environments. The reticle is simply too difficult to pick out amongst the background or the rest of the lens.
Of course, you can avoid this flaw entirely by only using the shotgun scope in daytime hunting scenarios or target training exercises. In addition, the eye relief is 2.9 inches, which could feel a little cramped compared to other shotgun scopes on the market.
Key Features
- 1.5x-5x magnification
- 32mm objective lens
- SFP scope
Pros
- Excellent shotgun-tailored reticle
- Very reasonable price
- Good windage and elevation turrets
- Optics are enhanced for light transmission
- Durable design
Cons
- Reticle can be difficult to see in low-light environments
- Eye relief can be short
The Bottom Line
After all, I’d recommend the Konus AimPro shotgun scope as a perfect choice for daytime shotgun hunters and enthusiasts, especially since it is not very expensive.
My rating: 4.5/5
3. OZARK ARMAMENT Rhino Red Dot Sight for Rifle – Shotgun Scope
Ozark Armament’s Rhino Red Dot Sight is another top choice for shotgun hunters and enthusiasts, and not just for its price.
My Observations After Using The OZARk Armament Red Dot
This is one of the most affordable shotgun sights on the market, but it’s also a fantastic red dot optic, thanks to its co-witnessing capability. It’s designed to co-witness with other optics mounted on your shotgun thanks to its included cantilever mount. It’s very easy to use and sight in, and I particularly love easy-to-mount optics since they’re great for hunters of all experience levels.
The reflex lenses are well-designed and provide a very wide field of view, especially if you use a 12-gauge shotgun. After using the scope on my shotgun for several weeks and in various lighting conditions, I found the glass clarity to be good with minimal distortion or aberration. The etched reticle was crisp and provided accurate aim even at longer ranges. I tested the parallax and found it to be effectively minimized across the magnification range. The red dot also provided unlimited eye relief.
The elevation and windage turrets provided precise and repeatable adjustments during my testing. The audible clicks made dialing in adjustments easy for me. However, having to use an Allen wrench to make adjustments rather than finger adjustable turrets was inconvenient for me at times.
There’s also the guaranteed lifetime durability, as the shotgun scope is very well-designed. I put this scope through demanding field use while hunting over several months. Despite bumps, drops, and recoil it held up well and maintained zero. The waterproof, dustproof, and fogproof performance also met claims based on my experience. It also features a matte black anodized finish for added stealth and corrosion resistance.
Product Highlights
The most important element of the Rhino Red Dot Sight, however, is the illuminated optic itself. You can choose between red or green dots for your next shotgun hunt, which means you’ll be able to pick out the optic even in lowlight environments or against backgrounds where your target blends in.
This is a great feature for shotgun scopes, so I was glad to see it here. The interface and controls were intuitive and easy to manipulate even with gloves on. I had no issues quickly changing brightness or toggle between colors as conditions dictated. A pair of flip-open lens caps allow you to protect the lenses and the red dot optic itself in dusty weather.
Common Problems and How to Deal with Them
The windage and elevation turrets, while functional, have to be adjusted using an Allen wrench. Since these are not finger adjustable, they aren’t as easy to use or favorable as the turrets seen on other shotgun scopes. Having to carry and use a separate tool to make adjustments, especially in hunting situations, proved inconvenient. However, I was able to compensate by carrying an Allen key in my pack.
Key Features
- Red dot optic
- 28mm objective lens
Pros
- Lens caps included
- Very easy to mount
- Meant for co-witnessing with other optics
- Supremely durable
- Excellent illuminated red or green dot
Cons
- Windage and elevation turrets have to be adjusted with a tool
The Bottom Line
The Rhino Red Dot Sight is a phenomenal tactical optic for your shotgun of choice, given its recoil resistance and excellent illuminated red dot reticle.
My rating: 3.8/5
4. Dead Ringer 2.5 x 20mm Shotgun Scope
If you’re looking for a great zooming shotgun scope, check out this model from Dead Ringer, which magnifies and impresses in other ways.
My Observations After Using The Dead Ringer 2.5×20 Shotgun Scope
The Dead Ringer shotgun scope is affordable and a stellar choice for shotguns and handguns alike. Through extensive testing across various lighting and weather conditions, I found the glass clarity to be okay, providing mostly bright and crisp sight picture even in low light environments. The reticle stayed steady during rapid fire, allowing for precise aim on moving targets. The 2.5x magnification power is perfect for short to midrange hunting and target shooting, especially for small critters that you may have to get up close to in order to take down. While assesing the magnification range, I was able to clearly identify targets at 100 yards, though image quality degraded beyond that distance. The scope comes with a built-in mounting system, so you can quickly attach it to your shotgun without having to purchase extra accessories.
The elevation and windage turrets provided accurate and repeatable adjustments during testing. The audible clicks made dialing in my zero effortless. However, I did notice some slight backlash which could impact precision shooting.
I was especially impressed with the eyepiece, which is responsive, agile, and great for helping you locate and follow a moving target. Though the short eye relief took some adjustment, once properly positioned I was able to acquire targets quickly thanks to the generous eye box. Staying within the eye box was critical to avoid vignetting and obscured sight picture. The scope is also lightweight and very easy to use with any shotgun or pistol, so you don’t have to worry about it offsetting the balance you have memorized previously.
On top of those features, the shotgun scope is durable and built to last, featuring resilient components in total waterproofing. After subjecting it to bumps, drops, and exposure to heavy rain, the scope held zero and remained fog free, living up to its waterproof rating. You should be able to use this in any inclement weather or hunting environment without seeing any changes in terms of its performance or consistency.
Product Highlights
The metal reticle is truly unique and interesting. The reticle is embedded into the lenses, so it stabilizes and does not shake or shudder each time you pull the trigger of your favorite shotgun. That’s a big benefit, in my experience, since it means that you can use this optic even with high-recoil weapons. The metal reticle also means there’s no chance of it flickering or fading away after repeated use.
Common Problems and How to Deal with Them
Of course, the metallic nature of the reticle also implies a necessary downside: it’s not illuminated, and it can fade in against the background from time to time. During my testing, I found it to be a little less than stellar and less consistent than I would like on certain hunts. Keep this in mind, and be prepared to swap this scope out for an illuminated variety if you like to hunt in lowlight environments or during dusk and dawn.
Furthermore, the Dead Ringer shotgun scope’s eye relief is very poor, usually at less than an inch. Therefore, you’ll want to be very careful about where you position your head.
Key Features
- 2.5x magnification
- 20mm objective lens
Pros
- Reticle is very durable
- Good construction
- Lightweight
- Comes with mounting system
Cons
- Reticle can be difficult to see in low-light environments
- Eye relief is lacking
The Bottom Line
In the end, the Dead Ringer shotgun scope is a good shotgun optic for daytime hunting or for shotgun users looking for something durable and resilient.
My rating: 4.1/5
5. Feyachi Reflex Sight
The Feyachi Reflex Sight is, as its name suggests, a reflex optic for shotguns. Let me show you why I would recommend it.
My Observations After Using The Feyachi Reflex Sight
The Feyachi Reflex Sight is affordable and durable right from the get-go, as it is made from high-quality aluminum alloys and similar components. This keeps the weight down while also enabling you to use this reflex shotgun optic in a variety of hunting environments without worry. After testing the sight in various weather conditions, including rain, snow, and extreme heat, I found it maintained zero and operated consistently through tough environments, demonstrating its durability.
In addition, it comes with an integrated mount, which you can use with either Weaver or Picatinny 20mm rails. This flexibility and versatility is a major plus in my eyes, as it means you’ll be able to use this reflex optic on practically any shotgun you choose. I mounted the optic securely on both Picatinny and Weaver rails and found it to fit and hold zero properly on both.
The tubeless design of the reflex lens aperture lets you quickly acquire your target and maintain a wide field of view, maximizing your situational awareness. The optics provided a clear and distortion-free image while allowing rapid target acquisition in close range shooting scenarios. The high level of light transmission enabled excellent visibility even in low light conditions. I liked that the scope was also parallax corrected and offered unlimited eye relief. You can adjust its height, brightness, windage, and elevation all from its housing.
Product Highlights
The reticle of this reflex optic is the standout feature, in my opinion. That’s because you can choose between four different reticles and five different brightness settings. No matter which brightness setting you choose, the battery only takes a little bit of power, so it should last for several thousand hours before needing to be replaced.
Changing between the different brightness settings and reticle options is easy with a built-in selector located on the side of the optic housing. Each of the reticle choices is useful and valuable when in the field, as I tested each of them.
Common Problems and How to Deal with Them
While the Feyachi Reflex Sight has a lot to like, it also has one big downside: the windage and elevation adjusters have to be turned with a coin or special tool. Thus, they aren’t the easiest to use, and it can be difficult to make process adjustments in the field and on the fly with this optic.
Key Features
- Reflex optic
Pros
- Very lightweight
- Can be mounted on any shotgun
- Several selectable reticles and brightness settings
- Good battery life
Cons
- Windage and elevation adjustments can be tricky
The Bottom Line
All in all, the Feyachi Reflex Sight is the best shotgun reflex optic, so use it for tactical target shooting scenarios or for hunting situations when you want to maintain your field of view.
My rating: 4/5
Things to Keep in Mind Before Buying a Shotgun Scope
But before diving into these recommendations, let’s discuss the factors you need to consider when buying a shotgun scope. These points will help you identify the scope that best fits your needs.
Optics
Goes without saying, the quality of the optics can significantly impact your shooting experience. One reliable way to discern the quality of a scope’s optics is to check its coating type.
Scopes with fully multi-coated optics are often the highest quality available. However, they’re typically more expensive than multi-coated or fully coated optics. If you’re deciding between multi-coated and fully coated optics, I would generally recommend opting for multi-coated.
Reticle
One of the most prevalent reticle designs for shotgun scopes is the diamond reticle. It’s a straightforward design that functions quite well up to a distance of 75 yards. However, for long-range shooting (200 – 300 yards), the Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Multi-X Reticle Riflescope, 3-9X 40mm, is a fantastic choice.
Durability
Always choose scopes designed to withstand extreme weather conditions. Therefore, before purchasing your next shotgun scope, ensure it’s waterproof, fog-proof, and shockproof. Additionally, check the scope’s recoil resistance.
Price
Shotgun scopes can vary significantly in price, depending largely on the optics’ quality and the brand. Hence, I’d suggest determining a price range before you start comparing features to identify the scope that best meets your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Do the Numbers Mean on a Shotgun Scope?
The 3 in a 3-9×40 scope stands for three power, or 3x. The image you see through the scope seems three times closer (3x) than it does with the naked eye. The number 9 denotes that it is nine times (9x) closer than it appears to the human eye. The objective lens diameter in millimeters is forty (40).
The higher magnification range you have, the more you’ll pay, but you’ll get a more adaptable scope. In many circumstances, a versatile scope implies that you can use one optic for numerous purposes rather than purchasing a new one.
What is Field of View?
At that distance, this is the amount of view you get through your scope from right to left. FOV decreases as magnification is increased. FOV increases as magnification is reduced. A common 3x variable scope, for example, may have a FOV of a little over 30 feet at 100 yards, and a FOV of roughly 14 feet at 9x. These statistics will not change if the objective lens diameter is increased. The architecture of the eyepiece has a direct impact on the field of view.
Why would a shotgun have a scope?
The sight, like the scope on a rifle, aids in boosting accuracy. A shotgun with a sight is more usual, but I’ve seen one with a scope. Some of the specialized slugs are generally fired using a scope, making them the equivalent of a large caliber rifle.
Can you use a regular scope on a shotgun?
Yes, in a word. As long as you can physically place a rifle sight on a shotgun, there’s no reason why you can’t do so. Since the purpose of a scope is the same on any type of gun, any type will work just fine on a shotgun as long as you can properly and safely keep it in place.
What is shotgun range?
Shotguns, often known as scatterguns, are long guns or shoulder-fired weapons that discharge shot shells rather than bullet-tipped cartridges. The distance between a projectile weapon and its intended target is known as range. A shotgun’s effective range is roughly 45 meters.
Do you need an optic on a shotgun?
Optics aren’t commonly found on shotguns. Precision isn’t normally necessary because they fire numerous projectiles at once. They’d definitely do more harm than good if you’re doing any kind of wing shooting or smashing clays, forcing you to aim when you should be concentrating on following through.
How far are slugs accurate?
Any box of slugs you buy in a store should have a range of accuracy of roughly 50 yards. This is the standard range for a field rifle with a smooth barrel and a bead sight, firing any brand of ammunition at random.
How Much Magnification Do You Need?
This is very depending on how you use your shotgun. If you plan to use your gun mostly for small game hunting or homestead defense (within 100 yards), choose a magnification of 1–4x. Opt for a scope with a set power. It will speed up your close-range engagements.
Final Thoughts
Well, that about wraps up my reviews of the best shotgun scopes available on the market today.
In my opinion, if you want to convert your shotgun to a rather versatile weapon, you should certainly go for the Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Multi-X Reticle Riflescope, 3-9X 40mm. However, if long-range hunting isn’t your cup of tea, any of the other products should do the job just fine.
If you end up purchasing one of the above products, do share your experiences with me. I would love to hear from you.
Till next time! If you like long range shooting, check my 6.5 Creedmoor guide.
Mike Fellon is an experienced firearms enthusiast and optics expert. He delivers unbiased and detailed rifle scope reviews. Born and raised in Dallas, Texas. He inherited his hunting passions after his father John – he was fascinated by his stories, hearing how much attention, focus, dedication and patience he invested in shooting every animal. When he was old enough, his father first allowed him to shoot some cans and bottles with his shotgun, and then took him hunting – it was love at first sight. Mike has never stopped shooting ever since.