Best Scope for Remington 700

The Remington 700 is an iconic American rifle that has been serving hunters, shooters, and law enforcement personnel since 1962. This centerfire, bolt-action rifle offers shooters a rock solid platform for a variety of shooting activities and situations. Check out the list below to find the best scope for Remington 700 rifles of any caliber.

The Remington 700 is available in a wide range of cartridge options, including 300 Win Mag, 300 Blackout, 6.5 Creedmor, 7mm Mag, .308, and .30-06 Springfield. In other words, if you want a rifle chambered for any of the most popular cartridges, there’s probably a Remington 700 to fit the bill. 

Many of the newer models do not come equipped with iron sights. However, the Remington 700’s long-range capabilities are best exploited with a magnified riflescope. 

That being said, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to which scope will work best on your Remington 700. With such a variety of cartridge options and potential shooting applications, the choice of scope becomes a personal and individual decision. 

Do you plan on hunting deer within 300 yards with a .30-06 or .243? Want to shoot targets at extreme long range distances? Buying a scope with a specific use in mind will help you get the most out of your set-up. 

Although there is no single best option for every Remington 700 rifle, there are some common features to consider when purchasing a new scope.

If you don’t have time for the details, check out the list below for the best rated scopes for the Remington 700:

1. NightForce SHV 5-20x56mm Riflescope
2. Leupold VX-3i 4.5-14x40mm Riflescope
3. Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25x56mm Riflescope
4. Bushnell 10×40 Tac Optic Tactical Riflescope
5. Vortex Optics Viper PST Gen II Riflescope
6. Swarovski Z3 4-12×50 Riflescope
7. Trijicon Huron 3-12×40 Hunting Riflescope
8. Primary Arms SLX 3-18×50 mm FFP Riflescope
9. Monstrum G2 6-24×50 Riflescope
10. UTG 3-12X44 30mm Compact Scope

What to Look for in a Scope for the Remington 700?

Durability

Some versions of the Remington 700 are chambered for heavy recoiling cartridges. The extreme recoil energy could negatively affect a cheap scope’s zero and, in turn, your overall accuracy. Durability is also important to ensure a scope can hold up under tough field conditions. Make sure your scope has features like o-ring seals that will make it waterproof, fogproof, and shockproof.

Magnification

It can be tempting to choose a scope with a large amount of magnification. However, excessive magnification isn’t always necessary, even when shooting a long-range rock star like the Remington 700. 

If you are a hunter whose shots will mostly fall within the 300-400 yard range, a scope with 3-9x or 4-12x magnification will serve you well. More magnification will only get in the way and add unnecessary weight to your rifle.

Higher magnification levels can be useful for shooting at extreme ranges, such as military applications, long-range target shooting, and competition shooting.

Turrets

The ability to precisely dial in your scope is vital when it comes to the Remington 700. This rifle is capable of incredible precision and accuracy, but much of that depends on how well you have your scope sighted. A scope’s turrets allow you to adjust your reticle to your rifle’s point of impact.

A scope with exposed target turrets can also be an asset for the Remington 700, allowing the shooter to make precision adjustments for holdover and wind when shooting long distances.

Reticle

When shopping for a new scope, it can feel like there are too many reticle options to choose from. You can find everything from simple duplex reticles to complex designs that look like you’ll need an engineering degree to decipher. Reticle choice often comes down to personal preference, as well as the shooting scenarios you’re likely to encounter. 

For hunting, a simple, uncomplicated duplex reticle is often a smart choice. For long range applications, more advanced BDC reticle styles can be useful, as long as you understand how they work. You can often find reticles designed with a specific cartridge in mind, which makes holdover and windage adjustments a no-brainer.

You will also find illuminated and non-illuminated reticle options. Illuminated reticles are great in low light conditions, but you should keep in mind that they can affect your natural low light vision. 

Now that you know a bit more about what to look for in a Remington 700 scope, let’s get to the main event. Check out the list below to find the best scope for Remington 700 rifles to fit your needs!

Best Scope for Remington 700 on the Market Review

 1   NightForce SHV 5-20x56mm Riflescope

Any shooter worth their salt is familiar with the Nightforce name. This company produces serious top-notch optics.  The Nightforce SHV 5-20x56mm Riflescope is no different. Built to the highest standards, this scope matches perfectly with the Remington 700.

Maximum light transmission via the 56mm objective lens, tactical MOA turrets for precise adjustments, and a non-illuminated MOAR reticle provide accuracy and precision, even at extreme ranges.

 2   Leupold VX-3i 4.5-14x40mm Riflescope

Whether you are elk hunting in the Rockies or pursuing pronghorn on the Great Plains, the Leupold VX-3i is an excellent hunting scope for the Remington 700. With enough magnification to reach distant targets and the quality that comes with Leupold optics, the VX-3i almost guarantees hunting success. 

This scope is 100 percent waterproof, fogproof, and shockproof. The glass features an ion assist lens coating that increases light transmission for superior low light shooting performance.

The VX-3i’s duplex reticle is ideal for hunting. The scope’s turrets feature precise ¼ MOA clicks, which allow you to dial in extreme accuracy and precision. 

Leupold’s VX-3i is built from 6061-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum and is rigorously tested to ensure a lifetime of reliable performance.

 3   Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25x56mm Riflescope

The Leupold Mark 5HD is the Rolls Royce of scopes for the Remington 700. Do you consider yourself a dedicated, serious, and passionate long-range shooter? Are you in a line of work that requires reliable performance without question? Then this superb offering from Leupold is worth a closer look. 

The Mark 5HD features premium target turrets that allow a full three revolutions of travel in ¼ MOA increments. The scope also has a push-button zero lock and a turret evolution indicator. A Remington 700 combined with the Leupold Mark 5HD creates one of the best long range shooting platforms money can buy.

 4   Bushnell 10×40 Tac Optic Tactical Riflescope

The Bushnell 10×40 Tac Optic Tactical Riflescope is a fixed magnification scope with a rugged design and few extra frills. The fixed magnification makes using the scope’s Mil-Dot reticle easy to use for ranging, holdover, and windage. With large, knurled turrets, making on-the-fly adjustments simple, even when you’re wearing hunting or shooting gloves. 

The fully multi-coated optics, an argon purged interior, and O-ring sealing make this scope a solid performer, even in the wettest conditions. The Tac Optic also has an IPX-7 waterproof rating, which means it can be immersed in three feet of water for up to 30 minutes. If you want a simple, rugged scope, the Bushnell Tac Optic is a great choice.

 5   Vortex Optics Viper PST Gen II Riflescope

For the serious long-range shooter, the Vortex Viper PST Gen II riflescope is hard to beat. With an array of impressive features, this scope pairs perfectly with tactical versions of the Remington 700, including the SPS Tactical and options chambered in  300 Blackout, 6.5 Creedmor. 

The scope is 100 percent waterproof, shockproof, and fogproof. It also has several unique features that help set this model apart from other high-end scopes. 

Those unique features include a fiber optic magnification indicator, so you never forget your settings, an illuminated reticle with 10 brightness levels that turn off between each setting, and low dispersion glass for superior clarity and color resolution.

 6   Swarovski Z3 4-12×50 Riflescope

Swarovski Optik has a reputation for impeccable sharpness and clarity. Although the company’s Z3 has an ample 50mm objective, the scope has a slim design that both hunters and tactical shooters will appreciate. It is designed for the serious shooter who wants the power to accurately strike at extreme distances, yet doesn’t sacrifice usefulness at shorter ranges.

The Z3 features tiny internal grooves which prevent residual light reflection. The result of this design is a crisp, high-contrast sight picture, even in bright sunlight. 

Other notable features include a large field of view, rapid diopter adjustment, and a watertight construction. 

 7   Trijicon Huron 3-12×40 Hunting Riflescope

Trijicon is best known for producing military-grade tactical optics like their Advanced Optical Gunsight (ACOG). However, the Trijicon Huron was engineered for the common deer hunter. 

Lightweight and durable, the Trijicon Huron has superb optical clarity and a generous field of view, which work together for tracking fast-moving game, even at longer ranges.

The Huron features capped windage and elevation turrets. Unlike exposed target turrets, the Huron’s low-profile design helps prevent accidental adjustments in the field. 

Trijicon also included a simple, easy-to-use BDC Hunter Holds reticle.

 8   Primary Arms SLX 3-18×50 mm FFP Riflescope

For a budget friendly scope that features an FFP reticle, look no further than the Primary Arms SLX. The ACSS Orion reticle is calibrated for both .308 Winchester and .30-06 Springfield. It also includes wind holds to make your hunts for whitetails, mule deer, antelope and other similarly sized game a breeze.

The SLX 3-18×50 performs more than admirably from a deer stand and stretches easily across open prairie. It is waterproof, shockproof, and nitrogen purged for extreme reliability in adverse conditions.

 9   Monstrum G2 6-24×50 Riflescope

The Monstrum G2 6-24×50 riflescope is a great budget option for the Remington 700. With a 50mm objective lens, an impressive magnification range, and a first focal plane (FFP) reticle, the G2 holds its own when it comes to long-range shooting. 

Unlike a second focal plane (SFP) reticle, the G2’s is located on the first focal plane (FFP). That means the illuminated rangefinder reticle stays the same size at any magnification, making it perfect for quick, accurate range estimations. The illuminated reticle is controlled by a touch button, has both red and green color options, and features multiple brightness settings.

An adjustable objective lens allows you to focus in and eliminate parallax at any range.

This scope ships with Picatinny rails, a honeycomb sunshade, flip-up lens covers, a cleaning cloth, and a battery. 

 10   UTG 3-12X44 30mm Compact Scope

While this may not seem like enough scope for a Remington 700, it is a solid option for shooters who blew their budget on their rifle.  That doesn’t make the UTG 3-12×44 Compact rifle scope bad. However, this really is a scope that helps fill in gaps until you can replace it with something superior. 

This scope from UTG has solid durability. It also has a robust 30mm main tube, locking turrets, and special circuitry that keeps the illuminated reticle glowing even under heavy recoil.

Final Thoughts

The Remington 700 is an iconic American rifle which deserves to be paired with a high-quality scope. Choosing the right scope will ensure you get full use from your rifle, no matter which cartridge you’re shooting. Use the list above to help you choose the best scope for Remington 700 rifles to meet your specific shooting needs.