Best 1000 Yard Scope: Ultimate Guide!
Shooting and hitting targets at 1,000-yards is a milestone for most long range shooters and something to be proud of.
Although it’s a challenge that has a lot to do with the shooter’s skill and judgment, having good enough tools (rifle and scope) is a necessity and having even better tools make it a lot easier and much more repeatable.
The most important equipment here is a “good-enough” scope. Modern rifles and quality ammunition are surely up to the task but you need a “good enough” enough scope to see the target that far away and that also has precise enough adjustments thatch get you on target.
From budget-friendly scopes to boat-money scopes, we have the best of the best for shooting 1,000-yards!
Best 1000 Yard Scopes
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Best 1000 Yard Scopes
- Vortex Viper PST II 5-25×50
- Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25×56
- Vortex Razor HD Gen II 4.5x27x56
- Athlon Cronus BTR Gen 2 4.5x29x56
- Nightforce ATACR 7-35×56
- Kahles K525i 5-25×56
- Zero Compromise 527 5-27×56
Scope Specifications
Below is a list of our Best 1000 Yard Scopes. So we can compare and line up the specs from each of the products and help you make the best decision possible.
| Best 1000 Yard Scopes | Magnification Range | Focal Plane | Weight | Length | FoV @ 100y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vortex Viper PST II | 5-25x | FFP | 31.2 Oz | 15.79in | 24.1ft/4.8 ft |
| Leupold Mark 5HD | 5-25x | FFP | 30Oz | 15.7in | 20.4ft/4.2ft |
| Vortex Razor HD Gen II | 4.5-27x | FFP | 48.5 Oz | 14.4in | 25.3ft/4.4ft |
| Athlon Cronus BTR Gen 2 | 4.5-29x | FFP | 38.5 Oz | 14.3in | 24.8ft/3.83ft |
| Nightforce ATACR | 7-35x | FFP | 39.3 Oz | 16in | 15ft/3.4ft |
| 5-25X | FFP | 34.2oz | 14.8" | 21.7ft/4.4ft | |
| Zero Compromise 527 | 5-25x | FFP | 34.2 Oz | 14.8in | 21.7ft/4.4ft |
Best 1000 Yard Scope Reviews
Now we’ve had an overview and looked at our list, let us take the time to individually review each item. In this section we’ll be revisiting our specs, speaking about the product, and looking at the pros and cons.
1. Vortex Viper PST II 5-25×50
Vortex Viper PST II 5-25×50
A Goldilocks optic that is perfect for shooters new to long range. This won’t break the bank and still let you reach out very far.
- Reliability A+
- Glass B+
- Reticle A
- Ergonomics A-
- Value A+
Our Grade
A
Reader’s Grade
A+
Based on 5 Reviews
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Vortex Viper PST II 5-25×50
- Magnification Range 5-25X
- Focal Plane FFP
- Weight 31.2oz
- Length 15.79″
- FoV @ 100 Yards 24.1ft/4.8ft
- Illuminated Yes
- Total Elevation Adjustment 70MOA
- Tube Size 30mm
- Zero Stop Yes
Vortex Viper PST II 5-25×50 Review
If you follow any of the larger long-range shooting communities, you may have seen that the Vortex Viper PST II has become something of a meme in the last year or two because of how universally recommended it is to new shooters.
While some people abhor trends and what is popular, sometimes there is a very good reason behind something being owned by almost everyone — the Vortex Viper PST II is a perfect example of that.
This is a great scope, period. The price is pretty low, the features are nice, the glass is good enough, and it is durable enough to survive anything you throw at it.
Basically, this is the perfect place for a newer shooter to start out if you’re looking for a scope that can reach out.
However, you get what you pay for when it comes to optics and while the Viper PST II does punch above its price point (something rare in optics) it is still a $700-ish scope. While the glass holds up great to 800 or so yards, it suffers at around 1,000+ and doesn’t give the clearest picture.
That’s really kind of unavoidable for most scopes and honestly not impactful enough to cause a major problem for people, but it is worth mentioning.
That said — I’ve put a lot of lead on target at 1,000 yards and beyond with a Viper PST II and so can you!
Vortex Viper PST II 5-25×50 Pros and Cons
- Huge value from every dollar spent
- Great tracking
- Vortex warranty
- Ford F-150 of scopes, gets the job done
- Ford F-150 of scopes, everyone has one
Vortex Viper PST II 5-25×50 Deals
2. Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25×56
Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25×56
One of the few optics that are assembled in the USA, Leupold puts their money where their mouth is and delivers a high-quality scope.
- Reliability A-
- Glass A
- Reticle B+
- Ergonomics A+
- Value B-
Our Grade
A-
Reader’s Grade
A+
Based on 2 Reviews
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Leupold Mark 5HD Specs
- Magnification Range 5-25X
- Focal Plane FFP
- Weight 30oz
- Length 15.7″
- FoV @ 100 Yards 20.4ft/4.2ft
- Illuminated Yes
- Total Elevation Adjustment 120MOA
- Tube Size 35mm
- Zero Stop Yes
Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25×56 Review
Everyone knows that the best glass you can get for optics comes from Germany. The second-best comes from Japan and the cheap stuff comes from China.
It is also known that the best scope construction/assembly is normally done in Germany, the second-best in Japan, and the poor get their scopes made in China.
But what about America? Well, for a lot of reasons, there just isn’t much done in terms of scopes in the USA.
Leupold is one of the rare exceptions to those rules.
While they still use glass made in Japan, Leupold does their assembly in the United States. If you want a (mostly) USA-made scope, this is what you want.
The MK5 is a great scope in every respect. Durable, with perfect tracking, and with wonderful glass (from Japan), the MK5 HD has won a lot of competitions and is by far one of the most respected and most common optics for high-tier shooters to run.
Personally, I have a bone to pick with Leupold over their pricing because they upcharge hard for the good reticles, but I have to admit that it is money well spent if you’re looking for an American-made scope.
While a lot of brands try to use “American-made” as a buzz term to make sales, Leupold makes a fundamentally great product and does it while employing Americans.
If you’re not hyped about supporting American workers, then maybe you’ll find more value from another scope. But even ignoring that aspect of it, the MK5 HD is a great scope.
Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25×56 Pros and Cons
- American made (not including the glass)
- Japanese Glass (it’s some of the best, so it’s good they use it)
- Great durability
- Better reticles come with an upcharge
Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25×56 Deals
3. Vortex Razor HD Gen II 4.5-27×56
Vortex Razor HD Gen II 4.5-27×56
The Toyota Tacoma of scopes, Vortex Razor HD II has built a solid reputation as an ultra-durable, reliable, outstanding optic.
- Reliability A+
- Glass A
- Reticle A
- Ergonomics A
- Value A+
Our Grade
A
Reader’s Grade
A
Based on 4 Reviews
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Vortex Razor HD Gen II Specs
- Magnification Range 4.5-27X
- Focal Plane FFP
- Weight 48.5oz
- Length 14.4″
- FoV @ 100 Yards 25.3/4.4ft
- Illuminated Yes
- Total Elevation Adjustment 113.5MOA
- Tube Size 34mm
- Zero Stop Yes
Vortex Razor HD Gen II Review
We live in a golden age for scopes and optics, but one of the OGs that started the craze I think would have to be the Vortex Razor HD Gen II.
Vortex’s warranty changed the industry and forced other brands to offer the same no questions asked warranty.
But putting top-shelf glass into the average shooter’s hand is not easy to do, and yet — Vortex did it.
Offered at a competitive price well below what most of the market was priced at when it came out, Vortex made a huge splash with the Gen I Razor and has only improved on it since then.
The Gen II Razor has a long-standing reputation for being ultra-durable, having great glass, perfect tracking, and outstanding results.
Made in Japan with Japanese glass the Gen II is super clear and super bright even at 1,000 yards. While it won’t be as magically perfect as some of the higher-priced options on this list, it will be a huge improvement over more mid-tier options like the Viper PST II.
I love the Razor Gen II because it’s a fair price for a great optic, but something to note is that this is one beastly heavy scope. 10 or more ounces heavier than the top-tier competition, the Razor Gen II shows its age by using heavy components to get the job done.
If you’re shooting a rifle you don’t plan on moving much, weight isn’t an issue. But if you’re looking to throw this on a lightweight rifle — you might be in for a rough time.
Razor HD Gen II 4.5x27x56 Pros and Cons
- A favorite in long range competition shooting
- Easy to find for a good price
- Vortex warranty
- Long in the tooth
- Significantly heavier than peer options
Vortex Razor HD Gen II 4.5x27x56 Deals
4. Athlon Cronus BTR Gen II 4.5-29×56
Athlon Cronus BTR Gen II 4.5-29×56
A great optic that gives you what you need and nothing you don’t while coming in at an impressive price.
- Reliability A+
- Glass A
- Reticle A
- Ergonomics A+
- Value A+
Our Grade
A+
Reader’s Grade
B
Based on 1 Reviews
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Athlon Cronus BTR Specs
- Magnification Range 4.5-29X
- Focal Plane FFP
- Weight 38.5oz
- Length 14.3″
- FoV @ 100 Yards 24.8ft/3.83ft
- Illuminated Yes
- Total Elevation Adjustment 110MOA
- Tube Size 34mm
- Zero Stop Yes
Athlon Cronus BTR Gen 2 Review
Maybe I’m a little biased because I own a Gen 1 and Gen 2 Cronus, but for my money, this is the best bang-for-your-buck that you can find for a high-quality long range optic.
The Gen 2 Cronus is on my primary PRS rifle and I’ve put a LOT of rounds down range with it, I love it in every respect.
Glass quality is great, turrets are super clicky, adjustments are easy to make and smooth, and the reticle is a perfect mix of what I need and what I want.
All of that for about $1,600!
Athlon isn’t as well known as some of the other major brands out there right now, but they are quickly becoming a go-to choice for many of us.
They offer a no questions asked warranty that is on par with Vortex, the Cronus BTR is made in Japan using Japanese glass, and again — the price is amazing!
My Cronus scopes have suffered a lot of abuse from being remounted countless times to being dragged through the elements at dozens of matches over the last couple of years. Both scopes have come through with flying colors.
Taking my 6.5 Creedmoor PRS rifle to 1,000 yards using a gen 2 Cronus is a pretty easy task and one that I highly recommend you try.
Athlon Cronus BTR Gen 2 Pros and Cons
- One of the highest value/cost ratios in the optics market
- Lifetime unlimited warranty
- 2020 Gen II update addressed every weakness of the optic
- Limited reticle options
Athlon Cronus BTR Gen 2 Deals
5. Nightforce ATACR 7-35×56
Nightforce ATACR 7-35×56
Trusted by the military on multiple levels in multiple magnification ranges, the ATACR line is one of the most battle-proven scopes on the market.
- Reliability A+
- Glass A
- Reticle A+
- Ergonomics A
- Value B
Our Grade
A
Reader’s Grade
A-
Based on 5 Reviews
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Nightforce ATACR Specs
- Magnification Range 7-35X
- Focal Plane FFP
- Weight 39.3oz
- Length 16″
- FoV @ 100 Yards 15ft/3.4ft
- Illuminated Yes
- Total Elevation Adjustment 100MOA
- Tube Size 34mm
- Zero Stop Yes
Nightforce ATACR 7-35×56 Review
If you need something nearly bomb-proof, Nightforce ATACR is what you’re looking for!
Trusted by militaries around the world, the USMC, and selected by USSOCOM not once, not twice, but 3 different versions of the ATACR for 3 different roles, the ATACR is one of the most durable and reliable optics ever made.
Built like a tank to withstand anything, this also boasts amazing glass quality, smooth controls, perfect tracking, and everything else you would expect from a top-tier optic.
For 1,000-yard shooting, I would recommend the ATACR 7-35x. While most people do most of their shooting in the 12-20x range, having that 35x top end is nice for going really long distances.
While the durability of the ATACR line is what really makes it what it is, Nightforce didn’t skimp out on the rest of the scope.
But as you might expect, this comes at a cost. A high cost. Depending on the reticle you choose, an NF ATACR 7-35×56 is going to run you somewhere between $3,100 and $3,900, before you get a mount, pay for shipping, tax, etc.
That’s a ton of money. But if you’re planning on really abusing your scope, this is money well spent for the unbeatable durability and reliability that Nightforce puts into all of their optics.
Nightforce ATACR 7-35 Pros and Cons
- Bombproof durability
- Legendary brand with great support
- Use it as a club if you run out of ammo
- Built like a tank, but feels like one too
Nightforce ATACR 7-35×56 Deals
6. Kahles K525i 5-25×56
Kahles K525i 5-25×56
Innovative design that leaves others in the dust. You’ve maybe never thought about an ambi-optic, but here it is.
- Reliability A+
- Glass A+
- Reticle A
- Ergonomics A+
- Value A
Our Grade
A+
Reader’s Grade
B
Based on 1 Reviews
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Kahles K525i 5-25 Specs
- Magnification Range 5-25X
- Focal Plane FFP
- Weight 34.2oz
- Length 14.8″
- FoV @ 100 Yards 21.7ft/4.4ft
- Illuminated Yes
- Total Elevation Adjustment 104MOA
- Tube Size 34mm
- Zero Stop Yes
Kahles K525i 5-25×56 Review
Kahles is one of my top picks for competition shooting because of their very awesome parallax design that puts the dial as a round around the base of the elevation turret making it easy to adjust from the left or right and easy to read no matter what.
In competition, I and many others normally use holdovers and don’t dial between shots. We do adjust our parallax though or risk missing. Kahles’ design makes this task a lot easier.
However, if you’re just prone or off a bench and plinking at 1,000 yards this feature won’t feel as special.
Still, it’s nice to have.
For most people what they love about Kahles is the amazing glass quality, smooth adjustments, and strong durability.
And yes, the tracking on Kahles scopes is perfect. Always.
While 1,000 yards is the point of this article, Kahles K525i can honestly get you a lot further without breaking a sweat. The glass and light transmission is incredible and makes seeing targets very far away almost easy.
Combine this mechanical perfection with a good reticle, smooth controls, and great durability and you have a home run of a scope.
Kahles K525i 5-25 Pros and Cons
- Totally new way of approaching turret design
- Ambi windage and parallax
- Super solid glass quality
- Price tag
Kahles K525i 5-25×56 Deals
7. Zero Compromise ZC527 5-27×56
Zero Compromise ZC527 5-27×56
When you’re made of money and want the best in life, Zero Compromise.
- Reliability A+
- Glass A+
- Reticle A
- Ergonomics A
- Value A-
Our Grade
A
Reader’s Grade
C-
Based on 2 Reviews
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Zero Compromise 527 Specs
- Magnification Range 5-27X
- Focal Plane FFP
- Weight 37.9oz
- Length 15.24″
- FoV @ 100 Yards 21ft/4.5ft
- Illuminated Yes
- Total Elevation Adjustment 120MOA
- Tube Size 36mm
- Zero Stop Yes
Zero Compromise 527 5-27×56 Review
Who makes the best optic on the market changes almost year to year, but for the last few years, the (almost) undisputed king has been Zero Compromise Optics.
Fairly new as a brand, the minds behind ZCO has been around for a long time and have a proven history.
Using only the best German glass and living up to their name of making zero compromises or taking any shortcuts, ZCO scopes deliver near perfection in terms of glass quality.
Tracking is literally perfect and durability has proven to be amazing in every respect.
36mm tube gives you not only a LOT of adjustment it also gives you a huge amount of light to work with. Dark days, dusk, or shooting into shadows is no problem when you have glass this good and a tube this large.
While most scopes start to struggle at or before 1,000 yards, ZCO is one of the few that can take it and still ask for more.
But there has to be a downside, right? Well, there is, the price.
ZCO might be the best there is, but it comes at a real cost — expect to drop around $4,000 just for the scope. And if you’re spending this much to get the best there is, you’re going to want a good scope mount and that’s another $200-400. Plus tax, plus shipping, and you can be looking at $5,000 or more before this scope is on your rifle.
That is a whole lot of cheddar to spend, but if you’re able to make use of this scope — it’s honestly worth it. While ZCO might not be king forever, you can count on this scope to outlast and outlive you or your rifle.
Zero Compromise 527 Pros and Cons
- Nearly perfect glass
- Super durable
- Unbeatable quality
- So much money
Zero Compromise 527 5-27 Deals
Buyer’s Guide For The Best 1,000-Yards Scopes
All of these scopes will serve you very well for 1,000-yard shooting. All of them have enough elevation for any 1,000-yard cartridge, great durability, good reticles, and glass clear enough to let you see the target, your trace, and your misses if you have a keen eye.
Granted, you’ll get what you pay for. The further you want to shoot the more of a difference you’ll see in different price point optics. $3,000 and $300 in optics might look similar at 100 yards, but at 1,000 it is radically different.
While you can make hits at 1,000 yards with a $300 scope, I wouldn’t recommend it. I’ve tried to include a couple of budget-friendly options in this list so that even the cheapest among them will serve you well.
What Specs Matter Most
While almost all of these specs matter almost all of the time, for 1,000-yard shooting some of them stand out above the rest.
For this kind of truly long-range shooting, I would strongly recommend favoring glass quality above anything else. While features are fairly easy to include on scopes these days, glass quality comes harder and more expensive.
Magnification Range: Any decent scope will include a few numbers in or after their name such as “3-12×44” or “5-25×56”. The first set of numbers before the X are the magnification range, so 3-12 times magnification and 5-25 times magnification in our two examples.
The number after the X is the objective lens, larger is better for that.
What magnification you need is a bit of a personal choice. However, if you’re shooting long range then I recommend getting almost as much as you can get. 20x would be my minimum for the max side of the range but 25x, 30x, or even 40x is nice to have.
Most people do most of their shooting between 9 and 15ish, but having more when you need it/want it is really nice to have.
FFP or SFP: First focal plane or second focal plane is critical, but I strongly recommend FFP.
FFP means your reticle will change size as you change the magnification. When zoomed out your reticle is smaller, when zoomed in the reticle is much larger. The main benefit of this is that the markings on your reticle will always be accurate — 1 MOA is always 1 MOA, and 1 mil is always 1 mil.
SFP is the opposite, the reticle stays the same size no matter what but the markings are only accurate at 1 magnification level (normally the max magnification). This means your reticle is always easy to see, but it is far less useful since the markings are normally inaccurate or you’re forced to use the max setting.
For hunting and single-set distance competition shooting, SFP works very well. But for all other things, you’ll likely want to stay with FFP.
Weight: If you’re shooting 1,000+ yards, weight is likely not a huge worry for you. Most people don’t hike to their 1,000-yard shooting spots and more weight makes the rifle easier to shoot.
That said, if you do plan on hiking or walking a lot — maybe get something a little lighter.
Field of View: FoV is how much you can see side to side. While more is always nice, it’s not the end of the world. This is more or less dictated by the tube size of the optic and the lens used in it, so for most of these scopes, they are fairly close to each other in FoV.
For 1,000 yards I don’t really find FoV to be critical. If you need to see more because you’re missing badly, zoom out a bit.
Illumination: Just what you would expect, this answers the question “does the reticle light up?”. Illumination is nice to have but not a deal-breaker to me. That said, since long-range shooting often requires shooting in non-ideal conditions or shooting in shadow, I’d rather have illumination if I can.
Total Elevation Adjustment: This is critical normally, but even more so for long-range shots like 1,000 yards.
First off, this number is kind of a lie. While scopes quote their “total” elevation adjustment, you only actually get to use about half of that. Since reticles are in the middle of the adjustment, you only have about half available to dial with.
120 MOA total becomes 60-ish MOA usable.
But it gets worse, generally speaking, the last 10% or so of the adjustment range can get iffy. Weird colors, bad light transmission, sometimes poor tracking, etc. Assume you have only 90% of the 50% that is truly good for adjustment.
120 MOA total becomes 60 MOA becomes 54 MOA.
So how much is enough? That depends on what you’re shooting. For 6.5 Creedmoor at 1,000 yards you need about 30 MOA. .308 Win at 1,000 yards you’ll need more like 37-40 MOA. .300 Win Mag needs around 30 MOA. .223 Rem is around 40 MOA.
If you’re shooting something else, check the ballistics of your round and look to see how much drop you should expect for 1,000 yards.
Assuming you need something around 30 MOA for your chosen cartridge, you’ll want at least 70 MOA total adjustment. As it so happens, all of the scopes on this list have at least 70 MOA and most of them have 120 MOA.
If you’re using a cartridge that needs more adjustment, you might want to look into scope bases or rings that are angled to give you some extra MOA. The most common is a 20 MOA base and as the name suggests gives you an extra 20 MOA adjustment.
By the way, if you’re not sure of the differences between MOA and MRAD, take a look at our articles on MOA and MRAD!
You Bought A Scope, Now What?
If you’re looking to shoot 1,000 yards this is likely old news to you, but just in case here is the breakdown.
After getting your new fancy scope you’ll want to mount it and zero it. Both are fairly easy and are core topics for you to learn. While you can pay a gunsmith to do it, the process is so easy and so useful that you really should do it yourself.
That said, for mounting a scope the process of choosing what is best for you and how to get it done should be an entire article on its own, so I’ll let a true expert give you the details. Take a look at our How To Mount A Scope: 7 Steps To Installing A Riflescope The Right Way!
Zeroing a scope is very easy, but it’s important to get it right. Doing it wrong will waste time, money, and a lot of ammo.
For a detailed breakdown of the whole process, take a look at these! How To Adjust A Rifle Scope and How To Sight In A Rifle Scope: Zeroing Made Easy!
Wrapping It All Up
And with all of this, you should have a good picture of what scope to buy and what matters most when choosing your scope.
Shooting 1,000 yards or more is a right of passage for long-range shooters and never gets old. Good luck!
About David Lane
Learning how to shoot at a young age in the Boy Scouts, David now spends most of his time working on or with firearms. Be it shooting, upgrading, building, tinkering, or writing about them -- sharing his passion and knowledge of firearms with others is an everyday occurrence.
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