A great many fine hunting and target rifles are now sporting 56mm scopes, and so we sat down to figure out what the best ones are. You won’t find junk here—some of those were just depressing to consider actually installing, but you’ll find some of the finest optics on the market that fit almost any budget.
Below are our recommendations for the 4 best 56mm scopes on the market:
UTG 56mm Scope
This is about as entry level as you want to get on a good 56mm scope. Disregard the cheesy attempts to make the scope sound tactical. Rather, it is what it is, which is a decent Chinese scope (they do exist) that will put a 56mm optic on your rifle.
The 4-16 power magnification makes it suitable for most hunting and target shooting needs, and it is built rather well, with multi-coated optics, etched reticle, side parallax adjustment, and an illuminated reticle. If you have a budget, or just want a big freaking scope on top of your deer or elk rifle, this is the one for you.
Vortex Optics 56mm Crossfire II Hog Hunter Scope
Only Vortex could build a 56mm scope called Hog Hunter and then stand behind a scope designed for such rugged duty. This 3-12 power scope is perfect for any sort of hunting task you might have, and designed for the needs of night hunters.
The 56mm objective lens allows for a crisp, clear sight picture, even when hunting at night with lights, while the illuminated reticle gives you an edge in low light conditions. And because it is made by Vortex, the aircraft-grade aluminum alloy body, shock, water and fog proof construction, and brilliantly clear optics are simply a given. Not only is this a step up from the UTG,it may be the only step you need to take.
NightForce SHV 56mm Scope
56mm scopes are popular because of their enormous light gathering potential, which makes them very useful for night hunting or hunting around the thin edges of daylight. With that in mind, we would be remiss to not review something by NightForce. The SHV is a monster of a scope, with 5-20 magnification, a 30mm tube, zero reset turrets, and special coated optics for optimal clarity.
This military grade scope is perfect for basically everything you’d want a 56mm scope for, from target shooting to hog hunting at night. While it is an expensive optic, it is also quite likely literally the best 56mm scope for the money—if your pockets are deep.
Trijicon AccuPoint 2-10x56mm Scope
Trijicon is one of the premier American optics manufacturers. They produce everything from micro red dots to this big and bad AccuPoint. What’s interesting about this 56mm scope is the magnification setting. It runs from 2 to 10 power, and this range of magnification makes it quite versatile.
On top of that, the AccuPoint 2-10has a very bright and clear sight picture that will give you an outstanding sight picture. The AccuPoint is extremely well-made and capable of going through hell and back. This thing shrugs off water, dust, and shock without a second thought.
The AccuPoint is a powerful optic that has battery-free illumination. The AccuPoint uses the same technology as the ACOG and absorbs light through a fiber optic panel that automatically adjusts and powers the AccuPoint’s reticle. This is an impressive, space-age optic that’s incredibly modern and well made. It will get you where you need to go.
Choosing the Best 56mm Scopes
Most shooters are happy with a 30-40mm objective lens. It is an idea size for most applications, and readily fits on rifles without unusually tall scope bases. However, these normal- sized scopes come with their own limitations, which are corrected with the 56mm scope.
It is a fact that the larger the objective lens and the larger the scope tube, the greater light transmission you get, which leads to a clearer, superior sight picture. 56Mm scopes hit a sweet spot for high quality sight pictures, and feature 30mm (or larger!) tubes which combine to deliver a crisp image. This is invaluable in low light conditions, night hunting, or for long range target shooting.
The last element of a high quality sight picture is the physics of the glass itself, which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, as each company will use a different glass formula and optical coating. However, such physics are well understood, and you can rely on any quality scope manufacturer to use high grade glass and coatings.
The higher grade (and priced) scope should generally have higher grade glass and optical coatings. The internals of a scope can be safely trusted from any major manufacturer, although some, like NightForce (see full specs) pride themselves on creating almost excessively rugged scopes. Spend according to your needs.
The right 56mm scope becomes a combination of price point and features. Not everyone needs an illuminated reticle like the Millett (see full specs), and not everyone needs a high-grade scope either. On the other hand, sometimes those features are just the ticket. While night hunting often takes place with spotlights, it is hard to argue against an illuminated reticle as a “just in case” thing, while that same feature is all but pointless on a benchrest rifle.
When buying your 56mm scope, be sure to pair it (if the manufacturer doesn’t already include some) with a good pair of high profile scope rings. After all, you’ll need it for that big objective lens to clear the barrel.
The best 56mm scopes are things of beauty and a joy to behold. It will deliver a brilliant sight picture under almost any lighting condition, and will bring distant targets close in for precise shooting. They are specialty scopes for specialty shooting, and that shooting requires tough, well=built scopes. Choose the right combination of price, feature, and build quality, and you are set!
