Eyes Afield: The Best Lightweight Hunting Scopes for 2022

When it comes to hunting rifles most people have a pretty universal image sitting inside their heads. As those words make their way up to your limbic system from your ear your mind has probably already generated an image of a traditionally stocked rifle with a giant scope on top of it. This is probably what most people would consider being a “standard” hunting setup. Come to think of it, I don’t think I can remember the last time I heard anyone hunting medium to large-sized game animals with anything less than a red dot, let alone iron sights. The reality is that magnified optics on our hunting rifles do a great number of things for us besides giving us a better look at our prey. A lot of optics often carry specific ranging data inside their reticles and magnified optics also help us not only spot our prey but determine if it is the correct prey we’re after. However, no one likes to carry around a heavy scope and if the type of hunting you’re into takes you far into the field then you’ll want a great combination of features without going too heavy. That’s why today we’ll be taking a look at some of the best lightweight hunting scopes you can pick up and kit your rifle out with for 2022.

Eyes Afield: The Best Lightweight Hunting Scopes for 2022

1. Schmidt Bender 1-8x24 PM II ShortDot Dual CC MDR ST LT MTC 2. Vortex Razor HD LHT 3-15x42 HSR 3. Bushnell BANNER 3-9X40 CIRCLE-X 4. Leupold VX-3HD 4.5-14x40 CDS-ZL Duplex 5. Sig Sauer SIERRA6 BDX 3-18x44mm 6. Maven CRS.1 - 3-12X40 SFP FAQs

1. Schmidt Bender 1-8x24 PM II ShortDot Dual CC MDR ST LT MTC

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The Editor's Pick

Schmidt Bender’s PM II 1-8×24 ShortDot Dual CC riflescope represents the pinnacle of modern combat scope technology. The scope features true 1x low magnification (also known as close combat mode) for fast target acquisition in close quarters and 8x high magnification for easily engaging targets out to 500 yards. At low magnification the scope is parallax free to 7 meters and is parallax free out to 100 meters when magnification is increased, and it weighs 22oz.

The primary feature of the 1-8×24 ShortDot Dual CC riflescope is the dual focal plane reticles, the FlashDot red dot is located on the second focal plane allowing for a consistent dot size cross all magnifications, while the MilDot reticle sits on the first focal plane helping you make more accurate shots at longer ranges.

For a full review of this awesome optic, head on over to The Firearm Blog.

Pros/True 1x magnification for clsoe range shots and the best glass clairity and quality in the optics world.

Cons/Almost prohibitively expensive and a little on the heavy side for a "lightweight" scope at 22oz

Bottom Line/The pinnacle of riflescope refinement with enough magnification to suit nearly any shooting situation

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2. Vortex Razor HD LHT 3-15x42 HSR

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At 19.1oz and bringing long range versatility to the Vortex Razor HD riflescope line up, the new Razor HD LHT is exactly what you need to fill those far away tags. Built on a lightweight aluminum tube, the Razor HD LHT is the perfect addition to any hunting rifle. The scope features Vortex’s HD Optical System that provides near perfect resolution and color tones. Additionally, the elevation turret utilizes Vortex’s exclusive RevStop Zero System for a fast and intuitive return to zero after adjusting for long range shots.

Pros/Gerat balance of performance, magnification, weight, and quality construction

Cons/Might still be out of the price range of most hunters

Bottom Line/A great lightweight hunting optic that isn't a slouch on the magnification end of things.

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3. Bushnell BANNER 3-9X40 CIRCLE-X

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At only 14oz, this Banner 3-9×40 scope is perfect for the hunter looking for a circle crosshair reticle as it has our Circle-X at the heart of it.

Our Banner scopes are waterproof and fog-proof. They also carry our lifetime Ironclad Warranty so you can buy with confidence.

Multi-coated optics
One-piece tube
100% waterproof/fogproof construction
Dry-nitrogen filled
1/4 M.O.A. fingertip, resettable windage and elevation adjustment
Fast-focus eyepiece

Pros/Very affordable and still maintains decent quality

Cons/Lacking barely any more magnification than a modern LPVO

Bottom Line/A great budget option if you're on a limited budget and still prioritize weight over features and magnification

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4. Leupold VX-3HD 4.5-14x40 CDS-ZL Duplex

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At a very lightweight 13.3oz, the VX-3HD delivers outstanding performance in low light. With Leupold’s Elite Optical System, the VX-3HD delivers excellent dawn-to-dusk light transmission for a bright image when it matters most, elite-level glare reduction in harsh light, and the resolution and clarity that diehard hunters and shooters demand. We also gave it match-grade repeatability and ergonomic controls that are easy to read and use, even with gloves. The VX-3HD is the best lightweight, low-light hunting scope in its class. And with its low-profile, one-revolution CDS® ZeroLock® dial, you can be confident your dial will only move when you want it to. Push the button to unlock it, dial, and then rotate it back to zero to lock it in place.

Pros/Great magnifications, simple reticle, priced about middle of the road for most people

Cons/No holdover reticles

Bottom Line/A great simple hunting scope for the traditionalist

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5. Sig Sauer SIERRA6 BDX 3-18x44mm

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The heaviest pick on this list at 23.8oz, the Sig Sauer BDX is the newest in electro-optics technology. BDX or Ballistic Data Xchange technology is found in the new Sierra3BDX and Sierra6BDX riflescopes and KiloBDX rangefinders. To get the most out of your BDX products you can also download the SIG SAUER BDX app on Android and Apple devices and receive information via Bluetooth. The BDX allows for both accuracy and simplicity.

Pros/Higher Magnification and lots of integration capabilities with other hunting peripherals

Cons/Pretty heavy for this class of optic

Bottom Line/You're sacrificing a couple of extra ounces for a lot of extra functionality.

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6. Maven CRS.1 - 3-12X40 SFP

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This scope weighs in at 14.2 oz. For those seeking a long-distance build that features a broad magnification range, large tube diameter, large objective, and desire a straightforward and uncomplicated configuration, the RS.5 covers the bases both inside and out. Featuring both MOA and MIL reticle options, illuminated reticles, side parallax adjustment, robust dial-to-shoot elevation turret, capped windage turret, and mechanical zero stop, the RS.5 ensures the precision you’ve come to expect in a Maven rifle scope.

With an extensive magnification range and flexible elevation dialing, the RS.5 is our recommended rifle scope for long-range hunters and shooters alike.

Pros/Superior Glass Quality, Clairty, and features simple subtensions for making accurate ranged shots

Cons/Not avaialbe in a FFP configuration and also lacking any sort of illumination

Bottom Line/Covers all the bases for most hunting situations

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What magnification range is best suited for general hunting purposes?

For hunting and most applications, a 3-9×40 scope will be one of your best options. 3x power is perfect for taking closer shots, and the 9x power is more than enough to accurately acquire an elk or deer-sized game at longer ranges. However, even small game hunters use higher magnification scopes to properly identify a species and deer hunters can always benefit from positive identification so they don’t accidentally take a doe when they’re meant to take a buck. However, in general, it’s nice to have at least a little bit of magnification and a low enough magnification for those lucky closer shots we get to take or for general observation.

What is the difference between FFP and SFP scopes?

SFP (Second Focal Plane) and FFP (First Focal Plane) are two terms you’ll hear thrown around a lot in the world of magnified optics. Both types of optics have their benefits and downsides and no hunter or marksman will give you the same answer on which one is better or which one you should go with. However, the main difference between them is that an SFP reticle will appear to be the same size regardless of magnification. With an FFP reticle, the size of the reticle will appear to change as the scope’s magnification is changed. FFP reticles can be very useful at higher magnifications but the subtensions are often useless (too small to read) at lower magnification settings.

Is MRAD or MOA better for hunting scopes?

If you normally think in meters or centimeters, then it is easier to calculate the distance with a MIL (MRAD) system. If you normally think in yards or inches, then MOA is the more convenient calculating partner. If you are not going to calculate distances, both types are equally effective as long as you have an accurately zeroed rifle and an accompanying dope card (or have your holdovers memorized).

Luke Cuenco

Luke is currently a full-time writer for TheFirearmBlog.com, OvertDefense.com, AllOutdoor.com, and of course, OutdoorHub.com. Luke is a competitive shooter, firearms enthusiast, reloader, outdoorsman, and generally takes an interest in anything that has to do with the great outdoors. Luke is also a private certified pilot and is currently pursuing his commercial pilot's license in the hopes of becoming a professional pilot. Some of Luke's other interests include anything to do with aviation, aerospace and military technology, and American Conservancy efforts. Instagram: @ballisticaviation YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BallisticAviation thefirearmblog.com/blog/author/luke-c/ overtdefense.com/author/luke-c/ alloutdoor.com/author/lukec/

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