Top 6 Best Shotgun Scopes For The Money 2023 Reviews & Buying Guide

Shotguns are a common and popular firearm to have in the home for multiple purposes such as self-defense, hunting, target shooting and more.

But, maybe you want to use your shotgun for more long-range hunting or targeting? You might not be sure which scope would suit your style of shotgun best or your particular needs?

This article will review our 6 best shotgun scopes, and we’ve made sure to put some good variety into our choices to be sure there’s something for everyone. We’ll take you through respectable brands such as Bushnell, Truglo, and Simmons to help you make the perfect choice.

Top 6 Best Shotgun Scopes You Must Buy 2023 Reviews

1 Bushnell Red Dot Sight

The first choice on our list is this Bushnell Red Dot Sight, which has been made for various gun types, including shotguns.

The scope comes in a nice looking matte black and features a 3 MOA reticle. Plus, the reticle has 11 different brightness settings, so this scope is ideal for hunting in different light levels.

Most people will want a scope that is easy and straightforward to mount. This Bushnell attaches onto your shotgun with ease using your Picatinny rail.

The scope is also made to be very strong and durable. It’s made to be shockproof, so any knocks and bumps when you’re out in the field should not cause any issues or damage. As well, the scope is waterproof because of its O-ring sealed design. So you won’t have to worry about the bad weather affecting your hunting excursions or target practice.

Finally, on top of all the great features, we’ve mentioned so far, this scope is actually fog proof too. Due to the Nitrogen purging inside the reticle, this scope can handle temperature changes without fogging up.

Overall, this scope is ideal for short to mid-range targeting and is one of the best red dot sights shotguns available. Therefore it should give you a strong edge over using the stock sights that you already have with your shotgun.

2 Simmons 517793 Prodiamond Shotgun Prohunter Riflescope

Next up, we’re taking a look at this Simmons Prodiamond Prohunter Riflescope. This scope also comes in a smooth looking matte black finish, and it has 4×32 magnification settings.

Most good scopes these days usually have multilayered lenses so that they can absorb light more effectively, giving you much brighter visuals. This Simmons model has exceptional visuals with sharp images, great lighting, and excellent contrast.

If you are looking to make some careful adjustments in windage and elevation, the Prodiamond Prohunter has some very nice turret controls to play with. For any hunter that wants a true zero capable scope, this Simmons will do the job just fine.

It also includes a QTA eyepiece which means you’ll be able to quickly acquire targets, which is also ideal if you are planning on hunting with your shotgun.

Weighing in at only 8.6 ounces, this won’t add too much extra load to your shotgun set-up, especially if you happen to be using one of the best tactical shotgun slings. The scope is also fog proof, waterproof and is built durable enough to withstand shocks and knocks that you expect from time to time. Could all these great features make it the very best of the Best Shotgun Scopes? Read on to find out…

3 TRUGLO 4x32mm Compact Rimfire and Shotgun Scope Series

Moving on, we are now checking out this Truglo 4x32mm Compact Rimfire and Shotgun Scope.

This scope is also another great choice for short to mid-range hunting or targeting. The 4 x 32 magnification settings allow you to see your targets much clearer than with your standard shotgun sights.

One nice little feature that Truglo has added to this scope is the rubber eye guard they’ve fixed in. When shooting with your shotgun you are always going to feel some recoil, and this eye guard should give the extra protection you need.

Additionally, the lenses on this scope are multi-layered, so you get a very clear, bright and contrasting image when you look through the reticle.

Finally, it’s good to mention the diamond reticle design that Truglo has incorporated into this set-up. This type of reticle is perfect for shotgun hunters that either want to hunt animals such as turkeys, hogs, deer, raccoons and more.

All-in-all, you’re getting a very strong and durable set-up with this scope. It’s scratch-resistant, waterproof and fog proof due to its nitrogen treatment. Plus the non-shiny matte finish means that you won’t be reflecting light on a hunt and scaring away the animals.

4 Bushnell Trophy Rifle Scope with Multi-X Reticle by Bushnell

Next up we have another Bushnell Trophy Rifle Scope with a high-quality Multi-X reticle. This scope has magnification settings of 2-7x36mm, which provides very clear mid-range targeting capabilities.

What’s great about this scope is that it’s a one-piece design that’s shorter than the average. Being a shorter scope, you get the benefit of more space to get your head into a perfect position for mid-range targeting with your shotgun.

This Bushnell scope also utilizes multi-layered lenses to make your visuals extra bright, contrasting and show some very nice clarity.

We also really like the fast-focus eyepiece incorporated into this design, so your targeting can be super quick. This is an ideal set-up for hunting animals such as deer, elk and all types of varmint.

There are also some great turret controlled adjustments available for windage and elevation settings. The adjustments use a 1/4 MOA type, which are easily moved with just your fingertips.

5 TRUGLO GOBBLE-STOPPER 30mm Turkey Hunting Dual-Color Dot Sight

Here, as the name suggests, we have a scope designed specifically for turkey hunting. The scope comes with a choice of red or green for the reticle color.

Sometimes the sun can become too much to handle when using normal scopes. The Gobble-stopper uses a detachable sunshade, so you’ll be comfortable targeting in bright conditions where glare could have been an issue.

This is a battery-powered set-up which includes one main battery and a spare battery that can be stored easily in a purposely made compartment. The batteries allow this lens to be illuminated for numerous lighting conditions.

Another exceptional feature with this Truglo scope is that it has a tough shockproof design. It can handle up to 1000g worth of shock, which is impressive. This allows the scope to deal with shotgun recoil over and over again.

The scope can also handle some of the harshest of weather conditions with it being waterproof and fog proof. Plus, the lenses on this set-up are multi-coated for excellent visuals.

In summary, this is a very rugged and shotgun scope that has been made ideal for turkey hunting but could also be used to hunt other animals just as easily. The windage and elevation adjustments on this are click operated and work nicely.

6 TRUGLO 4x32mm Compact Rimfire and Shotgun Scope Series

Moving on again, let’s look at another Truglo scope that’s part of the Truglo Compact Rimfire and Shotgun Scope Series. This scope comes with a standard 4 x 32mm magnification which is well suited for shotguns.

If you are looking for a shotgun scope that gives you clear imagery for hunting or for target shooting, this Truglo offers a very viable set-up. The lenses on this are multi-layered to give you super bright and contrasting visuals.

Additionally, there is a rubber eye guard built into this scope design to serve as protection when your shotgun recoils. The size of this scope also makes it easy for you to get into position and make quick target acquisitions.

If you want a reticle that’s specifically made for shotguns, the Diamond reticle on this scope is a perfect choice. Deer and turkey hunting has never been easier with the addition of this shotgun scope design.

Other features include a scratch-resistant and shock-resistant design, enabling you to go out hunting without the fear of damaging your scope.

And finally, the scope is nitrogen filled so that temperature changes do not fog up the lenses. It’s also waterproof and is made from aircraft-grade aluminum, making it very lightweight but durable. It also comes with a lifetime warranty.

Best Shotgun Scopes Buying Guide

After looking through all of our favorite scope options for shotguns, we are genuinely impressed with what is on offer. All the scopes in our review list are reasonably priced but give you some great features.

We do recommend that with most 12 gauge shotguns, you should be aiming at getting short to mid-range magnification settings on your scopes. Also if you can manage to get a shorter tube design, it will help you with getting into a position for quick target acquisition.

Best Shotgun Scopes For Hunting…

Nearly every single scope we looked at would work pretty well for hunting.

However, out of all the scopes we have viewed, we especially liked the

This scope has a quick access fast focus system that allows you to zoom in on targets in the spur of the moment. It also has great visuals, a short tube design, and includes 1/4 MOA adjustments which make for a solid piece of hunting hardware.

The Specialist option…

We had to mention this one more time, and what we’re talking about is the…

Apart from having a fantastic and truly memorable name, we like that Truglo has actually made a scope specifically for shotgun uses that want to hunt turkeys.

But What Are The Best Shotgun Scopes?

Our overall favorite shotgun scope in terms of value for money, quality, finish, and features is the…

This is a great all-round player which can give a nice balance of features such as a nitrogen sealed reticle, a QTA eyepiece, crystal-like visuals and more for a very reasonable price.

One final consideration you should have when thinking about buying a scope for your shotgun is how well will it handle the recoil.

Out of all the scopes we looked at, the Truglo models did stand out with their rubber eyepieces for protection from recoil. However, we like the Bushnell models for their strength and durability over time.

To conclude this article, we would like to thank you for checking out our 6 favorite shotgun scopes. We searched through many options to find you great deals and great features that you’re not likely to find anywhere else.

Anyone buying a shotgun scope should be thinking about a short to mid-range magnification setting. Plus, the scopes should ideally be a shorter length than your average rifle scope so that you can get more room for targeting.

We hope you are now one step further in finding the scope you need. Good luck, and as always – happy shooting!