Are you looking for the best scopes for 6.5 Creedmoor? You are in the right place.
Considering how well it can handle wind at extreme distances, it comes as no surprise that it is a popular choice amongst hunters and with the right scope, you can easily aim at distances of 1000 yards.
So after spending more hours in the wild than my wife would have liked to hear about and testing over 25 scopes, I trimmed the list down to the 5 best scope for 6.5 Creedmoor.
These scopes have been reviewed based on affordability, optics quality, ease of use, and build to ensure you get the best value for your money.
In case you do not want to dig through the details and would like to make an immediate purchase, here is Quick Glance of Best Scope For 6.5 Creedmoor:
- NightForce NXS5.5-22x56mm Riflescope
- Leupold VX-5HD Riflescope
- BSA Optics Sweet 223 AO (Budget 6.5 Creedmoor Scope)
- Athlon Optics Argos BTR Riflescope
- Monstrum G2 6-24×50
Table of Contents
Best Scope for 6.5 Creedmoor
Below is a comparison table that summarizes the benefits of each scope so you can make a slightly more informed buying decision.
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | FEATURES | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
 | NightForce NX | • Used by law enforcement agencies in the US • Deliver HD quality visuals at higher magnifications as well • Excellent durability. It is water and weather-proof | View Price |
 | Leupold VX | • Ideal scope for ranges of up to 1000 yards • The illumination turns off automatically after 5 mins of inactivity • Get 30 mins of additional shooting light when needed | View Price |
 | BSA Optics | • The duplex reticle has good visibility and accuracy • Turrets are numbered and smooth thus easy to adjust • Excellent durability and water-resistance considering the lower price | View Price |
 | Athlon Optics | • Comes with an illuminated reticle for dusk and dawn • Side adjustment for parallax makes it easy to adjust • The etched reticle has good shock-resistance and visibility | View Price |
 | Monstrum G2 | • Included in the purchase are sunshade and scope rings • The Flip-covers protect the lens from dust and dirt • Comes with longer eye relief at 4” to 4.5” | View Price |
But if you want to dig into details and learn more about the scopes, this section below is for you. So let’s dig right into it.
1. NightForce NXS5.5-22x56mm Riflescope
If you are looking for the absolute best and are willing to pay the big bucks for quality, this scope by NightForce is an absolute beast, and here’s why.
Firstly, NightForce scopes are trusted by both professionals for competitions and law enforcement agencies in the US, and if it is good enough for them, it sure is good enough for anyone. But don’t buy it just for this reason.
When in the wild, your vision is only as good as your scope. Thankfully, NightForce has you covered.
The use of a premium 56mm objective lens in tandem with the multi-layer anti-reflective coating ensures the best light transmission giving you crystal clear optics whether in low light or at full magnification of 22x.
Yes, there’s 22x magnification which in combination with the lens and the illuminated MOAR reticle gives you the freedom to aim at distances of about 2000 yards even at dusk and dawn.
Plus, the reticle makes shooting a breeze as well, even if you are a beginner, so you won’t end up wasting ammo and time missing out on targets. That is because it gives holdover and bullet drop estimation. This also eliminates the need to carry additional gear.
And since it is an SFP reticle, it maintains its large size and thus remains visible at all times even when you are using it at the lowest magnification, unlike FFP reticles that might become too small and get lost in the background.
When you are paying the big bucks, you also want the scope to last you for years and the NightForce scope is built for just that. The rock-solid aluminum build using a 30mm tube is perfectly thick, so while it is shock-resistant, it doesn’t become too heavy to carry around either.
To top it all, it is weather-resistant and waterproof. Plus, it has nitrogen purging, so whether you plan to use it in sub-zero temperatures or heavy rain, the scope has been tried and tested to withstand any kind of abuse.
But if you still face any issues, there’s the lifetime warranty that ensures you won’t have to pay a dime for any repairs or replacements.
I also love the turrets. They are tall so gripping them even with sweaty or wet hands is easy peasy and has the right amount of smoothness and audibility so you know exactly when it changes and won’t need a lot of force for it either.
And since they are numbered, it further makes it easy to adjust precisely, especially for newbies. Even the magnification ring is smooth and numbered for precise adjustments.
On the downsides, the scope costs around $2000. Expensive, right? But considering the optics quality, durability, and ease of use, it is worth every penny spent.
Pros
- NightForce scopes are used by law enforcement agencies
- Crystal clear visuals at any magnification levels
- Ideal to use in any weather condition
- Can be submerged in water
- Turrets and smooth and numbered for precise adjustments
- Backed by a lifetime warranty
- Ideal scope for distances of 2000 yards
- Illuminated reticle with two colors for low light
- Aiming is easy as the reticle provides bullet drop estimates
Cons
- Costs around $2000
2. Leupold VX-5HD Scope
If you are looking for something cheaper that doesn’t compromise on quality or ease of use, the Leupold VX-5HD is where your search ends, and here’s why.
Though half the price of the NightForce, the Leupold still goes toe to toe with the NightForce when it comes to optics quality and durability.
It pretty much uses the same lens quality so expect HD quality images irrespective of the light and magnification. The multi-layer anti-reflective coating does not just help with this but also keeps the lens protected from dust, dirt, and scratches.
Neither will fog-build up impede your view as the nitrogen purging keeps it away.
Even the build is similar. So whether you want to leave it submerged in water or happen, drop it while moving around, or use it in temperatures like -40, the scope functions just as well as a new one.
In fact, Leupold has a grueling testing process where the scope is put under recoil simulations that are 3x the power of a. .308 rifle to test for durability, so yes, this bad boy can take a beating as well.
Plus, it is backed by a lifetime warranty making this also a risk-free purchase.
Talking about the reticle, it is illuminated for clarity in low light, and if that doesn’t cut it for you, there’s a special Twilight Light Management System every Leupold scope is equipped with.
In seconds, it gives you 30-minutes of additional shooting light by reducing glare, which is much higher than the 20-minutes of the lower Leupold models.
Also, it comes with a CDS (custom dial system). This gives you range estimations making aiming and shooting distances up to 1000 yards easier while eliminating the need for other equipment.
With all these features, you are likely worried about battery life, right? Well, to ensure you don’t constantly have to worry about charging batteries or carrying additional battery packs, it has an auto turn off.
This turns off the illumination after 5-minutes of inactivity and when you need to use it again, it will turn on by itself within seconds.
The only drawback here is that you get slightly lower magnification than with the NightForce scope i.e 15x as compared to 22x, which means this scope is only ideal for 800-1000 yards.
The turrets are just as smooth and since they are numbered with good audibility, getting precise adjustments in any situation is easy.
Pros
- Excellent durability and it is waterproof
- Nitrogen purging prevents fog build on the lens
- Get HD visuals at any magnification
- The reticle provides range estimations for easy shooting
- Ideal scope for distances of 1000 yards
- Saves battery by turning illumination off after 5 mins of inactivity
- Get 30 minutes of additional light when needed
- Backed by a lifetime warranty
- Turrets are numbered and smooth
Cons
- Lower magnification than the NightForce
3. BSA Optics Sweet 223 AO (Budget 6.5 Creedmoor Scope)
Are you looking for something on the cheap? What if I told you that you could get a scope for less than $100? Say hello to the BSA Optics Sweet 223 AO scope. Here’s all about it.
Just because you are getting something on the cheap, doesn’t mean it will break or crack within months and the BSA scope proves it. That is because it also has the same aluminum build as the others.
That also means it is water-resistant (so you can even use it in rain) and should perform just as well in snow as well. Although, don’t leave it submerged in water for too long as the o-rings aren’t as good as the NightForce or Leupold scopes.
There’s also nitrogen purging to keep the lens fog-free
Considering the low price, I was also pleasantly surprised by the optics quality at higher magnifications and in low light. While there is slight blurring at 12x, the visuals were up to 6x to 8x, which is good enough for distances like 300-400 yards.
Another thing you don’t see on cheap scopes are good turrets. Not only are the turrets smooth and long but both magnification rings and turrets are numbered for easy adjustments.
As for the reticle, while it doesn’t give you range estimations like the premium scopes mentioned above, I liked the 30/30 duplex reticle. This thickness on the sides means it is big and bright, while the thin center ensures good accuracy.
Unlike most cheaper scopes, this one also comes with rings, which further saves you a few bucks considering these are essential for mounting.
On the downsides, the reticle isn’t illuminated, so you do not want to be using this at dusk or dawn. Plus, I would have liked slightly more eye relief like 3.5” than the 3” it comes with. Not that it is uncomfortable but a personal preference.
Pros
- Costs less than $100
- Excellent durability considering the price
- It is also waterproof and weatherproof
- Great scope for distances less than 500 yards
- Rings are included with the purchase
- Duplex reticle is pretty clear and thin center provides accuracy
- Turrets are numbers for precise adjustments
- It takes minimal pressure to adjust and yet maintains the position well
Cons
- The reticle does not give range estimations
- There’s slight blurring at full magnification
- The reticle isn’t illuminated
4. Athlon Optics Argos BTR Riflescope
Athlon is another very popular brand when it comes to scopes and the Optics Argos BTR rifle scope shows you exactly why.
A mid-range scope, it punches well above its weight, which mainly comes down to the lens, reticle quality, and durability.
Let’s begin with the reticle since that’s my favorite part about the scope. Firstly, it is illuminated with multiple brightness levels allowing you the freedom to continue hunting even at or dawn.
The lens is kept crystal clear by the argon purging while the coating keeps out dust and dirt, thus saving you the trouble of repairs and replacements.
Another thing I love here since it adds to the clarity of the reticle is that it is etched on to the glass. Considering the battery life is low, this is good news since the reticle remains pretty bright.
Plus, it makes it more shock-resistant (capable of withstanding 1000G recoil 1000 times)
And so you don’t have to carry ten different things for range estimation 500 yards out, the reticle has hash marks that compensate for bullet drop and holdover.
My only issue with the reticle is that being an FFP reticle, it shrinks more than I would have preferred making it difficult to spot in low light in case you zoom out too much, but for a shorter range, it is perfect.
The 6061T6 aircraft grade aluminum tube which in tandem with the sealed o-rings also makes it waterproof while ensuring durability.
Plus, the use of a single tube built means there are no joints either ensuring it doesn’t break the first time you hit a tree or a rock by mistake.
It only has 4x magnification, which is lower than the BSA scope as well, but the better lens quality means you get good clarity and the distance you can cover is about 300-400 yards.
The one big advantage it has over the BSA scope though, is that there is a lifetime warranty, so in case you experience a manufacturing defect, all repairs and replacements are free.
Pros
- The illuminated reticle is ideal for low light
- The multi-coated lens delivers crisp visuals
- Top-notch durability (can take a beating)
- Sealed o-rings make it waterproof
- Argon purging keeps the lens fog-free
- The etched reticle provides better durability and shock-resistance
- Reticle gives bullet drop and holdover estimations
- Backed by a lifetime warranty
- Parallax is located on the side for quick adjustment
Cons
- Low magnification as compared to the others
- FFP reticle becomes too small on lower magnification
5. Monstrum G2 6-24×50
If you are looking for affordable scopes, Monstrum is a brand you are likely to come across more often than not and their G2 scope is definitely worth the consideration, here’s why.
Firstly, scopes with numbered turrets are a rarity and but thankfully, the G2 is one of those rare scopes. It may not matter much but I have found myself more confident about the adjustments (especially those made in quick-time). They are perfectly loud as well.
It also has a longer eye relief than any other scope at 4” to 4.5” on the list which makes it easy to use as you have better review and recoil won’t hurt your eyes as well.
Another thing I like about this scope is the touch button illumination adjustment that allows you to adjust the illumination of the reticle in seconds for low light. Plus, you can choose between red and green illumination.
Along with that, the lenses have flip covers which add to the durability provided by the aluminum build. But in case you still find any dust on the lens, there’s also a lint-free cloth to wipe it off.
Included in the package are also Picatinny scope rings, a detachable honeycomb sunshade, and a battery that delivers a decent run time, ensuring you aren’t constantly worrying about charging or replacing the battery.
Lastly, you get good magnification up to 8x to 10x and while there is blurring above that, it is still better than most others in the price range. I also love the fact that even at this lower price range, the reticle provides bullet drop and holdover estimations for better aim.
Pros
- Nitrogen purge keeps the lens fog-free
- Turrets are numbered, tall, and smooth
- It has a longer eye relief at 4” to 4.5”
- The illuminated reticle is ideal for low light
- Illumination can be easily adjusted via the touch button
- Comes with Picatinny scope rings
- Included in the package is also a detachable sunshade
- Flip covers protect the lenses from dust, dirt, and oil
- Excellent durability and it is waterproof
- Good battery life
Cons
- Images aren’t good at higher magnifications
- Ideal only for a range of about 400-600 yards
Conclusion
That’s all from me. I am sure with this detailed guide, finding the best scope for 6.5 Creedmoor would be a breeze. The scopes have been ranked based on factors that matter like the reticle quality and design, durability of the scope in any weather, optics quality in low light, etc.
In case you have any questions about these scopes or others that you have in mind, do drop them in the comments below. You can also let me know about your experience with these or other scopes.
Feel free to mail your suggestions and tips via the contact page as well.
Till then, happy hunting.
