4 Best Scopes For Remington 700 - Top Optics in 2022
The Remington 700 has been delighting veteran hunters and competition shooters for decades. It’s not hard to see why.
It continues to be one of the most multifaceted, multifunctional rifles on the market and, considering it has been around since 1962, it’s no mean feat.
While you don’t need to go old school to find a worthy rifle – there are plenty of great new brands – sometimes, a classic is just irresistible.
The accuracy of the Remington 700 rifle is discussed a lot in shooting circles.
With a compatible scope, you can do some amazing things with it. I’ve made some unbelievable shots in my time while out hunting at long-range with the 700.
There are other appealing features, of course, but what’s more convincing than ‘anywhere, any target’ precision. You buy a rifle to shoot like a pro and the Remington 700 doesn’t disappoint on that front.
Benefits of Buying a Remington 700 Rifle
- Proven accuracy and precision (high level)
- Light trigger system
- Durable and resilient (weatherproofed)
- Comes in 40 different versions/models
- Multiple safety features/functions
Let’s just talk about the Remington’s safety features for a moment. It is an anomaly for such an old rifle because it’s packed with cool safety features, significantly more than competitor weapons.
The use of a three-ring firing pin is interesting. Instead of including a traditional reinforced pin like most rifles, the 700 has three rings of counterbored steel that enclose the whole of the case head.
From there, the bolt passes through a lock ring to further boost trigger safety. It means the casing is wrapped with multiple layers of strong steel. The lock ring is positioned inside a sunken barrel that is wrapped with yet another steel protector.
According to manufacturer Remington Arms, this triple lock system makes it near impossible for the case to be blown.
Shooting For Distance: How To Increase Your Range
The Remington 700 is a very accurate hunting rifle as I said. There’s always room for improvement though. Add the right scope and you can start shooting with a precision you didn’t know you were capable of.
With a compatible scope, you can increase your shooting range, boost your overall performance and enjoy a more satisfying hunting or plinking experience. It’s important to consider your choice of scope carefully because it must be well suited to the Remington to achieve all of these goals.
Part of this is picking a scope with an appropriate range. Often, people assume the scope with the best range capabilities is automatically the best choice.
It’s not always the case. If your rifle is designed to shoot only from close or medium-range, a high powered scope is largely useless. So, let’s discuss the 700’s range capabilities.
The Remington 700 is a versatile weapon that can be customized by those with the right skillset. For instance, some people like to chop and change the barrels to make their weapon better at shooting from longer or shorter ranges.
They do this because the rifle is designed for medium distance shooting. It’s perfectly capable of hitting targets at close or long distances, but it performs best somewhere in the middle.
If you’ve got the skills, you can no doubt nail a tricky shot at less than 100 yards. To enjoy everything the Remington 700 is designed to be, however, you need a scope shaped for medium-range aiming and shooting.
This is the best way to experience its high levels of accuracy and other standout features. I recommend opting for a scope with 5x to 9x magnification when using the Remington 700.
Understanding Scope Ranges
Long Distance – 500+ yards
When squeezing off shots at distances over 500 yards, it’s important to consider environmental conditions and any factors that may influence your rifle’s maximum potential range such as holdover, bullet drop, windage and elevation.
To eliminate targets at 800 to 1000 yards, a scope must offer 9 x to 12x magnification at a minimum. You can get rifle scopes with more power than this but, after a certain point, it becomes redundant for the environment you’re in.
If you’re out hunting, anything over 12x is unnecessary. It’s worth mentioning (again) the Remington 700 is a medium-range weapon so a high powered scope doesn’t guarantee top performance.
Medium Distance – 250 to 500 yards
This is where you should be looking to truly maximize the power and capabilities of a Remington 700. Anywhere from 5x to 9x magnification is the type of scope this weapon is made for.
Close Distance – 250 yards or less
For close distance varmint shooting or rabbit hunting, opt for a scope with 1x to 4x magnification minimum. Again, the Remington 700 is capable of nailing these close-range shots and, with a good scope, you’ll rarely fail.
Top 4 Scopes for Remington 700
Scope Image | Scope | Price |
|---|---|---|
 | Nikon ProStaff 3-9x40 (Black Matte Rifle Scope) | |
 | Vortex Optics Diamondback 4-12x40 | |
 | UTG 3-12x44 30mm Compact Scope | |
 | Nikon M-308 4-6x42 Rifle Scope |
Now let’s get down to business with the
Best 4 Scopes for Remington 700 Reviews
1. Nikon ProStaff 3-9x40 (Black Matte Rifle Scope)
Nikon frequently appears on ‘best of’ lists because the manufacturer is celebrated for its impeccable design integrity and overall performance. The Nikon ProStaff Riflescope is yet another winner that’s very popular with hunters of all varieties.
The scope’s outer casing is made from extremely lightweight aluminum. This has an immediate impact on handling, making the accessory feel like a natural and intuitive part of the rifle.
Despite being this light and well balanced, it doesn’t lose any strength. The scope is sleek but durable with an impressive degree of shock resistance.
It delivers variable magnification of 3x to 9x. This is more than enough to fell a target from 1000 yards if you’re reasonably skilled. The scope also features 40mm specs to further enhance its ease of use and overall performance.
My favorite feature is the sophisticated optics on this Nikon ProStaff scope. The objective lens is multicoated to reflect glare while still allowing for maximum light transmission.
The impact on image clarity is obvious as soon as you take this glass out to hunt in low light conditions. Plus, it’s hand turret adjustors allow users to make reliable windage, holdover, bullet drop and other accommodations on the fly.
The Final Verdict
The Nikon ProStaff 3-9x40 is a high performing rifle scope with a lot of premium features. I haven’t even mentioned its elegant black matte finish yet.
I’ve tested a lot of Nikon scopes and, while it’s not my favorite, I couldn’t find much to complain about. The accuracy is impressive, it operates smoothly (you never find yourself fumbling) and it resets to zero effortlessly and intuitively.
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2. Vortex Optics Diamondback 4-12x40
Vortex Optics is another familiar brand to veteran hunters who knows it means high performance, high precision. The Vortex Optics Diamondback 4-12x40 scope looks rugged and delivers a similarly unflappable shooting experience.
Multiple target practice tests demonstrated its suitability for the Remington 700. The scope has a sleekly designed dead hold reticle that facilitates shooting at variable distances.
With its shock resistance, you never have to worry about heavy recoil. You can take on difficult shots or tough targets with heavy cartridges safe in the knowledge your weapon will absorb the blow.
When testing, I became fond of the turret’s neat little clicks. Sometimes, it’s hard to find adjustment functions that work smoothly.
Either the clicks are far too loud in an outdoor stalking scenario or they’re too quiet to hear above the wind. I didn’t have any of these problems with the Vortex Optics Diamondback.
The design of the scope is similarly pleasing with its super-resilient anodized coating and argon purged, weatherproofed lenses. It has been designed with an almost tactical level of toughness in mind.
Wherever you do your hunting, this scope can stand up to conditions without compromising on aiming quality.
The Final Verdict
When Vortex Optics Diamondback 4-12x40 scope and Remington 700 rifle combine, they create a pretty tough weapon. You can see the accessory’s durability right out of the box.
Accuracy is ever so slightly lower here than with the Nikon ProStaff but this Vortex Optics scope has superior weatherproofing and hand turrets.
It’s worth mentioning how compatible this scope is with the .308 if you’re planning to switch up your weapons.
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3. UTG 3-12x44 30mm Compact Scope
Don’t listen to the critics when they say small can’t be beautiful…or powerful. This UTG 3-12x44 30mm Compact Scope is little and lightweight but also very effective.
Some standout features include an impeccably designed SWAT turret that delivers an infinite (yes, really) parallax range and an IE reticle with customizable illumination.
The scope’s innovative IE reticle can be applied in any one of 36 colors. If it seems a bit much, it is. I agree. I didn’t find having these options a distraction though, so it’s not a weakness.
Whether the options are useful for you depends on how and where you choose to shoot. I prefer to keep my reticle choices simple, but I appreciate such variation can be valuable in rapidly changing conditions.
The UTG 3-12x44 30mm Compact Scope provides premium optics and impressive image clarity via its multicoated lenses and glare-resistant sun cap. Using this sun cap maintains image clarity even in harsh sunlight and performs the secondary role of protecting the lens from scratches and grime.
For such an affordable rifle scope, there’s a lot of great features to explore and enjoy. For instance, the locking function enables users to load up preconfigured settings and jump right back into using them when needed.
So, if you normally transition from a low lying spot to a higher elevation during a single hunting trip, you can lock in aiming settings for both.
The Final Verdict
The lens quality on the UTG 3-12x44 30mm Compact Scope is undeniable. Both lenses provide consistent clarity and the tube material demonstrates excellent craftsmanship too.
Consider this scope if you’re looking for the best possible balance between functionality, design and ease of use.
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4. Nikon M-308 4-6x42 Rifle Scope
The Nikon M-308 4-6x42 Rifle Scope was probably my favorite of the bunch to test and handle. Right out of the box, I noticed it was slightly heavier than the other three scopes on my review list.
This lowered my expectations a little but not for long. As usual, Nikon offers superb image clarity. Views are always crisp and clear with vibrant contrasts regardless of light and weather conditions.
The fast focus reticle operates smoothly and allows for quick resetting and aiming even in windy weather. Plus, with the scope’s rapid action turrets for support, you can make adjustments fast and adapt quickly to changes in the light, humidity levels or wind and associated bullet drop compensations.
There are two turret options available when buying this scope: the BDC 800 reticle MOA turrets and NikoPlex Reticle RA turrets. To ensure a fair review, I tested both options and loved both.
There were subtle differences between the two but nothing dramatic. Both selections were precise, tactile and effortless to use. Both delivered straightforward, deeply satisfying turret experiences.
The Nikon M-308 Scope is O-ring sealed for robust weatherproof protection. It resists fog, wind, rain and heavy recoil, so you don’t need to handle it too gently.
As is common with scopes from Nikon and some other brands, there’s a lack of eye relief. At just 3.7”, it may cause problems for those with sensitive eyes or spectacles.
The Final Verdict
Opting for a Nikon rifle scope based on image quality is never a bad idea. The brand consistently delivers remarkable optics.
Though the Nikon M-308 4-6x42 Rifle Scope is heavier and could be a bit more ergonomic in some places (such as eye relief), its overall performance is characteristically impressive.
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Finding The Right Rifle Scope For Your Remington 70
It’s difficult to choose an outright favorite from the four scopes reviewed here. The UTG 3-12x44 30mm Compact Scope has a slight edge over the others simply because it comes with so many practical features.
I also like the fact it’s designed to be efficient in size and overall dimensions as well as aiming and shooting. For more advice on finding the perfect rifle scope, check out my reviews of the best accessories for the 30-30, 30-06, 6.5 Creedmoor and 45-70.
For other rifle and scope types check: