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5 Best Scope for Eye Relief: The Ultimate 2025 Review and Buying Guide

When it comes to shooting comfort and precision, having the best scope for eye relief can make all the difference. Eye relief refers to the distance between your eye and the scope’s ocular lens where you can still see a clear, full image.

Too short, and you risk the dreaded “scope bite”; too long, and you’ll struggle to maintain a full field of view. Over years of testing optics on everything from AR-10s to lightweight hunting rifles, I’ve found that scopes with generous, consistent eye relief provide not only comfort but also confidence in every shot.

This comprehensive guide reviews my top picks for shooters who prioritize long eye relief — ideal for heavy recoil rifles, extended shooting sessions, or fast target acquisition.

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Top Product List

Here’s a quick look at the top scopes that deliver outstanding eye relief and overall performance:

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Leupold VX-6HD Scope⁠

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Vortex Crossfire II 3-9x40 (Dead-Hold BDC)⁠

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Burris Scout Scope⁠

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Trijicon AccuPoint TR22 2.5-10x56mm Riflescope⁠

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NightForce SHV 5-20x56mm Zeroset⁠

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Detailed Reviews: 5 Best Scope for Eye Relief of 2025

1. Leupold VX-6HD Scope

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The Leupold VX-6HD is my top choice for shooters who demand premium optics and generous eye relief. With up to 4 inches of consistent relief across magnification settings, it’s ideal for high-caliber rifles like .300 Win Mag or .338 Lapua.

Product Specs:

Magnification: 3-18x

Objective Lens: 50mm

Focal Plane: Second

Tube Diameter: 30mm

Weight: 22 oz

Eye Relief: 3.7"–4.2"

Pros:

Exceptional clarity in all light conditions

Long, forgiving eye relief

Robust aluminum housing

CDS-ZL2 elevation dial for precise adjustment

Cons:

Premium price range

Slightly bulky for ultralight setups

Glass Clarity & Reticle: Edge-to-edge sharpness is excellent. The Twilight Max HD light management system provides superior performance in low light. The illuminated FireDot reticle makes target acquisition intuitive.

Eye Relief & Eye Box: Leupold’s generous eye box makes quick target acquisition effortless. Even at 18x magnification, I had no tunneling or black ring.

Durability: Waterproof, fogproof, and shockproof, it’s built to handle harsh field conditions.

Elevation & Windage Knobs: The CDS-ZL2 system is tactile and repeatable. Each click corresponds precisely with its MOA value.

Magnification & Parallax: Smooth magnification ring, parallax adjustable from 50 yards to infinity.

Mounting & Accessories: Mounted using Leupold 30mm rings on a Tikka T3x in .308. Zeroing took only five shots.

Personal Experience: I used it during a Colorado elk hunt — crisp visuals, easy holdovers, and no scope bite despite shooting from odd angles.

Online Comments: Shooters on Reddit praise its zero retention and light transmission in low light.

Verdict: A top-tier option for hunters or long-range shooters seeking elite clarity and comfort.

➡️➡️➡️ Explore User Feedback and Current Pricing on Amazon⁠

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2. Vortex Crossfire II 3-9x40 (Dead-Hold BDC)

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If you want reliable eye relief on a budget, the Crossfire II 3-9x40 delivers surprising performance for its price.

Product Specs:

Magnification: 3–9x

Objective Lens: 40mm

Eye Relief: 3.8"–4.4"

Reticle: Dead-Hold BDC

Tube: 1 inch

Pros:

Exceptional eye relief

Affordable price

Lifetime warranty

Clear, coated lenses

Cons:

Slight edge blur at 9x

No parallax adjustment

Glass Clarity & Reticle: The multi-coated lenses deliver vivid contrast. The BDC reticle helps with long-range estimations.

Eye Relief & Eye Box: One of the most forgiving in its class — perfect for beginners or those with heavier recoil rifles.

Durability: O-ring sealed, nitrogen purged. Withstood over 500 rounds on my .308 without losing zero.

Elevation & Windage: 1/4 MOA turrets are consistent, though a bit soft on feel.

Personal Experience: Mounted on a Ruger American .30-06 using 1-inch rings. Shot sub-MOA at 100 yards after a quick zero.

Online Comments: Users on hunting forums frequently mention its reliability and long eye relief for heavy recoiling calibers.

Verdict: The best affordable scope for shooters needing forgiving eye relief and dependable accuracy.

➡️➡️➡️ Explore User Feedback and Current Pricing on Amazon⁠

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3. Burris Scout Scope

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The Burris Scout Scope is a legend for forward-mounted optics on scout rifles. Its 9.2 to 12-inch eye relief sets it apart for fast, both-eyes-open shooting.

Product Specs:

Magnification: 2.75x fixed

Eye Relief: 9.2–12"

Reticle: Heavy Plex

Weight: 13 oz

Pros:

Extremely long eye relief

Lightweight and compact

Great for scout rifles or lever guns

Cons:

Fixed magnification limits range

No illumination

Glass Clarity & Reticle: Burris lenses are crisp with anti-glare coatings. The Heavy Plex reticle is bold and easy to track on moving targets.

Eye Relief & Eye Box: The long relief allows mounting ahead of the receiver. Perfect for M1A or Ruger Gunsite setups.

Durability: Waterproof, fogproof, and shockproof.

Elevation & Windage: Positive clicks, holds zero beautifully even after 400 rounds of .308.

Personal Experience: Mounted on my Ruger Gunsite Scout. Perfectly balanced, rapid target acquisition, and no scope bite ever.

Online Comments: Praised across Reddit’s r/ScoutRifles community for its ruggedness and practical design.

Verdict: Ideal for shooters seeking the ultimate in long eye relief or scout-style configurations.

➡️➡️➡️ Explore User Feedback and Current Pricing on Amazon⁠

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4. Trijicon AccuPoint TR22 2.5-10x56mm Riflescope

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Trijicon’s AccuPoint TR22 combines superior low-light performance with generous eye relief and the durability the brand is known for.

Product Specs:

Magnification: 2.5–10x

Objective: 56mm

Eye Relief: 4.1"–4.3"

Reticle: Green Triangle Post (Illuminated via fiber optic/tritium)

Pros:

Excellent low-light reticle

Long eye relief

No battery needed

Built like a tank

Cons:

On the heavier side

Pricey

Glass Clarity & Reticle: Superb color fidelity and resolution. The tritium illumination glows naturally without electronics.

Eye Relief & Eye Box: Forgiving and comfortable, even with magnum cartridges.

Durability: Aircraft-grade aluminum and weather-sealed.

Personal Experience: Tested on a Browning X-Bolt .300 Win Mag in harsh Montana winter. Never lost zero, even after multiple drops in snow.

Online Comments: Users on AR15.com praise its ruggedness and zero maintenance illumination.

Verdict: A perfect blend of toughness, brightness, and comfort for hunters and tactical shooters alike.

➡️➡️➡️ Explore User Feedback and Current Pricing on Amazon⁠

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5. NightForce SHV 5-20x56mm Zeroset

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NightForce scopes are synonymous with precision and reliability, and the SHV 5-20x56mm is no exception. Its 3.5-inch eye relief offers comfort even under powerful recoil.

Product Specs:

Magnification: 5–20x

Objective Lens: 56mm

Tube: 30mm

Weight: 29 oz

Eye Relief: 3.5"

Pros:

Razor-sharp optics

Exceptional tracking accuracy

Zeroset feature

Heavy-duty build

Cons:

Slightly heavy

Higher-end cost

Glass Clarity & Reticle: Image quality is top-tier, with no chromatic aberration at high magnifications.

Eye Relief & Eye Box: Comfortable for prone or benchrest shooting, allowing consistent head positioning.

Durability: Rugged construction; tested on my .300 PRC setup. Maintained zero after 700 rounds.

Personal Experience: Mounted with NightForce rings; zeroing at 100 yards took 4 shots. Eye relief was perfect for long-range prone shooting.

Online Comments: Shooters on precision forums rate it among the most dependable scopes under $1500.

Verdict: Ideal for long-range shooters demanding precision and eye comfort in one package.

➡️➡️➡️ Explore User Feedback and Current Pricing on Amazon⁠

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How to Choose the Right Scope for Eye Relief

Determine Rifle Caliber: Heavy-recoil rifles (.30-06, .300 Win Mag) require scopes with at least 4 inches of relief to prevent eye injury.

Consider Shooting Position: Benchrest shooters can use shorter eye relief scopes, while hunters benefit from longer relief for quick, offhand shots.

Check Focal Plane Type: FFP scopes are better for tactical and range estimation use, while SFP is ideal for hunting and consistent reticle visibility.

Look at the Eye Box: A wide, forgiving eye box allows faster sight picture acquisition under stress.

Warranty and Build Quality: Always prioritize brands offering lifetime warranties and proven ruggedness like Leupold, Vortex, or NightForce.

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FAQs

1. What is considered good eye relief for a rifle scope? Anything above 3.5 inches is comfortable; 4 inches or more is ideal for heavy-recoil firearms.

2. Why does eye relief change with magnification? Variable scopes adjust the internal lens assembly, affecting the eye-to-lens distance.

3. Are scout scopes better for eye relief? Yes. They offer extended relief (8–12 inches) and are perfect for forward-mounted configurations.

4. Does longer eye relief affect accuracy? Not directly, but it enhances comfort and consistency in sight alignment.

5. Can I use long eye relief scopes on handguns? Yes, handgun scopes often require 10–20 inches of eye relief due to arm’s-length shooting positions.

6. What scope has the longest eye relief? The Burris Scout Scope leads with up to 12 inches of relief — unmatched in its category.

7. Does higher magnification reduce eye relief? Generally, yes. As magnification increases, eye relief tends to decrease, especially in budget optics.

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Conclusion

After rigorous field testing and comparison, the best scope for eye relief depends on your shooting style. For high-end hunters, the Leupold VX-6HD stands unrivaled. For budget-conscious shooters, the Vortex Crossfire II offers unbeatable value. Meanwhile, the Burris Scout Scope remains the king of extended eye relief designs.

Whether you’re mounting on a hard-hitting magnum or a fast-handling scout rifle, prioritizing eye relief enhances not just comfort but safety — ensuring your shooting sessions are precise, enjoyable, and pain-free.