6 Best Scopes for 6.5 Creedmoor in 2024 — Reviews & Top Picks

Last Updated on Jan 03 2024

There’s a reason the 6.5 Creedmoor has become so popular. It’s a low-recoil round that can help you hit an ultra-long-distance target with ease. But to get the most out of your round, you need the right scope.

Even a 6.5 Creedmoor will end up well off target if you’re using the wrong optics. That’s why we tracked down and reviewed six of the best scope options out there. With any of these optics, you’ll be hitting your target in no time!

If you don’t know what you’re looking at with these scopes, we’ve got you covered there too. Our comprehensive buyer’s guide will break down everything that you need to know and walk you through what you need to look for when seeking out the best scope for a 6.5 Creedmoor.

A Quick Glance at Our Favorite Picks

	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		Athlon Optics Argos BTR Illuminated Hunting Rifle Scope	Lifetime warranty First focal plane reticle Decent 3.3" of eye relief	CHECK PRICE
Best Value		Simmons Whitetail Classic Rifle Scope	Affordable Six magnification ranges Lifetime warranty	CHECK PRICE
Best Long-Range Scope		Burris Signature HD Hunting Rifle Scope	Lifetime warranty Illuminated reticle Six magnification ranges	CHECK PRICE
		Leupold VX-3i 4.5-14x50mm Riflescope	Lifetime warranty Illuminated reticle Made in the U.S.A.	CHECK PRICE
		Primary Arms SLX 3-18x50mm FFP Rifle Scope	First focal plane reticle Lifetime warranty 3.5" to 3.9" eye relief	CHECK PRICE

The 6 Best Scopes for 6.5 Creedmoor

1. Athlon Optics Argos BTR Illuminated Hunting Rifle Scope — Best Overall

There are few sights better suited to a 6.5 Creedmoor than the Athlon Optics Argos Rifle Scope. It’s a great combination of price and performance and even comes with a lifetime warranty, so you know that this sight will last.

The 6x to 24x magnification range is more than enough power for both mid-and long-range shots, and the first focal plane reticle is extremely easy to use. While the 3.3″ of eye relief isn’t the highest available, with a low-recoil round like the 6.5 Creedmoor, it’s more than enough.

This optic does have an illuminated reticle for low-light conditions. While the minimum 6x magnification is a bit much for close-range shots, that’s not a big deal for a Creedmoor.

2. Simmons Whitetail Classic Rifle Scope — Best Value

There’s little doubt that the best scope for a 6.5 Creedmoor for the money is the Simmons Whitetail Classic Rifle Scope. Not only is it an extremely affordable option, but it also comes with a lifetime warranty and a litany of performance features.

There are six different magnification ranges that you can choose from, but the best option only features a maximum 12x magnification range. While this is more than enough for most rifles, it will limit the overall range of a Creedmoor round.

Still, the 3.3″ of eye relief is more than enough, and at this price point, you’re not going to find a better deal.

3. Burris Signature HD Hunting Rifle Scope — Best Long-Range Scope

If you’re not worried about how much your new scope costs, go with the Burris Signature HD Hunting Rifle Scope. It’s expensive but packed full of features to justify the cost.

There are six different magnification ranges to choose from, and the 5x to 25x magnification range is formulated specifically for the Creedmoor round. Moreover, the 3.3″ to 3.6″ of eye relief is more than enough, and the scope features an illuminated reticle.

But while there’s plenty of things that this scope does right, it does have a second focal plane reticle. While some shooters might prefer this, there’s little doubt that a first focal plane option is easier to use.

4. Leupold VX-3i 4.5-14x50mm Riflescope

Leupold is a top-tier optics manufacturer, and products like the VX-3i rifle scope highlight why. This scope utilizes a Twilight Light Management system to give you more usable light at dusk. In addition to the illuminated reticle, this sight excels in low-light situations.

From there, this sight gives you great magnification, starting at 4.4″ at low power and narrowing down to a still impressive 3.6″ at its highest magnification level. This sight also gives you a versatile 4.5x to 14x magnification range, which allows you to hit short-, mid-, and long-range targets.

However, not only is this scope extremely expensive, but the top-end magnification of 14x is also far less powerful than most Creedmoor scopes. Still, it comes with a lifetime warranty and is an extremely high-quality scope that won’t leave you disappointed year after year.

5. Primary Arms SLX 3-18x50mm FFP Rifle Scope

An extremely popular choice for 6.5 Creedmoor is the Primary Arms SLX Rifle Scope. It’s a first focal plane scope with an illuminated reticle. Moreover, the 3x to 18x magnification range is among the most versatile on the market.

It’s enough to hit short-, mid-, and long-range targets, and it comes with a lifetime warranty. From there, the 3.5″ to 3.9″ is more than enough for a Creedmoor round and gives you a ton of versatility when mounting the optic.

However, for all the perks that this sight offers, the optics simply aren’t as bright as some other options. This is a big deal when you’re trying to hit distant targets.

6. Monstrum G2 6-24×50 FFP Rifle Scope

The Monstrum G2 FFP Rifle Scope is a first focal plane scope that is easy to use, and the 6x to 24x magnification range is more than enough power for both mid to long-range shots.

But even more impressive is the 4″ to 4.5″ of eye relief. Furthermore, this scope has an illuminated reticle that you can cycle between two different colors!

For everything that this scope has, it doesn’t have a lifetime warranty, as Monstrum opted for a single-year warranty instead. Also, the optics aren’t as bright as high-end ones, which makes the higher magnification levels challenging to use.

It’s still a great choice — we just think that you can do better.

Buyer’s Guide – Picking the Best Scope for 6.5 Creedmoor

With so many features and specs, it’s not uncommon for confusion and misinformation to reign supreme. Which specs matter and which ones can you ignore? We break down everything that you need to know before and after you purchase your next scope.

What Magnification Do You Need?

There’s little doubt that Creedmoor rounds are known for their long-range prowess, but without a scope that zooms in on your target, you’re going to have a hard time hitting anything. But how much magnification do you really need?

It all comes down to a few different factors, including personal preference and skill. Look at it this way: If you’re using 10x magnification, a target that is 100 yards away will appear 10 yards away. The impressive 25x magnification that the Burris Signature HD sight offers will make that target appear only 4 yards away!

However, hitting distant targets is about more than getting the target to appear in your sight. While you might be able to hit a target at 100 yards with zero magnification, you’ll be unlikely to hit a target at 2,500 yards with 25x magnification!

That’s because, at extreme distances like that, even the smallest factors can cause your round to go way off target. From windage to bullet drop and even your heartbeat, anything can make a huge difference at long range.

In the end, magnification will only take you so far — skill and practice will need to take you the rest of the way.

Zeroing Your New Scope

If you want to hit distant targets, there are few things more important than zeroing your scope. To hit targets that far away, you need to have your scope zeroed perfectly, as even small movements can make a big difference.

As an example, if you’re 2″ off zero at 100 yards when you stretch that to 500 yards, you’re now 10″ off your target!

But while you might be tempted to zero your scope at a longer distance than 100 yards, you’ll find that this actually makes the entire process more challenging.

That’s because most reticles utilize the 100-yard baseline for all further adjustments. So, zeroing your scope at a longer distance can complicate the math, and you don’t always have a ton of time to adjust out in the field.

Why Brightness Matters

As magnification improves, the amount of light that your sight brings in decreases. That’s because there is only a certain amount of light in a given area, so as you increase magnification, the overall amount of light decreases!

In fact, the relationship is this: Light intensity is inversely proportional to magnification squared. That means at 5x magnification, you have 25 times less light, and at 25x magnification, you have 625 times less light!

So, even when it’s only a little overcast, it can be hard to see through the scope at higher magnification levels unless the sight that you’re using can make the most of the light in the area. Brightness matters, and some scopes do it better than others.

Do You Need an Illuminated Reticle?

Magnification affects brightness, and that’s why an illuminated reticle can be so beneficial. With a traditional glass-etched reticle, it’s often the first thing that you stop being able to see clearly.

This problem can be eliminated by illuminating the reticle. So, while you don’t need an illuminated reticle, it certainly makes everything a bit easier. You still need to be able to see your target, but at least spotting the reticle won’t be a problem.

First Focal Plane vs. Second Focal Plane

One of the most important decisions that you need to make is whether you want a first focal plane or a second focal plane reticle. Many first-time novices won’t even realize that this is a decision at all, but that’s a big mistake, especially for a long-range round like a Creedmoor.

The difference between the two focal planes is simple but important. First focal plane reticles always appear the same size no matter the magnification that you’re using. All the dots and dashes automatically adjust, which means you can always use them to gauge distance and bullet drop.

Second focal plane reticles, on the other hand, only appear their proportional size at full magnification. This means at lower magnifications, the reticle will appear smaller. Not only that, but the dashes and dots also won’t mean a thing unless you’re at full magnification.

So, while this frees up the field of view a bit, it can make it difficult to gauge distances. While deciding between a first focal plane and second focal plane scope does come down to personal preference, the fact that first focal plane scopes are easier to use makes them a perk to us.

What Is Eye Relief and How Much Do You Need?

An important factor when deciding what scope you need is eye relief. This refers to the distance that you need between your eye and the sight to get a clear image through the scope. Without enough eye relief, as soon as you pull the trigger, the recoil will send the scope straight back into your eye!

While Creedmoor rounds are low-recoil options, that doesn’t mean you don’t need to worry about eye relief. There are two reasons for that. First, low recoil doesn’t mean no recoil. Even a little can hurt a ton when it’s right into your eye.

Second, eye relief gives you the ability to set up in a comfortable position without needing to sit “on top” of your rifle. This allows you to spend more time looking through your scope comfortably, which means you’ll have one less thing to worry about when lining up a shot.

With all that in mind, how much eye relief do you need for a 6.5 Creedmoor? We recommend at least 3.25″. That’s about .25″ less than what’s suggested for most rifle scopes, but that’s because of the low recoil.

You can get away with as little as 3″, but anything less is going to be extremely uncomfortable and risk injury when you pull the trigger. The closer you can get to 4″, the better. This gives you a more comfortable setup, which you’ll undoubtedly appreciate in the field.

A Note on Warranties

Every company swears up and down that it’s going to sell you a reliable product. But as soon as you give it your money, it disappears into the night. This is not the case for companies that offer a warranty.

A warranty is a company putting its money where its mouth is. It promises that if there is anything wrong with the product that it sold you, it will replace it or repair it free of charge.

Of course, the best warranty out there is the lifetime warranty. This is the company promising you that its product will last as long as you want it to and that you don’t even need to worry about replacing it.

So, while a product with a lifetime warranty might be more expensive upfront, it’s almost always a better deal in the long run.

Conclusion

Even with so many great options for a 6.5 Creedmoor out there, we’re confident that the perfect scope for your rifle is on our list. Hopefully, we gave you the confidence to order your next scope today.

If you’re still unsure about what scope is right for you, go with the Athlon Optics Argos BTR Illuminated Hunting Rifle Scope. There’s a reason that it’s our top choice for the best Scope for 6.5 Creedmoor — it expertly blends performance and price.

However, if you’re looking to save a few bucks, you can’t go wrong with the Simmons Whitetail Classic Rifle Scope. It does everything that you need for a fraction of the price and still comes with a lifetime warranty.

Soon, you’ll be heading out to the range or field with your new optic!

• You might also be interested in: 8 Best Scopes for 6.5 Grendel — Reviews & Top Picks

Featured Image Credit: eans, Shutterstock