When it comes to accurate shooting, a riflescope is as important as the rifle it is mounted on. A top-quality scope will wring more accuracy than you might expect out of a mediocre rifle. Put a top-quality riflescope on a great rifle, and the level of accuracy might blow your mind.
Fortunately, it’s not hard to find a top-quality riflescope these days. Improvements in manufacturing have led to clearer glass, better coatings and tighter all-around tolerances, as well as better manufacturing methods. Consequently, riflescopes made today are head and shoulders above those just 25 or 30 years ago.
As an avid big-game hunter for more than a half century, I actually think that riflescopes have advanced further over the past generation than rifles themselves. The difference in quality between high-dollar scopes and more budget brands has gotten smaller, which is a great thing for the end user.
For retailers, however, those improvements make the decision of what riflescopes to keep in inventory much more difficult, especially if your customers come from a wide range of incomes. Fortunately, there are plenty of high-quality scopes in all price ranges that are definite contenders for a place in your sales display.
Today, let’s take a brief look at seven new riflescopes introduced at SHOT Show 2026 that you might want to consider for your retail establishment. Any or all might just catch the eye of your rifle-shooting customers.
The new generation of Burris Veracity scope is a complete redesign of the original that elevates the proven platform with enhanced optical performance, refined ergonomics and innovative features to help hunters find success in the field. Available in three versatile magnification ranges — 2.5-12x42mm, 3-15x44mm and 5-25x50mm — with five reticle options in both first- and second-focal-planes, the new Veracity models offer something for every hunter and every pursuit. The second-generation Veracity is more compact and streamlined, offering improved handling and balance in the field without sacrificing performance.
Burris engineers have incorporated fully multi-coated lenses and premium ED glass to deliver the brightest, sharpest and most color-accurate optical experience ever in a Burris hunting scope. The result is a riflescope line that performs flawlessly from first light to last, with edge-to-edge clarity and exceptional low-light capability. Hunters will immediately recognize Burris' new R.E.D. Industrial Design, integrated into the second-generation Veracity, featuring the distinctive red ocular accent and aggressive, high-traction knurling on the turret caps and magnification ring. The scopes also feature Burris’ new Knob Synergy System, a mobile turret platform that allows shooters to tailor their setup to their exact needs. MSRP ranges from $1,019 to $1,559.
The good folks at EOTECH, producer of professional-grade optics trusted by the world’s tier-one professionals, have introduced their newest riflescope to the popular Vudu line. Adding to the Vudu super short riflescopes, the new 4-12x36 is a first-focal-plane design geared to the more tactical or professional end user. The scopes overall length is only 7.1 inches, making it ideal for even the shortest rifle or AR pistol design. The compact, light and durable scope is fog, water and shock resistant, and the 36mm objective lens allows for excellent light transmission, even in low light conditions.
A wide power band on the eyepiece makes transitioning from low to high magnification quick and easy, and an adjustable diopter allows for precise focus for the individual user’s vision. The scope’s turrets offer .1 MRAD adjustments and are both capped to protect from inclement weather or accidental adjustments. Once the scope is zeroed, the turrets can quickly be reset to zero if the shooter wishes to do so. For mounting, a machined interface located at the bottom of the scope will adapt to the included EOTECH mount or any aftermarket mini-ACOG mounts, and mount directly on a mil-standard rail. MSRP is $1,219.
Hawke Optics continues to push the boundaries of performance and accessibility with the new Vantage HD 34 FFP riflescope. Designed for precision shooters, competitors and advanced air rifle enthusiasts, the Vantage 34 FFP lineup delivers true first-focal-plane performance, professional-grade turret systems and premium optical quality at a very reasonable price. Available in 3–15x44 and 5–25x56 configurations, each model is offered with either the Mil Pro II or MOA Pro II reticle featuring selectable red or green illumination with five brightness levels controlled by a stepped rheostat, while the side-focus system provides precise parallax and focus adjustment from 10 yards to infinity.
Premium 11-layer fully multi-coated wide-angle optics deliver bright, sharp images with excellent edge-to-edge clarity, Both magnification ranges feature Zero-Stop elevation turrets and exposed, locking windage, allowing shooters to dial quickly, track reliably and return to zero with confidence. Built on a rigid 34mm mono-tube chassis, the Vantage 34 FFP riflescopes provide increased internal adjustment range and exceptional mechanical stability for precise, repeatable dialing at extended distances. MSRP is $669.
The good folks at Leupold have long had a reputation for making some of the finest quality optics available, and the VX-5HD Gen 2 Series is certainly no exception to that rule. The company says the versatile, ultra-rugged VX-5HD blows away the competition with its tool-free zeroing, class-leading optical performance and rugged reliability built into every detail. The second-generation of the award-winning scope is engineered for serious hunters who demand absolute precision. Every scope in the line comes equipped with Leupold’s new SpeedSet Elevation dial that eliminates the need for the tiny tools and screws that can get easily dropped. Just press, lift, reset and go. This innovative new system makes it faster and easier than ever to get set up and on target. Pair that with Leupold’s ZeroLock system, and you’ve got a dial that’s fast, intuitive, holds zero and only moves when you want it to move. With competition-grade adjustments and a new main tube that delivers more elevation travel, this line also features a new integrated throw lever that allows for smooth, fast magnification changes — perfect when targets show up fast or conditions shift without warning. MSRP is $1,499.
A leader in the thermal riflescope category, Pulsar has introduced its new Trail Series of compact thermal riflescopes with integrated precision range finding. Designed for professional hunting, forestry and pest control, the Trail 3 delivers reliable performance in demanding real-world conditions where visibility, distance estimation and shot precision are critical. Built around a rugged monobloc housing, the Trail 3 combines thermal imaging, precise distance measurement and ballistic correction in a compact, well-balanced package. The series was engineered for shooters who require confidence, accuracy and intuitive control when visibility is limited and shot placement is at a premium.
The Trail 3 LRF XQ50 is optimized for short- to medium-range shooting in challenging weather and low-contrast environments, making it an ideal choice for forest hunting and mixed terrain where reliability and image stability are more important than maximum range. The Trail 3 LRF XR50 is designed for hunters operating at medium to longer distances across open landscapes. Its high-resolution 640x480 thermal sensor and extended detection range make it excel in wide terrain where reach, clarity and detail are essential. MSRP is $2,999 for the XQ50 and $4,199 for the XR50.
Trijicon has expanded its popular Credo HX line with several new models designed specifically for hunters. The all-new 2.5-10x56, 2.5-15x42, 2.5-15x56 and 4-16x50 are said to deliver rugged durability, exceptional clarity and fast, precise aiming. The Credo HX models feature LED-illuminated reticles with five red and five green brightness settings, with an “off” position between each setting for quick access and efficient battery use. Each of the models is built around a second-focal-plain design and is available with the company’s BDC Hunter Holds reticle, which offers rapid hold points for various distances.
Built on a 30mm tube, the new scopes offer up to 100 MOA of adjustment and feature fully multi-coated, broadband anti-reflective glass that delivers excellent light transmission and edge-to-edge clarity. Large objective lenses help increase exit pupil size, further enhancing low-light performance. Elevation adjusters are tool-less, easy to set and feature rock-solid return-to-zero, while windage adjusters are capped for added protection. The premium-quality adjusters are engineered to deliver crisp, repeatable ¼-MOA clicks, ensuring precision and reliability. A repositionable magnification lever allows shooters to adapt quickly to changing shooting positions and rifle configurations. MSRP runs from $1,408 to $1,799.
This new scope from Vortex is as much a work of art as a riflescope. As the company puts it: It was “born from the demands of the world’s most elite operators” and “conceived to meet a standard that didn’t exist, until now.” The AMG 1-10x24 FFP features a class-leading HD optical system that gives stunning resolution and field of view. Dual zero turrets allow the user to switch zeroes for suppressed, unsuppressed, long- or short-range loads, and are fast and easy to adjust with no need for tools. At only 8.4 inches long, the scope is compact and lightweight, and a low-profile integrated throw lever allows for 120 degrees of throw for faster target transitions.
Index-matched lenses correct color across the entire visual spectrum, and XR Plus lens coatings on all air-to-glass surfaces provide maximum light transmission for peak clarity and outstanding low-light performance. Additionally, glass-etched reticles allow for intricate reticle design, and an ultra-hard, scratch-resistant coating protects exterior lenses from scratches, oil and dirt. MSRP is $6,399.
