In the world of optics, the 1-4x scope stands as a pinnacle of versatility. This magnification range offers a true “do-it-all” capability, allowing for rapid target acquisition at close quarters on its lowest setting while providing enough precision for ethical shots at medium distances when zoomed in. Whether you’re a hunter stalking through dense timber or a tactical shooter moving between varied targets, a 1-4x scope provides a robust and reliable solution.
Choosing the right model, however, can be a challenge. The market is flooded with options, each promising superior performance. This roundup is designed to cut through the noise and present a curated selection of the best 1-4x (and closely related 1-6x) scopes that deliver exceptional performance for your investment. We’ve analyzed features, build quality, and real-world usability to help you find the perfect optic for your rifle.
Our Top Picks for Versatile 1-4x Scopes
- Hi‑Lux CMR 1‑8×24 Close‑to‑Medium Range Rifle Scope
- Trijicon AccuPoint 1-4x24mm Riflescope with Amber Dot
- Bushnell Drop Zone Reticle Riflescope with Target Turrets
- Burris MTAC 1-4 x 24 Illuminated Scope
- Primary Arms SLX 1-6x24mm SFP Rifle Scope
- SIG SAUER Tango-MSR LPVO 1-6X24mm Tactical Rifle Scope
- Leupold VX-Freedom 1.5-4×20 MOA-Ring Reticle Riflescope
- Vortex Optics Crossfire II 1-4x24mm Rifle Scope
- Burris Optics RT-6 1-6x24mm Illuminated Ballistic CMPX Reticle
Hi‑Lux CMR 1‑8×24 Close‑to‑Medium Range Rifle Scope
The Hi‑Lux CMR scope extends the versatile 1-4x concept into an even more capable 1-8x platform. This wider magnification range provides exceptional flexibility, making it suitable for everything from close-quarters scenarios to more precise shots at extended distances. Built around a 30mm aircraft-grade aluminum tube, it offers enhanced strength and rigidity to withstand the demands of tactical use and harsh environmental conditions.
A key feature is its daylight-bright red illumination. The fiber-optic system ensures the B-Dot reticle remains clearly visible even in direct sunlight, functioning like a red dot on the 1x setting. This facilitates rapid target acquisition and smooth transitions between targets. The second focal plane design keeps the reticle size constant, which many shooters prefer for fast, close-range work.
Trijicon TR24-C-200070 AccuPoint 1-4x24mm Riflescope
Trijicon is renowned for its rugged and reliable optics, and the AccuPoint 1-4x24mm is a prime example. This scope is built for those who demand absolute dependability. Its most notable feature is the battery-free illumination system. Using a combination of fiber optics and tritium, the amber dot reticle automatically adjusts its brightness to match ambient light conditions, ensuring a clear aiming point from bright daylight to low-light situations.
The multi-coated lenses provide superior clarity and light transmission, resulting in a bright, sharp image with zero distortion. Housed in a rugged, aircraft-grade aluminum body, this scope is designed to be waterproof and withstand heavy recoil and rough handling. It’s a set-and-forget optic that is always ready when you are, with no batteries to worry about.
Bushnell Optics Drop Zone Reticle Riflescope
The Bushnell Drop Zone 1-4x24mm scope is a purpose-built optic, particularly well-suited for hunters. It features a specialized Drop Zone-223 BDC reticle that provides holdover points calibrated for common .223 Remington/5.56 NATO loads, taking the guesswork out of longer shots. The fully multi-coated optics ensure a bright and clear sight picture, which is crucial during the low-light conditions often encountered while hunting.
This model includes target-style turrets for precise and repeatable adjustments, allowing you to dial in your zero with confidence. The 30mm main tube offers a greater range of adjustment for windage and elevation compared to 1-inch models. With a wide field of view at 1x power, this scope handles quickly for fast shots on moving game at close range.
Burris 200437 MTAC 1-4 x 24 Illuminated Scope
The Burris MTAC is a robust and trusted option in the 1-4x category, backed by the company’s legendary Forever Warranty. This scope is constructed from the highest quality materials and undergoes rigorous testing to ensure complete reliability and performance under stress. It’s an optic you can count on for both competition and hunting applications.
It features an illuminated reticle that provides a clear aiming point in all lighting conditions. The combination of durable construction and reliable performance makes it a solid choice for shooters who need an optic that can handle repeated use and abuse. The MTAC is known for its clear glass and consistent performance, making it a perennial favorite for those seeking a dependable illuminated low-power variable optic.
Primary Arms SLX 1-6x24mm SFP Gen III Rifle Scope
The Primary Arms SLx 1-6x24mm scope stands out with its innovative ACSS reticle, which is specifically designed for 5.56, 5.45, and .308 calibers. This reticle provides intuitive holdovers for wind and moving targets, making it an excellent tool for both new and experienced shooters. Its performance is so well-regarded that it has earned a Silver rating from the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA).
With a 1-6x magnification range, this scope offers a bit more top-end power for target identification and precise shot placement at distance. The package includes a deluxe scope mount, providing immediate value and saving you the additional cost of purchasing one separately. The illuminated reticle on the second focal plane ensures the useful ACSS markings are always the same size, aiding in rapid use.
SIG SAUER Tango-MSR LPVO 1-6X24mm
SIG SAUER brings its optics expertise to the table with the Tango-MSR 1-6x24mm. This scope features a high-performance optical system that uses low dispersion glass to deliver industry-leading light transmission and exceptional clarity. The result is a bright, sharp image that makes target identification easier, especially in challenging light.
It comes with an integrated throw lever for quick magnification changes, a feature often sold as an add-on with other scopes. The illuminated MSR BDC-6 reticle offers 11 brightness levels for optimal visibility in any condition. Built to be completely waterproof and fog-proof, the Tango-MSR is sealed and nitrogen-purged, ensuring reliable performance in adverse weather, from rain to humidity.
Leupold VX-Freedom 1.5-4×20
Leupold’s VX-Freedom 1.5-4×20 is a lightweight and compact optic, ideal for hunters who prioritize carrying a light and fast-handling rifle. The 3:1 zoom ratio provides a useful magnification range for most woodland and brush hunting scenarios. It features a simple yet effective MOA-Ring reticle, which provides a fine center dot for precision and a larger outer ring for rapid acquisition.
Backed by Leupold’s gold-standard lifetime warranty, this scope is built to last. It includes capped finger-click adjustments for easy zeroing and protection against accidental bumps. The lenses are protected by hardened surface coatings that meet extreme military standards for scratch resistance, ensuring the optics stay clear through years of hard use in the field.
Vortex Optics Crossfire II 1-4x24mm Rifle Scope
The Vortex Crossfire II series is known for delivering outstanding value, and the 1-4x24mm model is no exception. It provides a very clear sight picture for its class, thanks to fully multi-coated lenses that increase light transmission. The V-Brite illuminated reticle offers a bright red dot for fast aiming in low light, with multiple intensity settings to match the conditions.
This scope is built to be rugged, with a single-piece tube constructed from aircraft-grade aluminum. It is O-ring sealed and nitrogen purged, making it both waterproof and fog-proof. Backed by Vortex’s VIP Unlimited Unconditional Warranty, you can be confident this scope will perform reliably for years, regardless of the application.
Burris Optics RT-6 1-6x24mm Illuminated Ballistic CMPX Reticle
The Burris RT-6 takes the proven 1-4x format and expands it to a very usable 1-6x magnification, all while maintaining a surprisingly affordable price point. It is widely praised for its exceptionally clear and bright glass, which rivals that of more expensive models. The illuminated Ballistic CMPX reticle is simple and uncluttered, with a large center dot that is perfect for fast shooting at 1x.
Despite its budget-friendly nature, the RT-6 doesn’t cut corners on durability. It features a robust 30mm tube and is built to withstand recoil and harsh conditions. The inclusion of a throw lever in the box is a significant bonus, allowing for rapid magnification changes between close and medium-range targets. It represents an outstanding balance of performance, features, and cost.
How to Choose the Best 9-4x Scope for the Money
When you are looking for a new riflescope, the 9-4x magnification range is a fantastic sweet spot for versatility. It gives you enough power on the high end for precise shots at longer distances, while the low 4x setting is perfect for quick target acquisition in thick cover or at closer ranges. This makes it a top contender for hunters who might encounter a deer at 30 yards in the woods or a pronghorn at 300 yards across a canyon. My goal here is to help you understand what separates a good scope from a great one, so you can get the best 9-4x scope for the money.
The first thing I always check is the glass quality. This is the heart of the scope. You want fully multi-coated lenses. This means every air-to-glass surface has multiple anti-reflective coatings, which dramatically increases light transmission. A brighter and clearer image in low-light conditions, like during dawn or dusk, is a massive advantage. Cheaper scopes might say “coated,” but that often means only one or two surfaces are treated. Don’t skimp here; good glass is the most important factor for performance.
Next, consider the reticle. For a versatile 9-4x scope, a simple duplex is a classic, but a modern BDC (Bullet Drop Compensator) or MOA/Mil-based reticle is far more useful. These reticles have holdover points that help you compensate for bullet drop without fiddling with the turrets. I prefer a reticle that is located in the second focal plane (SFP). In an SFP scope, the reticle stays the same size regardless of magnification, which makes the holdover points accurate at only one magnification setting (usually the highest). This is perfectly fine for most hunting situations and helps keep the scope affordable.
Durability is non-negotiable. Your scope needs to handle recoil and the occasional bump against a tree. Look for a scope that is nitrogen or argon purged and has O-ring seals to be fog-proof and waterproof. The construction should feel solid, not hollow or cheap. The turrets, the dials on top and the side for windage and elevation, should feel crisp and positive when you adjust them. For a hunting scope, I am a big fan of capped turrets. They protect your settings from being accidentally changed while you are moving through brush, which happens more often than you would think.
Finally, think about the eye box and eye relief. A forgiving eye box means you can still see the full sight picture even if your head isn’t perfectly positioned, which is crucial for making a quick shot. Generous eye relief, the distance your eye needs to be from the scope to see the full picture, is a critical safety feature, especially on high-recoiling rifles. It prevents the scope from hitting your eyebrow during firing. By balancing these features—glass quality, a useful reticle, robust construction, and user-friendly mechanics—you will find a scope that offers versatile performance without costing a fortune.
FAQ
What does “9-4x” mean on a riflescope?
This number describes the scope’s magnification range. The first number (9x) is the highest level of zoom, making a target appear nine times closer. The second number (4x) is the lowest level of zoom. So, a 9-4x scope can adjust from 4x magnification all the way up to 9x magnification. This flexibility is what makes it so useful for various shooting scenarios, from close-range, fast-moving targets to more deliberate, longer-range shots.
Is a 9x scope powerful enough for long-range hunting?
For most North American big game hunting, 9x magnification is perfectly adequate for ethical shots at distances out to 400-500 yards, provided you have the skill to make the shot. The clarity of the glass is often more important than raw magnification power. A high-quality 9x scope will serve you much better than a cheap 16x scope with blurry optics. It is a very practical and effective top-end magnification for the vast majority of hunters.
What is the difference between First Focal Plane and Second Focal Plane?
This refers to the position of the reticle inside the scope. In a First Focal Plane (FFP) scope, the reticle grows and shrinks as you change magnification. This means the holdover points (like on a BDC reticle) are accurate at any magnification. In a Second Focal Plane (SFP) scope, the reticle size stays constant. Its holdover points are only correct at one specific magnification, usually the highest. SFP scopes are more common in this price and magnification range and are perfectly suited for most hunting applications.
Why are the turrets sometimes covered with caps?
Those are called capped turrets, and they are a common feature on hunting-oriented scopes. The caps protect the elevation and windage adjustment dials from being accidentally knocked out of zero. When you are hiking through rough terrain, a branch can easily catch a turret and turn it. Capped turrets prevent this, ensuring your point of impact remains consistent from the moment you leave your vehicle until you take your shot. They are a practical choice for a scope built for field use.
Can I use a 9-4x scope on a .22 LR for plinking?
Absolutely! While it might be a bit overkill, a 9-4x scope is a great match for a .22 LR, especially if you are doing any precision target shooting at 50 to 100 yards. The 4x setting is fine for closer plinking, and the 9x power lets you see your bullet holes on the paper without needing a spotting scope. It is a versatile setup that can grow with you if you decide to move up to a centerfire rifle later on.