Best Nikon Shotgun Scopes.
Shotguns are one of the most common firearms, suitable for a wide range of uses including competition and hunting. They are however most popular for home and personal defense and are used to fire both shots and slugs while maintaining the position of the gun at the shoulder. These firearms are mainly used for smaller or fast-moving targets, and although they have low penetration or can only shoot at targets within a small range, they provide great stopping power.
Although shotgun accuracy is not always a great concern, there are accessories used to help improve your accuracy and speed while using one. Scopes, for example, can improve your shooting experience by far. Purchasing a good shotgun scope helps you capture even medium-range targets. Additionally, the magnification of the scope gives offers you a clearer view of the fast-moving target, making it easy to take it down.
Out of the many brands that produce scopes for shotguns, in this review we focus on Nikon scopes. Nikon is a manufacturer of quality products especially scopes and optics that provide excellent and long-lasting performance. They have been in the market for quite a long time hence the popularity. Nikon scopes have multi-coated optics that deliver on the best light transmission giving you clear and quality images. The brand also features a diverse range of magnifications making them suitable for different applications.
It might be difficult to determine which scope is best for your shotgun especially if you are a beginner. Here are our top picks for the best Nikon shotgun scopes;
Nikon Prostaff P3 Shotgun BDC 200 Riflescope
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The Prostaff P3 Shotgun scope helps increase the effective range of your slug gun to 200 yards and beyond. The scope as one of the best Nikon shotgun scopes has reticle adjustments made in crisp, positive 1/4-MOA click-stop moves that you can both feel and hear. Windage and elevation turrets are clearly marked for quick adjustments. The knobs can be reset to ‘zero’ after sighting-in for easy reference when making field adjustments.
Nikon’s BDC 200 reticle is made for a 50-yard zero on the crosshair and provides 100, 150, 175, and 200 yard “ballistic circle” aiming points typical polymer-tipped sabot slugs with a muzzle velocity of approx. 1900-2000 fps. Every glass surface has multiple layers of anti-reflective compounds for bright and vivid sight pictures, optimum light transmission, and maximum brightness from dawn to dusk.
Features
- Fully Multicoated Optical System
- BDC 200 Reticle
- Hand-turn 1/4 MOA adjustments and spring-loaded instant zero-reset turrets
- All-metal construction for a trouble-free rotation
- Rugged one-inch Aircraft Grade Aluminum main tube
- Lightweight but durable construction
- Aluminum quick focus eyepiece and generous, consistent eye relief
Nikon SlugHunter Shotgun Scope, 3-9×40 Matte (BDC 200)
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Nikon SlugHunter Shotgun Scope features a 3x to 9x magnification and 40mm objective lens. The scope comes with a BDC 200 reticle making it perfect for a slug gun. With five full inches of eye relief and Nikon’s legendary durability, the scope allows you to comfortably, safely, and securely mount it on even the hardest kicking slug guns.
SlugHunter 3-9×40 is designed with a super bright exit pupil of 7.2 and Nikon’s multicoated lenses that deliver maximum light transmission (up to 92%) for bright, crisp images all day long. Additionally, the scope features a nitrogen-filled, O-ring-sealed housing for waterproof, fog proof, and shockproof performance.
Features
- Fully multicoated lenses
- Quick-focus eyepiece
- BDC 200 reticle with easy-to-see ballistic circles provides instant aiming points
- Precise hand-turn 1/4-MOA click adjustments
- Measurements: 11.3” length, weight: 13.7 ounces
- 5 inches of constant eye relief keeps your brow safe even with high recoil
- 100-yard parallax setting
Nikon SlugHunter Shotgun Scope, 1.65-5×36 Matte (Nikoplex)
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SlugHunter 1.65-5×36 as one of the best Nikon shotgun scopes has an effective range of up to 200 yards and beyond. The scope comes complete with a BDC 200 reticle making it suitable for a powerful slug gun. It features an increased exit pupil for better low-light performance in a more compact version and a lower profile objective for low mounting.
The scope has a super bright exit pupil of 7.2 and Nikon’s multicoated lenses for maximum light transmission for clear images from dawn to dust.
Features
- Multicoated optics provide up to 92% light transmission
- 1/4-minute click hand-turn reticle adjustments
- Constant 5-Inch eye relief protects against magnum-charge recoil
- Waterproof, Fog proof and Shockproof
- BDC 200 reticle for instant points of aim
Nikon SlugHunter Shotgun Scope, 1.65-5×36 Matte (BDC 200)
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This 1.65-5×36 Matte (BDC 200) puts you in the range from as far as 200 yards and beyond. The magnification range of 1.65 to 5x allows you to adjust between a wide field of view and finer detail. The scope features a BDC 200 reticle, making it the perfect match for the powerful slug loads of today. It has a super bright exit pupil of 7.2 allowing better low-light performance in a more compact version, and a lower profile objective for low mounting.
The scope’s high durability together with five full inches of eye relief allows you to comfortably, safely and securely mount it on even the hardest kicking slug guns. It is nitrogen purged and O-ring sealed to keep the optics in pristine condition.
Features
- Multicoated Optical System
- Quick focus eyepiece
- 36-millimeter objective lens offers 92% light transmission
- 100-yard parallax setting
- Trajectory compensating BDC 200 Reticle offers unique “ballistic” circle aiming points
- Five inches of constant eye relief–protects brow from heavy recoil
- Waterproof, fog proof and shockproof construction
- Full lifetime warranty
- 1/4 MOA reticle adjustment
- Full lifetime warranty
Factors to Consider when Choosing the Best Nikon Shotgun Scopes
Durability- when purchasing the best Nikon shotgun scopes, it is good to check the quality of the material as well as additional features that guarantee a long-lived performance. Even though shotguns are mainly for home protection, you may find yourself in thick bushes and your scope needs to be able to withstand such harsh conditions. Nikon scopes are nitrogen purged and O-ring sealed for waterproofing to provide you the ability to use them even in harsh weather.
Clarity- this is an important aspect of any scope. Clarity of a scope is not dependent on how costly or cheap it is but on the lens quality. The best scopes come with a multicoated lens that provides optimum light transmission for clear and bright images all day long.
Magnification- although shooting with a shotgun might not require a scope with high magnification, it is good to check the magnification you will be getting before purchasing. A magnification range from 4x to 12x is enough for a shotgun.
Color- if you are going on a hunting spree, your main aim is to remain unnoticed as much as possible. Having any shiny part or finish on a scope is not suitable for hunting. Instead, you can go for a model with a camo-colored or matte black finish which do not shine hence providing you with maximum camouflage for comfortable and fruitful hunting.
Brightness- Brightness is helpful to hunters especially in the wee hours of the morning or evening but unless you are allowed to go hunting at night, a limited level of brightness is just okay for your scope. Hunting laws differ from state to state and therefore it is good to understand your area’s restrictions to avoid getting in trouble for night hunting.
Ease of use- there is a wide range of shotgun scopes in the market today, each with different features and specifications. Depending on one’s skill, some will go for the easy to use while others prefer a challenge. It is advisable to check several reviews about the model first to avoid purchasing a model that is not user friendly. Also, remember that complexity does not guarantee quality performance.
Conclusion
Having the best scope model for your shotgun is always important and that is why you can never go wrong with a Nikon scope. The scope positively impacts your shooting. We understand that you may need to do research on as many scopes as possible before purchasing your most preferred choice but if you are in a hurry, the mentioned scopes are our best choices. They all have multicoated lenses for light transmission as well as waterproof/fog proof construction for all-weather use among other features as discussed in this article.