Best 1-4x Scope: Top 1-4x Power Rifle Optics Reviews [2024]

If you’re looking for a 1-4x power riflescope for your smaller weapons platform frames (and that includes both rifles and shotguns), you’re in the right place.

Even lacking the higher power settings, the 1-4x rifle scope can deliver the mail just fine, and there are many of them in use for general shooting needs and basic subsistence hunting. Living here in the Dakota Black Hills, I see scopes in use like this all the time.

The range is short, the scope is simple, and for the most part, the sight will assist in getting fresh meat to the dinner table. So, let’s go through the best 1-4x scopes you can get.

Best 1-4x Scopes Review – New Products Updated

1. Monstrum 1-4×20

This small tube tactical rifle scope retains a range-finding reticle and allows the shooter to pick up moving or still targets quickly at long ranges for a first shot hit.

The scope makes use of the red and green lighted sub tensions for low or no light shooting, and this is all controlled at the turret housing by way of a single adjustment knob.

The scope is built with capped turrets as this is not a long-range system by any means. The scope includes a set of one-inch mounts, making for a quick install on a Weaver rail, the power settings are operated by a single handle/arm at the rear of the scope housing, and the glass sight is also sold with dust covers (hinged) as well. 

The main tube is built of aircraft-grade aluminum and is water and fog proof with sealed internals. This scope is offered in no less than four different models, and for the most part, choose the type of mount you’re looking for, versus any difference in the scope sight itself. Depending on how you want to mount this scope, you have four different options available. 

2. Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Circle-X Reticle

Currently, I run this scope on a shotgun set up for slug deer and turkeys. This is a workhorse scope of the first order believe me. I have some of these scopes that have been in service here at BR&D for over 30 years, and I have never missed a beat.

This scope is a “meat-getting system” of the first order. Hunt timber country, or watch deer trails at close range? Here is the get-it-down scope. Call a turkey into gunning range with a load of gobbler-taking ammunition, again this is the deal for you if you want to keep the price down, effectiveness up, and work trouble-free for almost ever. 

This scope is a 1-5-4X32mm model, and just a bit above the basic 1-4X20 offerings. The scope is well made judging by my observances using the sight, the caps are not open due again to the lack of need here, and even with the smaller objective lens, the scope pills light well. I have shot at almost pre-dawn turkeys (right at legal shooting time) with this scope and was able to clearly see my crosshairs even in very low light conditions.

The one-inch tube is very workable on many different mounts for both shotgun and rifle. Also, the scope is a nice balance when set upon a smaller 22 rimfire rifle. The scope has always produced great results when testing the 22 LR downrange for test or hunting situations. 

“Dust to Dawn” brightness system by Bushnell, 1/4 MOA turret adjustments, completely water and fog proof, and a fast focus eyepiece that is easy to use. 

3. Athlon Talos BTR 1-4×24

This scope is somewhat advanced in that it has an etched reticle, Illuminated sub tensions, an open turret design for fast elevation and windage adjustments, and makes use of a heat-treated 30mm main tube that gives the scope body extra strength.

The scope has good light transmission abilities and returns a clear sharp image. Light adjustments as in power settings are located and the rear of the scope.  This scope is chopped, lacking the expanded forward objective bell housing.

The click graduations are set up in MIL settings and the scope will sub-click at 0.2 MILS.

The turret will rotate a full 40 MILS, giving way to adequate advancement for longer-range shots. This is a basic tactical scope design best used for warfighting close quarters.

Currently, the US Army has gone to this type of sight over the ACOG at the squad level combat readiness. The difference between the military type and this scope is the 1-4x has been increased to 1-6×34. This gives the scope a better long-range through medium-range sniper capability. 

4. Centerpoint 1-4×20

This lower-priced scope makes use of a glass reticle( some are plastic ) and also comes with a set of offset mounts. 

The main tube is one inch in size, this scope makes use of a quick aim reticle with a 3 MOA center dot. The scope also prints a 65 MOA ring for added fast entry into the target area if speed is the requirement under consideration.

This scope has an extra long eye relief and that makes it a good option for the shotgunners here as well. 

5. Leupold VX-Freedom 1.5-4x20mm

This scope is a core-based AR-15-style three-gun shooting system. However it is also an outstanding scope for shotgun, rifle, and down to rimfire rifles.

The scope is Leupold-built, and that means top-of-the-line quality, super controls regarding manufacturing, great glass, and light transmission. Plus, attention to every detail of a good quality glass sighting system.

This scope is a natural fit for that AR-15 with its chopped off bell housing that brings it into a weight class of 9/6 ounces. With an eye relief of 4.17-3,74, it is a fast target-centering scope sight.

Using an MOA turret system the scope retains 125 MOA or 36.4 MILS. The windage adjustment range is 125 MOA – 36.4 MILS. 

The standard sub-tension view in this scope is the use of the “Duplex” crosshair developed by Leupold many moons ago.

6. Vortex Crossfire 1-4×24

Here we have a scope that is a 30mm objective, named V-Brite, and is built using an illuminated reticle. The scope is set up using the MOA ¼ click graduations, and the sub-tensions are set up for some range estimation through the lens.

This scope has a main tube that is a 30mm design and is built to take a pounding. The center sighting dot is illuminated so as to aid the hunter or shooter in picking up vital areas or center mass on targets in very low light. Is it a combat scope? Yes, and it is also a hunter’s scope as well.

Like all Vortex scopes, the tube is sealed against water and fog. O-rings are used to seal off the internals from possible exterior damage. Capped turrets on this model are used as it is a general-purpose sight and less of a long-range gun sight.

Again like others in this tub design and general weight, the scope is the best set up on AR-15 platforms, but that stated I have run these types of scopes on lever rifles with short actions, and also mini action Mauser’s as well. If the action is smaller than the big guys this is a very good fit if you’re searching for a field applied general use sight. 

7. Vortex Crossfire II Adjustable Objective SFP 30mm

This scope is not the scope listed above, it is the II series and advanced toward military application and police use in some ways.

Built-in the SFP this is a common system used by makers of hunting scopes. This scope however still retains features used by police and military operators at times as well. 

The scope makes use of high-quality glass, not plastic, the reticle is of the Vortex V-Plex design. Makes use of Illuminated sub tensions with a red dot center for quick target acquisition, and the main tube is 30mm in size. 

With turret caps removed the CrossFire II can be quickly adjusted for elevation or windage when the longer range shot is required. If you think you can’t do much with a four-power scope think again my friends.

Unlike the previous model, this scope is not offered with the extended mounting system (scope alone being sold).

One-piece main tube, chopped bell housing, and long eye relief make for a great AR-15 platform install. 

8. Monstrum G3 1-4×24 FFP – H Series Offset, Dark Earth Bundle

This scope is a military take-off in that it is desert camo and set up for the AR-15 and other short-action systems.

Illuminated reticle and open turret adjustments for windage make this again a combat operator’s tool.

The scope has a BDC ranging reticle, ranging information that stays consistent in the FFP design, and dual controlled illumination correcting with multiple intensities. 

This is a good no-light or low-light scope, and best fit to the AR platform.

9. Hi-Lux CMR 1-4x24mm

Hi-Luk optics and I go back a long way.  In fact, the first actual sniper scope I owned was built by these folks. In this case, we are looking at a tactical combat/hunting optic that carries a green lighter reticle, open turret elevation and windage controls, and flip caps over the lens housings. In this case, a special “ranging” sub-tension system was designed for use on the AK-47 by way of that Russian 7.62×39 cartridge. That is not to say you can’t run the scope with other cartridges, but the setup is basically designed for the Russian round in this case. 

Turret graduations are all in MOA configurations, and the turrets return to a zero lock so the shooter won’t go past that defined impact setting. 

Built of a one-piece aluminum tube, coated lens surfaces, and waterproof. This scope is offered with a full lifetime warranty. 

I would consider this scope at the upper end of the selections in this area of glass sights. Keep in mind that you can obtain this scope without the AK-47 reticle. Hi-Lux offers the CMR series in both configurations. 

10. Feyachi Tactical Falcon 1-4×24 Rifle Scope

This is a budget scope for the new entry shooter that is not sure if he or she will stay in the gunning game. The scope is also easy to apply to light “ plinking” weapons, as well as AR/AK class rifles for speed target shooting.

This scope is not designed to last forever. At the price point, it stands at one would not expect it to match the much higher-priced variants in this rifle scope design. 

The scope retains lighted reticle-capped turrets, a larger 30mm main tube that mounts a side control for light adjustment via the reticle, and an eye relief of 3.9 inches. At low open, the scope is operational with both eyes open.

This scope carries an unlimited lifetime warranty by the manufacturer. I guess that says a whole lot about the scope sight. If it works out for you it is a deal to be sure. 

11. TRUGLO Tactical Omnia 1-4x Rifle Scope

Currently, I have been shooting the latest model of this scope in an AR-15 Rock River platform carbine. This scope retains multi-coated lens surfaces, making it waterproof, fog proof, and also helps retain light.

The scope reticle is a total advantage under low light shooting conditions, or when you are speed shooting and need to pick up that target image quickly.

This scope also comes with its own cantilever mount and even that is an item over $100.00 and change almost anywhere nowadays. 

Fast mounting to a Weaver rails the game here, and after that quick zero to 100 yards and you are in business. After running tests using this scope on the Rock River rifle it will be transferred to a shotgun receiver for the coming turkey season here in South Dakota. The sights are bright, clear, and make use of a red-lighted reticle with a center ring and fine-point crosshair display.

The scope retains a 30 mm tube which allows for heavy leaf spring-designed turret internals, and it is also set up in 1/2 MOA settings for a fast zero or elevation switch. The scope turrets are open and quickly adjustable as is the rheostat controlled lighting system.

12. Steiner OPMOD T5Xi 1-5x24mm

This is the third sight we have in service here at Ballistics Research & Development.

This is a very high-grade military-level rifle scope in the chopped bell version. This scope is built with super grade German glass and designed as a forever model sight. 

Steiner is among some of the best glass used here at Ballistics Research & Development. As such I will back these products to the core in terms of doing what the company says it will do downrange.

The model here goes to 5 power, but there is a little brother of the scope that is a 1-4x power. In this case, we are talking about the same scope in different presentations. 

The scope retains a one-piece 34mm tube that carries heavy-duty internals for many years of flexible service. This glass is professional precision competition shooters sight, or a three-gun masterpiece unit as well. 

The illuminated reticle clearly illustrates the very fine site adjustment hash marks in MILS, and the scope also retains a second rotation turret indicator when the shooter is cranking up the elevation for the longer shot downrange.

While I can’t say this for a fact, it would appear that some shooters want just a bit more power than the 1-4x, and moving up a notch to the 5x setting meets certain competitive shooting needs. 

This is a professional model scope, and as such not suggested for the novices or general plinking Sunday afternoon shooter’s needs. This scope retains a total lifetime warranty in terms of repair or replacement. No questions asked. 

How Far Can You Shot With A 1-4X Scope?

Generally, 1X- 4X scopes are designed for point-and-shoot close-range objects. Hence the shooters zero it in at 100 yards.  Since the commercial 1-4x riflescopes are purpose-built for home defense use and for specialized sorts of hunting such as driven hunts, they could be zeroed in at 50 yards.

Nevertheless, when the 1-4x is zeroed at 100 yards, it would be usable for shooting at 400 yards though. However, for target shooting, it would be challenging to shoot small groups with only 4X magnification.

Does A 1x Scope Magnify?

Most of the low powered scopes come in 1x or 1.5x configurations to enable shooter instant target acquisition at close distances. While the cheaper brands don’t offer true 1x magnification, some of the premium class riflescopes have a proper 1x magnification, meaning that it is possible to use both eyes open when aiming.

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