Airsoft scopes are used to improve the accuracy and range of airsoft guns. There are many different types of scopes available on the market, so it is important to choose the right one for your gun and playing style.

In this article, we will discuss the different types of gun scopes and what they offer.

Accuracy is essential when it comes to airsofting. You aren’t going to win very easily if you can’t hit anyone. 

Gun scopes give you a competitive edge by helping you line up that perfect shot. There is a wide variety of airsoft scopes on the market today, from traditional iron sights and magnified rifle scopes, to modern red dot and laser sights.

Each type of sight is effective in certain situations, so take care when making your choice. The type of airsoft gun you’re using should also come into consideration.

Airsoft Scope Types

Iron Sights

Iron sights are typically composed of two component sights, formed by metal blades: a rear sight mounted perpendicular to the line of sight and a front sight that is a post, bead, or ring.

Open sights use a notch of some sort as the rear sight, while aperture sights use some form of a circular hole.

Modern iron sights are adjustable, allowing you to compensate for elevation and windage.

Iron sights are usually insufficient for long range shooting, but can act as a useful back-up alongside other types of scope.

Laser Sights

Essentially a laser pointer on an airsoft gun, a laser sight can do more than make a cat go crazy. Laser sights allow you to accurately draw a bead on a target thanks to a clear visual indicator. When you see the dot on the enemy, you can hit them.

Laser sights run parallel to the barrel of your airsoft gun. This means that your gun can easily align to a target, but doesn’t necessarily take into account windage and bullet drop.

Another disadvantage of laser sights is that in the dark, it can be possible to trace the line of your laser from your target back to you. This can expose you to the enemy.

Red Dot Scopes

What are red dots scopes? Red dot sights give the firearms users an aiming point in the form of an illuminated red dot.

The light, emitting from an LED, provides a parallax-free aim point regardless of eye position. They are extremely useful for the quick acquisition of even fast moving targets.

Red dot sight reticle sizes are measured in either minutes of angle (moa) or milliradians (mil). 1 moa equates to 1.0472 inches at a distance of 100 yards, which is generally rounded to 1 inch at 100 yards.

The most common reticles used today in red dot sights both for handguns and rifles are small dots covering between 2 to 5 moa.

The choice of red dot reticle size depends on your needs and preference.

A larger and brighter red dot makes for faster target acquisition, but may obscure the target and thereby inhibit precise aiming, while a smaller and dim dot allows for more precise but slower aiming.

Airsoft Rifle Magnifiers

This type of airsoft scope plays back-up to a standard, non-magnified optic. They are to be mounted behind a primary optic, and can be rotated into place for an enhanced zoom.  This, naturally, makes them ideal for long range shooting, paired perfectly to DMR users that find themselves battling between medium to long-range engagement distances. 

Airsoft Scopes

Telescopic sights are classified in terms of the optical magnification and the objective lens diameter, e.g. 10×50. This would denote 10 times magnification with a 50mm objective lens.

Larger objective lens diameters provide a larger exit pupil and hence provide a brighter image at the eyepiece.

There are also airsoft telescopic sights with variable magnification. The magnification can be varied by manually operating a zoom mechanism.

Variable sights offer more flexibility regarding shooting at varying ranges, targets and light conditions and offer a relatively wide field of view at lower magnification settings.

How Accurate Are Airsoft Sights?

Most airsoft sights will give you an accurate reading out to around 100 feet. Beyond that, the BB will start to drop due to gravity and air resistance.

Some airsoft sights claim to be accurate up to 150 feet, but this is under very specific conditions and a certain BB weight.

For most people playing airsoft, 100 feet is more than enough range. If you are looking for long range accuracy, then you will need to factor in the drop of the BB and adjust your aiming accordingly.

Price vs Quality

There is a lot to consider when choosing an airsoft scope. But, as with anything, you tend to get what you pay for.

Don’t scrimp on your optics if you want to be the best on the battlefield. Do your research and make sure you find the best scope for your specific needs to ensure victory.

Our 5 handpicked rifle scopes below all offer excellent value for money. But, if you’re looking for the very best, then you may have to pay a little more.

Airsoft Scopes: Final Thoughts

Scopes can give you an edge, but accuracy and skill require talent and practice.

The best scope in the world won’t save you if you fail to spot the enemies movement or can’t control your shots.

Use our guide to find the best scope for you, and enjoy increased accuracy on the airsoft battlefield.

Do you have what it takes to be a sniper?

With the right airsoft gun and scope, you can become a top sniper on the battlefield. But it takes more than just good equipment

You need to be able to control your shots, have excellent aim and be aware of your surroundings at all times so that you can take out the enemy before they have a chance to retaliate.

Thanks for reading!