The Best Scope for 338 Lapua Rifles

The .338 Lapua rifle cartridge was originally developed by the U.S. Military as a high-powered magnum sniper rifle round. It was later used in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars and has become somewhat of a popular round for serious long-range shooters. If you’ve got a 338 Lapua rifle, you’re going to need a very good scope to make the most of it.

As with almost any scope that is high-quality, from scopes for .22 to 30-06, you’re looking for optical clarity, easy adjustment and build quality that will last a lifetime.

In this post, our experts put their heads together and found the best scopes for 338 Lapua on the market. We then reviewed our top picks to help you make the best buying decision possible for your 338 Lapua rifle.

So without further delay, here’s our list of the best scopes for 338 Lapua:

Simmons 8-Point Truplex Reticle Riflescope for 338 Lapua

Finding a scope for any high powered rifle means that you want something built to handle recoil. But that doesn’t mean that you have to dump a ton of money. If you want a simple optic that is tough enough to hold up over time, then look no further.

This Scope from Simmons may not provide the brightest picture in the world, but it’s built tough enough to handle the kick from a 338, and it’s cheap, meaning more money in your pocket to upgrade later, and you’ll still have a low cost scope to mount on another rifle.

The scope is fog-proof and waterproof, and also shock proof, and while the glass coatings aren’t the best in the world, the big 50mm optic on the front collects more light than most rifle scopes.

This is a fantastic alternative to throwing down a bunch of money to get some glass on your rifle before figuring out what you really want, and enough versatility to decide how much magnification you like. Bottom line, it’s a very good buy for the money.

Nikon Buckmasters II 3-9×40 BDC Scope

If you still want some value, but don’t want to go with the lowest cost option, then you might be interested to look at this offering from Nikon.

The glass is super clear, transmitting 92% of the incoming light, and the housing is completely weatherproof and waterproof. Nikon paired with Buckmasters to make this scope as rugged as it could be, while still being equipped with all the goodies you love in a simple hunting scope. It’s made to handle not only recoil, but also any rough conditions you can throw at it, while still holding zero, if your scope rings are up to the task.

While the zoom range is typical, and won’t be enough for anyone, 3-9x provides more than enough power for most shooters, and the BDC reticle will keep you on target, giving you a straightforward compensation system, once you figure out where the marks apply to ranging on your rifle and bullet load.

Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Multi-X Reticle Scope

If you are looking for something with a little more range, then this 4-12×40 scope from Bushnell might be what you are looking for. Still allowing a low power option, which is preferable for most 100 yard shooters.

You can push the zoom all the way up to 12, and of course, the scope is fully sealed and purged for waterproof and fog-proof capabilities. You get a generous 3+ inches of eye relief, and Bushnell’s Multi-X reticle design. Click in your windage and elevation with your fingertips, and once you’re sighted in, you are ready to reach out an touch someone.

The scope is capable, your rifle is capable, so if you have a smooth trigger pull and have perfected your technique, you’ll be punching those long range reactive targets with relative ease. Plus, this scope is a really great value right now.

Trijicon RS29 AccuPower 4-16×50 Riflescope

If you want the best of the best, long range scope for your long range Lapua, then why not go with a scope every sniper dreams of, the RS29 AccuPower from Trijicon.

You’re going to pay heavy for it, but for the money, you are getting the very best from a company that specializes in providing the military the best equipment for use in the harshest environments.

The fully multi-coated lenses give you exceptional clarity and brightness, coupled with glass that provides distortion-free viewing. The all-weather, all-elements housing makes a rugged construction that will hold up to just about anything. The second focal plane reticule will give you a constant target through the entire zoom range. And of course, on any scope in this power range, a 50mm primary objective is a must.

It’s not cheap, but if you want the best, you’ve found it.