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If you want to know what the best rifle scope is for long-range shooting, there is no better place to look than the firing line at a Precision Rifle Series match. The top PRS shooters in the world are incredibly demanding on optics. They need scopes that track perfectly, hold zero through hard use, offer a forgiving eyebox, provide crystal-clear glass in difficult lighting conditions, and help them to spot impacts and misses under time pressure. These guys aren’t choosing scopes based on marketing hype or what looked good in a booth at SHOT Show. They are choosing the optics that help them hit the most targets and win matches. So I surveyed the top 200-ranked shooters in the PRS Open Division to learn exactly which rifle scopes, reticles, and magnification ranges they are trusting in competition today.
This article breaks down the specific scope brands, models, and reticles used by the pros, along with long-term trends and shifts in popularity over time. I’ll also highlight some of the key features elite shooters prioritize when choosing the best rifle scope for precision rifle competition, including magnification range, turret design, reticle preferences, field of view, and optical performance. Whether you’re a new shooter trying to make a smart investment or an experienced competitor wondering what the top PRS shooters are running right now, this data-driven look at what the pros use should help cut through the noise and give you real insight into the optics performing at the highest levels of the sport.
Best Rifle Scopes for 2026
Here is the latest breakdown of scope brands that the top 200 ranked shooters in the PRS are using:
On the chart above, the various colors represent where a shooter landed in terms of season rank in the PRS. For example, black indicates shooters who finished in the top 10, the darkest blue is people who finished 11-25, and the lighter the blue, the further out they finished in overall standings. The chart legend itemizes the ranks each color represents, but basically, the darker the color, the higher the shooter’s overall ranking.
Zero Compromise Optics continues to dominate among the top PRS shooters for the second year in a row, with 45 of the top 200 competitors running one of their scopes, including the largest share of shooters ranked in the top 25. Leupold and Tangent Theta remain firmly in the mix among elite competitors, with both brands showing the strongest representation across the top 50 shooters. Kahles and Vortex continue to hold meaningful market share deeper into the field, but neither had any shooters represented among the top 10, and Vortex didn’t have any in the top 25. While Nightforce’s presence has declined somewhat in recent years, it still has the largest representation in the top 10 (barely edging out ZCO, Leupold, and Tangent Theta by 1).
Overall, the data shows that while there are many capable optics on the market, a relatively small group of premium brands overwhelmingly dominate among the highest-ranked PRS shooters competing at the top levels of the sport.
Now, let’s look at the breakdown by specific model of scope and magnification range that these top marksmen are running. To help keep the chart readable, it shows only the scope models with 5 or more shooters represented from this group of pros. 100% of the guys who finished in the top 25 were using one of the models listed below.
Here are the street prices of each scope at the time this was published, in the same order as their popularity ranking in the chart above.
| Scope Model | Street Price |
| Zero Compromise 5-27×56 | $4,485 |
| Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25×56 | $2,199 |
| Vortex 6-36×56 Razor HD Gen III | $2,999 |
| Tangent Theta 5-25×56 | $5,537 |
| Kahles K540i DLR 5-40×56 | $4,599 |
| Nightforce ATACR 7-35×56 F1 | $3,800 |
| Zero Compromise 8-40×56 | $4,655 |
| Tangent Theta 7-35×56 | $5,993 |
| Leupold Mark 5HD 7-35×56 | $2,399 |
| March FX 5-42×56 HM Gen2 | $4,659 |
| Kahles K328i DLR 3.5-28×50 | $3,499 |
Next, I’ll dive into each brand, unpack the models and reticles they offer, and provide some pro insight on which are the most popular.
Zero Compromise Optic (ZCO): 23% of Pros
23% of the top 200 ranked shooters in the PRS said they were running a Zero Compromise scope. They had 2 in the top 10 and a total of 7 among the top 25 competitors, which means they were well-represented at every level.
Zero Compromise Optic, or ZCO, has quickly become one of the most dominant scope brands in precision rifle competition, despite being a relatively new player in the optics market. The company was founded by a team of experienced optical engineers and industry veterans from Austria who set out to build a no-compromise rifle scope specifically for serious long-range shooters. Their scopes have developed a reputation for exceptional optical clarity, extremely forgiving eyeboxes, precise tracking, and outstanding mechanical consistency, which are all things that matter a lot when you’re trying to spot impacts and make corrections under match pressure. While ZCO scopes come with premium price tags, the overwhelming adoption among top PRS shooters suggests many competitors believe the performance advantages are worth the investment.
Here is a more specific breakdown of all of the ZCO scopes that shooters said they were running:
The ZCO 5-27×56 is the most popular scope model overall with 28 pros running it. However, the ZCO 8-40×56 is a newer model that 2 of the top 10 shooters choose to run, and it seems to be gaining popularity.
The ZCO 5-27×56 scope was released in 2019, while the ZCO 8-40×56 scope was released in 2022. So that may have played into the 5-27 being slightly more popular. The street price on the ZCO 5-27×56 is $4,485, and the ZCO 8-40×56 is $4,655. So, if someone already owned the 5-27, they might not run out to buy the 8-40.
One noteworthy feature many pro shooters love is the option to get a 10-mil turret on the ZCO scopes. That simply means 1 full turret revolution is 10.0 mils. Some other scopes on this list have 12, 15, or 16 mil turrets, which means the clicks and lines on the turret are more densely packed (20-60% more lines).
Having only 10 mils per revolution makes it easier to dial precisely and know you are on the right correction, especially when you are on a stage with tight time constraints. Also, even with some of the smallest cartridges we use, you rarely need to dial more than 10 mils of elevation at a match. I’ve competed in 3 PRS Pro Series matches in 2026, and the farthest target I engaged was 1,045 yards. The correction for my 6mm Dasher at that match was 8.4 mils of elevation, so I almost never need to go beyond one revolution, even with a 10 mil turret. (Note: ZCO scopes still have a total of 35 mils of elevation travel.)
Then here is a breakdown of the ZCO reticles that were most popular among these pro competitors:
Here is a quick view of the most popular reticles from Zero Compromise Optics:
Leupold: 18% of Pros
18% of these top-ranked pro shooters were running a Leupold rifle scope, including 2 in the top 10.
Leupold really needs no introduction in the shooting world. They’ve been building rifle scopes for well over a century and have one of the longest track records of any optics manufacturer represented in the PRS. While newer premium brands have gained momentum in recent years, Leupold continues to have a strong presence among top shooters, especially with the Mark 5HD lineup, thanks to its great reticle options, solid tracking performance, and competitive price point relative to other top-tier optics.
The Leupold Mark 5HD scope is by far the most popular product line among these shooters. 23 were using the Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25×56 and 10 were using the Leupold Mark 5HD 7-35×56.
One primary reason the Mark 5HD line of scopes has become so popular is the value they offer. The street price is $2,199 (in May 2026), which is literally half the price of some of the other scopes on this list! Most of the popular scopes have a street price of $3,500 or more. The Leupold Mark 5HD scope clearly has all of the “must have” features and is at a price point that makes it a huge value.
The Leupold Mark 5HD scopes are also the lightest on this list. Most of these high-end optics weigh around 36-39 ounces, but the Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25×56 is just 30 ounces.
While the optical performance of the Leupold scope is clearly adequate to compete at even the highest levels (the 2025 PRS Champion was using one), that is the area where some shooters would criticize this scope. For example, the field of view of the Leupold Mark 5HD is the most narrow of any of the scopes on this list, at 14% below the average.
Now let’s look at the reticles these guys running Leupold scopes chose:
97% of these guys are running the PR2-MIL reticle. The Leupold PR2 reticle design is what attracts a lot of shooters to this scope, along with the value price point.
One unique aspect of Leupold’s PR2-MIL reticle is that its hash marks are in 0.25-mil increments. Most other mil reticles are either in 0.2 or 0.5 mil increments. I’ve heard a couple of the top 25 shooters say they didn’t think they’d like the 0.25-mil increments on this reticle until they tried it. But after using it in a few matches, they now prefer it. They say this PR2-MIL reticle seems to make it faster to acquire the correct hold with 0.25 mil increments, and they can still hold with the precision that is necessary for these types of competitions.
Tangent Theta: 16% of Pros
16% of the top-ranked shooters in the PRS were running a Tangent Theta rifle scope, including 2 in the top 10 and 5 in the top 25.
Many people say the Tangent Theta scope has the best glass clarity in the industry. That is a hot topic with a lot of debate, but I don’t think anyone would claim it wasn’t among the scopes with the best glass. There is a lot to like about the Tangent Theta scope.
Tangent Theta has built an almost legendary reputation in the precision rifle world for optical quality and mechanical precision. Originally developed in Canada with a strong focus on military and professional end users, Tangent Theta scopes are known for incredibly crisp glass, exceptional turret feel, and some of the best overall fit and finish in the industry. They’ve consistently maintained a strong following among elite PRS shooters who prioritize optical performance and reliability above almost everything else, even with price tags that put them among the most expensive rifle scopes on the market.
Tangent Theta scopes are the only scopes with a street price above $5k on this list, with the Tangent Theta 5-25×56 priced at $5,537 and the 7-35×56 priced at $5,993!
One note: Tangent Theta scopes are only available with 15 mil turrets. There isn’t a 10 mil turret option.
Here are the Tangent Theta reticles that these competitors chose to run:
The JTAC and Gen 3 XR reticles were the most popular reticle options among the pros, with lots of good shooters using each of those. The JTAC reticle is a more open design, and the Gen 3 XR reticle has a Christmas tree for hold-overs.
The JTAC reticle was designed by veteran pro shooters and optimized for PRS competitions. JTAC is an abbreviation for the first initial of 4 PRS shooters: JTAC = Justin, Tate, Austin, and Clay. They are each very accomplished shooters, and if anyone knows what it takes to win a national championship, it has to be these guys! They collectively represent the PRS Champions from 2019, 2020, and 2021.
Kahles: 13% of Pros
Kahles is the fourth-most-popular rifle scope among elite PRS shooters, representing 13% of the pros.
Kahles is one of the oldest optics manufacturers in the world, with roots in Austria dating back to 1898. They are the tactical sister company to Swarovski, and they’ve become a major force in the precision rifle competition scene over the past decade. Their scopes are especially popular among PRS shooters because of features that seem purpose-built for competition, including excellent glass quality, wide field of view, intuitive turret layouts, and the unique left-side windage option that many shooters love for fast stage management.
Here are the specific Kahles scope models these shooters chose to run:
Kahles released the brand new Kahles K540i DLR 5-40×56 scope in February 2025, and it is already the favorite among serious precision rifle competitors. That is a massive 8x zoom ratio, covering from 5x to 40x magnification! The Kahles K540i also has the widest field of view of any scope on this list. It is 28% wider than the average FOV on this list! Finding targets at relatively high magnification is one of the skills of pro shooters in the PRS, so a large field of view is an extremely compelling feature for competition use.
The street price on the new Kahles K540i DLR 5-40×56 is priced at $4,599. That puts the Kahles 5-40×56 as one of the most expensive scopes on this list.
Here are the Kahles reticles these shooters said they use in rifle matches:
The Kahles SKMR4 reticle was by far the most popular reticle among these shooters. Here are the full details of the Kahles SKMR 4 reticle, including all the differences between it and the SKMR 3 reticle.
Vortex: 11% of Pros
11% of the top-ranked PRS shooters said they ran a Vortex 6-36×56 Razor HD Gen III. However, it is noteworthy that there weren’t any shooters in the top 25 using a Vortex scope.
Vortex is one of the largest optics companies in the world, and its Razor HD Gen III rifle scope has earned a strong following among top PRS shooters. Competitors are drawn to its aggressive feature set at a price that is typically lower than many other premium European optics. The Vortex 6-36×56 also has a slightly wider field of view than many other scopes on this list.
As I mentioned, all of the shooters were using the same model scope: Vortex 6-36×56 Razor HD Gen III.
The Vortex 6-36×56 Razor HD Gen III has a street price of $2,999.
One thing of note about this scope is that it is the heaviest of any scope in this list. It weighs 45 ounces, which is 6 ounces heavier than any other scope and 26% heavier than the average scope on this list. That may not matter much if it’s on a 25-pound PRS rifle, but it’s worth noting if you are using it for other applications.
Most shooters prefer the Vortex EBR-7D reticle. The EBR-7D features 0.2 mil holds and a Christmas tree for quick hold-overs.
Nightforce: 9% of Pros
More people in the top 10 ran a Nightforce scope than any other brand, and they accounted for 9% of these pro shooters overall.
Nightforce has long been known for building some of the most rugged and reliable rifle scopes in the industry. The ATACR lineup still has a loyal following among top shooters who value durability, dependable tracking, and proven performance under hard use. The ATACR 5-25×56 was originally released in 2015, and the ATACR 7-35×56 was released in 2016, so it’s impressive to still see them represented so heavily at the top of the leaderboard.
The Nightforce ATACR 7-35×56 F1 scope is by far the fan favorite among serious PRS competitors. All of the guys in the top 50 who were using a Nightforce scope were running the NF ATACR 7-35×56. The ATACR 5-25×56 F1 has been a favorite in the past (and is still very capable), but the 7-35 has been the dominant choice for years.
These Nightforce ATACR scopes are only available with 12 mil elevation turrets (no 10 mil option).
Here are the Nightforce reticles that these shooters said they used in matches:
Shooters seemed to be split between running the Mil-XT reticle and the MIL-C reticle. 56% ran the Mil-XT, but there was also 1 more in the top 10 running the Mil-C than the Mil-XT.
March: 5% of Pros
March Scopes grew from just 1 shooter represented in this group last year to now representing 5% of these top-ranked PRS shooters! That is a lot of traction in a single year!
March Scopes have always had a strong reputation among hardcore competition shooters in other disciplines, but in 2024, they released the new March 5-42×56 High Master Gen II, which is focused squarely on the PRS/NRL competition world. You can see that is exactly the scope that many of these top marksmen have adopted:
You’ll see the “March 5-42×56 High Master Gen II” also listed as the “March FX PRS Wide Angle 5-42×56 G2” as the “March-FX 5-42×56 PRS Edition.” March says it combines an enormous 8.4x zoom range with exceptional optical quality, a huge wide-angle eyepiece, and March’s High Master lens system that uses Super ED glass to minimize chromatic aberration and maintain clarity at high magnification.
The new Gen II version also introduced competition-focused features like writable turrets, improved image quality near the limits of elevation travel, and the new reticle designed specifically for PRS-style shooting.
You’ll also see the March 5-42×56 High Master Gen II marketed as “wide angle,” because it has one of the largest fields of view of any scope on this list. It is 15% larger than the average scope on this list, and only the Kahles K328i and K540i have a wider field of view.
The street price of the March 5-42×56 High Master Gen II is $4,659, making it one of the most expensive scopes on the list (only behind Tangent Theta).
Here are the March scope reticles these shooters were running:
Almost all of the shooters were using the March FML-WBR reticle, which was designed specifically for PRS-style shooting by Brandon Rudge, who is a semi-pro PRS competitor.
All Other Scopes
The 7 brands above combine to represent 95% of the pros, and the remaining 5% were spread over a few brands. None of these were represented by more than 2% of the pros.
- Apex Optics: 4 total shooters all using the Apex 4-32×56 Rival FFP (highest rank was #70 Chase Beckley)
- Burris: 3 total shooters all using the Burris 5.5-30×56 XTR Pro (highest rank was #29 Dave Ostrowske)
- Zeiss: 1 shooter using the Zeiss LRP S5 5-25×56 FFP (#68 Allen Jaworski)
- Bushnell: 1 shooter using the Bushnell 6-36×56 Elite Tactical (#56 Robert Brantley)
I feel compelled to add that ranks above 50 might sound like they aren’t a great shooter – all of those guys are truly world-class shooters. Think of the absolute best shooter at your local rifle club. Chances are very good that anyone in the top 200 season rankings in the PRS would smoke that guy in a rifle match.
All of these scopes are extremely capable. None of them are “budget” scopes that can’t compete at the highest level.
Year-Over-Year Trends
Finally, I thought it’d be interesting to look at the trends of what optic brands the best shooters in the PRS have used over the years. I’ve been surveying the top-ranked competitors for well over a decade, and have data going back to the inaugural season in 2012.
The chart below shows the past 3 years (2025, 2024, and 2023) along with 5 and 10 years prior to that (2018 and 2013). There are a ton of brands that have been represented over the years, so to keep the chart readable, I only included the companies that represented at least 10% of the top-ranked shooters in any of the years shown.
This is the most interesting chart in this whole article to me! I’ve personally been competing in these styles of field matches since 2012, and this chart shows how disruptive new scope designs have been over the years.
This chart shows how new a company Zero Compromise Optic is. They released their first scope design, the ZCO 5-27×56, in 2019. So they didn’t have a single shooter represented in 2018, but then quickly gained ground and earned the top spot among the pros the past 2 years. They seem to still be on an upward trajectory, so it will be interesting to see if that continues.
There wasn’t a single top-ranked shooter using a Leupold scope in 2018! It’s probably hard for people to believe that, but there was a period of time when very few competitive long-range shooters were running Leupold scopes. But then Leupold released the Mark 5HD line of scopes with a new PRS reticle, and you can see they’ve been one of the top choices among the pros since that time. It’d be hard to argue that the Leupold Mark 5HD isn’t the best bang for your buck when it comes to scopes, and Leupold has continued to hold that price point that is well below the majority of other scopes on this list.
Tangent Theta released their 5-25×56 design in 2014, but it took a while to make inroads among this group of shooters. But today, they’ve been among the top 3 brands for a few years in a row.
Kahles is the first brand that was represented among the top-ranked competitors in every year shown. They are one of the OG brands in the PRS, and their popularity also seems to be on an upward trajectory, especially with their newest scope designs.
Vortex has been the most consistent choice among this group of elite marksmen and is the only brand to have had at least 10% in every year shown. The Vortex Razor HD Gen 2 scope was THE mainstream scope in the PRS for many years, and the Gen 3 version seems to be carrying on that tradition.
Nightforce is another OG company that goes back to the early days of the PRS. Following the release of the ATACR in 2015, you can see they dominated for a few years. Even though that scope design is now 10 years old, it continues to be one of the top picks among the guys at the very top of the leaderboard.
Bushnell’s tactical line of scopes was once a very popular choice even among pro shooters, but you can see its popularity has been declining every year. They had only 1 shooter represented among the top 200 competitors this year.
And finally, this was the first year that Schmidt and Bender was not represented among this group. In 2013, they accounted for 39% of the top-ranked PRS shooters, but that had dropped to 13% by 2018 and to 0% in 2025.
While it’s crazy for a company that used to dominate high-performance optics to no longer be represented by even a single shooter, it just goes to show how many new companies have entered the mix over the past 15 years. There has never been a more exciting time to be involved in long-range shooting! We have so many great options, and it seems like new designs keep coming out that are pushing the industry forward.
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Thanks Cal, I’ve been following you for many years now, excellent work very much appreciated.
It was your original scope evaluation that I used for my first top tier purchase.
Thanks again Rich
Thanks, Richard!
Hi Cal
Excellent information to know.
I own the Vortex 6-36×56 Razor HD Gen III and I am very glad it made the list. I really like it. I think if the top 25 had a chance to try it they would change their minds (LOL).
However, it is heavy and that can be a good thing also.
It’s a lot more than $2900.00 in Canada also.
Keep up the great articles
Paul Goggan
Hey, Paul. I actually have seen a ton of people talk about how much they love the Vortex 6-36×56 Razor HD Gen III. That scope does weigh as much as a boat anchor, but some of these guys are running rifles that weigh 27 lbs … so weight isn’t typically a deciding factor for this game. We are all adding weights to our rifles, so adding a heavy scope could just replace one of the weights.
The Vortex Razor Gen II scope was THE mainstream scope in the PRS for years. A friend of mine who was crowned the PRS Champion for one of the early seasons said that scope would just hold zero through anything, so it had quite the following. It seems like the Gen III is carrying on that tradition.
I actually haven’t looked through one myself, but I’ll try to find one at the next match I’m at. I’ve just heard a ton of people say that they loved it.
Thanks for sharing your experience,
Cal
Would be interesting to break down how many are sponsored or receive discounted\free scopes versus those they that purchase themselves at retail. Going off the company names on shooters jerseys it seems a high percentage has some sort of sponsorship deal.
Also it would be good to know what the shooters in the world championship are using in Sept. I know last year there was quite the mix of scopes represented.
Hugo, that’s a great question. You want to know something crazy? There are lot of guys out there wearing logos on a jersey … that they made themselves! None of those companies sponsor them. They just like shooting their stuff, so they got a jersey made with all of their favorite things on it. It is kind of sad to me that they’d do that, because it seems like they’re trying to make it seem like they’re sponsored. I’d say this used to be VERY prevalent in 2015-2019, and it seems like its tapered down a lot … but I saw a guy that I know isn’t sponsored in a jersey at a match this year. He didn’t even place in the top 100 at the match!
I was having lunch with one of the VP-level guys from Vortex years ago, and he asked me, “How many shooters do you think we sponsor?” I said, “Man, seeing all the guys in jerseys, maybe 50?” He laughed out loud, and then told me what I just told you. He said they only sponsored about 5 guys at that time. It blew my mind! He said if guys want to make a jersey and put the Vortex logo on it, that is great. But they aren’t sponsoring near as many shooters as most people think.
Today, I have earned the “Pro” PRS shooter classification and have gone to the finale the past two years. So I’m not a top 25 shooter, but I am currently ranked in the top 100 for 2026 and have finished in the top 100 in previous seasons. So I’m one of the pro shooters represented in this data. I’m also friends with most of the guys in the top 25, and many in the top 100. I can tell you from first-hand experience that sponsorships are not as widespread as people think.
Jeff Huber is the North America Director of Zero Compromise Optics. I’ve known Jeff for over a decade, so I asked him directly this week how many shooters ZCO sponsors. Here is exactly what he said: “It is very rare for us to give anyone a scope; this typically only happens for junior shooters, such as those on Team USA. We do not pay for entry fees, ammunition, or other expenses. With the exception of a handful of people over the years, we do not sponsor shooters. We do, however, support many matches in the PRS, NRL, and ELR circuits with certificates/discounts for winners of the match.”
Virtually none of these shooters are making a living at this (outside of the two US Army Marksmanship Unit guys), unlike world-class shooters in other disciplines. The sponsorships in the PRS aren’t like 3 gun was for a long time, or other disciplines where huge mainstream companies like Remington or Sig are throwing money at it. It would be fun if it became more mainstream and one day I couldn’t say that, but that is the truth today. The total shooter sponsorship dollars in the PRS are very small.
Here is another thing to consider, which is the main thing I think about when it comes to this: Because I’m personal friends with many of these guys at the very top, I can tell you for certain that they are some of the most competitive people you’ve ever met in your life. They would absolutely not be using a scope or other piece of gear if they thought another product would give them 1% more in terms of performance. I know one of these shooters that a company gave a free scope to a few years ago, and he tried it in 1 match and then decided to go back to his old scope (that he paid for). That is what competitive people do! He wasn’t going to use it all season if he thought something else would help him get on the podium more frequently.
Clay Blackketter is a PRS Champion and was just the top-qualifying shooter on Team USA for the 2026 IPRF World Championship, and he shared with me the math he’s done in terms of what all his costs are related to competitions (travel, hotels, replacing barrels, components, match fees, etc.) and he’s way in the red every year. He pays out of pocket for most of this stuff! He may get a discount, but it’s pretty insignificant compared to the total cost. Clay says, “I would absolutely never change gear unless I truly believe it would add to my score.” He wouldn’t switch products even if he thought it was a wash and they were offering him money to do it. He said he would never change gear unless he truly believed it would add points to his score. That is how most pro shooters think. Every time you switch gear you are introducing uncertainty and risk. So even if something was free or someone offered to pay him to use it (which is EXTREMELY rare), he wouldn’t even consider switching if he didn’t think it would add to his score. That approach is a big part of the reason that Clay is the most consistent shooter on the PRS circuit, and I’d say it is how many pro shooters think.
Now there are shooters that pick up a scope or a discount certificate for a scope off a prize table. But they aren’t obligated to use it. It’s just a prize. If it is better than whatever they had before, they might start using it. If they don’t think it’s better, you’ll see it for sale on Snipers Hide the next week still in the box it came in.
What I always tell people is if you think sponsorships skew what the top guys are using, then take out the top 25 in your mind – or even the top 50. The data still tells the same story, even if you exclude those guys. I’m not saying you should, because I don’t believe they are going with whatever someone gave them or asked them to run. But at the end of the day, you can still trust the data.
I have been collecting data on what gear the guys registering for the IPRF World Championship are running. The guys who run that reached out to me, and I worked to get it all setup for that event. They did want to keep it simpler, so we only asked about the brands people use and not the specific models or reticles.
I actually don’t know that I’ve got all the data yet, and the survey is still open for anyone who has yet to register. So I haven’t carefully combed through the data. But because you asked … I’ll give you a sneakpeak at the data I have collected from the 216 people who have registered so far.
26% Zero Compromise Optics
18% Leupold
18% Kahles
9% Vortex
7% Nightforce
Plus a bunch of other brands that have 5% or less.
So it seems VERY similar to this data I just published. Now, like I said, I haven’t combed through the data … that is just the rough numbers from the survey tool without any filters applied. It could be that some people took survey multiple times on accident, or maybe whole teams haven’t registered yet. I just wanted to share the data I had, because you asked. 😉
Sorry for the long reply, but I know there are other readers thinking the same thing about sponsorships … so I felt like I needed to give a thorough explanation. Hope it was helpful!
Thanks,
Cal
This article is hilarious, “best scope, just look at what’s used down the line”,…..this game is a monkey see/monkey do, follow the leader, if it’s expensive it’s gooder & look at me game like most games…..LMAO….most dudes playing this game are clueless of what’s actually the “best” & why, then the clueless author writes whatever pays the best & then what sheeople want to hear……
Eric, I’m trying to decide which part of this comment is my favorite. 😂
You think the top-ranked PRS shooters in the world are “clueless”? Some of these guys shoot 20,000+ rounds a year through precision rifles and spend more time behind glass in one season than most people will in a lifetime. Eric, you must be the “enlightened one” that knows what is actually the best and why, right?
And the “if it’s expensive it’s gooder” part doesn’t really hold up when the Leupold Mark 5HD is the lowest priced scope on this whole list (and half the cost of many of these), and it was towards the top of the list.
Also, “the clueless author writes whatever pays best” … do you see any gun company ads on my website? Nope! Have any of them offered? Most of them! I don’t take money from any manufacturer. I don’t even let them give me free products. I want to remain a 100% independent voice, because this industry needs it.
This article wasn’t me telling people what scope to buy. It was simply reporting hard data on what the top competitors are actually using.
But hey, if the free article disappointed you, I’ll happily issue a full refund. 😉
Anyway, thanks for the comment. The internet wouldn’t be the internet without at least one guy accusing everyone else of being sheep. 😅
Thanks,
Cal
Eric,
Did you just find this website? I’ve been reading it for years… maybe a decade or more… simply because it is data driven. And throughout the years, someone always comments about sponsorships, and Cal gives the same explanation as the one above your comment regarding how competitive these folks are. I’m not certain whether to be offended you spoke pejoratively and impugned his integrity, or to think you’re actually one of the top 25 pulling a prank on him.
Samuel, I appreciate you chiming in. 😂
At this point I’ve replied to some version of this comment so many times I probably need to save it as a template called “Apparently I’m Secretly Sponsored.” 😅
And no … based on the evidence so far, I don’t think Eric is a top 25 PRS shooter running an elaborate long-game prank on me. But honestly, that would be pretty funny.
I genuinely appreciate longtime readers like you who understand what I’m trying to do here: collect real-world data, stay independent, and help cut through some of the noise in this industry.
Thanks,
Cal
Many thanks Cal, yet another very interesting article! Living in Germany, it is a tragedy having to note the decline, if not demise, of Schmidt & Bender. 40% in 2013, and today?
Best regards, Pascal
Yes, sir. I’ve been a bit perplexed by that the disappearance of Schmidt & Bender. I still own a couple of Schmidt & Bender PMII 5-25×56 scopes. I competed with those on my match rifles from 2014 through through the spring of 2019.
I’ll say that I experienced some issues with zero shift from mild side-impacts. One time my rifle was sitting on the shooting line on a bipod, and someone accidentally knocked it over when they were getting their rifle. I didn’t think much of it, and just sat my rifle back up. It turns out I had a 0.9 mil horizontal shift in my zero! It was a very windy match, where the wind was gusting 15-20 and shifting directions, which made it very confusing. I only had about 5-6 stages left in the match, but my placement took a nosedive on those last few stages. I’d see my missed, but just thought the wind must have kept switching or gusting up on me. When I got home, I checked the zero and it was about 3″ left of the bullseye at 100 yards. The elevation was perfect, but the windage was way off.
That will shake your confidence. I would suspect with the success of that scope, that might have just been a fluke incident. However, after my incident, I reached out to a prior PRS Champ that I’m friends with, and told him about the issue … and he said he had stopped using that scope for the same reason. So apparently I wasn’t the only one to experience it.
I decided that a scope holding its zero is 100% the most important feature of a scope. If it can’t do that, it doesn’t matter how good the glass or other features are. That is when I switched over to a Nightforce ATACR 7-35×56, and I can say I NEVER lost my zero with a NF. One time, me and a buddy were getting our gear on for day 1 of a PRS Pro match. I had put my rifle on my bed cover, and my buddy slammed a door to my truck and it tipped my rifle over on the the steel bed cover. His face turned white, because we were literally about to walk to stage 1 and I probably didn’t have time to go check zero. I just smiled and said, “Don’t worry. It’s a Nightforce.” And my zero was still perfect on stage 1, all the way through the match, and the travel back home. I went to the range a few days later and checked the zero at 100 yards and it was perfect. No that will give you confidence!
I’m not claiming all Nightforce scopes hold their zero and no Schmidt & Benders do, but I’m just sharing my personal experience and when I stopped using Schmidts on my match rifles. It sounded like at least a couple of other people had similar experiences, although I’m sure it wasn’t everyone.
I used Nightforce for years, and eventually tried a Tangent Theta … and then went back to Nightforce. The past 2 PRS Pro Series matches I’ve shot with a Zero Compromise Optic 8-40×56. I’ve liked it, and I placed 7th overall at the last one … so it did its job well.
I like to tinker and try new things. I actually am not a brand fan boy or loyalist. There are great things that I loved about each of those scopes.
But I think I see a pattern. Now that I’m thinking about it, here is my progression of scopes that I’ve used on my competition rifles since 2012: Leupold > Nightforce > Schmidt & Bender > Nightforce > Tangent Theta > Nightforce > ZCO > …
Who knows. I might stick with ZCO for years, but I guess I wouldn’t be shocked if I don’t go back to the one brand that has never let me down when it comes to durability and maintaining zero through months of shooting. Schmidt, Tangent, and ZCO all have better glass than the Nightforce. They also have some reticles and other features that are compelling. But, can any of them hold a zero like a Nightforce? I’ll let you know in a year or two!
The one thing that gives me a little more confidence about the ZCO is that one of the main guys behind that brand had a 30 year career working at Nightforce, Leupold, and Kahles. He’s seen the inside of all of those factories and knew all of their designs and different approaches … and flaws. He saw lots of small compromises each would make for different trade-offs. Then he went and teamed up with a bunch of optics engineers in Austria and helped start Zero Compromise Optics. The name reflects what their goal was. Now the price tag also reflects what you have to pay to not have compromises, too! 😉
I first mounted the ZCO on my match rifle on March 7, 2026 … so I don’t have enough experience behind it to say whether they fulfill the claims or not. But, I can say I’m running it on my match rifle, so I clearly believe today it helps me shoot my best. I really love the 10-mil turret and 3x reticle. The glass is in the same class as a Schmidt or Tangent. But, I’ll have to see if it will hold up like a Nightforce. The ZCO has earned the right to stay on my rifle for the next match, and hopefully it will keep earning that spot … but if it fails me, I bet you can guess what would be on my rifle at the next match. 😉
Sorry for the long rant! You got me thinking about what I loved about the Schmidt and why I don’t use one today. It’s been a journey!
I appreciate you sharing your thoughts!
Cal
I would say Schmidt and Benders biggest issue is reticle design. The new Tr2id, similar to PR2-mil and other christmas tree reticules, is a step in the right direction. Though it seems that everyone is going to no tree and S&B M1FL reticle is to fine for most with 0.1mil hash marks.
So I guess S&B is only good on rimfire since at the IPRF World Championship last year S&B 6-36 took 1st and 4th.
You are probably right. Reticle design has been an issue for them. I used to run the Horus H59. I don’t like a Horus reticle, but it was the best that they had at the time. It might be the best they have still. It’s unfortunate, because it seems like reticle design is not that hard of a change to implement on a high-end scope like that.
Thanks,
Cal
Over the pond here in Europe ZCO is on the roll as well , these days i am mostly active in Rimfire PRS/IPRF circuit . ZCO is no1 ,Kahles close second ,S&B is still quite present.
Costs factors are much different than in US , here top tier are all past 4k$ ZCO527 is maybe 500$ more than Vortex Razor HD6-36 or NF ATACR ,but is often cheaper or about the same Kahles or March or S&B so price is not a deciding factor between them ,it more often than not comes down to reticle choice. Tangent Theta not that popular at all here besides the sticker shock (6000+$)the reticles are rather on thin side for PRS. Leupold yes and no ,popular couple of years ago but the Mk5HD is not nearly as affordable in Europe .
As for sponsored scopes there are none i know of for ZCO , bunch of S&B ,till fairly recently Kahles was by far the most ”sponsored” in a sense many competitors active in Kahles sponsored competitions ,got them at a massive rabate close to 1/3 the retail cost. But it seems Kahles wound down the program considerably.
Very interesting to hear the pricing and popularity differences! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks,
Cal
Good read Cal. Here’s the way I look at it, if you can afford it and you like it, get it. We live life that way for many things like our homes, automobiles, rifles, etc. I mean heck, I have a Kubota track loader in my back yard. Do I need it, no, I use it, but hell, for how much it costs I could have hired professionals that would do a far better job than me at a small fraction of the cost, but damn it’s a lot of fun and I like pissing off the neighbors. I hate to think how much money I have in the safes tied up in optics. So whatever the reason someone wants a ZCO or any other scope over anything else, bravo, good for them. I looked at the ZC527, I really like it, but I’ve got so many Leupold Mark V HD’s and Vortex RZR Gen II’s, that I don’t really need one. That being said, if someone is hurting for $ and wants to dump a ZCO cheap, I’m all ears. Carry on, thanks for the information Cal, great reading as always. Your responses to other comments add to the informative data of the article.
Probably the most honest view of it that I’ve heard!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Cal
Honestly, this is exactly the kind of information budget-conscious precision shooters are looking for. When you’re putting together a competitive rifle setup, finding a reliable budget long range riflescope scope that still tracks accurately, holds zero, and performs under match pressure can feel almost impossible without spending a fortune.
Thanks, Mark. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts. And I agree with you! Glad you found this helpful.
Thanks,
Cal