The Best Rifle Scope Accessories Every Serious Shooter Should Own!

There is an excess of firearm accessories in the market from well-known items like rifle rests to pistol grips and lasers.

In this list, I focus only on the must-have rifle scope accessories every serious shooter should own.

I consider cost, the weight it adds to the rifle, and its overall effectiveness in enhancing a riflescope’s ability to do the job.

I list my favorite go-to accessories from caps and sunshades to mounts while also including some popular accessories that shooters say they can’t go without!

The Best Rifle Scope Accessories in 2023

1. Scope Caps

Without a clear sight picture, your scope is essentially useless. Protecting the scope from dust, which can damage coatings and glass, is a great motivation to have caps when it’s not in use. It’ll also protect the lenses from scratches, dirt, rain, and all sorts of debris when you’re out in the field.

There are different types of caps from bikini style to flip-up caps, and we can all agree that they add nothing in terms of weight to the overall weight of a setup. If anything, they weigh a few ounces.

Most riflescopes don’t come with them in the box. Finding the right size can be tricky so check the specs in the manual.

I personally prefer flip-up caps. Any feature that makes it harder for me to lose them in the field is a feature I value. Flip-up caps stay on the scope – you don’t have to remove them. Simply flip the covers up and they’re out of the way providing a clear sight picture.

Explore our top picks for the best scope caps, ensuring optimal protection and functionality for your valuable optics. Keep scopes safeguarded from dust, debris, and the elements.

2. Scope Cover

Scope covers are mostly known as scope coats in the industry, but Sentry is the original manufacturer of the trademarked “Scopecoats” and term. In general, it's a one-piece cover made of neoprene, and they stay on the scope during inclement weather, when the scope is not in use, and during storage.

Scope caps protect the lenses, and the scope covers are especially useful if you don’t have caps. However, covers protect the entire riflescope – not just the glass. They come in different sizes, so you should have a good idea of the riflescope’s length when purchasing.

Like scope lens covers, these scope coats weigh mere ounces and don’t add a lot to the overall weight. They’re relatively cheap starting from about $10 but can be as expensive as $40-$50.

Maven includes one with a riflescope in the box, but most of the time, consider it separate purchase.

3. Scope Mounts

Mounting systems are a must-have whether rings, a cantilever mount, or a quick detach mount is used. The mounting system is the connection between the scope and the rifle. As such, accuracy and reliability will depend on the mounting system.

Don’t be afraid to upgrade here as there will be no consistency and confidence in your setup if the mounting system is the weak link. They are not one-size-fits-all. The ring size will depend on the tube diameter and the ring height will depend on the size of the objective bell and how high it needs to be to clear the rifle. Some rings may need lapping and you can read about how to lap scope rings here.

There is quite a bit of weight added from a few ounces to a pound or so. It is likely to depend on the type of mount as cantilever mounts weigh more than rings.

Elevate your accuracy with our top-rated scope mounts. Engineered for stability, durability, and seamless integration for optimal performance.

4. Riflescope Cleaning Kit

Keeping your scope clean extends riflescope longevity and effectiveness. Please do not use the end of your flannel shirt or Carhartt jacket to wipe wet or dirty lenses. Most fabrics will do harm to the glass and not all microfiber is made equal.

Scope cleaning kits can include special glass cleaning solutions, wipes, and tools like a lens pen. These are the best cleaning options for riflescopes but can also be used on binoculars, red dot sights, laser rangefinders, and more. One quality kit will do it.

You don’t need to keep the entire kit in your gear pack on your back, but at least keep the pen or microfiber cloth to help keep the sight picture clear and the glass happy while in the field.

5. Riflescope Turret Caps

Since exposed turrets are a trend, many don’t give much thought to turret caps anymore. But those of us in the field give them more than a deserving thought or two. Obviously, turret caps protect the turrets from damage. If there’s a place where water can get in, this would definitely be an entry point.

Since many hunting scopes do not have locking or zero stop turrets, the caps also serve to prevent any unintentional adjustments thus preserving zero retention. I think, out of all the riflescope accessories you can have, turret caps would be right alongside a throw lever in that they can weigh essentially nothing.

The hard part is that these are parts that you would find replacements for from the manufacturer. But every once in a while, you can find a cap that will fit online.

I’ll admit to losing a cap here and there while at the range and sighting in. I blame the wind. What’s your excuse?

6. Scope Sunshade

Sunshades do just that – provide shade from the sun. It’s an attachment that threads into the objective bell of the riflescope to help reduce reflections and glare in especially bright conditions.

Some manufacturers include one in the box. I’ve gotten one with the Vortex Strike Eagle LPVO and Sig Sauer Sierra6, and I always think it's a nice addition. The point of having one though is to use it.

It does add quite the length to a scope and can add about 0.5 lb or more, but they’re generally lightweight and worth the weight and cost.

7. Scope Throw Lever

Throw levers, power levers – they’re the same thing. It’s an attachment that allows for rapid and easy transition between the magnification settings. These are most commonly seen on LPVO scopes when fast adjustments between max 4x, 5x, 6x, 8x, or 10x to 1x is a necessity.

Many LPV scopes come with a throw lever these days, but it’s not the rule. Sometimes, even when a lever is included, you may want to consider an upgrade. These can range from various heights to foldable designs.

8. Bluetooth Laser Rangefinder

The convenience of a Bluetooth connected laser rangefinder and riflescope cannot be understated. Range a distance and the right holdover aiming point is illuminated on the display of the riflescope, or range a distance, and it’s displayed on the riflescope allowing for you to holdover appropriately.

This technology is yet to be a commonplace feature among manufacturers, but I’ve used it and have found it incredibly convenient, especially compared to a rifle scope ruler! While there are combo kits every now and then, the best way to put together a scope and rangefinder kit for you is to cherry pick which compatible models will work best for your needs.  

When should you use this fancy tech? In the hunt or for long range work. I could see it having a place in some rural home defense where private property spans acres.

9. Riflescope Ballistic Turret

A ballistic turret is a custom feature for a specific rifle and cartridge load. You send in your ballistics to the manufacturer, and they’ll make a custom elevation turret specifically for your setup. The benefits are that you can keep a simple and clean reticle and you won’t need to hold over.

This could be especially useful for hunters and long-range shooters. The downside is that it’s an extra cost. Weight? Nothing. Since you’ll be dialing a lot, it’s ideally an over-sized, exposed turret – no caps.

Who makes custom ballistic turrets? There are plenty of companies from Ballistix to Kenton Industries to name a couple. They make custom dials for sports optics manufacturers like Burris, Bushnell, Kahles, Leica, Vortex, Sig Sauer, NightForce, and more. But some sports optics manufacturers have their own custom turret program.

10. Scope Ring Mount for Red Dot Sight

The purpose of a red dot ring mount for a riflescope is to have a secondary sighting system after a scope. Since you do not co-witness with iron sights when using a scope, some will opt for offset irons or an offset RDS. In this case, a ring mount allows for a mounted RDS to the scope.

There are mounts for a micro red dot sight that are usually used on pistols that are compatible for a specific type of footprint. There are also those with an integrated rail for micro enclosed red dot sights like those used on an AR-15.

11. Scope Mounting Kit

A fully equipped riflescope mounting kit should have all the tools necessary to correctly align, level, and mount a scope to the rifle. This can include bubble levels, anti-cant devices, lapping bars, torque wrench set, boresighter, and more.

These kits can be pricey running up to about $200. The good news is that once you have one, it’s likely to last you a long time as it works for mounting most scopes. Unless you anticipate troubleshooting in the field, the kit stays home after you’ve properly mounted, leveled the scope on the rifle, and boresighted your scope.

If you need more info on mounting your scope, read our instructions on it. Curious about if you need to lap your rings? Find out about the lapping process here!

FAQ's

Must-Have Scope Accessories for Every Shooter!

Though not all scope accessories will be necessary for every shooter, many of the mentioned items are essential regardless of the application. Scope caps or covers, and scope cleaning equipment are must-have accessories to preserve effectiveness and ensure longevity.

This list is not all-inclusive as there is always new and better gear that is constantly entering the market. But with what I consider the fundamentals, you should have a better idea of how to protect your scope and maximize its potential during use.

Further Reading

• Swampfox Tomahawk II 1-6x LPVO Review – Range-Tested!
• Enhance Your AR-15 Experience: Riflescopes or Red Dot Sights for AR-15?
• Vortex Crossfire II 1-4x24 Review – HANDS-ON Field Test!
• 1-4x vs. 1-6x LPVO Scopes – Which is Right for You?
• How to Measure Scope Ring Height (With Pics & Calculations)