Are you on the hunt for the best scopes for 17 WSM? If yes, you have come to the right place. In today’s post, we explore a top selection of the best scopes for 17 WSM. Accompanying our top picks is an insightful buyer’s guide that will ultimately help you find the perfect fit to pair with your rifle.
The 17 WSM is one of the most hard-hitting rimfire rounds on the market today. It is designed to shoot very flat and has excellent muzzle energy which makes it an excellent cartridge for varmint and pest control.
What Makes a Great Scope for 17 WSM?
A great scope for 17 WSM should meet your shooting needs. It should be durably built so you will get many years from it. The scope should be able to provide you with ample performance and image clarity that is necessary for easy target acquisition regardless of the lighting conditions.
It is also important that you get a scope with a manageable weight so it will be easy to carry in the field and won’t interfere with your shooting or hunting activities. Lastly, the scope must be fully waterproof, fog proof and shockproof. This way you will be able to use it in any weather condition.
What Magnification Do You Need?
Your ideal magnification will largely depend on what you intend to use the scope for and how far you will be shooting. Since the 17 WSM works well up to 200 yards, you will need a magnification that will help you hit the 200-yard mark with ease.
Few scopes come with fixed magnification but the best scopes for 17 WSM are those with variable power. For hunting up to 200 yards, a scope with a 3x minimum magnification and 10x maximum magnification will be adequate.
It will bring the distant targets closer and help you identify the small targets easily regardless of how far they are. If you have to exceed the 200-yard mark, a variable power scope with up to 12x will suffice.
8 Best Scopes for 17 WSM
To get the most out of this cartridge, you need a quality scope that offers a combination of excellent optical power and a reticle that keeps you on target. But with so many scopes available on the market today, finding the right scope for your needs can be a burdensome task. To help, we have reviewed in detail the best .17 WSM scopes that offer excellent performance in any environment. Let’s have a look.
#1) Vortex Crossfire II 4-12x44mm Riflescope
The Crossfire II 4-12x44mm Riflescope is a sustainable match for you if you are looking for a scope that offers integrity and solid toughness. It’s designed to help you hit your targets accurately regardless of how far they are.
The scope features a variable 4-12x zoom power and a wide field of view that helps you spot your targets easily regardless of how small they might be. It boasts a Dead-Hold BDC reticle that’s good for hunting/shooting at different ranges and is engineered with a fast-focus eyepiece that makes the reticle focus quickly and straightforward.
With the long eye relief, you will be able to acquire your targets easily and keep your eye safe from high-recoiling rifles. The scope also comes with fully multi-coated lenses that provide bright and clear views from dawn to dusk.
In terms of construction, it’s built ready for outdoor use. It has a single-piece tube made from aircraft-grade aluminum. It’s also fully waterproof and fog-free for use in both good and bad weather conditions.
Features
- Resettable MOA turrets
- Fast focus eyepiece
- Waterproof and fogproof
- Anti-reflective, fully multi-coated lenses
- Long eye relief
- SFP Dead-Hold BDC reticle
- Aircraft-grade aluminum construction
- Variable 4-12x magnification power
- Windage and elevation knobs
- Single-piece tube
#2) Primary Arms 4-16 x 44 mm Riflescope
The Primary Arms 4-16 x 44 mm Riflescope is your ideal option if you are looking for a quality and cost-effective scope for the 17 WSM. It has an illuminated SFP reticle that helps you shoot accurately in dismal environments and 12 brightness settings for easy shooting from dawn to dusk.
You can use the scope for both short and long-range hunting/shooting. It has a minimum 4x magnification for close-range targets and 16x maximum magnification for engaging distant targets.
Even better, the scope provides clear-sight pictures at every magnification setting and has a lightweight design so it will be easy to carry around from place to place.
This riflescope is built from aluminum which ensures great strength and durability. It has an anodized matte finish that reduces glare when hunting/shooting in direct sunlight.
Additionally, it’s waterproof and fog-resistant so you don’t have to worry when the rains catch up with you in the field. Above all, it comes with finger-adjustable windage and elevation turrets with tactile and audible clicks.
Features
- Waterproof, fog proof and shock-resistant
- Limited lifetime warranty
- Finger-adjustable windage and elevation turrets
- Lightweight design
- Durable aluminum construction
- Illuminated SFP reticle with 12 brightness settings
- Anodized matte finish
- Side-mounted parallax adjustment knob
- Variable 4-16x magnification
- Zero reset
#3) ATN X-Sight LTV 4-12x, Day/Night Hunting Riflescope
If you are in the market for a riflescope that gives you both day and night vision, the ATN OPMOD X-Sight LTV 4-12x riflescope suits you. It brings to the table an array of high-quality features to help you get the most out of the 17 WSM.
First, the scope comes with a One-Shot Zero which makes it easy to sight in. The high-quality sensor produces incredibly clear sight pictures in any lighting condition and with the record HD video, you can capture every single shot that you take.
With this riflescope, you don’t have to worry about the battery running out of juice in the middle of your hunting expedition. It is powered by a high-capacity lithium-ion battery which gives you more than 10 hours of continuous runtime.
Furthermore, it has classical ergonomics that make it user-friendly and easy to mount as well. Lastly, this riflescope is fully weather-resistant so you can use it in any weather condition.
Features
- Day and night mode
- One-shot zero
- Record HD video
- Easy to mount with standard 30mm rings
- Weather-resistant
- Easy to use
- 10+ hours battery life
- Lightweight design
- IR illuminator
- Multiple reticle patterns
#4) ATN X-Sight 4K Buckmaster 5-20x Daytime Riflescope
Next on our list is the ATN X-Sight 4K Buckmaster 5-20x Daytime riflescope. It offers excellent performance and great versatility even in the most demanding conditions. It’s ideal for all hunting applications and works well with the 17 WSM.
The scope provides up to 18 hours of battery life. This is more than enough to help you get the best out of your hunting expedition. It also comes with a smart rangefinder that shows you the size and distance of your targets and a super-sensitive 4K ultra-HD sensor that gives your ultra-clear images from dawn till dusk.
If you like to record your shots, the scope comes with a dual-core processor that allows you to record your videos and stream them simultaneously. Moreover, it has a first focal plane that stays true in every magnification setting.
A generous eye relief for rapid target acquisition and a wide field of view that’s essential for tracking fast-moving games. To top it all, this scope is well-constructed to last long and is fully weather-resistant for all-weather performance.
Features
- Waterproof, fog proof and shockproof
- Variable 5-20x magnification
- Long 90mm eye relief
- 18+ hours of battery life
- Durable aluminum construction
- Multiple reticle patterns
- 30mm tube
- Smart rangefinder
- Recoil activated video
- Ultra HD 4 K sensor
- Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connectivity
#5) Vortex Optics Crossfire II 3-9x50mm Riflescope
The Crossfire II 3-9x50mm Riflescope is a variable power scope with a 1-inch tube diameter. It is reasonably affordable and comes with every feature that you need to become a better hunter/shooter.
Featuring fully multi-coated optics and high-quality glass, this riflescope maximizes light transmission for bright and clear sight pictures even in inadequate light conditions.
It has a fast-focus eyepiece for easy reticle focusing and a long eye relief that boasts your shooting confidence by keeping your eyes safe from high-recoiling rifles. Moreover, the scope offers parallax adjustment for more accurate shooting.
When it comes to construction, this riflescope is built from aircraft-grade aluminum which makes it both durable and lightweight. It also brings to the table a hard-anodized finish that’s durable and scratchproof. Lastly, like any other Vortex optic, the scope is fully waterproof, fog-proof and dustproof.
Features
- 1-inch tube size
- Fully multi-coated optics
- Waterproof, fog proof and shockproof
- Hard anodized finish
- Variable 3-9x magnification
- Large 50mm objective lens
- Aircraft-grade aluminum construction
- Second focal plane reticle
- Fast focus eyepiece
- Capped reset turrets
#6) Simmons 3-9x32mm .22 Riflescope
As one of the best scopes for 17WSM, the Simmons 3-9x32mm .22 Riflescope is a feature-rich scope ideal for all hunting applications. It is one of the most reliable rimfire scopes available on the market today.
With this riflescope, you get stunning on-game performance and excellent image clarity thanks to the fully-coated optics. It offers a long eye relief that makes target acquisition a snap and a quick target acquisition eyepiece for simple reticle focusing.
This riflescope is made ready for every hunt. It has a SureGrip rubber surface for easy adjusting in different hunting conditions and a HydroShield lens coating that gives you clear sight pictures regardless of the weather conditions. It’s also waterproof and fogproof for all-weather reliability.
For added convenience, the scope is extremely light for easy carrying in the field. Better yet, it has a Truplex reticle that stays highly visible even in poor lighting conditions and a parallax correction preset from 50 yards to infinity.
Features
- 3-9x adjustable magnification
- Fully-coated lenses
- Singe-piece tube
- QTA eyepiece
- Long eye relief
- Lightweight and portable
- Waterproof, fog proof and recoil-proof
- Truplex reticle
- HydroShield Coating
- SureGrip rubber surfaces
- Rimfire 3/8” dovetail mounting
- Parallax free from 50 yards to infinity
#7) Athlon Optics Argos 6-24x50mm Riflescope
This riflescope for the 17 WSM offers the best value for your money as it comes with excellent features and functions. It has a lightweight design for easy portability and is made with aircraft-grade aluminum for ultimate durability.
This variable power scope is ideal for mid and long-range shooting. It boasts a large 50mm objective that gathers the maximum light needed for bright image production and provides a wide field of vision for easy target identification.
Additionally, it has fully multi-coated optics that provide bright and clear crystal views in low-light conditions. The scope is parallax-free from 10 yards to infinity.
It’s waterproof and fogproof for use in adverse weather conditions and comes with an XPL hydrophobic coating that repels dirt, grease and water to give you clear views all the time. To top it all, the scope glass-etched reticle offers greater durability and higher shock and recoil resistance.
Features
- Heat-treated one-piece tube
- Glass-etched illuminated reticle
- Waterproof, fog proof and shockproof
- Aircraft-quality aluminum construction
- Precision zeros stop system
- Lightweight design
- Fully multi-coated optics
- 6-24x variable magnification
- 3” eye relief
- Matte finish
#8) Leupold VX-3HD 4.5-14x40mm Riflescope
Leupold makes high-quality optics that offer superior ruggedness and the VX-3HD 4.5-14x40mm Riflescope is no different. It offers superior low-light performance and is suitable for hunting/shooting in low-light situations.
With the variable 4.5-14x magnification power, this riflescope is ideal for both short and long-range shooting. It provides clear sight pictures in every magnification setting for easy target acquisitions.
Plus, it offers a wide field of view that makes target identification a walk in the park and an illuminated Boone & Crockett CDS reticle which provides accurate aiming points in a low-light environment.
This riflescope is built and assembled in the USA. It boasts the legendary Leupold ruggedness so it will last long. It’s also waterproof, fog proof and shockproof to give you a lifetime of field performance.
Above all, it comes with a ZeroLock CDS that simplifies long-range shooting by eliminating the need for holdovers and ballistic calculations.
Features
- Variable 4.5-14x magnification
- Illuminated Boone & Crockett CDS reticle
- Waterproof, fog proof and shockproof
- Rugged aluminum housing
- ZeroLock Custom Dial System
- Leupold’s Elite Optical System
- Guard ion lens coating
- Removable throw lever
- Scratch-proof lenses
- 1-inch main tube
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Considerations when Choosing the Best Scopes for 17WSM
Durability
A scope that’s well-built with high-quality materials will serve you for a long. Since scopes are costly investments, it’s wise to get a model that is solidly built to combat rugged outdoor use. Also make sure that you get a scope that is fully waterproof, fogproof and shockproof to withstand harsh weather conditions.
Magnification
Before you buy the scope, you must know what magnification you need. Being aware of what you intend to use the scope for and how far you will be shooting should help you get the right power scope. Get a variable power scope if you plan to shoot at varying ranges and a fixed power scope if you will be shooting at a fixed distance.
Weight
The other important factor you should consider is weight. As much as possible, go for a scope that’s featherweight. It will not only be easy to carry in the field but also easy to shoot with. Besides, a lightweight scope will not interfere with the accuracy of your rifle.
Reliability and Functionality
You will want a scope that provides features that will help you get the most out of your hunting/shooting activity. The scope should provide the clarity that you need to engage targets in different lighting conditions. It should also be functional and be able to meet your needs.
Image Quality
If the scope provides poor-quality sight pictures, you will have a difficult time engaging your targets. Therefore, you need to make sure that you get a scope that has high-quality glass and quality lens coatings. Go for scopes with HD or ED glass and fully-coated/fully multi-coated lenses as they offer the best image quality.
See Also
- Best Scope for 338 Lapua Magnum
- Best 308 Scopes
- Best Scopes for 450 Bushmaster
- Best Vortex Scopes for 6.5 Grendel
- Best Leupold 300 Blackout Scopes
Understanding the .17 WSM
The .17 Winchester Super Magnum is a powerful rimfire cartridge that provides unmatched velocities of up to 3,000 fps. It is designed to shoot very flat and can hit the 200-yard mark with great accuracy. However, after 200 yards, its accuracy is not that impressive.
More importantly, it has less adverse wind drift and is capable of handling internal pressures which translates to higher velocity and more muzzle energy compared with other rimfire rounds.
This makes it suitable for landowners with neighbors close by. It’s suitable for both hunting and shooting, but it’s best for pest control and varmint hunting. Another good thing about the .17 WSM is that it’s more economical compared with other precision calibers. A day at the range or hunting field with the .17 WSM costs way less and lasts longer than with a 6.5 Creedmoor.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this post has been informative and you are now able to find the best scope for your 17 WSM. All the scopes we have listed above are quality and pair nicely with this round to help you take your rimfire shooting to the next big level. Go through the features that each scope has then choose the one that meets your specific hunting/shooting needs.