7 Best Scopes for Mini 14 [2020 Update]

Through this lens of experience, I write this guide. It compiles my hundreds of hours of shooting experience, research, and personal testing into one guide.

The result?

A definitive list of the best mini 14 scopes on the market.

For reference, I bought each of these scopes from my own pocket money. I paid the same price as everyone else.

No discounts were given. No manufacturer compensated me in any way (nor do I accept any). In fact, I don’t accept advertising on my site.

What you’re about to read are my personal, honest reviews of each mini 14 scope and red dot. That means I show you everything — from the good to the bad with each product.

My hope is this list helps you find your next Mini 14 scope as it has for me.

Read Before You Buy

This guide is designed to save you money.

Most people just buy whatever the ‘best scope’ a reviewer recommends. That’s a bad idea.

For one reason:

You have different needs than the reviewer.

What needs? Well, that’s what we’ll figure out in just a moment.

Without furtherado, here’s everything you need to know to choose the best Mini 14 optic for your needs.

The ‘Scaled Down M14’

The Mini 14 is a scaled down M14 rifle. It’s the preferred weapon of the A-Team.

It performs similarly to an AR-15 without the drama.

In fact, in gun-restricted California, many citizens covertly use the Mini 14 as a replacement for the restricted AR-15.

It’s no wonder why:

The Mini 14 is chambered in the same 5.56 ammunition. It can hit 150 yards without a sight (with >1 MOA). With the best scope for Mini 14, it can easily hit targets up to 350 yards and over.

That’s super cool. But let’s be honest:

You likely won’t shoot that far out. If you are, you’ll probably want to opt for a longer range gun instead.

Otherwise, here are the top 3…

Mini 14 Shooting Distances

With the .223 (or 5.56 NATO) ammo, here’s the average ranges:

Close Range: <100 yards
Medium Range: Between 100 – 350 yards
Long Range: 350+ yards

Don’t make this complicated. Simply choose a range and move forward.

But how about the people that use more than one range? I’ll cover that in the conclusion. For now, choose your Mini 14 shooting range and let’s move onto choosing…

The Best Magnification for Mini 14 Scopes

This is the part that 95% of newbies mess up.

Truth be told:

This is the part I screwed up, too. You see, most reviewers recommend either too much magnification or too little.

The result? We buy the wrong amount.

So to save you from my costly mistake, I recommend reading this section on magnification. Once you have, you’ll be ready to choose the right magnification for your Mini 14 rifle.

Close Range (<100 yards)

The Mini 14 does well in close-range encounters.

Most people use it for self-defense, plinking or small game hunting. If that’s your use, then you’ll need a:

Magnification: 1 – 4X power

Alternatively, you can go with a Mini 14 red dot. I’ve got a few solid recommendations below.

Medium Range (100 – 350 yards)

This is what the Mini 14 is popular for:

Varmint Hunting.

Most ranchers use their Mini 14s to protect their land from pesty varmints like wild dogs, rabbits and coyotes.

If that’s your use, then here’s the magnification you’ll need:

Magnification: Between 5 – 12X power

That’ll scare the varmints away for good.

Long Range (350+ yards)

The Mini 14 simply isn’t designed for this range. (The 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge is though)

But if you must use this range (or you like to practice), here’s the best Mini 14 long range magnification:

Magnification: 12X and up

That said, here’s…

The Bottom Line On Mini-14 Magnification

If your goal is to buy a good Mini 14 scope, then read this section.

Otherwise, you’ll end up burning your money away on the wrong amount of magnification. And from experience, that’s an expensive mistake.

So again, review this Mini 14 guide again before you purchase your Mini scope. It’ll help you make the right decision.

Speaking of which, you still might have one last question on your mind:

“What if I combine ranges like short and medium range?”

If you do, then get a variable powered scope. These scopes can change magnification. Good news, most of the Mini 14 scopes on this list are variable powered scopes.

With all that said, I now think you’re ready for the Mini 14 scopes list below. Let’s begin!

The 7 Best Scopes for Mini 14

If you’re pressed on time, here’s a quick list of the best Mini 14 Scopes:

Nikon P-Tactical .223 3-9×40 – Best Medium-to-Long Range Scope
Vortex Optics Crossfire II 2-7×32 – Best Close-to-Medium Range Scope
Bushnell AR Optics 3-9×40 – Best Budget Scope
Redfield Revolution 2-7×33 – Best Scope for Hunting
Vortex Optics Strikefire II Red Dot Sight – Best Red Dot Sight Under $200
Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 – Best Budget Red Dot Sight
Burris Fastfire III – Best Compact Red Dot Sight

1. Nikon P-Tactical .223 3-9×40 (Best Medium-to-Long Range Scope)

If you’re looking for a solid, affordable medium-to-long range scope then go for the Nikon P-223.

Nikon P-Tactical .223 3-9x40 Matte BDC600

Why? Figure out by reading a bit further.

Glass Clarity & Reticle

The glass is clear, crisp and bright:

The view remains clear throughout all zoom ranges. This is great, especially if you shoot long-ranges (since low-quality scopes lose image quality as magnification increases).

In addition, the clarity of the scope is just right in low light. I’ve been able to hunt at night with no problems.

Moving beyond the glass, the BDC 600 reticle is easy-to-use and accurate. It makes longer range shots easier.

I’ve been able to pluck targets out at 250 yards with 1-inch groupings.

Once zeroed in (I’ll touch on zeroing later), the BDC does a wonderful job with compensating for bullet drop.

In other words: I don’t have to calculate bullet drop or windage — it’s already done for me.

But there’s one thing…I didn’t like:

How small the BDC reticle bubbles were.

For reference, here’s a reticle comparison with the Buckmaster 4-12×40:

Buckmaster 4-12x40 Reticle vs Nikon P-223 3-9x40 Reticle

As you can see, the Nikon’s BDC dots are very small. This makes the BDC-600 reticle a bit harder to use.

Eye Relief & Eye Box

The 3.6-inches of generous eye relief is great.

The eye box is quite forgiving. I’ve experienced no tightness at the highest magnification.

Durability

The P-223 is water, shock, and fog proof.

Here’s a video of someone firing the P-223 underwater:

The best part?

It’s relatively lightweight at 17.6 ounces.

This allows you to move around freely.

Elevation & Windage Knobs

The turrets are finger-adjustable and produce positive clicks. This makes for fast (and accurate) adjustments.

nikon p-223 3-9x40 Windage and Elevation Turrets

Also, the turrets are directly accessible. Which means you don’t have to hunt for screwdrivers to take caps off — just click and it stays.

It zeroes in fast (4 rounds @ 50 yards) and holds zero. I shot over 160 rounds and didn’t lose zero.

The P-223 also has a zero-reset turret feature built-in.

This makes scope adjustments even faster. Here’s how it works:

Sight in
Lift up the spring-loaded adjustment knob
Rotate to your zero

That’s it. With the zero-reset feature alone, it’s worth its weight in gold.

Parallax & Magnification

The 3-9X magnification is great for medium-to-long range.

The views remains clear and parallax-free at all magnifications (3X – 9X). Although the magnification knob is a bit stiff, it does get better with use.

Mounting & Rings

I mounted the scope using the Ruger’s provided mini 14 scope rings.

If your Ruger didn’t come with a mount, then go with GG&G scope mount if you have a newer Mini 14 (580+ series):

Sale

GG&G Mini-14 Rnch Rfle 1913 SCP Rail, Black

No gunsmithing required.
Places the optic forward for long eye relief and quick target acquisition.
Rail machined on the bottom for unimpeded cartridge ejection.

If you have an older version (below 580 series), then get the Amega Ranges mount:

Amega Ranges Mini 14 Scout Mount

Made in the USA with US materials ! 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed, Real Lifetime Warranty (unless mount & clamp is modified)
No Modification to your rifle DIY Installation The Mount replaces the upper hand guard Remains solidly in place
Fits All the older Mini-14's - serial numbers starting with a 1, see the barrel photo if you are unsure of your serial number, or send us a message

To protect your scope, get some $8 Butler Creek Flip-Open covers (Eyepiece size: 19) (Objective size: 31):

They’ll protect your lens better than the included cheap elastic lens caps.

Other Features

This a bonus feature on this scope. It’s called the Nikon’s Spot On App.

Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Choose your riflescope and reticle
Step 2: Choose your ammunition
Step 3: Enter site-in and target distances

Once you type in all of the information, you’ll know the exact yardage the BDC will be sighted in for.

Pretty cool, huh?

Nikon P-223 3-9×40 Review: Is it Worth it?

If you’re a medium-to-long range shooter looking for a solid yet affordable scope, then get the Nikon P-223.

Here’s why:

Affordable
Clear glass
Lightweight (17.6 Ounces)
Zero-Reset Turrets (fast adjustments)
Nikon’s Lifetime warranty included.

The Nikon P-223 does everything you need it to do. It’s also proven — with over 800 reviews and almost 5 stars on Amazon.

In addition, the Nikon P-223 is also REALLY good for AR rifles. So if you have an AR-15 or AR-10, then this scope would work well with them. Speaking of ARs, feel free to read my AR-10 scope guide (if you have an AR-10).

If you like it, pick one up. You’ll appreciate the type of quality you’re getting at this price point.

Nikon P-Tactical .223 3-9x40 Matte BDC600

The BDC 600 reticle offers Shooters unique open circle aiming points and hash marks from 100 to 600 yards
One inch body tube
Spring loaded instant zero resets turrets