Best under $200
The best crossbow scopes under $200
The bundled 4x32 is the weakest part of most crossbow packages. Under two hundred dollars you can fix it properly, and these five are how.
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Ranked
Quick picks
| # | Product | Speed range | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank 1 | Hawke XB1 SR 1.5-5x32 | 250-425 fps | 8.7 | $159.99Amazon |
| Rank 2 |  Hawke XB30 Pro SR 1-5x24 | 215-450 fps | 8.9 | $173.98Amazon |
| Rank 3 |  Killer Instinct Lumix Speedring 1.5-5x32 | 270-450 fps | 8.2 | $94.99Amazon |
| Rank 4 |  CVLIFE 1.5-5x32 Rangefinder Reticle | 300-460 fps | 8.1 | $99.99Amazon |
| Rank 5 |  Excalibur Dead Zone | 300-410 fps | 8.0 | $119.99Amazon |
Most crossbow packages include a fixed 4x32 with no speed dial, calibrated for one assumed velocity. Replacing it is the single most effective upgrade available to a budget bow, and it costs less than a dozen good bolts.
In detail
Five scopes under two hundred
Hawke XB1 SR 1.5-5x32
Calibrated for 250 to 425 fps with 10-yard aim points running from a 20-yard zero all the way to 100, on 11-layer multi-coated glass. The no-fault lifetime warranty is the part worth noting: Hawke repairs or replaces it regardless of how it broke, which on a crossbow — a machine that recoils forward into its own scope — is not a trivial promise.
| Published spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Speed range | 250-425 fps |
| Magnification | 1.5-5x |
| Objective | 32 mm |
| Aim points | 20-100 yd in 10 yd steps |
| Reticle | XB1 SR, red and green illuminated |
| Glass | 11-layer fully multi-coated, System H2 |
| Warranty | No-fault lifetime repair or replace |
What it does well
- Aim points to 100 yards from a 20-yard zero
- Red and green illumination rather than one color
- No-fault lifetime warranty covers accidental damage
- Fast-focus eyebell and a high-torque zoom ring
Where it falls short
Our rubric
- 8.8
- 8.4
- 9.0
- 8.2
- 8.8
Hawke XB30 Pro SR 1-5x24
A speed-selector power ring covering 215 to 450 fps, which is the broadest span any scope on this site publishes. Dial your bow's speed and the reticle's aim points line up with your trajectory. 16-layer multi-coated glass in a 30 mm mono-tube does the rest. If you own more than one bow, or expect to change bows, this is the scope that follows you.
| Published spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Speed range | 215-450 fps |
| Magnification | 1-5x |
| Objective | 24 mm |
| Tube | 30 mm |
| Reticle | Illuminated SR, stepless rheostat |
| Glass | 16-layer fully multi-coated |
| Weatherproofing | Nitrogen purged, waterproof, fog proof |
What it does well
- 215-450 fps covers every bow on this site, from the SAS recurve to the R470
- Stepless illumination rheostat rather than fixed brightness steps
- 30 mm mono-tube passes more light than a 1-inch body
- Metal screw-in lens covers rather than rubber flip caps
Where it falls short
Our rubric
- 9.8
- 8.8
- 8.6
- 8.6
- 8.4
Killer Instinct Lumix Speedring 1.5-5x32
An adjustable speed gauge covering 270 to 450 fps, variable reticle brightness, and a metal chassis that is fog, water and shock proof, for less than a hundred dollars. For a budget bow that shipped with a fixed 4x32, this is the single cheapest upgrade that changes how the bow shoots past 40 yards.
| Published spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Speed range | 270-450 fps |
| Magnification | 1.5-5x |
| Objective | 32 mm |
| Reticle range | Up to 100 yd |
| Reticle | Adjustable brightness illuminated |
| Chassis | Metal, fog, water and shock proof |
| Lens covers | Spring-loaded flip |
What it does well
- 270-450 fps covers nearly every bow on this site
- Variable brightness, not a two-step switch
- Metal chassis at a sub-hundred-dollar price
- Cheapest real upgrade over a bundled fixed-power scope
Where it falls short
Our rubric
- 8.8
- 7.0
- 7.8
- 7.4
- 9.4
CVLIFE 1.5-5x32 Rangefinder Reticle
A 300 to 460 fps speed ring, a 20 to 100 yard ballistic reticle, five illumination levels and a claimed 95 percent light transmission, for a hundred dollars. The speed range is the headline: almost nothing else at this price can be dialed for a 430 fps bow.
| Published spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Speed range | 300-460 fps |
| Magnification | 1.5-5x |
| Objective | 32 mm |
| Length | 8.2 in |
| Reticle | Etched glass ballistic, red and green, 5 brightness levels |
| Light transmission | 95% (claimed) |
| Durability | Aircraft-grade aluminum, shock tested to 1000 G, nitrogen purged |
What it does well
- 300-460 fps covers fast bows at a budget price
- Five illumination levels and an etched-glass reticle
- Rings, flip caps, batteries and a wrench are all in the box
Where it falls short
Our rubric
- 9.0
- 7.2
- 8.0
- 7.4
- 9.2
Excalibur Dead Zone
An adjustable speed dial from 300 to 410 fps driving Excalibur's chevron reticle from 20 to 60 yards. A chevron has a point rather than a center, which some shooters find faster to place on a deer's chest than a dot that covers the spot you are aiming at. The 60-yard ceiling is honest about crossbow range.
| Published spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Speed range | 300-410 fps |
| Tube | 1 in |
| Objective | 32 mm |
| Reticle range | 20-60 yd |
| Reticle | Excalibur chevron |
| Glass | Multi-coated |
| Rings | 1-inch rings |
What it does well
- The chevron point does not obscure the aiming spot the way a dot does
- A 20-60 yard reticle matches real crossbow shot distances
- Adjustable speed dial at a mid-budget price
Where it falls short
Our rubric
- 7.6
- 7.8
- 8.4
- 7.6
- 8.6
How we picked
Published speed range first, then reticle, illumination and warranty. Every scope here carries a speed dial, which is the feature the bundled scope lacks. See our methodology.
What two hundred dollars buys
| Scope | Speed range | Magnification | Tube | Illumination |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawke XB30 Pro | 215-450 fps | 1-5x24 | 30 mm | Red, stepless rheostat |
| Hawke XB1 | 250-425 fps | 1.5-5x32 | 1 in | Red and green |
| CVLIFE 1.5-5x32 | 300-460 fps | 1.5-5x32 | 1 in | Red and green, 5 levels |
| Excalibur Dead Zone | 300-410 fps | Fixed, 32 mm objective | 1 in | Not stated |
| Killer Instinct Lumix | 270-450 fps | 1.5-5x32 | Not stated | Adjustable brightness |
What to look for at this price
A speed dial, non-negotiable
This is the entire reason to replace a bundled scope. Without one, the aim points are calculated for a velocity the maker assumed and your 40-yard mark is wrong by however much your bow differs. Every scope on this page has one.
A speed range that covers your bow
The CVLIFE's 300-460 fps is the widest reach into fast-bow territory at this price and it is the cheapest scope here that can be dialed for a 430 fps bow. The Excalibur Dead Zone stops at 410 fps, which rules out several popular budget bows.
Illumination with real control
The XB30 Pro's stepless rheostat is the best implementation here. The CVLIFE's five levels are the next best thing. A two-position switch is the worst, because the low setting at true last light is often still too bright.
A warranty, because scopes get knocked
Hawke's no-fault lifetime warranty covers damage however it happened. Neither CVLIFE nor Killer Instinct publishes warranty terms, which is the honest difference between a branded optic and a budget one at a similar price.
What you give up under two hundred
- Rangefinding. That starts around a thousand dollars. A handheld rangefinder in your pocket costs a fraction and solves the same problem.
- Verified glass figures. CVLIFE claims 95 percent light transmission; it is the maker's own claim and nobody independent has checked it.
- 7x magnification. The RangeMaster's 2-7x36 is the step up, at around three hundred dollars.
- Etched-glass reticles. A wire or printed reticle is more common at this price; etched glass stays cleaner in the field of view.
Our pick
The Hawke XB30 Pro, if the price lands under two hundred where you shop: the widest speed range on the site, a 30 mm tube, stepless illumination and a no-fault lifetime warranty is an unusual package at this money. The XB1 is the same brand with a 1-inch tube and holds to 100 yards. The CVLIFE is the pick if your bow is fast and your budget is a hundred dollars.
