Who Makes Cabelas Rifle Scopes: Everything You Need to Know

Cabela’s Inc., one of the country’s BIGGEST and most well-known outdoor recreation businesses, was founded in 1961.

Along with their website, retail locations, and direct mail, they also sell outdoor products through other methods.

I’ve had the pleasure of using a lot of their gear, and yes, including their scopes!

Outdoor goods manufactured by third parties and brand-name goods are available at Cabela’s.

After using some of their products for a while, I couldn’t help but wonder who actually makes these products.

I did some digging, and this is what I found out!

Who Makes Cabelas Rifle Scopes?

To answer the main question, Bass Pro Shops owns and operates Cabela’s. Bass Pro Shops bought the company at the end of 2016.

It was a publicly traded company, and a private investment fund bought a sizable portion of its stock.

However, the investment group compelled Cabela’s to either sell or declare bankruptcy as a result of dwindling sales and market share losses to rivals, such as:

• Bass Pro Shops
• Field & Stream
• Gander Mountain

In the end, Bass Pro Shops acquired Cabela’s Inc. and all of its assets for a whopping $5.5 billion.

An Overview of Cabelas Scopes

Cabela’s Inc. was established in 1961.

This company makes Cabelas scopes and offers a variety of outdoor goods, including riflescopes, ammo, camping gear, and scope models.

Their main office is in Sidney, Nebraska, and they are employed in terms of precise shooting.

I want to bring up a few things before I talk about Cabela’s line of rifle scope models. 

Bass Pro Shops is the owner and operator of Cabela’s. However, NONE of the optics sold by Cabela’s are made by the company. 

Except for high management, most Cabela’s employees are unaware of the location or manufacturer of these scopes.

The only models of the identified, co-branded scopes are an exception to that criterion. The rifle scope lines offered by Cabela overlap quite a bit.

Cabela’s Rifle Scope Models

Although pricey, Cabela’s rifle scopes are completely worth it!

I’ve used a variety of scopes for different uses. It truly speaks to the diversity and versatility of Cabela’s

These uses include precision shooting and hunting, while some are all-purpose!

If you’re looking to buy a new rifle, you should ALWAYS consider your needs. Here are some options to choose from

1. Cabela’s Pine Ridge Scopes

When I first got into Cabela’s, the first scope I tried from them was the Pine Ridge, which is an entry-level scope built on a 1-inch tube.

I used them specifically for my rimfire rifles, as these are what they were designed for, although there are muzzleloader variants as well.

The barrel lengths for the muzzleloader, rimfire, and standard variants were 20 inches, 24 inches, and 16 inches, respectively.

Unfortunately, the company phased out the entire Pine Ridge series at the end of 2013.

2. Cabela’s Alaskan Guide Scopes

In 2002, the Alaskan Guide scopes series made its debut.

This scope was a great companion during my hunting sessions as well as in some competitions, making it a nice choice for hunters and sportsmen.

It features a range-finding function in its sight and comes with a windage and elevation adjustment system plus a parallax-free reticle.

The scope also has a quick-release lever, a removable tripod plate, and a quick-detach mount. It also had adjustable power ranges.

Since the Outfitters series was discontinued in 2005, the Alaskan Guide premium scopes later replaced it.

3. Cabela’s Outfitter Series Scopes

The early 2000s saw the introduction of Cabela’s Outfitters. The standout for me is the glass quality. Every image I saw was as clear as day!

They were produced in Japan, so it made perfect sense why the glass was so excellent!

This scope model has the same design, feel, and an adjustable objective that would focus down to fifty yards.

The Outfitter scopes were re-released by Cabela’s in 2014 in 1′′ and 30mm variants. The Outfitter line of scopes was discontinued in 2015.

4. Cabela’s Instinct Euro Scopes

Cabela’s and Meopta Optics collaborated in 2009 and created the scopes called the Instinct Euro line for HIGHER-END scope models.

Since Cabela’s and Meopta already had a binocular partnership, it was reasonable to provide co-branded scopes.

I was lucky enough to find this scope on sale, and the optical quality on these was excellent for the price!

5. Cabela’s Instinct Euro HD Scopes/ Instinct HD Scope

In 2009, Cabela’s and the Meopta optics firm collaborated to create the “Instinct Euro Series,” a premium scope series.

In 2016, Cabela’s Instinct Euro HD scope series replaced the Meopta and Cabela’s co-branded Instinct Euro line.

Cabela’s also made a few other alterations, but some of the ones I’ve seen also have the designation “Cabela’s Instinct HD” on them.

Being built on a 1-inch tube indeed shows their craftsmanship. The Instinct Euro HD scopes are versatile and easy to use.

No wonder Meopta Optics produced such quality!

Like the original Instinct Euro scopes, the glass for these scopes was sourced from Europe, but they were put together at a Meopta facility in the United States.

Besides the tiniest variations and models, this series is essentially identical to Cabela’s Instinct Euro series:

• The 4.5-14x model replaced the 4-12x model.
• The 6.5-20x model replaced the 6-18x variant.

They included the HTR EXT reticle, a long-range reticle choice, for the EXT and duplex reticle options.

Wind drift markers are incorporated into the horizontal scope post of the HTR EXT reticle.

All other Instinct scopes have capped turrets, except for the 6.5-20 variant with the HTR EXT reticle, which lets me adjust for bullet drop out of 500 yards.

6. Cabela’s Lever-Action Scopes

These scope series were first offered in 2007 and were created especially for use with lever-action rifles of a certain caliber and Hornady LEVERevolution ammo.

At first, the caliber-specific products they produced were for the following calibers:

• .444 Marlin
• .30-30 Winchester
• .45-70 Government

2010 saw Cabela’s replace the.444 caliber choice in the lineup with a .44 Mag variant.

The company added a variant for the .308 Marlin Express caliber in 2011.

This scope series only comes in a 3-9x configuration and has reticles that could account for bullet drops up to 300 yards.

It’s used with Hornady LEVERevolution ammo in a bullet grain.

7. Cabela’s Alpha Series of Scopes

The company first introduced the Alpha Series in 2010. They either use a Cabela’s EXT reticle, a DOA 600 reticle, or a 1-inch tube.

The following power magnification ranges were the only ones offered for this series:

• 3-9x
• 3-12x
• 4-12x (limited production run)

These scopes have incorporated bullet drop compensation capability with specific Hornady LEVERevolution ammo in specific grains.

I also recommend these scopes for ENTRY-LEVEL centerfire rifle users who want to practice using its BDC capabilities.

All of the rifle scopes in the Alpha series were made in China.

8. Cabela’s Caliber Specific Scopes

Cabela’s specific scopes were first introduced in 2010 and were intended for use with particular calibers.

These scopes were initially available for the following calibers and were constructed on a 1-inch tube:

• 22LR
• 17 HMR
• 22 Mag
• .223

They were initially only offered in a 3-9x power form.

The rimfire variants of this scope, which included the 22LR, 17 HMR, and 22 Mag, were taken over by Cabela’s in 2012 and given the new name Cabela’s Rimfire scopes.

9. Cabela’s Caliber Specific Rimfire Scopes

The Cabela’s rifle sight series originally included Cabela’s Caliber Specific Rimfire scopes.

The Caliber Specific Rimfire scope series was a standalone series that Cabela’s sold these scope models under in 2012.

This series is only available in a 3-9x configuration, with versions created for each of the rimfire calibers listed below:

• 22LR
• 22 Mag
• 17 HMR

This series is occasionally mistaken with the Multi-Turret Rimfire series, a related Cabela’s scope line.

This series was only available in 3-9x power ranges.

Instead of a caliber-specific BDC reticle, the Multi-turret series provides a collection of caliber-specific turrets.

The Caliber-Specific Rimfire scopes are entry-level with entry-level glass from China.

10. Cabela’s Multi-Turret Scopes

This line was first made available in 2007 under Cabela’s Multi-Turret Series. This series was initially available in 3 series:

• Cabela’s Multi-Turret Rimfire Tactical Scope
• Cabela’s Multi-Turret Tactical Centerfire Scope
• Cabela’s Multi-Turret Big Game Tactical Scope

Each model of the Tactical series had caliber-based turrets that, after set up and correctly zeroed, allowed me to adjust the turret for a certain target distance.

11. Cabela’s Powderhorn Muzzleloader Scopes

The company built the Powderhorn family of scopes for muzzleloaders employing 100 grains of powder in 250-grain black powder loads when it was initially produced in 2009.

These scopes came with a BDC-style reticle with the bullet-drop correction that was up to 250 yards.

Its magnification ranges included 3-10x and 4-14x, which, in my experience, is great for medium to long ranges!

The Powderhorn Muzzleloader Scopes were built on a 1-inch tube Core-Lokt. It even had a 3.75-inch eye relief.

The same factory in China also produced all of Cabela’s Powderhorn’s scopes. Later, this line would become Cabela’s Muzzleloader scope series.

12. Cabela’s Muzzleloader Scope

In 2014, Cabela’s rebranded the Powderhorn Muzzleloader sight series as Cabela’s Muzzleloader scope line after discontinuing it.

Cabela’s discontinued the 3-10x and 4-14x power variants in favor of the 3-9x magnification ranges.

This series was also made in China and was constructed on a 1-inch tube.

I think the Powderhorns are of a somewhat higher caliber and quality than the Cabela’s muzzleloader models.

13. Cabela’s Slugger Shotgun Scope

This sight series debuted in 2009 and was created especially for use with shotguns that shoot sabot-style shotgun slugs and have rifled barrels.

The 3-9x magnification scope has an EXT reticle with bullet drop compensation marks.

The eye relief is 4 inches and constructed on a 1-inch tube. It resembles Nikon’s Slughunter series of rifle scopes in appearance and operation.

At the end of 2013, Cabela’s Slug Shotgun sight series gradually superseded this.

The Cabela’s Slug Shotgun series and the Slugger scope series were both made in China.

14. Cabelas Intrepid HD Scopes by Vortex

It only made sense to offer riflescopes under Cabela’s label since the company was already selling one.

They keep it a secret under an optics company to make it confidential.

As a result, Cabela’s introduced its Intrepid scope series in 2016, which shared a co-brand with Vortex and an adjustable power range.

If Vortex is involved, I can immediately trust the product!

Because it was built on a 30mm tube, it only had a 4.5-22x magnification range. It was in this series that the Vortex VMR-1 reticle was made readily available.

This reticle was made for long distances. I decided to try it at maximum magnification, and I determined the ranges and holdover with no problem!

It also had a side focus that you can reduce to 25 yards and a target dot version.

The Cabelas Intrepid HD scope was made in Japan and came with a lifetime warranty from Vortex, not Cabela’s, which may be important given that Bass Pro owns Cabela’s.

15. Cabela’s Covenant Tactical Scopes

The initial Cabela’s Covenant Tactical scopes were released in 2016 and came in two series:

• Tactical SFP Scopes for Covenant
• Tactical FFP Scopes for Covenant

These scopes from Cabela’s had several characteristics not found in any of the company’s earlier models and were constructed on a 30mm tube.

16. Cabela’s Magnitude Scopes

The Magnitude series of scopes, which debuted in 2015, was divided into two series:

• A 1-inch Series
  • 3-10x
  • 4-12x
• A 30mm Series
  • 2.5-10x
  • 6-18x
  • 8-32x

I thought this series resembled the Pine Ridge rimfire scope in appearance because of the 30mm model and slightly better optics

Within the whole of Cabela’s lines of scopes, they were advertised as a mid-level scope (of that time).

The Pine Ridge Series was offered a magnification range of 4-6x.

The optical quality appears to be marginally superior to Cabela’s Pine Ridge scopes.

They are produced by the same Chinese optical manufacturer. In 2017, the Pine Ridge Tactical series was discontinued.

17. Cabela’s Covenant 5 Scope

The company announced the Covenant 5 series in 2019.

It had a range of 30mm available in SFP and FFP versions. These are marketed as the standard Cabela’s Covenant series.

This line of scopes has higher-quality glass than the regular Cabela’s Covenant range.

The Covenant 5 has magnification ranges of 3-15x and 5-25x.

The TAC-10S MIL reticle from Cabela used the 3-5x version. On the other hand, the 5-25x model had the TAC-6 MIL reticle.

In terms of glass quality, they were advertised as an IMPROVEMENT over the conventional Cabela’s Covenant scope models.

18. Cabela’s Covenant 7 Scopes

The Cabela’s Covenant 7 series were released in 2019. They were all constructed on a 34mm tube.

They were promoted as having SUPERIOR optical quality and magnification to the Covenant series’ regular and Covenant 5 models.

The Covenant 7 series is available in SFP and FFP versions, the same as the Covenant 5 models.

Covenant 7 FFP Scopes

The Covenant 7 comes in first focal plane versions and in 3-21x and 5-35x following magnifications.

Both models are equipped with Cabela’s TAC-10 FFP MIL reticle.

Covenant 7 SFP Scopes

You can get the same magnifications of 3-21x and 5-35x of the Covenant 7 FFP. Note that these are second focal plane versions.

Additionally, these are equipped with Cabela’s TAC-8 SFP MIL reticle.

19. Cabela’s CX PRO HD Scope

This model, released in 2019, is intended for long-distance, tactical, or precise shooting.

The CX PRO HD Scope is based on a 34 mm tube. Because of its longer range, it was only available on a first focal plane with a size of 5-25x56mm configuration.

You can use it with an FFP MOA or FFP MRAD reticle.

What to Look For in Cabela’s Scopes

From a rifle scope rookie to a rifle scope pro, this is a mini guide to help you have a list of what to look for in a Cabela scope series.

Magnification

A target’s magnification is how much closer it appears to be than what the eye can see.

If you purchase too much magnification, you might not use it and will have squandered your hard-earned money.

I advise using the level of magnification that best suits your needs. Here is a quick guide for reference.

• 1-4x – Best for home defense or protection, small game stalking, or target shooting (up to 100 yards).
• 5-8x – Best for target practice up to 200 yards, pursuing big wildlife, or hunting in restricted areas (forests, mountains, etc.)
• 9-12x – Best for hunting in wide-open spaces or target practice for greater than 200 yards.

Fixed vs. Variable Power

A scope utilizes ONLY ONE magnification if it has fixed power (an example is 2×30).

However, if it has variable power, it utilizes MORE than one magnification, such as 3-9×40.

Fixed power is best used for shooting at one distance.

Otherwise, variable-powered scopes are better, as most environments will require you to shoot with variable-powered scopes.

I prefer using variable magnifications because I like shooting at multiple distances and it gives me more versatility.

Objective Lens

Your objective lens is in charge of transmitting light. Generally speaking, your image will be BRIGHTER and CLEARER with the larger objective lens.

Scope series with too many objective lenses could be dangerous because they would be heavier, require longer rings, and be more susceptible to sunlight reflection.

I also have a rough reference guide on which objective lens diameter to get.

• Purchase a gun that is 28mm, and if it has little recoil, you want to use it for close-range hunting.
• Get 30 – 44mm instead if, on the other hand, your gun has a lot of recoils.
• Lastly, choose lenses that are 50mm and up if you shoot at a distance or need to use high magnification in poor light.

Lens Coatings

An invisible coating called a lens coat minimizes glare and improves vision. There are 4 basic lens coating types.

• Coated – Has one layer on one surface.
• Fully-Coated – One layer on multiple exterior glass surfaces.
• Multi-Coated – Several layers on one surface.
• Fully Multi-Coated – Multiple layers on all glass surfaces.

Scope Reticles

The aiming point (or crosshair) you view through the riflescope is your reticle. Each reticle focuses on a certain use.

The TOP THREE featured reticles are listed below:

• Duplex: The most basic crosshair design is a duplex reticle, making it ideal for hunting or target shooting.
• Mil-Dot: The dots on the reticle assist you in gauging your target’s distance based on size, despite being quite similar to the duplex. Indeed, this feature is fantastic for the military and law enforcement.
• BDC: A BDC reticle calculates the drop. Long-range shooters should use this.

I personally use a Duplex reticle the most as it is the simplest in design and easiest to use.

However, your reticle of choice may change depending on your situation.

A reticle can be installed on the front or the back of the magnifying lens so you can focus on long-range shooting, accuracy, and ballistics.

Cabela’s Scope Warranty

Cabela’s branded rifle scopes warranty policy was crucial to the company’s quick transformation from a mail-order catalog business to a big outdoor retailer.

The great LIFETIME warranty attached to products bearing Cabela’s name helped to fuel this growth.

You can divide the subject of the rifle scope warranty for the Cabela’s brand into two parts, which are referred to as:

Original Lifetime Warranty (Any time before 2017)

Bass Pro Warranty (2017 to Present)

Except for the few limited edition models of the Pine Ridge scope series with an illuminated reticle, all rifle scopes bearing Cabela’s trademark came with a lifetime warranty.

Original Lifetime Warranty (Anytime Before 2017)

Before Bass Pro’s acquisition, Cabela’s essentially provided a lifetime warranty on nearly every item they sold under Cabela’s brand.

The lifetime guarantee had several restrictions and exclusions, such as the short period for which Cabela’s-branded electronics were covered.

Except for a few models, ALL rifle scopes bearing Cabela’s trademark were covered by a lifetime guarantee.

Cabela’s provided only a five-year warranty for such electronic components.

They could either give you store credit for a different type of scope, let you exchange it for the closest available model (within reason), or replace it with the same model altogether.

Bass Pro Warranty (2017 to Present)

All of Cabela’s current products with lifetime warranties would be honored by Bass Pro when Cabela’s acquisition by Bass Pro was finalized at the end of 2016.

Bass Pro appears to be reading the guarantee in reality as they estimated the lifetime of the product rather than a general lifetime.

Be aware that your lifetime warranty coverage and the Cabela’s/Bass Pro coverage may not be the same if you purchase a Cabela’s-branded scope model.

Frequently Asked Questions

The following are some of the more frequent queries I’ve heard in relation to Cabela’s line of rifle scopes.

Does Vortex Make Cabela’s Scopes?

The Cabela’s Intrepid HD Scope by Vortex, a co-branded product, is the one scope model Vortex Optics has formally produced for Cabela’s.

The brand of the scope was plainly identified as Vortex Optics.

Just like Cabela’s, many brands undergo the same process of outsourcing all their materials and labor.

It’s highly plausible that the same optical facility as Vortex’s line of riflescopes produced some of Cabela’s scope lines.

Is the Cabela’s EXT Reticle Any Good?

The EXT reticle is NOT Cabela’s exclusive reticle design. Rather, it is available from many other manufacturers of rifle scopes!

The lower part of the reticle’s vertical axis is lined with markings or hashes that compensate for the drop.

You can utilize those hash markings to account for bullet drop when firing farther away when set up correctly.

The EXT design’s only flaw is the absence of markings on the horizontal reticle axis to allow for wind drift at greater magnification ranges.

Are Cabela’s Brand Scopes Good?

Yes!

Every model offered by Cabela’s brand of scopes may accommodate practically ANY shooting or hunting need!

Additionally, the scopes in that range come in various optical quality models, which is a typical factor in judging the quality of a rifle sight.

The models built exclusively by Meopta and Vortex have good to excellent optical performance.

Some of the Japanese-made Cabela’s scope models offer decent optical quality for the price.

However, most of Cabela’s models produced in China have average to subpar optical quality.

Are the Cabela’s FFP Scope Models Any Good?

The Covenant 5 and Covenant 7 model FFP scopes are easier to see with their brightness and greater quality.

The typical Cabela’s Covenant line of scopes could never compare.

In my opinion, the regular Covenant series of FFP scope models are, at most, an entry-level scope.

The company’s current top-of-the-line FFP product is Cabela’s CX PRO HD scope.

Despite their high price and Chinese manufacturing, I found the Covenant 7 FFP and CX PRO HD models far better than caliber-specific scope models.

Does Leupold Make Any Scopes for Cabela’s?

Leupold does NOT make any scopes for Cabela’s.

The closest thing to their collaboration was when Leupold introduce the Leupold American Marksman model, which was originally a Cabela’s exclusive.

Cabela’s was the only seller of this model. Apart from that, there is no other mention of Leupold producing scopes for the Cabela’s brand.

Final Thoughts

According to Cabela’s staff, hunters with experience know that purchasing an expensive scope with greater zoom is not necessary for hunting small game.

An expensive scope is usually a good investment!

Major scope brands and all the alpha series offer good scope series. Most of Cabela’s branded scopes came with a lifetime guarantee.