If you are new to scopes or planning to buy one, you must be wondering, “Who makes Cabelas Scope?“
We are here to answer your question.
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Expert’s Choice for the Best Scope of February 2023
Our experts tested the popular scopes of the month to find the best one and after a lot of deliberation (read “heated debates”), we have picked this one as our choice for this month.
Quick note: This product’s versatility means it can sometimes be temporarily unavailable due to high demand. We suggest you check it out now to see if you’re eligible for a discount.
Who makes Cabelas Scopes?
Who Makes Cabelas Scopes?
Cabela’s Inc was founded in 1961. They sell outdoor products such as riflescopes, ammunition, hunting equipment, camping gear, fishing rods, and more. Their headquarters are located in Sidney, Nebraska.
These are used for precision shooting.
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Cabelas Scopes Overview
Cabela’s doesn’t make their riflescopes, but they do sell them under their name. Their staff doesn’t know who makes their products, except for upper management. All of their scopes are clearly labeled as being made by Bass Pro Shops, and they’re co-branded with Cabela’s.
Company Ownership
Cabela’s is now privately held and owned by Bass Pro Shop. Before that, it was publicly traded. A private investment firm owns a large portion of Cabela’s shares. Cabela’s is losing market share as other retailers gain market share.
Bass Pro Shops bought Caba’l’s Inc. and all its assets for $5.5 billion. Due to many successful products and a large customer base, Bass Pro decided to retain Cabela’s brand. Now that’s covered; let’s get to the real subject of who makes Cabela’s scopes?
Note: If you want to know Where is Minox Scopes Made click HERE.
Cabela’s is owned and operated by Bass Pro Shops
Bass Pro Shops bought out Cabela’s. Bass Pro Shops is a large sporting goods store chain that sells guns and hunting equipment. Field & Stream is another large sporting goods store chain. Gander Mountain is a discount sporting goods store chain.
Bass Pro purchased Cabela’s Inc. but kept Cabela’s name. This means that Cabela’s trademark is now owned by Bass Pro. However, Cabela’s scope line continues to be sold by Cabela’s.
Cabela’s Manufacturing of its Optics
Cabela’s doesn’t make riflescopes. Instead, they sell them to third-party companies that do.
While Cabela’s can’t hide the country of manufacture (commonly called the COO) as it has to be listed on the product or the product packaging, they can keep the actual scope manufacturer or optics company within a country as confidential as possible.
These companies make their optics. Their products are built to specifications provided by Cabeza’s. They also provide the product in Cabela’s brand packaging.
Complete means the production of the scope lens as well. Many brands do the same thing as Cabela’s. They buy the components from an international vendor and then assemble, test, and inspect the scope lens at their company facility.
Except for upper management, most of Cabela’s staff does not know where or who produces these scopes for Cabela’s the lone exception to that rule is the marked cobranded scope models
Cabela’s doesn’t make scopes, but they do sell them. They are a big company, and they have many employees. Their upper management works hard to keep information about their scope lines secret.
Cabela’s hides the country of manufacturing by using a different name for the company than the real company. For example, Cabela’s uses a different name for the manufacturer of scopes than the actual company.
Note: If you want to gain information about Where Are SWFA Scopes Made click HERE.
There is a substantial amount of crossover with the Cabela’s scope lines
Cabela’s has many scope models. Each model has a slightly different design and features. Some models have more than one magnification range.
This is an example of using a new name for a product. In this case, the company is using the name “Cabela” instead of “Cabela’s”.
Cabela’s Scope Models
Riflescopes are expensive, but they’re worth every penny! There are several different types of riflescope available. Some are designed specifically for hunting, while others are more general purpose. Each type of scope has advantages and disadvantages. You should consider your needs when purchasing a new rifle scope.
Cabela’s riflescope models include the following:
-Cabela’s Big Game Hunter
Note: If you want to know Celestron Travel Scope 70, How to Use click HERE.
Cabelas Pine Ridge Scopes
All three models were made on a 1-inch tube. The standard model had a 24″ barrel length, the muzzleloader had a 20″ barrel length, and the rimfire had a 16″ barrel length.
Standard Pine Ridge Series
This series was offered in the magnification range of 4x-6x. Duplex reticles were available for this model.
Pine Ridge Muzzleloader Shotgun Scopes
These models were designed for use by hunters who wanted to shoot accurately at longer distances. They had a range of magnifications from 2x to 6x.
Pine Ridge Rimfire Scope
This scope series includes a 4X magnification range. Rimfire rifles were designed specifically for this scope series. A BDC turret was added to the 3-9 model, but Cabela’s did not continue this feature into other models. The Pine Ridge Tactical series was discontinued after a few years.
All the Pine Ridge scopes are made in China. They are produced by the same company as BSA’s scopes. These scopes are entry-level offerings for a brand. Their optics are about what you would expect from an entry-level scope.
The entire Pine Ridge series was phased out at the end of 2014.
Cabelas Alaskan Guide Scopes
The Alaskan Guide series was first released in 2002. The scope was designed to be used by hunters and sportsmen who wanted to improve their shooting accuracy. The scope offers several features including a range-finding feature, a windage and elevation adjustment system, and a parallax-free reticle. The scope also includes a quick detach mount, a removable tripod plate, and a quick-release lever.
Standard Alaskan Guide
The standard Alaskan Guide was made on a 1-inch tube and had a magnification range that included 1X, compact 4X, 6X, and 8X. It also had an adjustable power range.
Cabelas Power Range: 300-600 yards
Cabelas on a 1-inch tube and feature a rangefinder reticle. The model names include the magnification range. There are five different models in this series.
Guide Shotgun Models
These scopes were built on 1-inch tubes and designed specifically for use with shotguns. These models included a range of powers starting from 2.5x up to 107x power.
The Cabela’s Outfitters series of scopes were released in the early 2000s. The Outfitters series was built on a one-inch tube and were only available at the following magnifications:
- 10×30
- 12×40
- 14×50
- 16×60
- 18×70
- 20×80
- 22×90
- 24×100
- 26×110
- 28×120
- 30×130
- 32×140
- 34×150
- 36×160
- 38×170
- 40×180
- 42×190
- 44×200
- 46×210
- 48×220
- 50×230
- 52×240
- 54×250
- 56×260
- 58×270
- 60×280
- 62×290
- 64×300
- 66×310
- 68×320
- 70×330
- 72×340
- 74×350
- 76×360
- 78×370
- 80×380
- 82×390
- 84×400
- 86×410
- 88×420
- 90×430
- 92×440
- 94×450
- 96×460
- 98×470
- 100×480
- 102×490
- 104×500
- 106×510
- 108×520
- 110×530
- 112×540
- 114×550
- 116×560
- 118×570
- 120×580
- 122×590
- 124×600
- 126×610
- 128×620
- 130×630
- 132×640
- 134×650
- 136×660
- 138×670
- 140×680
- 142×690
- 144×700
- 146×710
- 148×720
- 150×730
- 152×740
- 154×750
The Outfitter series offered great glass for the cost. They were manufactured in Japan. These scopes look, feel and perform like Bushnell Elite 3200 scopes. In 2014, CABELA’S reintroduced the Outfitter scopes again in 1″ and 30mm versions. In 2015, the Outfitter line of scopes was phased out.
Alaskan Guide Premium Scopes
The Alaskan Guide Premium line of scopes was introduced by Cabela’s in 2005. This line of scopes was designed to be more powerful than the previous Outfitter series. The Premium line was initially available in the following magnification ranges:”
The 4-12 and 6/20 models had an adjustable Objective that would focus down to fifty yards. This series was manufactured in Japan and looked quite similar to, and optically performed as well as, the Sightron S II Big Sky scope models.
The premium series had better optics than the classic series, but it cost more money.
Cabela’s Instinct Euro Scopes
In 2009, Cabela’s partnered with Meopta optics to produce a higher-end series of scopes called “Instinct Euro Series”. Cabela’s already has an existing arrangement with Mepota Optics for binoculars, So it makes sense to offer a co-branded series of rifle scopes. The Instinct Euro Scopes were built on an inch tube and were only available for the following power ranges:
These are the first Meopta riflescopes I’ve ever seen. They’re nice.
This series of rifle scopes were phased out at the end of 2016.
Cabela’s Instinct Euro HD Scopes Also sometimes listed as Instinct HD scope
The new name was changed to Cabela’s Instinct Euro HD. Some of the old models were marked as Cabela’s Instant HD. The new model was assembled in the USA.
This scope series is the same model as Cabela’s Instinct Euro series, but with some
Cabela’s minor changes. The 4-12 model is now a 4.5- 14 model. The 6- 18 version is now a 6.5- 20 model. In addition to EXT. Cabela’s reticles, there is also an HTR EXT reticle option available. The HTR EXT. Cabela’s includes wind drift markings on the horizontal scope post.
The first thing I noticed about this scope was how thick the lens was. It looked like it had been made out of glass instead of plastic. The second thing I noticed was that there were two different models of this scope. The first model had a red dot reticle while the other model had a green dot reticle. There was also a difference in the magnification range of each model. The first model had four magnifications ranging from 4X to 12X while the other model had three magnifications ranging from 6X to 10X. The third thing I noticed was the price. The first model cost $299 while the second model cost $349.
All the Alpha series of rifle scopes were manufactured in China.
Caliber Specific Scopes
First introduced in 2010, the Caliber Specific scopes for the.22 LR caliber were built on a 1-inch tube. These scopes offer bullet drop compensation capability for the.22 LR cartridge at specific distances.
This scope was designed by Cabela’s specifically for rimfires. It includes a magnification range of 6x-24x. It also comes with a 2 MOA windage/elevation adjustment knob.
MultiTurret Scopes
This scope is designed to be used by hunters who want to shoot game out to long ranges. It comes with three different types of turrets that allow you to adjust your aim depending on what kind of hunting you’re doing.
Tactical Big Game MultiTurret Scope
This series would change names a couple of times and go through a couple of slight changes over time. It started as the Cabela’s Multiturret Series of Rifle Scopes. Then it became the Cabela’s MULTI-TURRET Series of Rifle Scopes, and then finally the Cabela’s 3-12 MULTi-TURRET Series.
Remington, 243 Winchester, 270 Winchester, 30-06 Springfield, 300 Winchester Magnum, 100-grain Core-Lokt bullets. Each turret for each cartridge is built to work with that brand of ammunition in a certain bullet weight.
A.22 caliber rifle is used by hunters to kill big game such as deer, elk, bear, etc. In this case, the gun is a.22 caliber rifle.
Cabela’s MultiTurret Rimfire Scope
In 2014, Cabela’s separated the multi-turrets rimfire models from the multi-turret series, made a couple of updates, and offered the series as a standalone series called the Cabelas Multi-Turret Rimfirescope. This series was only available in 3-9 power ranges and featured turrets made for rimfire calibers such as.22 LR,.223 Remington, 7mm-08 Remington,.243 Winchester, 6.5×55mm, and 9.3×62mm.
Powderhorn Muzzleloader Scopes
A muzzleloader scope is a type of rifle scope used by hunters who hunt game such as deer or bear with a muzzleloader. Muzzleloader scopes are usually mounted on rifles that shoot bullets fired from a muzzleloader.
The Cabela’s Powder Horn Muzzleloader Scope series was built in China at the exact same factory as Cabela’s other popular muzzleloader scopes. These scopes were later replaced by the Cabela’s Mossy Oak Muzzleloader Series.
Muzzleloader Scope
In 2014, Cabela’s discontinued the Powderhorn Muzzelloader scope series and re introduced it as the Cabelas Muzzleloader scope series. They phased out the 3-10 power version and replaced it with a 3-9 magnificaton model. This series was built on a1 inch tube and was also manufactured by China. I though that the Powderhorn Muzzelloader scopes had slightly better optics and was a little better quality than Cabelas Muzzleloaders.
This scope is designed for hunting big game such as deer, elk, bear, and other large mammals. It features a 40mm objective lens and a magnification range of 3X to 9X.
Slugger Shotgun Scope
This scope series was specifically designed to be used with a shotgun using a rifle barrel and shooting sabot-type shotgun slugs. It was only available in a three-to-nine magnification and featured an EXT (Extreme) reticle designed with bullet-drop compensation marks in 100- yard variables. It looked and functioned very similar to Nikon’s Slughunter series of rifles scopes.
This series was phased out at end of 2013 and replaced by the Cabela’s slug shotgun scope series. Both the slug gun scope series and the cabelas slug shotgun series were produced in china. If you’re shopping fo this specific shotgun scope, here are links tow some: Cabela’s Slug Gun Scope Check Price on Cabels.com.
Cabelas Intrepid HD Scopes by Vortex
Cabela’s sells hunting scopes that are built by Vortex. The Intrepid line features a 30mm tube and is only available in a 4x magnification with the Vortex VSR-2 reticle. The side focus goes down to 25 yards.
The Cabela’s Intreprid HD scope was manufactured by Vortex in Japan and covered under Vortex’s lifetime warrantee. Having looked through a few, I thought the optical qualities were pretty good but not as great as the Cabela’s Instinct Euro scopes.
Magnitude Scopes
The Magnitude series of rifle scope appeared in 2015. It seems to be a re-made of the Cabela’s Pine Ridge scopes. With some minor changes in power magnification, reticle options, the addition of a 30 mm version.
The magnum scope is a mid-range rifle scope. It is made in China. It is designed to be used with rifles in the.308 caliber range. The optics seem slightly better than the pine ridge series, but not by very much. The entire magnum scope series was manufactured in china. This scope series was discontinued in 2017.
Covenant Scope
The Covenant 5 series of scopes were introduced in 2019. They are available in both SFFP and FFP versions. These scopes were marketed as a step up from the standard Cabela’s Covenant series of scopes in terms of glass quality. The 3-5 version is equipped with Cabela’ s TAC-10S Milreticle, while the 5 – 25 version is equipped with Cabelas TAC-6 Milreticle.
SFP Scopes
The second focal plane version of the Covenant 7 series is/was equipped with Cabela’s TAC-8 SFT MIL reticle.
FFP Scopes
The first focal plane versions of Cabela’s Covenant Series riflescope are/were available in these magnifications: Both models were equipped with Cabela’s TAC-10 FPP MIL reticle. All of the Cabela’s covenant rifle scope models are manufactured by HOYA Optics in Japan. Here are some Covenant Series tactical scopes that are currently available:
Cabela’s Covenant rifle scope is designed for hunting big game such as deer. It features an objective lens diameter of 56 mm and an eye relief of 50 mm. This scope is suitable for shooting targets up to 1,000 yards away.
CX PRO HD Scope
A new model of the venerable Leupold Mark 4 was introduced in 2019. The new model features a longer eye relief than previous models, making it easier to use while wearing glasses. The new model also includes an improved eyepiece design, allowing users to see more detail when using low magnification settings. The new model also offers a higher maximum magnification setting than previous models.
I’ve checked out some of these CX Pro scopes, and they are surprisingly good for the money. If you’re looking for a high quality scope, then this is a great choice.
Scope Warranty
Cabela’s started out as a mail order catalog business. Their first big break came when they offered a lifetime warranty on their product. Customers loved this idea because it meant that if anything went wrong, you could send it back and get a new pair. This helped them grow into a large retail chain.
He was an avid hunter who loved to fish. He had a passion for hunting and fishing. He also enjoyed camping and hiking. He was a very loyal friend and neighbor.
Reticles
There are number of reticles available in the market that this company makes. This scope series was only available in a 3-9 configuration and featured reticles that incorporated bullet drop compensation out to 300 yards when used with specific Hornady LEVERevolution ammo in specific bullet grain.
Some of them are:
- Cabela’s TAC-10 FFP MIL reticle
- Cabela’s TAC-10 MIL FFP reticle
- Cabela’s TAC-10S MIL reticle
- Cabela’s TAC-6 MIL reticle
- Cabela’s TAC-8 SFP MIL reticle
Reticle options were mostly duplex, but the 6.5-20 models were also available in a mil-dot version and a target dot version.
Vortex Optics
Officially speaking, Vortex Optics has only manufactured one scope model for Cabela’s, and that was a co-branded model called the Cabelas Intrepid HD Scope by Vortex.
All the Pine Ridge scopes were manufactured in China, and I’m reasonably sure they are produced at the same Chinese optical manufacturer that BSA uses.
Conclusion
These scopes were (and still are, if you can find one) equipped with great glass and are/were an excellent price, even at full MSRP.
Experienced hunters know that there is no necessity in buying an expensive scope with extra-zoom for small game hunting. It always pays off to buy a higher-end scope. Major Scope brands provide really good scopes.
All the Cabela’s branded rifle scopes came with a lifetime warranty, except for the select few models that had an illuminated reticle (which was only a select few models in the Pine Ridge scope series).
Since Vortex Optics does not officially manufacture its own line of scopes, it’s entirely possible that some of Cabela’s lines of scopes were manufactured in the same optical facility that makes the Vortex line of riflescopes.
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Author
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John is the Editor in Chief here at The Outdoor Stores. His area of expertise ensures that there is no one better to suggest which rifles are most suitable for your hunting experience. He is also available for you to contact him personally to discuss the types of animals you want to hunt and the terrain you will be hunting on. Feel free to read his posts for expert opinion on Rifles, Scopes, Rangefinders, Bonoculars and Monoculars.