Best vortex scope for 308
The vortex line of optics is renowned for making dependable rifle scopes with a high-quality performance at an affordable price.
The 308 calibers on the other hand are popular for their lower recoil, accuracy, and flat trajectory and are commonly used on the AR platform.
This article examines the best Vortex scopes that are designed specifically for a 308 rifle.
The .308 cartridge
The.308 cartridge has dimensions similar to the NATO 7.62 NATO (7.62 x 51 mm) standard arm for NATO countries. The only difference between it and the 7.62 NATO is that it has a thinner brass thickness and a shorter chamber length.
The.308 cartridge is the most commonly used cartridge for hunting, target shooting, law enforcement, and personal protection. One of the reasons this cartridge is so popular is due to its accuracy and high performance, particularly over medium to long distances. It is also known for its power and ability to take down big game while producing a moderate amount of recoil, making it manageable regardless of the shooter’s skill level.
Best Vortex Scope for 308-Top Picks
- Vortex Crossfire II AO 6-24x50mm 30mm Rifle Scope
- Vortex Diamondback Tactical 4-12x40mm Rifle Scope
- Vortex Viper HST 6-24x50mm Rifle Scope
- Vortex Viper PA 6.5-20x50mm Rifle Scope
- Vortex Razor HD Gen II 4.5-27x56mm 34mm Rifle Scope
1. Vortex Crossfire II AO 6-24x50mm Scope
This scope is an excellent performer when it comes to hitting long-range targets, and can hit targets up to 1000 yards. It stands out for its versatile 6-24x magnification and wide objective lens measuring 50mm that allows optimum light for excellent clarity over these distances.
Additionally, the lens has one of the best glasses that are multi-coated to reduce glare and reflective loss of light.
The Crossfire II is both lightweight and durable. It is made of high-quality aluminum, which allows it to withstand a reasonable amount of impact in the field. The build quality will also allow it to withstand heavy recoil if used with a powerful rifle.
Finally, this scope is reasonably priced, and it has a simple crosshair reticle with hash marks that can be used to compensate for windage and holdover when firing the 308 over long distances.
Specifications
- Objective Lens Diameter: 50 mm
- Magnification: 6 – 24 x
- Reticle: Dead-Hold BDC
- Adjustment Click Value: 1/4 MOA
- Reticle Focal Plane: Second Focal Plane (SFP)
- Exit Pupil: 2.08 – 8.3 mm
- Field of View: 4.4 – 17.3 ft at 100 yds
- Eye Relief: 4 in
- Weight: 23.6 oz.
Pros
- Budget-friendly price
- High magnification
- Generous eye relief
- Fairly lightweight
- Covered under the lifetime warranty.
2. Vortex Diamondback Tactical 4-12x40mm Rifle Scope
This is another low-cost option, but it has a slightly shorter range due to the lower magnification of 12x. It is, however, perfectly suited for mid- to long-range targets when using a 308 cartridge.
It’s available with a VMR-1 reticle which is an MOA reticle with an accurately placed hashmark to adjust holdover and windage.
Another stand-out feature is the exposed turret which is easily accessible by the shooter. The turrets have fiber optic rotation indicators integrated into them to give the shooter a visual cue of the exact position of these adjustments.
The turret is also easy to adjust, and this makes this Vortex scope one of the best options if you need to constantly adjust for changing targets when using your 308.
Overall, this is a dependable option that provides a clear image thanks to its high-quality glass and multicoated lens. It is inexpensive, lightweight, simple to use, and suitable for a wide range of applications such as hunting, competitive shooting, and tactical applications.
Specifications
- Objective Lens Diameter: 40 mm
- Magnification: 4 – 12 x
- Reticle: VMR-1 MOA
- Reticle Focal Plane: Second Focal Plane (SFP)
- Exit Pupil: 3.3 – 10 mm
- Field of View: 9 – 23.6 ft at 100 yds
- Eye Relief: 3.8 in
- Weight: 16.2 oz
Pros
- Excellent for mid to long-range targets
- Tactical turrets make adjustments easy
- Lightweight
- Fairly affordable
- Covered under the Vortex lifetime warranty
3. Vortex Viper HST 6-24x50mm Rifle Scope
The Viper HST is a popular option that many shooters use on the AR platform. It perfectly combines all of the good features of the Viper PST and Viper HT rifle scopes to provide a shooter with something reasonably priced yet dependable.
It has a magnification range of 6-24x, making it suitable for medium targets as well as long-range targets up to 1000 yards away. Because of the 308’s efficiency on long-range targets, this Vortex scope is an excellent choice to pair with your rifle if you use a 308 cartridge.
Next, the scope is outfitted with a slew of features that improve its ability to take on long-range targets. One of the best features is the tactical turret, which is not only accurate but also provides repeatable windage and elevation adjustments.
It also has the option of various reticles in MOA or MRAD, with the hash marks on both reticles capable of providing accurate holds for targets at long ranges.
Overall, this is the perfect alternative if you want a more premium scope, with a high magnification suitable for long-range targets. It’s also a perfect alternative for its durability, excellent performance, and different reticle options.
Specifications
- Objective Lens Diameter: 50 mm
- Magnification: 6 – 24 x
- Reticle Focal Plane: Second Focal Plane (SFP)
- Exit Pupil: 2.08 – 8.3 mm
- Field of View, Linear: 5.1 – 17.8 ft at 100 yds
- Eye Relief: 4 in
- Weight: 22.6 oz
Pros
- Different reticle option
- Easily accessible tactical turret
- Generous 4-inch eye relief
- High magnification for long-range targets
- High-quality images
- Covered under a lifetime warranty
4. Vortex Viper PA 6.5-20x50mm Rifle scope
The Viper PA, which has been tuned for durability, is available for less than $700. It has been thoroughly tested to withstand any adversity and will work flawlessly when paired with a weapon with heavy recoil.
Nothing has been overlooked when it comes to accuracy and clarity because this scope has one of the clearest lenses on the market. This is thanks to the high-quality glass that’s most common with Vortex scopes.
Additionally, the lens is multicoated, and the fairly wide 50mm objective lens performs admirably in letting in the maximum amount of light.
The scope has two reticles, both with simplified MOA crosshairs that minimize target obstruction. When shooting at a target, the reticle provides precise hash marks that can be used to estimate windage and holdover corrections.
Finally, the turret has been tuned for accuracy and repeatability; it allows for quick re-indexing to zero and is capped to prevent accidental adjustments. The scope also includes an adjustment lever for quick magnification changes across its 6.5-20x magnification range.
Specifications
- Objective Lens Diameter: 50 mm
- Magnification: 5 – 20 x
- Reticle Focal Plane: Second Focal Plane (SFP)
- Exit Pupil: 2.5 – 7.69 mm
- Adjustment Click Value: 1/4 MOA
- Eye Relief: 3.1 – 3.3 in
- Field of View: 6.2 – 17.4 ft at 100 yds
- Weight: 21.6 oz
Pros
- 2 reticle options available
- Excellent durability
- Delivers high quality images
- Quick magnification adjustment lever
- Covered by the lifetime warranty
5. Vortex Razor HD Gen II 4.5-27x56mm
This scope is ideal for a shooter who prefers to aim at long-range targets with a First focal plane scope. The main advantage of the FFP is that the reticle provides the shooter with accurate readings at all magnification levels. This is due to the fact that its size changes as the magnification changes.
Although the scope comes at a higher price, it provides great value for its accurate and versatile performance.
The vortex razor is available with 4 different types of reticles, either in MOA or MRAD which give serious precision to the shooter.
Additionally, the scope comes with an index-matched lens that corrects color across the entire visual spectrum. Moreover, it has a high-quality multi-coating that optimizes image sharpness and clarity. These characteristics together with the wide 56mm objective lens ensure unmatched performance, even under low light.
Overall, if you don’t mind its price, unwieldy dimensions, and bulky weight, this rifle scope is the perfect choice for accuracy and visibility, when using your 308 cartridges.
Specifications
- Objective Lens Diameter: 56 mm
- Magnification: 5 – 27 x
- Reticle Focal Plane: First Focal Plane (FFP)
- Exit Pupil: 2.07 – 12.4 mm
- Field of View, Linear: 25.3 – 4.4 ft at 100 yds
- Eye Relief: 3.7 in
- Dimensions: 14.4 x 16.5 x 2.55 in
- Weight: 48.5 oz
Pros
- Excellent image quality
- Unmatched accuracy
- Different reticle options available
- Rugged and well-built
- Wide range of adjustments on the turret
Cons
- Pricey
- Bulky and unwieldy
Buying the Best Scope for a 308
These are some of the characteristics that one should consider when buying a scope to use with a 308 cartridge.
Magnification-It makes a target appear closer than it really is, and is mostly useful for long-range targets. This is because in long-range targets the target may be small, and magnification lets the shooter see the target in more detail.
It’s however noteworthy that a high magnification lowers the field of view and sometimes the image becomes blurry if you aren’t using a high-quality scope. The amount of magnification ideal for a given distance usually depends on the shooter’s preference which relies on their skill level.
Reticle– This is the aiming point of the scope that is aligned with the target before taking the shot. Many manufacturers have created various reticle designs with a variety of features to assist the shooter in making an accurate hit on a long-range target. Reticles include mil-dot, duplex, and the simple crosshair.
The reticle can be illuminated and can include bullet drop compensation (BDC), which is useful for estimating holdover for long-range targets.
Eye relief- This is the total distance from the eye of the shooter to the eyepiece on the rifle scope. The longer the eye relief the better you can work with the scope, if you are using a rifle with a heavy recoil or, wear eyeglasses.
Longer eye relief also provides more comfort to the shooter because it allows them to position their head in a variety of ways when aiming at the target.
Durability– A good scope is not cheap, which is why you should get a long-lasting one. A durable scope will have features such as a tough casing, as well as being waterproof, fogproof, and well-built to withstand harsh weather elements.
FAQs
What is the range of a 308 rifle?
The .308 is considered to be effective for medium to long-range targets this is the range between 500 yards to 800 yards. With an experienced shooter and good weather, however, the effective range can be extended to around 1000 to 1200 yards.
Is Vortex better than Leupold?
Generally, Vortex has the best glass quality of the two, especially for the more pricier options. The Leupold, however, gives better quality in the lower-end scopes. In addition, the Vortex often comes with better build quality and a longer warranty.
CONCLUSION
This article provides an in-depth review of the best Vortex scope for use with a 308 cartridge. The Vortex scopes included here will provide the shooter with excellent performance and durability regardless of the type of rifle being used.
It’s worth noting that these scopes are priced differently. If you need a less expensive option, the Crossfire II AO 6-24x50mm will provide the best performance at an affordable price. If you have a large budget, however, you should go with the Vortex Razor HD Gen II 4.5-27x56mm, which guarantees unrivaled accuracy, clarity, and durability.
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